Booklist: Very Best, Most Favorite Kids' Picture Books Ever

I was excited to learn about Freedom to Read Week, an "annual event that encourages ... to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom."  Then I realized that it was just for Canadians.  Now, I love books and appreciate Canada, so I've decided to celebrate the opportunities I have to read, think, and share whatever I please.  So, in observation of this worthwhile idea, here's a list of a few of our very favorite children's books of the minute.  Honestly, our favorites change with alarming rapidity (since you probably have children you know just what I'm talking about), but these are classic books that I reccommend heartily.

This may be the only book on my list with even a hit of subversiveness (thanks to some cute little treasures hidden in the illustrations--can you find the woman breastfeeding, or the girl on the potty?), but it's definitely #1 on our list!  In the Town All Year 'Round is an absolute classic.  The narrative-free illustrations take you through the seasons of the year in images of a single town.  There are special threads to follow (Cassie the cat is on every page, meets another cat, falls in love...has kittens!), and so much to see.  We've looked at this book a hundred times and each of us find something new each time.  Don't miss this one!

We love all of his books, but Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day is right at the top of our list.  The pictures are detailed and (aside from the fact that the characters are, well, pigs, worms, cats, and other animals) present lots of solid information about things preschoolers really need to know about and are fascinated by (community helpers, how houses are built, where wood comes from!).  I loved this book as a kid, and it's such a delight to share.  My second choice from Richard Scarry would have to be Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever!, a compilation of many favorite stories.

We've just finished reading The Boxcar Children, one of my very favorite books from childhood.  It follows four orphaned children as they try to escape their (apparently unfriendly) grandfather and set up housekeeping in an abandoned boxcar in the woods.  It's a charming story with lovely, relatable, well-mannered characters, and we all loved reading about how they kept their milk cold in the stream and cooked food over the fire.  Written in the early 20th century, has weathered the years very well.

When I was nine or ten I had a book that told the history of everything and I read that thing until it fell apart (and I can still tell you about the discovery of vulcanized rubber and the history of vaseline--creepy, I know).  Daisy and Scout both seem to have inherited my love of facts and trivia, so I was excited when I picked up the Smart-opedia Junior: The Amazing Book About Everything.  I was even happier when I looked through it and found that it tells you just enough about, well, everything!  From explaining how your body works in logical progression to the workings of the universe, she's absorbed by the wonderful illustrations and straightforward information. 

Finally, I'm going to cheat by throwing in all the rest of our favorite books in a single volume: The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury.  I'm not usually one for greatest hits-type compilations, but this one really gets it right.  It's a book we keep in the car, pack for trips, and read over and over.  It includes the full text and pictures from stories (from Madeleine to Harry the Dirty Dog to Millions of Cats) by all of your favorite authors (from the Berenstains to Maurice Sendak to Kevin Henkes).  There are a very few duds in the bunch, but there's enough here to keep occupied for years.  It's my go-to baby shower gift :)

What's holding your kids' attention these days?  Do you have a favorite from your own childhood that you share?  I'm always in the market for a new one!

Booklist: President's Day

My kids are all about Obama. Maybe it's that we listen to too much NPR, maybe it's that his name is fun to say. Either way, with their presidential interest, I wanted to make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to introduce them to some past presidents and help them learn more about what the president actually does. Here are our top picks:


Madam President: This story focuses on the role of President by telling the story of a little girl imagining her day as future President. She issues an executive order to order her breakfast, while vetoing her school's hot lunch offerings. Throw in a few Secret Service agents and the need to handle a crisis (the state of her bedroom), and it really introduces the idea of what our President does.

Grace for President: When Grace discovers that there have been no female Presidents she instigates a school-wide election and enters herself. The book addresses some solid social issues as well as elucidating the workings of campaigns and elections. Of course, I still had to explain why there haven't been any female presidents!

If I Ran for President and If I Were President: These are most appropriate for school-aged kids. Rather than presenting the information in a story format, each provides its information in a narrative about campaigns and elections (the first), and the roles and responsibilities of the President (the latter). The information is presented very simply and was easy for my Kindergardener to understand, although some of the finer points would elicit more discussion from older school-aged kids. All in all, each was very worthwhile.

Make Your Mark, Franklin Roosevelt: I've always found FDR to be an interesting president, and we all appreciated how this book shows how he was shaped by his experiences and childhood to become the president that he was. The drawings are lovely and, although it was more appropriate for my Kindergartener, it also engaged my preschooler.

