All the Other Eric Carle Books

I know that I already touched upon Eric Carle on Day 3 with The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and I know that many {MANY!} of the children's authors we've discussed in this series are very wonderful and worthy, but somehow Eric Carle stands out in my mind as the quintessential author and illustrator of kid lit.

Maybe it is the gorgeous bright colors he uses, or his extremely distinct style. Every time you see his work, you know who did it. Maybe its the clever way he takes information from nature {could be blah subject material in the wrong hands} and manages to spin a spellbinding story that educates as well as entertains little ones. For all of the above, I just had to give the man an extra day in our quick survey of quality books for preschoolers.

You've most likely heard of, if not read, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Quiet Cricket, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, but did you know that Mr. Carle has published well over 5o titles?!? And that he is still actively working? It might be a fun childhood bucket list item to try and read them all.

Here are a few of our less well-known favorites:

Pancakes, Pancakes! {1970}. A little boy asks his mom to make pancakes for breakfast, and she instructs him on how to help her. From growing, threshing, and grinding grain, to collecting an egg from the chickens, to milking the cow, kids get an in depth peek at just how complex the process of food preparation is!

The Secret Birthday Message {1972}. A little boy receives a note the morning of his birthday, with a map of instructions to follow in order to find his birthday gift. The special present ends up being every little boy's dream!

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me {1986}. A little girl wants to play with the moon and asks her Papa to get it for her. The moon, too large for Papa to carry, tells him that each day it will get a little bit smaller. Finally, Papa is able to fulfill Monica's request.

A House for Hermit Crab {1987}. Hermit Crab has outgrown his shell, and needs to find a new home. With his new shell on, he sets off to decorate it. A fun and vividly colorful introduction to a large cast of sea creatures!

Little Cloud {1996}. Little Cloud has fun forming lots of different shapes in the sky. When he meets back up with the rest of his family, its time to do what clouds are made for: rain.

Mister Seahorse {2004}. Did you know that in several underwater species, the male is responsible for hatching and caring for their young? Yeah, I didn't either until we read this book. Parents and kids alike get a nifty science lesson.

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse {2011}. I was most fascinated by extra information the author shared on the back flap of the book. Eric Carle writes a brief tale from his time as a child in Nazi Germany {who knew???} and tells about the artist he wrote this book in honor of. History and Art lesson for parents :).

Friends {2013}. Classic boy meets girl tale, this title is Eric Carle's newest. It charmed me.

What's your family's favorite Eric Carle book?

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

A Gaggle of Mother Gooses

I believe that every child ought to be exposed to Mother Goose. These poems and witty rhyming tales have been passed down for hundreds of years, and are an integral part of Western culture. Because they rhyme, they are easy pieces for young children to memorize. Preschoolers really ought to be memorizing as much as possible- their brains are so fresh and capable, and information stored permanently now will assist and benefit them for a life time. Most of the tales present a moral or important truth, excellent education for young minds.

But where to begin? There are many, many options out there. Since the rhymes are practically ancient, texts are all basically identical. Find a copy with illustrations that you and your child love.

Here are a few we like around here.

My Very First Mother Goose, edited by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells. I really like the work of Rosemary Wells {of Max and Ruby fame}, though I understand that not everyone is partial. My daughter loves the bright animal illustrations. We read this one the most frequently at our house.

The Glorious Mother Goose, selected by Cooper Edens. This 1988 edition features artwork from the 1800s and early 1900s, with several different pictures for each rhyme. I love to note the differences in depictions, and old illustrations are just my cup of tea.

The Original Mother Goose, based on the 1916 classic with pictures by Blanche Fisher Wright. I really really like the illustrations in this edition. Ladies in bonnets with quaint and delicate features, pink cheeked cherub babies, old hags with huge noses, and charming victorian printed curtains and bed skirts. My grandmother got it for S one Christmas, and it is a definite keepsake.

For younger readers with shorter attention spans, Mary Engelbreit has put out several smaller board book collections. Funny Mother Goose, Happy Mother Goose, Silly Mother Goose, etc. We've checked several of them out from the library. If you're a fan, definitely grab a copy :)!

