More Treasury Fun

When was the last time you got a whole lotta fancy on a frugalista’s budget? Right now you can gift your favorite young reader with a double dose of Fancy Nancy treasuries without breaking the bank. Best-selling author Jane O’Connor teams up with ultra-talented illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser to once again take youngsters on a resplendent ride to Fancyville. At the helm of the grandiose getaway is the one and only Fancy Nancy. The girl with the vibrant vocabulary and whimsical wardrobe is back in Fancy Nancy Storybook Treasury. The sturdy hardcover book features six stupendous stories filled with teachable … Continue reading →

An Affordable Treasury of Fun

There’s no easier way for kids to explore new and exciting worlds than cuddling up with a favorite book. Adventures await on each page and there’s no telling where your child’s imagination can take her once she peels back the front cover. And that’s just with one book. Imagine the fun kids can have when they are gifted with a treasury of stories. If you are looking for an affordable way to keep your kids entertained this summer, consider investing in a box set of books. My daughter adores her Little Critter Bedtime Stories set. The colorful collection is a … Continue reading →

Great Green Reads

Earth Day’s mission to increase environmental awareness means very little to young children, unless you make it relevant. Fortunately, there are a slew of kid-friendly books available to drive home the importance of preserving our planet. The following affordable titles prove that you don’t have to spend a ton of green to go green: The Berenstain Bears Go Green “Going green isn’t hard to do. It’s good for the earth and me and you, too!” Who better to show kids how to take care of the earth’s precious natural resources than the Bear family? After all, the cuddly clan not … Continue reading →

Ideas for Easter Fun Without the Calories

Want to serve up heaping helpings of holiday fun without spending a ton of money on high-fat, high-sugar, high-calorie Easter treats that’ll turn your kids into Energizer bunnies? Take a look in a book. These adorable Easter reads are the perfect addition to a sugar-free holiday basket or a great way to bond in bed with your child as you countdown to Sunday’s visit from the gift-bearing bunny: Easter Bunny on the Loose!: A Seek and Solve Mystery There’s an emergency in Easterville and your kid gets to play detective. Wendy Wax and Dave Garbot team up for this fun-filled, … Continue reading →

Read What They Are Reading

Many years ago, I worked with hospitalized emotionally disturbed children. One of the girls got a letter from her parents saying that were reading the same book that she was. Their letters to each other grew longer as they had more to talk about. The girl felt more important in her parents’ lives because they were taking the time to read something she liked. I made up my mind that if I ever had children I’d read what they read. For the most part I have. And it has been worth every minute of my time. When my then middle-schooler … Continue reading →

The “I Spy” Books

We have a lot of books and games at our house. And we have a lot of “I Spy” books. These books are more like games than stories. They’ve gotten our family through many a doctor’s appointment, road trip, and sick day. The I Spy books are large, on each two spread there is a large photograph. The photographs show things like a collection of toys, or a sand castle covered with toys, or a ton of stuffed animals on a shelf. At the bottom of the page is a simple rhyme about what things you should look for on … Continue reading →

The Best of Children’s Literature – Olive the Other Reindeer (Deluxe Edition)

Olive was a favorite in my house last year and now Chronicle Books has upped the ante by creating a hardback, pop-up version of this modern day holiday classic – to celebrate the book’s 10th Anniversary. Let’s take a look inside and see if it worth its weight and its hefty price tag ($19.95 – although I’m sure it can be had for cheaper online) Olive the Other Reindeer – Deluxe Edition By J. Otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh I must admit, off the top, that I love the story of Olive. I must also admit that I was apprehensive … Continue reading →

The Best of Children’s Literature – Bagel’s Lucky Hat

Books rule, TV drools! Here is a write-up of one of the best kiddie books to come across my desk over the past couple weeks. This one will make an awesome Christmas gift for a smart youngster and/or a fan of comic books anywhere between age three and nine. Bagel’s Lucky Hat By Hector Mumbly The story of Mr. Mumbly, the book’s author and artist, is nearly as fantastic as the story of Bagel, our lead character, and his lucky hat. Mr. Mumbly, you see, had never put pen to paper and crafted a children’s book before this one. He … Continue reading →

Family Reading Fun

For the last week, my family has been occupied reading “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. Seven hundred and fifty nine pages is a lot of reading. We’ve all been at different points throughout the week, so we’ve had to be really careful about not giving things away as we talked. We have never all read the same book at the same time before. When the earlier Potter books came out, my nine year old twins were too young to be very interested. I remember seeing people on planes and at the doctor’s office reading the book. We would trade … Continue reading →

Children’s Literature – Animal Books for Toddlers

The Frog House By Mark Taylor Buy today from Amazon.com I picked up The Frog House while exiting my local library one afternoon. It was a whimsical selection, like the candy bar or pack of gum by the grocery store conveyer belt. I liked the look of the book, the style of illustration – folk art collage by Barbara Garrison – and the font used for the title, and scooped it up on my way to be “rung up” (normally, you do not have to pay for books at the library and thus the term rung up would not apply … Continue reading →