Sickness has settled on the Blobby Farmer household which now sounds like a TB clinic. Hacks and wheezes and sneezes and grunts fill the air along with germs as we pass our sicknesses back and forth like a game of bubonic hot potato. We see it as only fitting that we focus this week’s recommendations on books that deal with our ailments and explaining germs and wellness to the li’l Farmer. Continue reading →

Below are an assortment of books recommended for the week. These are kid tested and Mother Huffy approved. They cover the gamut of vegetarianism, counting and increments, escalating adventure, and cause and effect. Continue reading →

In the book, Bagel, an energetic young dog, recounts his day to his incredulous cat friend, Becky, in order to remember when he misplaced his lucky hat. The story caters to Cook’s art stylings, taking Bagel on improbable adventures flying high over the city, into the depths of a secret cluttered laboratory and into outer space. As a visual adventure alone, Bagel’s Lucky Hat is well worth multiple reads with I Spy-type games to take in all the details that Cook has hidden throughout the book. Continue reading →

I get this question form my kids a lot: “Mom, why do none of the other kids have pointy arrows sticking through their heads? They have it so much better than I do.” I attempt to point (ahem) out to them that none of the other kids have built-in marshmallow roasting sticks, or are able to pick up litter with the greatest of ease, or can show people the way by craning their necks, or can go pick locks with their heads, but they never listen. It is good to have a an outside, independent source back me up. Continue reading →

One of my children fell in love with Slide Already! when he was just 18 months old and it has kept him engaged for years. It is a simple story. The book is hardbound, but with a soft, squishy cover that is a pleasant texture to handle. The pages are stiff and substantial to resist damage from tiny hands. Kit Allen’s childlike illustrations and plain writing are simple enough for younger children, but expressive enough to keep older children engaged. Hey, what is this thing? A big metal chair? This unpretentious narrative begins with very casual story-telling. It doesn’t have the stilted feeling of more academic writing, but reflects the sensibilities of a playful adult … Continue reading →