Book lists are some of my fave. I really love looking into others’ bookshelves and seeing which books they think are worth reading. We’ve found a few good books at the library lately and thought you might like to add them to your to-check-out list!

TOP TEN FUN KID AND PICTURE BOOKS

1. Mortimer’s First Garden by Karma Wilson

I have loved Karma Wilson since I picked up Bear Wants More at a used bookstore. (I thought it was a sign language book because I thought the animals were signing “more”. Go click on it and tell me if I’m right!)

This little book about Mortimer the mouse is really a parable about God planting a seed and making it grow. It’s a really lovely tale. My Asa (2.5) loved it and sat through every word! And now whenever we see a sunflower he thinks it must be Mortimer’s!

2. Let’s Make a Joyful Noise: Celebrating Psalm 100by Karma Wilson

This book is GORGEOUS. It has the most fun illustrations. Kinda modern. But retro, too. It’s really a re-telling of Psalm 100 so the illustrations are like a secondary story. I got it at the library and did NOT want to return it!

3. Animal Strike at the Zoo. It’s True! by (oh really?) Karma Wilson

Well, once I found out Karma Wilson had faith-filled books, too (see above), I began stalking the W section at the library. This isn’t a biblical book like the other ones, but it’s SO fun! The animals go on strike until a little girl comes to the zoo and they remember what they were meant to do! The illustrations are hilarious. And it’s one I can really read over and over!

4. Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land by Johnny Gruelle

A few years ago I picked up the original Raggedy Ann stories on CD at the library. They were short stories with really great moral lessons in them. I felt like they were practically Bible stories! Lydia loved them and has adored Raggedy Ann ever since. Well, I picked up Raggedy Ann in Cookie Land because it had the original full-color illustrations. And it’s a full chapter book instead of short stories. So, it’s perfect for bedtime.

Well. It is also the strangest book I’ve ever read. Kinda Wizard of Oz-ish. Raggedy Ann and Andy meet Cookie people who bake their own children and animals. They are followed by a Goblin who tries to cook them for noodle soup every single chapter. And even more weirdness that I can’t remember without looking at the book. But Lydia LOVES it. She thinks it is so funny. And because she doesn’t know that goblin could resemble something from Lord of the Rings, she takes the Raggedy Ann version and is not remotely scared by it.

Anyway, if you want some strange fanciful stories–this is the one for you! But if you’re like my husband, you’ll try to hide it under the bed so we don’t read it.

5. The Borrowers by Mary Norton

I checked this book out from the library because I knew Lydia would love it. I had it on my to-read list forever! Then, when I started reading it to her I realized, “I’ve never read this book before!” I had a distinct memory of LOVING The Borrowers! How could I not remember the book? That’s when I realized, it wasn’t a book. It as a movie. The Littles. Remember them?

Anywhoo. I do love the story.  And Lydia is totally intrigued by all their gadgets and gizmos they create from our cast-offs. But the reading is a little hard. I don’t even know some of the words because they are so old-fashioned!

6. One-Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova

This is a cute rhyming book about a girl and her dog going on a canoe trip. By themselves. But it doesn’t stay that way for long. The concept is adorable, the illustrations totally engaging and will get your kids giggling.

{fyi: My husband just pointed out that it said, “darn” which he thought was weird for a kids’ book. In case that bothers you. Which it does him, apparently.}

7. Just Plain Fancy by Patricia Polocco

I actually bought this one at the library for like 10 cents. (Or maybe it was a yard sale?) It’s the story of a little Amish girl who finds a fancy egg and raises the bird with her chickens. As her little chick grows up, she begins to show off her true colors—the many colors of a peacock and scares the poor little Amish girls who think she is TOO fancy for their plain life.

It also started an interesting conversation about the Amish, other religions and sin with Lydia. Heavy stuff for a picture book!

8. Curious George Rides a Bike by HA Rey

Asa owns one Curious George book. About pancakes. He loves pancakes. So, this one fits him nicely. Now, every time I get another Curious George book at the library, I never like it as much as the pancake book. *shrugs*

So, I finally made a point to pick up an original Curious George book (instead of the “based on” versions).  I had a vague memory of reading Curious George Rides a Bike as a kid. But after my Borrowers fiasco, I didn’t really trust my memory. However, as I read it to Asa, I remembered it! He really enjoyed this one and if it wasn’t so long, I wouldn’t mind reading it every night!

