Welcome to my obsession with children’s books–especially the ones that deal with everyday challenges in a fun and compelling way. I’ll share old classics, new gems, and everything in between to help support you and your kids (or just your kids if they like to read solo). Sign up and you’ll get my top-pick resources, delivered to your inbox each month on the full and new moon.
Bee Dance by Rick Chrustowski (Henry Holt and Company, 2015)
I love seeing the dandelions pop up on my lawn in May and watching the bees return. When my kids were younger they made signs saying “Save the Bees, Keep the Dandelions”. We knew how important the bees were to our eco-system but we didn’t know that honeybees perform a… Read More
In Our Mother’s House by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books, 2009)
I can’t tell you how many Patricia Polacco books I’ve read. My youngest brought home every Polacco book she could find during library time at school. She loved the pictures and we all loved the stories. Each of her books shares a unique message that always made us think and… Read More
In Every Moon There is a Face by Charles Mathes and Illustrated by Arlene Graston (Illumination Arts Publishing Company, 2003)
When the energy in my home is frenzied and we’re arguing more than usual, I look up at the sky and the moon is full. It’s a full moon today. Energy is heightened during a full moon. Emotions, feelings and dreams are all amplified and sometimes it can feel a… Read More
The Girl Who Buried Her Dreams in a Can by Dr. Tererai Trent (Viking Penguin Young Readers, 2015)
Have you ever been told that your dreams are impossible? For Tererai, a young girl growing up in rural Rhodesia, learning was difficult. Girls didn’t go to school with their brothers; they stayed home to cook, clean, and bring supplies to their village. Tererai uses an ancient ritual to feed… Read More
Old Turtle by Douglas Wood (Scholastic Press, 1992)
When Old Turtle spoke, all the beings of the world became quiet and listened. She hardly ever said anything. It started out as an argument long ago. Back then, all the beings of the world (animals, rocks, wind, water, trees, birds, and fish) could understand each other. The argument was… Read More
Holes by Louis Sachar (Scholastic Inc., 1998)
This dark, funny, and clever story takes place at Camp Green Lake, a boys’ detention centre. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. And the boys spend all day digging holes to “build character.” This book is about bad boys being punished in harsh conditions. It’s an edgy read… Read More
How Full is your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer (Gallup Inc, 2009)
When your bucket is empty, it’s hard to feel good. My bucket has been emptied this past year dealing with my child’s behaviour, family pressures, and a whole lot of unexpected twists and turns. What’s going on in our lives and every day interactions can fill or empty our invisible… Read More
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (MacMillan Children’s Books, 2001)
Sometimes I wonder why adults think children’s books are not for them. Journey to the River Sea is a great example of a kids’ book you don’t want to miss! The plot is so exciting, you won’t be able to put it down. Read it with a young person you… Read More
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2001)
Molly Lou Melon has buck-teeth, a voice “like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor” and she’s the shortest girl in first grade. Molly Lou’s grandma tells her to walk proudly, smile big, sing out clear and strong and believe in herself. When she moves to a new town,… Read More
A Busy Year by Leo Lionni (Scholastics Inc., 1993)
It’s a snowy January when two twin mice, Winnie and Willie, discover a tree that can talk! Of course his name is Woody. The curious mice befriend Woody and watch him change each month over a year. They see his buds grow and fruit blossom and his leaves fall—so much… Read More