0 Day #30 : 30 books in 30 days : My Favourite Book

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #30 : 30 books in 30 days challenge : My Favourite Book.

Being the last day of the challenge , we just want you to read on any theme - your child's favourite book, the one your child wants to be read to again and again or just any book that your child chooses.

0 Day #29 : 30 books in 30 days : Read in your native language

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.


Day #29 : Reading prompt : Read in your native language

Thanks to Deeptha Vivekanand who suggested this prompt. The prompt honors each one of your native languages.

We are not doing any book picks today. Read whatever you have in your native language. If you don't have one, you can read any book to stay in the challenge. But, try to read them in your native language to keep with the spirit.

Here is an image putting together some of the Indian languages along with English. 

0 Day #28 : 30 books in 30 days : Grandparents

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #28 : Reading Prompt : Grandparents

Grandparents make the world , a little softer, a litter kinder and a little warmer. The reading prompt honors the grandparents

Our picks

1. Just Grandma, Grandpa and me - Mercer Mayer - The story of a young boy who makes blueberry pie with his grandparents. Right from getting the hens to lay eggs, milk the cows, pick the berries,doing these with grandparents makes it all them more delightful. Grandmom then bakes the pie with her secret ingredient "Love". They then take the pie to a market where the boy's grandmom's pie gets judged the best. They win a prize and the three walk back home happy.

Reading this book will sure bring back memories of food with our grandmothers. If you ever wondered why grandmom's goodies tasted delicious , it is because of this secret ingredient. 

2. Nana upstairs, Nana downstairs - Tomie dePaola - We picked this up at Hippocampus Bangalore while looking for books for the prompt. This is a story of two generation of grandmothers who is addressed as Nana downstairs (the grandmother) and Nana upstairs (the great grandmother) because the great grandmother always laid in bed upstairs. Candy offers, stories looking out from the window, nap time, the boy enjoys it all with his great grand mother and his grand mother. The story however has a sad ending with the great grand mother and grand mother passing away, blowing kisses to the boy in the form of a falling star.

3. Days with Thathu : Geeta Dharmarajan - A little girl who enjoys her times with her grandfather whom she loving calls Thathu. Read SaffronTree's review here. 
This again will bring back a lot of nostalgia of grocery shopping, beach trips, watching movies and just walking hand in hand with our grandfather. If grandmother meant delicious food, grandfather meant trips to the shop for candy!

If grandparents are around, have them read to their child. Or read a grandparent book to your child or read a story to them just like how your grandparents did to you.If your own grandmother is around, call and talk to them.

Come back here to tell us what you read.

0 Day #27 : 30 books in 30 days : Birthday :

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #27 : Reading prompt : Birthday

Birthdays are fun! Birthday gifts much more!
Read birthday books with your little ones today or even a plan a party for your child's favourite character.

Our picks:

1. How many sleeps before my Birthday : Mark Sperring - A Little Reader's Nook pick for the Birthday prompt and Cuddles and Reads review here on Divya's blog. - A book where the father bear prepares the anxious child bear  for his birthday with a countdown and then plans a surprise party for the child.

2. Happy Birthday, Biscuit - Alyssa Capucilli - A birthday party planned for a puppy. One of the books of the Biscuit series, which has all the details of a party with friends coming over, the puppy wearing party hat, making a wish while blowing the birthday candle. Our review here.

3. Surprise Gifts: by Asha Nehemiah - Aunt Farida hand makes surprise gifts for her niece. But the gifts get mixed up before reaching her niece. But Aunt Farida's intention of surprising and delighting is solved. A lovely read.

And if it not your little one's birthday, cook up a birthday of your child's favourite character and read "Biscuit's Birthday"- Alyssa Capucilli or "Happy Birthday, Little Pookie "- Sandra Boynton or "Happy Birthday, Mouse - Laura Numeroff" or "Happy Birthday to you"- Dr Seuss.

Make a wish, Blow your birthday candle. Stay blessed.

If you mocked a birthday party, the decor, the cake or the song, whatever be it, Come back here to tell us what you read and did.

