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An endearing romp in the tradition of Dr. Seuss - lots of alliteration, rhythm and rhyme tying together the things children love most. The kind of book parents love to read- which is great because your kids will want to hear it again and again! |
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This classic - a 1944 Newberry Honor book - deals with issues which are difficult to address in children whose abstract thinking skills are still developing and who learn best from stories. Here they explore issues of friendship, peer pressure, regret, and courage through the story of a little girl teased because she has only one dress to wear to school. From the School Library Journal: "This book explores the hurt that comes from thoughtless words, and offers a painful, but heart-warming lesson in forgiveness. Grade 3-6" |
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Let's face it, boys need lots of activity. This wise book, written in 1890 still draws raves from parents - see the reviews at Amazon - for providing tons of ideas for boys to find outlets for all that curiosity and energy. |
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While not a kids' book per se, this volume is very effective in contrasting lives of families in different countries in a way children can understand, planting seeds of compassion and - hopefully - generosity. |
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Again, a book for the family to inspire less self-centered living and more compassion for others. |
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This is such a cute book - and a fabulous way to encourage even the youngest child to develop pincer grasp and hand control - which both lead to better writing skills later on. The pages have recessed circles where the child can oh-so-carefully place Cheerios one by one. This is the first in a series of Cheerios books. Check the used copies at Amazon for as little as one cent each. |
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Highly recommended! |
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A great resource for kids 8-11. Check out the book description and table of contents at amazon - don't you wish you'd had a book like that when you had questions? |
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For children 4-8. Check reviews to compare and see which of my recommended books on this subject sound best for your family. |
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Great resource for Christian parents, as the approach to sex is as a wonderful gift from God.. Each page has 2 sets of text - one larger font for younger children and smaller font with more advanced information for older kids so you don't have to give your child more information than he wants or needs. In addition to conception and pregnancy, this book covers adoption - all from a biblical perspective. A wonderful starting point for discussion with your kids. |
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 I love this book - which teaches kids about waiting in a very simple, joyful style. Now out of print, but used copies at Amazon for as little as 1.00.
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This looks so exciting!!! I have already ordered my copy! |
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In April 2007, a little guy in Alaska - only four years old - was able to get help for his mom who'd completely collapsed - thanks to his Grandma reading him this book Read Tony's story. |
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My daughter Samantha was reading this 37 years ago and the kids at home still read it today! |
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A fun cookbook with kid-friendly recipes for kid-friendly food. |
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Under construction - picture coming |
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One of the best Christmas gifts you can give your children - passing on the rich heritage of classic carols in a context they can embrace: child-friendly stories of the origin and meaning of each carol, with tales of the composers' own childhoods - plus a CD with crystal-clear kids' voices singing against an orchestral background. So much intelligence and love went into this project - it's absolutely perfect for children. Sure to enrich your family's Christmas celebration and legacy! |
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One of the best gifts you can give your children - passing on the rich heritage of classic hymns in a context they can embrace: child-friendly stories of the origin and meaning of each hymn, with tales of the composers' own childhoods - plus a CD with crystal-clear kids' voices singing against an orchestral background. So much intelligence and love went into this project - it is absolutely perfect for children. Sure to enrich your family life and legacy! |
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One of the best gifts you can give your children - passing on the rich heritage of classic hymns in a context they can embrace: child-friendly stories of the origin and meaning of each hymn, with tales of the composers' own childhoods - plus a CD with crystal-clear kids' voices singing against an orchestral background. So much intelligence and love went into this project - it is absolutely perfect for children. Sure to enrich your family life and legacy! |
