From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• Mary @ Homegrown Learners higlights a couple of biographies her children have enjoyed.  I love that she took advantage of a book her family received as a gift for some spontaneous artist study! 
• Alice @ Supratenorial shares a miscellaneous trio of her children’s favorites. 
• Catherine @ A Spirited Mind writes about a couple of beloved children’s classics:  James and the Giant Peach and Sarah, Plain and Tall.  My girls have only experienced one Dahl story (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and I haven’t been able to convince Lulu to read Sarah, Plain and Tall yet, but I concur that both of these are not-to-be missed. (I was saving Sarah for Lulu to read on her own since it’s a short, relatively easy chapter book.  I think she gave it a try, though, and was maybe scared off by the fact that Caleb and Anna’s mother had died.)
• Amanda @ Nursery Rhymes and Fun Times showcases several buggy picture books this week.  I was surprised and pleased to see The Icky Bug Alphabet Book on her list; this is one we added to our personal library from way back when my soon-to-be-teenage nephew (who loved bugs!) was a tot.  Ah, memories! 
• Jade @ Hey, It’s Jade! shares a couple of titles this week:  I’d Be Your Hero and The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales.  Check out Jade’s post!
• Bluerose @ Bluerose’s Heart reviews My First Hands-On Bible.  Although we have an abundance of Bibles and Bible story books for preschoolers at the House of Hope, this one sounds like one I’d like to add to our collection!
• Carrie @ Reading to Know reviews A Mouse Called Wolf by Dick King-Smith.  This one looks like a lot of fun!
• In this inaugural RAT post from Home School Parent there is a hearty recommendation of Dinosaurs before Dark, as well as lots of related educational links.  Please join me in welcoming this new blog to RAT!
• Books 4 Learning offers reviews of Nighty Night! and three different versions of the Rapunzel fairytale (including one published just this year!)  If you haven’t yet, do check out Books 4 Learning–this blog contains a wealth of good bookish  information and teaching strategies!
• Serena @ Casting Pearls recommends several new-to-me titles this week:  Raccoon Moon and Lost on a Mountain in Maine, as well as some familiar and well-loved ones. 

I have had some problems posting comments on Blogger and Blogspot blogs, so if I haven’t commented on your post, please know that I did try! 

Have a lovely weekend!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• Alice @ Supratentorial highlights a couple of her family’s favorite books about monkeys.  Parents of animal-loving children, take note!
• Susan @ learning ALL the time highlights a couple of new-to-me titles:  Thor’s Wedding Day and The Genius Files:  Mission Unstoppable.  I can’t wait to read her review of their current read-aloud, Cheaper by the Dozen. 
• Mary @ Homegrown Learners writes about a variety of read-alouds, from a Grimm’s fairy tale picture book entitled Iron Hans to Beautiful Girlhood, a book she’s sharing with her ten year old daughter.  Be sure to check out Mary’s enthusiastic post! 
• Serena @ Casting Pearls shares a lovely tribute to Beatrix Potter and her family’s memories of reading so many of her tales together.  Stop by and welcome Serena to RAT–this is her first post!
• Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities shares a fun shark book and a terrific go-along craft.  This looks like a book that would really appeal to little boys, so I’m taking notes. 
• Books 4 Learning reviews Mommy Whispers, a book that looks like a perfect snuggle-up-and-read story for mothers and daughters.  Also don’t miss this review of The Doghouse, a colorful picture book that looks just perfect for preschoolers, with its repetition, suspense, and bold colors.
• If you’re looking for some great living math books, don’t miss this post by Farrar @ I Capture the Rowhouse.  Every single title she mentions in this post is new to me, and I have a shelf full of living math books!

I also reviewed The Reading Promise this week, which is a memoir written by a young woman whose father read aloud to her every single day from the time she was nine years old until she left for college.  I would imagine that many RAT participants or readers would enjoy this great story. 

