There is something special about each of these books beyond an award winning author/illustrator or just an enjoyable story. Some of the books bid us to stop and smell the roses; others make us ask ourselves what really IS important in life? As my career coach often tells me when I am complaining, “Is there another way to view this? Can you see this thing that you are complaining about as a gift?!” Please enjoy these ten small gifts of stories. These are gifts that keep on giving.
Author: Pragmatic Mom
My Top 5 Most Popular Multicultural Posts of 2011
My Teach Me Tuesday Multi-Cultural series is a labor of love for me. It is titled Teach Me Tuesday because it teaches me about different countries, culture and kidlit and I actually thought it didn’t get may page views because it usually gets just a handful the week that it’s posted. I was really surprised to see that these posts do get read during the year so I will continue to do this series. Thanks so much for reading!
My Top 10 Education Posts on Science and Math
I wanted to post more on science and math this past year, and I am heartened to find that these are popular posts. I will post more on math and science apps in 2012 as well (my New Year’s resolution!). And I will research more books with math concepts. My son’s first grade teacher has a bin that is labeled books with math concepts so I will take a peek there!
My Top 10 Lists That Are Not Booklists
I am guilty of creating an excessive amount of Top 10 Lists but I thought I made mostly esoteric KidLit lists. This thought made me research my Top 10 Lists that were not book related. And here they are…
I was a little sad that this list didn’t make the list: Top 10: Things Autistic Children Wish You Knew (by Notbohm)
The Girls’ Book of Excellence Makes Excellent Book Club!
The Girls’ Book of Excellence Makes for an Excellent 4th Grade Girls’ Book Club! And I found a boys’ version: Science on the Loose: Amazing Activities and Science Facts You’ll Never Believe by Helaine Becker.
5 Favorite Christmas Picture Books
I was combing the bookshelves to clean them out and ran across our little pile of Christmas books that I’ve save through the years. I read them last night to my youngest but my oldest, now 11, read her favorite, Auntie Claus, and returned it the pronouncement, “That is a good book.” This is a particularly good book for responsible older sisters, particularly the self sacrificing type, which might explain why she loved it when we read picture books exclusively. It will always be on our shelves at Christmas for her because that is the power and magic of picture books: You Never Out Grown Them!
Funny Christmas Poem from Teachers
A funny poem from a teacher right before winter break … and it’s probably how all teachers feel this time of the year!







