Madeline Says Be Kind
I just read Madeline Says Be Kind with my little ones, and I loved how it brought Madeline’s classic charm into such a gentle, meaningful lesson. The story shows Madeline helping her friends, cleaning up, and listening when someone falls, small, real moments that feel exactly like the kind of kindness kids can relate to.
The illustrations feel just right: familiar and warm, like the original Madeline drawings but a little softer. My kids and I paused on almost every page to talk about ways we could be kind throughout our day. It’s the perfect read for young kids and a lovely reminder that kindness doesn’t have to be a big act, it can just be ordinary, thoughtful, and heartfelt.
I recently added this new Wizard of Oz edition to our home library, and reading it with my kids was pure magic. The classic story of Dorothy, Toto, and their journey down the yellow brick road still feels fresh, but this edition is extra special, the cover has beautiful illustrations by Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co., one of my favorite designers!As me and my kids read about Dorothy meeting the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, my kids were asking questions and enjoying the details. Even though the story is over a century old, I think that the themes, friendship, courage, and home, still resonate deeply. It even sparked a little conversation afterward about what “home” means to us, and what we’d take with us if a tornado came.
I just read Don’t Trust Fish with my kids, and they loved it. The book starts out like a serious nature guide, pointing out mammals, reptiles, and birds in a super straightforward way, until the narrator tells us, “DON’T TRUST FISH!” The humor is totally absurd, but it’s also packed with little science-y “facts” about fish: how they don’t follow the same rules, how some even breathe with lungs, and how they might be secretly plotting something fishy. There's a fun twist thatt makes everything makes sense (in an absolutely ridiculous way). What I loved most was how this book blends humor, a little bit of biology, and some whimsy.
I just got Bluey: A Big Pop-Up Book for my kids, and reading it with them was so fun. Every page has a large, fun scene that pops up, so we get to explore the creek, swim in the pool, and jump into Bluey and Bingo’s backyard adventures together. What I loved most is how this fun book allows my kids to hang out with Bluey in a way that feels interactive. The pop-ups make it feel like we’re stepping right into Bluey’s world and watching my kids lift each flap or turn each page made storytime extra fun.