0 Day #26 : 30 books in 30 days : Gardens

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #26 : Reading prompt : Gardens

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
Marcus Tullius Cicero

Books that celebrate gardens

Our picks:

1. My Garden : Kevin Henkes : A girl while helping out her mother in the garden imagines her own garden of chocolate rabbits, tomatoes as big as beach balls, flowers that change color, and seashells in her garden.The imagination is utterly cute. There would be no carrots, since she doesn't like them. In her garden, she wouldn't need to chase away the rabbits, because they will be chocolate and she would eat them. The flowers would change colors just as you think of them, they would change patterns too. They will bloom back too as you pluck them. The illustrations are lovely with all the colors of spring, such a lovely read. 

2. Inch by Inch, The garden song - by David Mallet Illustrated by Ora Eitan- A song by David Mallet is made into a book. This would have a great pick for our Sing along prompt too.  A little gardener prepares the land with this rake and hoe, sows his seeds and utters a prayer for it grow. The illustrations are done really well with the little gardener watching his garden bloom. 

Inch by inch, row by row,
gonna make this garden grow.

Inch by inch, row by row,
Someone bless these seeds i sow.

Watch the song here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH47g3TSJCU

3. Sunu Sunu - Snail Storm in the garden - Sandhya Rao - by Tulika  : A story of a snail who encounters a storm in the garden. 

Read a book about gardens or read any book while relaxing in the garden. For, if you have got a garden and a library, you have got everything you need. Come back to tell us what you read. If you did do it in a garden, click a pic while you read.

0 Day #25: 30 books in 30 days : Food

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #25 : Reading prompt : Food

March 25, Pancakes were first made on this day in 1882. The reading prompt honors that.

Let us read books on Food.

Our picks:

1. Pancakes, Pancakes - Eric Carle - Fits the prompt to a "T". A pancake made from scratch starting from collecting the grain, grinding it at the miller, chaffing; Feeding the hen the grains for it to lay an egg, milking the cow, churning butter out of the cream from the milk. Go make a pancake with your little ones. 

2.  Stone Soup - Retold and Illustrated by Jon Muth : An Arthi Anand pick for Kindness prompt - This is a story of kindness and sharing. Three monks trick a community which doesn't believe in sharing, saying they are going to make a soup out of stone. The onlookers who otherwise are locked in their homes, start getting all the ingredients they have and end up making the richest soup ever. Watch this here. 

3. Junior Kumbhakarna - Arundhati Venkatesh - Kumbhakarna is one who hogs food, burps and snores away into deep slumber for months together. No braying of donkeys, an elephant herd, trumpets or even the smell of laddoos would wake him up. 
But when the school bus call wakes up our Junior Kumbakharna, he asks first for the Laddoo. Enjoy the Laddoo loving , story loving Jr KuKu is this book. Everyone loves stories, ain't it? Read the author's and the illustrator's interview here. 

Cook a meal , Eat well , Read a book and come back here to tell what you cooked, ate and read. 

0 Day #24: 30 books in 30 days : Inside your Outside

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #24: Reading prompt : Inside your outside

Books about body parts

Our picks:
1. Where is my Belly Button : Karen Katz - A great lift-the-flap which is an ideal pick for babies and toddlers. Where are baby's eyes, nose, feet and the hilarious "Where is baby's belly button"?.

2. Inside your outside : Dr Suess : The prompt is inspired by this book. A Dr Seuss classic that teaches your older kid the functions of every part of the body including an index at the end too.

3. Little Fingers: Sheila Dhir - by Tulika - A in-verse book that talks about how each finger has a different personality , yet when they come together, they make things happen.

Sing the famous Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.
Then also read books and come back here to tell us those.

0 Day #23 : 30 books in 30 days : Me and My Best friend

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #23 : Reading Prompt : My Best Friend.

Like Peanut Butter and Jelly
Pen and Paper
Moon and stars
Socks and shoes
Cows and Moos
Hot chocolate in Winter
Flowers and Spring
Somehow we just fit - you and me

The Best of Friends.

Read books on best friends.

