Christmas books...

Last year I posted a few of my favorite Christmas books. While those are still high on the list, I thought I'd add some more this year....

The Stable Where Jesus Was Born
by Rhonda Gowler Greene

The Three Bears' Christmas
by Kathy Duval

Santa's Stuck
by Rhonda Gowler Greene

Pumpkin Hill

Pumpkin Hill by Elizabeth Spurr

Unknown to the farmer and his wife, who can't agree on what to plant on their hill, a field of pumpkins has erupted from one single forgotten pumpkin. Soon, the hillside is rolling with pumpkins and they overtake the town!

If You're Happy and You Know It

If You're Happy and You Know It by Jane Cabrera

We all know the children's song... sing along with this bright and fun illustrated book. Great song, and even better illustrations. I'm going to have to add some of my own photographs of the pages in this book. I love to look at the pictures as we read. Yes, I said *I*. ; )

Digger Man

Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman

Porter loves anything having to do with loaders, bulldozers and dumptrucks so this book was a definite hit. What I love even more about it is how closely it relates to Porter and Hudson (our youngest).

Digger Man is about a little boy who loves diggers. He talks about how he's going to buy a digger and have special digger man boots and he talks about all the things he's going to scoop and dig and work on with his digger. His little brother, though, is too little to help out. But, his mom and dad can bring him to watch and maybe he'll give him a ride in his digger.

Great storyline, cute illustrations and an easy read for short attention toddlers.

The Neat Line: Scribbling through Mother Goose

The Neat Line: Scribbling through Mother Goose by Pamela Duncan Edwards

I picked this book up at the library hoping for an updated way to read Mother Goose Rhymes. I was pleasantly surprised. The book starts out talking about this baby scribble who practiced and practices and became a Neat Line. Then he decided to hop into his first book. He goes through a few Mother Goose Rhymes and his new-found skill of being a Neat Line helps the characters get out of their troubles.

Favorite Easter Books

Five Little Bunnies Hopping on a Hill by Steve Metzger

This book is a cute rhyming spin off of "Five Little Monkeys". A cute, quick read. I wasn't able to find it for sale on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, but I think you can find it on eBay possibly.

What is Easter? by Michelle Medlock Adams

I always like books that explain the real reason for holidays (rather than just for candy or presents etc...). This book is a board book and is perfect for little ones. The author does a wonderful job of explaining what Easter is about- and still keeps it simple enough for little ones.

The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing

This book is a spin off of a traditional Christmas story by Clement C. Moore. I love the rhyming text and the cute story. Its not long and too wordy- its just right!

Easter Bunny's on His Way! by Brian James

Sing along to the tune of "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain" in this fun book about traditional Easter activities such as coloring eggs, hunting for eggs and eating lots of candy!

Gallop

Gallop by Rufus Butler Seder

Porter just received this book for his birthday and it is very, very cool. Through a six-phase animation process, the animals give the illusion of movement. The rhyming text is full of simple questions and fun, nonsense replies: Can you gallop like a horse? giddyup-a-loo! Can you strut like a rooster? cock-a-doodle-doo!

Freight Train

Freight Train by Donald Crews

This book is one of Porter's favorites, and one of the first books he's began to memorize. The book goes over the colors of the different train cars... "red caboose at the back, orange tank car next... yellow hopper car... blue cable car......" and goes through the trains trips "going through tunnels, crossing trestles". Porter loves this simple book and loves to "read" it to me.

What Do You Love?

What Do You Love? by Jonathan London

A short and sweet book about a mother-dog and her puppy and all the fun things they do together.
"What do you love?"
"Park slides and piggyback rides, mud pies and Mommy's eyes."

Five Little Monkeys

Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car by Eileen Christelow

I love these books- an updated version of the traditional hand rhyme. The stories are told in rhyme, and are funny and comical as well. We also have Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree

Other Five Little Monkey books by Eileen Christelow:
Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do
Five Little Monkeys Go Shopping
Five Little Monkeys Bake a Birthday Cake
Five Little Monkeys Play Hide-And-Seek
Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed