6 Children's Books to Read For Boys With Sensitive Hearts

Our son is as a wonderful mixture of characteristics - he is brave, he is thoughtful, he is gentle, he has lots of empathy, he is silly, and he has a very sensitive heart.

Even as a young toddler, when we were reading his Bible together, and we were reading the Easter story, he would always kiss Jesus' boo-boos.

I love that culture is portraying a sensitive heart as a strength more and more - especially in boys. Having empathy and caring for others IS a strength! It's what makes a superhero a real superhero, and not just a person in a cape.

So, here are some of my top books to read for your boy who happens to have a sensitive heart.

1. Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and the Red Shoes by Lindman Maj

You can't go wrong with any of the Snipp, Snapp and Snurr books. They are a set of triplets from Sweden. In this particular one, they work very hard to earn a pair of lovely red shoes for their mother. In another, they save up enough to buy a brand new sled - only to then see a young boy outside the store who cannot afford one, but would like a sled more than anything... These stories help teach generosity and hard work.

2. Dear Boy, by Paris Rosenthal and Jason B. Rosenthal

My mom got our son this book, and I love it! It has lots of inspirational and solid advice for young boys; things like, "feeling cloudy? It's okay to let the rain fall.", "when you're alone with your thoughts, you are never alone", "be kind", "yes means yes, anything else means no" and "play your favorite sport - and be a good sport, while you're at it." It's a great one to pull out to help your kiddo if they're having a difficult time working through something.

3. The Hole in the Dike by Norma Green, illustrated by Eric Carle

I am a sucker for Eric Carle illustrations! I love this story, as it has a face value lesson to teach, as well as a deeper one. I love that it encourages kids to take action when they see something wrong, even if they are young. I love that the actions of one boy saved his whole country. What bravery!

4. The Circle Maker for Kids by Mark Patterson

This is a great, and very timely story to read with any kid, but especially a young boy with a tender heart. It is about a drought Israel, and a man, the circle maker draws a circle in the sand, kneels in it, and begins praying for rain. Our son loved it so much that he started drawing circles to pray in. It is great to instill a desire for a prayer life in kids, especially at a young age!


5. Across the Alley by Richard Michelson

This is a more serious story, but one that is important for kids to hear. It is about a young African American boy, and a young Jewish boy whose windows open to each other. They form a friendship, play baseball, and the violin... but will they be able to be friends outside of their ally?




6. The Boy and the Ocean by Max Lucado

I don't know what I love better about this book - the beautiful way it describes God's love, or the vast and dream-like illustrations. Boys with sensitive hearts will be comforted by the love expressed through the pages, and will find their imaginations wandering. I love this book so much, that I have it on a shelf in our son's room.

Those are my top 6, but there are so so many more. 

Please drop your favorite in the comments below! 

9 Children's Books to Read On International Women's Day

It's March 8th - International Women's Day!

I have a "book bucket" in our living room, where I switch out the books, depending on what the season is, what holiday is coming up, or even what our family may be going through (new baby, moving, transitions, etc.)

This month, I rounded up of our books that are about inspirational women - fictional, as well as historical. We had more than I thought we might, which gave me a personal little thrill. :) 

I decided that some of these were so great, that I couldn't keep them to myself.

So I'm sharing them with you!

1. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

This delightful children's book is about Rosie, a young girl who gets discouraged about her inventions when someone laughs at them. The adult laughed in a good-natured way, but young Rosie internalizes it, and decides that she can't be an engineer. Until one day she chooses to build her favorite great-aunt (Rosie the riveter) an airplane... will young Rosie succeed?

We need more women in STEM, so I love books like these that encourage young girls to use their brains! This is just one of the great books in a series of them from Andrea Beaty, and I'm excited to add more to our collection along the way!