Our picks: We have picked stories that are friendship between persons. Though there are a plenty of lovely books on animal friends and the friendship that a child shares with a pet is special, we just restricted our picks to books about friendship between humans. 

1. Bink & Gollie : Best Friends Forever: Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee: The series is a Divya Purandar recommendation. We haven't read the book but loved this book from the reviews. Bink and Gollie are best friends, Detailed review here https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15799182-best-friends-forever. 
Excerpt from the publisher 
Join Bink and Gollie as they test the waters of their friendship, try to grow in more ways than one, start the ultimate collection, and eat pancakes, of course.
Divya's detailed review on the series here.

2. Handa's surprise: Eileen Browne : Handa goes to visit her best friend Akeyo taking 7 different fruits. All along Handa keeps anticipating which one Akeyo will like the best. Along the way, each fruit gets picked and eaten by an animal and the basket gets empty and gets filled by tangerines by a goat bumping on to a tree. 
Surprise! Serendipity ! It happens to be Akeyo favourite fruit ! What joy in surprising your best friend with something she loves!

Read Medha's Mum's review here.

3. Mukund and Riaz - Nina Sabnani - by Tulika - An Arthi Anand Recommendation - A book about two boys Mukund and Riaz who were best friends but had to part ways because of the 1947 partition. A touching story that says despite best friends not being together at the same place, the memory of the good times remain forever.

As a child we all had our "one best friend" phase before we turned into phase of many best friends! Your child is most likely in that phase - ask them who is "the best friend"! After reading a book on BFF, if you get all nostalgic, pick up that phone and talk to a best friend and then, come back and tell us what you read.

0 Day #22: 30 books in 30 days : What I wear

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #22: Reading Prompt : What I wear?

Books that are centered around the things to wear.

Our picks : 

1. Hippo Has a Hat : Julia Donaldson : Animals go clothes shopping to dress themselves up for a party! The book is in rhyme and is hilarious as they try on each item in the shop. 
Our review here: http://bubble-ink.blogspot.in/2013/12/hippo-has-hat.html

2. Flyaway Katie - Polly Dunbar : It is a story of a girl Katie who has a "Grey" day.  A colorful picture on display, cheers her up and she dresses herself up in a blue hat, yellow tights, pink dress and also paints her hands and legs! All the color in her clothes lift her spirits up and she goes into the picture and stays there all day! After all colorful clothes can help chirp up one's mood! Read Tharini's colorful review here at ST. This book was a contender for the Colors prompt too but we saved it for this one.

3. My Mother's Sari - Sandhya Rao by Tulika - This book talks about the different ways a child chooses to play with the mother's sari.  Praba Ram's review here at ST.

Play dress up , Play with saris and enjoy your Saturday - Come back to tell us what you read and what your little one wanted to wear today.

0 Day #21: 30 books in 30 days : Sing alongs

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #21 : Reading Prompt : Sing along

March 21 is Children's poetry day. The reading prompt honors it.

Books which can be sung as songs.

Our picks:

1. Over in the meadow:  - Illustrated by Jill McDonald, Sung by Susan Reed. There are many illustrated version of this book. We love this one the best. Mother-baby animals doing all activities like wink,dig, sing, bask, dive, buzz and so much more . Great for action play and a great counting rhyme too. 
Here is the video for you sing along. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ljGXMMB-g&feature=kp

2. Personal Penguin - Sandra Boynton : All her books are great picks for this prompt. This one is our personal favourite! The lyrics are amazing. 

But if I could be yours
and you could be mine
our cozy little world would be twice as nice.
The book recommends the version sung by Davy Jones of the Monkees fame.
http://www.workman.com/boynton/songs/boynton/YourPersonalPenguin.mp3
While you are on that site, check the other Boynton songs too.
Watch this on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-sGDe-yMKs

3. Oluguti Toluguti - Sandhya Rao, Radhika Menon  by Tulika - Indian rhymes to sing and recite. 
Watch Radhika Menon's video here  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm0uyuHya_Y

Sing your favourite book aloud, dance to the music - Stop by and tell us what you read.

