children's books

More book series for second and third grade

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Lindsay Books

My kids are about to end their third-grade year, and I’ve been keeping a log of even MORE book series they read this year. If you’ve got a child around eight or nine, check out this list for options they will love. These are also perfect options for summer reading programs. Read on for book series for second and third grade.

A-Z Mysteries by Ron Roy and John Steven Gurney. These are the perfect books for keeping kids interested in reading, and both my son and daughter raced through these. Each book starts with a different letter in the alphabet, and there are puzzles in each book to solve as well. If your child likes these, they can also check out the super editions, Calendar Mysteries (which occur in each of the 12 months), and Capital Mysteries, which focus on people and places around Washington, D.C. These series kept my kids occupied for a while, and I am so grateful for them.

Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell. Similar in format to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, the Dork Diaries books follow eighth-grader Nikki Russell’s adventures with crushes, school, and siblings. I actually felt my daughter was kind of young for these when she first picked them up, but she seemed to really enjoy them. I would say they’re better for third and fourth grade and beyond, but some second-graders may be ready.

Mermaid School by Lucy Courtenay and Sheena Dempsay. This is a small, quick series my daughter loved that tells the story of Marnie the mermaid’s adventures at school. It also has plenty of puns (like “o-fish-ially”), so my daughter enjoyed that as well.

Secret Agent Jack Stalwart by Elizabeth Singer Hunt. My son had a lot of fun with this series, which stars a young spy that uses science and technology to solve mysteries. Apparently the author is actually the granddaughter of a former spy herself!

The Critter Club by Callie Barkley and Marsha Riti. Animal lovers will ADORE this cute series about friends who help solve mysteries involving pets in their town. These are written for a younger audience (probably about first to second grade), but my daughter still loves them and gets excited when a new book comes out.

The Alien Next Door by A.I. Newton and Anjan Sarkar. Like most of the series on this list, The Alien Next Door series centers around school — but in this one, an alien boy is going to school with humans (one of whom is sure he is an alien but can’t convince anyone else). The illustrations in this are funny and cute, and it’s written for younger readers but can still entertain a third-grader.

Secret Spy Society by Veronica Mang. While geared more toward younger readers, my daughter has enjoyed this series about three girls who join a secret women’s spy society. As an added bonus, it has codes in the back (and my daughter is currently OBSESSED with codes).

Real Pigeons by Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood. The illustrations in these graphic novels are amazing, and my son laughed his way through all five books about crazy pigeons who fight crime and save the day.

Wings of Fire (graphic novels) by Tui T. Sutherland and Mike Holmes. My kids read the first couple Wings of Fire books and were mildly interested. Then they discovered the graphic novel versions and were HOOKED. The series tells the story of five dragonets (young dragons) who have to save the dragon world from destruction.

Pizza and Taco by Stephen Shaskan. If you couldn’t tell, we are big fans of graphic novels here. This series about (you guessed it) Pizza and Taco and their adventures is similar in tone to the Narwhal and Jelly series (which we also love). The books made my son laugh out loud, so I call that a win.

Snow Sisters by Astrid Foss and Monique Dong. If you’ve got a little girl or boy who loves all things Frozen, he or she will love this series about three sisters who must rescue their parents from the evil Shadow Witch, who is trying to turn their world dark.

Whatever After by Sarah Mlynowski. My daughter flew through this series of fractured fairy tales and was so excited to tell me about how the author had turned certain familiar stories upside-down. For example, in the first book Abby and her younger brother, Jonah, stop Snow White from eating the poisoned apple and then have to figure out what to do when she doesn’t meet her prince.

Gemstone Dragons by Samantha M. Clark and Janelle O. Anderson. This is a brand-new series my daughter saw at Target, so we checked out the series from the library. She raced through all the books about the different dragons that all have powers associated with their gemstones. She now also understands that gemstones correspond with certain months (i.e., her birthstone is an emerald). The illustrations are darling!

Wayside School by Louis Sachar. Other ’80s and ’90s kids may remember the hilarious and goofy Wayside School series. Even now, 25+ years after I first read these books, I still remember them fondly. I bought the original hardcovers on eBay, and both my kids laughed my way through them.

Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly by Jordan Quinn. Anyone else noticing that dragons are OVERREPRESENTED in children’s literature right now? Regardless, my kids seem to have no problem reading alllllll the books about dragons. They like this new graphic novel series about the prince of Wrenly’s pet dragon, Ruskin, who is summoned by another dragon to help rid the kingdom of a curse that was unleashed.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi Academy by Kallie George and Lorena Alvarez Gomez. Admittedly, these books are really short and written for probably grades 1-2, but my daughter is enjoying this new series about girls learning to become fairy godmothers.

My Pet Slime by Courtney Sheinmel and Renée Kurilla. Our elementary school offers a membership to the reading subscription company Epic!, and my kids thoroughly enjoyed this series there (but you can also buy the books). A little girl named Piper longs for a pet, but since she can’t have a cat or a dog, she makes her own pet out of slime.

Unicorn Academy by Julie Sykes and Lucy Truman. In this series, students go to school to meet their very own unicorn, whom they also learn to talk to! If your kids like this series, they’ll also like the subseries Nature Magic.

Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George and Stephanie Graegin. My sweet animal-loving daughter also enjoyed this short series (only four books) about a mouse who finds Heartwood Hotel when she desperately needs a place to stay during a storm.

Mermicorn Island by Jason June. Yes, this series is about a creature who is half unicorn and half mermaid and lives in a magical undersea world. There are only four books in this series, and my daughter flew through them.

Dog Diaries by James Patterson and Steven Butler. My son laughed and laughed at these books told from dog Rafe’s perspective and was really excited when we found two-in-one books of the first four at Costco. If your kids loved Stick Dog or Stick Cat, which I shared in my list of books for first- and second-graders, they’ll enjoy this series.

Royal Rescues by Paula Harrison and Olivia Chin Mueller. A princess who finds and rescues animals even though her father (the king) says she can’t have a pet? Say no more (at least for my daughter). Kids aged six to nine will love this series.

Zoey and Sassafras by Asia Citro and Marion Lindsay. I love that this cute series features a girl who has to help magical creatures by using science (and with the help of her cat, Sassafras). Both my kids are very interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and these books help them see examples of kids conducting experiments.

InvestiGators by John Patrick Green. I have long thought that alligators are the most fun illustrated characters, and I just wish I had come up with this punny series about alligator spies who travel through the sewers and solve mysteries. Both my daughter and my son are enjoying these books!

The Last Firehawk by Katrina Charman and Jeremy Norton. My children devoured this series about an owl, a squirrel, and a hawk who team up to fight Thorn, a powerful vulture who is using dark magic to destroy the land. Fans of Dragon Masters will love this one.

Dragon Slayers’ Academy by Kate McMullan and Bill Basso. In case your kids are like mine and immediately turned off by the title, know that this series is NOT about people slaying dragons. It’s about a kid who can’t stand the sight of blood and has help from his pig, Daisy, who also writes in Pig Latin. Kids who love jokes and puns will adore these.

Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior by Cube Kid. My son enjoys playing Minecraft here and there and loved this series about a figure (I don’t know what else to call him) who has to choose his future career at Minecraftia school and really wants to be a warrior. If you’re looking for something to get a video game-obsessed kid into reading, this could be the ticket.

Fairy Animals of Misty Wood by Lily Small. I am not a fan of these illustrations, which remind me of the creepy Beanie Baby animals with enormous eyeballs. However, my daughter flew through this series about creatures with fairy wings that help others and make their homes beautiful.

Phew! My kids read a lot of books over the past year, and now they’re both completely absorbed in the Harry Potter series, which should keep them interested this summer.

Are you looking for more series for second- and third graders? Check out this list of books for kids aged six to eight and this one for first- and second-graders. Please share your favorite series with me in the comments as well! I’m always on the hunt for new books my kids will love.

Books for Arab American Heritage Month

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Lindsay Books

I am passionate about having my kids read books with diverse characters and viewpoints. Fortunately, we found a lot of great books for Arab American Heritage Month, which admittedly, I did not know much about before we began reading. Whether you are celebrating this month or simply want to learn more Arab culture and history, this list will help you get started.

