The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the year that has just ended and imagine the changes we would like to make in the coming year. When it comes to this yearly goal setting, many times we make bland resolutions. Lose 5 pounds. Get up earlier. Keep up with the house work. Without a real plan, many of these are forgotten by February, if not earlier. So, instead of making generic resolutions, why not sit down with a warm cup of tea/coffee/cocoa and set some actionable goals for the year. To offer you some inspiration for changing your perspective or changing your life, I asked other bloggers which books changed their lives for the better. Below I have compiled a list of the top 9 choices of life changing books which got multiple votes. These will be on my reading list this year!
Category Archives: Book Lists
Sweet Treats and Gingerbread Stories!
What better way is there to bring a child’s favorite book to life than to create some delicious story inspired snacks together? The story of the Gingerbread Man is a classic tale that has been retold and adapted many different ways over the years. Below is a list of some of the varied Gingerbread stories, as well as delicious ginger cookie recipes! I hope you have fun creating some delicious snacks with your family, while enjoying some of these delightful takes on the classic tale!
Celebrating Christmas Around the World
Christmas is celebrated in many different countries around the world. Whether you say Merry Christmas or Feliz Navidad or Fröhliche Weihnachten, the spirit of the holiday is the same. There are many great books available to introduce children to Christmas celebrations all over the world. Why not take a trip around the globe together and learn some new customs? While learning how people celebrate Christmas around the world, you may discover something you want to make into a family tradition of your own.
Hanukkah Board Books For The Littlest Bookworms
As Hanukkah approaches, don’t forget to include the youngest readers in your family! There are so many great Hanukkah board books to introduce kids to all of the traditions and fun of the holiday. Familiar characters including Elmo and Curious George celebrate the holiday with their friends while interactive lift the flap books entertain the youngest of readers. Below is a list of great board books to introduce young infants and toddlers to traditions ranging from playing with dreidels to lighting the menorah.
Best Christmas Board Books
Don’t forget the little ones when you are buying your holiday books! There are a wide variety of wonderful Christmas board books for babies and toddlers to enjoy during the holiday season. From touch and feel interactive books to sweet stories introducing them to traditions and symbols, you are sure to find something for your child! While several of the classic Christmas stories are also available in board book formats, I tried to keep this post to mostly books aimed at very young children.
Terrific Thanksgiving Read-Alouds!
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday full of family, food, fun and thankfulness. There are so many great Thanksgiving books to entertain kids while teaching them about this holiday. I wrote about several Thanksgiving books this month, but there are so many more that I couldn’t get to yet! This is a list of even more awesome Thanksgiving books that I recommend adding to your collection. So curl up under some warm blankets, grab some yummy snacks (or leftovers) and enjoy some family reading time!
Ring in the Holidays with Family Read-Alouds!
There are so many amazing books to read during the holiday season. From Santa Claus to snowmen and dreidels to trees, there are so many wonderful stories to share with children and get them excited for the season! I could not possibly list all of the amazing books out there, but I have managed to compile a list of books that are personal favorites of mine that I am excited to share with my daughter for many years to come. (If your favorite is not here, don’t worry! Other holidays and traditions will definitely be recognized in posts to come).
Overcoming the Election Negativity with Positive Books
This election has me very worried about the state of our country and the future we’re building for our children. As adults, we are supposed to be the role models, the positive influences and the good decision makers. Yet, the news is filled with people name-calling, interrupting, and making decisions that we would not accept from our children. It may seem oversimplified to think that we can fix all of our issues by working together and being respectful. However, I believe in the impact of positivity and respect. So, to overcome the negative attitudes that kids may be absorbing during this election, I decided to find positive books about America and citizenship. These books can remind kids and parents how America can be great while showing us how we can all help to make it a better place.
Great Books for Babies!
“Why should I start reading to my baby when she can’t even understand the story?”
There is a misconception that reading to kids only revolves around the story and their understanding of it. But there are so many important reasons to read to babies, starting with the fact that they will learn from the very beginning that books are awesome! My parents read to me on my very first night home from the hospital. It was a short story out of a collection of 1 minute fairy tales. I read out of the same book on my daughter’s first night home from the hospital as well. I have read to her every night since then, and at 2 years old, she already loves to be read to and to look at books on her own.
9 Fun Halloween Books for Family Read Alouds
The Halloween season is upon us! While kids are planning their costumes and making trick-or-treat plans, don’t forget to find time to enjoy some fun and spooky stories together! There are a ton of great Halloween books for children including everything from monsters and vampires to costumes and pumpkins. Whether you are looking for lighthearted seasonal fun or books to teach a lesson or help face a fear, there are plenty of great books to meet those needs. I cannot possibly list all of the amazing Halloween books, but these are some of my favorites.