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Mo Willems

So you know when an author just really gets kids, but also really gets parents? And while your little one is getting into a story and really enjoying it, you are actually having fun {with the story itself, and not just the act of reading together} too?

You have to read Mo Willems.

A prolific children's author, and winner of several Caldecott Honors, Mo Willems just gets it, if you know what I mean. And he's produced, and is still producing. tons of awesome titles to give you and your kiddos plenty of quality reading material.

His Elephant and Piggie books remind me of a modern day Frog and Toad. Pigeon is hee-larious, Knuffle Bunny is so relatable, Cat the Cat strikes a chord with its off-beat humor, and Amanda and Her Alligator is heartwarmingly adorable. So much good stuff.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Go check out some Mo Willems at your local library today. You can thank me later ;).

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Are You My Mother?, by P.D. Eastman {1960}

I can still remember my mother reading Are You My Mother? to me as a little girl. My own daughter loves to read it with me now, and pretty much every construction/utility vehicle we see, from crane to tow truck, is a "snort". We'll see if my son can identify these vehicles more specifically at age three... but my little girl couldn't care less. "Snort" is a technical enough name for her ;).

Plot. When her egg begins to hatch, Mama Bird decides she better quickly run off and get some food for her new baby. While she is gone, Baby Bird is born, and decides to go looking for his mom. On the hunt he meets many different animals... none of which is his mother. Finally he gets scooped up by a digger, and dropped precisely where he belongs: back in his nest. Just in time for his Mother to return!

Author. Philip Dey Eastman was a protege and colleague of Dr. Seuss himself.

Educational Opportunities. Look at pictures of moms and babies. Have your child identify which baby animal goes with a cow, a dog, a bird, etc. Talk about baby birds- how they come in eggs, hatch,  where they live, and what they eat {science}.

Activities. 

• Create your own Are You My Mother? tot bag to keep your child occupied in quiet, independent play time. 
• Print and have your child order these story sequencing cards. 
• Make a book inspired sensory tub.
• Print out this free matching game.
• Activity Mom has an awesome round-up of games/crafts/snacks, including making a nest and baby bird from paper plates, a nest counting game, and a handprint bird. 
• Serve a spaghetti nest with a meatball baby bird for dinner :)!

Other Resources. You can watch the Random House video of the book here.

Be sure to also check out... P.D. Eastman wrote and illustrated a number of books, Go Dog, Go probably being the second most popular. Look him up in your local library system!

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Corduroy, by Don Freeman {1968}

Maybe you read Corduroy as a child {it is a definite classic!}... but have you read it to your own little ones yet? The timeless tale will surely delight them :).

Plot. Corduroy is a teddy bear, just sitting on the shelves of the department store's toy section, waiting to be loved. One day Lisa walks in, and wants him for her own. Lisa's mother says, "Not today," and comments that Corduroy is missing a button. The girl sadly leaves with her mother, and after the store closes, Corduroy begins the hunt for his missing button. Will he find it? And will he ever see Lisa again?

Thematic Elements. Friendship, loneliness, and extrinsic vs. intrinsic value are all touched upon. Does a missing button make Corduroy any less of a quality companion? True friendship sees beyond the externals. Love is not superficial, but seeks to serve and care for the one loved.

Educational Opportunities. Teach your child about different fabrics- let them touch and discuss the properties of corduroy, velvet, cotton, satin, cashmere.... whatever you have lying around your home. Fine motor skills can be employed in buttoning and unbuttoning. For older children, you could give a basic sewing lesson and have them stitch a button onto fabric. Lisa pays for Corduroy with her own money from her piggy bank. Discuss basic money management with your kids, and let them get some real life practice by paying them for extra work around the house {teach spending, saving, giving, etc.}.

Activities. 

• Sort buttons by color. 
• My Joy Filled Life featured Corduroy for one of her story time posts. She has a huge round-up of crafts, snacks, activities and more!
• Print and color these free coloring pages of Lisa and Corduroy. 
• Make the letter B out of buttons. 
• Serve button sandwiches for lunch. 
• Sort and string buttons onto pipe cleaners. Great fine motor skills practice!
• Build your own Corduroy sensory bin. 
• Check out Delightful Learning's Before Five in a Row unit on Corduroy for many more great ideas!

