Books

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?

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!

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!

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Lindsay

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