0 Day #20 : 30 books in 30 days: 45 years of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #20 : Reading prompt : The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Mar 20, 2014 happens to the 45 anniversary of the classic "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". Our reading prompt honors the classic and Eric Carle, the author. The day also happens to World Story telling day. This book is the one of the most loved "first" stories told in many-a-book-reading household. This is one of the books which some parents might have read them as a child themselves. The pleasure just doubles then!

Count with those little fingers. Avoid junk and eat healthy. Lifecycle of a butterfly. Believe in Change and Dream On!! The book has it all.

Here we put together, some of the reviews by fellow book lovers.

An 8-year old review at Saffron Tree : http://www.saffrontree.org/2006/11/my-first-review-being-that-of-eric.html - 

Excerpt from the review here:

The author has successfully packed in a lot things without giving the feeling of going overboard to the reader. He teaches many basic concepts while keeping the simplicity of the story in tact. Read it to your child to see the jolt when the egg pops, the smile that all the yum-yums bring, the worried look when the worm falls sick and the twinkle in the eyes on seeing the glorious butterfly!

--

A 2 year old review here at Being Zoe's Mum who read the book as a child herself: http://www.beingzoesmom.co.in/2012/07/very-hungry-caterpillar-by-eric-carle.html

Excerpt from the review :

Z's take now: She just loves the book, she wants me to read it at least 6-7 times daily. This book sure has become a great companion to Z. &nbsp

--

A recent review here at Medha's Mum Musings;

http://medhasmummusings.blogspot.in/2013/08/book-review-very-hungry-caterpillar.html

Excerpt from the review:

I've taken it as an opportunity to teach her about good food and bad food and nutrition, emphasizing that these are snacks to be eaten once in a while!! And also what happens if you indulge in too many snacks.

--

A guest post here by Ramya at Divya's One Story a Day:

http://divya-onestoryaday.blogspot.in/2013/01/rishis-favorites.html

Excerpt from the review:

We read it in different ways. In the library story time they have these velvet stick ons of strawberry etc, and they made the kids to stick it on the board after the librarian finish the relevant page, which made it even more fun for the kids.

--

Our very own Bubble Ink review here:

http://bubble-ink.blogspot.in/2013/12/the-very-hungry-caterpillar.html

Excerpt from the review:

There is so much we love about the book. From the simplest of it being holes for the little fingers to learn counting to the most complex of seeing beauty in change and its hidden message of "Dream On", this book is all about the things that every child must know. 
--

As always, not necessary to read this very book for the challenge. Please read whatever suits you. It is World Story Telling Day, tell your child a story, come back and tell us if you read "The Very Hungry caterpillar" or anything else.

Tell us through pictures, show off the The Very Hungry caterpillar craft, or decor or a product that you own.

0 Day #19 : 30 books in 30 days : Monsters and Dragons

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #19 : Reading Prompt : Monsters and Dragons.

The day's reading prompt honors World Story Telling day on March 20, whose theme is Monsters and Dragons. We are honoring it a day earlier!

Our picks:

1. Again - Emily Gravett - A story of a little dragon who wants a book to be read to him Again and Again! The book that this little dragon reads is great too. Again, this we picked and came to love after reading Arundhati's review here at SaffronTree.


2. Where the wild things are : Maurice Sendak : A 1964 Caldecott honor, a 50 year old classic which is a story about a boy who is sent to bed without supper because of his "wild" behaviour. The boy in his room, then goes into his imaginative world of the "wild things" and rejoices. He soon starts missing his home and comes back to the comfort of his room to find supper - hot!


3. The Pleasant Rakshasa: Sowmya Rajendran : by Tulika - Karimuga, the "Rakshasa" through this book teaches your child about selfless sharing. Read Richa Jha's review at Snuggle with Picture books here.

Go on a wild rumpus with your little ones and come back and tell us what you read.

0 Day #18: 30 books in 30 days : Tuck Me In

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #18 : Reading Prompt : Tuck Me In

Our picks:

1. Goodnight Moon - Margaret Wise Brown - A book set in the famous green room, every object is wished Good Night to and ends thus 
Goodnight stars 
Goodnight air 
Goodnight noises everywhere.
A classic which needs no introduction.

