Head to the library or your favorite bookstore and enjoy this hit list of mom-approved titles! 

Personalized books where your child is the STAR of the Story.  Visit Nana's Ad here.  Orders ready in 10 days!

Check out these creative felt play books for the younger set from Story Time Felts.    Searching for cookbook recs?  Check out In the Kitchen. 

• Insectlopedia by Douglas Florian, Voyager Books, 2002.  Tara writes: “Florian's clever wordsmithing is a wonder that even kids will appreciate. He has some amazing shape poems – poems written in a shape related to the subject. You won't find many of these in most books.”  Ages 5 – 8.
• Wump World by Bill Peet, Houghton Mifflin, 1981.  This older book includes “a sweet story about the gentle ‘wumps,’ whose world is overtaken and trashed by aliens,” Tara says.  “There’s a nice environmental message that also entertains. My son loved it from the time he was 5.”  Ages 4 – 8.
• Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner, Puffin, 2007.  “This is a hysterical, relatively new series of books about a Siamese cat who wishes he were a dashing, sword-buckling Chihuahua. The word play is lots of fun. Bonus: parts are in Spanish, so your child is exposed to easy-to-understand Spanish words.”  Ages 4 – 8.
• Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Harper Collins, 2001. “These classics are older, fantasy tales of good and evil featuring four siblings from World War II-era England who meet fantastic creatures in a far-away land.”  Ages 9 – 12.

Website Watch

Thanks to Springfield Moms reader Vicki Hall (who works as the elementary librarian for Springfield Public Schools) for sharing this website that works as a great (free!) reading tool for kids.

“Parents can sign their children up for a free motivational reading website sponsored by Sylvan Learning,” Vicki says.  “They should go to www.bookadventure.org.  This is a program very similar to Accelerated Reader by Renaissance Learning and Reading Counts by Scholastic, which are very expensive.  One of the best parts about Book Adventure is that it is free.  Children read books listed on the website and then they can take an online quiz to check for comprehension. Parents can set up a reward system for the passing of x number of quizzes if they choose to. It's a great reading tool especially if it is used for fun and not mandatory.”    Vicki is also a distributor for Story Time Felts.  Visit her website for more information. 

Do you dare take the challenge and turn off your television for an entire week?  The Center for Screen-Time Awareness knows you can do it, and they have provided the resources to help on their website www.screentime.org. It may seem like a daunting task, but even just reducing the hours your children spend in front of the screen can make a huge difference in their attitudes and energy levels. Be intentional about coming up with alternate activities, and if you take the challenge, be sure to email us and let us know how it turned out! 

Babybug Magazine from Carus Publishing Company and the Cricket Magazine Group.  www.babybug.com.  This pint-sized magazine for little hands comes monthly with hard-to-rip pages, fun illustrations, and age-appropriate poems and stories.  Both of our children love to look back over past issues and see what Kim and her stuffed animal friend Carrots are doing.

Big Farm Machines: Caterpillar, Inc. 2002.  For younger boys especially, this board book entrances!  Each colorful photograph takes place on one page while the words on bright backgrounds describe the action on the opposite page.  Expect excited reactions!   

Big Farm Machines Caterpillar, Inc. 2002. For younger boys especially, this board book entrances! Each colorful photograph takes place on one page while the words on bright backgrounds describe the action on the opposite page. Expect excited reactions!

Daddy’s Lullaby by Tony Bradman, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft. Simon & Schuster, 2001. This precious book shows a dad coming home late, checking on his wife, his preschool age son and new baby. The new baby can’t sleep so dad and baby go downstairs together and "visit" until they both fall asleep in the armchair. Great book for families expecting a new arrival this summer.

Jamberry by Bruce Degen (HarperFestival 1983). The berry pickers in this board book delight young eyes and ears with their colors and rhymes and unlikely scenarios. This classic is sure to be chewed and drooled over!

I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy. Candlewick Press, 2003. Various animals comment on a new duckling, leaving room for enthusiastic parent interpretation and many kisses, of course!

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? By Bill Martin, Jr. Henry Holt and Company, 1991. Yes, it’s a classic and for good reason. The bright colors, repetition, and parent-supplied dramatic animal noises make this a favorite for babies and toddlers alike. The best part? My four-year-old "reads" it to his baby sister.

Maisy at the Fair by Lucy Cousins. Candlewick Press, 2001. This book is short on words but big on colors and personality. There’s a carnival with an elephant in the bouncy castle and a big slide for Maisy. Unleash your most enthusiastic "Whee!" Smiles will follow, guaranteed.

