Toy Thursday: It's a Book

I don't give my kids handheld games. I don't let them play video games. They don't have a Nintendo DS, they don't have a NOOK. They don't even play on our computer.

I'm a mean mom.

But they do know about their books. Which is why when I ran across "It's a Book" at our local bookstore, I had to get it.While the book may not be best for small children, it is a fun read for older kids and adults. In the book, it says you don't need to plug it in, you don't need a password....it's a book.


As an English Literature Major, I cherish my books. I love the smell of old books, I love the smell of new books. I love the crackling of binding of new books and I love the soft covers of old books.

I even love the smell of the Scholastic book orders my preschooler brings home. It takes me back to my first love, books.

So yes, I may be a "mean mom" but my preschooler can read. And he LOVES his books. Our two year old got FOUR books for his birthday...and they came in a close second to his "froggy hat" as his favorite gift.

Books. They don't need charged, batteries or a password. Just imagination.

Toy Thursday: Being a Bucket Filler

Our oldest son started preschool this year. I noticed his teacher has a sign that says "Be a bucket filler" and I wasn't sure what it meant. When I made him do something he didn't want, he'd say, "You're emptying my bucket, mommy!"

I had no idea what he meant by that. One night my husband and I were having a disagreement and he came into our room and said, "You guys are dipping into each other's buckets!"

As a gift, his teacher sent home the gift for Liam to keep. I read it to him and suddenly, it all made sense.


Amazon.com describes the book as "Through simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heartwarming book encourages positive behavior as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation, and love. Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves."

Now that I know the concept, whenever Liam misbehaves, I say, "Liam, you're being a bucket dipper," and he apologizes. When he does something good, I say, "Thank you, honey, you've just filled mommy's bucket!"

"Have You Filled A Bucket Today" is a great book with an easy to understand concept for young and old. If you haven't read it, you should. And before you know it, you'll be a bucket filler.

Toy Thursday: Christmas Tales!

One of my favorite memories each Christmas growing up was the anticipation of a new book to read. I remember receiving Little Women, The Big Woods, and my Grandma Attic books for Christmas and reading them during the winter season.

I enjoyed reading so much that I would curl up in some new, flannel pajamas and read for as long as I was allowed before bed. As I got older, I would stay up even later and later just to finish one more chapter (yeah, right). Sometimes and even now I skip ahead to the last chapter only to go back and read the chapters in between to see what I missed.

Now I can carry on my love for the written word to my family by sharing the books I enjoyed as a child and adolescent. I still have them. Pulling them off the shelf, I have started reading some of the age appropriate books to my son Judah, especially the Holiday books.

I recommend curling up with these seasonal favorites as a family during this Christmas season as the snowflakes fall.

Toddler:
The Mitten by Jan Brett

Child:
Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

Junior High:
The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson

Merry Christmas, Miss McConnell by Collen O'Shaughnessy McKenna

What are your favorite Holiday books?

Start your own tradition of reading your literary favorites together. Curl up by the fire and enjoy places your imagination can take you through words.