2. The Perfume of Memory by Michelle Nikly

I found this little-known book at a library sale years ago. It is about a land where girls aren't allowed to create perfume, or go to school, or do the same things boys are allowed. One perfume maker, however has been teaching his young daughter Yasmin the secrets of perfume making. Due to a turn of events, it is now up to Yasmin to save the queen with her forbidden skills. I love that it hints at cultures where, even today, girls and women still aren't afforded the same opportunities as boys or men. I love that Yasmin's father is teaching her anyway, and I love Yasmin's bravery, even though at one point it may mean she can no longer follow her dreams. I feel that representation is important, and love it when the characters portrayed in the illustrations don't necessarily look like us. I think it opens up opportunity for great discussions.

3. Tea With Milk by Allen Say

I've mentioned this book before, but I feel like it bears repetition. :) This book is about a young woman who is caught between two homes and two cultures - Japan and America. It is about how she navigates through the traditional expectations of the Japanese culture, and her desire to have an education and be an independent woman, like she experiences in the US. Children's books that tell stories of people caught between two homes are particularly important for families like ours. Our son has completely taken to his new home - he picked up the language very quickly, he loves his school and buddies... but we will be returning to the States for a long-ish period of time before coming back. Those transitional periods can be hard on kids, and stories like this can help them know that it's okay to feel this way, and maybe even give them the words they need, to better express themselves.

4. Little Bible Heroes by Victoria Kovacs

These sweet Bible stories have just been translated into Slovene, and our church gave each family a box set - so sweet, and generous! I loved how many female characters were included. One of the great features of these books is that they are flip-over, so there is another story waiting for them on the other side. Deborah is a FANTASTIC biblical role model for girls - she was a judge! In charge of armies, and making decisions that shaped the course of her country. Now THAT is a hero!

5. A Is For Abigail by Lynne Cheney

This was one of my books when I was a kid (go figure, lol!). It's an older book, so some more recent amazing women won't be mentioned. But a TON more are! I really like the illustrations, and the way the text is laid out, I'm constantly finding new little bits of information. It's fun to see all different kinds of women represented - scientists, nurses, doctors, politicians, authors, inventors and entertainers. I like that, because it shows that there are so many different routes you can take your life!

6. She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton

I've mentioned this one before too, but I don't even care, I LOVE this book, and its sequel (She Persisted Around The World). The illustrations are wistful and seem full of love. I appreciate the inspiring stories that are brought to life on its pages. It does a great job representing women of different racial backgrounds, and the second book features Malala Yousafzai, one of my personal heroes, so that's an added bonus! You need this book in your personal library.

7. Babylit Books

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the BabyLit books, these are just some of our favorites. These books are a great way to introduce babies and toddlers to classic literary characters. I really enjoy how each primer has a theme, like "friendship", "emotions", "numbers", etc. The illustrations are bright, and the text age-appropriate. These books are gems!

8. The True Princess, by Angela Hunt

This is a great twist on a princess story. In the book, a young princess' father, the king, goes off to help a neighboring kingdom. Out of fear for his daughter's safety, he entrusts her to "Nana", who teaches her how to do things for herself - as well as others. Through Nana's guidance, the young princess learns to laugh at herself, become more independent, and develop a strong work ethic. When the king returns and requests the audience of the princess - and 17 girls show up, how will the young princess prove who she really is?


9. American Girls: Molly Takes Flight, by Valerie Tripp

I grew up on these American Girl books, so these make me a little nostalgic. Looking at them now as an adult, they still completely hold up! 
This is one of the stories in the life of Molly, who is growing up during World War II. Her father is in England fighting, and her favorite aunt just joined the Women's Airforce Service Pilots. The second world war was a really important time in women's history, as women started doing many of the jobs normally reserved for men. It was devastating time on so many levels, but also empowered women to reach for higher goals than they ever thought they could've before - and isn't that what we want for our daughters?

These are just some of the amazing books out there to encourage tomorrow's generation of both girls AND boys!

What's your favorite? What book should I be on the lookout for?

Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

6 New Book Lover's Favorites

Our family loves books.

It almost seems to be written into our DNA. My Gran wrote books, my mom was a voracious reader, my brother studied journalism and has written a book of poetry, I... taught kids how to read? Lol. The point is - we love books! So today is for us. Today is National Book Lovers Day!

So here are some of my "new" favorite children's books! 

