welcome to the world of microbes—encouragement for hand washing and teeth brushing!

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welcome to the world of microbes—encouragement for hand washing and teeth brushing!

ages 2 to 8 years
Kids seem to swing dramatically one way or the other when it comes to germs. There’s the group who, having heard about germs, bacteria, microbes and the like, immediately begin to wash their hands. And never seem to stop! And then there are the kids who seem to make it their life’s mission to collect as many of the little suckers as they can—and pop them in their mouths! Mine mostly fell into the last group.

For kids like mine, Do not lick this book is brilliantly funny and informative. 

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a favourite book for encouraging peaceful responses to life's (many) minor problems

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a favourite book for encouraging peaceful responses to life's (many) minor problems

The Giver is one of our family’s favourite books—it’s thought provoking and gripping and leaves you with a whole new way of looking at the world.

But it can also be a handy parenting tool. For instance, I found this on our family blog from 8 years ago, and thought I might share it with you:

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famous people reading: Malia Obama

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famous people reading: Malia Obama

Back when Presidents and their children read books, Malia Obama was photographed clutching Outside Beauty by Cynthia Kadohata.

I haven’t read it yet but it’s the story of four sisters, their beauty obsessed mother, and the way their lives all change after an awful accident. (I've read one of Kadohata’s other books — Kira-Kira — which I really liked. It’s a great book for early teens about life for Japanese Americans in the 1950’s.)

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some terrific hints for moments when anger threatens to take over—from a mouse!

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some terrific hints for moments when anger threatens to take over—from a mouse!

ages 2 to 8 years
Learning to express anger appropriately is a lifelong process (or at least that’s how it feels for me) and Ivy has been experiencing a lot of the stomp, slam and scream kind lately. I can feel it coming over her in waves—and the fear in her eyes as it picks her up and sweeps her away in a flood of feelings she can’t get under control breaks my heart. (It’s really not easy being 3!)

A book that has been exceptionally helpful for us is Mouse Was Mad. 

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how to defeat an evil sorcerer, kiss a frog, and save the world—but first, the right lip gloss!

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how to defeat an evil sorcerer, kiss a frog, and save the world—but first, the right lip gloss!

ages 12+
I love a great adventure story told with skill and wit, the kind that you can pick up, sit back, and enjoy. Frogkisser! by Garth Nix is just that. Here's how it goes:

All Princess Anya wants is to sit in the library and work on becoming a sorcerer (of the good variety).

But with an evil sorcerer step-father who wants to be king at any cost and a flighty older sister whose true love has been turned into a frog, something has to be done. It’s time for a Quest!

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a beautifully illustrated call to be wary of first impressions—and to seek out the best in life

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a beautifully illustrated call to be wary of first impressions—and to seek out the best in life

ages 2—8 years
There’s a scene in Emma (by Jane Austen), where Emma is talking to her friend (or plaything depending on your viewpoint) Harriet about a proposal. Emma says, ‘You must be the judge of your own happiness.’—and then proceeds to tell her how to judge her happiness!

Most of us are spared an Emma in our lives—we mostly judge our own happiness and find our own way. But sometimes we can be so secure in our current happiness that it becomes difficult to envision a different happiness.Children are prone to this too.

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life lessons about tipping points and the need for balance

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life lessons about tipping points and the need for balance

ages 0 to 8 years
‘It’s like ...who sank the boat!' That’s how my family often describes an overwhelming day, too much of something, or a time when we've gone one step too far.

In this story, there’s ‘a cow, a donkey, a sheep, a pig and a tiny little mouse’ who decide to go for a row on the bay. One by one, they gingerly climb in the rowboat and restore the equilibrium before the next passenger. Finally it’s the tiny little mouse’s turn and so in it jumps. You can guess what happens next I’m sure!

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