National Geographic Kids has a line of gorgeous paperback pictures books for children.  They are full of colorful photography and wonderful words that make the books so much more enjoyable and vivid to read.  They are also beautifully designed and make the most of the photography and text.  Overall they are just a visual treat!

We’ll be enjoying these three this fall:

and

and

There are other books in the series as well.  Enjoy! 

Sometimes you see a book at the bookstore and you know you have to buy it.  That is how I felt with One Red Apple.

I had never heard of the book, but saw it while browsing at the bookstore.  It is gorgeous.  The story about the seasons of an apple tree is well done through simple text. The illustrations are just wonderful.  It has the most beautiful rich colors and the style is both vibrant and cozy all at the same time.

It is a great shame that Amazon doesn’t have interior shots of the book because the cover only partially portrays what is inside this beautiful book.

I sound like I’m gushing, don’t I?

Well, I paid full price off the shelf for a hard cover children’s book. I don’t do that very often.  This one is well worth it.

Highly recommended!

I have four Thanksgiving articles over on Suite101 that have lots of simple ideas for Thanksgiving.  If you are looking for something quick or a new tradition, you should check these out!

Thanksgiving Ideas, Projects and Writing Prompts

Creative Thanksgiving Ideas for Children

Create Meaningful Family Thanksgiving Traditions

Classic Thanksgiving Children’s Picture Books

Let me know if you find something you really enjoy.  I always like to hear the ideas that people find most helpful or inspiring.

Enjoy! 

These have been Caroline’s two favorite books for about three weeks now.  She wants to hear them every night at bedtime.

First is Barn Dance! (Reading Rainbow), a fun book about a little boy who sneaks out to the barn in the middle of the night to dance in the hoedown with the scarecrow and the animals.  Lots of fun illustrations and a rolicking rhythm to the text.

The other is Inside a Barn in the Country: A Rebus Read-along Story. This has humorous illustrations that Caroline enjoys.  Because it is a repetitive rebus book, she can “read” parts of it (which she does very loudly and enthusiastically!).

Fun times! 

If you didn’t see this over on Spunky Homeschool, be sure to check out this free ebook from The Old Schoolhouse.  I just downloaded my copy of Autumn Treasures and it is very nicely done.

It includes many different kinds of activities, lapbook ideas, copywork pages, suggested readings, poetry, and worksheets.

It is too advanced for Caroline, but I will file it away for a future year.  It is part of a Download and Go series that may interest some of you whether you homeschool or not.

Enjoy!