Our Favorite Picture Book Read-Alouds

Over the years I have shared some of the treasures that are on my shelves and some of the ones discovered during my frequent trips to the library in my Tuesday's Treasures posts. 

Looking for our favourites was a little difficult as we have so many we like to revisit. Isn't  that what living books are all about ?  Here are 6 of our recent favourites and some we often go back to

A Boy, A Dog & A Frog

I love this little book so much.  The line drawings are so beautiful. It was written more than 25 years ago and holds it's character so well.  It's one of those books that will be around for year s to come. This is the tale of a little boy and his dog and the adventures they get up to when they spot a frog on their fishing adventure. Can they catch him with their net ? I don't know you will need to get this little book to find out.

Pages 32 pages ISBN 13: 9780803728806 ISBN 10: 0803728808
Author: Mercer Mayer

A Country Far Away 
This is another treasure discovered this year at the library. It's written by Nigel Gray about the lives of two children on opposite sides of the world and shows how similar we really are.  Each page is divided in two the top half illustrates the one child's world and the bottom the other with the words of the story which are applicable to both running through the center.

Pages:32  ISBN 10:0980876028  ISBN 13:9780980876024
Author: Nigel Gray    Illustrator: Philippe Dupasquier

 Katie and the Waterlily Pond
The Katie books are just beautiful books written and illustrated by James Mayhew.  In this book Katie discovers Five Monet Masterpieces on her magical journey.

Pages: 32 ISBN: 978-1-40830-464-8
Author  James Mayhew  Illustrator: James Mayhew




Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper
For rhyme and rhythm nothing beats a Lynley Dodd book along with Hairy Maclary.  His antics will have you giggling with your children. Her illustrations are marvelously mischievous. The pictures and words combine to tell the story, each picture contains vital information contributing to the story and invites exploration by the reader
Pages 31  ISBN 9780140508734
Author: Lynley Dodd Illustrator: Lynley Dodd

Look-Alikes - The More you Look the More you See!
This book is amazing. Joan uses everyday objects in ingenious ways to create three dimensional scenes. There are hundreds of look alike items to find on each and every page.  This book is guaranteed to keep you busy for days trying to discover each items double use.

Pages 32    ISBN 13: 9780316713481 ISBN 10: 0316713481
Author: Joan Steiner 

  Three Cheers for Inventors! 
This is a picture book for older studnets. This year I discovere the author illustrator Marcia Williams. This book is written in a comic format. She has written a few  with Shakespears plays, Charles Dickens, Robin Hood, Noah's Ark and The Iliad and the Odyssey to name a few.  We have loved all her books so far.

Pages: 40 ISBN: 140630171X ISBN 13: 9781406301717
Author  Marcia Williams  Illustrator: Marcia Williams


What are your families favourite picture books ?  I would love to know :)


Blessings

Chareen

This post is part of the Homeschool Help series brought to you by a group of homeschool Mom's from around the globe.  Do not forget to visit and read their inspirational insight.

This week

• Bernadette   Favorite Read-Aloud Picture Books
• Julie  Best Picture Books
• Savannah shares 
• Lucinda  6 Favourite Read-Aloud Picture Books  
• Nicole  The Wonderful World of Picture Books

 ---ooOoo---

Our Favourites and the 2013 Blue Ribbon Awards

Wow it's the end of my first year on the Schoolhouse Review Crew.  It has been a steep learning curve but at the same time a most enjoyable adventure.   This year the crew had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing items for 86 companies.  Two weeks ago we were asked to vote and nominate our favourites in 38 Blue Ribbon nominations for 2013.  A total of 28 companies were awarded ribbons this year.

My personal top three items are

• I am super impressed with Children's Music Journey and the richness it has blessed our family with.
• See The Light has been one of the best things that could have happened to our art classes.
• For encouragement from one homeschool mom to another nothing beats my Homeschool Mothers Bible

Sir N's Top 3 

• He loved doing math and science on Time 4 Learning.
• Sir N enjoyed his Journey Through Learning Astronomy & Space
• See The Light he enjoyed creating glow in the dark pictures.