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• Jennifer @ Milk & Honey Mommy reviews The Laziest Boy in the World by Lensey Namioka, an author whose name I recall from library school but whose books I don’t think I’ve ever read.  Also, don’t miss her review of A Band of Angels, a book about Fisk University, an all-black college in Nashville that was opened to educate freed slaves.  Jennifer linked up to last week’s RAT, but I inadvertently left her off of the links post.  This is her first time to participate in RAT, so please, make her feel welcome! 
• Alice @ Supratentorial showcases her whole household’s current reading picks, including some read-alouds for her youngest children.  This is a great post!
• Jen @ Forever, For Always, No Matter What catalogs a great selection of farm picture books in this week’s post.  
• Janet @ Across the Page reviews a well-loved title, especially for those who enjoy or want to know more about the natural world:  The Burgess Bird Book for Children.  If you aren’t a regular reader of Janet’s blog, you’re missing out on some thoughtful writing and beautiful nature photography!
• Jade @ Hey, It’s Jade reviews another installment in the Hank the Cowdog series, as well as a book from the popular Usborne boardbook series, “That’s Not My. . .”  We have That’s Not My Penguin and the DLM loves it, so I can attest to the popularity of these titles!
• RockerMom @ The Linton Academy notes that she and her son are spending some time with Beatrix Potter in honor of the author’s birthday. 
• Carrie @ Reading to Know shares a review that is a good companion for my post this week.  Hers is of Prince Caspian, and it’s a good one!  Check it out.
• Amanda @ Nursery Rhymes and Fun Times highlights several books about feelings this week.  I love how books give us a way to address certain things with our children that we might otherwise forget to talk about.  Check out Amanda’s post for some great bibliotherapeutic titles! 
• Mary @ Homegrown Learners writes about her family’s latest read-aloud, yet another installment in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series.  Mary is really making me want to get back into this little set of biographies!  Oh, and she and her children are working their way through Shiloh right now.  (Talk about a tearjerker!) 
• Debbie @ Debbie’s Digest has begun a new school year with her children, so this week’s post details all their read-alouds for various subjects. 

Thanks to everyone who continues to participate in Read Aloud Thursday!  I hope this little weekly exercise is as enjoyable and inspiring to everyone as it is to me! 

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• Mary @ Homegrown Learners writes more about the 26 Fairmount Avenue series by Tomie DePaola.  We sort of bogged down with this series here at the House of Hope, and Mary’s post makes me want to pick it up again. 
• Catherine @ A Spirited Mind writes about a classic story by Robert McCloskey, Homer Price.  Although we love McCloskey here (and who doesn’t?), this is one book of his we haven’t read.  I must remedy that!  
• Susan @ learning ALL the time writes about a favorite audiobook of her family entitled Dear Emma by Joanna Hurwitz.  It’s a novel of letters (the type of which once sparked a long and interesting discussion over at Here in the Bonny Glen) and historical fiction, just the type of story my girls would really enjoy.  Check out her review!
• Maggy @ Red Ted Art’s Blog highlights one of the sweetest of all books for toddlers and babies, accompanied by an appropriate recipe.  You’ll have to click over to find out what it is! 
• Jade @ Hey, It’s Jade, a newcomer to RAT, reviews a nice little collection of books she has been enjoying with her sons:  Hank the Cowdog, a Christmas picture book, and a book she hopes to use to encourage her son to brush his teeth!    It’s an eclectic mix, for sure.  Stop by and welcome Jade to RAT!
• Amanda @ Nursery Rhymes and Fun Times reviews more sweet books by Kate Banks.  If you have little ones, don’t miss her post!
• Alice @ Supratentorial highlights several titles her son has loved.   If you’re looking for some titles that appeal to a four year old little boy, check out her post!

This week I also reviewed some nonfiction titles about Africa that we enjoyed. 

Have a great weekened, everyone!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• Maggy @ Red Ted Art’s Blog reviews the classic I Am a Bunny by Richard Scarry and details a wonderful seasonal craft.  Check it out!
• Janet @ Across the Page writes about herons this week.  In her post, she highlights both a nonfiction title that she and her girls devoured, as well as an old stand-by by Thornton W. Burgess.  This post includes both a photograph of a landing heron and drawings inspired by the photo, so don’t miss it!
• Susan @ learning ALL the time writes about some current favorite audiobooks.  If you haven’t enjoyed Alexander McCall Smith’s children’s stories yet, you definitely need to read this post!
• Carrie @ Reading to Know gushes writes about reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for the first to her young son.  Click over to share your own teary-eyed read-aloud experience!
• Stephanie @ Simple Things writes about a vintage Caldecott winner–The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship.  I’m keeping this one in mind for when we visit Russia in our trip around the world. 
• Rebecca @ The Joy of Literacy writes about how Good Night, Gorilla has become a favorite of her twenty month old daughter.  This is a sweet, sweet post. 
• New to RAT this week is Farrar @ I Capture the Rowhouse.  She writes about the four latest chapter books she has shared with her twin sons, all of which were published at least fifty years ago.   If you’re looking for a good novel to share with your family, check out this post. 
• Catherine @ A Spirited Mind reviews Understood Betsy, a story that was enjoyed by both her little girls and her little boy. 
• Amanda @ Nursery Rhymes and Fun Times highlights a couple of books by a new-to-me author, Kate Banks.  I’m adding The Cat Who Walked Across France to our list to read when we visit Europe! 