Other Resources. This read-aloud video version is set to pleasant music.

Be sure to also check out... A Pocket for Corduroy, Norman the Doorman, and Quiet! There's a Canary in the Library.

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson {1955}

Years before having children I spotted a copy of The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon marked down to only a few dollars in the Border's {remember that place?} clearance section. Knowing it was a classic, I snatched it right up- and I am so glad I did. S loves hearing about Harold and his clever adventures, especially since the moon {one of her favorite things}is a key feature in the story.

Plot. One evening, little Harold decides to go on an adventure. With his purple crayon leading the way, he encounters an apple tree, a dragon, the ocean and a picnic of pies... and arrives home just in time to draw up the covers and drop off to sleep.

Thematic Elements. Harold is the ultimate problem solver. He draws himself into a pickle, then draws his way right back out of it.

Educational Opportunities. Older kids could learn about fractions with Harold's pies as a teaching tool. Since the moon has a prominent place in the story, you could also do a more in-depth unit study on the moon {science}.

Activities. 

• Give your child a white piece of paper and a purple crayon to doodle along as you read the book. 
• Royal Baloo has a ton of great lesson plan ideas to accompany the book- including a printable Harold puzzle, purple sensory bin, feeding pie to homemade paper bag porcupine and moose, etc. 
• Delightful Learning also has lots of awesome ideas. She hosted a Harold Picnic Party {the pictures are darling}, made purple moon sand, had her kids learn about colors by experimenting with mixing red and blue paint to make purple, and even made edible "purple crayons." 
• Practice threading with a moon cut out and purple yarn. 
• Finally, I Can Do That So Can You... shared a bunch of fun activities to accompany the book {Purple/Not Purple sorting game, make purple jello for a snack, purple moon number flash cards and crayons counting game, etc.}.

Be sure to also check out... Harold's Fairy Tale, Harold's Trip to the Sky, and Harold's Circus. Also the author/illustrator of Harold collaborated with his wife, Ruth Krauss, on The Carrot Seed, How to Make an Earthquake, Is this You?, and The Happy Egg.

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen {2012}

I picked up knitting when on bedrest with William, so naturally when I saw a children's book about a girl who knits and never runs out of yarn, I had to bring it home. Fortunately, S loved Extra Yarn as much as I did. It is a magical little gem of a book. Hope you will read and enjoy it with your babes too!

Plot. One day Annabelle finds a little box of yarn. She begins knitting, and soon her whole gray and snowy little town is starting to look more colorful as a result of Annabelle's bright and cheery sweaters. Will she ever run out of yarn? When an Archduke comes and demands the box, Annabelle's chance at future happiness seems bleak at best. But love, generosity, and simple kindness prevail in this heart-warming tale.

Thematic Elements. Annabelle is an admirable and principled young lady. She diligently knits sweaters for everyone, is a generous giver, turns haters and naysayers into friends, perseveres when people say she can't, and won't sell out. Kids can also learn about the joy and color a generous person brings to others, and how one person {no matter how small} who is committed to something can make a big difference and have great influence.

On the other hand, kids can also benefit from the Archduke's bad example. Greedy and selfish people do not prosper in this tale.

Activities.

• Make rainbow colored yarn prints with a rolling pin on paper. 
• Decorate the letter Y with yarn scraps. 
• Practice fine motor skills and make a yarn-wrapped rainbow.
• Try a simple threading exercise: cut any shape out of paper {heart, star, circle, etc.} and use a paper hole punch to make holes around the sides. Cut long pieces of yarn and let your child thread away.

Be sure to also check out... Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen also collaborated on the book Sam and Dave Dig a Hole , which I haven't yet read with S, but plan to. Jon Klassen is a fantastic illustrator who has also written I Want My Hat Back and This is not My Hat {both hee-larious!}. If you love Lemony Snickett {I just can't help myself}, Jon Klassen also illustrated his book The Dark, which S did like a lot.

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Gingerbread Baby, by Jan Brett {1999}

For some mysterious reason, my daughter S is obsessed with the classic tale of The Gingerbread Man. We've read dozens of versions, and even own a few, which have all delighted her to no end. Which is why when I saw Gingerbread Baby on the library shelf, I knew that I had to check it out for her. Thus I came to be introduced to the delightful works of Jan Brett.