My Big Brother by Valorie Fisher. Simon & Schuster. 2002. Told from a baby’s perspective, this book shows the wonderful qualities of a big brother with colorful and humorous photographs from baby’s eyes. Our favorite part is the expression on big brother’s face when baby food comes flying at him after he feeds his baby sibling carrots. Wonderful book for little ones.

Bear on a Bike by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Debbie Harter. Barefoot Books, 2001. A happy bear takes off on a bicycle, a raft, a steam train, a boat, a carriage, and a rocket ship to many colorful destinations. Rhyming and repetition will delight your toddlers!

Book! by Kristine O’Connell George, illustrated by Maggie Smith. Clarion Books, 2001. This book celebrates books! The baby friendly thick pages, bright colors, and minimal text hold a child’s attention. The main character’s cat provides continuity from page to page and gives the reader plenty of "meowing" opportunities.

Baby Loves by William Lach, illustrated by Mary Cassatt. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2002. Young children love to see pictures of other young children. Why not show them works of art? The sixteen paintings, prints, and pastels offered here show different textures, colors, and styles of art. The words accentuate the action.

Birthday Blessings by Dandi Daley Mackall, illustrated by Elena Kucharik. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2001. This board book intrigues the baby set by focusing on children, animals, and birthday pictures that complement a rhyming "thank-you" to God for making birthdays. My one-year-old points and "talks" to this one with great enthusiasm.

Sometimes I Like To Curl Up In A Ball by Vicki Churchill, illustrated by Charles Fuge. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2001. This delightfully illustrated book follows a day in the life of a small wombat that revels in life. He makes muddy messes, jumps high, hides low, and runs fast. The colors and expressions make this one a winner.

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood. Scholastic, Inc. 1984. This simple book follows a mouse that procures a single ripe strawberry to eat. The narrator brings up the possibility of a bear hunting for strawberries, and the mouse goes to great lengths to protect his berry (from a bear who never shows up).

Barnyard Dance! By Sandra Boynton. Workman Publishing, 1993. These dancing farm animals always bring giggles. The animal sound effects provide great opportunities for parents, and the illustrations add to the general merriment. Boynton’s books don’t always captivate my toddler, but this one has been a popular addition to our library.

Babybug from Carus Publishing Company and the Cricket Magazine Group. http://www.cricketmag.com/home.asp This pint-sized magazine for little hands comes monthly with hard-to-rip pages, fun illustrations, and age-appropriate poems and stories. Both of our children love to look back over past issues and see what Kim and her stuffed animal friend Carrots are doing.

Animal Baby from the National Wildlife Federation. www.nwf.org/giftsforkids This is the first in their Childhood of Nature series and includes photographs of real animal babies, interactive stories and rhymes with a 24-page board format suitable for smaller hands.

The Very Special Valentine by Christine Tagg, pictures by Maggie Kneen.  Chronicle Books, 2003.  The heavier weight pages and illustrations make this book a must have for any age.  Little Bunny Gray is searching for a Valentine to give to his friend Rosie. He looks all over nature finding gems, but he eventually learns that Rosie wants a gift from his heart. 

If You’ll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Fumi Kosaka.  HarperCollins Publishers, 2005.  Author Cynthia Rylant is a pro, and this book presents Valentine’s Day in an easy-to-understand way. The illustrations provide colorful, larger-than-life depictions of a child enjoying giving and receiving love.  Check this one out!

The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Marla Frazee (Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997). The sophisticated rhyming brings a nice structure to a gloriously goofy story about a mother who painstakingly fixes exactly what her children demand of her to eat … all seven of them!

Giraffe’s Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees (Orchard Book Australia, 1999). Gerald has bandy knees, rather thin legs, and he isn’t very coordinated. When the jungle dance arrives and the warthogs are waltzing, the rhinos are rock-n-rolling, and the lions dance a tango – Gerald feels left out. The illustrations offer neat details in this "you can do it!" book.

Shhhhh! Everybody’s Sleeping by Julie Markes, illustrated by David Parkins. HarperCollins Publishers, 2005. Each person falls asleep in the environment of his or her profession. So, the fireman sleeps on top of his fire-truck, the teacher in her classroom, and the librarian in her library. Your older child will love the detailed illustrations!

Micawber by John Lithgow, illustrated by C. F. Payne. Simon and Schuster, 2002. The marvelous words in this book set it apart, creating a perfect occasion to introduce the dictionary for parent and child alike! The illustrations are lushly drawn, giving life to the squirrel artist and New York’s Central Park.

