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10 kids’ audiobooks under $3

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Lindsay Books

I talk about audiobooks a lot, but they are a fantastic way to squeeze books in when you don’t have time to sit down and read (or would rather be doing something else). They’re also a great way to introduce kids to stories before they can read or help them recognize new words by following along in a book.

I get ridiculously excited when I score new audiobooks for my kids at a great price. They often ask to listen to them at home (through our Echo Dot) or in the car. These are a few of our favorites, and they’re all under $3 each.

Olivia by Ian Falconer. We have probably listened to this book in the car about 15 times, and it never gets old. It’s hilariously narrated by Dame Edna Everage (I have to admit I didn’t know who this was) and also features beautiful classical piano music in the background. I will point out that this is a book your kids need to be familiar with first, since part of Olivia‘s charm is the funny illustrations, so I highly recommend the hardcover or board book, too.

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel. Honestly, I love all of Arnold Lobel’s early reader books, but this is the first one we bought on audio and it’s a favorite. The author narrates them and does a fantastic job of bringing Frog and Toad to life. I love that it’s a bunch of short chapters and stories together, so you can listen to it in chunks if you need to. Plus, you get a lot of bang for your buck with a longer book. If you love this one, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year and Days with Frog and Toad are also under $3 each.

The Bad Seed by Jory John and Pete Oswald. My kids and I love this entire series (which also includes The Good Egg and The Cool Bean). They’re great ways to teach kids about behavior, specifically perfectionism, kindness, and judgment. At under $2 each, you could get all three books if you wanted to. It’s probably helpful to start with the picture books first so kids can think about the illustrations as they listen.

Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherry Duskey Rinker. My son is still ultra-obsessed with tractors and construction vehicles, and he always asks to listen to this in the car. The narrator is very animated (although I recommend notching the speed up to 1.25 on this, because it seems really slow). There are also fun construction noises in the background. Plus, this is less than a dollar. You really can’t go wrong.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I have to admit that I was never a big fan of this book, but I like the audio version. The narrator seems to make the story come alive, even if it’s been a long time since you’ve read the story. It’s also less than $1.50, so you won’t break the bank.

Dear Girl, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal. While I don’t actually own this audiobook, I adore the print version and just discovered this deal today. Paris Rosenthal narrates it, and it’s only $1.59 right now! That’s a fantastic deal, and I’m probably going to buy it for my kids.

Splat the Cat and the Quick Chicks by Rob Scotton. My son especially loved this book when we checked it out from the library a couple months ago, and the audio version is really fun. There are even little chick noises! I recommend checking out the print version for the hilarious illustrations.

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff. This was one of my favorite books as a kid, and the audiobook is wonderfully narrated by a little boy. I think this would be a great way to help a reluctant reader get into this book. You could also have your child look through the hardcover while they listen.

Penny and Her Doll by Kevin Henkes. Both my kids loved this early reader series from the amazing Kevin Henkes. Seriously, I love all his books. This is my daughter’s favorite, and it’s narrated by Cynthia Nixon. If you like this one, Penny and Her Marble and Penny and Her Song are the same price.

Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by Kimberly and James Dean. My kids loved their hardcover book so much they tore pages out, so they got really excited when they saw the audiobook was available. This is a fun counting book for preschoolers and kindergartners, and I like the message about giving friends another chance.

I hope these audiobooks give both you and your kids a fun break! Share your favorite audiobooks in the comments. You can also see 5 more favorites (and how to use Audible without a membership).

5 board books to give new moms (and baby gear you can live without)

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Lindsay Books Life

Several friends and family members are welcoming new babies this spring and summer, and with social distancing still in place, it’s impossible to have traditional baby showers. That doesn’t mean you can’t show them you care, though! Whether you’ve bought some essentials and want a board book to tuck into the gift or were asked to bring a book instead of a card, these are a few of my favorite books to give to a new mom.

Emma: An Emotions Primer by Jennifer Adams. Contrary to what you might think, your babies are not going to learn the classics from these literary-inspired board books you read to them. However, we had several of these when my twins were babies, and this was their favorite. It has bright colors and tells Jane Austen’s Emma through the different characters’ emotions (like excitement, anger, boredom, and surprise). My kids reached for this one again and again.

If I Were an Owl by Jellycat. It looks like my favorite Jellycat book isn’t available on Amazon anymore, but there are a bunch of similar books to choose from. My kids and I loved the textures of this book on every page, especially the soft owl feathers on the cover and the scratchiness of its claws. All of the titles look adorable!

Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny set by Margaret Wise Brown. I have almost the entire book of Goodnight Moon memorized because we read it so much to our kids at bedtime. This is a classic for a reason. The rhythm and rhymes are so soothing, and kids love the bright pictures (what kid’s room has bright green walls and red floors?). This board book set also includes The Runaway Bunny, which has enchanting illustrations and lets you search for the hidden bunnies in the pictures.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. This is another one of those books my kids can recite from memory. I love the rhyming and rhythm, and I also like that it’s an easy way to introduce even babies to the alphabet. Lois Ehlert’s illustrations are bright and colorful. When my kids were too old for board books, we upgraded to a paperback and they still love it.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I absolutely adore this book, and so do my kids. The board book version still has the holes showing what the caterpillar ate, and it’s fun for little fingers to grab these as you turn the pages. What’s even more fun is to watch the caterpillar transform from a fat green blob to a stunning butterfly at the end. Eric Carle also narrates the audiobook, which I highly recommend.

I posted the following items on my previous blog a while back in response to a coworker who wanted to know what he really needed for his new baby. I feel it’s applicable now, when so much is scarce or takes weeks to deliver. Manufacturers and influencers want you to think having a baby requires a ton of gear, but it really doesn’t. When I had my twins nearly six years ago, I tried to be conscious about what we could do without. Here’s my list:

Bumbos: I seem to be in the minority here, but I’ve always thought Bumbos were ugly and expensive. A friend brought over her old one for us to try, which was nice, but my kids didn’t really like sitting in it. Some pediatricians also say it doesn’t help your baby develop the abdominal muscles needed to sit on their own.
High chairs: I am pretty anti-high-chair, mostly because they take up a ton of space and are a pain to clean. When my babies were born, we were living in a condo with a pretty small kitchen, and the kitchen in our current home is also pretty small. High chairs are not worth the cost or space, in my opinion. The alternative is inexpensive booster seats that strap to kitchen chairs or even folding chairs. They wipe down easily (you can even spray them off outside), and your kids can sit in them for years. Mine used them until they were almost three and were tall enough to sit up to the table.
Swings: I know some people swear by swings, but I don’t like the giant amount of floor space they take up. I recommend waiting until your baby is born to decide whether you really need a swing. You may be able to find one secondhand or get one that folds or doesn’t take as much room.
Bouncers: We had a bouncer I bought secondhand for about two weeks, hoping it would help my son’s croup if he was more elevated while sleeping. I don’t think it really helped. If you want something to entertain your baby while you do something else, propping a Boppy or nursing pillow behind him does the job.
Diaper Genies: Dirty diapers are gross, and no one wants to smell them or deal with them, but I thought this gadget was way overpriced and unnecessary. We put all the dirty diapers in a small garbage can with a lid and then took the bag to the dumpster when it was full. As a new mom, it was also a chance for me to get some fresh air even just running out to the dumpster.
Walkers: We borrowed an old walker from my husband’s mom, and my kids did like playing in it. However, these also take up a lot of room, and you use them for a short time. They’re also gross to clean when your kid spits up on them (or worse).
Big baby tubs: You use baby tubs for such a small window of time before your baby can sit up on their own, and the big, bulky plastic tubs take up room. We loved our Puj flyte tub because it was easy to fold and clean and didn’t take up a ton of room. Once my kids were bigger, we bought an inexpensive inflatable duck bath you could deflate and store flat. At about 10 months old, they were fine sitting in the tub on their own.
Bassinets: Because bassinets are so small, your baby can only sleep in it for a few months. Then you’re stuck with another piece of gear you have to store. I suggest buying a pack ‘n’ play instead. You can easily fold it and take it with you when you travel, and your kids won’t outgrow it for a few years.
Toddler beds: Toddler beds aren’t worth it because you have to buy specific toddler sheets and mattresses that then don’t fit a twin bed OR a crib. We bought cribs from IKEA with one removable side instead so we could keep the crib mattresses and the crib sheets. Once they were three and too big for the cribs, we bought two twin beds and mattresses they can hopefully sleep in for years.

I’m always curious what your must-haves are for babies and what you wish you’d never bought. Please also share your favorite board books!

6 fun books to get you through social distancing

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Lindsay Books

I haven’t posted a lot here because COVID-19 has meant a lot of stress, thanks to a full-time job at an events company. With so many unknowns, it’s hard to be positive and even harder to post about books when libraries are closed and it’s hard to get anything from Amazon before the end of April.

If you need a distraction through reading, this list of books is for you. They’re lighthearted, available digitally (though I sadly can’t tell you what the wait list is like), and won’t take months to plow through. I have laughed (and cried) through all of these. I’m not linking to Amazon since there’s such a delay, but you can get these there, at your library, your local bookstore, or even from smaller sellers on eBay (which I prefer).

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes. First, two caveats about this book: You have to listen to the audiobook, and you have to have seen (and mildly enjoyed) The Princess Bride. Technically, the first one isn’t a must, but Cary Elwes narrates it and it has clips from many of the actors, so you’re missing out if you read it. This was such a fun memoir about a favorite movie, but I also learned a lot about the way they produced it and heard many insights from the actors themselves. It’s incredibly entertaining.

