I felt like I just did one of these posts last month but “last month” seems to be May (for what we read in March and April). I feel like life has been lightening fast since May for some reason so now I’m playing catch-up.
I feel like as the weather has gotten nicer we’ve been reading a bit less except for our nightly bedtime reading. Sometimes we end up reading outside but I definitely find that, besides bedtime, our reading slows down when the weather gets nicer.
Sometimes I feel bad about that but I feel like I’ve just come to realize our reading ebbs and flows — and that’s okay. We tend to read A TON all day long when it is cold out so it evens out. Plus really my goal is to make sure we read at least every night and that happens literally every night.
So anyways — here are the standouts of what new-to-us books we’ve been reading in addition to our old favorites!
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What We’ve Been Reading – May 2021
Don’t Wake Up The Tiger by Britta Teckentrup
This was one Riley pulled off the shelf and it was a great little gem of a pick. We both really enjoyed this interactive book that pulled off a nice surprise. I think she may have even liked it more last year if we had read it then but even at 3 (almost 4) she really enjoyed this one. Some interactive books are hit or miss for me personally but this one pulled it off well and we had fun helping the animals get past a sleeping tiger. I should have seen the little twist of an ending (but somehow I didn’t) so it was a delight of an ending for both of us.
Off To See The Sea by Nikki Grimes
This is such a nice bedtime book for toddlers and preschoolers! It’s about a little girl who doesn’t really love bath time until her mama makes bath time an imaginative adventure. The illustrations were vibrant and wonderful and I loved how it showed the magic of our imaginations! Riley thought it was pretty fun too though it wasn’t one that she wanted over and over again.
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Hello Baby! by Mem Fox
This one baffles me at why Riley loves this one so much — not because it’s not a good book but because I would have expected her, at this age, to be bored by it. But I’m telling you — we have read it basically every night we had it since we first checked it out (and renewed several times). She loves it and now it’s to the point where she “reads” (ie recites) it instead of me doing it. It’s a cute little book full of baby animals — perfect for younger toddlers and older toddlers alike apparently.
Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal
Set in the Peruvian Amazon, it follows a little girl named Zonia as she goes around to visit all the animals of the rain forest but on this particularly visit she discovers something terrible is happening to her rain forest. This book is GORGEOUS with an important message about taking care of the rain forest and the earth in general and would be a great conversation starter though I was taken back a little bit by (what I thought) was an abrupt ending. I think Riley was a little too young to QUITE understand the implications of what Zonia found but this will be a book that will grow with her and I’m glad I randomly purchased it at my local indie.
A Little Tip….
Queenie Quail Can’t Keep Up by Jane Whittingham
This author wrote one of our very favorite rainy day books (A Good Day For Ducks) so we checked this one out and it was a little delight! It’s about the cutest quail family but particularly Queenie who is always struggling to keep up with the rest of her family because there is just so much to look at and take in along the way. Queenie’s penchant for wandering/being distracted pays off in a big way and is a sweet and gentle way to show how the things that make us different are really a gift to the world. Plus, I love that this book appreciates that curious, distractable nature of kids because parents are always rushing kids along and not letting them stop and wander a bit.
The Bruce Swap by Ryan T. Higgins
We love the Bruce series of books and were so happy when the publisher sent us this! Another fantastic addition to the series. The animals around Bruce wish that he would be a smidge more fun and, unbeknownst to them, Bruce’s cousin comes into town while Bruce was out of town and they get a taste into what life would be like with a fun Bruce. They learn to be careful what you wish for! Love the sweet lesson of appreciating people for how they are. If you haven’t read this series yet — I HIGHLY recommend these books.
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Platypus and the Lucky Day by Chris Riddell
Another library wandering win! Riley picked this adorable book out and we both really enjoyed this story about Platypus. He starts out thinking the day is going to be super special and then EVERYTHING GOES WRONG. But eventually he finds a way to look on the bright side. Not so much toxic positivity but optimism and making the best out of things when you can! I’m excited that there are 2 more Platypus books to check out!
Hungry Bunny by Claudia Rueda
What a clever and cute interactive book about a bunny who is trying to reach the apples for mama’s pie and is trying out all sorts of ways to get them down. We had SO much fun reading this one. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers and truly one of the best interactive books I’ve seen!
What picture books have you been reading lately? Have you read any of these? Think your little one would enjoy any of these?
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