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly. I originally shared this in a 2019 roundup of my favorite picture books, and it continues to be a favorite. Asiyah is wearing a hijab to school for the first time, and her younger sister Faizah stands up for her and explains the hijab when other students ask questions. If you like this one, you’ll also love The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship, which tells Faizah’s story.

Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Tiffany Rose. This sweet book is about a boy who has a difficult time writing and getting his ideas out of paper. Fortunately, a professional writer talks to his class about the process of writing, and Abdul realizes it’s OK (and normal) to be messy while writing.

The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil and Rashin Kheiriyeh. Eid is a really important holiday in Muslim culture, and this book helps everyone to better understand it. The story focuses on a boy and his grandmother making a special treat to share with his school.

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha, and Yuko Shimizu. I loved this true story about a man in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, who saved cats and created a sanctuary for them when others were fleeing the war there. The illustrations are wonderful.

Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz and Parwinder Singh. We learned so much about Jummah, the Friday prayer in Islam, from this book! Musa looks forward to the family treat they have each week after the Jummah prayer at the mosque and is trying to get his family halal (allowed) hot dogs from a vendor. Of course things don’t go as planned, so he has to figure out a new snack his family can eat. I loved that this book also includes a glossary of Arabic terms at the end!

The Arabic Quilt: An Immigration Story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan. I got chills reading this beautiful book. Kanzi has moved with her family from Egypt to America, and she is trying to fit in. She gets embarrassed when her mom brings a kofta (ground beef and lamb) sandwich to school wearing a hijab. When she writes a poem about the Arabic quilt her grandmother gave her, Kanzi’s teacher has all of the students create a paper quilt with their names in Arabic.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan and Merhdokht Amini. This simple book explains the colors of Islam while also exploring the religious tenets and traditions. It rhymes and is really easy to read, but the illustrations are what make this book shine. We also loved Crescent Moons and Minarets (about Islamic shapes) from the same author/illustrator duo.

In My Mosque by M.O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly. If you buy ONE book for Arab American Heritage Month, make it this one. I love how it beautifully explains Islam and also makes it clear that Muslims have much in common with Christians. The illustrations are stunning and filled with people of all shapes, sizes, colors and abilities.

Under My Hijab by Hena Khan and Aaliyah Jaleel. My daughter especially loved this book and likes to point out when girls at her school are wearing their colorful hijabs. We all learned a lot about hijabs ad how there are different ways to wear them. Most importantly, the book follows strong women in different walks of life. You should probably buy this one, too.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq by Jeannette Winter. Books about libraries and those who lose access to them always make me emotional. This true story of Alia Muhammad Baker, who helped to save thousands of books from her library in Basra, Iraq, when war broke out is SO inspiring. We had some good discussions after reading this book, too, since many people are currently banning books across the United States.

Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper and Kenard Pak. This picture book impressed me so much when it was first published in 2020. It’s about Lina, who is walking through the snow to visit her grandmother, Sitta. Because Sitta can no longer see very well, Lina thinks about ways she can describe the snow to her and realizes how it sounds. Grandparent/grandchild relationship books are so special, and this one is especially delightful.

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi and Lea Lyon. My kids and I really enjoyed this story about Lailah, who recently moved to the U.S. from the United Arab Emirates. She is afraid to tell her classmates that she is fasting for Ramadan and decides to hide in the library rather than going to the lunchroom. Her librarian encourages her to write down her feelings, and together they figure out a way she can explain her culture and religion to others. This is such an excellent book!

Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck and Reem Madooh. In this incredible book, a father tells his three daughters his memories of Palestine, the homeland he had to leave years before. This story really makes Palestine come to life and captures the emotions of being unable to return to the country of your birth.

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe. This book is important for EVERYONE. After multiple teachers and classmates mispronounce a little girl’s name, she expresses her sadness to her mom. Fortunately, her mom takes the time to tell her that her name (and other names) are musical and have meaning. Such a great reminder that names are important!

A Girl Called Ghengis Khan: How Maria Toorpakai Wazir Pretended to be a Boy, Defied the Taliban, and Became a World-Famous Squash Player by Michelle Lord and Shehzil Malik. I had never heard of Maria Toorpakai Wazir before reading this, and as the LONG title suggests, she did in fact become a famous squash player despite all odds. My daughter especially loves stories about girls/women who enter spaces traditionally reserved for men, so this was a big hit for her.

