Lindsay

The 10 best picture books of 2020

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Lindsay Books

I recently shared my list of the best 2020 books, including young adult, fiction, and nonfiction. Now I have to share my 10 favorite picture books from last year!

It was hard to get new releases for most of 2020, since every library but our tiny local one shut down for months. I’m hoping this list will help you find books you missed that are worth checking out!

Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel and Paola Escobar. I gushed about this on Instagram a few weeks ago when I finally got a copy of it from our library. Then I immediately bought it. It’s the true story of a trash collector in Colombia who rescued books from the curb and started a library for kids. I get chills even thinking about it. SUCH a great book about the importance of learning.

The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America’s Presidents by Kate Messner and Adam Rex. Since 2020 was an election year, I was looking for books I could read with my kids to help them understand our government. This one was SO good and packed full of facts. It tells lots of facts about former presidents and then connects them to future presidents. For example, it explains how many future presidents were alive when George Washington was president and connects all the presidents who were related to each other. The illustrations are great and help make this book even more interesting. I would actually recommend this to adults who want to brush up on history and don’t want a dry presidential biography. I learned so much.

A Girl Like You by Frank Murphy, Carla Murphy, and Kayla Harren. Remember when I cried reading the same author’s A Boy Like You when it came out in 2019? This one geared for girls is just as good. It’s empowering and teaches them to be brave and smart and not to apologize for everything (something I still do). I think what I love best about this, though, is the illustrations. They’re so inclusive and diverse, and one of the girls even has vitiligo. I have never seen that in a children’s book before. Go buy this one.

Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le. I love folk tales because of the culture and the lessons woven in, and this Persian story is just beautiful. It’s the story of a young immigrant girl feeling alone in America. Her aunt tells the tale of a king who refused to allow immigrants into his kingdom, holding a glass of milk to signify that the country was full. The immigrant leader then dissolved sugar in milk to show that new people add sweetness. I’m making the story sound trite, but the illustrations are stunning, and the overall message about diversity and kindness is wonderful.

The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney. This retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s original not only has gorgeous illustrations but a girl-power message about never giving up your voice. I love the African characters and the lack of romance (there’s no prince to fall in love with in this story). This is a fairy tale I’d be proud to have on my shelf. As I’m writing this, I’m realizing I probably need to buy a copy of this, too.

No Reading Aloud: The WORST Read-Aloud Book Ever by Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter. If you love wordplay and puns, this is the book for you. It’s called “the worst read-aloud book ever” for a reason. Each page has sentences that sound the same when read aloud but have different meanings. “The hero had super vision” and “The hero had supervision” is just one example (in the second sentence, the “hero” is a sandwich). The illustrations make the differences clear. I laughed so hard reading this one with my kids and also learned several new words I’d never even heard before. Younger kids will not appreciate it, but I think it’s perfect for the 6-and-older crowd.

Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray and Zachariah OHora. This is the strangest concept for a bedtime book, and yet I loved it so much. It has a perfect rhyme scheme, and you learn about vegetables as they get tucked into the soil for the night. Zachariah OHora’s illustrations are colorful and cute, and the whole effect is soothing. My son just saw a picture of this book and asked if we could get it again from the library. Clearly they loved it as much as I did.

If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall. One of my very favorite illustrators, Sophie Blackall always turns out gorgeous books. This one is both beautifully illustrated and written. She explains what happens if you come to earth, how you’ll meet lots of different people and may not get along with everyone. The book is full of diversity and lots of life lessons. It’s similar to Oliver Jeffers’ book Here We Are (though I liked this one better). This would be a great baby gift or really a good gift for any child (or teacher or grown-up).

Why Do We Cry? by Fran Pintadera and Ana Sender. I’ve mentioned probably a hundred times how much I adore picture books that teach kids to express feelings. I love how this one literally explains the different reasons people cry. It’s written in such a poetic way that helps you understand and empathize, and the lush illustrations complement the text so well. Teachers, this would be especially good to read in your classrooms.

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Bigelow-Thompkins and Luisa Uribe. I don’t know what it’s like to have a unique name people always mispronounce. I do know how frustrating it is to have people misspell it. This book is a great reminder about how important and meaningful names are and a gentle way to help people try harder to pronounce them. The illustrations are joyful, and there’s even a pronunciation guide to ensure you can say the names in the book correctly.

I seriously love putting these lists together because I remember all the wonderful books we read over the year! Did I miss any of your favorites?

10 picture books for Martin Luther King Day

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Lindsay Books

Martin Luther King Day picture books, including "Be A King," "Sit-In," "I Have a Dream," and "Choosing Brave"

Martin Luther King Day is a chance to teach your children about the civil rights movement and America’s continued battles with racism. Have the day off? Pick up one of these books from your library (or buy it from a local shop) and take a few minutes to read it. Here are 10 of my favorite picture books for Martin Luther King Day.

Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier. It can be really hard to get kids to pay attention with picture book biographies, especially for a larger-than-life person like Martin Luther King. I like this book because the text is simple and clear. The illustrations are heartfelt but don’t distract from the message. Even little kids will listen to this and understand Martin Luther King’s life and passion and why we should continue to learn about him.

Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito and Laura Freeman. A restaurant cook in Alabama organized a group of women to cook and bake and raise money to help those participating in the bus boycott. Martin Luther King later trusted her enough to hold civil rights meetings at her home. We hear many stories about Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King (and rightly so). However, this focuses on other people who made a big difference in their communities.

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein and Jerry Pinkney. My family and I really enjoyed this book about how Martin Luther King worked with other advisors and speechwriters to craft the “dream” speech he is known for. Interestingly, he did not originally intend to give the speech he did.

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney. WOW. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It tells the true story of the college students who sat peacefully at a “whites only” section of a North Carolina Woolworth’s and waited to be served lunch. Their courage continued the civil rights movement and spurred many other people across the country to sit in restaurants and protest. This is a great book for teaching your kids about doing the right thing even if it seems small.

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni and Bryan Collier. I have read my kids several books about Rosa Parks, but I like this one best. It explains what happened when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, but it also gives more of a biography and explains what led up to her decision. Bryan Collier’s illustrations are also stunning.

Unstoppable: How Bayard Rustin Organized the 1963 March on Washington by Michael G. Long and Bea Jackson. Like me, you may not have heard of Bayard Rustin until now. This book tells the story of the openly gay civil rights activist and how he organized the largest protest in civil rights history despite facing immense prejudice himself.

Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford and James E. Ransome. As the title suggests, this book encourages readers to be like Martin Luther King Jr. and continue to stamp out hatred and fight for equality. I appreciate that it offers specific ways to help others and can spark some great conversations.

We March by Shane W. Evans. All about the 1963 march in Washington, D.C., where Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech, this book is about a family’s experience during that time. I love the diversity in the illustrations and the simple text that makes you wish you could have been at the march yourself.

Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy and Janelle Washington. I was in COLLEGE when I first heard about Emmett Till and read the phenomenal book Getting Away With Murder. This story focuses on Till’s mother, Mamie, and her courage after her son was brutally murdered. BUY THIS ONE.

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. and Kadir Nelson. Introduce your family to King’s well-known speech in this book that includes an abridged version and beautiful illustrations. Kadir Nelson’s artwork is so powerful and complements the text well—and the book also comes with an audio CD of King’s speech so you can listen to it.

Share your favorite picture books for Martin Luther King Day with me! I’d love more ideas, including civil rights and Black History month picks.

Want more? Check out 10 books about white privilege and racism.

10 best books published in 2020

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Lindsay Books

Normally I like to cram as many books as possible into the year and end up sharing this list at the end of December. However, my lovely friend Emma pointed out that she finally has time to read during winter break and could use suggestions earlier.

So! I’m still in the middle of three new books (President Obama’s 700-page A Promised Land is one of them), and one of these may have topped the list. But as of right now, these are my favorite books published in 2020.

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. This is one of those books that’s hard to read but SO incredibly important. I already included it in my list of books about white privilege and racism, but it’s worth listing again. I can’t stop thinking about this book. It offers a history of how America’s unspoken caste system has shaped the country. I was shocked to learn that the Nazis actually used the United States as a template for their own segregation during the 1930s and 1940s. Read this book.

Three Keys by Kelly Yang. I loved Yang’s original book Front Desk, about a family of Chinese immigrants who manage a motel in California. This follow-up novel continues the story but is about a real-life California proposition in the 1990s that tried to restrict undocumented immigrant children from schools. It was very timely with our current immigration policies and controversy and so well-written. This will break your heart, but it also has a satisfying ending.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I will say right now that this book is not for everyone. The author shares her heartbreaking story of finding love again with soccer player Abby Wambach after her husband’s infidelity. It has quite a bit of language, and her candor may make some people uncomfortable. However, so much of this book resonated with me, especially her ideas about being true to yourself and teaching your kids to live up to their potential. I wrote down so many little “sound bites” from this book that I loved. This is one you can read in pieces and come back to later. There’s so much wisdom and so much to think about.

The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask. I guarantee you will appreciate your address more after reading this book. It’s packed full of facts I’d never considered, like how you can’t get certain benefits without an address and how street names affect home values. One huge takeaway for me was that we’ve got to stop requiring addresses on job applications, since it unfairly marginalizes homeless people trying to get off the streets. This was such a fascinating book.

Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still by Kristina Kuzmic. Even if you haven’t seen her funny and poignant videos on social media, you will love Kristina Kuzmic’s beautiful memoir. She shares her story of divorce, finding love again, struggling with depression as a single mom, building her business through helping other women, and parenting her children. I actually went to her book event right before COVID-19 hit, and she is just as genuine in person as she is in her videos and in her book. I want to give all my friends a copy.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. I also included this in my list of books about racism and white privilege, but it topped my list of 2020 books, too. It’s about identical twin sisters raised in a small town with only light-skinned African-American people. After the sisters run away together, one decides to pass for white and not tell anyone about her heritage. The other sister marries a dark-skinned man and returns to her hometown. This has so many different ideas to consider, and it’s also the first novel I’ve read with a transgender character.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. Maybe don’t start reading this one at night. It’ll make your heart pound. When a mother and her son are the only survivors after a drug cartel kills their family at a party, they embark on a dangerous journey to leave Mexico and seek asylum in the United States. My husband actually served as a missionary in Cuernavaca, where the book starts, so it hit close to home.

What We Carry: A Memoir by Maya Shanbhag Lang. I was completely blown away by this memoir and have recommended it to so many people. It may be my favorite book of 2020. The author idolized her mother, a physician who’d emigrated from India, as a child. When Lang became a mother herself, however, she realized she didn’t know her mother at all. She also ends up caring for her mother as she worsens due to Alzheimer’s. I still look at this book and feel all the feelings I felt when reading it. It’s all about relationships between family members and how they change over time.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. I never really know what to expect with Fredrik Backman’s books. They are reliably quirky, and this latest book is definitely that. In this story, someone tries to rob a bank and ends up taking a group of people checking out an apartment as hostages. You then get perspectives from everyone involved, including the real estate agent showing the apartment, the cops trying to rescue the hostages, and even people who knew the failed bank robber. I don’t want to give anything away, but just know that nothing is as it seems.

You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy. I read this way back in January, but I still think about it. I even wrote a review (and I never do that). It’s a nonfiction book about the mechanics of hearing and listening and the myriad reasons why we all have to listen better to each other. I just made it sound really boring, but this is such an important read. It would be great for an office setting or a book club. There’s a lot to discuss (and I think it’s time for me to reread it).

What was your favorite new book from 2020? You can also see my favorites from 2019 for more recommendations.

10 Thanksgiving picture books to read with family

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Lindsay Books

I shared a few Thanksgiving picture books last year, and I’ve plowed through even more with my kids trying to find good options. It’s not easy to find books that represent Native Americans fairly or aren’t focused solely on turkeys. When my kids are a bit older, I’d love to read this History Smashers book about The Mayflower with them. Right now, though, we focus on gratitude, family traditions, and Native American culture.

Ready to tuck into some pumpkin pie and turkey next week? Here are some books to ring in the season with your family.

Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie by Jack Bishop. This brand-new America’s Test Kitchen picture book is darling! Peyton is a “particular” eater (not “picky”) and sticks to a limited selection of foods. Anything lumpy, sticky, gooey, or flaky is out — which means she has never tried pie. Peyton decides to be more adventurous at Thanksgiving, and her family and friends bring lots of pies to sample. What really makes this stand out is all the cultures and ethnicities. Peyton herself is part of a mixed-race family, and they have friends from France, India, and all different parts of the United States. I love that each person describes why their pie is special, too.

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora. I never really thought of this as a Thanksgiving book until my mom (an elementary school librarian) suggested it, but it’s a wonderful story about generosity. Omu (“queen” in the Igbo language) makes a big pot of stew, and everyone in the neighborhood keeps knocking and asking for a bowl. She happily serves everyone and never gets to eat a bowl of stew herself. Luckily, the people come back with food and surprises of their own. I adore everything Oge Mora does, and this is so heartwarming.

One Family by George Shannon. Maybe it’s because COVID-19 makes it really hard to be with families right now, but this book had me a bit teary. As it counts from one to 10, the beautiful illustrations show how different families look. Some kids live with their grandparents. Others live with one parent or with lots of siblings. It’s very inclusive and features characters of many skin colors. One page shows an old woman holding a basket full of puppies, and my kids LOVED that. This is a great book for showcasing all the different families who celebrate together.

Duck for Turkey Day by Jacqueline Jules. Anybody else think turkey can be dry and unappetizing? My husband has begun smoking ours instead of roasting it in the oven, and I much prefer it. But who says you have to have turkey for Thanksgiving anyway? In this cute story, Tuyet learns about the holiday and school and tries to convince her family they need to have a turkey for Thanksgiving. Her mom and other Vietnamese-American family members help her realize that their tradition is eating duck. When Tuyet returns to school, she learns that other classmates eat different foods for Thanksgiving, too.

Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story by Pat Zietlow Miller. Sometimes it’s comforting to look back at American traditions from 150 years ago. This story shows a 19-century family working together to make dinner. The brother and sister make bread together, the father adds wood to the fire, and other family members hold different tasks. I really like the illustrations in this book, and it would be beautiful displayed on a shelf for the holiday.

Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf. I couldn’t find this in any of my libraries, so I bought it last year and really like it. The pictures are stunning and tell the true story of a family in New York that hosts an outdoor Thanksgiving gathering every year. Even though it’s a modern story, I always think of Laura Ingalls Wilder when I read this book. The author makes me want a little cabin in the woods where I can host parties.

Not This Turkey! by Jessica Steinberg. I’m always interested in how people celebrate Thanksgiving if the holiday isn’t part of their culture. When the father of a Jewish family wins a live turkey for Thanksgiving from his work raffle, he has no idea how to get it home (he normally rides the train) or whether to cook it. His son grows to love the turkey, but they discover it’s too old and tough to eat anyway. They also discover that the kugel they normally have for Thanksgiving is just fine.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard. This is a fantastic story about how fry bread has an impact on Native American culture and brings people together. It also illustrates many Native American tribes and gives a lot of historical context about the food. Juana Martinez-Neal (who wrote and illustrated Alma and How She Got Her Name) does an amazing job on the pictures in this book. I can guarantee you will want a Navajo taco by the end (I want one just writing about the book).

Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill. There are many iterations of The House That Jack Built, and most of them do not keep the rhythm. This one does and beautifully builds to a family gathering around the table to eat. It also focuses on how everyone plays a part. The cousins pick the sunflowers, the mother makes the napkins, and of course the grandad built the table. I realized this is one I need to buy for our collection.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell. My family and I took a trip to Mount Rushmore this summer, and the Crazy Horse monument was a highlight. I’m so grateful my kids got to experience Native American culture and watch the beautiful dancers and see exhibits of their artwork. This book captures some of that magic with Cherokee words (including a glossary that explains pronunciation) and traditions. It also has colorful and engaging illustrations that complement the text.

I would love to hear how you’re celebrating Thanksgiving during this weird year. Any new traditions you’re implementing? Any pies I have to try?

Five small shops to support this Christmas

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Lindsay Life

Some of you know that I occasionally sell leather earrings in my Etsy shop, Ox and Plume. I started this when my kids were babies to make affordable jewelry for other women, and I haven’t done a lot to grow the business since I work full-time. However, each time I get a sale, I’m nearly in tears — and I can only image how it feels if your small business is your livelihood.

2020 has been really hard on lots of businesses but especially on small businesses. If you’re still doing holiday shopping, consider buying from a small shop instead of mindlessly buying the next big thing from Amazon. Your money helps communities grow and families to thrive. It puts food on the table and pays the electric bill in many cases. And it brings shop owners so much joy that they desperately need. Here are a few of my favorite small shops to support.

Remie Girl. I’m sure I’m not the only one whose little girl adores twirly dresses. Norah is completely obsessed with Remie Girl’s soft, colorful dresses and wants to wear them to church every week. As an added bonus, I bought almost all of her dresses in summer 2019 on a screaming sale and they still. look. brand-new. I’m not joking. They have pockets, they twirl beautifully when she spins around the house (which is often), and they wash well. Did I mention they’re made in the USA by a cute mom and her mom? They’re also having an amazing pre-Black Friday sale that you should jump on fast. We love, love this brand.

Decomod. If you live in my neighborhood, you have noticed the different holiday garlands I have hanging in my living room window. They are all from this shop, and I adore them. Made of thick, high-quality felt, these banners and garlands last forever and don’t curl up around the edges. I bought some of my banners (I think I have 20 now for different seasons/events) more than six years ago, and they still look amazing. The shop is also in Utah and only 40 minutes away from me, so I love supporting a fellow Utahan. Not sure where to start for a gift? Norah has the rainbow garland hanging in her room, and I gave my sister-in-law this cute Little Man garland for her baby last year.

Tom Design. I found this shop back when the owner lived in Idaho Falls, just 45 minutes from where I grew up. She now lives in Utah, so I feel like I’m still supporting a local business. I love personalized jewelry and have several necklaces from her shop, including a longitude and latitude bar, a heart choker, and a necklace with my kids’ handwriting. If you have a family member or friend who’s really hard to shop for, check out her beautiful personalized necklaces and bracelets. I really like her birth flower necklaces, too.

