Buy it: Knuffle Bunny Free
Knuffle Bunny Free (By Mo Willems) – In this third Knuffle Bunny book, Trixie has gotten a little older and is traveling to Holland to visit her grandparents. But soon after Trixie and her parents arrive at her grandparents’ house, Trixie realizes that she left Knuffle Bunny on the plane. Everyone tries to make Trixie feel better, but she is still sad. Then Trixie has a dream about all the places Knuffle Bunny would be visiting and the children he would be meeting along the way. She wakes up feeling better. Then on the plane ride home, Trixie finds Knuffle Bunny in the seat pocket! But when Trixie hears a baby crying behind her, she makes a big decision. She gives Knuffle Bunny away. The baby loves Knuffle Bunny and quiets down and a few weeks later Trixie gets a letter in the mail from the baby’s family. The end of this book always makes me tear up. The last pages show Trixie growing up, falling in love, starting a family and then getting a package in the mail from her old pen pal. And inside is Knuffle Bunny.
The book recommendations included on this website are books that my daughter Ally, now age 5, and I have read and enjoyed together. I recommend the books that stand out to me as excellent children’s books for writing, illustrations, originality, story and characters. Ally and I hope you enjoy them too!
Buy it: Zen Ties
Zen Ties (By Jon J Muth) – A giant panda named Stillwater teaches three children about friendship, giving and helping others. Stillwater asks the the children to come with him to help Miss Whitaker, an elderly woman who isn’t feeling well. The children are afraid of her because she shouts at them when they pass her house. The children help Stillwater to bring her food, clean her home and cheer her up with their artwork. One child is preparing for a spelling bee and Miss Whitaker helps him study. Soon the children have developed a friendship with Miss Whitaker. The story also features a haiku-speaking panda named Koo, which is a fun way to introduce this style of poetry to children.
The book recommendations included on this website are books that my daughter Ally, now age 5, and I have read and enjoyed together. I recommend the books that stand out to me as excellent children’s books for writing, illustrations, originality, story and characters. Ally and I hope you enjoy them too!
Buy it: The Quiltmaker’s Gift
The Quiltmaker’s Gift (By Jeff Brumbeau) – This is the story of a quiltmaker who makes beautiful quilts and then gives them away to the poor and homeless. Meanwhile, a greedy king has come to own almost all of the things in the world, but he still isn’t happy. When he finds out about the quiltmaker’s beautiful quilts, he wonders if one of these quilts will finally make him happy. But the quiltmaker explains that her quilts are only for the poor. The quiltmaker instructs the king to give away all of his possessions and then she will make a quilt for him. The greedy king is surprised to find himself enjoying giving his things away and finding happiness in the joy of others. When everything he had is gone, the quiltmaker brings him his quilt. But the king explains that he isn’t poor, because his heart is full and happy.
The book recommendations included on this website are books that my daughter Ally, now age 5, have read and enjoyed together. I recommend the books that stand out to me as excellent children’s books for writing, illustrations, originality, story and characters. Ally and I hope you enjoy them too!
Buy it: The Gift of Nothing
The Gift of Nothing (By Patrick McDonnell) – Mooch wants to buy a present for his best friend, Earl. But Earl already has everything. So Mooch decides to get Earl nothing! But where can he find nothing? Mooch finally wraps up an empty box and gives it to Earl. After Earl opens it, Mooch explains that there is nothing but the two of them. The two friends sit and enjoy just being together.
The book recommendations included on this website are books that my daughter Ally, now age 5, have read and enjoyed together. I recommend the books that stand out to me as excellent children’s books for writing, illustrations, originality, story and characters. Ally and I hope you enjoy them too!
Buy it: The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater…That Grandma Knit
The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater … That Grandma Knit (By Debbie Macomber and Mary Lou Carney) – Cameron’s grandma sends him a sweater that she knit for his birthday. It has red, yellow, green, blue and orange stripes and big buttons. Cameron decides he will never wear it and tries to think of ways to ruin or lose the sweater. But when Grandma visits, she explains that each part of the sweater has a story behind it. As she knit the green stripes, she thought about watching Cameron kick the winning goal on the soccer field. As she knit the orange stripes, she was remembering how much Cameron loves to eat oranges. Each color has a reason behind it. Suddenly, the sweater doesn’t look so horrible anymore and Cameron is proud to wear it.
The book recommendations included on this website are books that my daughter Ally, now age 5, have read and enjoyed together. I recommend the books that stand out to me as excellent children’s books for writing, illustrations, originality, story and characters. Ally and I hope you enjoy them too!
Buy it: Ella’s Umbrellas
Ella’s Umbrellas (By Jennifer Lloyd) – Ella has many umbrellas of all colors and sizes. And because she loves umbrellas, people give her more as presents. Until one day, her mom looks around at all the umbrellas all over the house and tells her to give them to people who need them. So Ella grudgingly heads out to give her umbrellas away. As it starts to rain, she finds people who need her umbrellas and she feels proud for helping them. Soon she has given them all away except for her favorite umbrella. But as she heads home, she sees the mailman walking in the rain and gives him her favorite umbrella. And when she gets home her aunt has come to visit with a present for Ella – a new umbrella! A great book to teach children about the spirit of giving.
The book recommendations included on this website are books that my daughter Ally, now age 5, have read and enjoyed together. I recommend the books that stand out to me as excellent children’s books for writing, illustrations, originality, story and characters. Ally and I hope you enjoy them too!
