Books to Celebrate Valentine's Day

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of Valentine’s Day books.  Below is a list of Valentine’s Day books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love Monster by Rachel Bright

A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger

Foxy in Love by Emma Dodd

Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff

Where Is Love, Biscuit? by Alyssa Capucilli

Lily’s Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes

Clifford’s First Valentine’s Day by Norman Bridwell

Clifford’s Valentines by Norman Bridwell

Love Bugs by David Carter

Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney

Love From the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Pete the Cat’s Groovy Guide to Love by Kimberly and James Dean

Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day is Cool by James Dean

Fancy Nancy: Heart to Heart by Jane O’Connor

The Night Before Valentine’s Day by Natasha Wing

Valentine’s Mice! by Bethany Roberts

Splat the Cat: Funny Valentine by Rob Scotton

Love, Splat by Rob Scotton

Olivia and the perfect Valentine by Natalie Shaw

Lego City: Wrecking Valentine’s Day! by Trey King

The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond

Pinkalicious: Pink Hearts by Victoria Kann

Happy Valentine’s Day, Curious George by N. Di Angelo

Ollie’s Valentine by Oliver Dunrea

Happy Love Day, Daniel Tiger! by Becky Friedman

Happy Valentine’s Day, Charlie Brown! by Charles Schultz

A Charlie Brown Valentine by Justin Fontes

Arthur’s Valentine by Marc Brown

Max’s Valentine by Rosemary Wells

Be My Valentine by Rosemary Wells

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose! Lucille Colandro

The Backyardigan’s: A Royal Valentine by Wendy Wax

My Little Pony: Hearts and Hooves Day by Jennifer Fox

Where’s Baby’s Valentine? by Karen Katz

Barbie: Secret Hearts by Rebecca Frazer

Be My Sparkly Valentine by Bill Scollon

Minnie’s Valentine by Sheila Higginson

Doc McStuffins: My Huggy Valentine by Sheila Higginson

Valentine’s Day is Here!  by Matt Mitter

Roses are Red, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane DeGroat

The Valentine Express by Nancy Wallace

Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine by Herman Parish

The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll

Valentine’s Day by Jason Cooper

Valentine’s Day Is _ by Gail Gibbons

What is Valentine’s Day by Elaine Landau

Crafts for Valentine’s Day by Kathy Ross

Holiday Ha-Ha’s Valentine’s Day Jokes and Riddles by Craig Yoe

Cam Jansen and the Valentine Baby Mystery by David Adler

I Spy: Little Hearts by Jean Marzollo

I Spy: I Love You by Jean Marcelo

Scooby Doo: Valentine’s Day Dog Napping by Gail Herman

Geronimo Stilton: Valentine’s Day Disaster by Geronimo Stilton

Babymouse: Heartbreaker by Jennifer Holms

Rainbow Magic: Juliet the Valentine Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Dork Diaries: Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker by Rachel Russell

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: Valentine’s Day Secret by Carolyn Keene

Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime by Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones: Loves Handsom Warren by Barbara Park

Attack of the 50 Foot Cupid by Jim Benson

Heart to Heart with Mallory by Laurie Friedman

Captain Awesome Gets Crushed by Stan Kirby

Katie Woo: No Valentine’s for Katie by Fran Manushkin

Calendar Mysteries: February Friend by Ron Roy

Candy Apple: Totally Crushed by Eliza Willard

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 1999

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Because 1998 was skipped, today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 1999, Verdi by Janel Cannon.

The story begins by introducing Verdi, a just-hatched yellow python, who after seeing how crotchety and lazy his elders are decides not to become like them.  Verdi is a spry snake that flings himself about the trees, a little too adventurous for his own good.  While fretting over the color change in his scales and slithering about, Verdi gets himself into a heap of trouble and is rescued by the adults.  As he recovers from an injury, he learns some interesting things about his peers and discovers that getting older isn't such a bad thing after all, so long as you remain young at heart.  Cannon's layout and illustrations are similar to those in her popular Stellaluna, with stunningly realistic and vibrant pictures in acrylic and pencil that feature bright greens and yellows.  I love the message of this story about growth and choices, and ultimately discovering that age is merely a number.

