Week 17: Posting Late > Posting Never

Our Weekly Progress: 
We actually did read all of our books this week. I just didn't post about them because I've been exhausted. The reason I've been exhausted is because Emma decided not to sleep this week! Ahggg! 

I've found out that everyone on the Internet has a different opinion about the right way to get your baby to sleep through the night. And they all feel very strongly about their opinions. 

Thankfully, everyone that we've talked to has told us that we're not doing anything wrong, and to just keep trying different things until we find something that works for us, and for this particular baby at this particular time. This tells me that I've surrounded myself with non judgmental, kind, and supportive people. I'm so grateful for them. :) 

In the meantime, there have been books to read! One thing that hasn't changed is that my daughter and I LOVE our story time together. Here's what we've been reading:  

Our Weekly Favorite:

Title: Two Hands to Love You  

Author: Diane Adams
Illustrator: Paige Keiser

Summary: 
"With two loving hands, an adoring mother cradles her baby after bath time and a devoted father introduces his toddler to the wonders of the world. Sister, brother, grandma, and grandpa all can't wait to share what they love best about the world with their newest family member. And when it is time to step out into the world, this caring family is right there alongside." 

"In simple, heartfelt language, this soothing picture book for the very young will tug at the heartstrings and remind us all of the caring hands that helped us along our way." 

Why I Loved It: 

• The summary is perfect for this book. The language truly is simple and heartfelt. 
• The rhymes are natural, and the rhythm of the book flows.
• This is a bedtime story if I ever heard one. I can easily imagine a slightly-older Emma asking for me to read this book to her before she falls asleep.
• The repeating verse about never being far from your baby will melt your heart. "I'll love you, think of you, wherever you are:" So true!  

Other Books We Read This Week:

	Title: Why Are You Doing That? Author: Elisa Amado Illustrator: Manuel Monroy Rating: 4 stars I really enjoyed this book! It was repetitive, but that's supposed to be good for kids. :) I really liked the mini-glossary of Spanish words in the back of the book.
	Title: Tea for Ten Author/Illustrator: Lena Anderson  Rating: 3 stars I like the idea of a counting book, especially one with cute animals! I thought the rhyme scheme could have been a bit smoother.
	Title: To the Tub Author/Illustrator: Peggy Perry Anderson Rating: 3 stars This book was fun. Really, though, the title is my favorite part. Lately, I've enjoyed "flying" Emma into the bathroom while I shout, "TO THE TUB!"  Hahaha!
	Title: We Go in a Circle Author/Illustrator: Peggy Perry Anderson Rating: 5 stars This was about horse therapy- I love that someone wrote a book about this! It is very well written, and will tug at your heartstrings. Reading this book would be a great way to start a conversation about disabilities with a child.
	Title: All by Myself! Author/Illustrator: Aliki Rating: 3 stars I thought this book was cute, and enjoyed reading it, but probably wouldn't read it again.
	Title: The Very Fairy Princess Sparkles in the Snow Author/Illustrator: Blaze and Thunderbolt  Rating: 2 stars I'll be honest- I didn't read this one with Emma. It's  I really old-looking, and basically a chapter book disguised as an easy reader. I didn't even want to read it myself, because it just seems so. . . old. But once I did, I kind of enjoyed it. Cute story. It could use a reprint with color pictures, though!
	Title: Chuck's Truck Author/Illustrator: Peggy Perry Anderson  Rating: 1 star I thought this book was ridiculous, the rhymes were forced, and it didn't flow very well. Stay away!
	Title: Chuck's Band Author/Illustrator: Peggy Perry Anderson  Rating: 2 stars Chuck's Band is slightly better than Chuck's truck. The rhymes come much easier. Unfortunately, I was too scarred from Chuck's truck to enjoy Chuck's Band.
	Title: The Best Book in the World Author/Illustrator: Rilla Rating: 2 stars A few notes: 1. At first glance, you might think that this book has won a Newbery Award. False. Good advertising on the cover-designer's part, but false.  2. This is not the best book in the world. I like the idea- that books can take you to new places, but I wasn't a huge fan of the rather abstract writing style.