Meet George Washington: This biography traces the life of George Washington from childhood to his presidency and beyond. It is more straightforward than the Roosevelt book, but feels very appropriate for my preschooler and Kindergartener. They both came away with a number of interesting facts and a sense of who Washington really was (besides being the dude on the dollar bill :)

Abigail Adams: I picked this book up on a whim, not realizing what a fascinating person Abigail Adams was. The wife of one president and the mother of another, this book really illustrates the roles that women and first ladies played in bringing women to the point of equality that we enjoy today. It was a great opportunity to discuss why women haven't had the opportunity to be president (yet) while highlighting the roles that women have played in bringing the country to where it is today. A little stiff, but all in all, very worthwhile.

Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books: This is exactly what I was looking for. The illustrations are beautiful, the story is simple and uncluttered with just the right amount of detail and facts. The story follows Lincoln from his childhood in a log cabin to his life as president and illustrates well how he was able to advance in life through his own efforts, propelled by education. I particularly appreciated that the author illustrated Abe's efforts to follow his beliefs and do what he thought was right.

What are you doing to celebrate President's Day (we're planning some pretzel log cabins!)

Creative Discipline 101: Booklist

As a Developmental Psychologist I felt like discipline should come very easily to me (even if I'm not especially disciplined myself), but the reality of motherhood was actually very different. Even after I felt like I had really honed my skills on the first child, it turned out that she was a cupcake compared to her brother, who is happy to openly defy every rule and throw it in your face the minute he gets an opportunity (and relying on his impish, dimpled smile to get him out of trouble). Over time, though, I've figured a few things out--owing more to my creativity than any skill as a Developmental Psychologist--and I'll be sharing these ideas over the next few weeks.


First, the books. I'm a big reader and researcher. When I have a question I order a pile of books, skim through them, take notes, and really dig into the good ones. I had some ideas going into parenthood that I really didn't want to sacrifice. Namely, I did not want to discipline my children physically (e.g. spanking or slapping), I felt that it was important that they understand the 'why' behind rules, and I wanted to think of discipline less as a punishment-based strategy where I bossed the kids around and more as teaching the children to be disciplined in their actions. Lofty ideals, I know, and I've lost sight of them a few times, but all-told, I think I've found a good equilibrium, and these books really helped me get on track.

Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years: Admittedly, this is not a very pretty book, but it's an absolute goldmine of good parenting ideas. The basic concept of Love and Logic is to give children a good deal of control by giving them reasonable choices, and letting them fail sometimes (and accept the natural consequences). For example: cold weather strikes, child won't wear a jacket. That's their choice (jacket or no jacket. you decide.), and it won't hurt them to get a bit chilly. Take the coat along, they'll come to understand that they're cold and put the jacket on (or not, and they'll still be cold, but it's their choice, and will likely put the jacket on next time). If I could only have one book in my personal library this would be it.

New First Three Years of Life: Completely Revised and Updated: This would be the second book in my library and is full of utterly practical, realistic advice on raising children. His other book, Raising a Happy, Unspoiled Child, is also excellent and perhaps more straightforward. It goes age by age to get you started on the right foot and to help you teach your child to be happy and self-entertained rather than constantly demanding your attentions. Although it doesn't offer a whole lot in the way of disciplinary tactics from a remedial standpoint, it really falls under the category of teaching children to be disciplined.

Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too: I got this book and read it cover to cover before our second was born. I patted myself on the back thinking that I would never have these sorts of troubles, and that I'd just keep the book on the shelf. Wrong, obviously. It's easy to read with lots of helpful anecdotes and cute little comic strips, and provides incredibly practical, effective advice to apply right away. Basic things that you'll feel like you should've been able to figure out like not breaking up your kids' arguments for them and not comparing them.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child: While this isn't a discipline book per se, it's become very clear to me that a grouchy, overtired kid is bound to be the wild terror in the family (speaking from experience). This book provides clear advice from birth on up to help your child get an adequate amount of sleep, including dealing with night terrors and scary dreams, special needs, and new siblings.

Other great choices:

Screamfree Parenting: The Revolutionary Approach to Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool

Positive Discipline

1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12 (123 Magic)

Parenting With Love And Logic (Updated and Expanded Edition)


Next up: 102: Rules @ the Kiddio House

What parenting books/ideas do you love? I'd love to hear your tips!

Booklist: Electoral Process for the Little Ones in Your Life

Suffice it to say, I'm thrilled that Election Day is finally upon us. For months I've been listening to our children debate about who they would vote for with little actual understanding of what the heck they were talking about...let alone what's actually going on in the electoral process and presidential politics. Somehow I expect that the next few months will bring more questions about what the President actually does and lots more pretend government. To try and educate them a bit we checked out a few books to share and here are the five that we liked the best, ordered by age-appropriateness.


