The Magic of Kidlit at Christmas

Lately BooksandBananas has understandably been filled with Christmas stories. My copy of The Polar Express is showing some wear. Knowing my love of picture books, a favorite aunt gifted it to me when I was not yet out of my teen years. Let's just say it's beyond ancient. 

This was the first year my favorite 4 yr old really "got" the story. Watching him get excited was a treasure. Movies serve their purpose, but nothing will ever replace the magic of reading.

Books and Bananas: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

There are some books I've checked out of the library so often I wonder why I don't just buy a copy.  Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown is definitely one of those books.

From my 4 yr old's perspective, this is just a purely fun book.  From an adult perspective, the process of Mr. Tiger going wild and how it impacts those around him is a brilliant message.  I admire the simplicity in which Peter Brown conveys a complex message.  I think this needs to be part of my next book store run.  It deserves a permanent place in my home library.

Books and Bananas: The Bear Ate Your Sandwich

Today Books and Bananas was a luxurious marathon of a million books, but the one that made the 4 yr old say "read it again, read it again!" was The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach. 

This story will teach you that you just may not know who is narrating a story.  Be prepared for a surprise!

Books and Bananas: On The Road

Today Books and Bananas went on the road...to the living room where a fantastic indoor tent had been set up. We crawled in with our books and bananas and a flashlight and enjoyed our latest library books. We started with They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel. This book gives a great visual perspective of how we all view the world differently.

Then we moved on to Exclamation Point by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld. As a writer I am extremely impressed with this book. Brilliant. It's worth adding to your library, even if you don't have kids!

Books and Bananas: Something for Everyone

Some mornings every book looks fun to read.  Today was that kind of day.  We each picked books, picked some more, then found even more.  We cuddled and read for a good two hours this morning. What a way to start the day!

Our first round started with a book older than me (shocking but true):  Harold and the Purple Crayon.  I can read this book a million times and still find it completely delightful.  We moved on to The Night Pirates, a book I think should be a standard part of any home library because girl pirates are the best! And to end the first round of reading, I always like throwing in My Mother Is So Smart from Tomie dePaola. Because who doesn't love that title?!

Books and Bananas: Vacation!

We spent this last week on vacation at the lake. I debated my packing options: take one book I would be reading to my little guy 532 times, or take an entire suitcase of books.  Instead I found the perfect solution...I introduced the 4 yr old to Where the Sidewalk Ends.  He truly loved the silliness, and I appreciated having a variety of poems to choose from for the week.

And since it was vacation, it wasn't Books and Bananas.  It was Books and Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Muffins.  Because that's how vacations should be.

Books and Bananas: Ah, summer!

This weekend's Books and Bananas featured two books that bring a fun aspect to a summer morning.

We started with SWING! by Rufus Butler Seder.  Have you heard of Scanimation?  I hadn't until Grandma gifted us this book.  Each page features kids in an activity with visual movement on the page that is mesmerizing to a child. 

We also enjoyed what I call the rap version of a children's book...Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!  How can you not feel like getting out of bed and bouncing through your day after the rhythmic flow of this favorite alphabet book?!

1,000 Books By Kindergarten

We've been participating in our local library's 1000 Books by Kindergarten program.  This past week  we surpassed the 750 mark.  The 4 yr old gets excited to cross off more books; it's a good motivator! 

So onward we read, with this morning's Books and Bananas kicking off with Quick as a Cricket! by Audrey Wood.  I really like the rhythm in this book, and it's a great way to help kids articulate that they are many things and many moods, which all together make them perfectly themselves.


If you haven't read it, check it out.  And while you're at the library, find out what type of reading programs they have in place.  Reading to a child is a priceless memory for both of you.

Books and Bananas: Love You Forever

Some mornings start with hugs and smiles and some mornings....don't.  Today I gathered what seemed like appropriate books for the mood of the day.  I figured Alexander would be the 4 yr old's selection, as he sat with his arms crossed and back to me. 

But it wasn't.  He picked Love You Forever. And as his scowl started to fade and he moved a little closer and a little more cuddling started, I realized he just wanted to hear that I really do love him no matter what.  Forever.

Today my favorite toddler turned 4.  It was a special Books and Bananas as we prepared for it.  We read birthday books, but it was also very appropriate to read Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Williems. 

In a toddler's world, the countdown to his birthday nearly killed him.  Granted, he started talking about it the day after Christmas and May is a loooong way from December!  Mr. Williems, you hit it on the head! Waiting Is Not Easy when you're a toddler!

Books and Bananas: Little Golden Books

I'm a huge fan of today's children's authors...minimal word counts, visuals that tell the unspoken story.  But sometimes I like to go old school.  Today for Books and Bananas we pulled out a pile of Little Golden Books.  My toddler was excited to notice that they all have the same back cover. Remember the back cover?  Dig one out and feel a sense of nostalgia.  Maybe The Poky Little Puppy was your favorite?  Mine was The Monster at the end of this Book.  We started this morning off with Richard Scarry.  It doesn't get any more nostalgic than a little time with Lowly Worm!

Books and Bananas: Triangle

When it comes to current children's literature, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen are true masterminds on their own.  Put them together to collaborate on a story and you are holding pure brilliance in your hands.

Triangle hit the shelves just a few months ago.  It's a simple story of a triangle and a square who are friends.  But in their subtle storytelling style, the word sly comes to mind as the best way to describe this book.