Ashley, your upcoming 1999 is a Wayside School book by Louis Sachar.  At least it’s not another scary book!

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

My One Little Word 2016

After watching others choose their “one little word” over the years, I’m finally ready to join in the fun!  So, my one word for 2015 is POSITIVE.

At work, I plan to take a positive approach to uncomfortable changes.  As I push myself to master new skills and accomplish new projects, I’ll endorse a positive attitude and embrace a sunny outlook.

At home, I plan to create positive experiences with my family.  I want to reconnect with my daughter and husband, and savor every joyous minute.

For myself, I’d like to adopt a positive lifestyle.  I will take time for myself, exercise, eat right, and get plenty of sleep.  My own personal happiness and well-being will no longer be neglected.

I’m excited for a new vision and a new approach - positive changes for a positive new year.

Books to Celebrate Winter

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of winter books.  She loves snow and all the cold weather activities that winter brings.  Below is a list of winter books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading!

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman
Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre
Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant
Pablo in the Snow by Teri Sloat
Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Splat the Cat: Blow, Snow, Blow by Rob Scotton

Clifford’s First Snow Day by Norman Bridwell

Olaf’s 1-2-3 by Winnie Ho

Welcome Winter by Jill Ackerman

Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson

Big Bear Little Bear by David Bedford

Bedtime for Bears! by David Bedford

Where Snowflakes Fall by Claire Freedman

Hello Kitty: Hello Winter! by Sanrio

Snowmen at Work by Caralyn Buehner

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner

Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner

Minions Snow Day by Brandon T. Snider

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

The Very Bouncy Bear by Jack Tickle

Snow Family by Daniel Kirk

How Do You Know It’s Winter? by Allan Fowler

Baby Loves Winter! by Karen Katz

Biscuit’s Snowy Day by Alyssa Capucilli

Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London

Pooh Welcomes Winter by Kathleen Zoehfeld

Palace Pets: Petite’s Winter Wonderland by Amy Koster

Curious George: Snowy Day by Rotem Moscovich

Peanuts: Snow Day! by Charles Schulz

Clifford’s Puppy Days: The Smallest Snowman by Sarah Fisch

Daniel Plays in the Snow by Becky Friedman

Strawberry Shortcake: The Snow Dance by Amy Ackelsberg

Splat the Cat and the Snowy Day Surprise by Rob Scotton

Little Bea and the Snowy Day by Daniel Roode

Snow Dog Marley by John Grogan

Snowflakes Are Falling by Melvin and Gilda Berger

Snow by Marion Bauer

The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! by Lucille Colandro

Snowflakes Fall by Patricia MacLachlan

The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

Winter by Aaron Carr

What Happens in Winter? by Sara Latta

It’s Snowing! by Julie Richards

It’s Winter! by Linda Glaser

The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg 

Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant

Skippyjon Jones: Snow What by Judith Schachner

Disaster Strikes: Blizzard Night by Marlane Kennedy

Captain Awesome Saves the Winter Wonderland by Stan Kirby

Ready Freddy: Ready, Set, Snow! by Abby Klein

Katie Kazoo: It’s Snow Joke by Nancy Krulic

Rainbow Fairies: Gabriella the Snow Kingdom Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Rainbow Fairies: Crystal the Snow Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Magic Tree House: Winter of the Ice Winter by Mary Pope Osborne

Breyer Stablemates: Snowflake by Suzanne Weyn

It’s Snowing! by Gail Gibbons

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Martin

Animal Camouflage in the Snow by Martha Rusted

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

Snow is My Favorite and My Best by Lauren Child

Snow Day! by Lester Laminack

Snow Trouble by Malinda Crow

The Biggest Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler

In the Snow by Sharon Denslow

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

Snow Day by Lynn Plourde

Snow by Cynthia Rylant

Pip and Squeak by Ian Schoenherr

Trucktown: Snow Trucking! by Jon Scieszka

Rescue Princesses: The Snow Jewel by Paula Harrison

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

Whatever After: Cold as Ice by Sarah Mlynoski