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Lynley Dodd: Stories Hidden in Plain Sight

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The fewer the words, the harder the job. Dame Lynley Dodd Finding non-anthropomorphic children’s books about animals with exquisite rhyme and repetition is remarkably difficult. When our daughter turned two, that crucial age for language acquisition, we discovered Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, and we immediately fell under the magic of New Zealand author-illustrator Lynley Dodd. We devoured every book we could find, meeting the unforgettable cast of characters: Hairy Maclary himself, Schnitzel von Krumm with his very low tum, Bitzer Maloney all skinny and bony, …

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Mummy, Where Do Babies Come from? A Few Books to Spark a Gentle Introduction to a Sensitive Topic 

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I have been waiting for this question for a few years now. When my six-year-old daughter finally asked me one day about babies, I reached out to the books I had bought long ago. First, I asked my daughter what she knew about this topic. Remember the extra virgin oil commercial? Since she didn’t know anything, I proceeded with the books. I want to say there was an order to my method, but who are we kidding? I just grabbed one of the books listed …

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The Wisdom of Children’s Book “The Missing Piece meets the Big O” in Describing Relationships, Breakups, and Self-Discovery

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Now and then, I come across children’s books that express profound life lessons through soul-stirring imagery and minimalist choice of words. Reminiscing about an age that thought in metaphors and spoke in rhymes, these books talk on different levels to small children, bigger kids and adults.  Anyone who writes down to children is simply wasting his time. You have to write up, not down. Children are demanding. They are the most attentive, curious, eager, observant, sensitive, quick, and generally congenial readers on earth. They …

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Four Compassionate Picture Books For Children About Death

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It might very well happen that a child learns about death from fairy tales, where monsters die and the good triumphs. The death of these characters reassures children that all is good with the world: evil is defeated, and good prevails. Yes, there are turns and twists in fairy tales, and the heroes have to prove themselves, but in the end, we all know how the story ends. Nasty things happen to nasty people, and good things happen to good people. And children do …

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Shopping Recommendations for Children

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Children do not need many, but much. Much of our time, much of our arms, much of our soul, and sometimes, much of our … money. I compiled this list using products that helped us tremendously or products that will be used in the future. Home Babywearing Please do your research regarding babywearing, as I have seen far too many parents that put their babies in snowsuits or carrying babies not in an M-shape position. I found some interesting guides here, here, or here. …

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Books for 6-9-year-Olds

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This article is a continuation of Books for 0-6-year-olds, with some books that blend between years. Growing up and facts of life It is never too early to discuss such an important topic as body safety education. We can’t afford to be squeamish and avoid difficult conversations. Some of these books should be read once or twice per month. Science Diversity Inspiring people Storytelling Poetry Exquisite books

Books for 0-6-year-olds

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As the saying goes for gifts, “Give them something to read/ Something they want and something they need”, I thought I would share some book recommendations. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy any of these as a present for my nephews or our friends’ children. After comparing Usborne versus DK versus National Geographic, I think that DK has the best ratio of information per age, with the right amount of information. Of course, this is just a personal opinion. Also, I discovered two very worrisome …

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The Magical Wimmelbooks

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One of my happiest childhood moments was when I got lost in books. After having a child, children’s books made me feel like I was reborn as a child, too. One of the most requested books in our household is In the Town All Year Round by Sussane Berner Rotraut. This was my first exposure to wimmelbooks, a special form of picture books with hidden objects. Wimmelbooks are a distinctive type of picture book characterized by their large-format, wordless illustrations filled with intricate details. These books are primarily …

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