Top 7 read aloud books for babies to 24 months

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Worried that your baby is too busy climbing around and sticking everything in his or her mouth to actually foster a love of reading. Be not afraid!!

My (currently 22 month old) girl was always busy doing EVERYTHING except for sitting and reading with me. As a teacher, this was a source of anxiety and depression for me. Can you not just SIT with me and LEARN WONDERFUL JOY FROM THIS STINKING BOOK?!?!

It got better.

Blessedly, a few months ago something clicked and she was fully-fledged in a language building schema (learn more about what I mean by that by reading my Montessori posts). Suddenly she was getting all of her exercising running to and from her book shelves. We were devouring books, reading each one two and three times in a row (okay, so more like ten times in a row) and I was starting to feel like my brain had been strength training. I can officially boast to having memorized eleven children's books.

These have been her top seven favorites and the ones that pulled her into her language building frenzy. There are so many beloved children's books, so please tell me your favorites in the comments.

Books you must have on your shelf for your baby and young toddler

1. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle - It has a great rhythm, filled with all of those farm animals we expect them to know (even though they only regularly interact with dogs and cats), and teaches to be good to one another even when others aren't considerate to us.
2. Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt - Perhaps this is an Irish or UK classic and not American (yet), but this was the breakthrough book that taught my girly that she can engage with the books we read.
3. Dr Seuss' ABC - Duh. How else can you watch an ostrich oil and orange owl?
4. Little Owl's Night by Divya Srinivasan - I adore the illustrations in this book and I enjoy that it's a book about nocturnal animals. The rhythm is perfect for preparing for bed and cute Little Owl is so full of joy about his life in the forest.
5. 10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle - We have the paper version and the board book version. One of the reasons this became a favorite is because the last page of the paper version includes an electronic button for making the 10th little rubber duck squeak alongside his new duck family. This book touches on cardinal directions, other forms of directions, sea animals, manufacturing (ha), ordinal numbers, and loneliness.
6. Hail Mary by Maïte Roche - It's a fabulous size for little hands without becoming a teether (does anyone else's child chew on and swallow pieces of tiny books -- maybe she's loved books longer than I give her credit, she's just digesting them instead of reading them) and the illustrations are gorgeous. This book allows her to participate in praying the Hail Mary, as the whole book is simply the prayer accompanied by pictures.
7. Trains Go by Steve Light- I have a railfan on my hands. i had to look up a word to describe one who is obsessed with trains. She has this boys' set of PJs that she calls her "choo choos" and has almost literally worn them at some point every single day for the last two weeks. It'll be a blue day when they no longer fit her. Anyway, this book came from the library and uses onomatopoeia to illustrate the sounds of the different variety of train noises. #noteverytrainsayschoochoo #apparently

Island living: how your decisions are not independent of others

A guy I worked with as a teenage lifeguard once told me his philosophy for red lights. I was yet to earn my learner's permit, so I was all ears.

"If the person in front of me goes through the yellow or red light, then I'm going through the yellow or red light." 

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

Even as a green fifteen-year-old, this logic made no sense to me. If everyone else in the platoon (marrying a civil engineer affords me new roadway vocabulary) follow that same protocol, no one would ever stop. There would be a perpetual line of cars going through until a gap was created.

Your decisions are not your personal decisions.

Most of the time. You don't make decisions independent of every other person. All of your decisions affect other people. Especially if you're a Trinitarian-ish-ly baptized Christian who is given the titles Priest, Prophet and King. We're called to do our best.

Our feelings about what we want do not justify decisions that hurt others.

Yes, there is always mercy, especially when we ask for it with our open hearts.

Thank God, but let's remember that these traffic signals are there to guide us (not KILL ALL FUN IN ALL OF THE WORLD AND KEEP A MAN DOWN).

What's your yellow/red light philosophy?

