Skeleton Hiccups

Halloween is fast approaching, can you believe it? The Storybook Shoppe has all kinds of festive Halloween books prominently displayed on the front table and last week when I was in, I picked up a few good ones. Seasonal books are so much fun to read each year.  Each holiday we buy just a few new ones for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. When the holiday is over, we put them away and bring them out next year. It keeps them very "fresh" and "new." (And that way you aren't reading Halloween books all year long!) 

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by S.D. Schindler is the perfect Halloween story for little ones. My daughter, Molly, is just learning to read and it's short text is easy for her. I love watching her sound out each letter to make the word. She's getting very good! Short lines like these are just at her reading level.

With illustrations of pumpkins, "RIP" signs, ghosts, spiders and skeletons, this book has all the iconic Halloween goodies in it that children have come to expect.  The illustrations are vibrant, comically spooky but not scary. As for the writing, it's a funny story about how to cure a skeleton who has the hiccups. Children will love how this skeleton ultimately rids himself of hiccups and you will, too. (Boo! It involves a mirror!) 

Do you add seasonal books to your children's library each holiday? If you don't, start the tradition now. Trust me, it's SO much fun. You can buy this book right here on our blog and receive 10% OFF. Check out below using PayPal and we will ship it directly to your door.  Thank you for supporting our local bookstore! 

BUY IT NOW

Regularly $6.99 

Take 10% OFF to pay $6.29 plus tax & shipping

Digger Dog

Oh, is this one a treat! Digger Dog by William Bee, illustrated by Cecilia Johansson, was recommended to my family by Miss Bonnie at The Storybook Shoppe.  My two year old son, Connor, cannot get enough of it. Every night he asks for "Digger Dog" and for "more Digger Dog!" It's simple, rhythmic, and interactive - it's absolutely perfect for his age. 

In this short picture book perfect for little ones who adore diggers, a dog goes in search of a bone. But the ground is always too hard and too deep - so he needs a bigger and stronger digger.  When he gets the biggest digger in the whole world, he finds the biggest bone in the whole world. Or is it? 

SPOILER ALERT! The last page folds out to unveil a very large dinosaur (fossil) hidden beneath what digger dog believes to be the biggest bone in the whole world. It's Connor's favorite part! He screams: "eeekk! Dinosaur!" We just love the pages that fold out. 

The illustrations are perfect for the text in this book. Digger Dog is so animated!  Children will love how predictable each page is, too. The concept is easy to understand and communicated very well. It really goes down in history as one of our favorites! 

You can order this book right here on our blog! Just check out using PayPal below. We will ship it to your door within a few days. As a thank you for supporting our local, independent bookstore, we'll take 10% OFF the cover price. 

BUY IT NOW

Regularly $14.99 

Take 10% OFF and pay $13.41 plus tax & shipping

 

If Kids Ruled The World

Here's an opportunity for children everywhere to live in fantasy land!  Let your children dive into this book. Let them dive in a world where everyday is their birthday, cake is healthy, there's no bedtime, no monsters, they can wear whatever they want, travel in a pirate ship, even travel to space!  If kids ruled the world, they could have a bear for a pet. Everyone could be a princess, they would always find treasure, and always have recess at school. If kids ruled the world, they'd always be able to play.  What young child wouldn't love dreaming of ruling the world and all the possibilities beyond this book? 

Miss Bonnie at The Storybook Shoppe recently recommended this one to us and we fell in love! My 5-year-old daughter, Molly, really got a kick out of seeing all the things that were possible if kids ruled the world. We opened a discussion (as all good books help you do) about what would happen if there were no parents. What if kids really ruled the world. Would the world be a good place?  We even discussed what "responsibility" meant. 

I highly recommend this wonderful book by Linda Bailey and whimsical, fantasty-like illustrations by David Huyck, to anyone. You can buy it now, right here on our blog, for 10% OFF. Just check out using the PayPal button below and we will ship it directly to your door. 

BUY IT NOW 

Regularly $16.99

Take 10% OFF and pay $15.25 plus tax & shipping

Gaston

Miss Bonnie at The Storybook Shoppe introduced us to the most wonderful tale, Gaston, by Kelly Dipucchio and Christian Robinson. A poodle and bulldog puppy both learn what it means to be part of a family -- no matter what you look like or how you act.  The O'Regan's fell in love with the beautiful illustrations, the simple message and the charming tale about finding your place. 

You see, Gaston was a bit different than his family.  His sisters and brothers ate politely and quietly yapped. But not Gaston. He had trouble doing what he was told. He had trouble because he was different! 

One day at the park, Gaston and his family had a chance meeting with another dog family. Like Gaston's family, they had a dog that didn't quite fit either.  Antoinette was a poodle and a bit out of place, too.  Should they switch?

It may look right.  It may seem like the right thing to do. But did it feel right? They switched families and gave it a shot. 

In this adorable tale, children learn that family is all about whom you grow up with.  It's not about what you look like or even how you act.  It occurred to me that this might be a wonderful book for adopted children! Of course, there's a charming ending to the book, too. Gaston and Antoinette fall in love and have puppies of their own. We just love that they "taught them to be whatever they wanted to be." 

This book is truly a fabulous addition to any home library - each page is a piece of artwork. My 5 year-old daughter, Molly, loved the characters and wanted to read it again and again.  You can buy it here on our blog -- without even leaving your home! As a thank you for supporting The Storybook Shoppe (our local independently owned children's bookstore) we will take 10% OFF the list price.  Just check out below! 

BUY IT NOW

Regularly $16.99

Take 10% OFF - Pay $15.21 plus tax and shipping