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan. I’ve listened to this one and read the ebook, and they will both make you laugh out loud. However, Jim Gaffigan narrates the audiobook, so listening is almost like sitting in one of his shows. As bizarre as this sounds, this book is literally about Jim Gaffigan’s adventures with food and where he has eaten it. Just trust me on this one.

My Lady Jane by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows. This retold story of Lady Jane Grey had me laughing out loud and waiting for the next ridiculous thing to happen. This is historical fiction with a fantasy twist, and while I do not normally like fantasy, I devoured this one. I’m pretty sure I listened to the 12-hour audiobook in two days. This is another one that’s better on audio, thanks to Katherine Kellgren’s phenomenal narration.

Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas. I absolutely adored this memoir about an Iranian family who moves to California for several years when their father gets an engineering job. Dumas is such a talented writer and humorist, and this is one of those books that will make you embrace your quirky family. It also gave me a profound respect for Iran and a better understanding of the Middle East.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. I debated over sharing this, because it has a lot of language and is definitely darker than the other books on this list, but even seeing the cover brings me joy. Ove (pronounced “Ooh-veh”) is horribly depressed after his wife dies and is thinking about ending his own life. Fortunately, his quirky neighbors end up interfering without even knowing what they’re doing and showing him how much he matters.

Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between) by Lauren Graham. Admittedly, if you are not a Gilmore Girls fan, you may not enjoy this book as much, because Lauren Graham does talk a lot about her experiences on that show. However, she also talks about Parenthood (another show I really enjoyed) and touches on her career and her life outside of Hollywood. She narrates this book, but she doesn’t talk quite as fast as she does in the show that made her famous.

I hope these bring you some joy right now. Share your favorite lighthearted books in the comments!

7 St. Patrick’s Day picture books to read with your family

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Lindsay Books

I have long loved St. Patrick’s Day because I love green and love an excuse to wear it (since oddly I don’t wear it much otherwise). I’m sure I learned about what the holiday is really about in elementary school, but I admit that I had long forgotten it when I started reading up on it.

My kids and I learned so much about St. Patrick through these books, and we loved reading about leprechauns’ tricks, too. Here are a few picture books to help you ring in St. Patrick’s Day with your family.

Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie DePaola. Yes, he’s known for Strega Nona, but Tomie DePaola has also written several great bios and Irish picture books. If you’re looking for a book that tells all about St. Patrick and why we celebrate him, this is it. It also explains a few of the legends, like St. Patrick casting all the snakes out of Ireland. If only he could have done that in the United States (I’m a little scared of snakes).

How to Trap a Leprechaun by Sue Fliess. I’m not the mom who helps her kids build leprechaun traps or really encourages that, so I was hesitant about picking up this book. Fortunately, it’s got really cute illustrations and shows the kids building these cool traps with rainbow slides and glitter. It’s also more about creativity than the greed of stealing a leprechaun’s gold. Plus it rhymes, so it’s fun to read out loud. Of course, the leprechaun gets away, and the narrator tells you to try again next year.

St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning by Eve Bunting. The vintage-looking illustrations are what make this picture book shine. When parents tell a little boy he’s too young to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, he sets out to prove them wrong and brings his dog with him. Along the way up the hill, he meets people from his village who keep an eye on him and even give him gifts (like an Irish flag) to prove he can go to the top on his own.

Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman. This story captures the magic of Irish folktales and also has stunning illustrations. The leprechaun king has stolen all the good luck from Ireland, and a girl named Fiona decides to outwit him and get it back. I just checked out the audiobook from my library, and the narrator reads it in an Irish brogue. That might be a fun way to introduce your kids to this book, too.

The Leprechaun’s Gold by Pamela Duncan Edwards. I really love folk stories (if they’re done well), and this one about two men competing to be the best harpist in Ireland is so good. When the young man tries to sabotage the old man by breaking his harp string, the old man is rewarded for helping a leprechaun and ends up with more than he ever dreamed. Yes, it’s predictable, but sometimes you want a story where good triumphs over evil.

St. Patrick’s Day Shamrocks by Mary Berendes. Normally I don’t like nonfiction children’s books about holidays because they’re often dry and instantly look dated. This one surprised me and was very engaging. There is one picture that looks straight out of the ’90s with a mom and her son dressed up for a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Other than that, though, it felt classic and was a great way to learn about St. Patrick’s Day traditions and shamrocks. Also? I am in my 30s and somehow never knew the shamrock was a symbol of the Trinity. I’m a little embarrassed (and glad I know now). I couldn’t find this on Amazon to link to it, but your library may have it.

