T-Swift Love

Taylor Swift has made it a fun time to be alive as she records (and re-records!) music. I've been swept up in the Swiftie frenzy with her release of Red (Taylor's Version), and am once again starstruck by her natural talent, musical tenacity, and career triumphs. I've found myself clicking through her late night appearances, watching her colorful music videos, peeking into her creative process, and listening to her surprise "from the vault" songs. The 1989 album is my all-time favorite and likely marks the peak of my fangirling, but it's been fun to listen to her newer work and witness her evolving themes, genres, and voice. Today is her birthday and just for fun, I'm sharing the 13 songs I'd pick for my custom album!  

- You Need to Calm Down 

- Welcome to New York

- This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

- 22

- All Too Well

- Blank Space

- Cruel Summer 

- Wildest Dreams

- I Think He Knows

- I Know Places

- The One

- Lover

- New Year's Day

What a legend,

- SJW

Pages of Parenting | Favorite Books From Year 3

I attack library holds with a vigor known only by frugal book lovers. Our family has three library cards (soon to be five!) and collectively, at this moment, we have 103 books checked out and 76 holds ready for pick up! I'm continually amazed at just how many picture books there are in the world and experience a childlike joy in discovering new favorites. 

The Seattle Public Library system is the number one way I discover and vet children's books. While there's always a batch that I read once and quickly place in the "meh" bag, ready to return, other books  are delightfully flipped through again and again. Every October I like to celebrate another year of parenting by sharing our top reads from the past year. Here's our top 40, selected for their captivating illustrations, re-readability, stories, vocabulary, creativity, and feel-good vibe. These are the ones I'd want to check out again and potentially own :) 

Illustrations Only

Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno

I is for Immigrants by Selina Alko

One Little Bag by Henry Cole 

Sunshine by Jan Ormerod

Best of the Best: Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli

Playful Fiction

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

Love Is by Diane Adams

Boom Snot Twitty books by Doreen Cronin

Molly & Mae by Danny Parker & Freya Blackwood

Your House My House by Marianne Dubuc

The Two Mutch Sisters by Carol Brendler

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

Best of the Best: The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas

Construction & Trucks 

Construction books by Sally Sutton

Five Trucks by Brian Floca 

Little Excavator by Anna Dewdney

Best of the Best: The 'Amazing Machines' Series by Quinn M. Arnold 

Rhyming or Counting

A Summery Sunday Morning by Margaret Mahy

From Ed's To Ned's by Gideon Sterer

Harry McLairy's Series by Lynley Dodd

Mr. Pumpkin's Tea Party by Erin Barker

The Sun Shines Everywhere by Mary Ann Hoberman

There was an Old Dragon who swallowed a Knight by Penny Parker Klostermann

Best of the Best: One Fox A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read

Classics

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall

The Napping House by Audrey Wood

Best of the Best: The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Whimsical or Strong Vocabulary

Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer

Some Smug Slug by Pamela Duncan Edwards

The Man From the Land of Fandango by Margaret Mahy

When the Sky is Like Lace by Elinor Lander Horwitz

Best of the Best: Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy

Favorite Favorites 

Are Your Stars Like My Stars? by Leslie Helakoski

Busy Builders, Busy Week! by Jean Reidy

Mr. Postmouse's Rounds and Mr. Postmouse Takes a Trip by Marinanne Dubuc

Pirate Nell's Tale to Tell by Helen and Thomas Docherty

The Three Little Pigs by Bernadette Watts

William's Winter Nap by Linda Ashman

My Top Pick of the year:
Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod

Mr. Fleece's Top Pick of the year:
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown 

NLW's Top Pick of the year:
Frog and Toad Series by Arnold Lobel 

EDW's and CCW's Pick of the Year:
Jungle Animals by Xavier Deneux 

Family Runners-Up:
The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash and The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney

I read with my children for the shared enjoyment, togetherness, learning opportunities, language acquisition, expanded vocabulary, and to pass the time!

 

We have a lot of favorites, 

- SJW 

You can find favorites from 2020 here:

Illustration-Only, Non-Fiction, Fiction, Board Books, NLW's Picks, Namesake