Plot. Little Matti opens the oven door several minutes too early, and lo and behold, a baby gingerbread man pops out of the oven. You'll never guess at the surprise twist ending!

Author. Jan Brett is the queen of details- her gorgeous, water colored, hand-drawn illustrations are all framed by even further little drawings. The gleam of copper pans, fur of the cat, and grain of the wood floors are all captured in remarkable detail. A feast for the eyes.

Thematic Elements. As in other takes on the tale, the Gingerbread Baby is a bit too self-assured for his own good. He teases and teases the townsfolk, but it isn't so funny when they've almost caught up with him. Fortunately he doesn't end up to worse for the wear, but talk with your child about the importance of wisdom and humility {if he had just run away quickly and quietly, he wouldn't of had such a scare at the end!}.

Educational Opportunities. Perfect opportunity for a baking lesson- discuss ingredients, and the importance of following directions when it comes to amounts and baking time. Then get in a little bit of field practice and make your own gingerbread men!

Activities.

• Print and color these pictures directly from the Author's website {I love it when writers do this!}. 
• Enjoy this free Gingerbread Baby preschool printables pack. 
• Make gingerbread play dough for your kids!
• Growing Book by Book shares three fun activities inspired by Gingerbread Baby. 
• Make a house for Gingerbread Baby out of graham crackers, frosting, and candy. 

Other Resources. Enjoy this read-aloud version. I loved watching Jan Brett herself talking about the story, and showing how to draw the Gingerbread Baby. So neat!

Be sure to also check out... Just look up Jan Brett on the shelves of your library's children's section. They probably have a stack! I haven't read them all, but we have liked The Umbrella, The Mitten, Town Mouse Country Mouse, Mossy, Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella, and Comet's Nine Lives.

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Growing Vegetable Soup, by Lois Ehlert {1987}

Since we featured Chicka Chicka Boom Boom earlier this week, it only seems natural to segue right into the book's illustrator, Lois Ehlert, who has written quite a large body of work in children's literature herself. Growing Vegetable Soup is one of my favorites, since it teaches kids where food comes from, from start to finish, and shows all of the work and steps involved.

Plot. A father and child plant a vegetable garden, in order to "grow" vegetable soup. You don't see any characters, just their hands at work, as well as the tools, sprouts, full grown veggies, and the end result pot of soup. The colors are very bright and fun.

Author. Lois Ehlert is a Wisconsin native and octogenarian. Her unique medium of illustrating is collage- all of her books originally are composed of hand cut {or collected} and glued pieces.

Educational Opportunities. Read this book to your child in the spring, and plant your own garden together. Since we are apartment dwellers without a proper yard for gardening, I've dabbled in container gardening from time to time... but not since having kids. This spring I fully intend to start a big ole container garden with S and W! I know they will love it. Then periodically, as we see progress in the plants' growth, we can reread this book and talk about it.

This book also opens the door for a culinary education. Cook with your kiddos! The author shares her vegetable soup recipe on the last page of the book- make it together. Tell them the names of all the vegetables you pass by in the supermarket. Let them watch you chop veggies, and allow them to dump clean cut veggies into your cooking pot. Taste test the variety of the vegetables named in the book together.

Activities.

• Cut and paste your own {paper} dish of vegetable soup. 
• Make miniature vegetables out of play dough.
• Print, color and cut these vegetables and soup bowl, then glue them all together.

Be sure to also check out... If you'd like more material on gardening and/or vegetables, Lois Ehlert also wrote Eating the Alphabet and Planting a Rainbow. Since it's Autumn, you should get ahold of her book Leaf Man for a fun seasonal read with the babes. I also loved the book Scraps- a colorful collection of Ms. Ehlert's photographs and art supplies, with an explanation of how she does her work, and her background story. Very interesting for a mom, with colorful pictures to keep kids entertained ;).

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, by William Joyce {2012}

Another much newer book than most of the titles I'm featuring in this series, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is destined to become a classic. Exquisite artwork in rich colors combines with a sweet and sad, yet ultimately positive, story. The language matches the rich colors and textures of the illustrations. All in all, it is a masterpiece. A must-read for all writers and bibliophiles.