What are your favorite books for Arab American Heritage Month? We had so much fun reading these books together, and I would love more recommendations.

24 more Christmas picture books

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Lindsay Books

Covers of Christmas picture books, including "How to Trick a Christmas Elf," "Christmas in the Big Woods," "Ho Ho Homework," "The Christmas Carpenter" and "Piñata in a Pine Tree."

I own enough Christmas picture books to wrap up 24 and put them under our tree each year for an advent, and I’ve shared that list for several years. This year, I decided to create another list of our favorites so you have even more options to choose from. There are so many great books celebrating this holiday — and I always end up buying a few more after writing these. Here are 24 Christmas picture books to check out.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Brett Helquist. Apparently this one is out of print, so maybe check eBay for a copy? I bought this one immediately after we read it a few years ago because it beautifully tells Charles Dickens’ classic story — and the illustrator, Brett Helquist, is known for the Series of Unfortunate Events. I love his illustrations and the depth he brings to this book. Seriously, you need to find this one somewhere and add it to your Christmas books.

Dasher by Matt Tavares. I adore Matt Tavares’ art (buy Red and Lulu if you haven’t already) and knew we needed this book when it came out a few years ago. Dasher longs for a different life and sets out on her own to pursue adventure, eventually meeting Santa and being asked to pull his sleigh.

Lighthouse Christmas by Toni Buzzeo. Yes, this one is also out of print, but I have confidence you can find it on eBay (where I bought mine) or at a thrift store. Why do the prettiest books go out of print? In this one, a brother and sister live with their dad on an isolated island where they man a lighthouse. They are determined to make Christmas special even though they can’t be with the rest of their family, and then an unexpected visitor makes the holiday sweeter. I would love to live near a lighthouse and am basically obsessed with nautical stories, so I love this one.

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck and Mark Buehner. When I was a kid, we had a VHS with a short video produced by BYU called The Gift from the 1970s. I was surprised to discover that it was based on this Pearl Buck story about a boy who gets up early to do the chores for his dad Christmas morning so he can see everyone opening their gifts. This is a really awesome reminder about how service is the best gift you can give.

The Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas Tale About the Rockefeller Center Tree by David Rubel and Jim LaMarche. I scored this for $2 at Savers a couple months ago and was so excited to add this to our collection. We have several books about the Rockefeller Center tree, but this one centers on a boy who grew up during the Great Depression and wants to pay kindness forward when strangers build his family a new home on Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas by Lara Hawthorne. If you want to sing your way through a book (or even if you don’t), this is a beautifully illustrated version of the traditional 12 Days of Christmas carol. Lara Hawthorne’s Silent Night is also a favorite.

Merry Christmas, Anne by Kallie George and Genevieve Godbout. This book is a pairing made in heaven. A classic story from L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and Genevieve Godbout’s dreamy illustrations? I need to buy this one for our collection because it makes me ridiculously happy.

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread by Carla Hall and Cherise Harris. We read this cute story last year about a little girl who worries she ruined Christmas by eating the sugar cookie left for Santa. Luckily, her grandma helps her make cornbread with cinnamon butter for Santa instead. There are not enough Christmas books out there with characters of color, and this is an excellent one!

How to Trick a Christmas Elf by Sue Fliess and Simona Sanfilippo. Sue Fliess is a MASTER at rhythm, and we own several of her holiday books because they’re fun to read aloud. This one instructs kids on tricking an elf into letting them see what’s on Santa’s list. By the way, I DESPISE tricks (April Fool’s is the worst), so know that this is more about crafting than it is teasing. All of Sue Fliess’ books also have instructions for creating your own craft in the back, too, which is so fun.

Christmas is Joy by Emma Dodd. Sometimes you want a really quick, beautifully illustrated Christmas story to read for bedtime. This sweet book featuring two reindeer in the snow fits the bill. I love the gold foil and the calming rhythm.