Week 16: A short break from the library

This week, we did not read any library books! I know, so sad. For the first time in a while, my husband and I both worked full, 5-day weeks, and we just weren't used to it. But we visited the library yesterday, and checked out 20 new books.  We're planning to rotate ten books at a time from now on. That way, even if we don't make it to the library every single weekend, we'll still have new books to read. Because even though we still read last week, and I love all of the books in Emma's personal library, it's exciting to read something new- and I missed that!

On another note, a stranger saw my husband and me leaving the library and said to us, "You guys are great parents!" Maybe a snap judgement based on the HUGE pile of books I was carrying, but still- nice to hear. I'll take it! :)

See you next week with some more reviews!

Week 15: Snow Day Reading!

Our Weekly Progress: 
We got hit with snow this week! I spent more days at home with my hunny than I did at work! What a blessing. And what a good lot of books to be curled up at home with! It was difficult to pick a favorite, but in the end, I had to admit that I just loved this one the most: 

Our Weekly Favorite:

Title: Gladys Goes Out to Lunch 

Author/Illustrator: Derek Anderson 

Rating: 5 stars 

Summary: "At the zoo Gladys eats bananas for breakfast, bananas for lunch, and even bananas for dinner. But one day Gladys smells something even better than bananas. Could it be pizza? Ice cream? Or something altogether better?" 

Why I Loved it: 

• What a great story line! My daughter is "learning how to turn pages" (reaching out and touching every page), and I actually got impatient waiting for her, because I wanted to know what was going to happen! This book was genuinely suspenseful! 
• The pictures were awesome.  I was cracking up at the illustrated antics of the zookeepers who were chasing Gladys. Not to mention the chocolate mousse that was shaped like a moose! 
• The ending was perfect. I don't want to give anything away, but I couldn't have thought up a better ending myself- and believe me, I usually try. 
• The author's note at the end. Read it. That's all I'll say. 
• The recipe at the end of the story makes it an all-day activity theme instead of just a story-time reading. Have I mentioned that I love this book?  

Other Books We Read This Week:

	Title: Bedtime! Author: Christine Anderson Illustrator: Steven Salerno   Rating: 4 stars I liked this story of a girl who doesn't want to go to bed- until her mom starts the bedtime routine with the dog instead! Pretty cute. I would read this story again.
	Title: Disappearing Desmond Author/Illustrator: Anna Alter  Rating: 3 stars The story teaches a good lesson about friendship and reaching out to notice and include others. I just didn't find the telling of it especially gripping.
	Title: Momo and Snap Author/Illustrator: Airlie Anderson Rating: 3 stars Interestingly, this book tells an entire story using only one-word (or, more accurately, one-sound) speech bubbles. It was good, but not outstanding. I probably wouldn't buy this book or read it more than once.
	Title: A Photo for Greta Author/Illustrator: Anna Alter Rating: 2 stars This book was very "ehh..."
	Title: Romeo and Lou Blast Off Author/Illustrator: Derek Anderson  Rating: 4 stars I really liked this book. The illustrations added to the humor.
	Title: The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School  Author: Laurie Halse Anderson   Illustrator: Ard Hoyt Rating: 5 stars The storyline was funny and interesting, if you can get over the weirdness of a girl whose hair has a mind of its own. (Which actually reminds me of a My Strange Addiction episode where a woman names her hair and carries it around in a basket...) Back on topic. The illustrations made this book. You could spend a lot more time looking at the pictures than reading the actual story.
	Title: Blaze Finds the Trail  Author/Illustrator: C.W. Anderson  Rating: 3  stars I thought this was a nice story, but it did seem quite dated. (It was written in 1950.) The black and white drawings weren't as captivating as they could have been.
	Title: The Serpent Came to Gloucester Author: M. T. Anderson Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline    Rating: 5 stars I loved this book! I was intrigued from the beginning after I read that this book is based on a true story.  I will say that this book seems more like a poem geared towards adults than a storybook geared towards children. The language was difficult, and a bit old-english-y sounding. The rhyme scheme and symbolism reminded me of something I would have studied in a high school English class. But the truth is, I enjoyed my high school English classes, and I enjoyed this book as well!
	Title: The Princess of 8th Street  Author/Illustrator: Linas Alsenas Rating: 3 stars You can't judge a book by the cover. Too bad- I thought this one was going to be GREAT. I mean, there was glitter on the cover. And it was good, but it just didn't quite live up to my high expectations.