Too Many Leprechauns: Or How that Pot o’ Gold Got to the End of the Rainbow by Stephen Krensky. Finn O’Finnegan comes home to find leprechauns have overrun his village and are making so much noise while making shoes that no one can hear themselves think. He decides to trick them into leaving his village. In the process, you also discover why leprechauns hide their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This book was so fun!

Share your favorite St. Patrick’s Day books with me! I still have a few waiting for me at the library, and there’s plenty of time for us to check out more.

Review: You’re Not Listening

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Lindsay Books

I know we’re only two months into 2020 and it’s not really fair of me to have a favorite book already, but I was so enthralled with this book that I willingly spent hours walking at the gym just so I could listen to it. I am not much of a gym rat, so that is saying something.

What is this magical book, you ask? It’s called You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters, and it’s written by journalist Kate Murphy. While I checked out the audiobook from my library through the Libby app, the print version of this book would be just as good, and part of me wants to check it out again to highlight parts that stood out.

You’re Not Listening is a book about the importance of actually listening to the people in your life. I thought I was actually a pretty good listener before I finished this book, and I think most of us have an inflated opinion of how well we listen to each other. I soon realized I can be a much better listener –and that it’s going to take some work.

Part of the problem, Murphy explains, is that we have so many ways for people to express themselves today. Because we can all indulge in soliloquies on social media or send videos to people whenever we want, we have forgotten that we also have to listen to what the people around us are saying. We also have to make an effort to look at the person we’re speaking to and not be distracted by a phone or a long to-do list.

One of the most fascinating parts of this book was the chapter about silence and how our discomfort with it makes us jump in when we really should be listening. Because I am introverted and work from home most of the time, I crave a quiet home and don’t mind sitting in silence for hours. I know most people don’t enjoy this (and don’t get this luxury).

However, I find I am less uncomfortable with pauses in conversation when they happen, and this book made me more determined to stop jumping in immediately when someone stops talking. I always appreciate the people who listen without an immediate solution or opinion, because I know they are trying to understand what I’m feeling.

The chapter also reminded me of something that really frustrates me in my church. The first Sunday of each month is called “testimony meeting,” and it’s a chance for anyone to stand at the pulpit and share their feelings about God and other parts of their religion. I’ve been in meetings where someone stood and said they “couldn’t handle the silence anymore” (because no one had shared anything for a few minutes).

Another time, I left furious because a leader had closed a meeting I was in charge of early because he didn’t want people to sit in silence anymore. Silence is how people process their feelings and figure out what they’re going to say. If you jump in whenever there’s a pause, you stop people from forming ideas and opinions. I have tried to teach my kids that it’s healthy to be quiet and to sit in silence with nothing to do sometimes.

I also loved the chapter on deciding NOT to listen, because you do get that choice. Murphy points out, however, that you must be careful using this choice, because listening is how you make another person feel loved and understood. We’ve all been in that situation where someone is checking their phone or watch or looking around the room while you’re talking. It makes you feel like you don’t matter.

I could go on and on about this book, but you really should just check it out from the library or buy it and read it yourself. If you give it a shot, drop me a comment! I’d love to hear what you thought.

10 Valentine’s Day picture books you’ll love

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Lindsay Books

Valentine’s Day kind of gets a bad rap as a “Hallmark holiday” or “Singles Awareness Day.” Honestly, I did not love this holiday after we stopped handing out valentines and candy in grade school and everyone became obsessed with romantic love.

Today, though, it’s one of my favorite holidays! I hang heart banners in the window and decorate with red and pink, and of course I read lots of books about love (though not romantic love) to my kids. For me, it’s a day to celebrate love for my family and friends.

Here are 10 of my favorite books about love for Valentine’s Day!

Love Monster and the Last Chocolate by Rachel Bright. I saw the original Love Monster book on Instagram and checked it and all the sequels out from the library this week — and I have to say that sometimes the sequel is better than the original. In this one, Love Monster returns from a trip to find a box of chocolates on his doorstep and agonizes whether to share them with his friends (because then he might end up with a yucky coffee chocolate). The ending surprised me and was SO sweet. I’m already planning to buy this one for our collection.

Love Is by Diane Adams. I read this adorable book to my kids a few years ago and immediately bought a copy. It’s that cute. A little girl rescues a duckling who got separated from its family and cares for it at home for a while. In the process, she learns how to feed and bathe and take care of it and then has to return it to the park when it grows too big to keep as a pet anymore. The illustrations are absolutely darling, and I love the message about how love is taking care of others.

