Day 224: Pictures From Our Vacation

It's February:  that ironic month in New England that seems oh-so-long, despite being the year's shortest.  Naturally, given the weeks of sub-freezing temperatures and sicknesses that always grace our household at this time of year, I'm dreaming of summer.  Sweet, sweet summer, with days spent playing on the beach and swimming in the lake and hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire.  Ahhh….. Alas, warm weather is still a few months away, so I'll have to settle for looking at pictures of sunny places, dreaming about vacation, and drinking coconut coffee.

When we went to the library last week and my children happily picked random books from the shelves, I turned to my trusty list of books to find, hoping to bring home a few new titles I've been wanting to read for a while.  Pictures From Our Vacation was one such title on that list, having been recommended by my fabulous friend Melinda, children's librarian extraordinaire, who hailed it as one of her kids' favorite books last summer.  I was thrilled to find that our library had it available and added it to our pile, eager to bring it home.  Thanks, as always, Melinda, for the fabulous recommendation!

I absolutely love this story! I've never read anything by Lynne Rae Perkins before, but there are many Cynthia-Ryland-esque qualities about this book that I just love.  It's a wonderfully sweet story about a family's vacation to visit relatives and the memories they make along the way.  At the start of the trip, the mother gives each of the children a Polaroid camera and a scrapbook in which to place their pictures so that they can have a nice souvenirs from their vacation.  The kids snap pictures along the way -- of hillsides, the sky, the back of their dad's head as he drives -- but as they are returning home, they realize that the photographs hardly remind them of their vacation at all.  Rather, it's the time spent with family, the laughter, the stories, the cool feel of the water in the lake -- all of the things that they couldn't capture on film -- that were the most memorable. The snapshots, images, and maps with which Perkins illustrates the book are perfect, and I couldn't love the message of this story any more.  This will definitely be a book that we add to our summer vacation collection.

I'll end this post with my favorite excerpt from the book. While I will always take pictures to capture the moments that we spend together as a family, I hope that my children will believe, as I do, that it is the time we spend doing those things together that is the most wonderful of all.

"I looked out the window.  There were big electrical towers alongside the highway.  I took a picture of them.  In my mind they looked like giant robots marching across the earth, carrying the electricity along in their hands.  It's probably hard to take a picture that shows that, even with a really good camera. And it's hard to take a picture of a story someone tells, or what it feels like when you're rolling down a hill or falling asleep in a house full of cousins and uncles and aunts.  There are a lot of things like that.  But those kinds of pictures I can keep in my mind."

Day 212: Penguin on Vacation

My daughter received this adorable book recently when we were on vacation with the ever-generous Uncle Jeff, and both she and my son have loved it ever since.  I found my son reading it on his bed many times throughout the week, and I loved listening in when he'd read it to my daughter as they snuggled up next to each other.  We all read it each night at bedtime, too -- usually twice.

The story is simple but sweet, with charming, colorful illustrations to match.  After growing tired of his cold climate living, Penguin decides to set off for warmer shores.  When he finally arrives on a tropical island, though, he's not so sure what to make of the place.  He can't do any of his usual vacation activities such as skiing, skating, or sledding, and starts feeling a bit lost and lonely.  Fortunately for Penguin, he is befriended by a fun-loving crab, who shows him that the best part about vacation isn't always what you do, but who you spend it with.

The first time I read this book, I thought it was cute and sweet.  The more I read it, though, the more I really came to love it.  As so often happens, this was partly because I saw how much my children love this book.  It was a gift for my daughter (who just turned 3), and given that my son has been really into reading the Magic Treehouse Series lately, I worried that perhaps it wouldn't hold his interest as much because it is shorter than most of the books he's been reading.  It only took one read through for me to realize that I needn't worry.  He's not too old to love this book at all; in fact, he might even love it more than his sister.

