The Snatchabook

Reading to our children at home is such a wonderful evening activity.  After a crazy meal time (Connor's usually throwing food, the dogs are barking, and Molly's usually whining for a special treat) and right after a fun-filled bath (water everywhere, including the floor), sitting down with my kids to five or six books is a real treat.   No one makes a sound except for the reader!

Miss Nancy recently recommended The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty, and we have been enjoying it night after night.  Eliza Brown, an adorable rabbit, discovers that all of her friends favorite books are being snatched up! Someone is coming into their rooms at night and stealing their stories.

Keen to solve the mystery of what was happening to all the books, Eliza finds a creature -- mournful and full of shame -- that says, "I'm just a little Snatchabook."   This creature who you soon learn to love, says: "I know it's wrong, but can't you see -- I've got no one to read to me!"    Wouldn't you know it that Molly instantly said, "that's so sad, Mommy!"  Given how much we treasure reading to our children, it certainly would be sad if a child didn't have anyone to read to them.

A lesson is learned by everyone in the end as The Snatchabook puts back all the books he has taken. All is forgiven when everything has been returned.  And I bet you know who's reading to The Snatchabook?

"And if you take a closer look you might just see the Snatchabook, perched happily on someone's bed... listening hard to each word said."  YOU!

What a lovely story!  It's perfect for pre-K or K, or young readers on their own. It also makes a great gift for birthdays for someone who loves books.  Buy this treasured book now, right here on the blog, and support The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton SC's only children's book store.  You'll receive 10% off the cost of the book as a thank you!

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The Tooth Mouse

What an an exciting time for children when they start losing their baby teeth! My 4-year old daughter, Molly, already thinks she has a loose tooth (she doesn't) and can't wait for the tooth fairy!  A rite of passage and full of magic, the tradition of the tooth fairy is a time-honored one across the word.  In this lovely book The Tooth Mouse by Susan Hood and Janice Nadeau, young readers are introduced to France's version of the tooth fairy.

La Petite Souris (The Tooth Mouse) is retiring and looking for his successor! Many mice would love the job so they have to go through a series of task to prove they are worthy.  Sofie, a sweet young mouse, wants the job most of all.   She has to prove that she is brave, honest and wise enough to become the Tooth Mouse. She goes through a series of difficult tasks and faces many challenges.  In the end, it was the simpliest answer that proved most wise to earn her the spot.

Miss Nancy and her staff at The Storybook Shoppe always knows books that are going to captivate my daughter.  This one kept Molly on the edge of her seat the entire time, mostly because of the topic and the beautiful illustrations.  It's an adorable book that we love.

This book also makes a great birthday gift for 5 or 6 year old who starts loosing their teeth.  Pair the book with this cute tooth mouse box.  Kids can insert their baby teeth in the pocket of the tooth mouse and it's a great keepsake.

Buy these items right here on the blog!  These treasured book and keepsake make a great gift or addition to your library at home.

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Creepy Carrots

Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe recommended Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reyonlds to us a few weeks ago, and I just had to share this one with you for Halloween.  My daughter, Molly, has a bit of dark side when it comes to choosing books. She gets a kick out of "scary" subject matters.  Creepy Carrots satisfies her curiosity for "scary" with this delightful book about Jasper the rabbit who fears his favorite treats are out to get him.

Jasper, like all rabbits, loves carrots.  He loves them so much that he visits the carrot patch on his way to school, on his way home, on his way to little league practice.  He can't get enough!  It seems he is quite greedy, actually.

Copyrighted material used via Amazon

But soon Jasper feels like the carrots are following him. They're creeping him out! While he brushes his teeth, while he's sleeping, are the carrots he loves so much following him?  They're haunting him everywhere he goes!

Often times when I finish a book with Molly, I ask her, "what do you think the author was trying to say to us?"  (It's easier than: what's the morale of the story?)   She had to think about this one for quite some time then she said that maybe he had too many carrots and they were mad at him.   Smart 4 year old.  I think she's right, maybe there is a message about greed in this one.   There is also a clever ending that negates all the "scary."

One of my favorite things about Miss Nancy and her staff at The Storybook Shoppe is that they introduce our family to books I never would have picked up.  This isn't one I would have gravitated towards but it is a HUGE hit right now for Halloween. The illustrations by Peter Brown really delight and it's a book that keeps you guessing until the end.  Are the carrots really following Japser? Or is it just his imagination?

Buy Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds now, right here on this blog, and support a Bluffton, SC children's bookstore.    By buying books on our blog, you are supporting a local community!  We're offering 10% off as a thank you.

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I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love

There are some books that are instant classics.  Books that should be on the shelves in every house of every child around the world.  Off the top of my head, I can name a few of them: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Good Night Moon, and On The Night You Were Born.  This book, introduced to our family by Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe, joins those ranks.  It's by Nancy Tillman (author of On The Night You Were Born) and it's called I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love.  It makes the perfect gift for a newborn baby.



The beautiful, realistic illustrations captivate young readers page by page.  Readers feel a sense of magic and wonder.



The underlying message is not so underlying but reads loud and clear:  whatever you choose to be, whatever you become, you are loved.  Because you are my child, I will always know you and you will always be a part of me.



Reading this book is reading a parents pure love.  It gives my daughter Molly a sense of security, a sense of calm, and it's thoroughly enjoyed by our family.   We highly recommend it, it truly is an instant classic. This one is another winner from Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe.

You can purchase I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love right here on the blog and support The Storybook Shoppe in Bluffton, SC.  We are giving our readers 10% off!    Great gift for newborn, birthday, and holidays coming up.... eeek!

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Steam Train, Dream Train

The part of me that revolted against all things princess for my daughter wants to scream and shout in protest for all things train and construction for my son.  What's with all this gender stereotyping?  Turns out if you can't beat them, you really should join them... at least I will with Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld.  They're the same team that created the wildly popular Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. 

Train books are popular with my 17-month old son because he loves things that move!  This one is no exception as the dream train pulls into the station and car by car, it's loaded by animals (another bonus for Connor) with balls (bonus again!) and polar bears even stack one car with ice cream (you guessed it! another bonus!) 

Once again, this writing/illustrating duo have created a soft rhythm.   Readers get into a natural pattern and a song-like voice emerges.



We love the unique perspectives and vantage points, the brush strokes and moonlit lighting throughout this gem!   While I don't honestly think it's as good as Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site (there's no "pipe down!" or sassy onlooker for us here!) we still think this was a fabulous recommendation by Miss Nancy at The Storybook Shoppe.

Embrace the gender stereotype for a train loving boy!  He'll delight in every page. And hey, let's not forget that she will love it too!  Buy it now at 10% OFF from The Storybook Shoppe and support Bluffton, SC's local bookstore.

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10% off (was 16.99) 

NOW $15.21 plus $5 shipping & tax