Mirabel’s Missing Valentines by Janet Lawler. In this sweet book, a timid mouse named Mirabel makes valentines for all the kids in her class and is anxious about delivering them during the school party. Unfortunately, all of the valentines fall through a hole in her backpack as she walks to school, and other people in town pick them up thinking they’re for them. It’s a fun story about how you can brighten someone else’s day with kind words.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli. A lonely man, Mr. Hatch, receives a heart-shaped package filled with candy and tied with a note that says “Somebody loves you!” He has no idea who the package is from, but he starts to be happier just because he knows he has a secret admirer. Of course, there’s a twist and he discovers the mystery behind the package (but it has a happy ending). This is a great one for little kids and helps you have a discussion about how everyone deserves love.

I Heart You by Meg Fleming. I just discovered this book a few weeks ago, and I thought it was appropriate for Valentine’s Day. The rhyming verses talk about different ways to show love (I hide you. / I tease you. / I find you. / I squeeze you.), while the beautiful illustrations show lots of animals with their children. One page finally leads to a little girl and her mother. Little kids will love the rhythm and rhyme and sweet pictures.

Hedgehugs by Steve Wilson. I bought this a few years ago as a gift for a friend who has a pet hedgehog, but then I ended up loving it and buying my own copy. Two hedgehogs, Horace and Hattie, love to play together but have realized that they can’t hug each other because it’s just too poky. As the seasons pass, they try different tactics like covering themselves in leaves to soften their sharp quills, but nothing quite works. The solution they come up with is SO cute. I also like this because I’m trying to teach my kids that not everyone likes hugs and it’s OK to not have a hug if you don’t feel comfortable.

Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. My kids absolutely LOVE this book, and I do, too. A little girl plants a kiss in the ground, and then it sprouts and grows lots of sparkly glitter — which, of course, is raised, touchable glitter that you have to run your hands over. The kiss grows and spreads love to everyone! I love all of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s books AND Peter H. Reynolds’ illustrations, and this is a match made in heaven.

My Heart by Corinna Luyken. Have I mentioned that I really like children’s books that help kids understand and process their feelings? Only all the time, I know. But this one has stunning illustrations and rhyming text all about the emotions your heart feels. It’s also a great way to tell your child that they’ll be angry and hurt and even heartbroken sometimes, but their heart can heal and open up again. This one is on my kids’ bookshelf, and the cover always makes me smile.

Love by Stacy McAnulty. This book has beautiful illustrations of people of all different colors and sizes and talks about the many different ways to show love, like giving someone flowers, sharing video phone calls with a parent overseas in the military, speaking in sign language, and cooking dinner together. I love all the diversity in this book and the message that love (and life) isn’t perfect.

The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond. This book is nearly 40 years old, and yet somehow I never read it as a child. One day, it rains hearts, and a little girl catches them and realizes they would be perfect to use for making valentines. She decorates the hearts and sends them to her animal friends! The pictures are adorable, and fans of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will recognize this author and illustrator.

I want to hear your favorite books about love (or Valentine’s Day specifically). Any great ones you read each year?

10 middle-grade fiction books you and your kids will love

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Lindsay Books

A friend recently texted me looking for books her 11-year-old son would like, and I went through a mental list of the novels I loved when I was a kid. While I was coming up with recommendations for her, I realized I’d read several middle-grade fiction books lately that were SO GOOD. This list is a mix of books from my own childhood and newer releases I enjoyed. Whether you have a tween who needs ideas or want new options yourself, these books are all stellar.

Words on Fire by Jennifer A Nielsen. I just finished this book a couple days ago, and WOW. It treads the line between middle-school and young-adult fiction (I wouldn’t give it to a kid younger than 11) and follows a 12-year-old girl living in 1893 Lithuania. Audra discovers her parents have been hiding secrets from her for years: They and other villagers have been smuggling Lithuanian books, which are forbidden by the Russians who currently control the country. Audra has to decide whether books are worth risking her life to save — and discovers more about her own family in the process.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. I first read this book in sixth grade and still look lovingly at it whenever I see it in bookstores (which to me is the mark of a great book). Karana is a young Native American who learns to live alone on an island when her family is killed. Even 20+ years later, I can still remember the emotions I had reading this book but also her resourcefulness in making her own clothes and shelter and learning to live off the land. What 11-year-old doesn’t think it would be so awesome to have your own space sometimes?

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. I remember laughing out loud at this book about a cricket blessed with perfect pitch and the extraordinary ability to play music in New York City. While the first two books on this list are geared toward older tweens, this one is perfect for younger kids, too (probably 8 and older). A warning: Even when I was a kid, I knew there was something wrong with the Chinese character’s dialogue (he can’t pronounce the letter l very well). That being said, this book is 60 years old, and I think it’s still worth reading. When my kids are old enough, we can have a good discussion about racism in books — and you can always discuss this with your kids when they’re ready.