2. Tuck Me In - Dean Hacohen - It s time for bed, Who all need to be tucked in - Begins the book. With all the baby animals being tucked in one by one, with a flap acting as a blanket, will sure have your little ones tuck themselves in. The illustrations are lovely. The reading prompt is inspired by this book.

3. I am so Sleepy : Radhika Chadha - by Tulika Publishers - A Cuddlesand Reads recommendation : A baby elephant who has forgotten to sleep goes to his friends asking for help.

"Read me a story, Tuck me in tight,
Say a sweet prayer and kiss me good night"

After you tuck your little one in and before you tuck yourself in, come back here to tell us what you read.

Sweet Dreams!

0 Day #17 : 30 books in 30 days : Colors

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #17 : Mar 17, 2014 - Reading Prompt : Colors
To honor Holi, we reserved this prompt for today.

We won't be able to do justice to the picks with so many lovely books on colors.But here are some that touched our heart!

Our picks:
1. Blue Chameleon : Emily Gravett : Color and chameleon go hand in hand. There are so many lovely books on this combination. But this one, at the first look just melted our heart. The illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful and intelligent. Even in the white page, the chameleon outline is imprinted! A true beauty!

2. Pete the cat - I love my white shoes - Eric Litwin - Pete, the Cat is the coolest cat illustration. Pete wears his white shoes steps our singing his song. Ends up in a pile of strawberries, blueberries, mud to turn his shoes into red, blue and brown. He then steps into water to wash them off and finds it all wet. All along, Pete just doesn't get upset and keeps singing his song! The book teaches your child to go on, even if things go wrong and to keep singing your song!! Lovely book! Watch Pete's song here

3. Purple Jojo : Sameera Zia Qureshi by Tulika - A story of a white dog, Jojo which one morning get purple dots all over him. Jojo goes around asking everyone who gave the color to him. A sure hit with all dog-lover and color lovers.

While you read all these, read one of the favourites in the challenge Ranganna by our very own Arthi Anand. The color loving elephant who loves to get his nails painted, without doubt will love the Holi colors all over him. Read and wish him "Happy Holi".

Come back and tell us what you read.

0 Day #16 : 30 books in 30 days : I Feel

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #16: Reading Prompt : "I feel"

Happy, Sad, Angry, Excited, Bored - Books that talk about these feelings.

Our picks: 

1. Baby Happy Baby Sad : Leslie Particelli - For your little babies, each page has a picture of what makes the baby happy and what makes the baby sad. An icecream makes the baby happy and it falling down makes sad. Fighting over a toy makes baby sad and sharing the toy makes baby happy. Crying makes baby sad and hugging makes happy. Lovely read, and the one-haired bald baby in that pic, is cuteness overload.

2. My many colored days - Dr Seuss - The first board book by Dr Seuss for the little ones is a great one to teach your child. Associates colors with feelings with the Dr Suess rhyme trademark.

This book could have been a winner for our Dr Seuss theme, Colors theme (coming on Holi) but we reserved it thinking it best for this one.

3. Siri's smile - R. Amerendran - by Tulika - An Arthi Anand stamp on it. Read Richa's review here. A story of a girl who goes round asking everyone to smile only to realize that all things can smile and only she can. And she smiles away!

Emote all the feelings while you cuddle and read , come back and tell us what you read and make us HAPPY!

0 Day #15 : 30 books in 30 days : Lift the Flap, Pull the tab, Play I Spy

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #15 : Reading prompt : Lift the flap, Pull the tab, Play I Spy.

Books that have fun flaps to lift are sure one of the first books that amused and interested our babies! No doubt. Today let us celebrates those books which a mere joy to play with Pick ones which have flaps to lift, tabs to pull , wheels to turn or for the older kid ,  play "I Spy".

Our picks:

1. Good Egg: Barney Saltzberg : Super fun. Make the egg sit, lie down, catch, speak and have the chick come out and shake shake. Such a beauty!!
You must watch this here.