The Worrywarts by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Henry Cole. HarperCollins, 1999. Three friends – a wombat, a weasel, and a woodchuck – awake one morning and decide to see the world. Each one is overtaken by worries about "what if?" but the friends reassure each other. When their worries come true, their quick and wacky responses provide many laughs. The plot of this book is Wonderful, with a capital W.

How Many Stars in the Sky? By Lenny Hort, illustrated by James E. Ransome. Tambourine Books, 1991. A boy and his father go on a midnight journey to count stars, riding through town and eventually out to the country where they find millions of stars. The illustrations have rich colors and a textural feel to them. The best part? The book shows how awesome the universe is … almost as awesome as this father/son relationship.

The Crooked Apple Tree by Eric Houghton, illustrated by Caroline Gold. Barefoot Books, 1999. Moving to a new house can produce conflicting emotions. Some things change, but other things (like our imagination) remain. The children in this story miss their favorite pond but find a crooked apple tree that provides as many adventures as their imaginations can create. The mother and father play a key role in the transition, and the illustrations complement the story nicely.

Monster Trucks! By Mark Todd. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003. Mashers and munchers, packers and crunchers – they are all covered! The descriptions delight: "scraping and shoveling with a sneering tooth blade, leveling the earth for the roads to be laid."

What a Wonderful Day to Be a Cow by Carolyn Lesser, illustrated by Melissa Bay Mathis. Dragonfly Books, Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. For kids who love animals and farms, this book takes you through the year using unique details and lilting language to describe why each animal loves its month. The beautiful illustrations provide details to ponder. This is a quiet book, perfect for bedtime or before naptime.

The Egg written and illustrated by M.P. Robertston. Phyllis Fogelman Books, 2001. George knew something was up when he found a gigantic egg in the chicken coop. Sure enough, a dragon hatches, and the dragon thinks George is his mother! The pictures add whimsy to this tale of a boy who has to teach a dragon how to fly, breathe fire, and eventually return to the place where dragons live.

Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie. Little, Brown and Company, 1997. This book celebrates the differences between two pig friends. Toot loves to travel and sends Puddle clever post cards from far-away destinations. Puddle is a homebody who prefers to stay home and ice-skate on Pocket Pond, wallow in mud, and celebrate birthdays and holidays. The two reunite when Toot’s travels end. The illustrations are gentle but detailed.

The Elves and the Shoemaker by Jim LaMarche. Chronicle Books in 2003. Jim LaMarche has taken this classic German children’s tale and given it fabulous colors and beautiful and outlandish shoes! My son giggles every time he sees the couple hiding behind their coats to sneak a peek at the elves working. And what a concept for today’s children … making shoes?! The shoemaker’s tools and materials provide great details for young eyes to focus on. Another highlight is the message of taking care of others.

Mrs. Biddlebox by Linda Smith, illustrated by Marla Frazee. HarperCollins Publishers, 2002. Has your child ever suffered through a bad day? A witch-like Mrs. Biddlebox sweeps up her bad day, puts it into a pan where she bakes it into a cake, eats it, and goes to bed for the night. Fun words like creakies, crumblies, grumblies, whizzled, and whiffles accompany illustrations that sweep across the page in broad strokes, blacks, grays, browns and muted greens.

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White, illustrated by Megan Lloyd. Holiday House, New York, 1996. This fall book spotlights a grumpy woman, Rebecca Estelle, who hates pumpkins. The lengths to which she goes to get rid of her pumpkins delight kids. Of course, she recognizes their value by the end of the book. The pictures show farm images and the pumpkins give readers fun details to notice.

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper. Farrar Straus Giroux, 1998. The pictures are all done in fall colors, oranges, browns, grays. Three friends learn about sharing the responsibilities as they create their special recipe for pumpkin soup. There are pumpkins and an imagined witch in the woods which all contribute to this book being a good fall choice.

Ladybug by Carus Publishing Company and the Cricket Magazine Group. http://www.cricketmag.com/home.asp  This magazine helps preschoolers learn how to focus by including a few longer stories to concentrate on. But they also provide a nice mix of shorter poems, brightly colored illustrations and a regular cartoon that appears monthly at the end.

Peter and the Wolf by Vladimir Vagan (book). Scholastic Press in 2000. Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf (CD) with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, 1960/1985 CBS Records. This combination of colorful storybook and Bernstein’s narrative accompanied by the symphony is irresistible to this age group … and me! The characters come to life musically and on the page, educating listeners about the different instruments and how music can express a story’s moods.

(top)

Six to Ten Years

The Fishing Summer by Teddy Jam, illustrated by Ange Zhang. Groundwood Books, Douglas & McIntyre, 1997. This excellent longer book shows a boy surrounded by his hard-working fishermen uncles and his Mom who wants to be overprotective at first, but then relents and works alongside her boy and her brothers out on the boat. The uncles and the boy are working hard, chopping herring for bait, throwing nets "a giant billowing mesh," so the longer text holds interest easily.

