If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you know that we love reading and talking about books around here. Books were a treasured part of my childhood, and I aim to create those same memories for my kids.
I love getting the scoop on new and upcoming children’s books. Our friends over at Raincoast Books recently sent us a selection of toddler and preschool books to check out and share with you. Scroll down for a giveaway too!
Creature Colours by Andrew Zuckerman
This simple little board book features big, bright, and attractive photos of animals on white backgrounds paired with the colour name: blue, pink, red, brown, black, green, yellow, gray, orange, and white. Kay loves showing off that she knows all the colours and “reading” the book to me.
She’s particularly drawn to the colourful animal pictures. There’s something so adorable about a two-year-old shouting out “Famin-go! Pink!”
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
After ten years in print, this classic story is now being released by Chronicle Books in board book format.
In this cute topsy turvy tale, Little Pea’s life is pretty good… until dinner time. Poor Little Pea does not want to eat his candy dinner, but Mama Pea insists he must eat five pieces before he can have his dessert – a big yummy bowl of spinach!
My four-year-old immediately made the connection between Little Pea and herself, though she thought the idea of anybody not liking candy was ridiculous!
You Are My Heart by Marianne Richmond
You Are My Heart is the newest book from popular author and illustrator Marianne Richmond. Rhyming couplets express the joy and wonder of parenthood. Simple watercolour paintings depict mommies and daddies and children of all types.
What I particularly appreciated was the recognition that life isn’t always hugs and giggles:
“Yes, you are my patience that gets put to the test when the day feels hard and WE BOTH need a rest.
You are also my grace when we learn how to say, “I made a mistake – let’s start a new way.”
Planet Kindergarten by Sue Ganz-Schmitt
Tee is turning five next month which means she should be starting kindergarten this September. She’s in Montessori school though, and Montessori classrooms group three to five-year-olds together in one multi-year class. She won’t have the same kind of transition as most other five-year-olds, but either way this large and colourful picture book is a fun way of helping little ones get ready for their first day of kindergarten.
From what I can remember of my own first day, it really was like another planet full of alien children and strange rituals. This story will walk your little one through the preparation, anticipation, and fears related to his or her big mission, and then the thrill of success at the end of the day.
Ben Draws Trouble by Matt Davies
Ben loves to draw all the time, even when he’s not supposed to. But when his secret sketchbook (Private. KEEP OUT!) is discovered, his classmates and his teacher get a look at everything and everyone that he’s been drawing in there. Uh-oh! Fortunately, his teacher appreciates Ben’s talent and gives him a whole new outlet for his art.
I particularly enjoyed Matt Davies’ award-winning cartoon illustration style. He effortlessly captures Ben and his classmates’ facial expressions and quirks with just a few strokes of the pen. A fun read! Coming April 2015.
A Wonderful Year by Nick Bruel
By the author of the well-known Bad Kitty series, this lively book contains four interrelated stories themed around the four seasons and told in comic book style panels. The wonderful year starts in “Winter Wear” when the unnamed girl who stars in every story is instructed by everyone she meets to add more and more layers of clothing to stay warm. But by the time she’s finally done bundling up, winter is over!
“Spring Splendor” teaches us a joyful lesson on friendship between the girl, her trusty dog sidekick, and a grumpy cat. Then comes the bizarre “Summer Sidewalks” story. Summer is hot. I mean really hot. Luckily, the girl’s big, purple hippo pal knows just what to do to put her back together again.
The final story, “Fall Foliage,” takes an unexpected turn away from the off the wall humour of the previous stories to a more tender and thoughtful tone. In this tale, the girl is reading A Wonderful Year under the shade of her tree friend. She comforts the tree when its leaves turn colours and begin to fall, and the tree gives her its last leaf to keep in her book.
And now here’s a chance to win your own copy of A Wonderful Year!
Win a Copy of A Wonderful Year
One lucky reader will win a hardcover copy of A Wonderful Year by Nick Bruel, courtesy of Raincoast Books. Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada only, 18+. Entries will be verified.
Check out my other open giveaways listed in the right sidebar!
We had the arrival of our sixth grandbaby
My grand daughter is getting a sibling in September!
I became more active and am more fit than I was a year ago. Yay!
We adopted two dogs – a beagle named Annie and a pug-zu named Rainey π
I took my husband to see Bryan Adams in concert in Jan (his Christmas gift). He had never seen him before (it was my 4th time seeing him live).
The most exciting thing happening this year is the arrival of our twins – only a few weeks left now!
I would have to say the beginning of building a new wheelchair that will make me more independent
Our little one turned one and is thankfully a happy and healthy baby!
My daughter got married
a close friend got good news regarding a health condition
My great granddaughter was born!
My daughter started school, and she loves it (even though she had a hard time at the beginning)
My son turned one last month, can’t believe fast the year went!
My sweet little son, our first born, was born this year! π
We are expecting a new baby!
I celebrated 39 years of marriage.
It’s only barely within the year, but my daughter was born! She turns 1 on Thursday π
my daughter became a tenager and i have a new baby step granddaughter!
Our son is going to be a father, soon.
Great to have a chance to snag some sweet baby swag.
I’m motivated to succeed and grow my business this year!
I got to go and enjoy both my grandson’s football games this year!
My daughter has just announced that she wants to read more books instead of playing video games all the time – OMG! π
I moved to beautiful White Rock
My nephew was born 7 weeks early and it was touch and go for a while, he was in ICU and not doing well. Suddenly after three weeks in the hospital, he turned for the better and was able to come home! We were all delighted for the newest member of the family to join us at home!
I was presented with 2 new grandchildren, one in Australia and one in Germany and I got to see them both π
The arrival of my granddaughter!!
I quit working to stay at home with the kids and I had my second baby!
We bought a travel trailer for the family to go camping.
II got to visit my son and his family last summer and had a vacation with my daughter in Montreal.
fPP’Planet Kindergarten’ sounds like a really good book to give small children an idea of how they may experience Kindergarten. I think this should be read to them a few times over intervals, especially if they have been home until thenn. Hopefully they will be fine.
My daughter is expecting a baby girl in May!
My mother beat breast cancer!
I have lost 65 lbs since last May!
One of my grandsons, who was in a very bad relationship, met a young woman and is very happy as is she. I am very happy to see him so happy again.
I lost my dog (also referred to as my boyfriend) of 9 years. My kids are growing and getting happier every day and I’m currently enjoying the sun in Mexico. Life is good.
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
In the last year my son moved from South Carolina to Arkansas. He is now only 3 hours away from us instead of 12 hours. One happy mom!
I gave birth to my baby girl on January 16th. Her name is Arya. She with the help of her brother completes our family!
I found out I will be an Aunt again!
Had my little guy Who was born in August this year.
Last year we bought a house!
The birth of a second healthy beautiful granddaughter and a healthy prosperous year for us all!
I went to see Chelsea Handler last year and she was hilarious!!
I went to see to legends last year – Sir Elton John & Sir Paul McCartney!
I became a SAHM! So excited to have the time, quilt-free from work, for my two lovely daughters!
My youngest just had his first birthday, and we also celebrated a year of breastfeeding – a personal goal of mine! π
This year I have lost 35 pounds and have enjoyed the gym a lot more.
my daughter is expecting yay