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From Amazon page: Arnold Ytreeide takes the whole family on an Advent journey in anticipation of Christmas. Day by day we follow the adventures of Jotham, a lad who has a very special relationship with Jesus that will be revealed at the end of this engaging story. With a nightly story that you can scarcely put down, a devotional thought, prayer and the lighting of the Advent candles, Jotham's Journey will draw your family closer together and near to Jesus, God-incarnate in the Child of Bethlehem. |
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This gem of a book by Nancy P. McConnell is out of print. Let's hope someone will republish it soon. This is the best book I've seen for teaching little kids about disabilities. The illustrations are very 90's, but still cheerful and the language and subject matter is very child-friendly, simple and true. Includes the manual alphabet (sign language) and even a page of actual Braille type so kids can feel what it's like. There are usually used copies at Amazon, so check them out. |
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Another photo-illustrated book told from the point of view of a young boy with Down syndrome, who is born, loved by his parents, plays with his brother, goes to the beach and the doctor - just like everyone else. Then he shares his secret - that he has Down syndrome. What that means in terms of his abilities and goals is put into sweet, child-friendly words. Very helpful for making kids feel comfortable with differntly-abled peers. |
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A sweet book illustrated with photographs of a girl and her daddy going through daily activities while looking all day for a lost stuffed chimp. That the heroine has Down syndrome has nothing at all to do with the story, but it's a great subtle way to introduce your child to the "normalness" of kids with Down syndrome - that they are more alike than different from you and me. |
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For a topic no parent relishes dealing with, but every child needs, this book presents vital information in a safe, comfortable story format - the best way to communicate abstract ideas to young children. From the School Library Journal: A picture book that clearly instructs children on how to deal with unwanted and inappropriate touching through a heart-to-heart talk between a little boy and his mother. The author sensitively distinguishes between the loving touch we all need and "secret, deceptive, or forced touching." Children are encouraged to listen to their own feelings, assert their right to stop unwanted contact, and get help from trusted adults "even if it is supposed to be a secret." An informative foreword to adults gives valuable information on communicating personal safety to children and advice for helping those who report abuse. |
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Such a sweet story! Set in 1910 France, two children who have lost their mama have trouble finding her only because they see her as the best, the wisest, the most beautiful. The gendarme (French policeman) is astonished to find that finally she is just a mama like everyone else's. For fun, read it with your best French accent! Now out of print, you can click through this Amazon link to hardback editions and pick up used library copies for a song! |
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Under Construction |
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Under Construction |
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under construction |
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For any child who's had a rough day, this helps put it into perspective, while reinforcing the idea that it helps to put your feelings into words - rather than blindly being controlled by them. But let's face it - it's not just kids who have a day like Alexander's. So this book is therapeutic for parents too! |
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The story of a young mountain boy who, seeking refuge from a snowstorm, finds his way to the cabin of a woman who cares for his injuries while telling him the entire Christmas story - beginning with the Creation and the fall. The illustrations are gorgeous - and amazon has used hardcover copies starting at 2.94. |
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Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy - which in turn was based on Matthew 25:35-40 - this is a nicely-illustrated version with used hardcover copies at amazon starting at 1.49. |
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From Publishers Weekly: "On a Virginia plantation in 1859, the enslaved families work hard to get both the Big House and their own Quarters ready for Christmas. The McKissacks carefully and convincingly delineate the discrepancies between the two milieus, and the contrast is startling and stirring." If you're interested in raising children with compassion - who don't take material blessings for granted and who will think of others before themselves - this book will be a welcome addition to your home. There is so much to talk about. Even the illustrations and the feelings expressed on the faces are cause for much reflection. This book will add depth and meaning to Christmas for your family. Ages 8-adult. |
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High qualityby DK Pulisheing. 12 pages, 50 stickers - great fun for little children - making the story of Christmas concrete. Besides Amazon, check http://alogin.linksynergy.com/php-bin/affiliate/links/showmerchant.shtml?oid=39828&nid=1&subid=&link_type=2Alibris for brand new copies only 5.06. |