1. Home by Carson Ellis                                   

As a family for whom the concept of "home" can be a little fluid or even confusing at times, this book is a great reminder that homes look different for everyone. It is beautifully illustrated - so much so, that I actually have it displayed, rather than hiding on a shelf. It invokes a kind of thoughtfulness, which I appreciate. 

2. We Are The Gardeners by Joanna Gaines

Yes, I'm on the Joanna Gaines bandwagon, and I don't care! We love this book and how it sweetly follows a family's journey into the ups and downs of gardening. Since we read the book, my son has been on the lookout for worms, a.k.a. detectives of the soil. Again, this book has lovely illustrations in somewhat muted colors.

3. Island Boy by Barbara Cooney

This is the perfect book for those of you out there with boys who have sensitive souls. It paints a beautiful picture of a full and simple life lived by the ocean. I'm a sucker for illustrations, and once again the pictures are breathtaking. We have this book up on a (reachable) shelf in our son's room, and I often catch my eyes resting on the face of the sweet boy on the cover.

4. BabyLit Sense and Sensibility

We really love the BabyLit books! They are board book primers based on some of the classics - such as The Jungle Book, Sherlock Holmes, Emma, The Secret Garden, etc. Each one has a theme, such as "opposites" or "numbers". I honestly can't recommend these highly enough!

5. The Honeybee and the Robber by Eric Carle

I am a big fan of Eric Carle! When starting to plan our little girl's 1st birthday party, I knew I wanted it centered around one of his books, just like her big brother's. I'm on kind of a "honeybee" kick, so I was thrilled to find this interactive book! I don't think it's been printed many times, as I was only able to find used ones of it on Amazon. The copy I bought was in wonderful shape, looked as good as new!

6. She Persisted Around the World by Chelsea Clinton

I was so thrilled when my mom got this book for us! I loved the original She Persisted, and was eager to read the "Around the World" edition. I was very happy to see Malala Yousafzai, one of my personal heroes in it. This is a terrific book for both boys and girls, to see the kind of impact you can have when you won't take "no" for an answer.

So, there you have it. From one bibliophile to hopefully another - what are some of your favorite books you've recently discovered? 

Early literacy is so important. There are numerous studies that show that children who are exposed to books from a young age grow up to be stronger readers, more empathetic, have a healthy imagination, and enjoy reading into their adulthood.

Reading allows us, as well as our children to travel to places they couldn't otherwise. It teaches them to look at people and situations from a different point of view. It opens their minds to new possibilities - what a beautiful gift to give our children.

So, celebrate today by curling up with a new book, or an old favorite. You can't go wrong. 

6 Children's Books To Read For Women's Day

I'm a day late with this, but I'm choosing to extend myself some grace because, you know.  Teething baby.  Also, we've decided to make it a Women's Weekend, so there! :)

Here are my top 6 books to read to your kiddos this weekend (and anytime) that feature strong women!

1. She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton

This is a great book that highlights some of the women in US history who left their mark - from Ruby Bridges to Virginia Apgar, Maria Tallchief to Helen Keller and many more, it's a great way to introduce your child to women who wouldn't take no for an answer.  There's an "Around The World" version I'd love to own, too!

2. I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

This is a great book that teaches kids (especially young girls of color) about healthy body positivity.  It's an important message about natural beauty and strength, and speaking about yourself in a positive way.  I used this in my classroom a lot as a kindergarten teacher.  It's important to read books like this to caucasian kids too, so that they too recognize the beauty and individuality in their peers who may not look like them.

3. Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

I recently bought this book for Jocelyn.  The illustrations are scrumptious! It's the story of a young woman whose grandfather encourages her to see the world, live by the ocean, and make the world a more beautiful place.  I especially like this one, because she remains single, but it's a a total non-issue, it isn't even mentioned.

4. When Jessie Came Across The Sea by Amy Hest

This thoughtful and beautiful book is the story of Jessie, a 13-year-old young girl from Eastern-Europe.  Her rabbi gives her a ticket to sail to the new world, America.  My favorite part, is that she saves up enough money to send for her grandmother (who raised her) to join her.  Talk about powerful!  She becomes a seamstress specializing in bridal gowns - eventually making her own, as well.

