I LOVE TO READ

I have NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER letting laundry slide, the dishes pile up, the dog chews to be strewn all over the carpet...

nope...no problem...

SPECIFICALLY if I'm in the middle of a good book!

A couple weeks ago, I posted on Instagram that I had secretly hidden myself in a corner of my bedroom while I was supposed to be folding laundry...but, instead, I snagged the read aloud book that I was reading to my girls at the time...We were only about 6 chapters from the end of the book and I COULDN'T HANDLE IT...I couldn't WAIT another 6 nights to finish the doggone book...

So, I nonchalantly put the book behind my back as I kissed them all goodnight and snuggled them into bed...

then I ran down the hallway, ever-so-quietly shut the door and slunk into the corner so I could soak up the story...

I also may have mentioned that I cried so hard that my mascara came off on a few of my socks as I grabbed them from my sock basket to wipe the tears streaming down my face...

I'm pathetic...

I know this...

no surprise...

Books are like friends to me...I LIVE books...I BECOME characters...

DO NOT even get me started with Anne of Green Gables...
because...CARROTS!!!! GILBERT BLYTHE!!!

I.CAN'T.EVEN...

Because I happen to think that a date night is NOT complete without a stop into Barnes & Noble...I thought I would share with you some of my favorite reads for my kids...

Believe me when I tell you that it's not exhaustive...

I'd be writing here all night if I listed every incredible book we've read together...we'd be gettin' down with Narnia, trumpeting with Trumpet of the Swan and there's just not enough room to list all the American Girl books or Ramona or Clementine...goodness sakes...

So here are a few and PLEASE check out my PINTEREST  BOOK NOOK board to get links to more!!

Let me preface with this...

Because I love reading, I enjoy GOOD literature...character development, a story line, a book WORTH my time...but also, I'm not into what's "popular" all the time...I probably ere more on protecting my girls' from certain outside influences but at the same time, aiming to provide opportunities for discussion as well...

I know that there are tons of books out there that are just easy-reads for reading sake...and my girls have read them...I seriously want to block the "fairy books" out of my memory forever...let's just not go there, okay?

The books I've chosen are just ones that we've read aloud together...or listened to on CD/Overdrive...
I'll list a few books that my girls have enjoyed on their own as well at the end...

1. The Penderwick Series:  I loved every single one of these books...Let's face it, it's about 4 sisters...what could be better? (elementary)
2. Kenny and the Dragon: Bless my heart, I loved this book...it's a great one for boys too...it's based off the picture book, The Reluctant Dragon...but you MUST...YOU.MUST. read this aloud using different voices...you just have to, because it's awesome!!! (elementary)
3. Princess Academy:  This is a bit older.  I do love Shannon Hale's teen novels...they are clean, but deep and poignant.  We listened to this series because of the readers, but I read the 3rd book aloud.  It has some "girl power" to it, but it's a perfect later elementary/early middle school read for girls! (later elementary/early middle)
4. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Trulane: very similar to "Hitty, her first hundred years", but so tender and sweet...you will cry!!! (elementary)
5. The Mysterious Benedict Society: I'm not often a fan of mystery...I got into the "Mixed up Files of Basil E. Frankweiler" but, only because I invested into the characters...This story is different, but it's still about kids leading the way...it takes awhile to get going, but after about 4 chapters, I was hooked. (later elementary)
6. Half Magic; If you loved the Narnia series, then you'll love Half Magic...anything with siblings ends up being fun because there's a little something for everyone.  This book is older, yes...however, the premise is that there is something magic, but it only does what you ask HALF WAY...so you have to figure a way to ask for double...just read it :) (elementary)
7. The Unwanteds:  This is for middle school...for those that don't want your kiddos to read the darkness and killing of the dystopian genre books like Hunger Games or Divergent...and if you'd rather them stay away from the romantic push in those books as well, this series was a great option! (middle school)


Other books my girls have enjoyed:
Narnia Series
Trumpet of the Swan (LISTEN to it on CD because E.B. White reads it himself)
Kylie Jean series (for young elementary girls...if you want an alternative to Junie B. and bad grammar, this one fits the bill)
The Gregor Series (same author as Hunger Games, but for younger kids...not as graphic/dark)
Harry Potter Series (Ummm, duh)
Clementine Series:  she's very similar to the Ramona series of my day/age...but she's funnier in my opinion!
The Boxcar Children series (my girls LOVED this series and play-acted it out forever...again, SIBLINGS)
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series (read aloud for young elementary...just silly)

If you ever want to follow me over at GoodReads...I don't do much with it in the fall with all the photo sessions, but you can bet that I'll have cuppa tea after cuppa tea this winter over good books!

Happy memory making with your kids...it's about relationship, spending time...BEing together!
Find a good book this fall and enjoy it together!!

Feel free to leave comments with YOUR book suggestions too!!!