A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas by Pat Mora and Magaly Morales. We all LOVED this Latino version of the 12 Days of Christmas! There are dancing donkeys, piñatas instead of partridges, and singing moons, among other items. I really like bilingual picture books, and this one has Spanish words sprinkled throughout and a full glossary. So fun!

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie DePaola. Everyone in my family is a big Strega Nona fan, probably because we have listened to the audiobook of the first book at least 50 times. Strega Nona and Big Anthony are back in this story, but this time Strega Nona has a strict rule about not using magic at Christmastime. Luckily, Big Anthony is willing to help with the feast.

Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Renee Graef. I had this book when I was a child and rediscovered it a few years ago. If you grew up loving the Little House on the Prairie books, you’ll love this picture book version of Laura’s Christmas memories in their little cabin in Wisconsin.

Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda. All of the Cat books are fantastic! In this one, Cat is worried he is on the naughty list and won’t get any gifts, so he tries to redeem himself by getting into the holiday spirit. These books are a delight because of the illustrations and the playful narrator that interacts with Cat. We love them.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez. This is another book I remember loving as a child that still holds up. Maria gets to help make tamales for Christmas dinner and tries on her mother’s beautiful diamond ring when she leaves the room. Suddenly, Maria has misplaced the ring and is sure someone will choke on it when they eat the tamales. She and her cousins decide to eat their way through the tamales so no one gets hurt. I love the Mexican culture displayed in this book and the family that bands together.

Cookies for Santa by America’s Test Kitchen Kids and Johanna Tarkela. I am admittedly not a baker (or a cook), but I love this story about Santa losing his family’s Christmas cookie recipe. Every year, he bakes cookies for his elves and reindeer to show his appreciation, and he’s worried he won’t be able to without the recipe. Fortunately, families around the world band together to bake and make sure Santa can have a happy Christmas. Like other America’s Test Kitchen books, this one includes a recipe and is all about encouraging families to cook and bake together.

Santa Claus and the Christmas Surprise by Dorothea Lachner and Maja Duskov. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of two kids whose village is snowed in for Christmas. Though Anna and Michael worry that Santa won’t be able to get through the snow to deliver gifts, he makes it — and his gift requires everyone to dig through the snow and come together.

Ho Ho Homework by Mylisa Larsen and Taia Morley. If you need a book to read in a classroom, this is PERFECT. Jack and his classmates have a new substitute teacher, Mr. Clausen, and he has a long white beard. He also eats milk and cookies as a snack. Is he Santa Claus?

One Starry Night by Lauren Thompson and Jonathan Bean. I love this simple and gorgeous book about the night Jesus Christ was born. It focuses on the animals who are also comforting their babies during that starry night and would be perfect for bedtime.

Arthur’s Christmas by Marc Brown. Nineties kids, you’ll love this one! My brothers and sister and I were OBSESSED with Arthur growing up, and this book inspired the TV series. Arthur is looking for the perfect gift for Santa for Christmas, and his little sister D.W. ends up helping him (with some mishaps along the way). If you aren’t familiar with the Arthur books, D.W. is really the star of the show. Her wit is the best.

Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray and Barry Root. WOW. This book is stunning. I love this story of a woman who plants thousands of balsam seedlings in a garden and then nurtures them over the years with the help of her young neighbor, Parker. I had a real Christmas tree growing up and had never considered all the work that goes into growing these beautiful trees.

Maple & Willow’s Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols. I love the sweet relationship between sisters Maple and Willow in all of Lori Nichols’ books. In this one, Maple and Willow are in the woods about to get their first real Christmas tree. Unfortunately, Maple starts sneezing whenever she gets close to the trees, so it looks like they won’t be getting a real tree after all. Willow has plans to make the holiday magical for her sister anyway.

Olive, The Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh and J. Otto Seibold. This quirky book is based on the line in the song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” that says “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names.” When Olive the dog hears this line, she assumes she must really be a reindeer and heads to the North Pole to help Santa with Christmas.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. My kids loved this book when they were in preschool, and it’s perfect for little kids and even older ones. Bear normally hibernates during the winter and sleeps through Christmas, but his friends are determined to keep him awake so he can enjoy the holiday.

Please share your favorite Christmas picture books with me! I always get great suggestions whenever I post these lists.

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!

children's books

Lindsay

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