We love Around the World with Mouk by dreamy illustrator Mark Boutavant. The illustrations are so full of whimsy and each page has so much color and detail that we read and look at the pages of Mouk’s world traveling adventures over and over again.
I will start sharing more of the lovely books that are getting read in our little home. I love reading and I think my girls are starting to have a love for it too. They look at the pictures and make up their own stories, well, maybe that isn’t exactly reading, but that is a start. I always say reading is like watching a movie in your mind. Once I start a good book, everything goes to the wayside as I am not able to stop until it is done. Anyone else the same way? So tell me, what books are you reading right now (for yourself or for the little ones)?
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I have that same book! My daughter got it for Christmas last year, and it is really fun. I actually try not to get it out too often so the kids don't destroy it, cause I love it so much. Is that weird? We have tons and tons of books at our house, but the ones that stand out are the Curious George books. My son Ben used to be obsessed when he was little, and I thought maybe it was a boy thing, but now my daughter Mila loves them too. I think it's all the adventures and trouble George gets into that they like. I like to go to thrift stores and get a million vintage/new books for cheap. It's perfect right now because my son is devouring books as he's learning to read, and reading the same ones all the time gets boring fast.
I actually purchased that book recently for the illustrations even though my girls are older but we all love it.You might want to check out a book titled The girl in the glass castle inside the museum…the illustrations are amazing & I think your girls will love it…I know I love it. 🙂 Also,check out octonauts…similar to Mouk.I would love to see what books you and your daughters enjoy b/c I love books with pretty illustrations & nice stories. 🙂
My three year old daughter Kasey has been simply in love with The Little Engine That Could with new art by Loren Long. The new illustrations are so sweet, bright and cheerful and after only having it a few days I already have overheard Kasey telling herself “I think I can- I think I can…” when she's struggling to accomplish a task on her own. It's such a simple but deeply meaningful book for the little ones.
Also another favorite you might like is All Kinds of Families by Mary Ann Hoberman, also illustrated by Marc Boutavant. Each page is full of beautiful discoveries! I really enjoy this post! Thank you for sharing!
Margaret Wise-Brown for little ones is the best!! and Patricia Polacco for a little older children, its more history-rich content, full of culture, and she does all her own illustrations…they are wonderful!! I enjoy reading your blog!!
hello hello!
i am a college student, so unfortunately fun reading is hard to come by during the semester. however, some of my classes have some pretty great readings. i just read the road by cormac mccarthy for an english class and loved it! hard to get by – but so worth it! i am reading cold mountain right now, and i am itching to pick up another barbara kingsolver (i loved the poisonwood bible and the bean trees!)
during the school year i am a part time nanny for a two year old and a four year old. they are so so wonderful and great little listeners when i read to them… that is as long as their attention spans hold out. i am going abroad in the fall and won't get to see them until january- so as a going away present i got them a few of my favorite books from when i was little.
1. just plain fancy- patricia pollaco (all of her books are wonderful- beautiful illustrations and heart-tugging stories)
2. seven silly eaters- mary ann hoberman
3. cloudy with a chance of meatballs- judi and ron barrett
hope you get a chance to read some of these!
love reading your blog, such a pick-me-up!
christian
Love these pictures! so colorful and interesting, im sure even adults enjoy this book! 😉 I know i'd spend ages looking at the pictures haha
Hello Ruby,
I loved yoru post on the photo booth brithday for True. I want to hunt down some photo booths here in Australia.
Some lovely books for littlies include:
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
The Incredible Book-Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers
and books by EMily Gravett. I have her book Wolves.
In terms of Grown-Up reading, this yr I have enjoyed:
The Elegance Of The Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society.
Thanks for creating such a delightful blog. I love reading about the adventures of your lil fam!!
this book looks lovely and just the kind that I love — full of wonder and color and imagination. I love children's books for young children with a lot going on in the pictures so that every read is a new adventure.
If you can get your hands on Gyo Fujukawa books, they are a DREAM. My absolute favorite is Oh, What a Busy Day. It is in my opinion, the best children's book ever made. I taught school before having kids and I have read 100's of books. It is out of print, but I loved it so much as a child I tried to do a book report on it so many times my teacher told me I couldn't do it any more. I bought it on ebay for my children and they love it! I know you would love it too. Some of her work is being re-published now. She captures childhood like none other.
a more recent book that I love, with the same kind of idea is called In the Town, All Year Round. It was originally German I believe, but has been translated and sold here. We had checked it out at the library and then got it for Christmas for our boys. The same idea, a lot going on, really fun to follow little stories and see what is happening on every picture. It is also a favorite around here.
I could go on and on, but really, those are GREAT picture books. Not story books, picture books.
I love your blog. Your family is a light in this world!
PS — I have two blogs, one main blog and one for ideas for things for kids to do. There is a great reading idea called Trick or Reading on my Likely Classroom blog that you might like:
http://likelyclassroom.blogspot.com
enjoy!
WE love Mouk at our house too!
At the moment my % and 6 year olds are loving Enid Blyton.
I am reading Solar by Ian McEwan but I am not really enjoying it.
And the baby is enjoying sucking on pages, preferably catalogues rather than books.
Gyo Fujikawa I misspelled her name in case you want to look her up.
Well for myself I am devouring Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water – reflections on Faith and Art. It is a must read for anyone who is creative and has faith.
Happy Hockey Family is always a winner with my kiddies
ruby…you need to get all the Cookies:bite size lessons books by
Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
the are brillant. every parent, teacher, church should have them!
Trust me 🙂
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I agree with Likely. In the Town, All Year Round is a fav in our house. We had to buy a back up copy because the first was lovingly used so much, the pages began to fall out of the binding. Thanks for sharing Around the World with Mouk, my kiddos would love it…gotta go find it now!
ahh! i adore books. and i am the same way when i read them. in fact, if i start a good one right before bed, i may not even go to sleep! i am currently rereading all of my agatha christie mysteries. she writes with a cute satirical humor that always puts me in a happy mood 🙂 well, happy reading!
I'm the same way… Everything is on hold until I finish my book. Sometimes I have to take little breaks between books so I can properly run my household!
My daughter is 13 months and she loves books! “Book” was her first word. She sits through The Cat in the Hat and other books about that length, but she still loves her board books. She loves pointing out things she knows like flowers, sunshine, puppy-dogs and such.
oh you all gave so many lovely suggestions! i have so much to google and find as you are making want to stop everything and read so badly!!! thank you for all your wonderful suggestions! i am adding things to our reading list now!!! xoxo
I love the illustration. It reminds me of my culture's folk art (Hmong embroidery folk art). My husband and I are reading “Hippos go Beserk” by Sandray Boynton, Jesus storybook, and Dr. Suess ABC's. My daughter loves the Hippos go Beserk.
judy- ooh… hippos go beserk sound good!
I just realised I should also have told you to check our Richard Scary.. his books have som much going on and I loved looking at them as a kid. Some versions of his books also have the german words in them so you can learn the english and german for Cat or Fireman etc.
Good luck with all your googling!
On the kiddie front. We love:
The Chicken of the Family
When Giants Come to Play
Iggy Peck Architect
Mouk
I Do Not Want to be a Poodle
Olivia
When Hippos Go Berserk and Not the Hippopotamus – Sandra Boynton
Stick Man
and of course some classics – James and the Giant Peach, Where the Wild Things Are, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
For me:
The Time Travellers Wife
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
A Fine Balance
The History of Love
Water for Elephants
Jasper Fforde novels
The Book Thief
Lunch in Paris
and agreed the world stops when I am reading a good book – I just wish I could find one lately that made me feel that way – you know sad when you stop reading it.