5. Be A Star Wonder Woman by Michael Dahl

This one is a little more lighthearted, because often kids remember things better when it's wrapped in something that already interests them.  Aidan is crazy about superheroes, so I loved getting him this one that featured a strong girl.  My favorite part of this book, is that being kind, helping your friends and asking for help when you need it are all shown as strengths.

6. Historical American Girl Books

Someday maybe I'll write a whole post about how amazing the original Historical American Girl books are.  If you're interested in these, you can find them in 6 book box sets, each set featuring one girl, in a specific era.  They are great representatives of the times, and teach kids about history, bravery and strength of character.  I had at least 8 sets of these growing up, and they heavily influenced me!  Names (girls) to search for: Molly (World War II era girl), Kit (Depression era girl), Kirsten (pioneer era girl), Kaya (Native American girl from the 1760s), Josefina (Mexican American girl from the 1820s), Samantha (Victorian era girl), Addy (African American girl, whose family escapes slavery), and Felicity (Revolutionary War era girl).

There are many-many more, but these are my top picks for this year. What is your favorite children's book about a strong girl?

Love Affair With Books - New Edition

Every once in a while, I like to give you the titles of some kids' books that I love!  If reading children's books was a viable career, I'd be all over that!

So, here are my latest suggestions:

1. This Is Me by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell

Aidan got this book for his birthday from my best friend.  This book is amazing!  I love this dynamic duo writing illustrating team, that brought you classics, like "Today I Feel Silly".  This book is about a teacher who gives her students an assignment - her great-grandmother came over to America from an unnamed far distant place.  All she could take with her was what she could fit in a small suitcase.  The teacher then produces that small bag, and each student takes turns taking it home, and deciding what they would take with them.  This is a PERFECT book for us right now, because we are going through something similar, and in a few months, Aidan will be having to make some similar decisions.  Thankfully, we're able to take more than one small suitcase, but there will be some tough choices coming up, especially if you're 3 years old.

2. Too Many Mittens by Florence and Louis Slobodkin

Louis Slobodkin was a prolific writer in the 50's and 60's.  This was one of my books when I was little, and I love it!  It's about a grandma who babysits her twin grandsons for a week.  One of them loses a mitten, and the whole town ends up finding lost mittens everywhere, and brings them to the boys' house.  Grandma and the boys decide to make a clothesline for all the extra "missing mittens", so that anyone who lost a red mitten can go there and find it.  Then, mom and dad come back from vacation, and brought back everyone a little something, and the boys got...

The link to this book is actually a single volume edition of three of their books, one of them being "A Good Place To Hide", which is another wonderful story!

3. I Love You Night and Day by Smriti Prasdan Halls

This is one of those sweet, bedtime, love-affirming books.  The words, although gentle and well-written, aren't the reason this book made the list.  It's the illustrations.  The reason I love the illustrations, is because the "parent" figure is a bear, and the "child" figure is a bunny.  Of course, it's never pointed out or mentioned.  I think this would a wonderful addition for families with adopted children, or even foster children - showing that you don't have to look alike, for the love to be real, unconditional and unwavering.

4. Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco

I am a BIG Patricia Polacco fan!  Her book the Keeping Quilt will always be a Top 3 of mine!  My principal at the school I worked at introduced me to this one, and I love it too!  It's about a little old lady, Babushka, who paints beautiful eggs to sell every year in Moscow.  One day, she sees an injured goose, and takes her in, to nurse her back to health.  They become very close, but one day, the goose (Rechenka) gets startled and accidentally knocks over all of Babushka's painted eggs, and they all break.  Babushka is devastated, as she won't have anything to sell at market.  But the next day, Rechenka starts to lay beautifully painted eggs...

5. It Will Be Okay by Lysa TerKeurst

This book gets me emotional every time.  It's about a Little Seed and a Little Fox, who both have to overcome their fears when life changes.  The seed loves living in a cozy seed packet in the Farmer's shed, but one day the Farmer tells him, that he has a plan for him, and plants him in the dirt.  The seed doesn't understand why he's in a dark, messy place, but decides to trust the Farmer.  There's a recurring line in it, that says "The Farmer was good, and the Farmer was kind, and the Farmer was always watching over them.  Even when they didn't know it."  

