FAVOURITE BOOKS FOR BABIES + TODDLERS
This week is Luca's final week taking part in our local library's (and province-wide) Summer Reading Club. It's a seven week program where you record the books you read and then at the end of the week you get a sticker and a prize! It's kinda surreal because I did it when I was a kid (at the exact same library too!!!!)
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This week is Luca's final week taking part in our local library's (and province-wide) Summer Reading Club. It's a seven week program where you record the books you read and then at the end of the week you get a sticker and a prize! It's kinda surreal because I did it when I was a kid (at the exact same library too!!!!)
If you've been following me for awhile, you'll know I'm a book lover through and through. My hope and dream is that my babies will follow suit. Thankfully they've already developed a love for books. Throughout the day Luca will bring me books to read and at bed time he would read hundreds if he could.
Here is a list of our favourites:
- That's not my Lion - These "That's not my..." books are soo good for babies! They have touch and feel parts that babies love to interact with. London just adores this book and when Luca was her age, he loved it as well. (I'd say best for age 6 months-18 months). London also gives the lion kisses at the end of the book and it is the cutest thing ever!!!
- Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You- Oh my goodness this book and every other book I've read by Nancy Tillman make me weep!!! They are so beautifully written and capture the heart of parenting (and heart of God.) I was given a number of her books when I had Luca and I was so glad because I had never heard of her books. I 100% recommend getting these for a baby shower!!
- Little Blue Truck Leads The Way- These Little Blue Truck books are sooo sweet. Now that Luca is a bit older, he likes longer stories. I love the illustrations in these ones too.
- Little Owl Lost- I just LOVE these books by Chris Haughton! We also have Oh, No George! and it's soo great. Cute, witty writing and cute illustrations. Luca loves them and often requests them!!
- Each Peach Pear Plum- We love this classic one.
- Are You My Mother?- Another well loved classic.
- Llama, Llama Red Pajama- Probably the most fun rhyme to read!
- DADA- I do NOT recommend this one if you want your child to say MAMA first, ha!! I hid this one from London. Luca said Dada first and I blame it all on this book!!!
- Goodnight Moon- Such a classic!!! I did read a funny buzz feed post on about all the quirkiness in it and made me LOL.
- Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb- We love drumming along to this one!
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?- We love this classic so much, I have a t-shirt of it!!
- Hello My Name is Bob- Luca randomly picked this one out at the library and it's SOOO GOOD. I'm tempted to buy it for him.
- Little People, Big Dreams: Rosa Parks- These books are written about amazing women who changed the world! We have Rosa Parks + Audrey Hepburn but I plan on getting London the whole set!
- The Gruffalo- Such a good book! I have it memorized.
PIN FOR LATER!
That's my list of favourites, I'd love to hear what you love to read to your littles!
XO,
Laura
photos by Rachael Alexandra Co
2018 SUMMER READING LIST
Summer for me means sunshine, beach days and lots of reading. These days I don't have the time to spend hours reading on the beach BUT that won't stop me from making my Summer Reading List!
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Summer for me means sunshine, beach days and lots of reading. These days I don't have the time to spend hours reading on the beach BUT that won't stop me from making my Summer Reading List!
Here's what's on my list for this Summer...
1. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng- okay, so I had a bit of a head start and already read this book earlier this year. It's a fascinating read that definitely challenged me and I would love to hear how you liked it! It's so good to read books that get you thinking about what you believe and why.
2. Educated by Tara Westover- there are 213 people ahead of me in line to read this at my library so I don't think I'll be getting to it this summer but my goodness it looks unreal. It's a family memoir about a girl who grew up mixing herbs to make remedies and digging through junkyards. She had no official birth certificate or education and had her first official day of school at University! I cannot wait to read this one...hoping those 213 people in front of me read it very quickly!
3. Stay the Path by Bobbie Houston- I just adore Bobbie Houston so I'm excited to dig into this one. I just ordered it because I have a feeling I'll want to read it again!
4. Everybody Always by Bob Goff- I absolutely loved Bob Goff's Love Does and I cannot wait to read this one! I know it's going to be challenging by also incredibly inspiring. He is such an amazing human being with so much insight.
5. The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand- It wouldn't be summer without reading one of Elin's Nantucket based novels! I loved reading The Identicals last year so I'm sure I'll love this one. Her books are easy chick lit perfect for any pool or beach day!
6. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell- I always love reading a thriller type novel in the summer and this one looks like it will fit the bill!
7. Love & Ruin by Paula McLain- I just got this out from the library and I'm totally hooked! I loved The Paris Wife so I'm not surprised I'm loving this one. It's about Martha Gellhorn, Ernest Hemmingway's third wife. I'm such a sucker for historical fiction!
8. The Light Between Oceans- This one was recommended by my friend Ashley who has read more than 50 books this year (she gave me a great list incase you need anymore suggestions!) I did watch this move, so I know the storyline but I'm excited to see how the book differs.
Do you have any must reads on your summer book list? I'd love to hear them!!
Oh and also, I enrolled Luca in the BC Summer Reading Program at our local library. It was the same library that I grew up going to and I remember enrolling in the Summer Reading Program every summer!! We read 20 minutes a day and if he completes a week, we get a prize! I'm hoping to bring him every Friday to get his prize. It warms my heart so much that he loves reading!!
XO!
Laura
2017 SUMMER READING LIST
If you've been following this blog for awhile, you'll know how much I love to read! I'm a bonafide book worm/nerd and my favourite summer activity is sitting in the sunshine with a cold drink and a good book! It's a bit more difficult to get my read on with my little munchkin running around BUT I still manage to getttterrrr done.
Here is what's on my list for summer 2017! Would love to hear your recommendations from all of you bookworms out there!
1. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins- The author of The Girl on the Train brings out another thriller. I'm expecting it to be an easy beach read! Love these thriller/page-turners in the summer time.
2. Anne of Green Gables Series by L. M. Montgomery- Well apparently I'm not actually a Canadian because I didn't grow up reading the classic Anne of Green Gables....but I'm making up for it now! I purchased the whole set at a used book sale and I'm currently on #2. I absolutely adore Anne. Can't wait to read these with baby girl!!
3. Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist- I've only heard good things about this book so I'm excited to dig into it this summer! The subtitle says, "Leaving behind frantic for a simpler, more soulful way of living."...yessss please!
4. Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan- It's the third instalment of the Crazy Rich Asians series! I didn't like the sequel as much as the first but I still found it a quick, entertaining read which is perfect for those poolside days!
5. The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure- A story of a french architect who is paid to create temporary hiding places for Jewish people in Paris during WW2. I have a feeling this will be a tear jerker.
6. The Identicals by Elin Hildebrand- Love these summer reads. I've read a number of Elin's books and although they're crazy predictable chick lits, they're still fun to read in the summer. It makes me want to visit Nantucket.
7. Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire- I'm a diehard Harry Potter fan...and very proud of it lols. I'm rereading the series and just finished #3. Goblet of Fire is next on my list!
8. Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple- I absolutely loved Where'd Ya Go Bernadette so I'm so I'm pretty pumped to read this one!
9. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate- I briefly read the synopsis of this one and it seems very intense...based on a true story about a man who would kidnap children from orphanages and sell them to wealthy families.
Now bring on the baby free beach days so I can actually get some reading done, haha.
Would love to know what's on your summer reading list!
XO,
laura
20 GOALS UPDATE // BOOKS
Another update on my 20 GOALS FOR MY LAST YEAR AS A 20-SOMETHING ! I set a goal of reading 30 books over my 29th year. Well so far I've read 11...which means I need to get some reading done if I'm going to accomplish my goal before I turn 30 and well, let's face it...before baby boy comes!!!
Today is the last day of our church-wide 21 Day Fast. I fasted from scrolling through social media, and I found that because I wasn't spending so much time on instagram, I had a lot more time for reading! It's been great but I do miss me some insta.
So what have I been reading? All sorts of books and I love it! I need a good combo of fiction and non-fiction, serious and funny or I get bored real fast.
- Love May Fail by Matthew Quick Matthew Quick has the gift of producing hilarious yet real and wounded characters. Loved The Good Luck of Right Now and haven't read Silver Linings Playbook but I loved the movie. One thing though, I did find that this booked dragged on at the end...but I did enjoy it. Would recommend.
- Looking For Alaska by John Green Author of The Fault in Our Stars & Paper Towns. I thought this book was meh....wouldn't really recommend it but it's a quick read.
- Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson I read this guy on our cruise and it was the perfect beach read. It wasn't life changing but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend.
