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By Mom Unplugged, October 18, 2007 8:57 pm

I was astonished to discover that this book was first published in 1906. The language (translated from the original German), although formal, does not feel 100 years-old!

This simple story follows mother nature and “the root-children,” tiny flower fairy-like tots, as they prepare for spring. We then watch the children dance and play all summer long until the cold fall winds send them back down under the earth for their winter’s sleep.

Younger children will enjoy the lovely art-nouveau illustrations while older ones will want to hear the peaceful story over and over. My 5 and 7 year-old frequently ask for this book!

Waldorf families will appreciate the “cycle of nature” theme.

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By Mom Unplugged, October 12, 2007 11:50 am

We have had this one since my 6 year-old was just a baby and it is oft requested.

The plot is very simple: a flea with a cold. The adorable illustrations and the comfortingly repetitive text are what really make this book a bedtime favorite. Everyone especially loves the page where the flea finally lets out his huge sneeze that wakes the entire barn!

The Flea’s Sneeze is one of those rare finds that is as much fun for a parent to read, as it is for little ones to listen to.

Paperback is eligible for Amazon’s 4-for-3 promotion.

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By Mom Unplugged, October 3, 2007 8:34 pm

This funny book teaches children and adults alike about javelinas (pronounced: “HAVELEENA”) and yes, most people think that they are a variety of wild pig - nope, they are “peccaries.”

As a resident of Arizona, we actually encounter javelinas from time to time, and these encounters are all the more interesting now that we have learned so much from this wonderful book! My children adore this book and love shouting out the oft repeated refrain: “Don’t call me pig!”

In addition to the fun, rhyming text, the book features marvelous and funny illustrations of the javelinas. Both the text and the illustrations describe their physical characteristics and their life in a manner that is appealing even to young children.

For adults who want the straight facts, there are two pages at the end of the book that discuss javelinas in a more narrative manner. This book should appeal to any child who is curious about wildlife, or the southwestern United States. It would be a great book for teachers too. My kids learned a lot, and so did I!

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By Mom Unplugged, September 24, 2007 9:15 pm

Perhaps I should have saved this post for Thanksgiving, but I am so excited about this book that I really had to post it now.

I found this lovely book over the summer when I was away in a place where they actually have stores, unlike here at home. It was either at TJ Max or Tuesday Morning and I bought it (hardcover) for $4.99 (list price is $16.99). Well, you are not going to get this kind of a deal from Amazon, but if you search your local discount stores, perhaps you will be lucky enough to find it for less.

This book is lovely in all respects. The illustrations are gorgeous oil paintings that are completely beautiful unto themselves. For me, often the illustrations are what make the book (as you can tell by the number of children’s books I recommend that are filed under “exceptional illustrations“).

The text of this book is as beautiful as the illustrations. A boy and his father go for a walk through a lovely fall landscape. As is his habit, the father gives thanks to every bit of nature that they encounter: frogs, crickets, tree, mushrooms, sun, etc. The boy explains that “Dad believes that the things of nature are a gift. And that in return, we must give something back. We must give thanks.” At the end of the book, the boy says: “To me it’s a little embarrassing to say thanks to trees and things. But Dad says it becomes a habit; it makes you feel good.” On the very last page the boy finally dares to thank the stars and is treated to a lovely surprise.

Sometimes I find certain books to be wonderfully worthy of praise, yet my children are not as interested. This however, is a book that seems to capture their attention as well as my own.

If my children could simply learn to be thankful for every bit of “nature” that they encounter, then I would feel that my mission on this Earth was not wasted. I am convinced that this simple book can help plant those seeds. Check it out of the library and let me know what you think.

**Paperback is eligible for the 4-for-3 Promotion at Amazon.**

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By Mom Unplugged, September 19, 2007 6:41 pm

This one is truly silly fun. Don’t buy it if you are looking for something profound. Don’t buy it if you want something educational. Do buy it if you want you kids to have a good silly laugh! Or simply check it out of the library of course.

We were kindly given the hardcover version of this book as a hand-me-down this summer, and it has been a huge hit.

Zachary Zebra and Orfo the Orangutan love underwear. They wear underwear of all different colors, prints and styles…sometimes all at once. Gloomy Bismark the Buffalo doesn’t like underwear,and not many other animals like him (even the flies stay away). Zachary helps Bismark laugh for the first time by daring him to say the word underwear ten times without laughing. You can guess the rest I am sure.

What child under the age of seven can resist laughing at jokes about bodily functions or underwear? Well, thankfully there is no bodily function humor here, but the underwear joke is a big hit with my two oldest kids. The illustrations are marvelous too!

I guarantee that the six and under set will find this one hilarious. The paperback is eligible for the 4-for-3 promotion at Amazon.