6. Hello, I'm Johnny Cash by G. Neri

We had the great pleasure of driving through Nashville last year, and visited the Johnny Cash Museum.  We found this book there!  The author has written poems about Johnny Cash's life, and used Johnny Cash's song titles as the names for each one.  The illustrations are very beautiful!  We're big Johnny Cash fans, so for us this was a great find!  

7. Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat

I added this one for Aidan, haha!  This is a fun flight of imagination for a boy who is bored on a road trip.  This one may appeal to me because of all the itinerating we've been doing, but it really is full of all-boy fun!

So there you have it!  Those are my latest children's book recommendations!  Do you have any you think I should check out for next time?  What's your favorite children's book?

Books To Help Teach Kids Appreciate Different Cultures

Hi friends, it's been a while, and I am glad to have a moment to form some sentences.

It's been an interesting few months, we've been on the road, and have had a few family tragedies.  In the last 4 months, I have lost two of my grandparents.  It has been tough, and we've had to work through many different emotions.  At my Gramps' funeral, the latter of the two, my Uncle John gave a heart-warming eulogy about him.

Some things I knew, others I must not have heard before, or did not understand the significance of.  

My great-grandparents moved from Hungary to Canada.  They then moved to Buffalo, New York, where my Gramps was born.  My Gramps was the first one of his family members to go to and graduate from college.  He met my Gran (who passed 3 months before he did) shortly before going to Korea.  When he came back, they got married, had three sons, he worked for the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, was an active member of his church, a coach, and beloved by many.

He lived the American dream.  He was the son of immigrants, and by working hard, he made a better life for his family, and generations to come.

I am a third generation Hungarian American.  I am the descendant of an immigrant. Not only that, but I have BEEN an immigrant.  The definition of an immigrant is a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.  That's what I did when I moved to Hungary.  On top of that, we are planning on doing that again, by moving to Slovenia.

I think this explains why books about different cultures speak to me.  I am interested in different cultures, love the significance given to certain things, and how it all ties into the "human family".

So, I am going to raise Aidan to appreciate the things that make us all unique.  I will teach him to love his own culture(s), as well as find the beauty of those he encounters.  These books will help me with that, and I'm hoping they will help you too.

Across the Alley by Richard Michelson is a book about two boys, one who is Jewish, and one who is African American.  It's about how they aren't allowed to be friends out and about, but their windows open up to each other - where they can become friends.  They each teach the other something they're good at, and eventually affect the people around them.  It's a great way for kids to learn about making friends, and that they can make a difference.

My Name Is Yoon by Helen Recorvitz is a book about a young girl whose family moves to America from Korea.  She loves how her name looks in Korean - it dances and looks happy.  But she doesn't like how it looks in English.  She refuses to write it for a while, but with the help of an encouraging teacher, is able to write it, and in time learns to love it too.  This is a great book for talking about different languages, and meanings of names.  You could even find out what your child's name would look like in a different language.

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco is one of my all time favorite books!  I've talked about it before, and I will keep talking about it forever!  As the daughter of a quilter, it has special meaning to me.  It's about a Russian Jewish immigrant community, and how they preserve their traditions, as well as how those traditions change over time.  We all have family traditions, so this is a great way to start talking about those too.  If you know your own heritage, or even better, if you have any family heirlooms, this would be a great time to bring them up.

 

Tea with Milk and Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say.  Grandfather's Journey was one of my favorites growing up.  I think the reason I liked it was because the man in it misses Japan when he's in America, and misses America when he's in Japan.  As someone who dealt with a similar conundrum, it was nice to have a story to relate too.  Reentry can be hard on kids growing up cross-culturally, so knowing that other people feel the same way, can be encouraging.  His other book, Tea with Milk is about the man in the first book's mother, who deals with some similar emotions.  She's a strong female character who makes her own way in the world, which I also really like.

