Reading for the New Year

First Night by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by S.D. Schindler is about a New Year's eve parade led by a girl named Amanda Dade. It's a fun repetitive rhyming read that builds up as each new character in the parade is introduced. The crisp, bold pastel illustrations absolutely seem to glow on the pages in a stunning effect. It's a fun read showing one of the many ways you can celebrate the new year.























P. Bear's New Year's Party: A Counting Book by Owen Paul Lewis is a fun glimpse at the tradition of throwing a New Year's eve party with your friends to celebrate the upcoming year. It opens with an invitation where it is noted that formal dress is required. Then P. Bear sends out invitations to all his best dressed friends. It's a really fun play on 'formal attire' and all the guests arrive looking just smashing! There's also a clock on each page showing the time that each guest or group of guests arrived. An added bonus so you can talk about the concept of time with your children while they are learning all about the new year and count down until midnight.



















Squirrel's New Year's Resolution by Pat Miller and illustrated by Kathi Ember. I'm actually very surprised that there are not more children's books that are about the tradition of New Year's resolutions. But Squirrel's New Year's Resolution does a lovely job of sharing about and teaching young children just what a resolution is. The story line follows squirrel on New Years Day wondering what a resolution is and when learning from Bear trying to figure out just what her resolution should be. It seems like all of her friends are great at making resolutions but will squirrel ever have one and what will it be? You'll have to read to find out!


Happy New Year!

A Trio of winter tales

We're having a very mild winter around our area this year. And I'm a little sad that there will not be any snow for Christmas. Since I'm missing the snow I've been stocking up on lots of wintry reads to share with my two kids and have three I'd love to share with you today.


















First is No Two Alike by Keith Baker. Beautiful wintry illustrations follow two birds as a simple tale tells how there are no two just alike be it snowflakes, birds nest or two birds of a feather. It's a fun celebration of all the wonderful differences around us.



















Hold on tight for Red Sled by Lita Judge and get ready to let go of some wheeeees and whoas! This book made up of primarily sound effects shares the fun of a red sled and some good friends on a snowy winter night. The illustrations are just as fun and colorful as the story!



















Last up is Old Bear and His Cub by Olivier Dunrea. Filled with sweetly beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming story of an Old Bear and his cub. They both love one another and look out for one another even when they don't think they need to be looked after. It's a story that is sure to warm you on a cold winter's day.

Winter Eyes

(Source)

Winter Eyes


Look at winter
With winter eyes,
As smoke curls from rooftops
To clear cobalt skies

Breathe in winter
Past winter nose:
The sweet scent of black birch
Where velvet moss grows.

Walk through winter
With winter feet
On cracking ice
Or sloshy wet sleet.

Listen to winter
With winter ears
The rustling of oak leaves
As spring slowly nears.

By Douglas Florian

Wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season!

Christmas Gift Idea

One of my favorite Christmas gifts from a couple years ago was The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers by Crystal Bowman and illustrated by Elena Kucharik. I always did Bible story time and scripture reading but really wanted a devotional to do daily with my children. This book was the perfect fit for us. Each lesson is just a page long. There's a short story based on different Biblical truths, a Bible verse to tie the learning to Scripture and a short rhyming prayer. It's not just for teaching your children the Bible but for giving them the practice of daily time in God's word and prayer. There's a lesson for each day of the year and so they are often relate to season which I LOVE. The illustrations are adorable. They feature four sweet little friends as the grow, learn and experience life. We read through it the first year we got it, I took a break this past year and have been filling in with shorter devotional books, Bible stories and such but I really loved having a daily go to devotional activity aside from the usual Bible story book. We're all geared up to read through it again this year and I think next year we'll find The One Year Devotions for Preschoolers 2 by Carla Barnhill and illustrated by Elena Kucharik. I also included Blessings Everyday: 365 Simple Devotions for the Very Young also by Carla Barnhill and Elena Kucharik. While this one is probably too young for my two at this point my Nephew just might be getting this as a present for Christmas next year. I think these make the perfect Christmas gift to give to the special young children in your life.

Winter Eyes

What I Love About Winter
Frozen lakes
Hot pancakes
Lots of snow
Hot Cocoa
Skates and Skis
Evergreen trees
Funny Hats
Thermostats
Sunset blaze
Holidays
Snowball fights
Fireplace nights
Chimneys steaming
Winter dreaming

by Douglas Florian

What I Hate About Winter

Frozen toes
Running nose
Sloppy slush
Holiday crush
15 below
Shoveling snow
Leafless trees
Cough and wheeze
Shorter day
Less time to play
Salt-spreading tractors
Windchill factors
No place to go -
Winter is slow

by Douglas Florian

The above poems are from the book Winter Eyes which is a collection of poems and paintings by Douglas Florian. We've been reading through his series of seasonal collection of poems starting with Summersaults and still needing to conclude with Handsprings but I couldn't wait any longer to share these wonderful poetry books! The other book in this series is Autumnblings. I've been searching for great poetry books for me and the kids to enjoy and we have found them. These are relatable for the youngest of readers yet meaningfully and well written. They are funny. They capture the beauty and subtlety of the season. They flow from your tongue as you read as poetry should. The artwork is quirky, unique and charming. Again, very relatable to a child and is wonderfully simple. I hope to sprinkle some of favorite poems from these books here and there in my posts to bring some cheer to your day and mine! And I will be posting more of our favorite poetry books by Douglas Florian in the future as well.