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”
It is almost time to wish 2024 goodbye and welcome in 2025. Which can only mean —
It’s handprint calendar time again! Download your own handprint calendar that you can enjoy all year! It’s recommended to print your calendar on cardstock for the best results. You will want something sturdy to support all of your amazing creations. Having your kiddo dress in clothes that you don’t mind getting messy or stained is also a good idea.
What you’ll need:
- Paint or a non-toxic stamp pad
- Crayons or markers
- Wet wipes or towels to help with cleaning up
Not only does the paint have to dry, but sometimes the kiddos (and us adults, let’s be honest here😅) run out of steam as well. This project may take multiple sessions, and that is alright! When the paint does dry and it’s time for a second round, you can take markers or crayons to add flair to your calendar. You can use buttons or googly 👀 to make faces on your handprints. The ideas are endless. Be as creative as you’d like!
Here are some guidelines if you would like ideas to get started. How you would like your 2025 handprint calendar to look is completely up to you!
For more ideas check out these book recommendations:
“Fingerprint Bugs” by Bobbie Nuytten
“Drawing With Your Fingerprints” by Godeleine de Rosamel
No matter how you create your calendar, you will have memories to reflect on year after year. Happy 2025! ✨🎉
I thought that this month I’d focus on picture books! While publishing usually slows down for the winter, there’s some really great books coming out. So even if you feel too busy with the holiday season approaching, I’m hoping you’ll still be able to make time to sit and enjoy one of these picture books.
“Grown with Love” by Valeria Wicker
Oliver loves plants, and he especially loves finding the perfect plant for each person. Since Oliver is also a scientist, he’s able to graft plants to make beautiful and useful gifts for his neighbors. For the mail carrier, Oliver develops the “Climatus Enduris” that protects him like an umbrella, and for Ms. Lloyd and her prone-to-wander puppy, he makes the “Shrub Architectis” that surrounds her yard like a fence. But elderly Mrs. Kroftombottom poses a significant problem. She has “black thumbitis” and nothing grows in her garden. Will Oliver be able to develop exactly what she needs? With beautifully detailed illustrations and fantastical plants, this sweet book also highlights kindness and community. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: Picture Book Favorites December 2024”
Every August since 2017, poets and poetry lovers have undertaken The Sealey Challenge, which encourages readers and listeners to spend time with one poetry collection per day for the entire month of August. Contemporary poet Nicole Sealey originally founded the challenge for herself, wanting to make time for pleasure reading amidst the busyness of the grind. While DBRL has many, many collections of poetry for adults, teens and children housed in the nonfiction shelves at call numbers (E/J/YA/Adult) 811.54 and (E/J/YA/Adult) 811.6 — which are the Dewey Decimal numbers for American poetry — there’s still more poetry to be found nestled secretly and sweetly in our fiction picture book shelves. These books — which I’ve come to lovingly call 💌 picture book poems 💌 — are contemplative, gorgeous, glimmering interdisciplinary art-objects that combine lyrical language, evocative illustration and sometimes chiming rhymes to share their stories and ideas. Continue reading “💌 Picture Book Poems 💌”
The school year approaches! As the kiddos prepare to head back to their classrooms, equip them by sharing some books about kindness, courage and friendship. I’ve got some great new options for you below!
Picture Books
“We Are Definitely Human” written and illustrated by X. Fang
Mr. Li is awakened just after midnight when a UFO crash lands in his backyard. When he and his dog go out to investigate, they’re greeted by three oddly shaped blue aliens who reassure him they’re “DEFINITELY human.” They claim to be from Europe, where they “make business” and “play sportsball” just like other humans, and they’re simply having a bit of car trouble. Since the hardware store isn’t open yet, Mr. Li invites them into his home for the night, until he can help them fix their “car.” What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming look at what happens when humans are kind and accepting. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: August Favorites 2024”
I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer! If you need a few more books to round out your Summer Reading, I’ve got some great options for you this month.
