The girls and I have been reading some classics...

A while back, I posted that the girls and I were reading our way through a couple of the Chronicles of Narnia books (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and The Magician's Nephew).  We decided to take a little break from the series and try some new books.  Here  is what we've been reading with some recommendations...

The next book we tried was A Wrinkle in Time.  The reason we chose this one is kind of funny.  One of my girls' favorite contemporary series is "Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls" by Meg Cabot.  We get the audiobooks and listen to them in the car.  The main character is in fourth grade and I have to admit, even Matt and I don't mind listening to them (unlike some audiobooks).  In one of the books, Allie talks quite a bit about her favorite book, which is A Wrinkle in Time, so of course we had to check it out.  

I actually had never read this, even though it's a "classic."  I will say, Lily was not old enough for it.  She had a hard time paying attention to it.  I would say ideal age for reading this (aloud or otherwise) is probably 9+ due to text structure and such.  Good book but a little complex.  They enjoyed and it and remember key points but I would wait next time.

After such a heavy book, I needed something light and short.  I pulled Sarah, Plain and Tall and Skylark (the sequel) out of my old teaching stuff.  They are super short, but still chapter books.  They take place in what I call "Little House on the Prairie" times.  The girls liked them.

I'd really like to show them the Hallmark movie but don't know how to get my hands on it.  

Last night we started a new book and have read 2 chapters... so far it's a hit.  We will not be doing anything with the movie as it's not anything like the book.  We'll just be enjoying the book.

All of these are Newbury Medal or Honor books, which just happens to be a coincidence, but it's kind of nice to introduce the girls to some classics.  They read contemporary stuff on their own.

Are your kids reading anything good?

Reading about Narnia

In January, our family watch the three Chronicles of Narnia movies that have been made.  I blogged about it here.  I've since found my copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which is the first book in the series.  I bought the copy back during my first year of teaching.  I decided it would make it a great read aloud for the girls, and they could compare it to the movie.  -kind of backwards from how I would usually recommend.

We just finished it, and the girls loved it.  It added to the movie, but wasn't too different.  In this case, I think the movie helped them visualize the book a little better.

Since the girls were enjoying the books so much, when Abby brought her Scholastic book order home from school last month, I ordered the Magician's Nephew (which is a prequel to the above).  If your child gets the book order, I had to order it online and do a search for it.  

It talks about how Narnia was formed, but wasn't actually written first.  Different publishers number the books differently, but we're reading it second.  

We started it last night.  I think it helps to have an understanding of Narnia first before reading this one.  That's my 2 cents, having read both of them before.  So far, they love it.  

Are you reading anything good lately?

our favorite picture books, RIGHT NOW.

This list changes so frequently, that I have to say this is only accurate for RIGHT NOW.  : )

Neither of these is brand new.  Just new to us.  If you're like me, you can just put them on hold at the library and they'll be delivered to your local branch just for you.  Do it.  Your kids will love 'em.

Our current faves.... must reads.

You have to read the whole book to get to the funny:

This one is interactive.  It literally asks you to "Press Here:"

7

We are starting a new book study this week in my small group, and again, I'm really looking forward to the book.  It looks really good.  

Here it is for those of you who are interested.  It's basically about a woman (funny and normal), much like most of us, who decided to try to cut out a bunch of the excess in her life that we, as Americans have too much of and yet, we keep trying to get more.  She chose one area a month.  I haven't read the book yet, but I do know that the first chapter is Food and she only ate 7 foods for one month.  She writes it like a journal.

Here is an excerpt from the introduction (that I read for this week).  I sent this picture to Matt with the text, "Ouch."  He ended up reading the introduction and the first chapter (so far).

If you could read that, crazy, right?!

It is a faith-based book, for those of you who weren't sure.  Let me know if you end up reading it!

My turn to share books...

My small group is starting a new book and I'm really looking forward to it.  It's by Liz Curtis Higgs, the same author as the Bad Girls of the Bible book series.  I have only read the introduction so far, but it looks so good.  Click here for more info if you are interested in it.

I also read one of the most buzzed about books lately, Gone Girl.  That is one Cuh-razy book.  Good,  but, Cuh-razy.  

Any recommendations for me?

Our favorite girl books right now

Around our house, we definitely have lots of books, and we definitely have our favorites.  Abby is now reading chapter books and we also read some chapter books together. 

I thought I'd share some of our favorites, in case you have a young girl and you're looking for a new book and you haven't discovered these yet.  They are all series, so there are multiple books of all of them.  Most of them are about a second grade reading level.

Ivy and Bean:  They are ornery and fun.  Ivy is very quiet and Bean isn't.  They make quite a pair.

Kylie Jean is a very new find.  As in a week old for us.  Abby and I happened upon it at the library and she loves it.  I have already put a hold on two more.  We've reserved Singing Queen and Dancing Queen next, I think.

Most parents know A to Z Mysteries, so this one is much more well known; and girls AND boys love them.  They are for sure one of Abby's favorites.  She always gets one at her school's library.  They are about a group of smart kids that solve mysteries.  The titles are things like X-ed out X-ray and Zombie Zone (Abby has read those two).  The author is Ron Roy.

What do your kids like to read?

not for sissies

I got this book for my very first Mother's Day ever from my Mom.

I just happened to pull it out this week and thumb through it. I found two pages that were funny and relevant to my life recently.

Lily is two and a half- so I don't think this one needs any explaining. Right?