I had never read anything by Salina Yoon before this book, so I'm eager to check out some of her other work the next time we're at the library.  I've heard that another book in the series, Penguin and Pinecone, is quite endearing, too.  (And with a silly title about a pinecone, my kids can't wait to get their hands on it.)  If you're looking for a good pre-beach vacation story or just an all-around sweet book about friendship, Penguin On Vacation is a must for your book list.

Oh, and if you do go looking for it the next time you're at the library, you might need to check the new arrivals shelf as it just came out a few months ago (April 2013.)  Enjoy!

Our Summery Summer Reading List

As summer approaches and people begin dreaming about their summer reading lists, I thought I'd offer one of our own.  These are some of our favorite summertime books, in no particular order.  Happy reading!

Summertime Fun:

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey:  A classic tale by a classic author that is not to be missed.  I can't wait for freshly picked blueberries and blueberry pie!

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris van Dusen:  Mr. Magee and his little dog Dee are at it again.   What is your favorite way to camp?  Under the stars, cozy in a tent, or in a hotel?

Little Cloud by Eric Carle:  What is more summery than lying in the grass watching the clouds go by?

One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey:  I love this timeless story about coastal life in a day gone by.  I can almost smell the sea just reading it... and clam chowder for lunch!

Henry and Mudge in the Green Time by Cynthia Rylant:  Henry and Mudge are two of our favorite literary characters. The last chapter, "The Green Time," is one of my favorites of the entire Henry and Mudge series.

The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle:  Few things signal the arrival of summer more than watching fireflies flicker around the yard!


The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems:  The Pigeon is back and we couldn't love this book more.  What child can't relate? As we like to say here in our house, if you don't need a bath every night in the summer, you haven't been playing hard enough.

Andrew Henry's Meadow:  What child doesn't dream of building a secret fort or house in a world of his own?  Love, love, love this book.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney:  One of my favorite books of all time.  Gorgeous story, beautiful illustrations, and an even lovelier message.

Bats at the Library by Brian Lies: Kick off summer reading season with a trip to your local library, and while you're there, look for this fabulous book!

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen:  An entertaining story full of adventure, excitement, and fun sound effects.  May it inspire you to go on many adventures of your own this summer!

Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel:  One of my favorite stories from my childhood.  All of Frog and Toad's adventures are wonderful to read at any time of year, and make a great introduction to chapter books for younger readers.

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray:  This is a beautiful book that always makes me want to head outside in my pajamas to do a little stargazing.  Bring your little ones with you and then snuggle up in bed with this book.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown: "A magical story about a boy's dream and how the efforts on one call person can help change the world."  

My Garden by Kevin Henkes:  We just love this delightful story about a little girl's magical garden, complete with jelly bean bushes, seashells, glowing strawberries, chocolate rabbits, and flowers that grow back as soon as you pick them.  What would you grow in your garden?



At the beach:

Over in the Ocean by Maryanne Berkes:  A fabulously fun sing-along with brilliant illustrations.  My kids can't get enough of this book!

A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle:  Hunting for crabs is one of our favorite seaside activities, and we love to read this great story after a day of exploring "crab kingdom."

Stella, Star of the Sea by Marie Louise Gay:  Join Stella and her brother Sam as they spend a day at the seashore.  I just love Stella's carefree nature and her charming answers to Sam's endless questions.

Flotsam by David Weisner:  A brilliantly creative wordless picture book that is bound to be loved by children of all ages.

The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen:  Always a favorite here in our house, the Pout Pout Fish reminds us that sometimes a kiss is all we need to turn our frowns upside down.




Be sure to check out The Pout-Pout Fish and the Big-Big Dark too!

Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea by Cynthia Rylant:  Join Henry and Mudge as they spend the day seaside and then treat yourself to a cherry sno cone (or two!)






Bring on vacation!

Pictures from Our Vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins:  A fabulous story that reminds us that the time we spend doing things together is the most memorable thing of all.

