Bertie at Bedtime

Like for most kids, bedtime for our kids takes time.  They have so much energy and they want to play more.  Bertie at Bedtime is a helpful book.  Kids will learn that they are like Bertie.  Bertie has bedtime rituals too.  There's the bathing, toothbrushing, racing, chasing, reading and singing.  Parents will nod and kids will laugh when you read Bertie at Bedtime story.

This book is written by Marcus Pfister, the creator of The Rainbow Fish.  The Rainbow Fish was an international phenomenon with millions of fans.  Marcus was born in Berne, Switzerland.  He traveled throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico.  He worked as a painter, sculptor, graphic designer, writer and illustrator of many children's books.  He lives in Berne with his family.

Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You

Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You book contains simple words and simple stories but very rich in words that teach children good manners and right conduct.  Lowly, the worm, together with other young animals learn them while they eat, play, study and celebrate.

Some of the good manners that are featured in the book aside from saying excuse me, please, thank you are brushing teeth, helping, eating with fork not with fingers, chewing food properly, cleaning up, sharing, being polite, among others.

There are five short, funny and playful stories in this book.  Richard Scarry made it easy for kids to learn good manners in his book.

Sharing, Now I am Big

Sharing (Now I Am Big) is a book for 3 to 6 year olds.  It's part of a series of books that promotes family values.  The fraternal twins in this book show the things that they share.  They share their toys, chair, time with mother, playing with father, ice cream, fruits and even their friends.

Sharing has bright illustrations and contains simple words that encourage word recognition.  The book is illustrated by Stephanie Longfoot.

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the snowman was a jolly, happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
and two eyes made out of coal.

Frosty the Snowman is a book with a melody.  You can hear it when you open the cover.  You can sing along with it.  It's a jolly book with jolly lyrics.  It's fun to read or sing it with kids during Christmas season. 

The book is written by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson.  It's illustrated by Rebecca Thornburgh.

A Star So Bright, A Christmas Tale

The book, A Star So Bright, is very appropriate to read to a toddler.  It has big illustrations, fewer words and a blinking light at the last page.

Different animals like the bear, fox, deer and ducks wondered about the mysterious star.  They want to know where it came from.  So they followed the star.  At the very end, they discovered a very special surprise.  It was a baby in a manger that brought love to the world! 

Every page of the book has a cut-through star.  At the last page is a big twinkling star.  A Star So Bright is written by  M. Christina Butler and illustrated by Caroline Pedler.

Christmas Magic

We read books that are relevant to the season or holiday. One of the books we read is the "Christmas Magic" by Michael Garland.

Christmas Magic is about a girl named Emily who witnessed holiday enchantment in action. She saw her dog and cat sang Jingle Bells. The angel choir came alive and flew in circles. The mice baked pies in the kitchen. And the snow-woman she built and the snowman came alive and danced with her. The most magical of all is the new friendship of Emily and the shy boy who build the snowman!

The author, Michael Garland, illustrated the book in a stunning Victorian setting. Mr. Garland also wrote The Mouse Before Christmas, Mystery Mansion, and An Elf for Christmas. He lives in the rural hills of Patterson, New York with his wife and three children.

We are a Family of Bookworms

Our family love books. We have books practically in every room of our house!

Books are good for your mind and soul. Reading keeps your mind alert. It makes you travel to a different world. It helps build your imagination.

Our kids love books. We read to them not only at bedtime but any time of the day as well. We have lots of children's books at home and we also borrow lots of books in the public library.

Our two year-old daughter cannot read the words yet but she can read the pictures and repeat what she heard from us while we read to them. Most of the time, she'll say the exact words that are in the book! It is because she understands what we are reading about.

Our kids enjoy reading because reading is fun!