As of March 20, it is officially spring! There are many ways to mark this transition, including going on a walk in the woods, sketching a new-to-you plant or maybe even working with clay to form these adorable, slightly fantastical (because: colors) mushrooms.
Morel mushrooms begin to pop up from their underground network around this time of year when the soil warms and there is more moisture. And while morels are many foragers’ favorite fungus, mushroom hunting is not for amateurs. ⚠️There are morel “look-a-likes” that can be poisonous and even deadly.⚠️For some at-home learning, check out this fantastic blog and book list, “Meet the Mushrooms . . . and other fun-guys!”). And for hands-on fun for all ages (yes, grown-ups, too), create clay mushroom masterpieces with the steps below!
April Fools’ Day is still a few weeks away, but you can still get your sillies out by celebrating National Goof Off Day on Saturday, March 22. Kids are naturally and amazingly goofy so this holiday will be a cinch to celebrate!
What does being silly mean to you? I think of vibrant colors🌈, wild food combos and silly freeze dances. Kids will enjoy celebrating with you, however you decide to celebrate the day. Let out your inner child and be goofy!
Early every year, the American Library Association (ALA) hosts its annual Youth Media Awards Press Conference. At this time, authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult literature are honored for the outstanding works they have published over the last year.
These books are selected by judging committees of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. Below are the awards honoring distinguished books for young readers. Be sure to check out the book lists for the complete list of winners and honorees! You can find the Youth Media Award Winners for Teens here. Continue reading “Award Season for Children’s Books”
Does it feel like spring yet? My books for you this month don’t really have too much to do with spring, but I’m excited to read these great new titles outside! ☀️
This book will be all too relatable, for those who’ve been there and those still going through it. A baby is determined to stay awake all night, and employs a variety of strategies to accomplish her goal. Jumping, yelling, climbing, crying, the possibilities are endless! Mama, Papa and Sister do what they can to help, though their increasingly desperate attempts have little effect. Seventeen binkies are tossed in quick succession. Papa’s cuddles are just an opportunity for Baby to explore the inside of his nose and mouth. Will Baby truly stay awake forever? Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: March Favorites 2025”
“On the Day the Horse Got Out” page detail courtesy www.audreyhelenweber.com.
One of my favorite aspects of picture books as a subset of children’s literature is their attention to the wonder that shimmers on top of or just beneath or within the serious business and repetitive routines of everyday life. What is “known” or “understandable” to us grown-ups becomes new, strange and/or changed by a special magic, a shift in perspective that is more open to possibility and its expansive processes — the whimsy, delight and awe that the kiddos in our lives are already often fully immersed in. Audrey Helen Weber’s work is a magnificent example of and call toward this shift in perspective, and their books are filled to the brim with equal parts nonsense, astonishment, dreamy logic and playful honesty.
So…you’ve got a curious, intelligent, creative, wonderful kiddo who doesn’t seem particularly interested in reading. It can be frustrating to handle this as a caregiver, especially when you yourself are a literature lover. While we can recognize that many people, including children, genuinely aren’t interested in reading, we can also understand that it’s still a crucial skill that needs to be practiced. It helps us build our language skills and explore worlds and circumstances we never would otherwise. I am of the opinion that there’s a book out there for everyone and that once it’s found, the floodgates open. But how on earth can we encourage literary exploration with kiddos who simply aren’t interested?
It’s a lot more fun than it might seem — we encourage their language development, we set a good example, and we have fun with it. Like anything else in caregiving, we find out where their needs are so that we can meet them where they’re at. In this blog, I’d like to focus on small-action, big-impact choices we can make to better our children’s and students’ relationship with reading.
We’re off to a great start of new books this year! If you haven’t signed up for Winter Reading yet and you need some inspiration, I’ve got some wonderful options for you. We’ve got characters who learn about community and connection, as well as detectives who solve cases both high profile and low. Enjoy!
Hare loves his turnips and has no intention of sharing them with anyone. When rabbits move in next door, the other animals are eager to help them get settled in and bring food to share. The rabbits generously cook a big stew for everyone, which baffles Hare. Why would they share when they have so little? Later, when he’s tending his garden, Hare has a run in with a fierce boar who steals his turnips and is heading for the rabbits’ carrots next. Hare turns his selfishness into selflessness, and realizes the joy that can be found in community. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: February Favorites 2025”
❤️ “All you need is love. But a little chocolate cake now and then doesn’t hurt.” ❤️ – Charles M. Schulz
Folks worldwide enjoy chocolate (and chocolate cake!) thanks to beans inside the fruit of cacao trees that grow in tropical climates of places like the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico and Hawai’i. Sacred to many cultures, cacao was first consumed widely by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs (in modern-day Central America and Mexico) as a spiced, often bitter beverage. According to Aztec myth, the god Quetzalcoatl planted cacao seeds he took from the Garden of Life as a gift to humans. The scientific name for chocolate, Theobroma, translates to “food of the gods.”If you’re chocolate-obsessed like me, that seems entirely appropriate.
My favorite spot in my home is located right in my living room. I love having my blanket and cuddling up on the couch. My youngest and I ‘cheer’ (me with my coffee cup, his with his sippy) and we will dive in with our cozy reads.
As brutal as winter can be, it reminds us it’s a good time to rest. Between being newly back to school and then in the thick of the fall season, we have collectively had to be somewhere in the last few months. Now is a great time to just be still. At least as still as we can with little ones, right?
Here are a few recommendations for some cozy reads to share with your family. My hope for your family is to enjoy some much-needed cozy time in this winter season.
For the family who likes to browse the library on a wintery Saturday: This bookshop is drawing to a close one evening and the owner is wishing her shop goodnight. There are plenty of hidden details throughout the pages — see if you can spot the hidden glasses and the forgotten hat. With such rich detail, it is fun to look over the pages to see what you can find. Continue reading “Cozy Reading”
So…you’ve got a curious, intelligent, creative, wonderful kiddo who doesn’t seem particularly interested in reading. It can be frustrating to handle this as a caregiver, especially when you yourself are a literature lover. While we can recognize that many people, including children, genuinely aren’t interested in reading, we can also understand that it’s still a crucial skill that needs to be practiced. It helps us build our language skills and explore worlds and circumstances we never would otherwise. I am of the opinion that there’s a book out there for everyone and that once it’s found, the floodgates open. But how on earth can we encourage literary exploration with kiddos who simply aren’t interested?
