Katie and the Mona Lisa

Author: James Mayhew
Overall Kid rating: 5
Mom rating: 5 Love it we've read it a million times!
Synopsis: a girl Katie goes to the Louvre in Paris with her Grandma. While grandma naps, Katie has an adventure with famous paintings where the people come to life.
What does it teach: titles and subjects of fine art/ pretend play/problem solving
Length:28 pages
Audience: 4-5year olds
Also by same author: Katie and the Sunflowers and Katie meets the Impressionists

Busy Busy Mouse

Author: Virginia Kroll
Illustrator: Fumi Kosaka (my college roommate, really!)

• Story - 5
• Illustrations - 5 (obviously)
• Kid Rating - 5
• Mom Rating - 5
• What it teaches - activities done during day and night, schedules
• Length - 30 pages, mostly illustration
• Audience - preschool

This is another of our favorite books. It is about a mouse and a family and contrasts their activities. While the family does daytime things, the mouse gets ready for bed, reads, bathes, etc. When they are in bed, he plays. Most pages only have four or five words, so it is simple for little ones to follow. The illustrations are adorable, and this book was Paul's favorite for a long time. We love it!

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy

Author - Jane O'Connor
Illustrator - Robin Preiss Glasser

• Story - 4.5
• Illustration - 4.5
• Overall Kid Rating - 4.5
• Overall Mom Rating - 4.5
• What It Teaches - Vocabulary; Having a puppy takes work; We're all different, but that's ok! Being Fancy isn't for everyone or all the time.
• Length - 32 pages
• Audience - Book says 4-7, but my boys (yes, boys) ages 3.5 and 2 love it too! I think it's a darling book

Fancy Nancy is a Fancy girl in a Non-fancy family. She's drawn so cute and her emotions are real. Kids can relate and understand. Vocabulary is strengthened because she uses fancy words but tells what they mean. My kids starting using fancy words right away. It's a cute story with a good lesson. Check out other Fancy Nancy books, too! (Though, I'd check the library instead of purchase, they're rather expensive for a children's book -- or am I just out of the loop on kids' book prices?)

You're All My Favorites

Author - Sam McBratney
Illustrator - Anita Jeram

• Story - 4.75
• Illustration - 4.5 - watercolor
• Overall Kid Rating - 4
• Overall Mom Rating - 5
• What It Teaches - Each person is an individual and should be valued as such; one sibling isn't better than another
• Length - 30 pages - mostly illustration
• Audience - as young as 3 and up (it is one of those feel-good books that grown ups like too!)

A sweet book that deals with kids sometimes feeling like they aren't loved as much because they are different. Three bears wonder who is their parent's favorite, and parents give good answers as to why they are all the favorites. The bears are adorable, and the watercolor gives the story peace and softness. One of my favorite bedtime stories.