Hi y’all!

I hope you are having a lovely May. It’s been a bit crazy around here with the end of school and everything. Hope you are surviving and thriving wherever you are.

Today I thought I would share a few mini reviews of some of the books I’ve been reading aloud to my kids. I love reading with my kids and we have read some really cute, clever stories lately.

Ivy and Bean, books 1-6 by Annie Barrows // These books are so fun! We have loved these darling stories about best friends Ivy and Bean. This is my first time reading Ivy and Bean and it was delightful!

We loved the fun characters in Ivy and Bean. They are different but have so much fun together. Loved how they balance each other out and find all these fun and quirky things to do together. I like how small the world is on their street and their school. One simple problem to overcome in each book that kept us reading “just one more chapter” for several chapters.

We love how creative Ivy and Bean are in their play. And how excited they get together. Also how they always take care of each other when things don’t go as planned. They are good friends to each other.

There are so many details that make these great read alouds: clever storytelling and just so much fun, great illustrations, and lovable characters.

The Complete Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem // These beautifully illustrated stories focus on the mice community that live in Brambly Hedge.

Why these are great for reading aloud:

• Loved the beautiful illustrations throughout all the stories
• Easy to read a full story in one sitting. Fun action and good morals.
• Love the way the stories are told — classic wordings and older vocabulary. they feel timeless and old and cozy.
• Sweet characters that take care of their neighbors and friends. Loved their adventures and how they work together to have a winter ball, a summer wedding, a birthday picnic, new house, sail to get salt, hike a mountain, and more.
• Loved these sweet stories! Great read aloud!

Anna & Elsa: All Hail the Queen by Erica David // We got this book from our local used book store and it was really cute! A fun early chapter book that I co-read with my oldest. We had fun reading the stories and they are sweet and light.

Why this is great for reading aloud:

• Great for emerging readers and kids ready to start reading chapter books on their own.
• Fun to see our favorite Frozen characters in new stories.
• Fun illustrations throughout.
• Good morals at the end and great family relationships.
• There is a sequel that we would like to read too

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater //  We enjoyed this classic children story about Mr. Popper and his amazing performing penguins. A sweet, endearing story about family and pets and doing what’s best for those you love.

We LOVED the penguins! Their clever names (all named after royalty and explorers), their show routine, their home in the basement. The penguins were so fun!

Simple story that was easy to follow and taught us some interesting details about penguins — their climate, diet, mating, where they live, and more. Definitely a story from another time. Slow and not action packed but just feel good and enjoyable.

We were glad the ending is a bit happier than it might have been. Great illustrations throughout which my kids loved. A fun classic!

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s Magic by Betty MacDonald // Love these stories! Such fun adventures with kids and their bad habits. My kids love these! I think my kids are at the perfect ages for these stories especially my oldest. The stories are fun and engaging. My kids laughed as we listened to each one.

The chapters are a bit long so I usually read them in at least two sittings. The pictures are fun — at least one in each chapter. Love how each story stands alone but is in the same universe. We see children from other stories in future stories. It can be hard to keep them all straight but it’s fun to see former protagonists later in the stories.

Mrs Piggle Wiggle herself is a dream — a softer around the edges Mary Poppins who loves children and has a cure for every bad habit from bad table manners (Lester the pig comes to show the way) to tattle tales (magic medicine that makes the tattles become dark clouds on the ceiling) to skipping school (magic medicine that makes them so slow and simple they can’t do much of anything). The stories are so fun and clever.

We loved these books and definitely want to read more about Mrs Piggle Wiggle!

What have you been reading lately?