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The 21: A Journey Into the Land of Coptic Martyrs, book review

The 21: A Journey Into the Land of Coptic Martyrs by Martin Mosebach
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Firstly, read this book to gain insight from a man seeking Truth about 21 men who showed such devotion to Jesus that they died speaking to Him at the hands of their murderers. Secondly, read this book because you'll learn more about the Coptic religious men and women in Egypt and the potential for terror that their faith steeps in on a daily basis. Thirdly, read this because it will change you from within and make you see that we, too, need to embrace the courage that God calls us to live.

I cannot believe this book was translated from German in to English. That fact, merged with the gorgeous prose of a nonfiction text, earned the five stars.

However, beyond the technical beauty of the book, there is the journey of a man in awe of the faith of other men. The book teaches while also preaching. It is a testament to what we were called to be: firstly: disciples, secondly: prophets, and thirdly: teachers. The author manages to show, not tell, that order of our faith. He does so through his journey researching the example of these men who lived, that.

Highly recommended.

I received this book for free from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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The Complete Food Substitutions Handbook, book review

The Complete Food Substitutions Handbook: Including Options for Low-Sugar, Low-Fat, Low-Salt, Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free, and Vegan by Jean B. MacLeod
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You might need this on your shelf.

When cooking, either under time constraints that leave no room for another trip to the store, or with diet requirements, figuring out substitutions for items in a recipe can halt the process. You can go to Google or Pinterest, but we all know that leads you down a zero world problem rabbit hope of distraction and doubt whether or not to believe some food blogger.

This author has done her research (see multiple page bibliography) and provides multiple, measured substitutions for hundreds of food items. The book is simple: alphabetical order of ingredients with volumes of substitutions for those items. You'll read the names of foods you never knew existed.

The text doesn't identify which substitutions provide the vegan, low sugar, dairy free, etc option. One needs to know which of the substitutions from the list fulfills one's requirements.

Simple, but possibly an invaluable kitchen resource.

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It All Comes Back to You, book review

It All Comes Back to You by Beth Duke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This will be your next book club read, you'll learn from it, and you might get in an argument with your friends about perception of some of the plot elements. A cordial, "Bless your heart" insult kind of Southern tiff. But then everyone with sip some wine and laugh it off.

I donated sleep to this book and it was totally warranted. I crave books that challenge me, contain deep and meaningful themes and color authentic and rich characters. This book has all of those attributes in addition to being delightfully readable.

As a writer myself, I was hesitant to read a book that followed a writer in her prices of novel creation. Please don't let that stop you. This book has inspired me to finish my own book and to keep going after that!

(view spoiler)[The Southern fiction follows the life of a woman born around 1930 through the eyes of a young woman she befriended late in life. We start the book thinking she's a typical spoiled and beloved homecoming queen (a judgement women make of her to the end of her life) and discover the more complex woman beneath. Themes include how women support each other (or don't), motherly relationships, justification of hurtful action, selling the elderly as the 22 year olds they are at heart and many more.

I won't spoil it completely, but HEAVENS! The twists and the way the author presented them were like surprise punches to the gut. I never saw that last one coming and it's still challenging what I think about it. (hide spoiler)]

These characters have real flaws and no one comes out shining brilliantly. However, don't we all need that reminder? Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the book and exchange for a fair review.

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Love Big, book review

Love Big by Kat Kronenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have yet to read Kat Kronenberg's first book, Dream Big, but I am glad that she recognized the need to remain a moral, kind person in the pursuit of dreams. Children need to learn that from day one, otherwise their pursuit of their dreams is all about them and they lose sight of others' needs.

The book is filled with gorgeous, engaging illustrations paired with current, colloquial normal speech. I appreciate that a character exists in the book who sets the example for how to be kind even when someone treats you poorly, rather than a typical children's book wherein the adult figure brings the wisdom down on the kids.

I can see this book working well in a classroom, in homeschool, or just as bedtime reading for all preschool and elementary aged kids. It takes courage to be kind in the face of adversity and we need more courageous people in this world.

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A Flicker of Hope, book review

A Flicker of Hope by Julia Cook
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was written with obvious intent to be a read aloud book (teacher / adult reads to a group of kids) for kids aged 9 or 10 to mid-teen. It has great intention to help kids who feel like no one understands their sadness or whatever other emotion they're weighed under.

