Bedtime story {my daughter really is awake, though sleepy!}
I love books, and I love sharing with you the books I am reading ~ I am usually reading at least three at once! I also treasure reading time with my children, and find that even the simplest or goofiest stories can help teach them important lessons. Here’s a peek at the books we’re reading {and loving!} together.
Have you discovered Pete the Cat yet? If not, you have to check him out! My kids currently LOVE Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin. {I am convinced that Pet the Cat is actually a Buddhist.} This book has such great wisdom! Pete loses his groovy buttons, but does he cry? “Goodness no!” Pete knows that “Buttons come, and buttons go.” His mantra is “It’s all good.” Great lyrical story that teaches my children that there’s no need to freak out over the little problems in life. And when Pete the Cat is left with only his belly button, my three-year-old dissolves into hysterical laughter ~ there’s nothing funnier to him than belly buttons!
My daughter (age 6) and I are currently reading The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. It is a beautiful and touching story about Ivan, a silverback gorilla, who lives in a zoo in a mall with a dog and an elephant. This is a chapter book, but the chapters are very short {some are only a few sentences} and the book reads almost more like poetry than a novel. My daughter is fascinated by the story ~ she especially loves that Ivan is an artist. And I am enjoying it as well, particularly Ivan’s insights about humans: “Humans speak too much. They chatter like chimps, crowding the world with their noise even when they have nothing to say.” {Though it is for ages 8-12, it is working great as a book for us to read together ~ we usually take turns reading chapters}.
Finally, both of my kids love Bedtime is Cancelled by Cece Meng. Two mischievous siblings write a note to convince their parents that bedtime has been cancelled. The media get a hold of the note, and send the news in a text message, and then everyone emails it… and no one goes to sleep, and hilarity ensues! Great book for kids about why sleep is so important {so we don’t fall asleep in our mashed potatoes or wear our pants backwards or forget what 1 + 1 is!}. And a good reminder about not believing something just because someone said it or “I read it online.”
[Updated to add]: I just saw that zulily today is featuring BabyLit ~ board books for ages 0-3 introducing the classics of great literature! How cute is that! Event has ended.
Want suggestions for grown ups? Check out What I’m Reading! You can also find lots of books on my Resources page.
Still want more reading ideas? I am so excited about Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Summer Reading Guide ~ I’ve already ordered several from her list for my summer reads! {The reading guide is available as a free pdf when you sign up on her site}.
What are you reading with your kids? I’d love to hear your recommendations!
{This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosures here.}
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