He Came With The Couch written and illustrated by David Slonim

He Came With The Couch
written and illustrated by David Slonim

Sophie’s family needs a new couch.  After much searching they find the perfect one.  Unfortunately someone came with it and they can’t get rid of him.  After many attempts to help “Him” leave the couch, they finally give up.  That’s when something wonderful happens.

But I can’t tell you what because I thought it was a lovely suprise.  This story is silly, sweet and very imaginative.  I love the illustrations and for some reason the family reminded me of my own.  It’s simple and short and certainly worth checking out.  One I would even like to own.

The Flying Dragon Room by Audrey Wood illustrated by Mark Teague

The Flying Dragon Room
by Audrey Wood
illustrated by Mark Teague

Patrick was feeling left out when his Mother, Father & Mrs. Jenkins paint the house. But Mrs. Jenkins loans Patrick a very special tool box to create something fun with. After the house is painted, Patrick has also finished his creation. A magical invisible door that leads to wondrous places!

This book is stunning and one that we own. The story is so creative and fun (Just another wonderful Audrey Wood book for you) and the illustrations make the story come to life. I love to read this book and look at the pictures and just imagine what I would do if I had this magic. Do something wonderful for your whole family and get this book!

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children
by Sharon Lovejoy

Today I had to veer from the storybook path and am into the “hands on-ness” of this incredibly inspirational book!  Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots is a garden with you kids book filled with great ideas and illustrations.  There are “recipes” for different gardening plans.  Some of the ideas are sunflower houses, moon garden, a flower maze and a pizza garden!  There are also ideas for planting for smaller spaces in buckets and boots!  I had heard of some of these ideas before but didn’t know where to begin.  This book gives very simple directions to help you and your children garden together in whatever space you have.  They is nothing like watching things grow.

I picked this up at our bookmobile, but this is one I plan on buying as it is just that good!  Definitely pick up this one!

Just the Way You Are by Max Lucado

Just the Way You Are
by Max Lucado

The King has heard about five orphans living in the little town and wants to adopt them! The towns people suggest they prepare gifts for the king, because that is what Kings like. But are they right? Four of the children have very nice talents and work hard to perfect them, but one little girl has no skills like this. However the town knows her as a very good soul. She tries and tries to be like the others, asking them to help her. But they are to busy with their own gifts to help her. She goes back to what she knows best, greeting people and careing for their animals. One day a man comes and the girl with no talent greets him and speaks with him and they have a grand time. Then he goes away. Later the man comes back and asks if she would like to be adopted. He had planned to adopted five children, but the other four he met were to busy to speak with him. So the girl goes with the King (for that is who he is).

I thought this a lovely story. The illustrations are beautiful! I read the books description after reading the book. It is a Christian parable, and I can see it, but only after reading that bit. There is no mention of religion anywhere in the story. The King tells the little girl that someday he will come back for the others, and so, a happy ending. The stories message is, “It’s not your gifts that count, but how you use them and share them with others.”

Bats at the Beach by Brain Lies

Bats at the Beach
written and illustrated by Brian Lies

“The rising moon can grow no fatter
As sky lights up with gleeful chatter:
Quick, call out! Tell all you can reach-
The moon is just perfect for bats at the beach!”

Bats of all ages and species come together for a night of beach fun. Ever wonder what a trip to the beach would be like for a bat? Well it’s pretty similar to a trip that a human might take, minus the bugs and the night. Sand castles, swimming, moon-bathing, picnics, campfires and bug-mellows. Sounds like a perfect night at the beach!

This book is written in rhymes. The story is so sweet and the illustrations are beautiful too! It made me think of the fun times I have had at the beach and heading home, salty and exhausted. The only difference was that we left at night and they leave at dawn. I defiantly recommend this book. They is nothing fearful in it. Just good clean fun!