9. How To…series by Sally Lloyd Jones

There are 3 books in this series: How to Get a Job…by Me, the Boss, How to Be a Baby . . . by Me, the Big Sister, How to Get Married … by Me, the Bride. All three are hysterical. I did a full review of them on Impress Your Kids. (So, I didn’t get them at the library. But you should check yours. Because you’ll love them!)

10. The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

I think I mentioned this book the other week. We got the audio version and I WAS MESMERIZED! I didn’t even really want to read it because the Disney version is not one of my favorite movies. But this book was so quaint, original and had one of those secret-life-of things going on. I wanted to listen to it as much (or more) than the kids did.

It also had a distinct Jesus-thing in it that was beautiful. (I don’t know how to describe it better. But if you read it, you’ll see. It’s cool.)

Have you and your kids checked out any good books lately?

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Library Books We Are Currently Reading & Loving: Top Ten {Tuesday} is a post from: ohamanda.com

Sometime in between my shy elementary school years, my awkward middle school years and now too-old-and-decrepit-to-do-anything-fun years, I used to be an actress. OK, I wasn’t like a great actress. But I was in a {really great} play in college, I did a few church plays and every week played a character for a skit in children’s church (Usually a boy. Why did I always have to be the boy?!). Once I even played a princess at a week long kids’ program at our church and the local news came out to film us…of course, a story about pigs took our place. But still! I was acting to a camera!

And in all that, I used to do some pretty decent accents.

Of course being from Georgia, I can do all forms of southern accents–the redneck, the genteel socialite, the hick and the southern belle. And if you didn’t know, Southern accents and British accents are connected so I can do a fair impersonation of the King’s English.

The only time my inner actress comes out is when I’m reading books to the kids. And because I finally went to the library and paid my double digit late fee, I thought I’d share with you my

FAVORITE KIDS BOOKS TO READ WITH A REALLY FANTASTIC ACCENT!

1. Sixteen Cows

We got this one at the library today and I loved it from the first sentence. You can’t help but slip into your best country western drawl with this one. The names of the sixteen cows are mooosic to my ears: Mudskipper! Sassafrass! Mazie Bell! Honeydew! Suzy Q! I practically want to read this one to myself for fun!

2. Skippyjon Jones

Come on, you get to say “Chiuahua Cheese and Crackers” and “bumblebeeto bandito”. How can you not break out a Hispanic accent with that? And my Mama June Bug Jones leans heavily into Alfre Woodard in Heart and Souls.

3. Ten-Gallon Bart

I think I like this one a smidge more than Skippyjon Jones. It’s about the sheriff of Dog City and his friends–Miss Kitty (a cat), Buffalo Gal (a buffalo), Wild Bill Hiccup and Wyatt Burp (twin pigs) and Billy the Kid (a goat). How much do you love that?! It is SO funny.

We read the third one, Ten-Gallon Bart Beats the Heat where Bart goes to Alaska. And oh, if I could do a good Alaskan accent it would be perfect!

4. Miss Spider’s Tea Party

This is one of the first picture books I ever bought for Lydia. And I bought it at a library for 10 cents. All the pages are half torn, the cover is coming off but I just love the story! It’s all rhyme and counts up to 12. There are only a few “voices” in it–buzzing bees, a platoon of ants and a squeaky moth. But my favorite is to let Miss Spider, a gracious tea-party loving hostess be as sugary and sweet tea as anyone from Georgia could ever be.

5. How I Became a Pirate

I just read this book to Becky‘s kindergarten class for Read Across America. She said I was the best reader of the day! And I owe it all to my pirate accents! I can’t help it–the captain Braid Beard in this book is just so fun and written so wonderfully! He says things like, “Down the hatch, me hearties!” and “Pirates don’t tuck!”. Plus “scurvy dog”. Tell me you aren’t doing an accent in your head!

This is also one of our favorite books because Staci gave it to me at Asa’s shower and all my friends and family signed it for him!

6. I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato (Charlie & Lola)

My mom gave me this book when Lydia was a baby because I WILL NEVER NOT EVER EAT A TOMATO. *shudder* Lydia loved this book more than any other. I remember on our flight to California when she was like 9 months old, I read it to her 12 times in a row and she never got tired of it. I didn’t do my British accent on the plane, of course. But at home–I’m not afraid!

7. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

OK, so Moo and Quack aren’t accents. But if I don’t do a REAL “moo” or “quack”, my kids are on me! Moo is pronounced, “Mooooooooo!” and Quack is at least a 3 syllable word. And don’t even get me started on Thump, Quack, Moo.

8. Harry Potter Audio Collection

Well, I can’t really do all the accents for the eleventybillion characters in these books. But Jim Dale can. And he does! I’ve never heard so many dialects come from one man. He’s simply amazing. If you’re into accents, he’s the best to try to imitate. Not that I ever have, of course.

9. {I’m stumped. All the kids books are upstairs. Can I get back to you on this one?}

10. Which book makes your inner actor shine?

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Accents & Kids Books: Top Ten {Tuesday} is a post from: ohamanda.com

I think my very favorite Christmas-y thing is the books. I adore Christmas books. It’s become quiet the addiction. A few years ago I did the 12 Days of Christmas Books series on NewBaby.com. It’s still there for your viewing pleasure. Today, I’m going to share my

TOP TEN CHRISTMAS BOOKS I CAN’T WAIT TO READ THIS YEAR

1. The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs

This is my favorite kids’ book. It’s a gorgeous story about the true meaning of Christmas (<–yes, I know, it’s the most overused statement in all of December) without going into the actual Jesus-in-a-manger story. I cry every time I read it.

2. Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

My new favorite classic. Jo-Lynne introduced me to this book a few years ago and I am in love with it. It’s a fun story of a too-tall Christmas tree and how even a little bit of a tree can make a Christmas happy! I found an old old copy of this book at the thrift store and I’m going to make some kind of Christmas-y shadow-box-ish display with it. LOVE.

3. Any Pop Up Book by Robert Sabuda

I’m a sucker for a pop-up book and Robert Sabuda’s got the best. I have The Night Before Christmas,  the Christmas Alphabet, The 12 Days of Christmas and Winter in White. And they are all my favorite.

4. The Gift of the Magi by O Henry, Illustrated by PJ Lynch

Quite possibly the most wonderful story of all time. It makes my heart hurt to think about how beautiful it is. This version is my favorite. (Does using the word “favorite” for every single entry  make it not as meaningful?)

5. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Sojciechowski, illustrated by PJ Lynch.

This is one of those books I bought without reading and once we got it home, we fell in love with it. There’s a grumpy old man, a cute little boy, a nativity scene and of course, a happy ending.

6. Finding Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

You know I love Robin Jones Gunn. Now add her to Christmas and whip up a little novella? I can’t not love it! This is the first of 2–you’ll want to curl up in front of your tree with a mug of hot chocolate and read them straight through!

7. Hilary Knight’s Twelve Days of Christmas

Imagine actually receiving a partridge in a pear tree and eleven pipers piping. It’d be quite a haul, dontcha think? Well, that’s what this book shows. Benjamin Bear sends all 12 days worth of gifts to his sweetheart Belinda. It is a charming funny book you will love!

8. The Christmas House by Carol Bullman

This is a newish book and I love it because of the modern illustrations. As much as I love classic Christmas stuff–this one is fun because of it’s newness. It’s the story of a poor family  and their new baby who understand that happiness isn’t about material goods–and with the help of some Christmas music they unite their whole neighborhood.

9. A Pirate’s Night Before Christmas by Phillip Yates

OK. This isn’t going to be a Christmas classic. But it’s got funny illustrations and I bought it last year for our little pirate. I’m excited to find out if it’s any good! Plus, there’s an ACE on the front cover, too!

10. A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens, illustrated by PJ Lynch.

I’ve seen every theatrical version known to man (my fave is Mickey’s…). Last year I decided I needed to read the book. I bought the version illustrated by PJ Lynch because apparently he illustrates every single Christmas book in the world. (But I really like this one from Brett Helquist, too.)

What’s your favorite Christmas book?

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Link up your Top Ten list and join in the Top Ten {Tuesday} fun! All you have to do is WRITE a top ten list, PASTE it  below, LINK back to me in your post & then start LOVIN’ on the rest of the participants with facebook likes, stumbles, comments and tweets! For better and more succinct guidelines see my Top Ten {Tuesday} page!

Best Christmas Books: Top Ten {Tuesday} is a post from: ohamanda.com