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Focus on the Family has assembled some of the best talent around for their Radio Theater series. My daughter Maddy, who is an audio-learner (meaning she learns best when she hears the information) adores this series and listens to it to fall asleep every night! |
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You might want to start by reading these aloud to your children when they are little. No better time than now - then seeing the movie will be a doubly rich experience! |
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A year in the country with all its seasonal changes – the work, play and rewards of life on a farm. 4-8 |
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A story of courage and purpose: the fourteenth century Swiss folk hero is forced to shoot an apple from his son's head by the evil governor, then leads his countrymen into action against Austria's tyranny. Still a man who thinks of himself more as a husband and father than a hero. 4-9 |
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One of the best-selling children's books of all time, about a peaceful bull who would rather sit beneath a tree smelling flowers than fight in the bull ring. 4-7 |
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This book – originally written in French – has delighted children and adults for decades. The story of an elephant who loses his mother to hunters, wanders to the city, buys a new wardrobe, becomes the hit of society, marries Celeste, and is crowned King of the Elephants. 4-8 |
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A lilting and funny story about a little duck who lives with his comically large family on a boat on the Yangtze River in China. One day while searching for food, he finds himself left behind. Bravely, he goes in search of his family, finding many adventures along the way. 3-6 |
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Jerome, the medieval monk who lived in Bethlehem and translated the Bible into Latin, earns the devotion of a lion by removing a thorn from his paw. When the monastery's donkey is stolen, the other monks accuse the lion of having eaten it, but only Jerome refuses to condemn him, and is proven right. (No cover image available, but illustrations are superb.) 5-10 |
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Two thousand pictures (six per page, with a sentence or two under each) will take your child through the Bible from start to finish. My children have loved this motivational format, which reinforced reading skills as well as the the historical continuity of the Bible. |
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My 30 year old daughter Jasmine's favorite love story – the tale of a prize-winning dachshund who can' win the heart of the dog across the street. Unimpressed by the physical qualities that others admire, she finally finds something to admire herself. Marriage and family are the ultimate prize in this old-fashioned heartwarming story. 4-7 |
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An incredibly rich child-friendly resource of information about the diversity of people and cultures. Beautiful and absorbing illustrations, beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, then covering all sorts of human complexities since. This is a book your child will spend hours with and learn much from. 4-10 |
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This lyrical journey through the seasons with a serene and productive nineteenth century rural New England family will give your child (and you) a feeling for our country's heritage. 4-7 |
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A little lighthouse on the Hudson River starts out with a little too much pride, suffers great humiliation when the George Washington Bridge is built, and finally gains a properly modest confidence when it finds that it is useful and has an important job to do. 4-8 |
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This gem of a book shows children in an easy-to-understand way that the answers to life's problems are in the Bible. Pick A problem – 'I'm scared,' 'I have too much to do,' 'Do I have to share?' – and you will find a vignette of a child here and now who faces the problem, then draws inspiration from a particular person in the Bible.
4-8
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Once upon a time there was a little house way out in the country. She was a pretty Little House and she was strong and well built. The contrast between the Little House's peaceful existence with the beautiful seasons and her life when a big city grows around her makes for a touching tale. The deeper theme: progress has a price. Children will love the pictures, the happy ending, and the lesson learned by the Little House. 4-7 |
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Aesop's classic fable, beloved by readers throughout the ages, of a mighty lion who spares the life of a mouse and is amply repaid for his mercy. (Image not available) 4-8 |
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The youngest of six children – and the only girl – Raven Hannah is not big enough to help with any of the work on her family's farm. But when she teaches herself to read from the Bible she finds that as the first reader in the family, she has a unique gift to offer. 4-7 |
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As the author states at the end of the book, this tale was spun a hundred years ago by a woman who had never been to Holland. And yet it so symbolized the struggle of the Dutch that they erected a statue to the boy who saved his country from floods. A tale which underscores sacrifice and loyalty to one's country.