- Live Love Lead by Brian Houston This was a great practical yet easy to read book on leadership and Christian living! I love Hillsong and so respect Brian Houston. I would recommend this book!
- Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo Crazy story about a little boy's journey to Heaven and back. It's not the greatest writing but it was easy to read. I would recommend this book but don't expect amazing writing.
- Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella Okay, don't judge me but I went on a bit of a Shopaholic series binge!! These are hilarious novels and I would recommend if you want something easy to read!!
- Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
- Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella
- Room by Emma Donoghue Oh my goodness I loved this book. It was an extremely intense story but because it's told through the eyes of a five year old, I feel like you can handle it better. This one gripped my heart and was my favourite read of 2015. I highly recommend it.
- Lost & Found by Brooke Davis I tried to get into this book but couldn't really. I did find myself laughing out loud in certain places but the whole story was just too crazy for me. I would not recommend it.
- The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd A gripping story that goes between slave owner and slave. It was long and slow in some parts but I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it.
Okay, there you have it. 11/30! I'm already starting my next (Unstoppable by Christine Caine) and need to pick up one that I have on hold at the library.
Have you read any "must reads" lately? Would love your recommendations!!!
XO,
laura
SSHEART SUMMER BOOK CLUB RE-CAP
So remember when we were reading 10 books this summer? Today is the last day of summer...or is it the first day of fall? Well anyways, summer is GONZO and fall is here and we're supposed to be finished 10 books!
Incase you forgot...here is what was on my list!
I wish I could tell you I finished 10 books....I finished 9.2. I'm still working away on Simplify (and have about 30 pages left of Fashioned to Reign!) and I'll get to that below!
I reviewed some of the books I read here and here but to save you some time I'll put a quick review of the books below...
SUMMER READING RECAP
1. Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand....I thought it was ok. A little drawn out but hey it's a summer chick lit and got me dreaming of Nantucket!
2. The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion....Definitely gobbled up this one. If you haven't read The Rosie Project, do that right away! The sequel was cute but not as good as the first one. It was enjoyable enough to recommend though. The main character is just hilarious...love that Don Tillman.
3. One plus One by Jojo Moyes...I don't know why I keep reading her books. I find them all just mediocre. This one had a cute ending but I don't think getting there was worth it.
4. Brain On Fire by Susannah Cahalan...This one was a non-fiction story about a young journalist who seems to go crazy. It was very intense. A lot of medical stuff, which I may have skimmed through but it was very riveting and I would highly recommend it!
5. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving...OH MY GOODNESS, SO GOOD. I fell in love with the character of Owen Meany...he's just so fascinating. I don't even know how to describe this book, you just have to read it.
6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern...I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I definitely got sucked into the magical world of the Night Circus and loved the characters. I didn't loooove the ending but I don't know how I would do it differently so I better not complain.
7. The Shadow Queen by Sandra Gulland....I was very excited to read this book as I absolutely loved the Josephine B trilogy but oh my goodness, I was so disappointed. I would not recommend this one as there was some weird dark spiritual stuff in it that was rather disturbing...but not only that, the characters weren't developed and it was just blah.
8. Fashioned to Reign by Kris Vallotton...This is a great book to read if you're passionate about seeing women empowered. It's an easy to read theologically enriched book about how it is God's plan to see men and women serving alongside each other in leadership roles! I wish I could meet Kris to give him a big hug.
9. Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee....Ok so technically I was supposed to read Where'd You Go Bernadette BUT I had already read it and I really wanted to read this one by the amazing Harper Lee. I ended up listening to this one on audiobooks through a lot of my runs this summer. It was soooo good. The audiobook was narrated by Reese Witherspoon and she did such a fantastic job. It's the sequel to To Kill A Mockingbird and it was so good. Reading it made me think of the post I wrote just awhile back on what a tragedy it is to idolize people instead of realizing that they are people and they make mistakes.
10. Simplify by Bill Hybels...ok to be completely honest, I've been avoiding this book....ha. I've been avoiding it because I know I'm going to get convicted and need to change my life. HA. I know that's not a good reason to not read the book but it's #realtalk. BUT I'm determined to finish this one this fall, so I'll get back to you on it!
So there you go, 9.2 books I finished this summer! Now it's fall and I'm working on my birthday goal of completing 25 books before I'm 30! Would love to hear some of your reading recommendations! What book must I read before I turn 30??!!
-laura