Unfortunately, there is so much telling and so little showing in this book, I don't know how it can actually reach the kids it's trying to reach. I can't imagine a too-cool-for-school group of kids from ages 10 to 14 who would actually humor a teacher trying to read this book. The language is geared for kids in lower elementary, but the problems and stresses (grades, job prospects, etc) are age appropriate for older students.

I was the perfect audience for this book when I was between 9 and mid-teen. I wanted approval from my teachers and I wanted to respect them, even if I thought something like this was cheesy. Therefore, I would quietly listen and try to learn from it what I could. However, while this book makes a good point of telling students to seek help from others, it does so in such a cheesy way that even goodie-two-shoes me wouldn't have grown in my understanding after listening to it.

The tips for parents and educators in the back of the book is gold. Perhaps that should be attached to a book more suited for younger kids so that parents and educators can help prevent flickering lights. I want kids who face struggle to have an outlet. I'm afraid this book isn't it.

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Lightning Struck, book review

Lightning Struck by Nichole Van
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Our souls are responsible for our hearts in this book, alive or kinda-alive alike.

I must admit that I read this one because I didn't want to skip it before reading the one about Tennyson... the one I am positively thrilled to read. I just wasn't that interested in Chiara's story because, frankly, I'm not a bird-like, tiny woman and I suppose I resent reading about someone who is. That judgement is one of the things made apparent to me in reading this book, so well done, you, Mrs. Van, for helping me see my prejudice!

As always in reading a book by this author, I was pulled in almost immediately by likable voice and an intriguing premise. A non-ghost ghost has little hope of becoming alive again, to his chagrin primarily because of his burgeoning love for a wounded ("NO I'm not!" -Chiara) woman who uses 21st century sarcasm and emotional barriers to push people away.

(view spoiler)[
Here might be one of my sticking points with this book. I know he had a full year of adjusting to 21st century life before the bulk of the book got going, but I had a hard time believing that someone from the Regency era would love so much of the spunk and spitfire of that little woman ("Stop calling me that!" -Chiara). I can't currently recall more of the Regency era ways that survived his time in the 21st century beyond wanting to wait to marry her and to court her properly. In almost everything else (I'm sure I'm forgetting something), he became completely adapted.

In all, Chiara's way with men had a well-thought-out driving reason. I loved how she sought justice, especially for children. I think I would have liked to see her interact with children in the book to show a bit more of that dedication.
(hide spoiler)]

I know I can rely on a book that calls me to read it at every spare moment when I pick up a book by Nichole Van. Even this, the book I read just to make it to the fourth in the series, stands out as a worthwhile dive into a wounded character.

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Another Woman's Husband, book review

Another Woman's Husband by Gill Paul
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5

Certainly the royal family and loyalists to the crown easily focus on the connection between Wallis Simpson and Princess Diana, but even this anglophile neglected to think much about it. This novel, spectacularly written, makes a fictional connection between the two women in a unique as only Gill Paul does.

The point of view switches back and forth between Mary, a dear and life-long friend of Wallis Simpson, and Rachel, a woman who was physically at the scene of Diana's ill fate in that Parisian tunnel. We gradually gain access to the vulnerabilities of all women (as well as the men, but they're certainly not the focus) involved in this web of insecurity.

It's such a pleasure to read another book by this author because I know I can rely on a character driven story that shows rather than tells. Her language is perfectly lush and descriptive, but only in ways that add to the reader's understanding of the plot and characters.

As I always hope to do (and occasionally achieve) when I pick up a book, I learned about life from this book. (view spoiler)[ I was nervous that I was in the midst of reading another diatribe about how women are superior to men and how we've been pushed down for centuries, blah blah. While there is plenty of truth to be explored in that anger, it's boring and so shortsighted for hope for change. Gratefully, Paul is more intelligent than to settle on a simple objective like that.

