Golden Oldies and my Ebay Addiction

Two weeks ago, I accepted a unbelievable opportunity to work a "school schedule" (more or less), mixed with the honor of being part of the fine culinary explosion about to hit the city of Casper, WY.  If you've ever been a pastry chef transplant to the Windy City of the West, you'll appreciate how valuable it is to find a place to rest your skull cap and apron here.  Any working mother (and single bread winner) should value the elusive full-time job with benefits that grants everyone weeks of vacation for Christmas and summer.  I can continue to feel like a stay-at-home mom now that my son is enrolled in preschool this fall. [For two years I worked as a night baker so I could be a SAHM by day...I can dream, right?]

After securing a new income, I non-regrettably enjoyed two weeks of Ebay addiction.  Added a few designer pieces to my "Someday Girl" collection, found a great deal on the Immersion blender I've been wanting for years, and bought some vintage books.  Today I opened a packaged containing a 1966 The Bears' Picnic and 1985 The Berenstain Bears on the Moon (Bright and Early Books).  Now I'm not super knowledgeable about vintage value, but I get so excited holding an excellent condition book from 50 years ago.  Unbelievable!  Again, I'm not a huge collector; and we absolutely aim to read any children's books we buy [they just might go higher up on the shelf afterwards].  It is just coincidence that I'm looking for a good deal on a great looking book that my child has LOVED reading - and the book that arrives happens to be published decades ago.   

  

I first experienced this rush, when planning for my son's second birthday.  We threw a huge Curious George Primary Color party for all the toddlers from church and playgroup to attend. [I'll follow up on this with a party post at the end of the week].  I wanted to give a practical party favor that would get used for years and add value to his friends' lives.  My younger (but older when it comes to mothering) sister clued me in to Ebay for shopping purposes...and I found a Curious George book lot that came to 50 cents per book for about a dozen books to share and a dozen books to keep.  And boy did I want to keep some of them!  Check this out, we got a 1957 Curious George Gets a Medal, a second edition 1969 Curious George, and a fun paper doll book Curious George Paper Dolls (Dover Paper Dolls) , unused since 1982!

 

I'm looking forward to gifting the vintage Berenstain Bears books for California's fourth birthday this year, as well as taking it off our blog wishlist.  We have spent so many days this year on picnics started by California that it holds special meaning to me to read and remember the good memories inspired by The Bears' Picnic.  That to me makes shopping for books completely fulfilling.  Until next time,  Cuddled up in Casper

Fourth of July Reading List

Happy Fourth of July Week!

Enjoy the time with family and these great reads celebrating the USA.

                                         How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A.
                                                               Olivia Forms a Band
                                                       Curious George at the Parade
                                                       A Fourth of July on the Plains
                                                       "A" Was Once An Apple Pie

 We'll update this post once we get the second half of our "research" from the library. God bless America!

Summer Days - To Read, Fish and Canoe with You

Saturday morning California and I completed the second part of Casper's summer reading program for preschoolers. While I'm still finishing my first book of the summer, he listened to 100 books over the month of June, picked out his first chapter book (Midnight on the Moon (Magic Tree House, No. 8)) and added a "Fizz Boom Read" shirt to our preschool clothing stash.  While we do have four summer specific book recommendations, we by no means limit ourselves to a few books!  In fact we we created a Pinterest board "100 Books for Boys" if you need more ideas for your summer reading list: http://www.pinterest.com/ladylobdell/cuddled-up-in-casper-100-books-for-boys/
 It includes our top reads from birth to age 3.

Now to conclude the second half of my summer book post...  These last two books transport you into the lazy days of summer.  Canoe Days is a picture book that you appreciate for its illustrator Ruth Wright Paulsen.  Her artwork shows realistic images surrounding the quiet  lake.  You feel the calm, see the fish in the water and watch for the animals that come to this vital life center. It is the shavasana of bedtime books.  You take in the surroundings and feel at peace once the book has closed.  Read before your own canoe trip and your tot is sure to sit quieter in an attempt to see wildlife.

Such a quiet day on the lake also brings the opportunity to cast a fishing pole!  If your family enjoys fishing, you MUST read Sam's First Fish.  This one hands down made our 100 Books for Boys list.  The story follows a young boy who wants to have a fishing pole and makes it his goal to catch the giant fish he sees jumping out of a stream.  It teaches responsibility as Sam saves his money and then must replace a lost lure he borrowed from his big brother.  You will cheer as he gets help from his uncle, a skilled fisherman, and again, when he plays a key role in landing the big fish.  Every little guy will be able to relate to Sam and share in his victory.  It is worth finding!  Enjoy your summer reading and please share with us the titles of your favorite reads!

Summer Days- Mountain and Sea

Ah!  Summer has officially begun.  In Seattle, this meant spending every possible moment outdoors soaking in its all consuming beauty without worrying that your plans could get drizzled on.  Here in Casper, WY it has meant spending portions of the hot days outdoors slathered in more sun screen than lower elevations, appreciating that things do get green without worrying about the wind advisory!

