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Isn’t winter the best time to cozy up with a good book? Our winter weather’s been a little cooky this season. February felt like spring burgeoning on summer. I was wearing flip flops and getting ready to break out my shorts. Thankfully things never went that far. (These legs are no where ready for shorts!)

The end of February and March got much colder and rainier and we’ve been spending more time curled up under blankets, reading on the couch, and listening to rain patter on the roof. So, even though spring is here, I feel like winter is just hanging on.

Here’s what we read this winter:

Jen’s Bookshelf:

Hello Mornings  by Kat Lee

Three little habits everyday to transform your mornings? Yes please! This book was the perfect book to start off the New Year for me. It’s all about making small but consistent changes, forming small but powerful routines that will change your morning first, then change your whole day.  Kat Lee’s writing feels like you are chatting on your couch with your girlfriend over coffee. It’s an easy read but there is so much goodness packed into this book. I highly, highly recommend reading this book.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

First of all, I love Golding’s style of writing. I enjoyed the book as a really good piece of literature. My husband really liked it.  But the book is about a group of young boys, left to govern themselves alone on an island. It didn’t end well and most of the boys turned into little savages. I guess it just wasn’t enjoyable for me to read. Reading about small children acting in such horrible ways (though not all of them turned “savage”) was just disturbing for me. It was a book club book and it lent to really good discussion. Just not my favorite book.

The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan

This was our last book club book and one we all enjoyed.

Humble Roots by Hanna Anderson (still reading this one)

Like the Hello Mornings book, this book is changing me. I’m reading a little bit most mornings during my quiet time. This is a short book and an easy read; but it is powerful and deep.

Lily’s Bookshelf (10 years):

Harry Potter The Sorcerer’s Stone (Book 1) by J.K. Rowling

The girl is hooked! We’ve got a serious Harry Potter fan on our hands. She just devoured the first two books. I’m on book 4 myself, The Goblet of Fire. She can’t read beyond what I’ve read and feel comfortable with because I know the end of the series gets pretty dark.

Harry Potter The Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) by J.K. Rowling

I really enjoy the movies. Now that she’s finished book 2, we will watch the movie together. I may look up the recipe for Butter Beer and have that while we watch.

Grandma’s Attic Series  by Arleta Richardson

These are great, godly, character building chapter books for young girls.

Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye  and other books from The Geronimo Stilton Book Series

Henry’s Bookshelf (6 1/2 years):

Bob Books Set 1   

I’ve got a beginning reader!!! (Insert Mama squeal here!!!) The Bob Books are just wonderful to teach reading with.

Scat Cat    by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

I read this book aloud to Henry; but this is a good type of book for those beginning readers.

Octopuses Count to Ten by Ellen Jackson

Jesus Calling Storybook Bible by Sarah Young

Read Alouds

Ramona the Pest  by Beverly Cleary (We are currently reading this one.)

So, number one, I love Beverly Cleary. Number two, my Little H is the boy version of Ramona. The first time I read this I did not have kids. Now, that I have a little “Ramona” and actually a Beezus (that would be my daughter, Lily) this book just means so much more to me. When I read it aloud to my two kiddos during school, it’s like I’m reading about what has happened in our house this week. I just love it. It also helps me to appreciate the workings of the mind of a sweet but strong willed little kindergarten boy.

The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

This is one we are currently reading as well for our California History cirriculum this year.

Maps  by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinska

This might be my favorite book I’m sharing today. Not only do my kids love this book, I love this book. It doesn’t feature every country; but it features several countries, each country spread out over two oversized pages. There is so much fun details and interesting facts about each country. The illustrations are excellent. I can’t recommend this book enough.