2. I feel Happy : Little Learners: This is a pull the tab and teaches you emotions. Our review here. 

3. Each Peach Pear Plum : Janet and Allan Ahlberg: This is a book with which you can play "I spy" and in those awesome, intelligent illustrations is hidden a beautiful story. A baby lost and brought back by the bears out for a hunt, and then all enjoying a plum pie. Each page introduces a character which is seen on the right page and the character being spied on is hidden so intelligently in the illustrations. It introduces all your child's favourite story book characters like "Three bears", "Cinderella" and "Robin Hood".  Awesome in rhyme, awesome in illustrations and it will leave you awe-struck. A classic!!

While you are playing Peek-a-boo or I Spy, please come back and tell us what you read.

0 Day #14 : 30 books in 30 days: I am I

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #14 : Reading prompt : I am I 

- The phrase itself inspired by the book "Head to Toe" by Eric Carle and we honor the man who said the phrase in this pic - Dr Seuss.


The books for this prompt was such a difficult pick for us. We love so many books on this theme. So today we pick 4 instead of 3.

Our picks:

1. TALL - Jez Alborough - This book is a pick for the younger children to be able to understand the theme in a simple way. An almost wordless picture book. A baby monkey, Bobo,  realizes that he is SMALL - smaller than anyone else and in an attempt to be TALL hops atop a frog, then to a lion, then to an elephant and a giraffe only to FALL off into his mommy's arms.  The size you are is the size you are meant to be! Perfect for your little ones to get started on this theme.

2. I like Me - Karen Beaumont - I like me for everything that I am. 
Inside, outside , upside down.
From head to toe and all around.
I like it all, It all is me
And me is all I want to be.
Well it goes on in rhyme to say how the girl likes herself for all that she is, for all that she can and can't do! and it ends with " I am Me"

3. Spoon - Amy Krouse Rosenthal - We love her! This book is about the omnipresent feeling in everyone wanting to be everyone else, always thinking that the other has the better of everything! A cute story of a spoon who thinks that he is less important , less enterprising and having less fun than the knife, fork and the chopsticks. The spoon with his mom goes on to find out that the fork , knife and the chopsticks think that the spoon has it better. So , teach your child this important lesson to not compare themselves with everyone else but to feel important and special as each one is unique.

4. Unboy Boy : Richa Jha : This is a story of a boy who doesn't fit in with the other boys and is teased by his friend. The boy most often is high with self esteem after reassuring from his mother to just be himself. Read Arthi Anand s review here at Saffron Tree and Divya Purandar review here.

Come back and tell us what you read!

0 Day #13 : 30 books in 30 days : Wonder Wheels

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #13 : March 13 2014: Reading prompt : Wonder Wheels - Things that go.

Our picks:

1. Freight Train : Donald Crews : This Caldecott Honor book is a lovely one on trains talking about the parts of a train. The illustrations are stunning with colors, showing tunnels, bridges and cities. Go Chugga, Chugga. While you are doing that sing these songs - the high energy Karadi Train song  or this Freight Train one .
2. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction site: Sherri Duskey : A book about the hard working engines in a construction site. Talks about what bulldozers, dump trucks, Cement mixers do their job with pride and joy and how they go to sleep. A bedtime read too for your Trucks lover. The illustrations lovely!

3. Runaway Wheel : Asha Nehemiah : A story about one of the tractor wheels going loose and as it runs along find many target on its rolling path. Read the full review here. 

Chugga Chugga! Vroom Vroom, Tadak tadak..Go!

Don't forget the ever famous "Wheels on the bus". 

Park here and let us what you read.

0 Day #12: 30 books in 30 days : Acts of kindness and sharing

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #12 : March 12, 2014, is Girl Scouts Day - honoring that - today's reading prompt is Acts of Kindness and Sharing.

Our picks:

1. One of Each : Mary Ann Hoberman - A story about the pleasures of sharing. Oliver Tolliver lives all by himself having one each of everything in his home. He then wishes to invite his friend and found that he had two of nothing to share with the friend. Oliver goes shopping to buy another of everything and delights in the joy of sharing. A lovely read with rhyme, repetition and some nice illustrations too. 

