Christmas Story Time

Tonight my six-year-old sat in my lap with a soft blanket tucked under his arms. We read one of our favorite Christmas stories before he went to bed. It's been a long day of checking off items on my very long to-do list for the holidays, but that moment, my friends, is what the best memories are all about. A few moments of cuddling up with a child and a good book go a long way for a happy life.

So if your collection of Christmas stories is looking a little slim this year check out a few of these fun books. And don't forget to take time for reading them with the little ones in your life.

As you might guess from the title, Mooseltoe is a cleverly worded story about a Moose who wants to make Christmas perfect. He almost does it but forgets one very important thing. You will smile when you see what lengths Moose goes to to make Christmas almost perfect for his family. 

This story is appropriate for any age, but considering some of the large words used I think starting in 2nd-3rd grade children will really understand more of the story and why it's so funny.

By Margie Palatini

Illustrated by Henry Cole

New this year is Olaf's Night Before Christmas. I recently read this book to a group of five-year-olds. They were captivated by the story. It's a mix of the poem we all know with the new characters we now love. 

By Jessica Julius

Illustrated by Olga T. Mosqueda

Russell's Christmas Magic begins with a nod to the favorite poem, T'was the Night Before Christmas, but then sends Russell on his own adventure with Santa that is different from the poem. The story is fun but I think it's the illustrations that keep me coming back year after year. 

By Rob Scotton

These snowmen have such great adventures! We love the story, the illustrations, looking for the hidden objects...we love it all!

By Caralyn Buehner

Illustrated by Mark Buehner

We love Duck and all the funny things he does on the farm. This Christmas, Duck runs into trouble when he tries to be like Santa. The farm animals want to help but it's Santa that saves the day. I think this book will appeal to children 2-8 years old.

By Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

The Monkey and The Bee

The Monkey and The Bee 

by CP Bloom

Illustrated by Peter Raymundo

This is a funny book with very few words. The same words repeat over and over but in new ways as the story progresses. The pictures and the words tell the story here. 

I hope these book reviews are inspiring you to read with your child(ren)!

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

By Chris Van Dusen

I don't know how I missed Chris Van Dusen and his books on the first three children! I'm so glad I found him in time to cuddle together and read these clever rhyming books with my youngest son. 

The look of this book, like all of Chris Van Dusen's Mr. Magee books, is unique. The colors are vibrant. The characters make you smile. It's just the kind of fun every children's book should be. Make sure you add this one to your collection!

Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo and Flo

Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo and Flo

by Laurel Molk

These funny mice are always trying to catch something! And Flo wants to help. Our family enjoyed the artwork as much as the words of the story. Be sure to watch for Flo and her popcorn!

Better Books-The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

When someone asks me, "How do you keep your house clean?" I'm pretty sure we are both adding the same thing to the rest of that question-"How do you keep your house clean with four boys?!" It's no small feat keeping the Legos, Bakugans, Skylanders, Beyblades, Pokemon cards and basketballs off the carpet and in their homes! 

I used to think that keeping the house clean meant throwing all that "random, don't know what to do with this" stuff in the unfinished basement space. But I don't have a basement anymore now that I live in Texas! And, the "throw it all in the basement and close the door" mentality was a problem too. When I needed documents I had to sift through bags of it on the floor. When I went in that room to organize it I usually walked back out because I was overwhelmed by the task. No room in our homes should be overwhelmingly awful! Our spaces should contribute to us feeling happy. 

Once I moved to Texas and had to open every box and find a home for it's contents a major change occurred in my life. I found the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and in it found tools for how to make good decisions about what stayed in my home and what didn't. I no longer looked at a gift and felt I had to keep it. The gift had served its purpose. It was a symbol of friendship and love. I still cherished the friend and the kindness shown me. But I didn't have to store the Christmas decoration year after year and never use it, or dust it or look at it. Too many things are just too many things! 

I looked at my books. I LOVE books. But in about an hour my husband and I went through all our boxes of books and kept about 1/3 of them. Those "I really should read this" books were given away. I had never read them and didn't have any idea when I would so I released them into the world to benefit someone else!

All my clothes were looked at with the thought "Does this bring me joy?" If the answer was yes I kept it. If the answer was no I gave it away or tossed it. And I still do this. When I notice I haven't worn a shirt in a while I ask myself why. I recently took 10 items out of my closet that I never wore. I have now made room for cute new things that I will wear. And, as a side note, this was a great thing to do at the end of summer. All the summer clothes were on clearance so I found good deals on the new items! 

Now all the boxes are gone. Everything has a place where it lives in our home. When I need to get something out for a craft project I know just where to find what I need. When we need to replace batteries or lights I know where they are. When I bring food home from the grocery store everything has a place to go. It's a life-changing, freeing, happy way to live! Having an organized home full of items that bring me joy (like the reading chair I purchased when I considered what type of life-style I wanted in my home) is a wonderful way to live.