Letterfolk. This brand has given me heart eyes ever since they launched their premium felt letter boards years ago and jumpstarted that trend. I never bought a letter board, but I finally got my hands on a tile mat during their ding-and-dent sale this summer. Saying I’m obsessed is an understatement. I love putting colored tiles on it and spelling witty messages, and it’s SO durable. I plan to never buy another mat again. Letterfolk is so innovative and fun. I desperately want this modern cuckoo clock and will someday get one.

Wunderkin. A few years ago, I saw an influencer wearing these flower clips and fell HARD. Since then, many other shops have copied Wunderkin’s design, but the clips originated here. I love the vintage feel and colors, and I love that they actually stay in my daughter’s hair. I’ve even worn them and not looked like a 6-year-old. Norah also has many of their velvet bows, and they are the BEST quality. Seriously. I plan to keep these and give them to future grandchildren, because they’re that good. Prices are a little steep, but join the Wunderkin Facebook group or follow them on Instagram for deals. I promise the quality and the beautiful colors are worth it.

Now share your favorite small shops with me! I’d particularly love to know some that sell men’s gear, because my husband is hard to shop for.

10 books about white privilege and racism

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Lindsay Books

Let me preface this post by saying that I a) am white and privileged and b) have a lot to learn about our country’s race issues. I have added to this list for months now because I wanted to get different perspectives. While I am certainly not an expert, these books have helped me better understand racism in America and how I can combat it. Here are 10 books about white privilege and racism to check out:

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. I read this book several years ago, and I have never forgotten it. It’s the true story of an African-American lawyer who started his law career in Alabama working with death-row inmates –many of them people of color wrongly accused of crimes. Stevenson continues his work through the Equal Justice Initiative in Alabama today. This is such a powerful book. The movie is also wonderful (but hard to watch).

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. This lyrical letter from a father to his son about what it means to be a black man in America is amazing. It didn’t take me long to plow through the audiobook, which Coates beautifully narrated. His experiences and way with words are unforgettable.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. I will warn you right now that this book has a lot of language. It may not be a good option as an audiobook, especially if you have little kids around. However, this timely and important novel revolves around a teen who watches police kill her best friend. The themes are just as important today as in 2017. I haven’t seen the film, but I love the actress who plays Starr and have heard good things about it.

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. This memoir absolutely blew me away a few years ago. You probably know Trevor Noah for his comedy. While this book has its funny moments, it’s also a heartbreaking story of apartheid and racism. Technically, this book is about South Africa, but it’s fascinating to compare this country’s history with United States history.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. What I found most fascinating about this book is that Kendi admits he himself has struggled with racism against other Black people. He also defines lots of different forms of racism and explains how it goes beyond race and extends to treating everyone with respect, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, or body type.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. While this book is incredibly hard to read (or listen to) because of racial slurs and language, it really helped me to see white supremacy and racism in a different way. Ruth, an African-American nurse, can’t care for a newborn because the parents are white supremacists and refuse to let her near the baby. When the baby later dies, Ruth embarks on a legal battle and risks losing her career. I still think about this book all the time, and I read it nearly three years ago.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. Of all the books I read this year, this was the most conversational and approachable. I actually suggested it for my neighborhood book club, and we had some great discussions about it. Oluo answers lots of common questions about racism and offers concrete ways to talk about differences. She even has a chapter about why it’s not OK to ask to touch an African-American woman’s hair and another all about cultural appropriation.

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. If you read just one book from this list, make it this one. Wilkerson explains America’s hidden caste system and the ways those in the upper caste fight against those who try to rise above the places they’ve established for them. I listened to this and wished I had my own copy so I could highlight entire chapters. It’s fascinating and horrifying at the same time.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. This new release has me continuing to think about how race impacts so many lives, even weeks after I finished reading it. It’s the story of identical twin sisters with light skin raised in an African-American community. One sister decides to pass for white and never tell her husband and daughter about her heritage. The other sister marries a Black man with dark skin and is ostracized in her hometown. This is a fascinating book that raised so many questions for me.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo. This book appears last on the list for a reason, as it’s my least-favorite. I think the other books on list written by people of color are better and more conversational. However, I included it because it introduces the idea of “white fragility.” In other words, white people often become defensive when someone brings up racism. Even when I talk about what I learned in this book with friends, I’ve had people shut down and quickly say that they’re not racist. It’s not an easy book to read, but it’s important and helped me better understand the biases I hold.

Have you also been reading books about white privilege and racism this year? I’d love to hear what you liked best! If you’re looking for lighthearted reads after one of these, check out 6 fun books to get you through social distancing.