This week I’ve also reviewed an upcoming middle-grade novel that will make a great read-aloud and some geography resources, with more of those to come in the following weeks.  Also, don’t miss this post by Leila @ Like Mother, Like Daugher about the appropriateness of fairy tales for young children.  It’s a good one!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• This week’s post by Maggy @ Red Ted Art’s Blog reminds me of a book I have seen around the blogosphere but had forgotten:  Who’s Hiding? by Satoru Onishi.  Maggy, of course, has a great craft to go along with it.  Check it out!
• RockerMom @ The Linton Academy highlights a nonfiction title about ocean life and a read-together version of the fairytale “Hansel and Gretel.” 
• Alice @ Supratentorial reviews two of our favorites here at the House of Hope:  Ginger Pye and Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes.  If you haven’t read these delightful books, be sure to check out Alice’s review of them!  (If you need more convincing, my reviews are here and here.   )
• Janet @ Across the Page reviews a book with the intriguing title Girls Who Look Under Rocks.  This looks like a must-read for a nature-loving family! 

Have a wondeful weekend!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• RockerMom @ The Linton Academy highlights a couple of the latest read-alouds she has shared with her son:  The Tales of Beedle the Bard and The Magic School Bus:  Lost in the Solar System.
• Janet @ Across the Page reviews three excellent titles to use when learning about trees. 
• In this week’s post, Alice @ Supratentorial adds even more zoo book picks to the list she started last week.  Last week’s post inadvertently got left off my Links post last week, so be sure to go back to see Alice’s entire list!
• Susan @ learning ALL the time read and reviewed one of my favorite books so far this year:  The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic.  If you haven’t read this book yet, click over to read Susan’s review for one more reason why you should pick this one up!
• Maggy @ Red Ted Art’s Blog reviews a book about Vincent van Gogh:  Camille and the Sunflowers, and she includes a go-along art activity.  I’m making mental notes of good picture books about artists for study later this year, and this one looks like a good one!
• Mary @ Homegrown Learners is sharing two great chapter books with her children:  A Wrinkle in Time (!!!) and a new-to-me title by Mary Ann Hoberman–Strawberry Hill. 
• Mouseprints @ Thick and Thin Things shares a fabulous post entitled “Picture Books for Doll Lovers.”  We’ve read a few of these at the House of Hope, but I see quite a few more that I’d love to share with my girls some day soon!

Don’t miss the additional suggestions for chapter book read-alouds for young children in the comments on yesterday’s post!  Also, I reviewed a fun, new Chris Van Allsburg title this week, and if you’re looking for some Independence Day reads or an art activity, check out this post from the Hope Is the Word archives.   

Have a great weekend!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• Mary @ Homegrown Learners writes about sharing two wonderful books with her children:  the picture book Grandfather’s Journey and a juvenile biography about Thomas Edison.  Don’t miss this post, especially if you’d like to know more about a wonderful curriculum that enables you to take learning from living books to the next level! 
• Stephanie @ Simple Things writes about what is perhaps one of Eric Carle’s lesser-known books:  Mr. Seahorse.  Her little man gave this to his daddy for Father’s Day (with a little help from mama, of course).  Can you say sweet?!?!
• Susan @ learning ALL the time reports that she and her children are enjoying The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic, a book I raved about a few months ago.  I look forward to reading more of Susan’s thoughts about reading aloud this terrific book!
• Amanda @ Nursery Rhymes and Fun Times highlights three books for babies, none of which I’ve seen before.  This is one of my new bookish areas of interest, so I’m so glad Amanda is contributing to RAT!
• Rebecca @ The Joy of Literacy shares a post that just does my heart good!  She shared One Crazy Summer as a read-aloud with some struggling middle grade readers, and she writes about the experience in this week’s RAT post.  Don’t miss this one!
• Janet @ Across the Page highlights three books perfect for a study of wetlands.  I really want to read these books with my girls!  (Who am I kidding–I enjoy nature so much, I’d read them “to myself” just for fun!  )