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. I was absolutely stunned by how good this book was. Everyone should read it, not just the tweens/teens it was written for. It takes place in England during World War II and revolves around 10-year-old Ada, who’s never been allowed to leave the house because her mom is ashamed of her club foot. When the Germans begin bombing London, Ada and her younger brother are sent to the country where they’ll be safe. While living with Susan, the woman who takes Ada and Jamie in, Ada learns to trust again and also that she’s capable of way more than she anticipated.

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan. My beloved fourth-grade teacher read this to my class when I was 10, and I remember sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time. It’s based on the true story of Norwegian kids who helped smuggle gold out of Norway during WWII so the Nazi occupiers couldn’t steal it. What’s crazy is that they literally put gold bars on their sleds and somehow slipped by the soldiers without notice. It’s such a fun, adventurous story for kids!

A Slip of a Girl by Patricia Reilly Giff. This new release about a young girl living in Ireland during the potato famine captured my heart. It’s told in free verse, so it’s probably better for older tweens and teens, but I think you could also read this aloud to younger kids (9- and 10-year-olds). When Anna’s mother dies and her father is arrested for failing to pay rent to the landlord, Anna has to escape and figure out how to help her family, especially her special-needs sister. It’s a quick read, but a powerful one.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. Somehow I never read this as a child, but reading it as an adult was probably even more meaningful. A young girl, Winnie, accidentally discovers a spring in the woods near her home that gives whoever drinks from it everlasting life with a twist: They never get a day older. Winnie then meets the Tuck family, who all drank from the spring and constantly have to move around before people begin to get suspicious. While this is appropriate for kids about 10 and older, it also has more adult themes you can discuss with your children or even in a book group. Everlasting life really isn’t as great as it may seem.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. This is the ultimate “guy book” about a teen who’s the sole survivor of a plane crash and has to figure out how to live on his own in the Canadian wilderness. Technically this is young adult fiction, but I think it’s appropriate for 11-year-olds and older tweens/teens. I remember loving this book and the other companion books (like Brian’s Winter) when I was in junior high, and this is the first novel that came to mind when my friend asked for recommendations.

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck. I vividly remember my brother coming home with this book when he was in fourth grade or so and laughing out loud while reading it, so of course I had to read it. It is legitimately one of the funniest children’s books I have ever read. The story reads almost like a memoir written by two kids remembering a series of summers spent with their eccentric grandmother. It’s set in the ’20s and ’30s, so it gives kids a sense of the past while also feeling incredibly timeless. We all have crazy grandma stories to share (or maybe it’s just me). Oh, and the sequel, A Year Down Yonder, is just as good, if not better.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. This book was published when I was in high school, so I didn’t read it until a few years ago, but MAN. It is excellent. Esperanza and her family are wealthy and live on a large ranch in Mexico until they are forced to leave the country and start over in California during the Great Depression. Suddenly, Esperanza faces poverty and racism and has to learn to take care of her family when her mother becomes ill in a migrant camp. This book has heavier themes, so I wouldn’t give it to kids younger than 10, but it’s an important and beautiful read.

I seriously love middle-grade books right now. These are the coming-of-age stories that will help shape your child’s life and love of reading — and they’re also poignant to read as adults. Tell me your favorites! What should I read next?

The 10 best picture books of 2019

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Lindsay Books

I read at least 500 picture books to my kids in 2019, mainly because I was trying to meet the 1,000 books before kindergarten challenge I discovered about a month before they started kindergarten.

While I don’t plan to replicate this in 2020, I do try to keep an eye on new releases and check them out from the library. 2019 had some fantastic new releases, and some even made their way to our bookshelf (a big deal, since I don’t buy a lot of books). Here are my picks for the 10 best picture books published in 2019.

Saturday by Oge Mora. I have loved Oge Mora’s illustrations since reading Thank You, Omu! in 2018, and this book is just as beautiful. It’s about a girl and her mom who have a special routine on Saturday, the only day the mom doesn’t work. When everything goes wrong, they find a way to be optimistic and still have a great day together.

Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines by Sarah Aaronson. I am not always a fan of nonfiction picture books, because some of them include way too much detail and simply aren’t in a good format for kids. This book was AMAZING. My kids and I loved looking at the hilarious machines Goldberg came up with and learning more about his life. I had no idea he was a cartoonist!

A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy. Yes, I included this in the list of books I gave my kids for Christmas, but it’s definitely in my 2019 top 10 list. There are far too few empowering books for boys out there, and I love the messages and illustrations in this one. Buy it for your kids!

Unicorn Day by Diana Murray. I have been on a quest to find unicorn books for my daughter, who absolutely loves them. This one is SO great. It has fun, colorful pictures of unicorns and a fantastic rhyme scheme that begs to be read aloud. It’s also a story of friendship and acceptance when the unicorns discover an impostor at their party.

