Book Review - Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks

Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is Bess' current favorite book. She is always very concerned about the bugs who find their way into our house, and now she ushers them all "back to their families" with an "out you go"! She loves the spiderweb page and has been spending a lot of time recently trying to find dew be-sparkled webs in the morning. Very, very cute book.

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Book Review - A Child's Good Morning Book by Margaret Wise Brown and Karen Katz

A Child's Good Morning Book by Margaret Wise Brown


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My kids love Karen Katz books, and though this one is a little more wordy than what I would usually read to my little one (it's written by Margaret Wise Brown, you know, Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny) I think that the cheerful illustrations will hold his interest, especially with all the animals in the story who require sound effects - roosters, birds, horses, sheep, and buzzy bees. Lucky for all those animals that they live on such a pristine farm and can greet the morning with such cheer!

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Book Review - My Nose, Your Nose by Melanie Walsh

My Nose, Your Nose by Melanie Walsh


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is another one of those books that's kind of contrived - I prefer when authors point out things like differences among people in a more organic way instead of cramming it down your throat. That said, this was a really cute book pointing out how people are the same and different. I like that is very simple and could be easily read to a very young child - it could almost be a board book (though my little guy is into eating books these days, so I probably won't get too close to him with my copy from the library!).

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Book Review - Sleep, Sleep, Sleep: A Lullaby for Little Ones Around te World by Nancy Van Laan

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep: A Lullaby for Little Ones Around the World by Nancy Van Laan


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I SO love this book - it may be my all-time favorite children's book to date. I don't normally like books in this style because it feels kind of, oh, I don't know...artificial. Look at how all the *other* people live, you know? But this one I love, for a lot of reasons. One is that I really love the illustrations - simple, vibrant, clear. The text is rhythmic and poetic, a perfect bedtime story. I love that the North American mother is a Navajo, not a suburban mom. I love that it includes non-human mothers as well, showing children that it isn't just us bipeds who have important, loving family relationships. There are moms in the book babywearing and co-sleeping, taking a nap outside under a tree, and a community of women cooking together while they presumably share the child-rearing responsibilities. This one was a great find.

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Book Review - Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace by Shelley Moore Thomas

Somewhere Today: A Book of Peace by Shelley Moore Thomas


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A children's book of Random Acts of Kindness, this quick read lists all kinds of simple things kids (and adults!) can do to make the world a better place. Being a friend, learning new things, fixing our toys instead of throwing them away - all great lessons for those big and small!

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Book Review: Girls Hold Up This World by Jada Pinkett-Smith

Girls Hold Up This World by Jada Pinkett-Smith


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I got this one when I was pregnant with my daughter over four years ago, and it's still one of my favorites. "Girls hold up this world with a strength that's all their own..." The photos are beautiful and diverse, the text is lyrical and powerful, a great addition to any little girl's library!

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Book Review: That's What Friends Are For by Florence Parry Heide and Sylvia VanClief

That's What Friends Are For by Florence Parry Heide


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Elephant has a problem - he hurt his leg and can't go visit his cousin. Some of his forest friends have advice for him, but unfortunately none of them can help him with his problem. Finally (!) the opossum comes by and reminds elephant's friends what being a friend is all about. It's not about giving advice - "Friends are to help."

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Just Checking In

I've decided to take some time during the slow and lazy days of summer to take a step back from many of my responsibilities and activities and try to just Be. I haven't been writing, or reading my usual blogs too much - I've been focusing more on reading books (there's just something about holding a book in your hands, isn't there??) and being outside with my family and friends. I have been thinking a lot about community - what it means and how to build one - and I've decided that it is time for me to make a commitment to spending less time at the keyboard and more time with my peeps. We've spent time with grandparents, had a tie-dye party yesterday, had dinner with friends, and attended lots of playdates and park trips.

On that note, I'm off to snuggle with Bess on the couch for awhile.

Chick Lit

Okay, I hate to be that mom, though I'm kind of getting used to it. You know, the mom who complains to the librarian that the books she uses for the "Family" theme story time do not include any single-parent, same-sex parent, or any other non-traditional families? She's me.

Another mother from Bess' school recommended a book to me called Silent Kay and the Dragon by Larry Dane Brimner. I got it out of the library yesterday, and - I guess I'll start with the part where I am checking out the book and the librarian seems shocked that I am checking out a DRAGON book for my DAUGHTER. Ah, the country life...

Now, the main character's name is Kay, and she's on the cover, so clearly it's a "girl book". But here's my question: why Silent Kay? Why not Mighty Kay or Clever Kay? Why is the title character Silent?

And then I read the book. I guess the point is that dragons who seem scary at first can really be helpful and kind, but Silent Kay is kind of bumbling. She doesn't realize that her shoelaces are tied together, and trips and falls - but luckily the dragon is there to untie the laces and save her before they share a nice, civilized cup of tea. Even when the dragon slayer IS a girl, she still can't actually manage to be a heroine. She still needs someone to come to her rescue.

Maybe I should have a t-shirt made up to wear to the library so at least the staff knows what they're up against when I come in: "Yeah, I'm that mom". Or maybe they all already know...

Senior Service

I've been having another blah week and haven't quite pulled myself together enough to write. We were away last weekend in Boston and got to see the tall ships in Boston Harbor but we had to rush home early because Sarah was very sick. Turns out that whatever she had was either contagious or was due to something both dogs had eaten, because the night we got home, Chryssi came down with it too. On the bright side, it was fixable, but cleaning up after two large and very sick dogs is extremely exhausting. Then John's mom stayed with us for a couple of days, and I am just re-gaining my bearings after nearly a week of running ragged.

We did have a nice day on Wednesday, though, when our Holistic Moms group went to a local assisted living facility and had snacks and did crafts with the residents. They seemed to really enjoy the kids' company, and I think the kids enjoyed it to once they got over their shyness (even Bess!).







And here's one for good measure, just because it cheers me up: