Last year I decided I wanted to make myself a gold ring wreath like I had admired in the minimalist Christmas searches in Pinterest. Unfortunately, it was difficult to find the right size sold just as one. Everything came as a large set. That’s when I decided, well if I could make one, why not a whole bunch. We gift to many family members at Christmas and sometimes it’s nice to have one gift that works for many people. With only a few supplies from the craft store, and mostly odds and ends I had around the house, I was able to create eight different wreaths that represented the style and personality of each person I was gifting to. It was such a fun process and also so very easy. I thought I might share the wreaths I created in case you have someone who might enjoy this gift. Crafting Christmas is not for everyone. But you need something to do with your hands while watching the overworked marketing associate return to her home town to save the old library threatened of tear down from the creepy realtor guy while simultaneously rekindling a romance with the nerd she ignored in high school.

Supplies (accessories linked are similar products found):

Gold Hoops / Greenery / Felt Balls / Faux Berries / Ribbon / Felt Roses / Dried Oranges / Glue Gun

The instructions are simple: Play around with the supplies on the hoop until you have it the way you like it. Go to town with your glue gun. The end.

Hope you have yourself a crafty little Christmas!

I’ve been moody lately. I don’t even feel like I need to explain it to you because I think you’re feeling it too. I’ve been hunting for “The Thing” that might pull me out of it. But I think you also already know “The Thing” doesn’t exist. It’s never one thing that helps. It’s a hundred tiny little things that work differently at different times. The more we experience this feeling, the more tools we have to help us. And yet this year requires an entirely new set of tools, which apparently, like toilet paper, is all sold out.

Some are turning to Christmas trees and twinkle lights for “The Thing.” I support this. I will get there. But it hasn’t felt like what I wanted quite yet. Really, I don’t know what I want. It certainly isn’t in a gift list. It never is in a gift list. And you know that, too (you are so smart.)

But it also isn’t NOT in a gift list. What I mean is, I remembered this week that I am no stranger to funky moods during Christmas. I’ve been first trimester pregnant, I’ve been third trimester pregnant. I’ve had new babies, I’ve been in new places. Now here we are in Pandemic Christmas, certainly new but still quite similar to these uncomfortable transitions. So I looked back at years past and tried to find one small thing that brought me joy when holiday depression settled.

Gift giving. 

Really, it’s not even in the gift giving but rather the gift curating I love so much. It’s a creative nudge that I can handle when my body just wants to be still. My favorite gift planning of all is in my Book and Toy Pairing Gift guides. As a form of resistance against the negative feelings, I set about creating this year’s list. The process involves books and creativity, all things I love. And when we go hunting for the things we love, we find joy. That’s not a small thing.

I hope you enjoy this year’s list. Feel free to visit these archives for year’s past.

And if you, too, are sitting in the middle of an unfortunate mood, I hope you can find something small that brings you joy soon. 

Sometimes it is the toys that drive me to find a book. This year it was the books. Many are favorites. Some are new and on our wish lists and library lists. All are sure to delight both you and the children in your lives. Because extending story to play is another small joy worth finding. 

P.S.When you make a purchase though my links, I make a small commission. That being said, these are my honest opinions and I was not paid to talk about any of the products mentioned. I just think they are pretty great!

Winter Books

I think one guy of the best ways to mark the changing of a season is in reading books that fit that season. Winter brings some of my favorite books. You’ll find many of them in this list. Here are some new ones we have enjoyed. 

The Wish Tree / Penguin Problems / Mice Skating / Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter / Lines

While sleds or winter gear might be an obvious pairing with winter books, I feel I need to give a plug to these indoor snowballs. Trust me, you will like these more than you think. I have taken great pleasure at pelting my children at the end of a long week, and their giggle fits tell me they like it too.

Notable People in History Books

I gather many of my books from the library, but these are some I don’t mind having in our own collection. Reading about heroes in history feels like one of the best ways I can teach my children how to be good humans.

Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls / Little Dreamers / Dream Big Little One / Think Big Little One

One of the primary reasons we pair books with toys is so the story can continue long after the last page. Along with a diverse set of books, adding diversity to our children’s play things is just as important. These stickers would be fun for kids to put together different people. These little peg dolls are so simple and sweet. I’m also heart eyeing this collection of inspiring women. I love the idea of Frida Kahlo, RBG, and Rosa Parks all having tea together inside a little dollhouse. Or better yet, going on a road trip like Thelma and Louise! Step aside, Barbie. There are some new women in town!

How Things Work Books

We have the How Trains Work and How Airports Work and thoroughly enjoy this series. There is so much to find in each picture that I don’t think we will ever tire of it. I want to add the third book in this series How Cities Work. 

How Airports Work / How Trains Work / How Cities Work

The toy to pair with these books is pretty obvious and there is no shortage of cars and trains and plane options out there for you. But I especially love these rubber ones from Wonder Wheels for Battat. We have the airplane and I will be adding the garbage truck along with the How Cities Work book. They have a few moving pieces but also as sturdy as can be which is important.

Bike Books 

All of these books on bikes charmed me with their covers and I haven’t even read them yet. They would be the perfect gift to your wheel loving little one.

Go Bikes Go / Cycle City / Born to Ride / The Red Bicycle

This bike light with multiple sounds is sure to impress the neighborhood bike gang.

USA Travel Books

Very few of us are traveling these days. But the planning is half the fun anyway. There are some great index books on fun facts about the country. Or dive into the Larry Gets Lost series, always a fun way to introduce your kids to new places around our country. Get your kids in on dreaming up the next big adventure!

