OK, OK, if you live in Florida like me, you can go ahead and roll your eyes at my title. I realize you can basically swim through the humidity when you step outside and the temp still hits 95 on a daily basis.
But!
A girl can dream.
I don’t even like coffee, and I’m looking forward to pumpkin-spice season.
(Also, since we’re on the topic of Mr. Gosling, I had to share this with you, my book-loving readership.)
I lived in Alabama (Roll Tide and War Eagle, because … Mama don’t care) when the pumpkin-spice craze began, which was perfection because Alabama actually has seasons. And elevation. So you can drive up a “mountain,” (I give quotes for any readers who live where there are real mountains) and see the gorgeous array of fall beauty.
SIGH.
But, Florida has beaches. And Disney. And we never get snowed in. So, every place has its quirks (alligators roaming the streets. For real).
And so, in this week’s Top Three Lists, I’m giving you three kiddo books to whet your appetite for all things fall (as if ANYONE needs extra incentive). Think about it! We’re on the brink of pumpkin carving, skinny jeans with boots, hot beverages (without immediately sweating), and the first whiff of C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S!!! (My husband is rolling his eyes — I can sense it from afar — though, to be fair, the eye roll probably started with Ryan Gosling.)
Top Toddler Picks for Fall:
A Pumpkin Prayer by Amy Parker
This board book was a favorite of George’s last year. It’s a poetic, little story following three chubby mice as they say a “pumpkin prayer.” The prayer says thanks for crunchy leaves, autumn winds, pumpkin pie, and a God who loves us so. Considering the pumpkin pie is mouse-sized and one of the mice wears an acorn cap as a hat, it’s just precious. Highly recommended for those baby loves.
Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup
Artwork is key in this lovely, rhyming tale. Follow a tree’s journey through all four seasons with an owl as your guide. The owl peeks through the cover, and, with each page turn, new animals join the owl on the tree until winter strikes again and everyone goes to sleep (my favorite way to end children’s books!). Her book, Bee, follows the same peek-through pattern and stunning artwork.
Mr. Squirrel and the Moon by Sebastian Meschenmoser
I walked in on my husband chuckling as he read this to himself yesterday (no kids in sight). And I totally agree. Before the words even begin (and before the title page), you see a free-rolling wheel of cheese getting away from a boy. It sails off a cliff and into a tree, which is home to a nervous squirrel (which makes sense if you’ve ever played chicken with a squirrel in the road). Mr. Squirrel is convinced that the wheel of cheese is, in fact, the moon. Someone has stolen the moon, he deduces, and if anyone finds the moon with him, he’ll be thrown into prison. And his cellmate will be a burly man doing needlepoint, apparently. Therefore, he HAS TO GET RID OF THE MOON! And it just gets funnier from there.
I know, I know, it’s not a directly correlation to fall, but the artwork, the moonlight, the cheese? It all screams autumn to me. OK, yes, that’s all a stretch, but I know all y’all (like that, Alabama?) will enjoy this book regardless of the season.
Side Note: George is still stuck on the good, ol’ U S of A, so we just keep reading The Scrambled States of America over and over and … anyone know of other states books? I’m offering a reward.
What Mama Reads:
I just started a women’s Bible study based on the book Missional Motherhood: The Everyday Ministry of Motherhood in the Grand Plan of God by Gloria Furman. It’s going to take more effort than simply reading a novel, but depth isn’t something from which to shy away.
Since Olivia is screaming her head off (she SHOULD be napping), I’m borrowing a quote from GoodReads as a description:
“God has designed motherhood as part of his greater plan to draw people to himself–instilling all women, whether called to traditional mothering or not, with an eternal purpose in nurturing others.”
I’m also heading to the beach this weekend for a ladies’ weekend away (sans children! Whoo!!), so I have a GIANT pile of library books in anticipation of hours of uninterrupted reading. Yeah, I’ll probably get through like four chapters of one book, but I’ll take four — just in case!
Happy almost-fall, everyone!
Got any seasonal books you love sharing with your children?