I had this post set to go for Friday so I'm sharing it today but I really can't thank everyone enough for all of your love on Friday's post on Felipe. I feel so undeserving and grateful and appreciate each and every one of you - thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
1. Not that any week feels lazy and empty but this week felt especially busy and full and when I look back at what I accomplished I um -- painted a dresser and finally folded ALL of the lingering laundry. Just keeping those standards flying high and mighty, as always.
2. Normally my camera roll is brimming with recent photo goodness but all I found was a couple of photos of the kids walking into the gym ...
a certain little two year old has got a little case of Fall Fever. We'll try harder to spice up the cameral roll for next week.
3. Okay, I'm really hopeful that you seasoned moms can help me out here. Julia's birthday is this week and I'm hoping to get her some beginner (super beginner!) books that aren't super boring. I don't know if such unicorns exist but maybe you know of a couple. I have this set sitting in my Amazon cart but in case there's a set that shines brighter - I thought I'd ask you. Thanks in advance!
4. I'm going to bank on Julia not reading this post but her godmother and Aunt Mary sent the most adorable St. Julia keychain made by my good friend's talented sister, Maria. I'm fairly to very certain it will be Julia's favorite gift.
5. If you read a lot of the same blogs I do you may have seen that Nordstrom is now carrying a smallish selection of J.Crew items. Normally I wouldn't care but you cannot beat the ease of Nordstrom's return and exchange policy (return label included in the box - so appreciated) along with free shipping. This shirt is the only thing that really caught my eye but if my first love, J.Crew Factory, I'm sure I could find a few more.
6. A lot went down on my book front this week - yay. I finally finished The Night Circus and while it was definitely a departure from my usual fluff - I loved it. It was slow at some points but well worth the read. I also finished A Hundred Summers and really loved it. I immediately used my free Audible trial to listen to the first in a trilogy (I think?) - The Secret Life of Violet Grant because I wanted to read more from Beatriz Williams. I was almost that person that went grocery shopping with head phones last night because I didn't want to stop listening. I'm so glad there are two more books after this one. ALSO! Of course! Eight Hundred Grapes finally came off the hold list at the library and while a few of my close friends told me it was, "eh" -- I'm thoroughly enjoying it. That might change once I get to the ending but - you know I'll let you know. Okay, that's it. Sorry. Sort of.
7. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your Sunday! We were going to go to the beach but it's pouring rain all of a sudden so ... I'm guessing we might not. Boo.
Bye!
1. Not that any week feels lazy and empty but this week felt especially busy and full and when I look back at what I accomplished I um -- painted a dresser and finally folded ALL of the lingering laundry. Just keeping those standards flying high and mighty, as always.
2. Normally my camera roll is brimming with recent photo goodness but all I found was a couple of photos of the kids walking into the gym ...
a certain little two year old has got a little case of Fall Fever. We'll try harder to spice up the cameral roll for next week.
3. Okay, I'm really hopeful that you seasoned moms can help me out here. Julia's birthday is this week and I'm hoping to get her some beginner (super beginner!) books that aren't super boring. I don't know if such unicorns exist but maybe you know of a couple. I have this set sitting in my Amazon cart but in case there's a set that shines brighter - I thought I'd ask you. Thanks in advance!
4. I'm going to bank on Julia not reading this post but her godmother and Aunt Mary sent the most adorable St. Julia keychain made by my good friend's talented sister, Maria. I'm fairly to very certain it will be Julia's favorite gift.
5. If you read a lot of the same blogs I do you may have seen that Nordstrom is now carrying a smallish selection of J.Crew items. Normally I wouldn't care but you cannot beat the ease of Nordstrom's return and exchange policy (return label included in the box - so appreciated) along with free shipping. This shirt is the only thing that really caught my eye but if my first love, J.Crew Factory, I'm sure I could find a few more.
6. A lot went down on my book front this week - yay. I finally finished The Night Circus and while it was definitely a departure from my usual fluff - I loved it. It was slow at some points but well worth the read. I also finished A Hundred Summers and really loved it. I immediately used my free Audible trial to listen to the first in a trilogy (I think?) - The Secret Life of Violet Grant because I wanted to read more from Beatriz Williams. I was almost that person that went grocery shopping with head phones last night because I didn't want to stop listening. I'm so glad there are two more books after this one. ALSO! Of course! Eight Hundred Grapes finally came off the hold list at the library and while a few of my close friends told me it was, "eh" -- I'm thoroughly enjoying it. That might change once I get to the ending but - you know I'll let you know. Okay, that's it. Sorry. Sort of.
7. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your Sunday! We were going to go to the beach but it's pouring rain all of a sudden so ... I'm guessing we might not. Boo.
Bye!
If you put in a search for "I Can Read" books at Amazon a lot of Level 1 readers come up. They even have a Fancy Nancy and an Amelia Bedelia for beginners.
ReplyDeletesmart! thank you!