Week 14: A bunch of mediocre 3-stars

Our Weekly Progress: 
I'll admit it- I'm picky when it comes to books. But I didn't really think we hit any home-runs this week. There were a couple of very cute books- but only one that I would read again. And a couple that I thought were actually pretty bad. 

Sometimes this challenge leads me to (mistakenly) believe that I could be a children's book writer. I have the same problem when I watch HGTV and start thinking that maybe I could flip houses. . . even though I can barely use my husband's power drill. :)  

So for now, I'll just stick to reading, criticizing the books I don't like, and singing the praises of those I do. 

Our Weekly Favorite:

Title: Peanut

Author/Illustrator: Linas Alsenas
Rating: 4

Summary:

"When an old lady finds a small elephant in the park, what is she to do? Take him home and treat him like a pet dog, of course! Peanut's not like other dogs, though. . . and another walk in the park reveals that he's missing from the circus. When peanut returns home, the old lady is sad again, until she comes across a camel . . . who she decides is a cat!"

Why I Loved it: 

• This is an example of a book that was extremely silly. . . in a good way! A child would find it funny, but it didn't make me want to gag.
• I LOVED the style of the illustrations! What an adorable little elephant! It made me want a tiny little (cartoon) pet elephant myself. 
• Very cute ending.  

Other Books We Read This Week:

Title: I'm Not Scared!

Author/Illustrator: Jonathan Allen
Rating: 4 stars
This book was much better than its copart, I'm not Cute! which we read last week. I thought it was well-done, and it's adorable that the baby owl has a stuffed owl named Owly.  

Title: Elephant in the Bathtub 

Author/Illustrator: Kristina Andres
Rating: 3 stars
This book was cute, and sort-of fun, but it didn't wow me.

Title: Raisin and Grape

Author: Tom Amico
Illustrator: Andy Snair
Rating: 3 stars
I actually sort-of enjoyed this strange book, in which the child is a grape, and his grandpa is a wrinkly raisin. Sort-of.

Title: Abigail Spells

Author/Illustrator: Anna Alter

Rating: 3 stars

This book tells the story of a girl who loves to spell, but got nervous during a spelling bee and got out right away. She was extremely disappointed. I was waiting for some important lesson to be learned about perseverance, or self-worth... but then the story just ended, rather unexpectedly. It was strange.  

Title: Mommy's Best Kisses

Author: Margaret Anastas
Illustrator: Susan Winter
Rating: 3 stars
This is the type of book that grows on you with time. I can see this being a favorite bedtime story, growing more special with familiarity.

Title: A Hug for You

Author: Margaret Anastas
Illustrator: Susan Winter
Rating: 2 stars
This book just wasn't extremely interesting to me. 

Title: The Day the Dog Dressed Like Dad

Author: Tom Amico 
Illustrator: James Proimos
Rating: 2 stars

Title: Nighty Night, Sleepy Sleeps

Author/Illustrator: Brian Anderson 
Rating: 1 star 

Title: Estelle and Lucy

Author/Illustrator: Anna Alter
Rating: 1 star
The plot in this book was rough to say the least. Also, no one ever explains why a mother cat has two children- one a cat, and one a mouse!