Good Gruffalo

The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson, with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, is a favourite at our house right now. I remembered reading The Gruffalo over and over to a little boy I looked after ages ago and when we came across the book recently Eloise was equally captivated. Eloise loves the crafty little mouse in the deep dark wood, the vivid descriptions of the scary Gruffalo and as usual, I enjoy the rhyme of the story (I'm just a sucker for cadence).

We borrowed the next Gruffalo book, The Gruffalo's Child, from the library and it has received the same fanfare. This time, the Gruffalo is a Dad and it is his little Gruffalo who has a run in with the crafty mouse in the dark wood. We read the Gruffalo's Child more than a dozen times the first day it came home from the library so, thinking ahead in a super-mom moment, I ordered Eloise her own copy to arrive long before our books were due.

Who knew that a monster who is "just bretend" could be such a hit?

Eloise Reads

Like most kids, stall tactics before bedtime are just part of growing up. "I'm thirsty, I have to go to the bathroom, I'm hungry," are all great ways to postpone bedtime. And then there's my favourite, "Just one more book?" which Eloise has realized works really well. Luckily for me, she usually can't make it all the way through another book before closing her eyes, so I know that saying yes isn't a big deal.

The books we've been reading most frequently at bedtime are Mars Needs Moms! by Berkley Breathed, Something From Nothing by Phoebe Gilman and Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson. 

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In Mars Needs Moms! Milo sees his mom as a "bellowing broccoli bully" rather than the selfless, caring, mother she is. It takes a kidnapping by martians and a trip to Mars for Milo to realize what he was missing. Not only are the illustrations in this book incredible, the message about love between a parent and child is touching.

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Joseph's beloved baby blanket is the thread that carries through Something from Nothing. As it wears and becomes tattered Joseph's grandfather gives the blanket new life by making it into something new, again and again, until there is nothing left. A sweet, old fashioned take on upcyclping.

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This beautifully illustrated book (winner of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book) about a little polar bear who wanders out into the night is a great final bedtime story. Full of wonder and exploration, the pretty pictures and nice rhythm of the story send Eloise right to sleep. Win!

Eloise Reads

We've been loving the library lately and our most recent trip has inspired a new bout of book-obsession. Of course this means we read the same book over and over and over, but we're reading none the less.

{grumpy bird}

Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard is a huge hit. The illustrations are vibrant and the story a good one about being grumpy until you realize you have no reason to be, perfect for a moody two year old.

{ten little fingers}

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox is so adorable I am happy to read it over and over. Eloise likes the rhyme of this book and repeats it with me as I read. This would be a perfect new-baby gift.

{olivia}

Determined, adventurous and bold, Olivia the pig is a pretty cute role model for little ones. Eloise loves the illustrations in Olivia by Ian Falconer and we both enjoy the stories about this precocious little pig.

Eloise Reads

Eloise has developed a keen interest in books recently and received a few new 'favourites' for her birthday. Here's what we've been reading lately, over and over. And over.

Dr. Seuss's ABC is quite wonderful and by far my favourite to read. I love the cadence of his rhymes.

{Dr. Seuss's ABC}

I Am a Bunny is Eloise's Auntie Lauren's childhood favourite, so it's only fitting E loves it too.

{I Am a Bunny} 

Someday makes me cry almost every time. It really is a sweet story.

{Someday}

Eloise actually received Sweet Dreams for her first birthday but has only recently discovered it and we read it every night before bed. One of the stories is more of a lullaby and I sing it quietly in hopes of putting Eloise to sleep. It hasn't worked yet, she just asks for more.

{Sweet Dreams: A Bedtime Storybook Collection}

Friday Finds

As much as I love reading blogs and getting wed-inspired on Pinterest it is nice to have an actual wedding book to enjoy once and a while.

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I recently ordered The New Fashioned Wedding: Designing Your Artful, Modern, Crafty, Textured, Sophisticated Celebration by Paige Appel & Kelly Harris (the incredible wedding planning duo behind Bash, Please) and it was a wonderful treat to come home to in the mail after a long day. The pages are filled with amazingly detailed, inspiring weddings that I can't wait to share with my clients. Best of all this gorgeous hardcover book was just for $28.22 on Amazon.

Llama Llama

{llama llama}

Eloise has never been one to sit and have books read to her; she is much happier flipping the pages and looking at the pictures by herself. Recently though her cousin Lucy gave her Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney and she wants to read it all the time.

This afternoon Eloise was insistent on reading "Llama Llama" and so we did, four times until she finally gave in to her nap. I enjoy the book's rhythm (kids books that rhyme are the best) and I like the Baby Llama goes to sleep at the end of the story. Very appropriate for trying to get your own "Llama" to sleep!

Peter Rabbit

{The Complete Tales}

The charm of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit books is undeniable. They are beautifully illustrated and delightfully written, filled with all sorts of old words that no one uses today like waist-coat, alighted, simpleton and pocket-handkin. Peter Rabbit books have stood the test of time over their 110 year history and I have a complete set from when I was young that Eloise is in the process of discovering.

Since these books are small and our collection plentiful, we often find them in the oddest places around the house. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck in my rainboot, Tom Kitten stuck in between the couch cushions, and Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes behind a pillow on our bed. Eloise currently lacks the patience to sit through an entire book so I look forward to the day when we can read my favourite Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle from start to finish and enjoy a few stories in Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales that Eloise received from my cousins.