Back to School Books

It's that magical time of year when the kiddos go back to school. For some of our younger friends, it may be the first time away from home. We'd like to share books to help relieve anxiety and get your youngsters pumped to go to school.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Tanglewood Press, 2007.

Image from Amazon

When Chester Raccoon is nervous about starting school and being away from his mom, she fills him in on a family secret: the kissing hand. When she kisses Chester's hand, she assures him that she will be with him all day long, and soon school will be just as comfortable as home. This story is so sweet and could easily become a first day family reading tradition.


The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster. Hyperion, 2005.

Image from www.readingkingdom.com

This book would be perfect for children who spend the day with grandparents or at day care. When a little girl is dropped off at Nanna and Poppy's house, while her parents are at work, she doesn't mind one bit! There are many fun things to do with Nanna and Poppy, but her favorite thing is to look through the 'Hello, Goodbye Window'. The window seems to be a magic portal that shows what's going to happen next, like the pizza delivery guy bringing dinner. This Caldecott book shares a sweet, simple story of a child dealing positively with separation.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow Books, 2010.

Image from Amazon.

Wemberly is a big worrier. Little questions plague her and leave her feeling anxious, like if she will spill grape juice on her stuffed animal. Going to school for the first time is no different for Wemberly, in fact she is worried about this more than anything else. What if no one else brings a doll? What if no one has spots? What if the teacher is mean? Lucky for Wemberly, her very nice teacher introduces her to a new friend (who happens to have a doll with her) and she stops worrying quite so much.
 
Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah. Disney-Hyperion, 2010.

Image from Amazon.

These days we hear a lot about bullying and fighting in schools. This sweet picture book about two best friends shows exactly how such misunderstandings can happen. In this story, the sandwiches the girls bring for lunch end up causing so much turmoil they stop sitting together at lunch and playing together after school. They think the other's lunch is so gross, their dispute ends up causing a school-wide food fight! Being respectful of other cultures and their foods helps bring these two friends back together at the end.

If you are looking for a memento to give your child before he or she begins school, look no further. No Time For Flash Cards shares a simple photo flipbook that your child can easily tuck into a backpack or desk. When they are worried, they can flip through and see pictures of you together, or read a special message just for them.


Get out your cookie cutters and cupcake liners! We are huge fans of the adorable bento boxed lunch for the kiddos. There are so many amazing ideas out there, but we've narrowed it down to a few to get you started: Lunchbots shares a picture gallery with tons of inspiration; Parenting shares 21 ideas for those of you that have made one too many pbj; Keeley McGuire shares allergy friendly non-sandwich ideas;  Stuffed Suitcase shares 40 weeks of nut-free lunches; and finally more bento goodness at Bento Lunch. 

We hope you have a great start to this school year!

Winter Reading With Your Family: Teens

What a frigid winter week it has been! Schools have been closed the past couple days and everyone has been staying safely tucked inside their homes. Hopefully you have been taking advantage of this confining weather and read some great books! I know that I have been spending more time than usual curled up on the couch with a blanket and book. This week, we are highlighting some great teen titles to read in this icy cold weather.


 
 Snowed In by Rachel Hawthorne (HarperTeen, 2007).                                       A light-hearted romance set in the car-less land of Mackinac Island near Michigan with wonderfully realistic characters. A great vacation read if you are still in that easy going mindset!






 
 Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale (Bloomsbury USA Children's, 2005).    A boy encounters witches while spending his Christmas holiday with his mother and stepfather in snowy Canterbury, England. A great fantasy choice for tweens as well as older teens, especially those who are Harry Potter fans.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (St. Martin's Griffin, 2013).
Two misfits fall in love, bonding over comics, alternative music and mutual awkwardness. This realistic and touching story set in 1986 also tackles mature themes such as bullying and abuse, with an ending sure to warm your heart. 









Blankets by Craig Thompson ( Top-Shelf Productions, 2003).
At 592 pages this graphic novel may seem intimidating, but fear not! This wonderfully personal coming of age story, featuring Craig himself as a boy in blustery Wisconsin, is sure to fly by quickly even for reluctant high school readers.

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1) by Phillip Pullman (Alfred A. Knopf, 1996).
 A thrilling fantasy that follows orphaned pre-teen Lyra as she ventures to find her kidnapped friend and uncle, complete with danger, witch encounters (both good and bad) and a helpful armored polar bear. Another great read for tweens and teens, it will be hard for them to not race through the next two books in this trilogy.

Winter Reading With Your Family: School-Age

We are back again to share our favorite winter reading titles! This week we will highlight our favorite school-age fiction.  Whether you read a beginner book, a chapter book or decide to pick up some poetry, there is sure to be a winter themed title below to delight and warm you during these chilly winter months!

Beginner Level Books:

Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant  

It's Snowing! It's Snowing!: Winter Poems by Jack Prelutsky

Snow by Roy McKie and P.D. Eastman

 Snow Surprise  by Lisa Campbell Ernst

 Oliver & Amanda and the Big Snow by Jean Van Leeuwen

Max and Mo: Let's Make a Snowman!  by Patricia Lakin

Chapter Books: 

The Adventures of a South Pole Pig by Chris Kurtz

Sugar and Ice by Kate Messner

Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Winter Knights by Paul Stewart

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Winter Danger by William O. Steele

Captain Awesome Saves the Winter Wonderland by Stan Kirby

The Winter of Red Snow: the Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart by Kristiana Gregory

A Kingdom Far and Clear: The Complete Swan Lake Trilogy 
  by Mark Helprin

The Junkyard Dog by Erika Tamar

It’s Snow Joke by Nancy Krulik Burks