Plot. Morris Lessmore is very contented with his life- he loves words, writing, and books, and is happily composing his own story. Then one day a hurricane blows in, upsetting his entire life. Fortunately, he bumps into a woman who knows that all he needs is a good story. She hands him her favorite, who then leads him to the nesting place of all the books {think: library}. Morris buries himself in the joys and sorrows of the written world and continues writing his own story. He grows old, but when it's time to move on another reader comes to take his place.

Author. William Joyce wrote this in honor of a library promoting friend, the late Bill Morris. Hurricane Katrina interrupted the progress of his book, and he hints at that in the text with Mr. Morris Lessmore's own hurricane. It took him over a decade to complete this little gem, and all of the time and thought that went into it can be plainly seen. I glean a little more insight and appreciation for all of the details with every read through. Apparently, he is also the creator of Rolie Polie Olie {remember that show? book first}, and helped create conceptual characters for both Toy Story and A Bug's Life. A very interesting guy!

Thematic Elements. To quote Morris, "Everyone's story matters." Characters turn from black and white to vivid color as they open books, artfully displaying the importance of a book in changing and bringing depth to a person's life. Death is hinted at, but it will go over your children's heads. I think that I appreciated all of the themes in this book more than my daughter can {yet}, and I haven't tried to explain them to her. We just really enjoy the story, and I try not to tear up at the content.

Educational Opportunities. If you haven't already, or don't regularly, take your child to the library {have you picked up yet that I'm a fan of those?}. Show her how the books "nest" on the shelves :). Be an active reader yourself, and show him how you believe in the power of story by example.

Activities. This little, simple craft looks sweet and fun!

Other Resources. Before the book was released, William Joyce's story was an Oscar-winning short film and an app. The film is lovely, though we haven't yet tried the app. Have you? How was it? Do share in the comments.

Be sure to also check out... William Joyce is apparently a rather prolific children's author {though he claims this book as the most personal of his career}. I haven't read any of his other books yet, but definitely want to give them a try! You can read all about him and his work here.

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault {1989}

Yesterday we dealt with the depressing idea of snow, so I'm attempting to redeem myself today with a slightly warmer, tropical theme. Coconut trees anyone?

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has got to be the most fun book about letters. The rhythmic beat of the language, the colorful cut-out work by Lois Ehlert, and the letters taking a life form of their own all contribute to its brightness.

Plot. All the lower case letters of the alphabet decide to climb up a coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Toes are stubbed, eyes blackened, and knees skinned when they all come crashing down.

Educational Opportunities. This is probably pretty obvious, but I would definitely use this book to introduce your child to letters ;). If they already have a handle on their alphabet, use it for further letter recognition practice and beginning phonics skills.

Activities.

• Make a beach-themed sensory bin with sand and toy letters. 
• Making Learning Fun has a boatload of free printables- color by shape, trace and color, complete the drawing, door knob hanger, etc. 
• That's What Che Said has a full-color printable that you can laminate and attach to a cookie sheet, for letter playing fun. 
• This is a great idea for teaching your child their name, and how many letters are in it!
• Have a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom scavenger hunt.
• Let your child hunt through faux Easter grass for letters. 
• Make a super cool coconut tree snack with a stalk of celery, peanut butter, and letter cereal.
• I love Living Worlds Apart's Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tot bag to keep her toddler occupied while homeschooling her older kids. Recreate your own!

Other Resources. There are several song versions of the book which little kids will love dancing and singing along to: one and two. You can listen to a kid reading it here.

Be sure to also check out... Chicka Chicka ABC and Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 {with which you could adapt all of the activities mentioned above for numbers instead!}.

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Three Classic Picture Books About Snow

I hate to be the one to say it, but snow is coming. In Pennsylvania we get a lot of snow. I've been trying to scoot everyone out the door every warm and sunny day we've had this Autumn {thankfully, there have been a lot of them} to soak up all of the vitamin D we can before our many, long, home bound days come.

This winter when you are snowed in and wondering how on earth you can keep your preschoolers occupied for yet another long day, I've got you covered. Have a fun homeschool unit based on these three books!