Have a great weekend, everyone!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• Stephanie @ Simple Things raves about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this week.  Have you read it?  If you have, click over and reminisce with Stephanie about why you love it.  If you haven’t, click over and read why you should. 
• Annette @ Live, Learn, Love enjoyed sharing some classic Berenstain Bears titles with her little ones this week.   
• Maggy @ Red Ted Art’s Blog highlights a songbook, Spring Songs with Music, along with a go-along woodland craft.  Check it out!
• Although her children are grown now, Laura @ Outnumbered Mom remembers her read-aloud days with fondness.  Check out her post to find out some of her sons’ favorite books; some of them might be yours, too! 
• Books 4 Learning highlights a couple of picture books that look perfect for babies and toddlers:  Baby Says “Moo!” and This and That. 
• Alice @ Supratentorial reviews a quartet of books about cars.  We haven’t read a single one of these, but I think we need to!  Fun! 
• Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities reviews a new Tim Lichtenheld book entitled Cloudette.  Don’t miss the post–this book looks like a must-read, and Janelle’s go-along craft is just happy.  (I wish this book had been out when we studied clouds last year almost two years ago!)
• Read Aloud Dad reports that he and his twins are finishing up The Wizard of Oz right now, and he also shares “How Reading Aloud Made Me a Better Father.” 

Also, don’t miss my post on a wonderful new nonfiction title by Martin Jenkins:  Can We Save the Tiger? 

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!

From yesterday’s Read Aloud Thursday post:

• Maggy @ Red Ted Art’s Blog encourages her young son to “get crafty” with her iPhone camera, and she reviews the perfect go-along book for their week of photojournalism:  Diary of a Wombat.  This is a really fun post!
• Bluerose @ Bluerose’s Heart enjoyed a trip to the library with her young son and found a couple of preschool books that he enjoyed:  Come Down Now, Flying Cow! and the immortal Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  This is Bluerose’s first time to participate in RAT, so stop by and make her feel welcome! 
• Annette @ Live, Learn, Love reviews the hilarious title Big Chickens Fly the Coop.  This one sounds like a hoot! 
• Janet @ Across the Page reviews an eclectic group of books she has been enjoying with her girls in a post entitled “Winged Steeds, Mockingbirds, and British Chieftains.”  It’s a good one. 
• Alice @ Supratentorial highlights several books about storms.  Storms are a topic we’ve dealt with a lot in the last couple of months here in the South, and some of Alice’s picks look like they might be bibliotherapeutic!  I’ll be watching for some of these titles.
• Books 4 Learning reviews the Little Quack series, the Stella series, and for older readers, a book by Michael Jordan’s mother, Michael’s Golden Rules. 
• Amanda @ Nursery Rhymes and Fun Times highlights a couple of snuggly picture books by Liza Baker.  If you have little ones, be sure to check out her post!
• Mouseprints @ Thick and Thin Things reviews her girls’ new favorite book, Ivy + Bean.  This looks like a series the little girls of the House of Hope would love!
• RockerMom @ The Linton Academy writes about a trio of books they’ve enjoyed this week:  Officer Buckle and Gloria, The Elves and the Shoemaker, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. 
• Beth @ Weavings reviews a Holling C. Holling title, Pagoo.  I’m so excited to learn that the author of Paddle to the Sea has quite a few more books to his credit!  Thanks, Beth!
• Rebecca @ The Joy of Literacy writes about a wonderful counting boardbook, Feast for Ten.  I’m not familiar with this book, but it looks like a winner!  If you click over to Rebecca’s post, be sure to read the comments–the author of Feast for Ten offers some great (and funny!) suggestions for updating this 1993 volume. 
• In honor of National Ocean Month, Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities highlights a fantastic informational book, Star of the Sea.  As always, Janelle includes a great art activity, as well. 

Have a great weekend, everyone!