The Many Little Joys

You are here: Home / Archives for books

books

Interactive stories and activity books your kids will love

Think your kids won’t be excited about getting books for Christmas? Think again! These fun-filled activity books and interactive stories will captivate your kids with daring adventures, mind-bending puzzles, and fascinating facts.

Think your kids won't be excited about getting books for Christmas? Think again! These fun-filled activity books and interactive stories will captivate your kids with daring adventures, mind-bending puzzles, and fascinating facts.

Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if purchases are made through those links. Please see my full disclosure to learn more.

If you want to buy your kids a book for Christmas, but you’re not sure they’ll be thrilled about unwrapping a thick novel, I have the perfect idea for you…Give them an interactive book filled with puzzles and fun activities to do!

…

Read More

19 fascinating non-fiction picture books about inventors and inventing

These non-fiction picture books about inventors are the perfect inspiration for kids who love to tinker, build, and have grand plans to change the world!

These non-fiction picture books about inventors are the perfect inspiration for kids who love to tinker, build, and have grand plans to change the world!

My middle child is an inventor. I could say “He wants to be an inventor,” but the truth is that he already is one. He has a mind that is constantly whirring with ideas and hands that are constantly building and tinkering with whatever happens to be nearby. Sticks, cardboard boxes, Lego bricks…he’s not picky. He’s a bit of a hoarder, in truth, and he has claimed the closet under the stairs in our basement as his “lab.”

…

Read More

12 delightful spring books for kids that celebrate nature

Get your kids excited for exploring the great outdoors with these fabulous spring books that celebrate the changing seasons, the magic of growing plants, and the beauty of nature.

Get your kids excited for exploring the great outdoors with these fabulous spring books that celebrate the changing seasons, the magic of growing plants, and the beauty of nature.

Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if purchases are made through those links. Please see my full disclosure to learn more.

After a long, cold winter, I am always sooo ready to welcome spring!

Spring is the time for jumping in puddles and hunting for worms after a storm.

The time for planting seeds and watching the magic of new life emerging through the soil.

The time for sitting on a picnic blanket with your face turned toward the sun, soaking in the warmth.

And…the time for reading a stack of spring-themed picture books to your kids on that same blanket while they munch on a tray of snacks.

…

Read More

14+ picture books about colors your kids will love

Teach your child all the colors of the rainbow (and more!) with these fabulous picture books about colors.

Teach your preschooler all the colors of the rainbow (and more!) with these fabulous picture books about colors.

Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if purchases are made through those links. Please see my full disclosure to learn more.

Exploring colors with kids is such fun! Color identification is a core kindergarten-readiness skill, and the possibilities for playing and learning with the colors in the world around you are endless!

…

Read More

15 picture books about kindness to inspire your kids

Show some love to your favorite little people this month by snuggling up together with a good book…and inspire them to keep the good deeds going with these fabulous picture books about kindness.

Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if purchases are made through those links. Please see my full disclosure to learn more.

Let’s be real for a moment…my house is not always filled with gentle, loving-kindness. My three wild boys spend a lot of time wrestling each other and trying to push each other’s buttons.

They love each other, and when push comes to shove (and sometimes it really does) they really do take care of each other, but like most kids, they also have their difficult moments.

So, let’s just say, we can use all the inspiration we can get over here in the “choose to be kind” department.

…

Read More

Easy-to-read chapter books that kids in the “early reader” stage will love

If your child is just crossing the bridge from picture books to novels, you’ll love these easy-to-read chapter books. They are the sweet spot that will keep kids entertained while strengthening reading skills and confidence.

If your child is just crossing the bridge from picture books to novels, you'll love these easy-to-read chapter books. They are the sweet spot that will keep kids entertained while strengthening reading skills and confidence.

Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if purchases are made through those links. Please see my full disclosure to learn more.

Over the last year, my 7-year-old son’s reading ability has exploded. I’ve seen him develop a hunger for books, and seen his confidence in reading grow. He is flying through stories now that he would have been intimidated by just a few months ago. It has been so fun to watch!

But this in-between stage of reading is tricky in some ways, too. Several months ago, he got to the point where he was ready to experiment with reading longer texts than a typical picture book, but he wasn’t quite ready for a full novel. So, I began hunting for books that could help him bridge that gap.

…

Read More

The Best Train Books for Kids of all Ages

If you have aspiring train engineers at your house, you’ll love this curated list of our favorite train books for kids…from our train-loving family to yours!

If you have aspiring train engineers at your house, you'll love this curated list of our favorite train books for kids...from our train-loving family to yours!

Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if purchases are made through those links. Please see my full disclosure to learn more.

As a mom of three young boys, I’ve spent a lot of hours over the past eight years playing with and reading about TRAINS.

All of my boys have gone through a serious train phase (my youngest is still in the thick of it!). Trains are right up there with dinosaurs and construction trucks for my kids biggest obsession.

…

Read More

25 charming Christmas picture books you’ll love

These Christmas picture books for kids are the best of the best…stories your family will want to read again and again! We got our first real snow this week, and Black Friday ads are everywhere…so it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas from where I’m standing.

We’re holding out on putting up the Christmas tree until after Thanksgiving, but we’ve been listening to Jingle Bells on repeat and we broke out the Christmas picture books last week. I started requesting books from the library weeks ago, knowing that by December 1st, many of my favorites will be backlogged until February….

Read More

Terrific Dinosaur Books for Kids (that actually teach you about dinosaurs)

Dinosaur books abound, but few of them actually teach kids many facts about the giant lizards they love so much. These ten terrific dinosaur books are the best of the best–engaging and educational–absolute must-reads for the dino-lover in your home.Dinosaur books abound, but few of them actually teach kids many facts about the giant lizards they love so much. These ten terrific dinosaur books are the best of the best--engaging and educational--absolute must-reads for the dino-lover in your home.

NOTE: THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS. AS ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS. SEE MY DISCLOSURE TO LEARN MORE. 

When I became a mom six years ago, I knew I had a lot to learn. I knew I would be teaching my kids the alphabet, counting, and the difference between blue and green. I did not, however, realize that being the mom of three boys would require me to get an honorary PhD in paleontology and construction. Seriously, I had NO idea how much time I would spend reading about dinosaurs and trucks.

…

Read More