Our Favorites

My twins LOVE to read. We go through multiple books a day, and they have some standards that we turn to frequently when nothing else seems to fit the mood.

Little Blue Truck

There are several things about this story that we love. Author Alice Schertle has chosen rhymes that easy for mom and dad to read, and easy for young ones to remember. My two know exactly which words belong on which page. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and the characters lend themselves to voice changes from the reader. When the dump truck comes along, we all read in tone that I assume a dump truck would have were he able to talk. There is also a little lesson for young and old alike: help can come from the most unlikely sources. More than anything else, this book is just plain fun.


Knuffle Bunny


When I was a little girl, I had a stuffed animal that I prized above any other toy. I slept with it through college, and when I got married, it sat on my shelf in my closet, waiting for another little set of arms to wrap it up. For that reason, this book is a favorite of mine. I can understand Trixie's horror when she discovers Knuffle Bunny is gone, and I also know the desperation of the parents who are trying to find her. My own two like the story line, but they love the illustrations the most. The mix of real photographs and drawings, coupled with the frustrated looks of all the characters, are sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems, is a Caldecott Honor book.

A Visitor for Bear

In A Visitor for Bear, author Bonny Becker tells the sweet story of Bear and Mouse, two creatures seemingly at odds with each other. One of the reasons this book is a favorite is because of Bear. My kids have their "grouchy" moments, and Bear is definitely having his fair share in this story. In addition, this is another great book for changing your voice to suit the character. We laugh and giggle at Bear's deep grumble and Mouse's squeaky sound. The illustrations are another plus. Overall, I think the lure of this book is that even preschoolers can relate to the loneliness that Bear feels, and they also understand the effort Mouse puts forth to gain attention. This book is a Wanda Gag Read Aloud Honor Book.

Great Books for Halloween

I have several favorite Halloween titles for kids, and I am going to attempt to break them down into two separate posts. Click on the title of each book for a link to purchase. (I am NOT receiving any compensation for reviewing these titles. I just like to read and pass along the information!)


The Perfect Pumpkin Pie by Denys Cazet

I purchased this book several years ago when I was teaching a self-contained middle school special education class. I had several students with problem behaviors, and I worried they would think the book was silly and childish. I was wrong! The rhyme is fun and playful, and the illustrations are quite humorous. Fair warning: some of the drawings may be considered a little icky. There are eyeballs and slime and other random bits of goo floating around on the pages. Also, the main character is coming back from the dead to eat pie, so if that's not your thing, skip this.





The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey

Admit it. You laughed at this title. At first, I refused to read this to my students, because, well, I didn't want to deal with the snorts and giggles. I changed my mind after seeing it in another classroom. This book is fun! The story and illustrations appeal to all ages, and it is an excellent story to use when teaching sequence of events. Bonus: Pilkey is the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Medal for his artwork in The Paperboy. (Mary-Blake, if you are reading this, Mav NEEDS this book. I think Roscoe might like it too!)



The Magic Pumpkin by Lucille E. Sette

Do you have a book from your childhood that is forever etched in your memory? Well, this one is mine. I know part of the reason I enjoyed it was because my daddy was always excited to read this one to me. I am sure he liked it just as much, or even more than I did. I have read it to every classroom and the reaction I continue to get from students tells me that they find the book just as meaningful as my dad and I did so long ago. The book is no longer in print, so if you can get your hands on a copy, don't miss it!


If you are able to purchase any of these, or have your own opinions of the books, please comment below! I love to talk with fellow readers!

Getting Started

Like most teachers, when summer arrives, I am excited to start on my to-do list. School activities and projects generally take the place of whatever I want to do throughout the majority of the year, and summer gives me the freedom to do what I enjoy most: spending time with my family, serving more within the church, exercising, trying out new recipes, and reading. The last activity is what led me to start this blog. I know there are a few moms and dads out there who want to know what is appropriate for their kids to read, and even more so, they want to know what titles might interest themselves. It's hard to find quality literature today for people of any age, and I am especially picky about the books I read. I in no way believe in banning books, but I do believe in discernment when it comes to filling your mind with things that could possibly pollute. As a mom, I want to make responsible decisions about what my kids read, and as a teacher, I have to make responsible decisions about literature because those aren't my kids!

It's important that you, as a follower of this blog, know that I don't always choose Christian titles. I certainly don't always choose books without profanity or adult situations. Sometimes, those types of books bring to light topics that are difficult to discuss outside of literature. This blog is simply an expression of my opinions, an outlet for me to share my feelings about the positives and negatives of certain books, and hopefully an informal guide for parents and teachers who want to know more about what books are out there.

Please feel free to share your opinions and thoughts with me! Make suggestions! There are a lot of times that I am looking for something new to read, and I don't know where to start.

Happy Reading!