More Halloween picture books to enjoy

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Lindsay Books

While I don’t enjoy dressing up for Halloween and am definitely more into the cute decorations than the creepy ones, I do love getting my kids skeleton jammies (this year I got a matching pair) and reading lots of Halloween picture books.

Last year I shared 13 favorite Halloween books, but I’ve discovered a few more books we love. Grab these from your library or add to your collection!

Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex. I read Goodnight Moon to my kids so many times when they were babies and toddlers that I have it memorized. This parody of the bedtime classic still has the rhyme scheme and rhythm of the original, but I love the illustrations and fun Halloween characters it introduces. Both my kids read this several times before we returned it to the library. I’ll probably buy our own copy this year.

A Tiger Called Tomás by Charlotte Zolotow. Apparently this book was originally written in the 1960s and has been updated a few times, but I’d never read it before. A little boy is afraid to play with his neighbors because he thinks they don’t like him. His mom brings home a tiger costume for him to wear trick-or-treating, and he’s excited to hide behind a mask on Halloween. Tomás realizes that his neighbors know it’s him and that he doesn’t need to be afraid after all. This would be a perfect pick for a school library! Bonus: It uses a mixture of English and Spanish words throughout.

Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters by Rachel Kolar. I found myself singing these spooky nursery rhymes out loud, since they’re parodies of classics like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and “Hickory, Dickory Dock.” My 6-year-olds had fun reading them aloud, too, and the illustrations added a scary-but-not-too-scary element. These are great for bedtime.

Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas. Last year, my kids came home from kindergarten telling me all about this silly book their teacher had read them. I got it from the library and then immediately bought it. Winnie the Witch keeps bumping into her cat, Wilbur, because everything in her house is black, including Wilbur. She comes up with various ideas to change Wilbur’s color (none that Wilbur like) and finally realizes SHE can change, too. This is such a darling book, and the illustrations make it even better.

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman. This is another classic Halloween book that’s really fun to read aloud in a classroom (or just at home with your kids). When the witch wants to make pumpkin pie but can’t seem to pull her big pumpkin off the vine, a bunch of friends try to help, including a vampire, a mummy, and a bat. The repetition and rhythm make this one stand out.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago. Technically, this is a Day of the Dead book, but I thought it was adorable. Brand-new this year, the book tells the story of Gustavo, a shy ghost no one seems to notice. When he has trouble making friends, he decides to invite everyone over for a violin concert on Día de los Muertos. The illustrations are so cute, and I love the message of acceptance.

Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins. We LOVE this book so much and have it in our collection. Poor Stumpkin is a little pumpkin who sits in a store display and watches all the other pumpkins become jack-o-lanterns in homes. Why? Because Stumpkin doesn’t have a stem, which makes it harder to carve him. It’s got a sweet message about rising to your potential even when you’re a bit different.

Tell me about your favorite Halloween picture books and traditions! Do things look different at your house due to COVID-19? We’re still planning on trick-or-treating here, but there’s no costume parade since our kids are currently learning from home. Wishing you a fabulous holiday!

8 reasons I will always love picture books

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Lindsay Books

I feel like picture books get a bad rap sometimes. You grab them all the time when your kids are little. Then once they’re in preschool or kindergarten, you see lots of easy reader books or have the idea that your kids need to “move on.”

My 6-year-old twins are fully capable of reading longer chapter books to themselves now. They’ve each read The Boxcar Children at least three times this summer. Yet, I continue to get picture books from the library each week and occasionally buy new favorites for their shelves. I have no intention of weaning my kids off picture books, and you shouldn’t feel the need, either! Here are a few reasons I love picture books:

They’re an easy way to introduce diversity. I have been immersing myself in books about racism and racial equality over the past few weeks to better understand our country’s history and become better myself. I’ve also been getting picture books for my kids with characters of color. Representation matters. When my kids read books with characters of all different races, skin tones, and abilities, they see that these characters have a lot in common with them.

They are short enough to get a reluctant reader to read. Your child may be voraciously ripping through all the books in your house, and that’s great. More likely, though, your child is not as excited about reading when there’s a favorite toy around or a TV show to watch. My son gets especially grumpy when I enforce the 20-minute daily reading rule while school is out. It’s much easier to get him to read several picture books than to pick up a chapter book he thinks is “too long.”

They are often written at a higher reading level than many chapter books. You may not realize this, but your child is actually learning difficult words when they pick up an average picture book. The Berenstain Bears series, which my kids adore, uses words with multiple syllables. A quick search also revealed that the books average a fourth-grade reading level. Even Mo Willems’ book Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs (also a favorite) uses the words exhausted and gigantically, which my kids didn’t know at first. Pick up many picture books and you’ll be surprised by the word complexity.