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad. I saw this on Amazon as an upcoming release and waited for months for it to come to my library. It was worth the wait. This story about a girl who watches her sister wear her hijab to school for the first time beautifully illustrates a part of Islam. It also shows the relationship between siblings and students. I really loved this book.

Maybe: A Story About the Endless Potential in All of Us by Kobi Yamada. You have probably seen other inspiring Kobi Yamada books out there, but I think this is his best. It’s about how each person is here at this time for a reason and that we all have limitless potential. The illustrations are also stunning and go along perfectly with the text.

Tallulah Plays the Tuba by Tiffany Stone. Somehow this book escaped notice when it was published. It only has four reviews on Amazon! I laughed and laughed while reading this story about a tiny girl who really wants to play the tuba and won’t take no for an answer when everyone keeps telling her she is too small to hold it. It’s hilarious, but it’s also got a great message about determination.

Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival. Have you noticed a theme for this year? Apparently I really like books that help kids understand and process feelings. I LOVED this story about a little girl and the Worry (who looks like a colorful blob) that follows her around until she learns to talk about it. This would be such a great addition to any classroom.

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins. There were so many diverse books released this year, and I loved reading them with my kids! This one tells the story of a family visiting their grandmother on the border of California and Mexico for Christmas. Apparently there is a celebration that allows families to meet for a few minutes along the border when they can’t pass into each others’ countries. When the kids realize they can’t give their grandma their gift through the border, they find a unique way to get it to her. This is a sad story but also a hopeful one. It’s a great way to start talking to your kids about immigration.

How to Walk a Dump Truck by Peter Pearson. If you have a vehicle-lover in your house, this quirky book about kids that have a dump truck for a pet will be delightful. My son kept looking at this over and over when we got it from the library, and I ended up buying it for Christmas. Who doesn’t like pictures of dump trucks on a leash and eating nuts and bolts for dinner?

Give me your favorite picture book recommendations! We’re headed to the library this week for something new now that Christmas is over.

My top 10 books of 2019

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Lindsay Books

Friends, I read a lot of books in 2019. Most of them were pretty good, some of them had me ranting on Goodreads, and a few were absolutely amazing. If you got an Amazon gift card and are itching to buy a few new books or are simply wondering if this year’s new releases were worth the hype, I’m here to help. Here are my top 10 favorite books published in 2019.

All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey. This book blew me away (a pun you will get once you read it). But really. I was not expecting a middle-grade novel to be so powerful and have such deep themes. It’s about a girl who goes by Red who’s been jumping from foster family to foster family while her mom is in prison. The twist is that Red also has a hard time controlling her emotions, and when she’s angry, she can literally stir up a storm outside. I’m not into fantasy at all, but this has enough magical realism to keep things interesting.

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell. This book has been getting a lot of mixed reviews, but I found it absolutely fascinating. It’s different from Gladwell’s other books, but it still has his signature voice and is crammed full of studies and statistics that prove his points. Essentially, Gladwell uses a bunch of historical examples to prove his point that we can’t make judgments about people we don’t know — and this includes judges, police officers, and even teens on college campuses. If you’ve read this, I’d love to hear what you thought!

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee. I absolutely loved this young adult historical fiction about a 17-year-old Chinese girl in the late 1800s who begins writing a column under a pseudonym for the local newspaper and hitting on hard topics like racism, women’s rights, and Southern culture. Jo also works as a lady’s maid for a wealthy family in Atlanta and ends up solving mysteries about her own family, who abandoned her as a baby. This was really hard to put down and taught me a lot about Chinese immigrants in the South.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. I had long been anticipating this book, since I’ve loved everything Jojo Moyes has written, and it was not disappointing. It’s set in 1930s Kentucky and follows an Englishwoman named Alice who marries an American to escape her rigid life in England and ends up helping other women deliver library books to poor people living in the Appalachians (based on a real-life traveling library run by women). It’s no Me Before You, and I wish the ending hadn’t tied things up so quickly, but it’s an enjoyable read (and I want to talk about it with someone, so please read it and tell me your thoughts).

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart. This is one of those books I will touch lovingly when I see it in the bookstore because I had so many emotions while reading/listening to it. Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have been traveling across the country in a yellow school bus for five years to escape the grief of losing her mom and two sisters in an accident. Along the way, they end up meeting and helping lots of different people as Coyote realizes she has to make it back to her hometown in a matter of days. I laughed and cried and felt all the feelings with this one.

Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family by Mitch Albom. Yes, I am not ashamed to admit that I love Mitch Albom and have ever since I read Tuesdays with Morrie for the first time. There’s something so earnest about the way he writes, and his books always remind me that each person matters. This latest memoir that came out in November is about a little girl named Chika whom Albom and his wife cared for until she died at age 7 of a rare brain tumor. Albom met Chika through the orphanage he manages in Haiti, and it was fascinating to learn more about this impoverished country and how he and his colleagues are trying to help the children there. It also made me so glad my own children are healthy, as I can’t imagine watching my child battle such a crippling disease.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. I read several really corny and unrealistic romantic comedies this year, and to finally find a book with a flawed hero and heroine was a breath of fresh air. Evvie is in her early 30s and freshly widowed and has become a recluse, so her friend suggests she rent out the rooms at the back of her home to earn a little money and maybe meet someone new. She ends up renting to an MLB player who’s suddenly lost his touch and needs to escape the criticism and frustration of life as an athlete. The dialogue and the characters are SO great in this book, and my description is not doing it justice. I promise it was wonderful.

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen. When Emma Saylor’s dad is getting remarried several years after her mom’s death, he decides to leave Emma with her mom’s family for a few weeks while he and his new wife go on their honeymoon. Since Emma doesn’t know her mom’s family very well, she’s suddenly meeting cousins, aunts, and uncles she never had and learning a lot more about why her mom acted the way she did. This book tackled some hard topics like addiction and alcoholism and family secrets and just felt so real. Just writing about it made me want to reread it.

The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates. I wish every leader could have a copy of this and read it. Melinda Gates has met thousands of women through her foundation with her husband, Bill Gates, and this book is full of reasons why lifting women only lifts everyone. She shares experiences of women she’s met and ways we can all help the women around us to rise up. It’s such an inspiring book, and it’s number two on my list for a reason.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb. I finished this book and felt this sense of loss like you do when a friend you haven’t seen in years has to go back home again. Lori Gottlieb works as a therapist and shares experiences from her own clients (names have been changed, of course), but then she also shares how her sessions with her own therapist went as she battled a depressing time in her own life. I immediately bought a copy of this book after I got it from the library, and I NEVER do that. Add this to your list (but have some tissues, because you will laugh AND cry).

I’m dying to hear what your favorite releases of 2019 were — or just your favorite books from the year. What should I read next?

7 picture books my kids are getting for Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2019 by Lindsay Books

Can you believe there are just two weeks left until Christmas? December is flying by. Fortunately, I really only have to get gifts for my husband (the hardest person to shop for) and my in-laws and parents, so I’m feeling good about that.

One way I keep the stress low when buying Christmas gifts is stocking up on picture books throughout the year and saving them until Christmas. We check out A LOT of books from the library, and I keep an eye on the ones my kids absolutely loved. Then I order them from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or eBay (yes, I even buy gently used books as gifts) when they’re on sale and keep the stack in my closet until December.

Whether you need some last-minute gift ideas or just want some non-Christmas books to break up all the Santa stories right now, here’s the list of books my kids are actually getting for Christmas.

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School by Mo Willems. My kids love all of the Pigeon books (and they’re funny for adults, too), so I ordered this from the book order way back in the summer and quietly slipped it away for Christmas without them noticing. This one was also a great read for this year, since my kids just started kindergarten.

Three Cheers for Kid McGear by Sherri Duskey Rinker. If you have a truck- and vehicle-lover in the house, you’ll love the newest book from Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site author Sherri Duskey Rinker. When I bought this book, though, I actually didn’t realize that the skid steer is female! It’s a subtle but important way to make it clear that girls love trucks and tractors just like boys do. Bonus: Somehow this book is only $7.99 right now on Amazon, which is WAY less than I paid!

Miss Lina’s Ballerinas by Grace Maccarone. My daughter has been in ballet for a year and adores dancing, and she really liked this cute book about what happens when a ninth ballerina throws off all the pairs (spoiler alert: they learn to work together). The illustrations are darling and remind me of the Madeleine books.

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller. We talk about kindness all the time in our home, and this book explains why it can be hard to be kind and child-friendly ways to help other people. I really like the pictures and the simple text, and my kids liked this one, too.

Dear Girl, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. We read this one a while back, but I decided we needed to add it to our library this year. I love the empowering messages for girls and inspiring words about being yourself. I did NOT like the version for boys, written after Rosenthal’s death (which is probably the problem), so my next pick is…

A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy. I nearly cried when I read this book, because THIS is the story I wanted to write for my own son. Frank Murphy is an elementary school teacher, and his message is that you don’t have to be brave or put on a face all the time. He also empowers boys to be themselves and figure out what they’re good at, because the world needs them as they are. This really is such a beautiful book that I have been waiting for.

How to Walk a Dump Truck by Peter Pearson. This quirky book about kids that have a dump truck for a pet delighted both my kids, but especially my son. Since he hasn’t been as interested in reading as his sister (though he’s improved a lot this year), I really want to get books that grab his attention. This one made us all laugh.

Do you like to give your kids books for Christmas? I want to hear what’s going under your tree this year!

Lindsay

Lindsay

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