The Crew voted too

You can read what others on the crew are saying over at Announcing — The 2013 Blue Ribbon Awards! A total of 28 companies were awarded ribbons this year.

What are some of the new curriculum things you have used and enjoyed this year ?
Blessings
Chareen

HSMJ Being sick is no fun ...

 In my life this week…
It always amazes me how being really sick gives you a better appreciation for your health and well being.  At present Sir N and I are both really sick with the flu :(  So I'm afraid this weeks blogging and HSMJ took a back seat to DVD marathons and sleeping.  Together we have watched Season 4 of Mythbusters.  Had to get some school in right ? 


In our home school this week…

• We concentrated on Maths.
• Together we began reading Macbethwhich is part of the Young Readers Shakespeare serries.  We are both very impressed and Sir N has been begging me to read more or read before we do school writing which a sure sign of a living book!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• Homeschool Blindspots by Joshua Harris
• '10 big brain benefits of playing chess'  
• Chess Improves Academic Performance 
• Welcome to the 412th edition of the Carnival of  Homeschooling

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

• We attended Kelly Sports but nothing else due to illness.  :p

My favourite thing this week was…

• Seeing these AMAZING photographs taken by an armature photographer of snowflakes. They are absolutely stunning Photographer Uses Cheap Home-Made Camera Rig To Take Stunning Close-Ups of Snowflakes. I was so taken by these I found his blog Snowflakes, night city and other things. Here is a sample of the beautiful photo's.

Source

Questions/thoughts I have…

• What will you be doing to celebrate Advent this year ?
• I found a new laundry powder and am excited about!  Have you hear of or used Euca Laundry products ?

Things I’m working on…

• Stalking my email in box ... Yes I got an invite to be on the Schoolhouse Review Crew for 2014!  Looking forward to another year of living and learning with the crew.
• Carnival of Homeschooling {Edition # 412}
• Homeschool Burnout
• Getting better.  Gosh we've been really sick this week 
• We had our annual planning meeting for CHEF homeschool.  Feels so good to have the new year planned.  We are even planning our very FIRST homeschool Camp!  Can't wait.

In Bloggy world I’m reading…

• Advent Simplicity {a few thoughts, and a plan} over at Amongst Lovely Things.

  

  Source

• This is an amazing story of being reconnected and showing His hand in our lives in the most unimaginable way possible  Her Own Child Her Own Child
• The Wildlife Year { Nature Studies } over at The Paper Maid
• I am in the process of learning to use my camera so really enjoyed some of these photographs 19 Incredible Once in a Lifetime Shots
• God Called Them to Adopt. And Adopt. And Adopt.
• This Is the Perfect Pinterest Picture, According to Science
• Gay teen activist honoured by Obama charged with sex crimes against a 14-yr-old boy sigh ...
• I was really saddened by this story and pray that some judge will use wisdom and return this child to her parents. ‘It’s Kidnapping’: Hospital Takes Custody of Teen Because Her Parents Were ‘Too Active in Pursuing’ Her Care
• I felt so very blessed and inspired reading Not Afraid to Love. I think I would really like to do this one day :)
• 11 Indispensable Life Lessons Every Woman Can Learn From 'Anne Of Green Gables'
• Family's Christmas Wish: Give us More Time with Alex my heart goes out to this family.  Thinking of practical ways to be a blessing.
• If This Doesn’t Make You Want To Be A Parent, Absolutely Nothing Ever Will. This Is GREAT
• Dinosaurs come to life check this photo story of what one family does each November !  This is amazing and so easy to do.
• 5 "Fuel Pull" Cakes over at Sheri Graham
• Stevia: Good or Bad?  over at Gwen's Nest

I’m cooking…

• I was radically and outrageously blessed this week.  Paul bought me a Thermomix.  What's your favourite recipe to use with a Thermomix ?

On Pinterest I found...

• Sayings

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Watch A Teenager Bring His Class To Tears Just By Saying A Few Words


Blessings

Chareen

Photo collages made with: Photoscape a FREE photo editor