2. Plant a Kiss : Amy Krouse Rosenthal : This is an adorable book on how a girl plants a kiss, patiently waits for it bloom and then shares the magic and watches how it multiplies. A story of hope, patience, sharing and bliss. Read our review here. Watch the trailer here

3. The mountain that loved the bird - Alice Mclerran By Tulika -  A story of a lonely mountain who is visited by a bird named Joy and how its acts made the mountain JOYOUS. Has the Arthi Anand stamp on that and read her own review here at SaffronTree. 

Kindness - 
It s just like a magic penny - 
Hold it tight and you won't have any,
Lend it, Spend it, give it away and it comes right back to you! 

I think I learnt this when I was a girl guide! 
Once a guide, always a guide.

Be kind to the blog, visit it and come back to tell us what you read.

0 Day #11 : 30 books in 30 days : Now, I know my ABC

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #11: Reading Prompt : Now, I know my ABC

Whether your child learns alphabets the traditional way or they learn it through the phonics way, these are real fun books revolving around the alphabets with your child.

Our picks : 

1. Chicka Chicka ABC - A lovely sing-along book with the a b c 's climbing up the coconut tree and the older A B C's coming to their rescue. Lovely rhyme. We delight at this video here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk05y3T-pr8

2. The day it rained letters - Nury Vittachi - This book though doesn't about the A B C 's per say, it talks about how it rained letters one day and draws a beautiful analogy to the origin of story books. This is for your older child, to understand the beauty of story books.

3. Hey, That's an A : Jerry Pinto : by Tullika : This is again for your older child who now knows to write the A B Cs. This book is in excellent rhyme and talks about the formation of the letters. U U touching each other - W - A real cute book with some awesome illustrations.

"a-b-c-d-e-f-g
h-i-j-k-lmnop
q-r-s
t-u-v
w, x
y z
Now I know my "ABCs",
Next time won't you sing with me."
Come back tell us what you read or sang.

0 Day #10 : 30 books in 30 days : Toy story

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #10 : 30 books in 30 days : Toy Story

Every child has a favourite toy. Today, we ll read books that revolve around toys.

Our picks:

1. Knuffle Bunny : Mo Willems : We pick the entire series. This series about a girl by name Trixie who loves her Knuffle Bunny. On the first book in this series, she misses it on her trip to the laundromat with her daddy. On the sequel, Knuffle Bunny Too, when taking to school, finds it being exchanged for a friend's Knuffle bunny look alike. On the third, Knuffle Bunny Free , she misses it on the flight to her grandparents and finally sets it free by giving it to a crying baby.

2. Elmer and the lost teddy : David McKee :  The story about Elmer, the elephant finding a lost teddy bear for a baby elephant. By letting the baby elephant keep his teddy for a day, Elmer the elephant teaches your child, the lesson of sharing his/her toys.

3. The Toy Horse : Deepa Agarwal : by CBT : The story of a tiny crooked horse that is loved by a girl. Not personally read by us, but sounds a great story.

Tell us what your child's favourite toy is and what you read as a comment here.

0 Day #9 : 30 books in 30 days : Daddy Dearest

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #9 : Reading prompt : Daddy Dearest :

After the women's day Mommy & Me, for all the men who complained about not having a day for themselves, here is a Bubble Ink dedication. 

Our picks:

1. Papa , Please get the moon for me - Eric Carle - A story of a dad trying to bring home the moon for the daughter. An interesting way to teach the phases of the moon.

2. Daddy Hugs - Karen Katz - On the same lines as Counting Kisses - Daddy hugs are special!

3. The Myna from Peacock garden : Naiyer Masud - Katha Books - Another Arthi Anand recommendation - Not personally read by her or by Bubble Ink but sounds a great story. Check out the review on the Katha site.


Mommies, get the daddies to do the reading with the child.

Tell us in pictures on the FB wall post or comment here on what u read. 

0 Day #8 : 30 books in 30 days : Mommy and Me :

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #8 : Reading prompt : Mommy & Me - Honoring International Women's Day - March 8, 2014.