National Parks of the USA / 50 Adventures in the 50 States / National Geographic Ultimate US Road Trip Atlas / Larry Gets Lost in Chicago / Larry Loves Chicago

We love this puzzle to go along with a big road trip. Also you could consider any of these favorite road toys in this post. And these journals look like so much fun, especially if you are headed to any of these national parks. Also, I found this camper van when looking at the Wonder Wheels from above and I think this would be such a cute addition. Santa is adding this to his bag for our house this year.

Shape Books

The best books are those that tell such a great story you don’t even notice you are learning. These books are all fun ways of teaching about shapes.

Round is a Tortilla / Square / Circle / Triangle / Shape Shift

Bring the shapes out of the story and into your kids hands with creativity while also teaching geometry. These tangrams have been a big hit for our kids this fall. It is even satisfying for adults.

Cardboard Creation Books

It is true that you give a kid a present and all they really want to play with is the box. But there is no greater beginning point for imagination. These books capture the magic in a box.

A Fort on the Moon / Cardboard Kingdom / The Fort

And these cardboard creation tools continue it into play. Start saving your cardboard now!

"Who are you reading to?" Elliott wanders into the living room to find me reading outloud to an empty room.

"Well, I was reading to Leo but he didn’t like my book choice so he left."

I continue reading, and he squeezes in next to me. Another page later his sister enters the room and climbs up onto the top of the couch (why this is comfortable, I’ll never know but they all do it. I wonder if the couch testers put bodies onto the couch ledge when they test for durability?)

The toddler finally returns, sitting at my feet thumbing through his own stack of books. 

When I finish, they all wander off again. I continue to answer questions and make meals and follow them around like a personal Roomba. 

But for that moment, it was calm, the reset that I needed. 

It’s been a rough week. I’m tired of answering the question "what are we doing today?" I’m tired of making meals, I’m tired of listening to their whines, I’m tired of picking up their endless trails of stuff. This is not unusual for the end of August. This part of the summer is necessary for making the launch from the nest into the classroom easier for all. 

But there won’t be a launch this year. Not in the way we once knew. The weight of this reality hangs like the humidity cloud outside our windows.

I’m trying to dissipate the stress in the usual healthy ways. But it feels like it still trails me, on the running path as I listen to my podcasts, on my social media feeds as I mindlessly scroll, and in bed when I should be sleeping but instead my mind is doing mental gymnastics. 

And yet, there is something magical about these children’s books. I might be tempted to say reading them takes me back to when I was a child and my world was simpler. But I don’t think that’s the case. I actually think children’s books can be just as complex and enriching as adult reading, perhaps even more so. As a writer I’m learning the art of saying more with less. Children’s authors have that nailed. And art to push it over the top.

I learned long ago that the right children’s book is as good if not better than an entire self help book. Our neighborhood library reopened for easy holds pickup recently. Which means I can walk off my stress to pick up another antidote to my stress, and be home in time to read to anyone, or no one. 

This collection of books I share today are exactly the right amount of cozy, emotional, and uplifting. I can’t speak for whether or not the kids are into them. But as I’ve said before. I don’t pick children’s books for them. I pick them for me. And if they wander in to listen every now and then, that’s just icing on the ice cream book cake. 

PS I threw that in because I made the cutest ice cream cake for Caroline’s birthday with a reading theme and I figured this August Book Collection wouldn’t be complete without that little nod. Happy Reading and Happy Eating!

My Favorite Children’s Books Read in August, and one great Ice Cream Cake.

Brave

Elliott has asked me to read this one many times, and I do not tire of it. I am always trying to remind my kids there are many ways to be brave. And we need this reminder more and more these days. 

The Uncorker of Bottles 

This story took my breath away. It is sad and lonely and then it is warm and tender. I can relate to all of these feels. Also it makes me miss parties with friends and the healing power of this.

What’s Cooking 10 Garden Street

Speaking of parties with friends, this book ends with a potluck dinner with all of the members of the apartment buildgng and it reminds me why I love living in mixed housing communities. Every shows a peak into someone’s kitchen, including the recipe they make. But it’s the details in the illustration that show each person as unique that i love so much. Part of my obsession with peaking into windows at night! I just love how food is a connector in our communities. 

Here and Now

This story is a meditation from beginning to end. And the page that reads “somewhere…an idea is blooming,” I choke up every time. 

Home in the Woods

I was drawn to this book because of the little house in the woods that reminded me of my cabin. But I had no idea the story would be so lovely. This one also begins sad, but with the mother’s hope. The illustration where she is in bed with all of her children, awake nursing her baby and “whispering to the stars,” oh mama, I feel that.

Green on Green

These last two books I feel especially drawn to from a writer perspective. The poetic nature of this story is such a lovely example of how simple repetitive words can tell a story too. I love any book that tells of the season changes. 

I Can Write the World

This story is of a girl who decides the best way to share the voices of her community is to be a writer. I love the message it shares with young children.

And one more thing…that ice cream cake!

Heres a quick recipe that I plan on using every time:

Quarter ice cream sandwiches and arrange upright around the edge of a spring form pan, as if setting books on a book shelf with pages facing out (get the book thing now?) Crush up Oreos and add to bottom of pan inside ice cream sandwiches. Cover Oreos with softened ice cream. Freeze. Top with whipped cream, hard shell chocolate sauce and any decorations, refreeze. Slice and enjoy!

P.S.When you make a purchase though my links, I make a small commission. That being said, these are my honest opinions and I was not paid to talk about any of the products mentioned. I just think they are pretty great! And Happy Shopping!