4-9
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An ingenious tale: Harold goes out for a walk with a purple crayon in his hand – and draws himself all kinds of adventures, showing some common sense and good problem-solving skills along the way. 4-8 |
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The Goops they lick their fingers, and the Goops they lick their knives; they spill their broth on tablecloth – Oh, they lead disgusting lives! This old-fashioned compendium of poems on manners is just plain hilarious – and one of the easiest ways to teach children manners. 5-9 |
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Nothing heavy, just a romp for the imagination when George dreams he is small and wakes up the size of a peanut. Your child will love the pictures, in which George flies for the mail in a toy airplane. 4-8 |
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A pair of loveable best friends spend the summer watching out for and bringing out the best in each other. Doubles as an early reader.The first of a series - all are delightful. 4-7 |
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A remarkably beautiful story told by a young girl whose mother is a waitress. Since they lost all their furniture in a fire, they've been saving mother=s tips in a jar – so they can buy a big comfortable chair for their whole family to enjoy – daughter, mother and grandmother. Life has its ups and downs, but there=s always lots of love. 4-7 |
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What happens when a little girl and a little bear wander away from their blueberry-picking mothers and switch who they follow? A beautifully-illustrated story sets a lovely mood, then introduces just enough suspense for children. 4-7 |
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Everyone has a really bad day now and then. Alexander gives us a language for sharing it and accepting it. Contemporary and funny. 4-7 |
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An Eskimo boy finds a lot of room on mother=s lap for all his favorite things, but thinks there=s none for baby sister. Mother shows him there=s room for all. A wonderful remedy for new-baby blues. 3-7 |
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Poor Nora! The loveable mousette experiences all the pangs of the child-in-the- middle, caught between the demands of baby brother and bossiness of big sister. Catchy meter, playful illustrations make for a wonderfully satisfying mouse's tale. Baby-Preschool |
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A trio of love stories – three toddlers enjoying tender moments with father, grandmother and mother. Catchy toddler words, bright vivid pictures. Natural, wholesome, current, very appealing. Baby-Preschool |
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An energetic romp through the colorful world of berries with a rollicking rhyme- spouting bear and a straw-hatted boy. There's so much to celebrate! Baby-Preschool |
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If you could do a survey of children's favorite books and ask adults and children, this gem of a book would surely top both lists. A bunny gets ready for sleep, saying goodnight to each special object he sees from his bed. A soft and soothing farewell at the end of any little one's busy day. Baby-Preschool |
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A wonderful introduction to story sequence – plot, scenes, characters, emotion (Will they get the house in order before Mother comes home?) – all without a single word of text! Toddlers and parents can have a lot of fun with this engagingly illustrated tale. 18 months - 5 |
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Another R&R (rhythm and repetition) – this one filled with a feeling of humor, impossible to read without a smile. Baby-Preschool |
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Be dramatic! Shake your fists! Stomp your feet! You and your toddler will have so much fun with this wonderful story, in which common sense prevails over temper tantrums! 3-7 |
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A story built on rhythm and repetition, highlighting colors and animals – little ones love this first memory stretcher. Babies-Preschool |
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Every one of my children – from the oldest (now 36) to the current preschooler – has found plenty to hold the attention for hours in this terrific vocabulary builder, brimming over with pictures of almost everything a child could possibly learn to name. 3-8 |
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A simplified version of the adult original, this thoughtful text details God's plan for America revealed in its history from Christopher Columbus through George Washington. Questions at the end of each chapter for family discussion. Will help you learn to tell the story to your children. |
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I used to underestimate coloring books - thinking they stifled creativity. As I watched my children grow, I realized that creativity is not that easily stifled :) Coloring books not only offer a kid-friendly challenge to improve handwriting skills (through exercising fine motor control), but also are one of the best vehicles for increasing a child's ability to concentrate on a given task for a long period of time. Since concentration is a portable skill - someone who's learned to concentrate on one thing is then capable of carrying that concentration to other tasks - coloring books are an excellent choice for kids. Knights and Armor is just one of many, many of the incredible Dover line of coloring books, which span all eras of history and culture, plus the animal kingdom. Search amazon under Dover coloring books to see the wide range of choices. |
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The wildly imaginative tale of a boy sent to his room with no supper who finds his way through an emotional jungle filled with funny looking monsters – then back to his own room. While Chuck Colson once wrote that this was a celebration of rebellion, I see it rather as a tale that teaches the wisdom of parents, the possibility that children can control their own emotions, restabilize, and return to find their parents still love them. Be sure to make the most of the wild rumpus - lots of Indian-type noises! 3-8 |
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The hilarious tale of an old woman and the clever vagabond who convinces her that she can make soup from a stone, while persuading her to add a little of this and a little of that. Children love this story – and then making soup afterward. 3-7 |
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A new tale destined to become a classic: the story of a beautiful, proud and selfish little fish who discovers life isn’t much fun without sharing. A finely drawn message just right for children. The editions with real glittery scales shimmer too! 3-7 |
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Petey the puppy wants a boy for Christmas, but his mother tells him he’ll have to find one on his own. Of course there's a happy ending! 4-8 |
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On my first read of this book, I found it a little too quiet – but that's the point. Children must get it, because they seem fascinated by this tale of a lonely girl who finds friends in the forest through cultivating patience and stillness. After reading, challenge your child to be still and quiet – a great lesson in self-control. 2-6 |
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Peter faces life with a new sister – including all his furniture being painted pink. How will he learn to accept his new place in the family? In addition to reassuring unconscious fears about growing up, this book gives kids a positive picture of urban life. 4-8 |
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An enchanting tale of a man who comes home with “hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.” Lots of rhythm, rhyme, and repetition make a strong point: humility can keep you from harm, and love can bring out beauty. 3-7 |
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Such a family-values story! Mr. and Mrs. Mallard search for the perfect spot to raise their family, with some assistance from a friendly police officer. Told and illustrated with humor and warmth. 4-8 |
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A classic told in charming rhyme, this book opens the window to a different world, where little French girls go to boarding school and one has her appendix removed. 3-8 |
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Hooray for a good work ethic! The little red hen asks but receives no help in her efforts to put bread on the table. Yet all who wouldn’t help would like to eat. In a refreshingly old-fashioned triumph of moral consequences, they don't get to. Baby-Preschool |
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A wonderful message for children: with a humble heart and a little determination, even the smallest can save the day. A classic for generations. 3-7 |
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How exciting to be invited to spend the night at a friend=s house – but how scary to face the prospect of sleeping without your teddy bear! A childhood dilemma depicted with empathy and humor. 3-7 |
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Don't let this book fool you. One of the silliest teaching books around, it's jam-packed with adjectives and prepositions – important for later skills – but still guaranteed to give your child a fun time. Another book that will double as an early reader eventually. 3-8 |
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The Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments, broken into “bite-sized morsels a very young child can grasp and grow on.” Each page offers a spiritual truth, a practical application (with lots of opportunities for parent/child conversation), a prayer and a memory verse. A treasure. 4-8 |
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A stuffed bear wants a home, but waiting in the department store has taken its toll. Still, a little girl falls in love with him. A tale about security and unconditional love. 4-8 |
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One of the best parts of being a parent is getting to revisit old favorites, like Cat in the Hat, Fox in Socks, and Green Eggs and Ham. These funny fantastic books beg to be read over and over. Later, because they are as close as best friends, they will become confidence-builders as your child begins to read. Though I recommend them all, if you have to choose one Green Eggs and Ham teaches a good lesson: try a bite before saying no! 3-7 |
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A little boy plants a seed and though he receives a lot of discouragement, does all he can to help it grow. His efforts are rewarded. Through 60 years, this book has been showing children what perseverance looks like. 2-6 |
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You’ll surely fall in love with Frances, the little badger who brings the problems of childhood to life in such a warm and whimsical way. Frances' mother and father are always there to help her through her latest crisis – with serenity and a sense of humor. If you can, get them all: A Baby Sister for Frances, Bread and Jam for Frances, A Bargain for Frances and A Birthday for Frances. 3-7 |
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May 15, 2008
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