These characters truly bleed. They have real reasoning for their decisions that supports their mistakes, over-corrections, and needs for forgiveness. Most characters learn that they need to rely on someone else. The one character who doesn't seem to learn that quite perfectly is the one who teaches the audience through example. (hide spoiler)]

What a pleasure to read. I'm thrilled to have found this author after she's already produced so many books I can buy and read!

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Whisper Falls, book review

Whisper Falls by Elizabeth Langston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wholesome, intriguing YA

What if a simple portal to the same spot, two hundred years different, opened up near your respite hang out?

This was my first young adult book in years and it was delightful. I was on the lookout for character development, historical accuracy, learning about the human condition, and authenticity of teenage mindsets. I found all to be well cared for and well done.

Both characters matured in playing ways, while maintaining flaws. The villain was disgusting, but the reader gets some believable insight into his reason for invoking what little power he had on his victims.

Historical descriptions felt real and lived in. Conversely, the narration of 21st century items and weighs through the point of view of a nineteenth-century pair of eyes was equally authentic.

one of my number one pet peeves is when an author holds your hand to try to explain things the entire time rather than showing. This author was a breath of fresh air, showing and not telling for the majority of the novel. I also appreciated how wholesome it was without being Christian fiction. Christian fiction hold the wholesome in front of your face the whole time smacking you with it every once in awhile. This book allowed the characters to be attracted to each other, but become friends before anything else. It happened the way we all wish it would, without over sexualizing seventeen year olds nor being naive.

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The Forgotten Secret, book review

The Forgotten Secret: A heartbreaking and gripping historical novel for fans of Kate Morton by Kathleen McGurl
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I picked this book because I love historical fiction, my father-in-law is (directly) from Ireland, and the description seemed intriguing. In the end, the book paid me back with intrigue and an interesting story, but it took a while to get there.

One of my pet peeves when reading is when the prose *tells* rather than *shows* and I'm sorry to say that was a frequent distraction in my mind while reading this book. It had a compelling enough story, but the characters felt flat until about halfway through the book. Rather than seeing that as character development, I felt like I just wasn't privy to the personalities of the characters. They were too busy *telling* me things about themselves and their lives.

(view spoiler)[I did learn a lesson in this book (one I've had to learn multiple times over in my lifetime): you don't know someone else's situation, so hold back your judgments. The modern day main character, Clare, seemed to very quickly decide to leave her husband when the opportunity arose, though she didn't seem to have the backbone prior to this to even stand up to him. I was so bothered by the fact that she wouldn't pursue marital counseling that I sat frustrated with her through most of the pages. By the end chapters, the character had slowly revealed countless anecdotes of life with her controlling, emotionally abusive husband. No, I never ever liked him. He was quite the villain. I learned my lesson that I was spending so much time judging her that I might have missed parts of her personality.

The book carries with it the common millennial psalm/proverb for women to become independent and separate yourself from men so you can "find yourself." As a joyful Catholic, I find that a little shallow, but I recognize its place in our culture. Also as a joyful Catholic, I'm disgusted by a renewed understanding of those laundries, as embodied in the novel. Awful, unchristian practices. Heart-breaking. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, the fact that I felt I was being told so much instead of being able to uncover emotions, motivations, and metaphors on my own was frustrating enough to overtake the intrigue of the story. I did cry in pain at times and finally connected with both characters in the last 25% of the book, so that's lovely.

Thank you to the author and to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

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The Glass Castle, book review

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oy. That was a recurring thought throughout this book.

What a raw story. I felt drawn to judging Jeannette's parents for their selfishness. It seemed their philosophy was that life was about them and that their kids were part of the obstacles, yet they also wanted to entertain their kids along the way. Every judgement I made of them helped me draw closer to my ah-ha moment: don't we all treat our lives a little like that?

Their selfishness was over-the-top, but it certainly helped shape Ms. Walls to be the person she became. There are redeeming qualities of these parents I judged so harshly, bringing about the reality of our similarities as humans.

Somehow, Ms. Walls managed to preserve the childlike innocence and rose-colored glasses view of her parents in the early years. It was an adventure for her in the first 8 years of her life. Gradually, the voice comes to grips with the reality.

