Friday, March 6, 2026
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Best Preschool and Kindergarten Picture Books
One of my favorite parts of parenting has been reading with my kids. Almost from the time they were born, we've had read alouds going in our family. Board books were gifted, visits to the library were a regular occurrence, and sharing good stories were a normal part of our family culture.
The whole experience has been a delight.... reading on a picnic blanket at the park, snuggling on the couch with a good book, reading before bedtime... the shared moments between parent and child as the day winds down. And getting lost in a really good story.
This was especially true when my kids were in preschool and kindergarten. We would load up on books from the library each week, but I found it really only took 2-3 really good picture books and we'd find ourselves reading them over and over again. My kids loved the predictability of hearing the same book multiple times. Often they were memorize the story so they could flip through the pages and "read" it to themselves.
Now that they're older, I still look back on many of these books with fond memories. These were the portals to new and exciting adventures. And these are the books that I recommend over and over again. These were our Favorite Preschool and Kindergarten Picture Books:
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff & Felicia Bond
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson
The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri
Make Way for Duckings by Robert McCloskey
The Little Red Hen (Fairy Tale)
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper
Our Apple Tree by Gorel Kristina Naslund
Applesauce Day by Lisa J.Amstutz
The Very Busy spider by Eric Carle
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Curious George by Margret Rey & H.A. Rey
Go, Do, Go! by P.D. Eastman
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Good Night, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
Ox-Cart Man by DonaldHalle
Around the Year by Tasha Tudo
Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
Stone Soup (Fairy Tale)
The Story of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff
The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Fairy Tale)
The Autumn Visitors by Karel Hayes
Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Bear says Thanks by Karma Wilson
Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pikney
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas by Jane Yolen
Gingerbread Mouse by Katy Britain
What are your Favorite Preschool and Kindergarten Picture Books?
Monday, March 2, 2026
14 Ideas for Family Night
*This post was originally published on 10/12/15. Enjoy!
But every once in awhile, family night needs a little shake up. We need something new. So here are 14 Brainstormed, Super Fun, Fantastic Ideas for Family Night:
1. Movie Night--Of course, this if our favorite. Our usually consists of pizza and popcorn. But maybe your tradition includes a bowl of ice cream. Or fresh cookies. Whatever it is, make it special.
2. Dance session--Crank up the music and dance till you fall on the floor. Then listen to some great music together. Mix up the genres and expose your kids to new styles. Then catch your breath and dance some more. Giggle and laugh and break loose.
3. Ice Cream and cookies--Maybe it's cookies and ice cream around the table or picnic style on the floor. Or a buffet of flavors and toppings. Talk about your week. Sweets create a bonding experience and open up conversation.
4. Serve others--Search out opportunities to serve together. Sort clothes at a pregnancy center, serve meals at a homeless shelter, or hand out coffee. Make sure you debrief with your kids afterwards. This will open up your kids to so many life lessons.
5. Board Game night--Who doesn't love a night of Monopoly and Scrabble? There are so many games to accommodate a variety of ages and interests. This is a great idea for laughing together with your kids.
6. Bike Rides--This is a great time of year for getting outside in the evenings and taking a walk, or better yet a bike ride. We're finally getting to the age where the kids can all ride and we're having a great time together.
7. Rollerskating--While I have yet to get my husband on skates, the kids and I have had a blast rollerskating together. It's a fun way to be active together and there's nothing like rollerskates to keep you from taking yourself too seriously.
8. Camp fire with s'mores--Get a fire pit in the backyard. Doesn't have to be anything too fancy. Stock up on graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. Nothing says family time like a s'more.
9. Campout in the living room-- Whether you pitch a tent or just pull out the sleeping bags, be sure to make shadow puppets with the flashlights, snuggle in together, and tell ghost stories.
10. Host a potluck--Why not host a potluck night with a couple of other families? Invite some families for dinner or dessert. Family night can be laughing with other moms and dads.
11. Extended family dinner--On that note, invite the grandparents, aunts, uncles, the whole lot.. sometimes you just need to interact with the larger family. And an extended family dinner is a great invitation for your kids to serve and learn from other generations.
12. Play restaurant--My kids have a play kitchen that they love. But even a few little kitchen items like these felt foods can provide hours of entertainment. Let them serve you for a change. You'll be surprised how much they remember from their own eating out experiences. Have fun with it. Make a poster for the restaurant, change up the decor, and assign jobs. This one's sure to provide hours of fun.
