Llama Llama -- all of them! These are by far my favorites to read out loud...I can put lots of emotion and drama into them. After Rylee was born I received a big box of books in the mail from one of my elementary teachers -- it was a fabulous (and totally unexpected) gift -- and I believe our first Llama Llama book was included in this box. We have since purchased 4 more!
Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes. This was the very first book that Rylee memorized and DRAMATICALLY read out loud. It is a cute story and very fun to read. I have read the other Pete the Cat books in the stores and just haven't been as impressed with them.
Little Blue Truck. This is one of Wyatt's favs. The story includes lots of animal noises...what boy doesn't love noises?!?!
Sandra Boynton books. These are usually rhyming and always adorable. Blue Hat Green Hat, Pajama Time and Barnyard Dance have been among our favorites.
Brown Bear Brown Bear. A classic. I remember the librarian reading this one to us in elementary school.
Disney Bedtime Favorites. We have a couple of these books. They are pricey, but have been worth the money. There are about 20 short Disney stories in each book and they are the perfect length for a story before bed. Wyatt doesn't enjoy them yet as they are a little too long for him, but I'm sure he will in another year or so. Rylee, on the other hand, always wants me to read from these books!
There's nothing as sweet as watching my kids sit and "read" books. Even Wyatt will flip through the pages of books and point to the pictures and talk about them (in his own language that I wish I could understand). We have also started doing the books that come with a CD. I will play the CD in the car while Rylee follows along in the book. Yesterday she read the entire Frozen book by memory, I was very impressed!
I love getting lost in a good fiction story, but as there are so many I've read, I can't even start to come up with a list of favorites. I can tell you some of my favorite Non-Fiction books that I've read in the past couple of years though. Almost all of these are on my Kindle and I have highlighted everything in them that I wanted to remember and I have (or will) re-read the entire books or my highlighted points.
Miss Minimalist - Francine Jay. I have no idea what even drew me to wanting to learn about minimalism, but I reviewed several books on the topic and ended up reading this one first. It blew me away! I wasn't even finished with the book and I was decluttering like a mad woman! I have read a few other books on this topic, but none are nearly as in depth and motivating as this one. The author did not have any kids when she wrote this book and as she does now, I would be curious if she was able to maintain her extreme minimalist lifestyle.
Smart Money Smart Kids - Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze. My husband and I talk a lot about how to teach our kids to be smart with money. Of course they have to have a good example to learn from and I don't always do a good job with that. I was really excited when this book came out and I purchased it right away. It did not disappoint. Dave Ramsey is a very interesting individual and I still can't figure out how he got his kids to save 10k+ for their first cars when they were 16!! This is a book that I will re-read so I don't lose sight of what I want to accomplish.
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy - Thomas Stanley. A former boss gave me this book when I was in my early twenties and it has always been a favorite. I have read it cover to cover twice now. It's stories of Millionaire's who you would never guess have money. It's the farmer who has lived in the same old house for 40+ years and drives a beat up rusty truck, and the small town auto mechanic who owns his shop but looks like he's homeless. The point to the story is that we don't have to keep up with the Joneses and those who don't even try to, often are more wealthy than those who try to look like they have money.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach. Okay, I know what you're thinking.....this sounds super weird, right?!?! Well it kind of is, but I found it very fascinating. This book was on a "read before you die" list and I thought "what the heck". I learned so many things I never knew and while I could have lived without knowing some of it, I feel very informed of all of my options for my body when I die. I had considered donating my body to science and I learned that what I thought that meant, is not what it means at all! I will spare you the details, but read the book if you are interested!
Ketchup is a Vegetable: And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves - Robin O'Bryant. This book was just too funny. A light-hearted read that will make you feel like you aren't the only "bad" mom out there. Someone was gutsy enough to put into writing what most of us moms feel on a daily basis. There is a "second helping" of this book too, which I have purchased but haven't read.
So glad for books and wonderful authors who write them!! I'm also in love with my Kindle that allows me to get a book without leaving my house!
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