Parts of this absolutely broke my heart. I sought the redeeming glimmers throughout it.

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Love's Shadow, book review

Love's Shadow by Nichole Van
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think Branwell is a more believable character than Dante (the main brother character in the first book) and therefore I'm head-over-heels for him. Swoon.

Rather than soul/reincarnation time traveling, as in the first novel in the series, this book centers around a family mystery and a bit of heartbreaking family drama. The characters felt real and as if they were based on people the author knows, a major draw for me whenever I read and judge a book.

(view spoiler)[Lucy found her love (soulmate? That's less the term used in this book as in the first. They're more like puzzle pieces for each other) a few months too late. She was dating Tennyson when she happened upon Branwell and eventually realized that she was with the wrong brother. Amazingly and chastely, both Branwell and Lucy sacrificed their own happiness and heart for the good of the other and for Tennyson. I appreciate that morality rather than just YOLO as the life philosophy in the book.

The story line containing Lucy's missing niece was compelling and, at times, had me sick to my stomach. It seemed to pale and fall to the back burner a few times in lieu of the developing and painful feelings suppressed by both Lucy and Branwell, which was hard to take. However, it's a romance, and their ability to work together and read each other eventually led to the supernatural rescuing of the niece and another family member... (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I don't want this series to end. The author writes in a compelling way and has built a world well. I also love the richness of the characters, even if they are built in order to fall in love on the page.

Additionally, I have a growing hunger to visit Italy again. Ay.

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Gladly Beyond, book review

Gladly Beyond by Nichole Van
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 - I had no idea how much I enjoyed paranormal themes in a book that tickled the romantic emotions. For those who try to stay away from sexualized and sweaty bedroom scenes in your literature, this book is clean. I wouldn't give it to a teen because she might start thinking all interactions with men will be destiny like the characters in this book. However, I thought the writing was gripping, the story-line was entertaining, and the supernatural elements were intriguing.

The characters are pretty well fleshed out, but I would like to know how Dante turned out to be so perfect. I guess that's what we think we're looking for, or that he's perfect for Claire and so his flaws fall away?

Ho adorato the art, Florence, and Italian elements. They were so rich and so obviously from first hand knowledge. Art lovers and lovers of that warm Italian glow will swoon over these pages.

I only suspected the ending a few pages before it happened and I love it when an author manages that. I've already started reading number two because I kind of fell in love with Branwell a little....

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Memory-Making Mom, book review

Memory-Making Mom: Building Traditions That Breathe Life Into Your Home by Jessica Smartt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Basically, this is a Protestant's introduction into living liturgically. Yay for respect for tradition! It is imperative. Those Golden Nugget memories lock in the love and learning in one's childhood.

Sprinkled with personal anecdotes between the activity suggestions, the book makes it fathomable to integrate tradition in frequent succession. The author states that she wants this to be a real mom book, that the activities are suggestions, not a list of must-do items. It is a Christian book with multiple scriptural references. though the Kindle versions needs improvement, I'm sure the culture will fix the little bugs. I am giving it four stars because I am hoping that a book like this will inspire moms to use the liturgical calendar to teach kids about their faith in a fun way. Hopefully it will be deeper than simply a series of crafts.

There are many other resources you can use to go even deeper, including remembering wonderful people who have gone before us, the saints, and celebrating their feast days, as well.

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By the Book, book review

By the Book by Julia Sonneborn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Too many people are under the impression that the lack of sex in Austen novels needs to be amended. "Strong women need more sex than the weaklings of the early 19th century." Do we not wonder if part of what makes our culture so much more abhorrent and less authentic might have something to do with strength of character rather than thinking that sex is simply a more complicated version of a handshake?

(view spoiler)[I'm annoyed that a contemporary novel needs to update a strong woman character like Anne to be so weak as to give into someone like Rick in a much more meaningful way than Anne did for Mr. Elliot in the original text. It matters when people jump in bed together. It's a whole new action and that's not to be discounted as the musings of a prude. Anne had stronger character than that and, as read in the Persuasion original, she noted his opacity.