They help your child appreciate art. One of the biggest reasons I love picture books is the range of illustrations that accompany the stories. Some feature simple geometric patterns (like Jon Klassen’s illustrations in Triangle). Others are detailed and multilayered (see Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers). I don’t have a lot of art hanging in my home, but I consider many of our picture books works of art. Marla Frazee, Jarvis, Genevieve Godbout, Sophie Blackall, and Oge Mora are just a few favorite illustrators.

They make a difficult concept or history easier to digest. I love history. Yet I would almost always pick a picture book about a historical figure before checking out a dry (and often picture-free) tome. A beautifully illustrated picture book can not only make history easier to understand but pique your child’s interest (or yours) in a person or event. For example, we recently read A Scarf for Keiko together, and my kids asked questions about Japanese internment camps. Then I became even more interested and learned that there were internment camps in both Idaho and Utah (where I live). I had no idea. If you want to explain something difficult, a picture book is a great place to start.

They often rhyme or employ great rhythm. Can you imagine reading an entire chapter book in rhyme? I cringe even thinking about it. On the other hand, a picture book with rhyme, like No Sleep for the Sheep, is fun and fresh every time you read it. Rhyme is a great way to teach kids to read, because they can anticipate which word is coming next. It also makes something memorable. I still recite “30 days hath September” in my head when I can’t remember how many days are in a certain month. The books your kids turn to over and over again will probably rhyme or have a comforting rhythm because they remember them.

They’re short enough to convey a strong message. We recently read the book It Could Always be Worse. I remembered again how much I love fables and fairytales. They exist today because they’re short stories with a memorable message, and families liked them so much that they told them to their own children. You don’t have to stick to fables, though. Think about your favorite picture books. Would they work as well as chapter books? I love that picture book length enables writers to tell compelling stories.

They can become timeless favorites. Both my kids have shelves in their rooms full of picture books, but I rarely buy books for myself. Why? Because my kids will remember the books they read as kids fondly. They may even want to read them to their own kids. I love seeing my kids pull books they’ve read over and over off the shelves or hear them relate to something in real life that happened in one of their favorite books. I enjoy tradition and nostalgia, and I think it’s inevitable with a beautifully written and illustrated children’s book.

Have I convinced you that picture books are appropriate for all ages? I don’t think my kids will be devouring a stack of picture books at 12. However, I think they’ll still occasionally look at them if I check them out from the library. There are too many benefits to reading picture books to let them go so early.

5 summer reading programs that reward kids (and parents)

Posted on June 18, 2020 by Lindsay Books

It’s summer, which means no kid is being FORCED to read for school. If you’re like me, you still want to encourage your children to read so they don’t slide back when school starts again.

I’ve rounded up several reading reward programs (one is local to Utah, but the rest are open to anyone) to help you get your kids reading this summer! Make sure you check your local library, too. Ours are offering digital programs that are easy to enroll in.

Little Mama Shirt Shop reading challenge. Technically, this reading program rewards YOU for reading to your kids, so I thought I’d start with that. You deserve a reward for reading, too! Go to Chynna’s site, download the reading log, add a checkmark each time you read to your kids, and then list your favorite books on the back. Send her a picture of the completed chart (200 books, but you’ve got this) and she’ll send you a coupon code for her shop. We love all her cute tees (I even got my husband and kids matching Daddy/baby shark shirts last year). I also love that she encourages parents and kids to read.

Barnes & Noble summer reading journal. This program for kids in grades 1-6 is SO simple, and I love that. Have your kids read just eight books, write the titles and what they liked best about them, and bring the completed paper to a Barnes & Noble store to pick out a free book from the list. They offer some good titles, too, like Mercy Watson and Ramona Quimby books!

Read Today summer reading event. Utah friends, this is for you! Print off the cute baseball diamond and have your kids read for 20 minutes each day. They color in the baseballs and get rewards each time they reach one of the bases. One is a Happy Meal, which my kids probably would love more than a new book. Then email a picture of the completed baseball diamond before July 20. Easy and fun.

Scholastic Summer Read-a-Palooza. I like that this program rewards kids for reading every day and encourages them to see how long they can keep up their streak. They earn digital experiences when they log into Home Base, and they also unlock 100,000 books, which Scholastic donates to the United Way. I love that they’re giving back to families in need!

Book-It! reading program. I used to LOVE this program as a kid, because it rewards you with Pizza Hut pizza. I was shocked to find out that it still exists! Keep track of your kids’ reading time each day, and they earn different prizes for consistently reading.

