What is your favorite gift to give? Would you like to know my favorite?
Drum-roll, please…
My favorite gift to give, hands down, is a good book. But not just any good book. I like to give inscription-worthy books for children. My Uncle John gave me A Light in the Attic for Christmas in 1987. He wrote an inscription on the front cover that my children love to read today and then talk about how old I am because 1987 was “like a bazillion years ago.“
There is something magical about opening a treasured book with an inscription, to think about all those times you’ve read its pages since that first day. Because of this, I love to find and give inscription-worthy books for children, and I always receive great feedback! I don’t choose the books that everyone else is giving but rather I search for something they aren’t going to find under the tree, something special, something memorable.
For those who don’t already know, I am a bit of a book geek. And, as a book geek, one of my favorite activities is hand-selecting books for The {Virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies. Each month, I think long and hard about the perfect books. I consider the books that our family treasures and whether or not I believe other families would treasure them, too. We seek out new books. We explore the recommendations of others. I hem and haw and pick and choose and think think think on these books before posting our choices. Our book club has evolved since its initial inception and now I lovingly curate a month’s worth of inscription-worthy books, usually around a theme.
I haven’t included THIS book in our book club (YET), but it is amazingly inscription-worthy!
If you are searching for that perfect inscription-worthy book this year, I have heaps to share with you, courtesy of The {Virtual} Family Book Club. If you need help picking the perfect book, why not weed through these titles? I’ve already done much of the work for you!
Here are some books that remind you to count your blessings:
These six books continue to inspire learning and creativity in our home:
These titles are perfect for the animal-lovers in your life. If you haven’t checked out Steve Jenkins’ books, you need to!
Looking to add in a little music appreciation? Look no further:
You don’t need to be a poetry aficionado in order to enjoy it with your children, you just need these books:
Do you need more margin in your life? Here are some books that remind us to slow down and live in the moment:
You can’t go very far these days without hearing about STEM, STEAM, and tinkering. Your little engineers and inventors will adore these instant classics:
Can’t get enough STEM? Neither can my kids. Here are more of our favorites:
Are you looking for a timeless collection? One that will withstand the ages and become an instant classic? You’re going to want to check out this post that I wrote for Year Round Homeschooling. Bonus: Each of these collections has an amazing audiobook, too!
When our book club first started, we just read good books without the themes. Here are some of those early favorites:
Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales
This is the complete collection and was an instant classic in our home. Each time I read it with my children I am transported back to my childhood. These stories are magical and timeless!
Our family loves The Frog and Toad series, which is filled with heart-warming tales of friendship and fun. Early readers today pale in comparison to these sweet books. Also, be sure to check out Owl at Home!
I gush about this book all the time, but it has changed our family for the better, from the way we speak to each other to the way we parent. It even inspired a behavior system and post!
Mo Willems is a fantastic children’s author. We did an entire month of Mo! In reality, we could probably do an entire year of Mo and not get tired of him. He’s that good!
This is a wonderful book about changing the world for the better! Little kids can inspire great change!
In my humble opinion, every family should have a copy of this book. Its message is as important, if not more so, today as it was when it was originally published.
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg
Looking to inspire imagination, creativity, and storytelling? Look no further!! Van Allsburg’s illustrations and writing prompts leave no room for writer’s block!
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Every home needs a wild rumpus once in a while!
The book club also explored Jon J. Muth’s books one month. His illustrations will leave you breathless and his words are lovely.
Do you have a nonfiction lover at home?
Or maybe a kiddo who loves the classics?
And, for the moms out there:
Finally, just for fun:
If you loved these recommendations, be sure to check out our Pinterest boards. We have one board for each book/topic and they are all loaded with oodles of fun activities, crafts, lessons, and DIYs for your family’s book club.
Do you need an Usborne fix? Or, do you want to earn FREE BOOKS before the holidays?
For those who are unaware, Usborne no longer sells on Amazon. This is the reason why I decided to become an Usborne consultant earlier this year. If you are looking to add some Usborne to your bookshelves, I’m happy to help. Whether you want to order online or host a FB party and earn free books, I’m your girl. Send me a message, either here at MLP or via my Usborne site.
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