The Sound of the Bell by Penny S Anderson is about refugees.  They have to flee their home, but always know where to go, because the children can hear their mother's bell ringing.  However, they get separated from her, and have to figure things out for themselves for a while.  (Don't worry, it has a happy ending.)  I would recommend this for older, more mature kiddos, since it is a little heavier topic.  It's something I think we need to talk to our kids about, because there are children their age, around the world who are facing these things, and it's important to be aware of it.

The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell is a heartwarming story about a couple who burn Thanksgiving dinner, and decide to try to eat out instead.  They think a restaurant (The New World Cafe) is open, and so they take a seat.  What they don't realize, is that they have just sat down in the middle of an immigrant family's Thanksgiving celebration.  I love this, because it captures what I think the essence of Thanksgiving is, and what has made our country great - being thankful to God of course, but also thankful for each other.  

Well, I guess you can take the teacher out of school but not the school out of the teacher.  This is the first time in many years, that it is August, and I'm not writing lesson plans, setting up my classroom, buying school supplies, laminating, and getting headaches from sharpie fumes.  Instead, I'm at home with a rambunctious 2-year-old, building train sets, kissing boo-boos, and reading lots of books.  It's a different adventure, and I'm enjoying it, but writing about things like this helps keep me sane.

I hope you got something out of my ramblings, and enjoy these books!  If you know of any others I should add to this list, please let me know!

The Book Love Affair Continues

So, it's about time for my yearly outburst of love for books.

Two year ago, I showed you all some of my favorite books from when I was growing up in A Life-Long Love Affair With Children's Books.  Last year I let you in on our new family tradition in A Book A Day....

This year I want to introduce you to some of my NEW favorite children's books.  As a kindergarten teacher, of course I read more children's books than your average 25 year-old.  But I really do think I would read them, regardless. :)  So, sit back, relax, and check out these adorable titles!

1. What Do You Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada

This inspiring book is about a boy who has an idea.  At first he's not sure what to do with it; he's worried people will make fun of it; he ignores it.  But then, he decides to care for it, and it grows and grows, eventually bursting, and becoming even more than he could've imagined.  This is a wonderful book to encourage imagination and dreams - especially if you have a particularly artistic child.  You can find it here.

2. The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

This book is HILARIOUS!  It's about a bunch of crayons who write their boys letters about why they are or aren't happy.  Your child will get a huge kick out of the crayons' attitude.  "Blue" is being used too much.  "Yellow" and "Orange" are arguing over who is the true color of the sun, and "Beige" is tired of being called "light brown".  It's a great book for teaching perspective, and a good laugh!  You can find it here.

3. The Boy and the Ocean by Max Lucado

I love Max Lucado.  I have a hard time reading any of his books without getting choked up.  Aidan was given this book as a baby gift.  I love this book for many different reasons.  The illustrations are breath-taking, and the refrain about God's love is very moving.  I also like it for personal reasons - the little blonde boy looks like Aidan, and we all love the ocean.  If you want to affirm God's love for them, accompanied by stunning images, this is the book for you!  You can find it here.

4. S is for Sea Glass by Richard Michelson

I found this book at my favorite little book shop at the beach.  It's a beach themed alphabet book, but instead of just saying "S is for Sea Glass" or "N is for Nautilus", there is a poem for each one.  And not little kid poems - haikus, free verses and odes!  It will make you feel like you're a way superior parent (I mean, you're reading your toddler a haiku), and the illustrations really make you feel like you're at the beach.  You can find it here.

5. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems

Really, you can't go wrong with any of the "Pigeon" books!  I use these books in my lessons all the time!  The general idea in each book, is that the pigeon is upset about something random and off-the-wall (like he wants to drive a bus, or wants a puppy), has a meltdown, and then brings it back down at the end.  It's very helpful for teaching anger- or frustration-management.  It's also fun, because it teaches speech bubbles.  You can find it here.

 6. God's Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

This is a beautiful book about how it's God's dream that we all love and respect each other.  With the climate of our world today, I feel like this is a great book to read to your child or class.  It shows children from all across the world, all walks of life, and religions.  It shows that we should have love and respect for one another, and kindness.  You can find it here.

I hope you check these books out, and that they soon become your favorites too!