George Washington’s Cows by David Small. Farrar Straus Giroux, 1994. This rhyming book is as much fun for adults as it is for kids. Washington’s cows live upstairs with a life of luxury before they will give milk. His hogs are genteel and serve food when the servants are sick. His sheep are quite learned and give lectures on oceans while wearing academic gowns and mortarboards. The illustrations are amusing with lots of details. The humor is a hit!

(top)

Tweens & Teens

 Yes, Math Can Be Cool  Remember Winnie from The Wonder Years? Turns out she is a brain in real life and has penned a book “Math Doesn’t Suck: How To Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail” designed to excite kids (and girls especially) about middle school math.  Author Danica McKellar is the real life “Winnie” with a degree IN MATH from UCLA so she knows what she’s talking about.  Her fun and inspiring book can be found on www.amazon.com. 

(top)

Moms Only

NON FICTION

Population: 485, Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren At a Time by Michael Perry.  HarperCollins Publishers, 2002. If you enjoy reading about small towns and the people who inhabit them, pick up this book at your library or bookstore. The author returns home to the small town he grew up in and begins volunteering as a fireman.  His stories about the people of New Auburn will amaze you, and their realities will touch your heart.

A Life’s Work: On Becoming A Mother by Rachel Cusk.  Picador USA, 2001. It’s the toughest job you’ll ever love, and this British author lays it out there with wit and insight and calamity.  All the emotions are there if you are brave enough to admit to them.  She is brave enough, but the best part of this book is remembering that you aren’t alone.    

FICTION:

Evening Class by Maeve Binchy. Delacorte Press, 1997. Nobody weaves a cast of characters together better than best-selling author Maeve Binchy. She has written a number of wonderful books, but this one ranks highest on my list. A language and culture class on Italy is the setting of this novel, and you will find yourself totally involved with the characters and their personal predicaments as well as vivid scenes from Italy. A great book for vacation or to curl up with poolside.

REFERENCE:

“I’m Glad I’m A Mom” New Book for Mother’s Day

The short real-life stories in this book from Harvest House Publishing prove funny, heartwarming and surprising poignant, and they revolve around the triumphs and trials of every day moms just like you and me. These true-to-life stories come from moms (including Springfield Moms Jody Antrim, Mary Byers and Julie Kaiser) who have coped with newborns and slippery couches, 3-year-olds and runaway sleds, first prom, first dance, first kiss and so much more.  No matter what season of motherhood you are in, this book will have a story for you.  Visit www.hearts-at-home.org to purchase.

If you struggle with your child’s behavioral issues, try reading these 2 books by author Stanley Turecki, who is skilled at helping us recognize the differences in our children that can be worrisome at times, but may be normal for them:  Normal Children Have Problems Too and The Difficult Child.  

The Mother/Daughter Information Gap When you were a teen, did you ever wonder if your Mom told you everything you needed to know about life?  Ever wonder if your own daughter is right now, at this very instant, wondering the same thing about you?  Never fear – there’s a book out there that could help!  Author Richard M. Dudum’s book “What Your Mother Never Told You” tries to alleviate the information gap between mothers and daughters.  He’s the parent of four children and he takes a close look at the issues most concerning mothers and daughters between the teenage and college years.  While the book is geared towards the younger set, moms and even grandmas can benefit from the specifics he shares with his readers.  Visit his website: www.whatyourmothernevertoldyou.net for a preview.

The Mother Load: How To Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family and How To Say No … and Live To Tell About It by local author and SpringfieldMoms columnist Mary Byers. Mary has published two great resources for harried moms about the importance of creating personal priorities and learning how to say no to opportunities that don’t make your list. Her practical advice combined with inspiring and humorous stories make these books "must-reads" for moms.

The Mom Book Goes To School by Stacey DeBroff. Free Press of Simon & Schuster, 2005. DeBroff offers valuable and practical advice in a straightforward manner that is easy to reference. She answers questions on: how best to use email to communicate with school staff, why teachers hate being approached on the fly, which student behaviors annoy teachers the most, which parent behaviors work against you, how to recognize bullying and cliques, how to hire a professional advocate for a child with learning disabilities, homework routines, test strategies, changing schools and much more. Perfect for your reference library! 

(top)

© Springfield Moms 2004-2008  All rights reserved.

www.SpringfieldMoms.org Online Family Resources ™

217-698-4097  Springfield , IL

 about us    contact us     home   search  privacy terms  webmaster