Summer by Gerda Muller.

There’s still enough time left in summer to appreciate this wordless story by Dutch illustrator Gerda Muller. In her cycle of board books about the four seasons, Muller captures the essence of childhood in summer with the mastery of a classically trained artist. Each page of the book is filled with images of children experiencing the joys of summer the way they are meant to be enjoyed: outside, from morning till night, watching tadpoles, splashing in ocean, and catching fireflies. Each page is carefully detailed and there are often tiny things my son catches that I would never have noticed, like one teensy ladybug on a blade of grass. We have read through Summer more times than I could count. I highly recommend it. Ages 2-5

Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale by Mo Willems.

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I could recite this entire book to you by heart, we’ve read it so many times. For those of you who have not yet enjoyed this sure-to-be-a-classic by Mo Willems, you’re in for a treat. The story tells the tale of little Trixie who loses her precious rabbit Knuffle Bunny on a trip to the Laundromat with her father. But since she can’t speak, he has no idea why she begins melting. Anyone with a small child can appreciate the sheer frustration and bewilderment of one’s kid “needing” something and having no idea what it could be: “‘Aggle flaggle klabble!’ said Trixie. ‘That’s right,’ said her dad, ‘we’re going home.’” What really makes this story great is the superimposition of simple cartoon people on black-and-white photographs of New York City. Ages 2-4.

Tags: bedtime stories, book reviews, Children, family, Lifestyle

Reading a story or two to your kids before bedtime is the perfect end to a day. It is a special treat for them and maybe even more for you. It’s a great way to spend time together, and it’s a surefire trick to get the kiddies to drift off into peaceful slumber without too much effort. We found ourselves a children’s librarian to help sort the good from the bad, the sad from the happy, and the scary from the funny.

Chickens to the Rescue! By John Himmelman.

Who doesn’t love chickens? Nobody, that’s who. This quick but very funny book is likely to please kids of all ages. Each day of the week, disasters large and small befall the Greenstalk farm and each time the family chickens swoop in with cries of, “Chickens to the rescue!” and through teamwork and chicken ingenuity they manage to save the day. Among the best rescues are Wednesday when the duck drives off with the truck, and Thursday, when the son’s homework is eaten. The simple pictures are hilarious: the image of chickens in chefs hats wielding knives and chickens writing research papers are fantastic and memorable. Ages 4-8.

Ten Little Mummies: an Egyptian counting book by Philip Yates. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas.

“Deep underground in a dreary old tomb, 10 little mummies were stuffed in one room.” Where most counting books I find too boring to get through more than two or three times, Ten Little Mummies is loads of fun to read. I’ve read it many times with my son and even by myself more than once. Ten bored mummies get into crazy adventures in the Egyptian night and one by one, as you can imagine, they disappear: one gets unraveled sliding down the pyramids and runs off to hide; another gets adopted by a family of baboons. The cartoonish pictures which look like crayon or pastel and the rhyming text add to the lighthearted feel of this fantastic book. Ages 3-6.

Tags: bed, bedtime stories, book reviews, Books, Children, family

Reading a story or two to your kids before bedtime is the perfect end to a day. It is a special treat for them and maybe even more for you. It’s a great way to spend time together, and it’s a surefire trick to get the kiddies to drift off into peaceful slumber without too much effort. We found ourselves a children’s librarian to help sort the good from the bad, the sad from the happy, and the scary from the funny.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague.

If your child is anything like mine, you’ll have a hard time saying “no” to another installment in the popular and entertaining How Do Dinosaurs series. Naturally, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? is perfect reading for bedtime. In it, a number of dinosaurs large and small model good bedtime behavior. Does a dinosaur throw his teddy bear? Does he roar, “ONE BOOK MORE!!”? No, he climbs into bed and whispers, “Good night.” I just wish these beasties brushed their teeth; that is one behavior my boy needs some modeling for. Written in simple rhymes and accompanied with colorful illustrations, complete with the names of all dino characters, this is a sure hit for boys, girls, and parents alike. Ages 2-6.

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton.

Anyone who has cats or children is likely familiar with the fun, cartoonish illustrations of Sandra Boynton. Her stories, which always feature cats, hippos, lions and many other animals dancing and singing together, can be seen in books and on mugs everywhere. The Going to Bed Book is great to read just before bedtime. It features a bunch of animals who, strangely, live together on a boat at sea. In a sing-songy rhyme, the story leads us through their bedtime routine, from exercising (but honestly, who jumps rope right before bed?) to tooth brushing. The pictures are quite funny and kids will relate to the bath-taking, pajama-finding bedtime ritual. Ages 2-6.

Tags: bed, bedtime stories, book reviews, Books, Children, family

The dog days are here at last. In August the days are longer, hotter, and muggier than any other time of the year. Here are a couple good reads to lift the whole family up out of that hazy late summer daze.

LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary
It was only a matter of time before LEGO and LucasArts lucrative artistic union made it into a hardcover edition. The pair started making Star Wars replica LEGO sets over ten years ago. The partnership became so popular that it spawned not one but five intensely sought after video games that struck up a whole new generation of Star Wars fans. LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary a great way to immerse the kids in the universe and mythology of the series. Fans and collectors will definitely want to snag a copy. LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary even comes with a complimentary LEGO Luke Skywalker action figure. May the force be with you. Literally! [Ages 7 and up]

The Quiet Book
What a great idea The Quiet Book is! Deborah Underwood’s meditation on calmness and quietude makes for the perfect transition from a long day into a peaceful slumber. Underwood’s simple, mantralike study of the different faces and moods of “quiet” coupled with Renata Liwska’s gorgeous, muted illustrations of bears, owls, rabbits, etc. in various states of relaxation make for a fantastic addition to your repertoire of bedtime stories. [Ages 4-8]

Tags: bed, bedtime stories, book reviews, Books, Children, family

Shark vs. Train

This one’s for the boys. Chris Barton’s Shark vs. Train tells the hilarious story story of a competition between two boys and their toys, a shark and a train. Shark and train participate in a number of competitions to see who’s the best, but each one excels at something the other isn’t too great at. It’s a funny little story that’ll have kids requesting it again and again. [Ages 4-8]

The Very Fairy Princess

Is a the tale of Geraldine, a girl who truly believes she’s a fairy princess. Her friends and family don’t believe her, but that doesn’t stop young Geraldine from filling up her otherwise unassuming days and nights with intrigue and fancy befitting of royalty. The Very Fairy Princess was written by actress Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Hamilton. The feisty Geraldine, and her refusal to be average, teaches girls courage and self-esteem. [Ages 4-8]

Tags: bed, book reviews, Books, Children

One of the most fun activities for the family is reading before bedtime. It’s a great way to spend time together, and it’s a surefire trick to get the kiddies to drift off into peaceful slumber without too much effort. Our Bedtime Book series will cover new and interesting books you can read with the whole family.

Ladybug Girl at the Beach
The lastest installment in David Soman and Jacky Davis’s popular Ladybug Girl series finds the titular costumed hero and her pet basset hound Bingo exploring the world at the water’s edge. Ladybug Girl at the Beach deals with friendship, overcoming fears, and the beauty of nature. [Ages 4-8]

City Dog, Country Frog

Mo Willems’s City Dog, Country Frog tells the tale of an unlikely friendship between two seemingly incompatible parties—a freewheeling frog from the county and a more domesticated urban dog. The simple story, which features beautiful watercolor illustrations courtesy of Jon J. Muth, teaches kids the value of friendship, loyalty and respecting one another’s differences. [Ages 4-8]