Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo

James' speech therapist let us borrow this week recently.  Wow!  It is quickly become one of his favorite books EVER!  He will literally have us read it to him over and over again in one sitting.  We have never had a book like that before.

The language in this book is really fun and the pictures are wonderful.  This is a great book for a little boy.  Especially if you are trying to get him to talk more!  After two reading James was already following along with us and actually "reading"  whooooo whoooo part.  {My oh my was I thrilled!}

I would absolutely recommend this book if you have a young boy or need a gift for a 3 year old boy who likes trains!  {His speech therapist said every little boy says he has this book.... I think they just really like it  ;)}

James Age:  2 years 11 months

Sunrise

I read the Karen Kingsbury Firstborn series this summer.  This the the first book in the next series about the Baxter family.

I read this one in about a week and really enjoyed it.  Very predictable and Christian, so that has to be what you are looking for.  ;)

In this story Katy and Dayne are planning their wedding and spending time together in their new hometown, Bloomington.  The family that Katy lives with are also a little more involved in the story than they were in the last series.

Nice easy read.

Read:  Februray 2012
Pages:  336

Decoded

This was our February book club pick.  I feel like this is all that I have been reading FOR.EVER!  That is why there have hardly been any new posts.  In any case, I finished it today {as James napped, yay!}

This book told Jay-Z's story of hustling and turning into a rapper as well as decoding some of his lyrics.  I really enjoyed the narrative but not so much the lyrics.  I could literally not tell you one song Jay-Z sings {I was more of a West Coast girl...}  I took a week or two break in the middle because I wasn't feeling it. Then picked it up right before book club and found that I did enjoy it.  So I made myself finish it today.

You may like it if you know a lot about hip-hop {I had to ask my husband about songs or groups he referenced} or you just really, really like hip-hop.  I personally like books that are hard for me to put down and I breeze through.  This obviously wasn't one of them...

Read:  February 2012
Pages:  317

Sing You Home

Aaron bought me this book for Christmas.  I spent two days reading it and then I skimmed the rest.  I am thinking that I will not be able to finish it...  I used to adore Jodi Picoult, but it seems like they are all so similar lately.

Basically this one is about a couple who loses a baby (after a long battle with infertility) and it tears them apart.  Then there is a big, big twist that I don't want to give away.... sooooo that is where I am going to leave it.

I think that it might have been kinda hard to read because I was really really wanting another baby when I read this and the infertility thing really got to me.  {just so you know I am at a peaceful place now about growing our family...} :)

Pages:  496

Read:  December 2011

Dr. Seuss's ABC

James has known his letters for a while...  Not really sure how it happened, but once we realized it we ran with it.  Lately he LOVES to tell us all the letters in words {on tv, on every book, on signs...}.

So the other day I pulled out this book and he loved it!  Again I think it's because he likes the alphabet, but also because he recognizes some of the characters from The Cat and the Hat tv show.

I would recommend any and all Dr. Seuss books.  They make great gifts (we have only bought maybe 2) or just great additions to your child's library.

James age:  2 years 10 months

The Cat in the Hat

A good friend gave this book to James for Christmas.  We have some other Dr. Seuss books,  but James has not been into them yet.  {Perhaps they are too long for him to stay interested...}  Anyway he has fallen in.love with this book.

I think a big part of this love affair is there is a Cat in the Hat cartoon on PBS that we often watch in the morning.  So he already know the characters.  I think that there is really something to be said for reading young ones books about characters they already know!  I am just happy to have kids interested in books and will take it anyway we can get it.

I do LOVE that PBS has shows about some quality literature.  Dr. Seuss is such a classic and I love getting to read this to James each night!

James' age: 2 years 9 months

Unbound

This book was recommended by a lady at church a few months ago.  She described it as a book that would help you see sins that you return to again and again...  I guess I just didn't think that it was about deliverance {even though that is part of the title!}

As I read the first chapter I was a little freaked out.  I won't lie, but I decided to give this book a chance anyway.  It was okay, not life changing.  I did take away a few gems.  One is that the world is very scared of Satan.  This gives him power.  Either we don't want to think about him (or don't think he exists) or we give him too much power.  I have definitely fallen in both categories at various times.

Since I am Catholic and it was really talking about freedom from sin {mostly from deliverance}, I have thought that going to confession regularly would be good.  A lot of what he talked about was feeling freedom and God's love.  I know when I leave confession that is exactly how I feel.

Anyway it was an okay read.  I am not going to tell you to run out and get it though.

Read:  January 2012
Pages:  254