Picture Books
“Dare to Be Daring” written by Chelsea Lin Wallace and illustrated by Lian Cho
I’ve seen plenty of picture books filled with affirmations about being brave, but this book exemplifies showing instead of telling. On each new page turn, a child faces a common fear with the phrase, “Today, I will dare to be daring.” Whether it’s joining in a dodgeball game, going to the dentist, trying an unfamiliar food or singing onstage, the kids all step out and overcome instead of being overwhelmed. The illustrations are expressive and show the progression from anxiety to joy. With easy rhymes and upbeat rhythm, this will make an excellent read-aloud to encourage kids to be brave in the face of anxiety. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: July Favorites 2024”
It’s summer (almost)! If you’re wanting to stay inside and read lots of books to avoid the heat and cicadas, I’ve got you covered. I’d rather be covered in piles of books to be read than covered in cicadas.
Picture Books
“Not-a-Box City” by Antoinette Portis
This is a sequel of sorts to Portis’ “Not a Box,” but you can absolutely read this one first. The protagonist bunny is excited to build a city out of a plethora of cardboard boxes. When other animals offer to help, the bunny reluctantly agrees while emphasizing, “But this is my city.” When some helpers don’t consult the bunny first, it leads to hurt feelings that are soon repaired. Bunny even learns to appreciate sharing their joint creation. Though it’s not explicitly stated, this would be an excellent book to start conversations with big siblings who are learning how to let others be involved. The simple illustrations and text are charming, and could easily inspire more cardboard box play! Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: June Favorites 2024”
Publishing is really picking up for the spring. I’ve got all kinds of new books on order that I don’t have time to tell you about! These four all come out at the beginning of the month, so you won’t have to wait too long for them.
Picture Books
“Ahoy!” written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
This is a fantastic example of imaginative play. A parent is trying to vacuum a large blue rug while their child plays nearby, gathering all sorts of household items. When the parent asks what they’re playing, the child responds, “I’M NOT PLAYING! I’M PREPARING TO SET SAIL!” They’re shouting because a storm is coming, and the child urgently convinces the parent to join them on their ship. Soon the blue rug is an ocean, paper towel tubes are telescopes, and the two embark on adventures on the high seas. The author perfectly balances fantasy and reality in the illustrations, while capturing the enthusiasm and joy of the child — not to mention their impressive nautical knowledge. I love that the parent is included in the adventure. My toddler is already teaching me so much about imagination that I’d forgotten as I grew up. He’s generally pretending to be a peregrine falcon or an ostrich (the faster the better!), but I have no doubt that we’ll be hoisting our own living room sails in a year or two. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: April Favorites 2024”
It was hard to narrow down my list this month! There are some great books coming out in March.
Picture Books
“All Aboard the Alaska Train” written by Brooke Hartman and illustrated by John Joseph
This is the perfect book for train and nature enthusiasts alike! Readers are invited to board the (apparently iconic) Alaska Train, as it races, rumbles, rattles and rambles its way through Alaska. Each new page turn features an Alaskan animal, with engaging rhyming text that will encourage little ones to guess the animal before the reader states it. The animals surreptitiously join the passengers on the train as it travels through various landscapes and habitats. Finally, the train is stalled at the foot of a tall mountain, and the animals all get off the train to help push it up the tracks. While the plot isn’t a main focus here, little ones will love seeing all the different types of animals, and the excellent rhythm of the text keeps things moving briskly. My toddler currently loves trains and animals, so I’m looking forward to sharing this one with him! Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: March Favorites 2024”
. . . and other fun-guys, or fungis!
Do you have a budding mushroom and/or fungi lover in your life? You’re not alone; there is definitely something sporing in the air and plenty of fungus among us. Okay, that might be enough puns for now, but it does seem like the mushroom has been popping up everywhere lately, from cute accessories to interior décor to critically-acclaimed documentaries to your very own backyard or favorite spot of Missouri greenspace. I like to think the mushroom’s trendiness is due to the fact that there’s a little something for everyone in the fungi kingdom. Fungi are, after all, neither plant nor animal, but some other creature in-between or beyond. Plus, the technicolor spread of variety amongst fungi makes mushrooms, which are technically the fruit or fruiting body of a fungus, both adorable and endlessly fascinating —as well as in some cases, appetizing!
So, if you have gotten thoroughly tangled up in the mycelium (root-like structures of a fungus), or are just starting to sprout interest in the subject, I’ve compiled a list of resources for the aspiring mycologist (a.k.a. mushroom scientist). Read on for some cap-tivating choices. . .
This sturdy board book features interactively layered die-cut cardboard pages so the very youngest of mycologists can explore the various colors, shapes and sizes of all kinds of little mushroom guys. 😊 Continue reading “Meet the Mushrooms 🍄🍄”
