Even though spring is officially here, the weather here in Saskatchewan hasn’t let my boys get outside as much as I would like. In fact, we woke up to a snowstorm this morning! With wintry weather keeping us indoors more than we might like, I’m very grateful to have all kinds of fun indoor puzzles, games and, my personal favourite, books! Recently Scholastic Canada sent us some of the newest titles for spring and the boys and I have had a great time reading them together on chilly days!
Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
This book is so clever and a lot of fun to read. As the name suggests, there’s the opportunity to yell a bit when reading! The fitting personalities of the punctuation marks in the book, from periods to question marks, make it a fun and witty story for adults and it’s a great introduction to punctuation for kids learning to read. We had a great time learning about the little Exclamation Mark discovering his purpose and both boys were shouting along by the end!
The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson
The Highway Rat couples colourful, engaging illustrations with catchy rhyming text that older children will love. The subject matter of the story is more appropriate for school-aged children than for preschoolers and Zackary especially was completely captivated by the story of the naughty rat that stole everything he could until finally a clever trick made him change his ways.
The Magnificent Tree by Nick Bland
This new book from Nick Bland was a personal favourite of mine for a variety of reasons. I loved the contrast between the clever little girl and the wildly imaginative father. I liked that the book communicated the message that being different makes us special and that we all have something of value to offer. And the fun and fanciful illustrations kept my boys interested from beginning to end.
My Friend Henry by Philippe Beha
This engaging story about a little boy’s search for his best friend is one that both my boys just love. It’s easy enough for Zackary to read on his own, the plot is one that both boys can appreciate and the fun illustrations captivated Benjamin. While the story is a simple one, both boys absolutely loved it and it’s become on of our family favourites.
Polar Bear Morning by Lauren Thompson
This sweet, brightly illustrated book is perfect for preschoolers and follows the adventures of a little polar bear as he makes a new friend in the early morning. This book is a good read but it’s also a great one for younger children to flip through on their own.
Scholastic Canada has tons of other fabulous picture books for your kids available this spring as well, so check out the website to see what new family favourites you discover!
