Little Miss and Mr. Men books

So while out and about in Oakham, England (one of my favorite spots in the world)- we were in a little shop and found the most adorable books ever. We all just LOVED them. They are written by Roger Hargreaves. I wanted to buy the entire set but of course couldn't take them all home with me. They are all so darling. Honestly I love Mr. Tickle, Little Miss Sunshine, Mr. Rude (laugh out loud), Mr. Nosey and Little Miss Fun. They are all cute though. My kids want to read them over and over. They can't get enough.
Here is a little quote from Mr. Rude.

"When you meet somebody, you might think to yourself that that person has a large nose, but you wouldn't say anything to them, would you? Because that would be rude, wouldn't it?
Well, Mr. Rude would just blurt it out.
"Big nose!"
But he wouldn't stop there.
Oh no, not Mr. Rude.
"Big nose! With a nose like that you could vacuum the floor!"
Can you imagine saying that to someone?
Well, I hope you can't!"

Anyways such funny, cute little British books that the whole family will enjoy. I highly suggest buying a few of these little treasures. You won't be sorry you did.

Funny book for kids

Oh my gosh, we have read this over and over. My little boy can't get enough. It is actually quite hilarious. I definitely recommend this book. #2 is 5 years old and thinks that this pigeon is a hoot. The story is about a bus driver who has to leave for a minute and warns not to let the pigeon drive the bus. The pigeon (who acts exactly like a child trying to get what he wants) is so funny. He begs, bribes, throws fits, sweet talks and tries everything imaginable to try to get you to let him drive the bus. #2 says "No!!" out loud every time the pigeon tries to get him to drive the bus. So cute and clever. A must read for little ones!

Shel Silverstein

This man is amazing. I love his books. You can check out his website here. Two of my favorites are Where the Sidewalk Ends

and The Giving Tree. I was reading Where the Sidewalk Ends to my two oldest little piggies and they couldn't get enough. They kept saying, "Just one more mom?" The next morning I found the book under #1's pillow meaning that she had snuck it and read it in the night. That little stinker. :)

Where the Sidewalk Ends, is a collection of poems and drawings. I distinctly remember being in 3rd grade in the library of my local elementary school and listening to the librarian read some of the poems from the book.

One of my favorites is called Boa Constrictor.

Oh, I'm being eaten
By a boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
A boa constrictor,
I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor,
And I don't like it-----one bit.
Well, what do you know?
It's nibblin' my toe.
Oh, gee,
It's up to my knee.
Oh my,
It's up to my thigh.
Oh, fiddle,
It's up to my middle.
Oh, heck
It's up to my neck.
Oh, dread,
It's upmmmmmmmmmmffffffffff...

Isn't that just great? I love his poems.

Another....Hug O'War

I will not play at tug o' war.
I'd rather play at hug o'war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone gigles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.

Such a sweet poem! Now, as for The Giving Tree-

"Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy." So begins one of the sweetest stories I have ever read for children. It teaches a valuable lesson. The tree just keeps giving and giving and the boy takes her for granted. It teaches about selfishness. I think it is a good conversation starter that gets your kids thinking about how others feel when you just take and take and never give back. I also really love the concept of having a tree "love" a child. It reminds me of my childhood and my favorite tree I use to play in. I loved that tree and built forts in that tree and played games in that tree. I truly "loved" that tree. Anyways, these two books are great to have on your bookshelf.

Great Board Books for Babies & Writing Get Together

I was able to attend a writing workshop a few months ago with a famous children's book author named Rick Walton. You can check out his amazing webpage here. This is one of his books titled So Many Bunnies.
This quote is straight from his website
ook"Picture books are often seen as literary baby food, the stuff we feed children until they have the teeth to eat real food. They are the first books that children fall in love with, that turn children into lifetime readers. Lifetime readers become lifetime learners. Lifetime learners become lifetime contributors."

You can continue to read more from his website if you want to find out the other 9 reasons. Anyways, Picture books are important. I love his very first comment, "Lifetime readers become lifetime learners." So with that being said, I would like to suggest some board books that I read to my 11 mo. old. That's right....11 mo. old. And guesss what? She loves them. She loves to feel the pages and turn the pages and hit the pages and talk to the book and eat the book. That is why board books are for babies. (They can chew on the corners and it is okay.)

#1 I See A Monster by Daniel J. Mahoney (My kiddos love the mirror at the very end. Such a cute little rhyming story.)#2 The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood (Great funny story)

#3 Giggle & Grow Baby Face by Piggie Toe Press (My kids love to look at the faces of the kids in this book, over and over.)

#4 Counting Kisses by Karen Katz (Great bedtime book)

#5 How Do I Love You by P.K. Halliman (Very Sweet story.)

#6 Dinosaur Roar by Paul & Henrietta Stickland (My kids love the voices we make for the dinosaurs.)

#7 Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss (This book is by far my favorite board book. In fact our copy has been used and eaten on so much that it is now held together by duck tape.)#8 Good Morning, Good Night! by Melanie Mitchell (My kids love to feel the animals and help tuck the little girl in at the end of the story.)#9 Good Night, Sweet Butterflies by Dawn Bentley, Heather Cahoon, & Melanie Gerth (My kids love to feel each butterfly and we talk about colors.)#10 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Classic) Now for the second part of my post. There is a very cute girl named Erin Shakespeare who put together the 2011 Southern Utah Writing Conference with Rick Walton and Mette Ivie Harrison. She has a fun event planned that she wanted to get the word out coming up in a few weeks. So for all of you aspiring writers, go and check out her blog here. It looks like a lot of fun and a good way to meet new people and get new ideas brewing for your books.