And back to that question of how we keep it clean with all these boys-we have worked with them to have a home for each of their toys. The hot wheels have a bucket. The Legos have a bucket. When it's time to clean the playroom everything has a place to go. And if it's not put in its place we have another motivator-the Marmalade Monster! 

One day I found a tote bag I wasn't using anymore. I gave it to the boys, along with some permanent markers, and told them to decorate it and come up with a name for it. Thus, the Marmalade Monster was born! This monster comes out without warning. Usually it comes out after bedtime or after the boys have gone to school and left their toys all over. The toys eaten by the Marmalade Monster are not returned until the weekend. And sometimes we forget to bring it out for weeks since no one actually misses what has been eaten! But when the monster gives back what has been taken the boys have a set amount of time to put the toys away, throw them away or if they are left again I get to decide what to do with them!

Quotes-Never Give Up

Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss by Dean Karnzes is one of my favorite books. Yes, I love to run but I would love this book even if I didn't run. Dean is superhuman. Really, he can do things most people can't. He can run farther than most people and write better than most people too! He also inspires people by doing what he loves. He not only tells people life is better when you get out and are active, he shows them. His writing is humorous and real. 

This quote is from his first 100 mile race. When he was near the end and didn't think the could go one step more his father told him this. 

We all have our challenges. Whatever they are remember to keep going, crawl if you must, but keep moving forward!

Two at the Zoo A Counting Book

Two at the Zoo

by Danna Smith

Illustrated by Valeria Petrone

A boy and his grandfather go to the zoo. They have a great day discovering the animals. Along the way they also get to practice counting to 10. The illustrations keep you smiling on each page.

One Boy

One Boy

by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

This is a clever counting book with surprises on each page. A word is used on one page and then part of that word is also used on the next page in a new word. This is fun to read multiple times and rediscover the way the cutouts in the pages work for each new thought.

Kangaroo and Cricket

Kangaroo and Cricket

by Lorianne Siomades

This book helps children discover what two different things have in common. Our boys enjoyed hunting for the hidden worms in the pictures. I like the simplicity and the colors of the illustrations. 

Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping

Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping

Written by Julie Markes

Illustrated by David Parkins

This book is clever because for each person it shows sleeping it shows a room full of things from that person's day. For example, a farmer has a barn-shaped bed. The baker has baked goodies in her room. This is a great book for talking about different occupations. The illustrations are terrific.

Chickens to the Rescue

Chicken to the Rescue

by John Himmelman

This story is about a family on a farm. When they have trouble their chickens come to help. The chickens are silly and full of energy so there's no telling what will happen when they show up.

Children will enjoy the humorous illustrations as they learn the days of the week.

Shh! We Have a Plan

Shh! We Have a Plan

by Chris Haughton

This book has it all. It has an interesting style. It has a fun and funny story. It shares the story with very few words. This is a keeper you'll want to own in your family library.

Can't Sleep Without Sheep

Can't Sleep Without Sheep

by Susanna Lender Hill

Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Oh bedtime. That wonderful time of day for parents. But that awful time of day for kids! In this book the sheep are tired of being counted and try to find replacements for Ava to count. It turns out the sheep are hard to replace! This book is a clever take on that sometimes tricky job of trying to fall asleep.

I Know a Rhino

I Know A Rhino

By Charles Fuge

I Know a Rhino is fun. The illustrations are bright, simple and humorous. There is a clever twist at the end. I like this board book version because I don't have to worry about the toddlers ripping the pages. This is a family favorite.

When a Dragon Moves In

When a Dragon Moves In

By Jodi Moore

Illustrated by Howard McWillaim

The illustrations in this book are wonderful. I love that the story captures all the fun activities a family can enjoy together at the beach. I love the humor. I love that the story isn't long. Far too many children's books have too many words and I find myself retelling the story in a concise version so I don't loose my 3-6 year-old's attention.  Bottom line: my seven-year-old read it five times today!  It's a keeper.

A Number of Dinosaurs

A Number of Dinosaurs

By Paul Stickland

A Number of Dinosaurs is a pop-up book like you've never seen it before. As you add more dinosaurs the pop-ups get bigger and bigger until a huge finale! This is a great way to practice counting to 10. And I haven't met a child yet who doesn't love dinosaurs!

Thanks for Thanksgiving

Thanks for Thanksgiving

By Julie Markes

Illustrated by Doris Barrette

This is my favorite Thanksgiving book. Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes gets your mind thinking of all you have to be thankful for. Its target audience is children, but I love it just as much as my kids. The illustrations are appealing. Cuddle up with your little blessings this fall and remember all you have to be thankful for with this book!

Better Books

The beauty of a blog is the ability to share with others things I love. 

I love reading great children's books to children. I love that for a minute their active little bodies slow down and they listen. I love to watch their eyes as they light up with a clever or funny spot in a story. I love asking them what they would do or what they think will happen next and getting a peek into their imaginations. And I love cuddling with my boys with a good book in our hands. 

There are shelves upon shelves of children's books at your library. Each book that makes this list has been approved by my boys. I hope this makes it easier for you to find a treasure to enjoy with the young ones in your life.