Adding Beauty to the World with Miss Rumphius

adding-beauty-to-the-world-with-miss-rumphiusAs we start the new year and leave the old behind, it is a great opportunity to make changes in our own lives and in our communities. After the holidays, it’s especially important to remind kids of their role in helping others and making the world a more beautiful place!

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Start the Year with Life Changing Books!

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!

Celebrate the New Year with The Night Before New Year’s!

The year is coming to an end and a new one is around the corner! There are so many great ways to include kids in the New Years celebrations, and many great books to teach them about the holiday. Whether they are staying up to count down with you, or counting down to noon instead, there are many ways to get them involved in the holiday!

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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.

Legend of the Poinsettia

I love seeing poinsettias all around during the Christmas season. There are so many pretty varieties, and they bring such a pop of color to the home. But do you know the significance behind them? Today we had some fun learning about the legend of the poinsettia, and creating some fun Christmas crafts and snacks to pair with it!

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Jingle Bells Rock!

Jingle bells are one of my favorite sounds of the season! The traditional song is one of the first carols we teach young kids (my daughter already likes yelling the “hey” part), and we introduce bells to them as soon as they can shake their fists! There are many beautiful children’s books that have used the traditional song to tell a Christmas story.

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Learn about Elf Life with Memoirs of an Elf!

Elves have become a beloved part of the Christmas lore and traditions. (Unless you are the type of parent who dreads the return of Elf on the Shelf). Today’s book is a fun story about the life of an elf, giving us a chance to have even more elf inspired fun!

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Holiday Giggles with The Grinch!

Get kids excited for Christmas with Grinch activities and crafts to pair with the book! #kidsbooks #christmascrafts #christmasactivitiesforkids #christmaswithkids #christmaschildrensbooks #grinchcrafts #grinchactivities #grinchsensory #grinchlessons #activitiesforthegrinch

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss is a holiday classic which has been shared among families for many years because of the entertaining delivery of it’s simple message – Christmas is about more than gifts. After stealing the Who’s Christmas gifts, the Grinch discovers that without trees, presents, wreaths, and their feast, the residents of Who-ville still have holiday spirit. In today’s society, this message is even more important as Christmas decorations appear in the stores earlier, and shops open for sales on Thanksgiving Day. Use this classic story about the Grinch and the lesson he learns about Christmas to teach your kids and get them into the spirit of the season!

Elf Fun with the Little Christmas Elf!

There is a lot of work that goes into all the fun and festive activities during the holiday season. Get kids in on the action with these fun elf activities and an adorable read aloud that teaches an important message all year round!

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The Little Christmas Elf by Nikki Shannon Smith tells the story of Nina, the smallest elf in Santa’s workshop. It’s Nina’s first chance to make toys, so she spends all day trying to finish her teddy bear. She isn’t able to finish the bear in time, but Santa urges her not to give up. In a sweet ending to the story, her hard work pays off. Besides being a fun story, this book gives parents the opportunity to talk to their kids about perseverance and the idea that everyone, big or small can make a difference! Elves are so much fun to read about, and they can give kids a chance to have fun and learn as well!