Books Under the Tree

Today I’m linking up with Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl and sharing the books that are going under the Christmas Tree tonight. I have a confession to make: I don’t like owning books. I think books are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but I am really affected by my environment – if things feel out of sorts in my home, then my emotions quickly follow suit. I also think books are meant to be shared and used often, which doesn’t happen if they’re stuffed on a shelf. But I love buying books for my children because they get read often and this holiday season is no exception.

We’ve owned Chicka Chicka Boom Boom since my oldest was born (it was a gift from the hospital), but my middle child and his love of ripping paper has done a number on it. And since we’ve been renewing Chicka Chicka 123 from the library for about two months now, I’ve decided it’s time to refresh our copy of Boom Boom and add 123 to the collection. To top it off, I’ve also gotten Boom Chicka Rock which we haven’t read, but is a part of the Chicka Chicka family. (This was a totally ridiculous paragraph.)

This is another that my oldest (6) has been renewing at the library for months. He obsesses over the pictures in here. It seems like a pretty good book to have in our home because it answers a lot of questions about the body. He loves keeping it open on his bed at night and slowly flipping through it. He absorbs a surprising amount of knowledge just from the pictures!

This one might be more for me than them, but I thought it would be a great addition to our field guides. Since reading Wendell Berry earlier this year, I’ve been keen on getting outside more often and appreciating what’s around me. I’m hoping this book will enrich that experience for all of us, as well as give my children some practical knowledge that they can carry with them throughout their lives.

Another that might be more for me! I adore Brambly Hedge and wanted more books in the series — I can’t wait to crack this set of books open and admire all of the beautiful art and go on adventures with those lovely little mice in Brambly Hedge.

We could all use a little more mindfulness in our day, right? I’m hoping to incorporate this into our reading time when we sit down for breakfast in the mornings. It looks cute, fun, and practical.

Can you believe that I’d never read this book until recently? My oldest came home from school talking about it – I guess they read it in class. So when we went to the library and I saw it in the kid’s poetry section, I added it to our stack of books to borrow. That was about a month ago, so this is yet another that we’ve been renewing over and over because my oldest enjoys it so much.

---

I love looking for books for my family that can be read over and over, enjoyed by everyone, and will leave a lasting impression throughout their lives. What are your favorites to share with children?