‘Children’s Books’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Book Review: Snow Bear {Piers Harper}

June 25, 2013 · Narrative

Is it ok to review a book about snow when it was 100 degree outside today?

That’s a rhetorical question.

We have had this book, Snow Bear, forever. Or at the very least since Nick was Madeline’s age.

Which is pretty much the same as forever.

An adorable story about a small bear that ventures off to explore the area on the first day of Spring. Eager to see the world after a long, cold Winter, he didn’t heed his Mama’s warning about staying close enough so she could see him. Along his journey, he meets various animals who all help him on his adventure. Soon he’s wandered far enough away from his Mama that he can’t quite find his way back.

As this is a soft-to-touch book, there are flocked spots on the animals throughout the book for your children to touch. The pictures are softly colored and beautifully illustrated, and the length of the book makes it the perfect story to read at bedtime. It’s a sweet story with, spoiler alert!, a happy ending and one that Madeline reaches for time and time again.

A few critics that didn’t care for it panned it because the bear looks so sweet and happy in the story, yet he’s lost. I don’t know about you, but I’m not planning on having my daughter get upset and freak out because the bear is panicked. I’d rather she see that he kept his cool and because he did (mostly because of naivete), it all worked out in the end. The book was also tagged for not having enough depth. Given the intended audience is 3-5 years old, while I definitely don’t want a book dumbed down for my children, it also needs to be a concept that they can easily grasp given their age.

Definitely perfect for the intended age group, and a nice addition to our collection.

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Book Review: The Potato Chip Champ

January 19, 2013 · Narrative

Well that was an unexpected break. Between the bullying issue, Madeline’s croup, and a migraine that came out of nowhere and knocked me sideways, I feel like we lost the whole week.

Mostly because we did.

The bullying seems to be handled for now (thank you so much for your kind comments and emails). Madeline is on the mend. And the migraine isn’t completely gone, but is nowhere near the intensity it was on Thursday.

So time to try and get back on track.

When Maria Dismondy asked if we would like to check out her newest book, The Potato Chip Champ, I said yes without hesitation. Madeline loved the last book of hers we read, Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun, and we so rarely say no to new books. You know, because story reading happens on a daily basis.

And this topic? On kindness? Well, it was a no-brainer. It’s a great tie-in to a little project the kids and I have been working on, but that’s a story for another day. Or, well, when that project is complete.

Kindness is something I don’t harp on with the kids. Because I want it to come naturally. Because they know it’s the right thing to do, not because I said so. So I try my best to lead by example, and give subtle hints along the way. On Friday, after our second doctor’s office visit for the week, we stopped by Target to get another round of medicines and magical elixirs to clear up what was ailing Madeline. She has been in such a sorry state this last week, and seriously looks like a walking zombie. Miserable. My mom said to give Madeline $20 to buy herself something at the store, to cheer her up a bit.

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Book Review: If I Could Keep You Little

September 13, 2012 · Narrative

One of the things I’m really mindful of is to not rush any stage of our life.

As in “I can’t wait until they can walk…”

Or “I can’t wait until they are in school full-time…”

Or “I can’t wait until the terrible two’s are over…”

Or “…until they’re driving…”

Or “until the house is quiet again…”

Because even with all the challenges that come along with being a mom, I know I will miss this all.

The messes in their rooms.

The sticky cups left in my bathroom.

The frustration of trying to teach how to convert fractions to decimal points.

The overly long Christmas concerts.

The surprises I find in the couch cushions.

The tear-stained cheeks.

Sometimes, at the end of a long day, that all might push me over the edge. But one day, it will be gone.

They won’t need me as much.

They’ll grow up, and go to college.

Away.

Start their own families.

And it will all be gone.

I almost cannot even bear the thought.

(Although they both have said they plan to live with me forever, and Madeline said I can drive her and her family around.)

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