Every month I share some of our current favorite books with you. Here's what we've been reading in August!
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"Misty Inn" Collection by Kristin Earhart
Lena loves horses, so she was thrilled to receive this box-set of early chapter books for her birthday this summer. She tore through them immediately! They're a nice choice for girls who are into ponies. A brother and sister have just moved to the island of Chincoteague where their parents are opening a bed and breakfast. The kids have lots of horse related adventures, while dealing while growing up and dealing with new friends. Apparently they're related to Misty of Chincoteague, but I'm not familiar with that story!
Uni The Unicorn by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Not only do we love ponies around here, but the girls love unicorns as well! When I saw this book at a deep discount, I knew I had to grab it. Uni is a unicorn who believes that little girls are real despite all his other unicorn friends known better. And, of course, there is a little girls who believes that unicorns are real despite everyone telling her otherwise. The two dream of meeting one day!
What I love most about this book is the illustrations. They're bright, whimsical, and perfect for this fantasy story. We've read Uni about a thousand times this month, often with little unicorn figurines and toys listening in.
Mystery Ranch (Boxcar Children Mysteries) by Gertrude Chandler Warner
This "Boxcar Children" story is our latest morning read aloud. I get why they're popular. They're quick, engaging, have nice mysteries that kids can pick up clues about, and the characters are wholesome and family oriented. I find them difficult to read aloud, though, because there is a lot of short dialogue with a very simplistic sentence structure. But my girls love them, so Mystery Ranch made the list. Secretly, I'll be glad when it's over and we move on to our next read loud!
The Scrambled States Of America by Laurie Keller
This little book has done more to help my girls learn some basic U.S. geography than anything else I've tried! There's a reason why it's so popular! In The Scrambled States Of America, the states get tired of being in their locations, so they agree to scramble themselves. Everyone quickly realizes that they'd like to return to where they belong! By giving the states personalities, it becomes easier for kids to recognize their shapes and locations. This book is genius!
Star Wars: A New Hope by Geof Smith
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by Geof Smith
Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi by Geof Smith
My husband and I are doing our part to raise the next generation of nerd children. The girls love these Little Golden Books that tell the Star Wars story. The illustrations are nice and quirky, and close enough to the movies that your kids will recognize favorite characters when they see them on screen. They're a little bit long, so we usually only read one at a time. I think they're a nice way to introduce kids to some popular culture without too much screen time.
As An Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas
I wonder what it says about me that I cry every time I read this book! The book covers the growth of an oak tree over 250 years. It shows small house being built near the tree, then a small village growing up around, and finally a bustling city. Eventually, the tree is destroyed in a storm, allowing the reader to see more of the town and a new, tiny tree about to grow in its place. We all love looking at the beautiful details of this book, seeing the town grow, and talking at the end about how the closing of one door often means the opening of another.
Pouch! By David Ezra Stein
Pouch! is an oldie but a goodie for us. The girls both love this simple story of a baby kangaroo who slowly creeps out into the world, but returns to the security of his mother's pouch each time. He eventually meets another baby kangaroo, the two become friends, and they both feel more comfortable being away from their mamas. My girls love shouting, "POUCH!" as we read, just like Joey does each time he encounters something unfamiliar.
We also love the illustrations. They're sort of impressionistic, with warm colors. You may recognize the style of David Ezra Stein who also illustrated Leaves, along with many other books.
The Secret Life Of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Time for some grown up reading! After spending most of the summer reading Centennial by James Michener, I was ready for something shorter! I'm enjoying The Secret Life Of Bees as a quick and easy bedtime read. I may even try to watch the movie when I'm finished.