Top 5: Christmas Gifts

 

With reading to my kids, I'm finding that I start to get a backlog of books we've read but I haven't had time to sit down and do a full review post about. Especially when we've just passed our month of birthdays and Christmas (yes, the kids both have birthdays near Christmas), and everyone knowing how much this family enjoys reading, we have a bunch of new books on our shelves.

To list out everything we've read this month would take eons, so I figured I'd whittle it down to a top 5. All of these books we have in hard copy and are fully released. No ARCs or Galleys on this list. Just plain old fun books that you can run out and get yourself.

These books come in no particular order, because to try and rank them would change by the hour or second. These are just the 5 books received at Christmas that are getting the most requested at reading time.

1. Twinkle Twinkle Dinosaur by Jeffrey Burton, Illustrated by Zoe Waring

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars (We Loved It!)

While this may seem like a simple book, it was a favourite for Munchie. From the age of 3 to just over 4 we had to read this nightly before bed. The board book sadly broke, and it's taken us a while to find another copy. We now have it for Biggie to help him go to sleep, as Twinkle Twinkle is his favourite song, and he just loves dinosaurs. The illustrations are adorable, and the kids like pointing different things out (one dinosaur in the book looks like a favourite stuffy we call Denver). The new lyrics were written well to fit with the song, so the kids can sing along and the rhythm remains the same, no crowding words in to make them fit. We read this nightly for well over a year, and now that it's come back to the house, I'm sure it will be on regular rotation again.

2. Dinosaurs in Trucks Because Hey, Why Not? by Sandra Boynton

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars (We Really Liked It)

Dinosaurs and trucks, Biggie's favourite things! I got him this book for Christmas, and he very much enjoys going through and telling us where all the dinosaurs are. The final page is especially fun as he says goodbye and goodnight to all the dinosaurs on the page. The illustrations are very cute, the story is clear and sweet. I only wish that the dinosaurs weren't given random names, as we don't really meet and follow them, so the names feel just grabbed out of the air. A great board book for toddlers who like dinosaurs and trucks.

3. A Potato on a Bike by Elise Gravel

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars (We Loved It!)

This is currently Biggie's favourite book. He loves to bring it to us, tell us what the pictures are (Carrot, bath!) and exclaim "NOWAY!" until he gets to the end where he tickles the baby in the book while waiting for us to tickle him. The repetition works for him, and the pictures show the words perfectly so even though he's not reading, he understands what's being shown. For me, the pictures are hilarious, and the situations are fun, I love that he's recognizing things in the book and getting used to flipping the pages and following a 'story'. We read this easily a doze times a day, and I'm thinking of grabbing another copy in anticipation of this copy's inevitable demise due to use.

4. The Bad Seed by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars (We Really Liked It)

The Bad Seed is quickly becoming a very helpful book in our house. We have read it a number of times. Using the Bad Seed's story, we've discussed how his bad feelings came from bad things happening to him, but that the way he behaved in response to those bad feelings made others think poorly of him. Munchie has been having some issues with aggression at school, and this book has assisted us with conversations on how to work through her feelings and that she, like the Seed, can make the choice to be Nice. I appreciate that the Seed doesn't do a complete 180 and he still has trouble with his bad behaviour. This allows kids to learn that perfection isn't expected, and improvement can be small and still noticed. Overall, I'm very glad to have this book on our bookshelves, and also very glad Munchie is enjoying reading it so much.

5. The Good Egg by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald

Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars (We Really Liked It)

The Good Egg is becoming a favourite in my household. We've read it a number of times. Munchie's picking up on how the Good Egg was trying to make everyone behave in ways that might not be who they are, and it's helping us have conversations on how to be aware of her behaviour and not worry about the behaviour of others. This is becoming quite handy to use in regards to her brother and classmates. While the book takes the egg leaving to the extreme, in that he goes on his own journey far away from home, it's a good representation of stepping away and taking some time to yourself. I also appreciate that the book promotes working together in that the Good Egg goes back to those who were causing so much havoc in his life and finding a compromise.

As you can see, we have quite the variety of books, but we're really enjoying going through them together. What is your favourite book so far this year, holiday gift or otherwise?