This one struck me as funny because I celebrated a birthday last week. I kept telling Abby that I was turning 28, but she knew that it didn't seem right. Finally she just agreed and kept telling Matt that he was wrong when he told her that I wasn't turning 28. Finally when we got it all straightened out, I still kept my story, but she had no problem straightening everyone out on how old I really was.

Grace For the Good Girl

If you know me locally and are a stay at home mom, I'd like to invite you to join me on Wednesday mornings. I'm leading a group at my church for women just like you. It is for women who like to get away from their kids for an hour and a half, talk with other adult women (about everything and nothing all at the same time), and spend some time in devotions. It is a very relaxed, come as you are group.

This week we met for our first meeting of the school year and selected our first book to read together. It looks like a good one.... (seriously, click on the link below and read the synopsis- you'll totally want to read the book)

Here is a link with more information, or please contact me directly (Facebook, e-mail, call, or leave a comment here on the blog). We'd LOVE to have you join us!!! (I promise I'm the scariest of the bunch.)

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle

Do you know Mrs. Piggle Wiggle?

I think I first read this book in second or third grade by my teacher and I just thought she was the coolest. I just started to read it to Abby. This book is ancient. I'm not even sure where my copy came from, but it was hard to find a picture of this cover online, because there is new cover art of it now. Mine is yellowed and brittle and well loved. I used to read it to my class when I was a classroom teacher. The text was first copyrighted in 1947, so there is some dated language and stuff, but it is such a good book.

She's this crazy (fun) old lady who lives in an upside down house (that she had built that way for fun), who loves children (and they love her). Parents call her when they don't know what do to with a problem and she gives them crazy cures. Last night before bed we read all about the "Radish Cure" for the girl who didn't want to take a bath. We've also read about Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's cure for not picking up toys, answering back, and selfishness. Abby has loved it.

Do you have any oldie, but goodie books that you have shared with your kids?

Harry Potter

This weekend Matt and I got a chance to see the final Harry Potter Movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. I have been a big fan of the Harry Potter books from the very beginning and remember when they first talked of making the first movie. I went to see it opening weekend (I think), and I bought the DVD. I have bought each book the first day you could get it and read it right away. The movies were less important to me than the books, but I do love the excitement there is about what was first A BOOK.

That all said, the movie was fantastic. I left wanting to wield a wand like some of the kickass women in that movie. They rocked. Go, Professor McGonagall and Mrs. Weasley!

It made me want to reread the book.

Source: runninglawyer.blogspot.com via anonymousprep on Pinterest

May the odds be ever in your favor

Another movie about a hit books series (trilogy for those of you that don't know) that I love. Fun. Plus, if you haven't read it, you must. I even made Matt read them and he loved them too.

I have to admit that I've been following their page on Facebook and the casting news is fun to keep track of. Some surprising, some spot on, some I have no idea.

They just released this movie poster. Very cool. I can't wait. How about you?

Room

Can't blog now, all my spare time is going into reading this:

Talk about sucking me in. Yikes. I started it this morning and am well into it now and can't wait to see where it is going. I can't say that I'm winning any Mother of the Year awards today though. The girls have watched some TV while I read. Oh well, we had a pretty good week, so a TV day isn't so bad now and then.

Off to read....

Devouring a good book

I love a good book.

So does Lily apparently.

But not in the same way as me, I guess.

So, this is the cute, new board book that I bought for Lily recently.

Cute, right?

Apparently, it's appetizing too. Not so cute.

Dear Lily,

Please don't eat your books.

Mmmm, okay, thanks.

-Mommy

The Hunger Games

I have a new book obsession. The Hunger Games. You must read it. It is actually a trilogy. The second one is titled Catching Fire and the third is Mockingjay. I had heard of them and a friend recommended them a while back and I just got around to reading the first one. About halfway in, I realized that I was going to have to read all three, so I went out and bought them all. One of the things I really like about them is that you can go back and look for things you missed the first time you read them, so they are the kind of books that you can read more than once.

Let me give you a little synopsis. The setting is in the future. North America as we know it no longer exists and there is a new society that was created after some type of revolution. As a result of this, the Capitol rules over 12 "districts". Every year the districts have to select 1 girl and 1 boy (between the age of 12-18) through a type of lottery to travel to the Capitol and participate in the Hunger Games. Only one will win, and by win, I mean live. The story is told through the eyes of a girl named Katniss, who I believe is 17, and lives in District 12.

I have read the first two books so far. I asked Matt to read it too, which I rarely do, and he really likes it too (so far). It has been really fun to read it together and be able to talk about it. We so rarely read the same types of things. I am trying to not get any farther ahead of him than I am already, so I am waiting to start the third book. Which is killing me, by the way. I'm not sure I'll make it through the weekend...

On the Bookshelf

As in, on our current Reading List. We have been reading from a book I got from our church library. I rarely look down there (it's in the basement), but was looking for something specific and stumbled upon this...

We have had some fun reading it. It takes Bible stories and changes them into fun songs, plays, games, etc. It also has all kinds of activities between the stories- which we have yet to venture into. BUT, it has been a fun way to read some of the stories with Abby. We have started doing it at mealtime (mostly dinner). I'm actually considering buying something like it (or the exact book). We read the Joseph stories during VBS and it had all kinds of "quiz" questions that you had to answer throughout and she knew almost all the correct answers! (Guess she did learn something at VBS.)