I briefly explored where I’ve been emotionally in my previous post, so in this one I’m just going to jump into the books, movies and more that we’ve been enjoying.
(But can I just say this real quick? YOU GUYS. I am just so unbelievably blessed. I have read all your comments and messages and though I can’t respond to them all, know that I have wept tears of joy over your kindness and generosity. I can’t believe what a wonderful community has gathered around my little family. Thank you, thank you, thank you.)
Books
I need to stop requesting books from the library that have a waiting list, because I can’t possibly read a whole book before it has to be returned when I’m only reading in five-minute snatches on the toilet. And that is just my life right now.
I read half of Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits–to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life (Gretchen Rubin) before having to bring it back to the library. I think I liked it. I may never know.
Kids’ Picture Books
Fancy Nancy (Jane O’Connor) — this monumental series is perfect for little girls (ages 4+) who love all things fancy: glitter, ballgowns, and accessories. I’m surprised how much I like Fancy Nancy — she’s a funny, smart, imaginative, and relatable character with an impressive vocabulary who happens to also love glitz and glamour. Lydia is already using words like “indelible” and “furious” in her everyday language, thanks to Miss Nancy. The illustrations are great, too — they’re detailed, clever, and often very funny. We keep going back to the library for more of these books. (Fortunately, there are tons of them. We haven’t come across a bad one yet.)
Actual Size (Steve Jenkins) – I love Steve Jenkins’ beautiful artwork. His collage style produces unique and interesting texture. This particular book was so intriguing as it gives you a glimpse of the actual sizes of things — from the enormous atlas moth (“often mistaken for a bird”) to the tiny dwarf goby. Lydia ate up the animals facts, and we enjoyed comparing the size of the ostrich egg to the familiar chicken’s egg.
Read-Aloud Chapter Books
Toys Come Home: Being the Early Experiences of an Intelligent Stingray, a Brave Buffalo, and a Brand-New Someone Called Plastic (Emily Jenkins) — this is the delightful prequel to the fabulous Toys Go Out Trilogy. It was fun to get the story of how all the lovable toys came to live with the Little Girl, and to get a better understanding of what makes them come to life. Heartwarming, smart, and a page-turner. 5/5 stars for the whole series. (P.S. the author and illustrator put together a picture book, too. It’s good as a standalone book, but a delightful experience for those already familiar with the characters.)
Because of Winn-Dixie (Kate DiCamillo) — this lovely book was a little mature for my four-year-old, but she could totally understand the whole story. (There are just some darker themes in it — I had to skip the chapter wherein Miss Franny Block describes her great-grandfather’s war experience. You also hear of a child’s death and a woman’s past with alcoholism.) It’s a beautiful, sad story with an admirable young female protagonist, and it tenderly explores love, family and friendship. I would recommend it for older children, maybe 7+.
Movies
I took Lydia to see her first movie in the theatre — Zootopia. It is absolutely stunning in every way. WATCH IT WATCH IT WATCH IT. Very funny, very smart, visually delightful, and with an incredible message of inclusivity. Lydia (4) was a little (a lot) scared during a scene near the end (when a beloved character appears to be “going savage”), but otherwise, it was a great experience for both of us. (Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 99% rating!)
That’s it for now!
Linking up with Leigh Kramer.
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I read Better Than Before and thought it was interesting. Rubin’s first two books are WAY better.