Here are some finds from the library that we truly adore:
This book is sad, I don't know why I like it so much. But it is a cute, and I like reading it to my kids over and over.
I had a hard time getting Dana to like books. I wondered for a while if she had ADHD. Levi's shining trait is his attention span, but Dana, not so much. She's doing better now, and likes me to read to her. This was the first book that really caught her attention. I love the pictures.
My kids love this one. I like it pretty well. Words are endearing. The illustrations are average.
This one's not a library one. We've had it for many years. I'm usually not a fan of rhyming books. Rhyming book usually means less than great story trying to sound more special than it is. It also makes it harder for my kids to understand. I want my kids to appreciate good real poetry. But most rhyming books I don't even read to them at all. I love this one. And so do they. It's so rhythmic and fun.
I have a thing for picture books. I love them as much as the kids. We have a lot of books, most of them from yard sales. At first this seemed to make sense, so we could build up a library without the huge cost. And when a toddler ripped it up, I didn't panic. I'm not so sure what I think of this anymore. I'm getting more to the idea of quality over quantity. (90% of picture books at the library are pretty dumb; dumb story; dumb illustrations, etc.). I just went through our books and threw some out. I didn't want to get rid of the ones I "liked" but I also realized I didn't "love" very many of them. I'm trying to simplify my life and my kids' lives and possessions. They have so many toys. Sometimes I wish they would stop having birthdays, because they have so many grandparents, and things just add up. Most of them are packed away, but I don't think they really cherish anything because they just have so much. (I'm not sure they have more books or toys than most kids. Or more than I had as a kid. Just all kids in America have a lot). So I'm toying with the idea of mostly just getting them a few great hardcover picture books for birthdays and holidays. But I don't know how well that would go over, since they can get mounds of books for FREE from the library. Anyway, just some things I have been thinking of lately.
Oh, and while I'm recommending stuff here's an awesome pencil sharpener:
http://www.amazon.com/School-Smart-Vertical-Pencil-Sharpener/dp/B003U6VSHU
I bought it at a school supply place online (can't remember the name) for only $16.50.
We tried a few different ones from Walmart and they kept breaking. This is a best-seller on amazon, and it really is so much better than others we've tried.
Oh, and while I'm recommending stuff here's an awesome pencil sharpener:
http://www.amazon.com/School-Smart-Vertical-Pencil-Sharpener/dp/B003U6VSHU
I bought it at a school supply place online (can't remember the name) for only $16.50.
We tried a few different ones from Walmart and they kept breaking. This is a best-seller on amazon, and it really is so much better than others we've tried.