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats {1962} features little Peter exploring his snow-covered environment. His classic little red snowsuit with the pointy hat is a familiar sight to many. My Pastor's wife is in her mid-fifties and remembers loving this book as a child.

White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt {1947} begins with a lovely poem, and follows a policeman, farmer, mail man, school children, and rabbits before, during, and after snow falls and then melts into spring.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton {1943} is about a tough, bull-dozing tractor named Katy, and how she rescues her town, Geopolis, when they get seriously snowed in.

Educational Opportunities. Discuss the properties of snow {science}. It would be fun to copy Peter from The Snowy Day and allow your child to make a snowball, bring it inside, and leave it in his pocket. You can hang it over something to catch the drips.

Activities.

• My Joy Filled Life featured The Snowy Day for one of her Story Time posts, collecting a huge list of snacks, crafts, and activities to accompany the book. Lots of great ideas here!
• Creekside Learning shares her week of F.I.A.R lesson plans for Katy and the Big Snow. Printing and learning about street signs from the DMV, making a map of Geopolis, etc.
• Make a snow sensory bin. Fill a plastic tub {I just use our baby bath tub} with sugar, flour, or salt and add toy people and cars, or sticks and pinecones, or whatever, and allow your child to free play. I've even done this with real snow, giving my daughter shovels and other water proof toys and letting her go to town. It is super fun, and the possibilities of textures and toys to put in your sensory bin are endless!
• Make the town of Geopolis out of painter's tape on your carpet. 
• Wildflower Ramblings also has a number of great activities and crafts to accompany The Snowy Day, suited for a toddler.
• Delightful Learning shares her week of lesson plans that she did with her young elementary age kids for White Snow, Bright Snow. So many great ideas, like an indoor "snowball" fight with rolled white socks {using laundry baskets for forts}, serving a snowman pizza for dinner, and making frost paint.

Other Resources. You can watch a plain read-along of The Snowy Day here, but there is also a mixed media one (claymation, paper cut outs, photographs) that is a little off-the-wall in a good way, which I and my kids enjoyed.

Be sure to also check out... Other great books to read when it is snowing include Sugar Snow {from the aforementioned My First Little House series}, Snowflake Bentley, The Snowman, The Mitten, and When Winter Comes. I'm sure there are many more, but these are all good ones I've read and can vouch for!

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

Frog and Toad are Friends, by Arnold Lobel {1970}

Frog and Toad are Friends, as well as the rest of the Frog and Toad books, are a true favorite around here. My husband loves them, and personally identifies with Toad. I laughed aloud the first time I read this book to S, it is just so humorous in a true to life sort of way. S is currently on a major kick- she's declared herself to be Frog, and W is Toad. Since Frog and Toad are best friends, it is very nice to see her playing so sweetly with her little brother.

Plot. This is a collection of several short stories featuring the daily lives of Frog {an optimistic, happy-go-lucky sort of guy}, and Toad {the serious and melancholy one}. Frog and Toad welcome spring, send each other mail, make up stories, search for a lost button, and go swimming.

Thematic Elements. Friendship is huge in these books- the importance of sticking with your friends, supporting and encouraging them. Sometimes Frog has to give Toad an extra motivational push, and while Toad may not like it, it is usually good for him in the end.

Educational Opportunities. For "Spring," talk about the months of the year. Show your child a calendar and memorize the names of each month.

Several of the stories showcase emotions- happiness, sadness, embarrassment, frustration. Give your child definitions of these emotions, and ask them what makes them feel happy, sad, lonely, etc. Talk about how they can work through these emotions in a God-honoring way.

S loving this book. Note the new glasses!

Activities.

• After reading "The Story," encourage your child to make up and tell their own story, offering an example or two of your own. 
• Collect multiple buttons. of varying size, shapes, and colors. Compare the buttons, and ask your child to describe them and point out differences {to accompany "A Lost Button"}.
• Print and color pictures of Frog and Toad. 
• First Grade a la Carte has generously shared her Frog and Toad lesson plans on her blog. While most of the activities are for older children, the printable game boards she has look like something my three year old might enjoy. 
• I love this cute brown paper bag Toad puppet that First Grade and Fabulous posted. It looks like a simple and fun craft to make and play with! You could even reenact the stories with it.

