Thinking:
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
-Anne of Green Gables-
I am sad to see October go! It’s been so beautiful here, with only a little rain and lots of sunshine-which is perfect for bike rides and walks from morning till dusk.
I must keep in mind that Anne also said:
“It was November–the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.”
Playing:
My kids have always liked puzzles. Janey really loves “the bears” right now, and we set them up (she does not like the sad faces!) almost every day.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Bear Family Dress-Up Puzzle
We have so many of the wood Melissa and Doug’s-many of them are of vehicles leftover from the boys.
Reading:
Just finished this short book, a recommendation from the librarian. It is a story from the South, set in the 1970’s, of a white woman who hires a homeless man to cut her lawn, then seeks justice for him when he is accused of a crime. Well written, thought provoking, beautifully crafted story.
Bread and Jam for Frances (I Can Read Level 2)
If you have a picky eater it’s a good little lesson. Frances will ONLY eat bread and jam-and eats so much of it, that it doesn’t taste so great anymore. A classic for sure.
These are Janey’s favorite books-all the books about babies! And they were mine also-most especially Little Mommy, which is a good thing because I’ve practically memorized them all.
Little Mommy (Little Golden Book)
The New Baby (Little Golden Book)
Baby Listens (Little Golden Book)
Baby’s First Book (Little Golden Book)
Baby’s Christmas (Golden Baby)
Baby Dear ; Little Golden Book
(out of print)
I am just loving your Thinking Reading Playing series!!! Thank you for recommending Bloodroot. I am about half way through and an really enjoying it. I also ordered A Spoonful of Sugar from the library and can not wait to start it. Love your toy suggestions as well. Have picked up quite a few from your list.
I love Baby Dear! It is such a sweet story.
Love Eloise! That middle picture looks just like Janey! xo
I always thought so too Rachel!
I added The Pecan Man to my list earlier this week. Can't wait to read it!
Love the book ideas!
Thank you…and also for the link!
I'm off there now.
Have a cozy day!
I think Janey looks like the girls in the Golden Books, too! I remember them from my childhood – they were new books then- in the 1950's.
I am reading a book now you would LOVE! It's called The Farmer's Wife 1930s by Laurie Aaron Hird. It's letters from depression-era farmers wives to a magazine, and I love the bits of wisdom and glimpses into their lives. So put that on your list as well!
i have missed you so much and am thankful for this sweet little series you've been doing! i have a few of the {little golden books} from my childhood and i cherish them. off the top of my head, i have: baby dear, little mommy, and we love kindergarten.
There is nothing like Eloise Wilkins' illustrations. So very sweet. My wild and crazy and messy and loud and active little 2 1/2 year old son loves nothing more than to snuggle into my lap with a stack of vintage little golden books. It's the sweetest time of our day.
we had a different book on babies and I remember it being a favorite of my daughter's. Love the simpler, sweeter picture books – they are fewer and farther between these days. I have the Nanny book you recommended up next on my reading list once I finish my current book which is sweet but melancholy.
When do you fit in reading? I have six kids too and I find I can't read without falling asleep!
Sometimes during Janey's nap, and before I go to bed, and yes I fall asleep every time I read! I can't pry my eyes open!
Glad to hear it isn't just me! Perhaps I haven't been reading enough page turners! Last night I read "the Pecan Man" and couldn't put it down and stayed up until midnight! It felt so good to just read! Thanks for your inspirational posts and recommendations.
I just read The Pecan Man too, I absolutely loved it. Could not put it down.
What good stuff! I just started reading Anne of Green Gables aloud to my crew and am loving it now as an adult even more than I loved it as a girl. There is a lovely Eloise Wilkins "Little Golden Book Treasury" on Amazon for around $10 that we have only had to buy new with each baby because it is so loved by each child. It has "Baby Dear" (!), "Baby Listens" and several other classics like "Busy Timmy", "Terry's Who Is it?" and "We Help Mommy" as well as several others. It is a great little book!
Oh, Baby Dear is my favorite. Still have my copy from when I was 3… and hope to save it to read my grandchildren someday. The baby in it looks just like my own babies, especially on the bath page, so much so that I get tears in my eyes remembering my newborns.
I love the Eloise Wilkin illustrations so much I bought the collection to cut up and use the illustrations for nursery art.