Oy.

Overall, this book eventually made it all about the guy she was going end up with, sans the strong female character and inherent growth. Boo. (hide spoiler)]

I realize that I'm comparing a contemporary book to one of high literary note, but this is really more a commentary on how this book does nothing for our culture, yet it presumes to emulate one that did.

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The Secret Wife

The Secret Wife by Gill Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Plot and interest: excellent. It got me. Historically believable: yes, I love imagining this! Narration switching: well-executed and well-weaved. Historical love story narration: eh.

(view spoiler)[I know that was part of the whole point, but Dmitri fell in love with Tatiana way too quickly and without much cause. His words about describing his falling in love with her departed from his melancholy and sense of duty. Rather than his love being so sugary sweet, I would think it should be described as more like a devotion out of need or calling. There was so much language explaining his love that it just didn't jive with the manliness of action that we saw in other aspects of his character.

However, as I mentioned, his actions spoke loudly throughout the rest of the book. It was a complicated set of emotions and growth for these characters and I really liked the speculation that someone other than Anastasia could have survived. I wanted that to be the case throughout the book, but I wasn't sure that's where the plot was leading. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I read it quickly because everything followed so well. I enjoyed the writing (minus Dmitri's love soliloquies) and I look forward to reading another.

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Paper Wife: A Novel

Paper Wife: A Novel by Laila Ibrahim
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Immigration is certainly a timely topic in the United States at the moment. This book was a peek into immigration from the perspective of a Chinese woman in the 1920s, during another time of immigration law changes. It's less about the political influences and more about the story of a woman learning how to live in her given situation and with her inner dragon.

Things I appreciated about this book are the author's prose, the respect for marriage (even in a situation that today's modern woman wouldn't idealize), the love for children, and the perspective of an immigrant who pushes through hardship. I was so delighted by the character of the husband; what a good man. And the main character (who has to juggle several identities, part of the intrigue) was easy to like and follow.

The beginning of the story grabbed me immediately. That was a great pleasure! At times, there was a lot of repetition in the story line and conversation. Parts could have moved faster, or focused more on character development during those slower times. Overall, I feel as if I learned from a solid slice of life of an immigrant Chinese woman from this era. It's clear a lot of research went into this without overwhelming the story too much. I will definitely read another from this author!

NetGalley and the publisher granted me this as a free eBook before publication in exchange for a fair review.

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Mr. Dickens and His Carol, book review

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This would be a good book club book around Christmas time. It's a cute fictional exploration of the process of writing for and the backstory of one of the English canon's most loved authors. I liked getting to know Charles Dickens as a person, rather than a writing robot, like I might accidentally see him.

I didn't like one of his emotional choices... but that's part of the character, not a criticism of the story or writing of the novel.

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The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield, book review

The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield by Kathy Cooperman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Intelligent chick-lit: something I haven't seen in a while! *Note: sexual scenes, be warned*

I haven't typically picked chick-lit books lately because they seem pretty shallow and easy to predict. This novel has thicker, deeper characters and a more intelligent voice than any of this genre that I've read in a long while. It was a funny read without being that exhausting sort that tries to make an obscure reference every ten words. This is just how the character thinks and it happens to be funny.

If you're a teacher, former teacher, or in education, this is a funny read for you. The author clearly consulted with many in the education world and hit the tone of the teacher/admin's rosy perspective almost perfectly. I am an ELL teacher, so I'm all around the school all day. Many of the details were spot on.... but she idealized it a little bit. Not enough complaining and venting from the teaching staff and admins ;-)

(view spoiler)[The love story was fine, but I was never convinced it would work out. What could she possibly love about Danny? She didn't show actual love in her language, either, just lust and infatuation. Obviously, he never truly loved her, either. Worldly selfishness prevents love as service and this is a clear (albeit constructed) example.

Interesting ending. It's the only way it could have happened for the mood of the book. I winced out loud when they decided on their course of action. The seeker of justice in me wishes they had faced the court for their crime. The reader who likes a red bow on well-fleshed characters gives it a thumbs up.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

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