Penguin On Vacation by Salina Yoon:  A sweet story about friendship that is one of our summertime favorites.



Goodnight Our World series:  These books are a great way to introduce your child to a new place before you go there, or to remind you of that special place once you've gone back home.






Travel the World:

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman: A fabulous book that takes us around the world to acquire all the fixings for an apple pie.  Gather your cinnamon from the bark of Sri Lanka's kurundu trees, elegant eggs from France, sugar cane from Jamaica, and more!

We All Went On Safari by Laurie Krebs:  If you're looking for an amazing book about Africa or Maasai culture, look no further.  This book is bursting with information and is incredibly fun to read.  Be sure to check out all of the educational extras at the end!

Toot and Puddle by Hollie Hobbie:  Follow Toot on his journey around the world to Egypt, Paris, the Alps, Antarctica, and other exotic places, then read the postcards he sends to his best friend Puddle about his amazing adventures.

My Granny Went to Market by Stella Blackstone:  It's never too early to introduce children to other countries and cultures.  Fly around the world with Granny on her magic carpet, stopping to buy all kinds of fun things from different countries along the way.

Imagine by Alison Lester:  If your child loves animals, he will adore this book.  It is full of gorgeous illustrations of animals from all around the globe.  But don't worry -- there is a key of each picture and its species at the back of the book.


What is your favorite summer reading book?  Please share in the comments below!

Day 75: Goodnight Our World series

These adorable board books are a perfect way to introduce some of your favorite places to your little one.  My geography teacher self might be a bit biased towards these books, but I really think they are a great way to help teach children about the world and places around them.   There are over 30 titles to choose from in this series, many of which are based on various U.S. states or cities.  There are others that are more general, though, such as Goodnight World, Goodnight Lake, Goodnight Zoo and Goodnight Beach.  Each book brings its readers to various places in and around its title location throughout the course of a day, highlighting various landmarks and wildlife along the way.  The illustrations are colorful and cute but not too busy, making these stories appealing to even the youngest readers.  Whether they are about a place you or other family members call home or a favorite vacation spot, these books are a great way to reminisce about some of your favorite locations.  They are also great "preview" books:  if you're going someplace new, see if there is a Goodnight book about it.  It would be a great way to introduce that place to your child before you go!   I also find that even if we haven't gone anywhere special, it's nice to snuggle up and talk about all the fun things we did that day after we read these stories at bedtime.   For a complete list of available titles, you can visit the Goodnight Our World homepage at http://www.goodnightourworld.com/

Day 74: Counting Our Way to Maine

It's official… we leave tomorrow for our Maine vacation!  Maine is one of my favorite places on the entire planet, and I just can't wait to get there.   As the sign says when you cross the state border, it's "The way life should be!"  6 days on Long Lake followed by 3 days in Boothbay Harbor (over my birthday at the place where we got married) = vacation perfection.  Lobster, kayaking, listening to loons on the lake calling out at night, more lobster, the crisp ocean breeze...  Aaaahhhhhh......  For those of you who have been to Maine, you'll read this story and immediately want to go back.  If you haven't been to Maine, don't worry -- this is still a fun, summer story that will make you nostalgic for great family vacations of the past.  As its title implies, Counting Our Way to Maine is a counting book (it goes up to 20), but it's so much more than that.  Any parent who has ever packed up children and gone on a road trip is sure to appreciate Maggie Smith's delightful choice of events along the way.  "For our trip to Maine this summer we packed one baby, two dogs, and three bicycles... We had to stop for the bathroom six times!  When we were halfway there, we stopped again and ate seven ice creams."  The counting continues with sandcastles, lobster pots, buoys, clams, mosquito bites, and of course, blueberries!  The illustrations are detailed and charming, and we just love counting along with the family throughout their vacation.  Be sure to look at the illustrations inside the front and back covers, too, that recap all twenty highlights of the trip.  Time for me to get packing!  Maybe I'll start by putting this great story in our book bag.