Other Resources. If you do nothing else, please at least watch the claymation series {made in the 1980's} on YouTube. This one is my favorite, but they are all really fun :).

Be sure to also check out... Days with Frog and Toad, Frog and Toad All Year, and Frog and Toad Together. Also, Giant John by the same author, and Odd Owls and Stout Pigs: A Book of Nonsense, which is a collection published posthumously from his archives, illustrated by his daughter.

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper {1930}

The Little Engine that Could can be such an enjoyable family reading experience- the various trains just beg for funny voices to fit their characters, and the colorful pictures are total eye candy.

I grew up with the version illustrated by George and Doris Hauman, so I tend to prefer that edition for nostalgia's sake. However we've checked out the newer edition illustrated by Loren Long from the library, and my three year old likes it very much. Either way, you can't go wrong with this classic tale.

The two of us with our respective editions :)

Plot. A train carrying toys and food for the little boys and girls on the other side of the mountain breaks down. Who will bring these goodies to all the children? When all hope is lost, rescue comes from an unexpected {and unlikely} source.

Author. The saga of The Little Engine that Could is extensive- early versions of the story appeared in print as early as 1906, and key phrases of the story {"I think I can"} came in a 1902 article of a Swedish journal (source). Watty Piper is a pen name of Arnold Munk, owner of the publishing firm Platt and Munk, who published the famed version we are all familiar with, in 1930.

Thematic Elements. It doesn't take the biggest, strongest or best to accomplish a difficult task. Rather, one simply needs a willing and helpful heart, with a can-do-it attitude. The text also highlights the ugliness of self-importance, conceit, and selfishness. A Biblical parallel that comes to mind is the parable of the Good Samaritan. Reading this book, then the parable from your Bible, can be the springboard for great discussions with your child about loving and serving others with humility.

Educational Opportunities. While there aren't many mathematical, scientific, or English lessons to be had in this story, it conveys much education in laws of kindness and hard work- life skills we all need to develop. You could also use it as a starting point for learning more about trains {if your children show extra interest}.

Activities. 

• Make a train sandwich for lunch. 
• Build your own train out of boxes. This looks like so much fun! 
• Print, color, cut and put together this jigsaw puzzle from Teacher Vision. 

Other Resources. There is a fun read-aloud version on YouTube. 

Be sure to also check out... For all of your little train lovers, Thomas the Train is a classic series to dig into!

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!

My First Little House Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder {1995-2000}

I haven't met many American girls who didn't grow up loving Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie books. Reading about Laura's adventures growing up during the early pioneering days of our country captures the heart and imagination. They are wholesome and inspiring, certified classics.

Imagine my delight when I heard they had made a series aimed at younger readers! Daniele shared about Sugar Snow in this post, and we checked it out {as well as a stack of other My First Little House books} that very week. No more waiting to share these beloved stories with S, I could introduce her to all of the characters and get her feet wet immediately! She took like wildfire to them at two years old, and we still check them out from the library frequently.

Basically, simple portions have been taken from Laura's original books, and artists Renee Graef, Jody Wheeler,  and Doris Ettinger (depending on which book you pick up) have drawn up gorgeous accompanying illustrations, modeled upon the original artwork by Garth Williams. You get a cohesive story about simple life on the prairie (or farm, or house in the big woods) that will captivate your child and fill you with nostalgia ;).

We've personally read Summertime in the Big Woods, A Little House Birthday, Sugar Snow, Winter on the Farm, A Little Prairie House, Prairie Day, County Fair, Going to Town, and The Deer in the Woods, and they have all been a joy to read together.  Any of the titles in the series would be worth checking out! I hope to own them all eventually, and was thrilled when my sister sent S three of the books for her birthday.

Activities. 

• Print and color this Little House on the Prairie postage stamp. 
• Enjoy these free printable coloring pages from Cheryl Harness.
• Make snow candy this winter with maple syrup or molasses. 

Looking for more great books to read with your preschooler? Check out the rest of this 31 Days series here!

Some of the links above are affiliate links- which means that if you make a purchase through them, I receive a small profit at no extra charge to you. But you should know that I am an avid believer in reading for free through both local and church libraries ;). Thanks for supporting The Purposeful Wife!