The Noisy Paint Box {an art book}

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary Grandpre

Explore colors, emotions, and abstract art while learning about the art and life of Russian painter Vasily Kandinsky in the book The Noisy Paint Box. My girls (aged 2 1/2 and 4 1/2) enjoyed this book and I think it would be much enjoyed by older kids too. The book talks about lots of “advanced” colors, such as, crimson, navy, and cerulean.

*art project idea* – Find all the colors mentioned in the book and paint them! Deep Space Sparkle has a video about mixing colors here. There are also an art lesson about how Kandinsky colored emotions here.

I enjoyed reading and learning more about Kandinsky in the Author’s Note at the end of the book. I found it interesting that scientist believe Kandinsky possibly had a condition known as synesthesia, which means one sense triggers another. Kandinsky always said he could hear colors.

Read about other creative, art books I have written about here. See other great books I have reviewed here.  To read more about me, click on the pushpin on the top right of the screen, or click here.

Fraidyzoo {a creative book}

Fraidyzoo by Thyra Heder

It is a great day for the zoo! As the family is getting ready to go, the youngest daughter says she is afraid to go, but she can’t remember why. Her very creative family uses cardboard boxes, milk jugs and a whole host of things to act out various animals and help Little T remember what she is scared of.

This book would be so much fun to read to children and then give them a bunch of random objects to make into animal sculptures.

 

Read more about great books I have reviewed here.  To read more about me, click on the pushpin on the top right of the screen, or click here.

Digger, Dozer, Dumper

Digger, Dozer, Dumper by Hope Vestergaard and illustrated by David Slonim

This a fun rhyming book filled with 16 different poems that explore different types of trucks. Girls like trucks too! I have two girls (4 1/2 & 2 1/2) and this was one of favorite library finds this past week.

We have also been enjoying Sandra Boynton’s new album Frog Trouble. We (including my husband!) particularly like the song Trucks performed by Fountains of Wayne. It is the perfect song to go along with this book. 

City Cat {geography book}

City Cat by Kate Banks and pictures by Lauren Castillo

Join City Cat in a European vacation. This is a great book to explore some famous landmarks throughout Europe. City Cat visits:

(1) Rome, Italy, (2) Marseille, France, (3) Barcelona, Spain, (4) Paris, France, (5) London, England, (6) Amsterdam, Netherlands, (7) Munich, Germany, (8) Venice, Italy

More detail is given in the back of the back about some of the sites in each city. City Cat is a wonderful book to share with your children and then explore more about the European cities. 

Dog Loves Counting {math books}

Dog Loves Counting by Louise Yates isn’t the typical “1 apple, 2 bananas, 3 pears” type of book. It is a really good counting book with different ways of counting and repetition. The book gives kids lots of counting practice. You and your child will enjoy the counting adventure with Dog.

You Were the First {great books}

You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

I feel a little silly getting emotional reading a children’s picture book, but this one was just too sweet. The book talks about all the firsts a baby does. “You were the first to cry, the first to crawl, the first to walk.” The kicker:

“You were the first to teach us how to be parents.”

I get emotional writing it!

This would be a wonderful gift to give your eldest child when they are having their first child. I’ll try to remember that in twenty-something years…

6 Great Winter Children’s Books (non-Christmas)

Snuggle up with a mug of hot cocoa and read some fun winter-themed books with your little ones.


One-Dog Sleigh written by Mary Casanova and illustrated by Ard Hoyt

If It’s Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! written by Kim Norman and illustrated by Liza Woodruff

A Perfect Day by Carin Berger

Cold Snap written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money written by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Millions of Snow by Lerryn Korda

Rain! {great books}

Rain! by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Christian Robinson is an charming children’s picture book about how your mood, whether good or bad, can rub off on others.

A young child is excited about the rain. He puts on his frog hat and goes ‘ribbiting’ through the puddles. Across town an old grouchy man puts on his hat and grumbles as he goes out in the rain. The two eventually cross paths. The old man comes to realize his grouchy mood and how it is affecting others.

This book is a great lesson in how a smile, or a frown, affects everyone around you. Everywhere the man goes, frowns follow. Everywhere the boy goes, smiles follow. The book’s bright illustrations with paper cut designs tell the story well. You and your child will enjoy reading this book over and over again.

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The good mood versus bad mood reminded me of how we all need encouragement and uplifting. The Bible teaches us that and provides several powerful examples in the book of Proverbs. Read more here.