13. Picnic dinner--With the cooler season, it's the perfect time to enjoy a meal on the patio. Just the change of scenery can open up a whole new set of ideas and questions and conversation. Plus it's a great way to get some fresh air and open moves the fun to playing outside after dinner.
14. Funny pictures/video--Our computer has Photo Booth and my kids love to make funny pictures and movies on it. It has some great filters and ways to change and distort images. But they really love it when mom and dad get involved. Not only is it fun to play with all the settings, but it's even funnier to flip through the photos afterwards.
What about you?
What are your favorite ideas for Family Night?
Thursday, February 26, 2026
What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Aloud ll February 2026
What I Read:
Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunns
Fern and Lily have known each other for 20 years. After spending a summer together on a mission trip to Costa Rica, the girls became fast friends and dreamed of traveling the world together. But life took them in a different direction. Through marriage and babies, career changes and across the miles, the two have stayed in touch, drifting further and further from their plans of travel and changing the world. So when an unexpected trip to Africa pops up, they can hardly believe their luck. But things aren't always as they appear. Underneath the surface, both women are facing challenges and shifts in their personal lives. Will they be able to reconnect and support each other through the ups and downs? And will they find strength to surrender to God's plans for their futures? It's a sweet story of friendship and adventure ... reconnecting friendships and working through life's challenges... this is a cozy winter read without too much drama or heartache. It did read a bit unrealistic as the issues presented in Fern and Lily's lives were too easily resolved. Still it made for a nice light read and escape from reality.
Christian Heroes: Norman Grubb
by Janet & Geoff Benge
Another well-written biography as part of the Christian Heroes series, Norman Grubb is a man with a heart for Africa. He and his wife dream of assisting her father, C.T. Stubb, on the mission field. But over the years, they find themselves back home, helping to stabilize and reimagine the mission organization. As an essential part of Worldwide Evangelistic Crusade, InterVarsity Fellowship, and the Christian Literature Crusade, among other organizations, Grubb plays a key role in world missions. Truly inspiring story about how the Lord used one man's "YES" in the most unexpected ways.
Don't Stop Praying by Matthew West
See my full review here.
Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
Book Six in the Anne of Green Gables series, Anne of Ingelside follows Anne and Gilbert as they parent their lot of children. This book is made up of all the little stories that go into parenthood and living in a small town. The children behave as young children do, and Anne often steps in with her wisdom and occasionally the imaginative life that she lived as a child herself.
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
Ruthie doesn't remember her father. The prophet of the LeBaron Colony in Mexico, he was killed by his brother in a power grab for control. Her mother has since remarried and become a 2nd wife. She grows up, splitting her time between the States where her mother can receive assistance, and Mexico where the family lives in near squalor. Lane, Ruth's stepfather, also presents a threat when he's around. This book is a look into the sad reality that many in this religion face: poor living conditions, low self-esteem, lack of resources and time, financial and physical abuse (among other abuses). It's also the story of one woman who saw through her upbringing and determined to save herself. Emotional, heartbreaking, and revealing... if you're ready for a deeper look into polygamy and its effect on children, this is one to read.
Our Homeschool Read Aloud:
Magnitude by Jennifer A. Nielsen
See my full review here.
What Are You Reading?
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Magnitude {Review}
April 18th, 1906...
As Cora heads to the San Francisco docks to meet her father, she assumes that the worst trouble she can run into is the two boys she owes money to...
She's horribly wrong!
When the earth begins to shake and open up, Cora finds herself trapped underground with Chi, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. The two must work together to keep from being buried alive... and that's just the start of their day. Once they return to the surface, the girls find a city in chaos. Separated from their families by crumbling buildings, a raging fire, and moving refugee camps, Cora and Chai team up with Oliver, Cora's lifelong friend, in an attempt to survive the natural disaster and find their loved ones. This book about courage and friendship plays on actual events to create a thrilling historical read.
We've long been fan's of Jennifer A. Nielsen's work for awhile. Her historical fiction brings real events to life. The opening of Magnitude is incredibly gripping with Cora and Chi finding themselves trapped and working together to get free. We found ourselves urging them on from chapter one. Nielsen further introduces a variety of characters that kept us guessing as to their true intentions. But the trio of friends left us with no doubts about their bravery, friendship, or determination. A delightful historical fiction marketed to middle grades, but to be enjoyed by all.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
