Kid's Books

The kids and I love the work of author and illustrator Jan Brett. This past week we read The Mother's Day Mice by Eve Bunting (another fav author), illustrated by Brett. Such a sweet read about finding the perfect gift for mother's day.

Anyway, this weekend we discovered Jan Brett's website and Hedga & Hedgie the hedgehog paper dolls. The kids have literally spent the weekend printing, coloring and dressing these cuties. Due to rainy weather and the immobility caused by Celine's sprained knee (a post on this to follow later sometime this week) we were indoors a lot and this activity helped passed the time.

Good old-fashioned paper doll fun with a modern age internet twist.

This morning the kids and I read some funny limericks from A Child's Introduction to Poetry (not the greatest poetry collection but a fun book to read) and I was inspired to write a poem about today.

The Tougas children went out to play,
they stayed outside half the day.
So long math, handwriting and spelling,
where this spring's going there ain't no telling.
With weather like this it feels like May.

I pity the poor souls who don't get to regularly read a good children's book. Reading good children's books, especially illustrated short stories (picture books) is a daily joy of mine. I learn so much about the world around me and myself when I sit down with a good picture book. Not to mention I have my favorite 3 little people in the world sitting next to me, relishing the story as much I do. Story time on the couch is a gift of winter, as was one of the stories we read this morning Now It Is Winter by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma.

If you are wondering "will spring ever come?", borrow this book from the library and let your heart be warmed by the cheery illustrations and delightful story. If you don't get around to reading it I leave you with the last stanza of the book (italics mine)