DeleteCheck this out...there is an entire series. My little guy started this a year ago and we are nearly at the end of the series now. We took the summer off from reading almost every day...so we slowed down a bit, but it really is the best. We used the BOB books with my oldest, which are great, but these are better!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.com/Pig-Can-Jig-Basic-Reading/dp/0026839970/ref=pd_sim_14_9?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0026839970&pd_rd_r=BFJXW47H1J9WZ5RYDSB7&pd_rd_w=E5gva&pd_rd_wg=BfOJq&psc=1&refRID=BFJXW47H1J9WZ5RYDSB7
Just finished What She Left Behind - loved it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, for Julia, go for some classics - Frog and Toad, Hop on Pop, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. Also, om Amazon, if you search Step Into Reading, they have some cute stories on different levels - Level 1, Level 2, etc. Even with 5 kids, learning to read NEVER gets old! Always exciting!
ReplyDeleteI second all the previous book recos, as well as the National Geographic beginning readers https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_sc_0_27?k=national+geographic+level+1&rh=i%3Aaps&sprefix=national+geograohic+level+1 and Elephant & Piggie https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=elephant+piggie If their school does Scholastic Reading Club, they often have these cheaper, and little boxes sets with a handle, which my kids love!
ReplyDeleteI'd go for all the Little Bear & Frog and Toad books, and maybe some Fancy Nancy & Amelia Bedelia. Poppleton is also one of our favorite early reader series - they're so funny!
ReplyDeleteFancy Nancy! Check Costco for a bundle set. I will say, they aren't super beginner compared to other level one books (like Pete the Cat) but I enjoy Fancy Nancy.
ReplyDeleteThe Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems are fun! I would read the part of Gerald and my kids would read the Piggie lines. Takes some of the monotony out of early reading 😬
ReplyDeleteMy kids LOVE Elephant and Piggie.
DeleteBob books? Those are great and very simple. Or Biscuit the dog readers, some easy ones like Big Egg by Molly Coxe.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Eight Hundred Grapes!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you linked to my shop! It's like opening up People magazine and discovering an A-lister wearing your dress. Crazy. I really hope Julia loves her peg!
ReplyDeleteSecondly, my girls all liked Usborne's Very First Readers. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00593XQ9U?vs=1
We loved the Amanda and Oliver pig series. Not as preachy as Berenstein bears, and they start at beginner level. And really cute illustrations
ReplyDeleteMy daughter loved Biscuit books but they got super boring for me but she liked them. Pinkalicous is way more interesting but vocab is a bit higher level than Biscuit
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE Elephant & Piggie here. I sincerely laugh out loud at some of them.
ReplyDeleteAlso love hearing your book recs! I've enjoyed every one of Beatriz Williams' books, some more than others of course. She only co-authored The Forgotten Room but that was among my favorites, I think. I also enjoyed Eight Hundred Grapes!
Could she do Elephant and Piggy books? We love them!
ReplyDeleteCheck out the Elephant and Piggie books by MO Willems! They are so funny and cute, and no sneaky words that are too difficult. These were the first books, besides BOB books, that my son and daughter coucould truly read all by themselves. Here's a set that doesn't look available, but it shows you several titles that are available if you search individually. Happy bday, J!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Piggie-Bundle-Mo-Willems/dp/1423167074
I LOVE Beatriz Williams books. I stumbled upon her by accident and have been flying through everything I can get my hands on. Such interesting, easy and engaging reads!
ReplyDeleteMy kids loved the Danny books from maryruthbooks.com. They range from super beginner up to chapter books so the kids can keep following Danny as they improve their skills. Danny is the author's yellow lab. 😀
ReplyDeleteMy friends little girl is learning to read and loved "Barbie Super Spy Squad!" And the story was pretty neat.
ReplyDeleteThe Bearenstein Bear Early Reader books are great! Also Mercy Watson books are easy to read chapter books that my kids loved. I also can't speak highly enough of this book: https://www.amazon.com/Down-Sea-Magee-Chris-Dusen/dp/0811852253 - Chris Can Dusen has great boy books too when Sebastion gets old enough!
ReplyDeleteElephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems would be wonderful for Julia! (:
ReplyDeleteI LOVED the Secret Life of Violet Grant! I also really enjoyed the two that followed it, but it was my favorite of the trilogy. I was also eh on 800 Grapes, but I have friends who enjoyed it more than me. Have you read any books by Kate Morton? I would recommend The Secret Keeper.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to dip your toe into helping her learn to read, try Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. It's the most fun program! It's literally teaches you how to teach your child to read. The stories in it are really silly. Each lesson takes maybe 15 minutes. I don't think my kids even realize that it's a "lesson"! It's designed for 3.5 years old and up. I use it with my kindergartener and my first grader. It's a blast!! I started it with my 1st grader last year and were up to lesson 93. We do a few lessons a week. It's so fun!
ReplyDelete