Today I have some great outdoor books to cuddle up with in a cabin or tent after a day fishing on the lake, hiking, roasting marshmallows, ect.  My first two recommendations were dug out of an abandoned school library a few years ago.  Occasionally I'll see one or the other on a "100 Book to Read before Kindergarten" list, which tends to drop oldies to include all the modern favorites...  Written in 1948 and 1952, these Caldecott Honor Books by Robert McCloskey still should earn a spot on your library queue this summer.   Both give a great visual into the life of a child before electronics competed for their attention.  They effortlessly radiate a contagious appreciation for the outdoors.



 Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey tells the story of a mother and child picking blueberries on a mountain...at the same time that a mother bear and her cub are fattening up in the blueberry bushes as well. The danger is appealing enough for modern day.  Yet it also shows a certain trust as the young ones are allowed to wander off and explore on their own.  I also like how the instant gratification of eating fresh juicy fruit off sets the long term job of storing food for winter that has brought both the mothers and their offspring to the same location.  The story stays light though with fun onomatopoeia, such as the kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk of blueberries dropping into Sal's tin pail.  Definitely a great bedtime read!


 One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey is a lengthy picture book but it has its appeal following the young female character Jane as she sees a whole world outside to be fascinated by.  Not one mention of today's princess-obsessed culture...very refreshing!  She wakes up excited to spend the day at Buck's Harbor with her dad.  A loose-tooth, clam-digging, watching birds and seals, a broken boat motor and errands all turn the morning into a full adventure.  You will appreciate how the day is a success, not because the parents cleared their schedule to spoil their kids in one lump sum, but because they have built in quality time together, finding fun in their weekly tasks- a standard any one can obtain!

Speaking of, I will have to finish my summer book recommendations another time, as California has ended his quiet time, and we have quality time to appreciate free of the computer...with folding laundry, errands to the library and all sorts of other fun to be found ;)

Bringing Books to Life

After story time today, California and I went to a thrift store for the first time since arriving in Casper, WY six months ago.  We're trying not to accumulate too much in our temporary home as space is very limited and belongs to our relatives upstairs.  But I did want to find an old school version of Candy Land; I just can not picture buying the new sickenly adorable version and choosing between "Twirly Girl", "Cutie Cone", or "Giggly Gumdrop" game pieces.  Just give me a choice of primary colored gingerbread boys...this is for my son after all.

Life in this small town surprises me sometimes.  Today was no exception.  On the shelf I found this:

If you've never read Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems...you should!  The more kids you read it  to the better, as the readers are responsible for shouting "NO!" page after page as the easy to draw character tries various antics to get his wings on the steering wheel.  Parents can't help but laugh after being worn out all week by their child's similar persistence.  

Once at home, California took over the game board before I even had time to look at the rules.  They weren't kidding about it being great for imaginative play! 

 When we do play, each bus will need to collect an item from four stores and make it back to the bus depot before the pigeon lands on the same space and drives it away.  

Mo Willem fans will thoroughly enjoy seeing familiar faces from other books:  

KNUFFLE BUNNY

THE PUPPY

THE DUCKLING

How incredible it is to let a child bring their favorite books to life during play time!  Very glad we decided to stop and thrift today.  You never know what treasures you will find.

Happy Father's Day

We have a board book that I wish I could shout from the rooftops every Father's Day.  A new mom excursion to T.J.Maxx, this treasure my newborn and I discovered became the perfect first Father's Day present four years ago: I Love My Daddy Because by Laurel Porter Gaylord.  This book shows animals (easily a favorite for the youngest of either gender) in nature, as verified by wildlife biologists, in a manner that parallels the role each dad plays in their child's life.  Admittedly I am more likely to get sappy about a book than my husband is.  Yet the words are ones to cherish: "He keeps me safe and warm." "He makes me laugh."  "He teaches me to be brave."  The pictures are bright, attractive and realistic with helpful cues as to the dad and baby names (reindeer and calf, jaguar and kitten, bald eagle and chick, ect).  It is one book we have been able to read together from three months to three years and beyond.  I'm excited to see they have a second book, too, called I Love My Mommy Because.  I can picture myself getting that one should we have another baby.  Today, though, we are celebrating just dads, so I have another great recommendation for those who have outgrown board books: Dad Can Do Anything.
This book allows your children to illustrate all the pages in a story, describing their father on remarkable adventures, such as lifting cars and speaking to bears.  I purchased it this year, as our son has become very interested in drawing (taking a huge step in his pre-writing skills).  He'll draw alphabet letters with chalk for the neighbors, coat his belly with markers when we aren't looking, and just completely surprise us with all sorts of interesting artwork- from heffalumps to spiders and so much more.  As the current primary caregiver, my husband can't resist keeping whatever makes it to paper.  With this book, we captured C.A. "California" Lobdell's creative, early artistic stage, making it another great Father's Day success.  What a keepsake!  You can also find other fun Story Lines Illustrate Your Own Books with titles such as Our Crazy Dinner and Grandma is a Superhero.  While it would be great to create your own story, too, I do see great value in getting these hardcover options for their added longevity.  And thus I'll wrap up my post, to those we wish to keep in our company for years to come, Happy Father's Day!