I hope these motivate both you and your kids to read this summer! In some ways, I feel like it’s a good time to try to get into a new series, because normal activities are still limited here. Let me know if I missed any great summer programs!

5 ways to live more eco-friendly and clean up clutter

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Lindsay Life

Happy Earth Day! Many people know I have become really serious about living a more eco-conscious life over the past few years. I’m trying to limit the amount of plastic we use and cutting back on disposable items. I’m also making small changes to reduce our waste overall.

However, the last thing I want to do is make anyone feel guilty or make you feel like you need to tack one more thing onto your to-do list. It is HARD to change habits. It is hard to get your family on board if you do want to make changes. And it is hard to find better solutions for your home when plastic is so inexpensive and convenient. I absolutely get it. Use the tips that might work for your family, and ignore what doesn’t. If you take just one thing away, it’s that YOU are in control of your life and your home. You get to decide what you bring in and take out of it. Here are a few suggestions for living a more simple and eco-friendly life.

Politely refuse things you know you don’t need or won’t use

We’ve probably all gone to a health fair or some booth at a convention and ended up with pens and water bottles and those little foam soda insulators that no one ever uses. Of course, vendors WANT you to take this stuff because they a) want to get their name out there and b) don’t want to pack it all up and take it back home. It doesn’t matter. You should not feel obligated to take something just because it’s free.

Consider whether you really need something or will actually use it. Think about where you’ll store it (or if you have room to store it). If you have kids who bring home cheap Slinkies or erasers as rewards from school, talk to them about how toys like that are made and why they break so easily. I want my kids to pick out their own prizes. I also want it to be clear why I don’t buy them or give them the money to win them at the school carnival. Whatever your situation is, start politely refusing swag or samples or anything someone tries to give you. If you can’t refuse it, donate it immediately to someone who can actually use it.

Keep your packaging simple

This may stem from that fact that I have never learned to gift-wrap properly. My husband laughs at me whenever Christmas rolls around (he usually ends up wrapping everything except books). Still, even if you’re the world’s best wrapper, you don’t need to spend a ton on making something look pretty. A clear cellophane bag around a candle will just get thrown away. A three-year-old can’t read the expensive glittery card attached to her gift. A plate of cookies doesn’t need colored wrap and a bow.

I admire people who can wrap beautifully and make simple gifts look stunning, and I think design and aesthetics is important — but I also think it’s important to cut yourself some slack and stop complicating events. It’s OK to bring a gift that isn’t wrapped or that’s wrapped only in paper. You don’t need to ship the hair bows you sell in a clear plastic bag or insert several different business cards in the package and seal it with washi tape. I occasionally sell leather bows and earrings and try to use only paper bags and cardstock to package them. The plastic is unnecessary and just goes in the trash.

Use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets

About six years ago when my kids were born, I discovered that the dryer sheets were giving my kids a rash and making me sneeze. Not only are these disposable, they have artificial scents and chemicals that aren’t great if you have sensitive skin or allergies. I bought some inexpensive wool dryer balls from Amazon and have used them for years. Want to scent your laundry? Add a few drops of essential oil to the balls before tossing them in with the clothes.

Stop buying disposable soap dispensers

I am a recovering Bath & Body Works shopper. I have bought their foaming hand soap for years, and I love the scents and the formula. My kids tend to use a lot of soap, and I think foaming soap lasts longer because you use less. My problem is the plastic bottle it comes in. You can recycle it a few times, but you can’t recycle the pump or the metal spring that’s part of it.

I found this Puracy foaming hand soap refill on Amazon and have been really happy with it. I kept a few of my Bath & Body Works dispensers since I haven’t found a sturdier foaming soap dispenser yet, and we refill those with this soap. It’s even cheaper if you sign up for subscribe and save. I also like that the package uses as little plastic as possible.

We use bar soap in the shower, but I think it’s too hard for little hands to grab onto and also harbors germs when used for hand soap. This isn’t a perfect solution, but it definitely reduces our plastic.

Buy refillable shampoo and conditioner

I was tired of recycling shampoo and conditioner bottles and throwing out the pumps, so I started to look for another option. I’ve been using Plaine Products for about a year and love their business model. They send you aluminum bottles of shampoo and conditioner (they also offer hand soap, lotion, and facial cleansers) and sturdy pumps. Then when you finish a bottle, you mail it back to them using the same box the original bottles shipped in.

Full disclosure: I signed up to be a Plaine Products affiliate, which means if you end up buying a product, I earn a small percentage. I love this company and their goal of reducing single-use plastic, regardless of whether you end up buying from them.

Check out my favorite book about earth-friendly, minimalist options and other ideas for reducing waste! Share your best tips below.

Lindsay

Lindsay

Recent Posts