What better to know the day, than to celebrate the Mommy in all of us.

Our picks:

1. Monkey Puzzle : Julia Donaldson : A story of a monkey who has lost his mother trying to describe his mother to the little butterfly. Does the butterfly help him find his mommy?

2. Are you my Mother: P.D.Eastman: A just-born birdie looking around for his mother asking every animal "Are you my mother"?

3. Whose lovely child can you be - Shobha Viswanath - Another Arthi Anand recommendation - A story about the wonderful experience of having a child in your life. We haven't read this personally but it comes with an ArtsnTales stamp.

Mommy, while we celebrate the day, don't forget to read to your child!!

One of the best mommy and me is having to read with your child.

Happy Women's day ladies.

0 Day #7 : 30 books in 30 days : Barnyard

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #7: Reading Prompt : Barnyard

Our picks :

1. Big Red Barn : Margaret Wise Brown - This is a classic - The rhyme, the pictures, the togetherness in the farm - A perfect day at the farm brought to life in this book.

2. Click-Clack Moo  Cows that type  - Doreen Cronin : The illustrations are cute, the story line witty and hilarious with a twist in the end, repeated text to help your beginning reader and lots of opportunity to giggle. The cows that type fighting their boss, the farmer.  Read its sequel too - Giggle Giggle Quack.

3. Rooster Raga : Natasha Sharma: by Tulika - Again, an Arthi Anand recommendation - a story of a singing rooster.

For the very little ones - There are a number of board books with touch and feel elements. This one is our favourite - Ladybird - Baby Touch Moo!Moo! a Tab book

What is Barnyard without Moo, moo, and the baa baa. 

Do the Barnyard dance and sing the Old McDonald has a farm.

Comment here or tell us on the FB wall post what you read.

0 Day #6: 30 books in 30 days : Book-Love

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #6 : Reading prompt : Books-Love

Today, is World Book Day , we @ The Bubble Ink dedicate today's prompt to B.O.O.K.S.

We ask you to read books on books or books on love for reading.

Our picks:

1. Born To Read - Judy Sierra - Thanks to Falak @ My Little Chatterbox for this recommendation.

2. It's a Book - Lane Smith - This one is a gem! If you can't get hold of this book, you got to watch this trailer here on YouTube. This is for the older i-Everything hooked kids! Yeah, even if it means showing that video to them in the i-Device or the L-Top , do it!

3. The Why-Why Girl - Maheshweta Devi - By Tulika. - A touching story of a young girl who discovers that books have the answers to all her Why-s. We haven't read this one personally but we took Arthi's word for it and pick it. Thanks Arthi. On our wishlist moved to #1. Read the review here.

Read any of these or just about any book that is your child's favorite, turn its pages, rejoice but come back to FB / here and tell us what you read.

For the love of Books, Bubbles and Babies
-
The Bubble Ink

0 Day #5 : 30 books in 30 days : Wordless Wednesday

As part of the 30 books in 30 days challenge, everyday of the challenge we will post a reading prompt to motivate you to read books.

Day #5 : Reading prompt : Wordless Wednesday*
So we are essentially telling you to NOT read but to look, observe and tell your own story or to have your child do it!

Here are our picks:

HUG : Jez Alborough : A book with just 2 words HUG and Mommy. A baby monkey longing for a HUG which only the Mommy can understand.

Good night, Gorilla - Peggy Rathmann - After a zoo-keeper locks the zoo at bedtime, a naughty gorilla lets all animals out of its cage.

Round and Round Books by Tullika - This set is a gem! It is not just wordless but has no pages too. The book is designed to go round and round. Your child can start the story at any picture that opens and go round and round and on and on weaving a story . We personally love this at The Bubble Ink. Defies all notions of a book!

*Complete coincidence that the day happens to be a Wednesday.

P.S: It is not mandatory for you to read on this theme or any of the above books. Tell us what you read as a comment on the wall post on FB for Day #5: March 5, 2014 or email bubbleink.writes@gmail.com or leave a comment on this blog post.