Simple drawings (with those shifty eyes that add so much power to the story) make this a nice read for both parents and kids.  Once you read this, you'll be looking for more from both of these award-winning storytellers.

Books and Bananas: Officer Buckle and Gloria

When the toddler crawled in bed with me this morning wearing a helmet, I knew exactly which book would kick off today's Books and Bananas:  Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann.

This story never gets old.  Every time we read it my kids find something new in the illustrations of the letters.  Even the inside cover was a hit today!

Books and Bananas: Minnesota Author Marianne Richmond

Over 10 years ago my aunt and uncle gifted my older boys the book I Love You So... by Marianne Richmond.  I fell in love with the rhythm and moreso the illustrations instantly.  I had to find out who this amazing artist and author was.  After some research, I was even more excited to discover she was a fellow Minnesotan!

Now a decade later I've expanded my collection of her work.  Although she's moved on to a snow-less state, the impact of her work continues to be a part of our family reading time.  Thank you, Marianne.

Books and Bananas: The Night Pirates

Some weekday mornings are tornadic-levels of rushing. Some weekday mornings are a half-asleep trudgery to get moving. But some weekday mornings are strangely calm, ahead of schedule, and provide the rare gift of a few quiet moments before starting the day.

Last time that gift of a wonderful morning came, it gave us a chance to start the day with Books and Bananas. Although it was morning, my favorite toddler selected The Night Pirates by Peter Harris. I love this story, and love that the pirates are girls...so fun!

I can't wait for the next surprise weekday books and bananas. It makes the workday kickoff on such a great note!

Books and Bananas: Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo

Sometimes I discover a book on the bookshelf that we've owned for quite a while, yet amazingly have never actually read.  That was the case this morning when I discovered Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo. 

My little guy enjoyed hearing a new story, and especially found it hilarious that a rooster slept in an actual bed. 

Take a look through your bookshelves.  Are there books you've never read?  Don't let them gather dust!

Books and Bananas: Mars Needs Moms!

I've had this book for years as I read it to my older kids, and now it was time to bust it out for the toddler.  YES, if you weren't aware, Berkeley Breathed of Bloom County comic strip fame has written children's books.  

This one has always been a favorite of mine, since sometimes little boys really do need to be reminded about the importance of moms ;-)

Grab a banana and enjoy!

Books and Bananas: NINJA!

Have you had those moments in life when you feel like your routine is completely out of whack?  That's been my world for the past few weeks.  Life threw us a couple wrenches, and it's been a struggle to get back to our normal routine.  As any parent knows, routine is key to a toddler's emotional well-being. 

This past week we were visiting family out-of-state, and they had intentionally bought bananas in anticipation of my toddler's arrival.  So despite being out of normal routine, Books and Bananas lived on!

One of our choices to bring on the trip was NINJA! by Arree Chung.  This book grabbed my little guy's curiosity.  He really studied the items the main character gathered for his ninja costume; I could see the wheels turning.

This book was of special interest to me, as I'm currently taking an online class from the author.  It was inspiring to see a published work from someone I have a connection with, especially after learning more about his journey to become a published author.

There are more NINJA! books out from this author/illustrator; be sure to check them out at http://arree.com/. 

Books and Bananas is our weekend routine...but today we had some magical morning time and snuck in a mid-week bonding moment.  Although one look at his face and you can tell just how much joy there was in toddlerville this morning.

Thankfully, our library stack included one of many loved dinosaur books from Jane Yolen. We love reading every single one in the series, and today it seemed most appropriate to read How Do Dinosaurs Say I'm Mad?

Enough said.

But some reading together cuddle time was just what the doctor ordered, and by the end of Books and Bananas he decided I wasn't so bad after all. And I kinda like him too.

Books and Bananas: A Dog is a Dog

Epic mom fail today...I'm overdue on a grocery run, so books and bananas had to happen without bananas this morning.  So sad.  But it didn't stop us from starting the weekend with books, books, and more books!

Despite not fitting in a grocery run this week, we did fit in a library run.  Priorities, priorities!  We found a few new favorites, and some familiar stories that are always fun to revisit.  Books and (lack of) Bananas started off this morning with A Dog is a Dog by Stephen Shaskan.

Since this is a familiar book, my toddler gets excited when he can complete the phrase.  The rhyming pattern and illustrations support his pre-reading learning process.  I love to see and hear the delight as he "reads" the phrase endings.

Random note:  there is a typo in this book, a word that's missing.  I didn't notice it at first since our brains fill it in. See if you can find it!

This morning for Books and Bananas the toddler picked My Mother Is So Smart! by Tomie dePaola.

Of the more than 200 books he's written and illustrated, the title itself of this one is obviously my favorite!

Now we'll see if my son starts using the title to describe me

Books and Bananas: The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

It's January 1, so I announced to the toddler that it's time to put away everything Christmas.  We've been reading lots of Christmas books at bedtime; The Polar Express will never lose its magic, and  I've really enjoyed The Little Drummer Boy from Ezra Jack Keats (how did I just discover that one this year??).

I had a pile of books ready for books and bananas this morning, but when my favorite toddler crawled in bed with me this morning he rejected all my selections and ran to get The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish. The story doesn't quite get him repeating out loud like he does in the original Pout-Pout Fish, but the familiarity and amusing artwork in this book really draws him in.

As he starts exhibiting early reader signs, familiarity and predictably really make him feel proud!