These children's books about the beach are perfect to get kids excited about an upcoming visit, calm anxieties, and learn about our shores. These days, my kids never want to leave the beach. They're too busy looking for sand crabs, building channels and castles, and chasing the water with a pail. You'd never guess these were the same kids who'd cry if their feet so much as touched the sand. They wouldn't walk anywhere outside the beach towels, much less consider going into the water. But living in Los Angeles means easy access to the beach, giving us many opportunities for frequent … [Read more...]

Ready to welcome spring? Check out the best children's books about spring to read with your child. They're the perfect picture books for springtime! "I ordered our second garden bed," I told my family. Despite the fun and festivities of winter, one anticipation as the cold season draws to an end is the coming of spring. Pleasant weather, more sunshine, and of course, gardening in our yard. Because even we Los Angelenos still struggle through the cold days and nights of winter, when it's too cold to plant anything new. That's why when the weather warms and spring is in full swing, so … [Read more...]

A comprehensive collection of children's books about Valentine's Day, including favorite characters! Perfect to read with your kids for the holiday. Valentine's Day. A holiday both adults and kids celebrate, but in different ways. While parents head to dinner and bring flowers, kids pass out candy grams, Valentine notes and dress in red during school. This year, Valentine's Day looks a bit different for many of us. Some are dressed and ready to go... to the kitchen for a dinner "date." Kids are making Valentine's Day crafts at home instead of passing out cards and trinkets at … [Read more...]

Is your child learning about colors? From the Crayons that Quit to Pete the Cat, check out these children's books about colors your child will love. He'll think this is cheesy, I thought. I had just borrowed Press Here by Herve Tullet and began reading it with my then-toddler. The book is all about interaction, from shaking the red, yellow, and blue dots off the page to blowing them away. But I was surprised—not only did he pressed here and there, he shook and blew those dots away. Books are like that, which is why I love sharing my favorites with you. In this article, I list all my … [Read more...]

Liking themselves helps children feel happy and succeed in life. You can encourage confidence in your kids by reading children's books about self esteem! "I LOVE YOU!" my son bellowed to himself in the mirror. I had to chuckle to myself—earlier that morning, I had told him how important it is to love yourself, to truly believe that you are an amazing person. And one of the ways to affirm that, I suggested, was to look yourself in the mirror and say, "I love you." You see, no one is immune to questioning their worth, kids included. A child could be the only one in his class who can't … [Read more...]