Did I Tell You I Love You Today? - by Deloris Jordan

One draw for this book for kids especially boys is that Michael Jordan's mom wrote it. One draw for this book for moms is the prayerfulness that begins it and ends it.  There are so many ways that parents communicate that they love their children and so many ways that God communicates it too his children too. Some of these can be overlooked by kids and parents and this book points them our beautifully!

wish, change, friend by Ian Whybrow

Precious book about change in life and meeting new friends!

Change in life is challenging and often hard to say:) The pig in this story learns how wish and experiencing change can hold limitless relational wonders!

Another book, The Bible, holds God's wishes for us, will guide us through much change as He changes us, and will guide us to fellowship with other friends but most importantly the Ultimate Friend in Christ.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight." -Hebrews 4:12-13

"You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." - John 15:14-17

The Duckling Gets a Cookie by Mo Willems

I love Pigeon and Duckling! As a person, I so understand Pigeon's point of view! As a mom, I so get both of them!!

This is a great illustration for prayer (along with Pigeon Wants a Puppy).  I have begun to think that prayers can be affected by personalities. There are some who are completely comfortable with themselves and with their relationships that they can ask for whatever whenever but they do tend to forget the "however".  It seems that these personalities struggle with their motives in prayer and recognizing the authority of the Provider of the answers to prayer.  There are others who never ask for anything because of insecurity with themselves or within whichever relationship a need/desire arises.  These seem to struggle with boldness to be open about their hopes and they emphasize the authority of the Provider over the love.

I particularly love the polite meekness of Duckling in this story that doesn't hold back the request and even more his polite boldness to be more specific about a cookie with "no nuts".

As our ultimate Parent, I think God wants us to ask so He can answer; I think He wants us to give us a "Yes" but it is also in our best interest to be accepting and even thankful for His "No"s.  He wants us to acknowledge His Love, Authority, and Provision move in and through our lives.

Matthew 7:7-12 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened..."

this book can also be used in times when we struggle with sharing and putting others first; (Pigeon Wants a Hot Dog is good for this too)
Philippians 2:2-4 "...consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

This book surprised me! I was skeptical about bringing all this fanciness into my world;)  I have several friends who are mothers to girls and they have spoken of this book with fondness in their eyes.  I thought it would just be a fun read that Korwyn and I could use as a basis for future fun adventures.  The communication, bond, and interest illustrated between parent and child in this adorable story is priceless! I loved how Nancy wanted so much to share her view with her family, but most of all how they set aside time to be interested in what interested her.  Her gratefulness was wonderful and the ending superb!

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others." -Philippians 2:4

Tell Me About Your Day Today by Mem Fox

This story has the potential to begin a great tradition in a family! This boy has a special outlook on life as well as special interactions with his "friends". Shows how sharing our adventures and becoming intertwined with one another can make a bigger story and we can be a part of something that is more than ourselves if we use our imagination and engage.

Fluffy and Baron by Laura Rankin

This is a warm tale of a unique friendship.  It reminds me of a friendship from the Bible where two people were often caught up in the plans God had for their individual lives that didn't afford them time to spend in one another's company.  Jonathan and David however, had a friendship from which we can learn the true meaning of friends. (1Samuel 18:1-4; 19-20; 23:16-18)

As I read about Fluffy and Baron I ponder how different seasons of life and times of responsibility take time away from my own time with friends. That doesn't mean that I don't think of them often and take moments to pray for them and be thankful for the time we do or have had.  This encourages me to also extend grace to those who may not be able to return calls or who must cancel appointments.

When reading with a child groundwork can be laid for times their friends may be unable to play or have time to spend.  That may not mean they are ending the friendship. It is a great encouragement for during those times for older children as well to help illustrate the other's perspective.  You can also discuss how some of the most different people can become the best of friends.

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Proverbs 18:24 "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Riot Brothers sequel by Mary Amato

We read 3 of these books the summer of 2012 each day. Like King Arthur, Cole read the chapter title, Dax read the first page of the chapter, and I would read the rest.  We had SO many laughs with this one! There were many boy elements like bodily functions, etc., so I recommend that parents read it first. (I would read a chapter ahead when they were involved in some other activity). However, there were some good family elements as well. One that we picked up on was how often the older brother found ways to compliment and encourage the younger and how much the younger brother seemed to respect the older. They were also always a TEAM!! They may have gotten into mischief but they were completely TOGETHER the whole time.  I also loved the mom and felt for her as a mother of boys.  I did wonder why the father figure was missing (that could go either way depending on the family situation of the readers).

Farah: Angel food cake (so light and fun)
Dax: Funfetti Cake (such a fun playful book)
Cole: Chocolate Muffins with Chocolate Chips

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr.Seuss

This is my "most-read" book! According to my mom, it was my favorite as a child. I think she actually hid it at one point because she wanted to read something else.  It has been a repetitive read with my own children and with several different groups of teenage girls.  It is, of course, applicable as many preschool's use it to teach young children to try new foods. It works well as a motivator to get them to try new experiences.  My favorite is how I have shared with girls to try new relationships.  Over the last 15  years, I have heard girls and women as well size up a woman they may not have even met as one with whom they would not get along.  I have unfortunately done this too with two extremely special people only to be proven TOTALLY wrong later in life.
My "green egg" friend happened in 6th grade. For many years, we had a mutual friend with whom I went to school and she lived down the street who told us both that the other did not like us.  We believed and reciprocated until the 6th grade! We were not enemies just whenever we were in the same place in our small town we just didn't engage.  I had switched schools in the 4th grade and she ended up sitting in the desk immediately in front of me in Homeroom.  There was a little fellow in the next row who had never been taught how to treat girls and we both new to survive the year with him we needed to support each other.  We gave it a try and she is one of my dearest friends and favorite people this 22 or so years later.  One would think I would have learned, but NO!
In my early 20s, I met my "green ham" friend. David and I found ourselves in the family room of a pastor and his wife who were going to share some information about moving across the country to begin a new church.  In walks a tall girl who was also interested in the move.  We met and began to talk.  Being extremely short, I was already very opposite her.  She was much more interested in athletics than myself, still in college, and very competitive. These only added more differences. I wasn't so sure we would be very close even though it appeared we were moving to the same place.  She later confided she had felt very similar. Once again, I was WRONG!  As the years have passed we have shared many exciting moments and times together and now wish we were still in the same state!

Trying foods adds flavor to life, trying experiences adds fun, trying friends adds love and support.  However, giving God, Jesus, and the Bible a chance are the absolute most CRUCIAL!  We must be careful or we will miss out!

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."-Psalm 34:8

Farah: Snicker's bar (it's got it all - a little Spiritual protein, caramel, and chocolate)
Dax:
Cole:

My Brother by Anthony Browne

This book is amazing!! So simple; yet so powerful! The artwork is adorable and has some hidden humor that little eyes need some extra study time to find.  We have used it to underscore that just because one brother is awesome does not take away from the awesomeness of the other brother (or sister)!



Oh to take this into the "brotherhood" of fellow men and especially the church body!

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" -Psalm 133:1

"Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble."- 1 Jn 2:10