Duck for President: We all enjoyed the tale of Duck; it was engaging for my three year old while still making some good points to my Kindergardener. It frames election information in the story of duck who somehow manages to run for Mayor, Governor, and finally President. He decides that each job is just too much work, but the course of the story conveys a good deal of information about what elections are at various levels of government. Super cute, too!


Madam President: Rather than focusing on the electoral side, this story focuses on the role of President by telling the story of a little girl imagining her day as future President. She issues an executive order to order her breakfast, while vetoing her school's hot lunch offerings. Throw in a few Secret Service agents and the need to handle a crisis (her bedroom), and it really introduces the idea of what our President does.

Grace for President: While Duck and Madam President were suitable for the preschool set, Grace addresses the idea of elections more directly and is better for school-aged kids. When Grace discovers that there have been no female Presidents she instigates a school-wide election and enters herself. The book addresses some solid social issues as well as elucidating the workings of campaigns and elections. Of course, I still had to explain why there haven't been any female presidents!

If I Ran for President and If I Were President: These are also most appropriate for school-aged kids. Rather than presenting the information in a story format, each provides its information in a narrative about campaigns and elections (the first), and the roles and responsibilities of the President (the latter). The information is presented very simply and was easy for my Kindergardener to understand, although some of the finer points would elicit more discussion from older school-aged kids. All in all, each was very worthwhile.

Booklist: Reading Up on the Secret Lives of Boys

As a female Developmental Psychologist, I heard and read a lot about the specific socio-emotional and academic needs of girls, how we were being marginalized out of math and the hard sciences, and how our self-esteem was being diminished by a global patriarchy.  Only in the past seven or eight years does it feel like the needs of boys are being addressed significantly, and only more recently than that does it feel like the discussion is acknowledging that boys and girls are different but equally in need of accommodation.  It's not as though one gender is dysfunctional in relation to the other (some boys may be energetic, but does that make them troublemakers?  some girls may naturally be more interested in language, but does this make them bad at math?  and does this have to apply to all boys?), it's just that we must understand them for what they are and appreciate each child's individuality.

In any event, I feel like I have much better insight into where my daughters are coming from than my son after reading these books.  A little chat with my husband (sorry Dad, I haven't gotten to talk to you yet!) revealed that I truly don't get it, but I feel like if I want to be the conscoius parent that I regard myself as I really need to get a better idea of what's going on behind my son's alternately charming smile and grouchy scowl.  I'll get to girls soon, but here's a list of books that I've really found to be worthwhile.  Each of these books is provides a unique perspective on learning and socio-emotional development, and what we as parents can do to raise our boys to be happy, successful men.

Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Lives of Boys:  This book is a great place to start. The authors really illuminate what life as a boy is truly like with plenty of anecdotes about how boys are indoctrinated into male culture, what role the educational system and its methods play in shaping a boy, a great discussion of relationships between boys and their parents, and lots of concrete ideas about how to raise an emotionally whole boy from birth to early adulthood.  Absolutely eye-opening.

Real Boys' Voices: A stunning companion to Raising Cain, this book is a window into the minds of boys and young men.  In their own words they share intimate stories of how societal pressures lead boys into drug use, early sexual behavior, sublimating their emotions, and putting on a mask of toughness.  At times so raw it's tough to read, it gives tremendous insight into what's going on in their heads and how our reactions and opinions fuel this behaviors.  Also provides lots of suggestions to help parents become accessible, trusted allies to their adolescent boys.

Raising Boys: Why Boys Are Different - And How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men:  Raising Boys is less about anecdotes and stories than providing approaches to help you raise your boy to be the best he can be.  The author maps out parenting strategies by age, starting at birth and extending through early adulthood, and discusses the role that testosterone and brain development play in boys' behavior and in shaping their needs.  It's a relatively fun, easy read and provides great ideas that you can apply immediately.

The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life:  While the earlier books focus mainly on emotional development, The Minds of Boys is an awesome peek inside how our educational system is at odds with the personalities and needs of many boys leading to low performance and disciplinary issues.  Starting with infancy, the author offers great advice on how parents and teachers can play to boys' unique strengths through play and setting up activities in boy-friendly ways--without putting girls at a disadvantage.  This book significantly influenced the educational choices we've made, and if you have or will be sending a boy to school I highly recommend it!

It's a Boy: Women Writers on Raising Sons: I so enjoyed the essays in this book.  They're short (since my time always seems to be in demand!) and insightful, leaving me with something to think about and mull over for the rest of the day.  The stories touch on a range of ages, leaving you reminiscing about when your kids where younger, relating to moms who are sharing your experience, and thinking about what's down the road.

What have you found works for your boys?  Do you find that they're different from the girls in your life and need special accommodation or is this 'boy crisis' just an idea pushed by the media?  Are there other books, articles, or resources that you love?