Picture Books That are Best for Bedtime - 2014 Favorites

Photo Credit: http://simplehomeschool.net

Bedtime stories in my house are a must! These are little rituals and routines that I have instilled in my book-loving children from a young age, and they love every minute of it. With the hope that bedtime is other families’ bonding time in mind, I have compiled a short-list of the must-read picture books for kids 2014.

These stories will help youngsters drift to dreamland on waves of positive vibes, good feelings, and a few giggles. Each one is beautifully illustrated and thoughtful, giving parents a children a pause to contemplate the meaning, humor, and morals across every page.

And my 3 picture book suggestions are:

__________________________________

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Apparently, dragons love tacos so much that they gobble them up constantly. They will eat absolutely anything taco-related, especially chicken, beef, or vegetarian. Unfortunately, because dragons love tacos on a whole new level, they often do not think about what they’re eating before they eat it – resulting in fiery indigestion and bad tummy troubles.

This book is all about the dragons who have eaten a hundred-or-so really bad tacos. And what the townspeople have to say about it. Beautiful illustrations and outrageous humor have made an instant classic out of this one.

__________________________________

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce

Mr. Morris Lessmore loves books! He has a library brimming with beautiful books on every subject in the world, and he cherishes each one on a daily basis. However – he loses everything when his beloved books are scattered to the winds in a horrific, natural disaster.

Depressed and desperate, Mr. Lessmore feels his life has also been scattered. Because who is a book-lover without the books he loves so much? This story is one of light humor and compassion as the protagonist finds a new way to regain his hobby.

__________________________________

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Duncan is a little boy with a love for constantly drawing – which is evidenced by his worn-and-torn crayons. And one day, Duncan goes to do his usual coloring, but finds the crayons have gone on a protest. They simply refuse to draw a scribble more until their demands are met! And each crayon has something they want.

With hilarious outcomes, Duncan strives to give his crayons a better life by meeting their demands. After all, it seems to be the only way to get his crayons to begin coloring again.

__________________________________

Take a look at some more great picks in picture books for 2014 here:

http://top-10-store.com/top-10-picture-books-for-kids/

Building Imagination with LEGO Books - Great Books for LEGO Lovers in 2014

Admittedly, you can set down a big box of LEGO bricks in front of me and I will spend hours trying to put together something amazing – even as a grown-up.

LEGO is definitely an obsession that never ceases – one that is actually oh-so-good for your creativity, but sometimes, those young-at-heart and their kiddies might run out of creative concepts. There’s good news though! Building imagination for both youngsters and adults is as easy as cracking open one of 2014's best LEGO books. 

I have outlined 3 awesome LEGO books for your pleasure and perusal. Each one is equipped with pages of know-how to get your kiddo (and yourself) building something awesome in no time at all:

___________________________________

The LEGO Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz

The author of this book made a classic edition and then this revised edition which is 10 times better than the first. There are HUNDREDS of creative ideas to get your imagination moving in the right direction.

Have a bin brimming with knights, kings, and princesses of all mini-figurine shapes and sizes? Build them a thriving kingdom, complete with dragons, castles, and farmlands.

Or, perhaps you’re interested in something alien, kind-of weird, and outer-space oriented? Find the instructions for another planet where anything can happen!

___________________________________

LEGO Play Book: Ideas to Bring Your Bricks to Life by Daniel Lipkowitz

Lipkowitz did it again! This LEGO book is only more of his amazing ideas with the apt tagline of “bring your bricks to life.” Only this edition is slightly smaller with only around 200 ideas packed into nearly as many pages. You and your kiddos can spend hours – even months – implementing all the ideas you find here. Let your inner building genius fly free!

Oh! One more thing – each idea is accompanied by a colorful picture to give your muse a run for its money.

___________________________________

LEGO Minifigure Year by Year: A Visual History by Gregory Farshtey

Over the past few decades, LEGO has introduced several new characters per year, accumulating over 2,000 mini-figurines – each with an individual personality. Some of these characters were inspired by moves and stories, but for the most part, LEGO has realized the mini-figurine dreams of many a happy block-builder.

This book features around 256 pages of every single character in current LEGO history. And while direct building instructions are elsewhere (in the aforementioned books), this edition gives kids the characters to build their bricks around.

___________________________________

There are some additional selections for 2014 in terms of LEGO books - both for kids and adults - you can check out a "top 10" list of them for this year here:

http://top-10-store.com/top-10-lego-books/

3 Kiddo Kindle Picture Books to Inspire Imaginations

Admittedly, I never thought electronic reading would be as successful as it has been. And I always believed that books with actual pages would be better than any e-reader – for both kiddos and adults; however, after seeing the amazing ways e-readers have revolutionized reading, I have done a complete 180 on my point-of-view.

With the benefits of an e-reader and my new-found appreciation in mind, I have compiled 3 of the best Kindle picture books for kids. Each e-book is beautifully illustrated and written with an amusing flair – perfect for enticing and inspiring the imaginations of young’uns.

_____________________________________

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Duncan loves coloring! He colors every day for hours on end with crayons that seem to never break. But Duncan is in for a surprise when his overworked crayons go on strike. With signs expressing their protests, each crayon explains what will make them happy.

For example, blue has colored too many lakes and oceans, and needs a break. Beige wants to be used more over Brown. And orange and yellow are in a war over who is the truest color of the sun. To get his coloring tools back, Duncan must solve each crayon’s dilemma and make them all happy again.

_____________________________________

The Red Book by Barbara Lehman

A curious little girl has opened the window of her imagination, diving into the deep seas of her creativity – all with a red book.

Without words, this story weaves a beautiful tale of pictures and actions. Each illustration is vivid and bold with one thing in common for every page – an amazing, gorgeous, bright red book.

Traveling across the world on an adventure of exploration and imaginative discovery, the book collects a never-ending story of pictures – each a part of the curious little girl’s imagination.

_____________________________________

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Did you know dragons love tacos? Me neither! But apparently, they are huge fanatics of everything taco. Chicken, beef, vegetarian – all tacos are accounted for when it comes to the tastes of hungry dragons. However, fiery hilarity ensues when dragons get hold of super-spicy tacos with extra hot sauce. When the massive, winged reptiles eat too many Salsa Tacos, no one is safe from their flaming belches and upset tummies.

Inspired by the author’s super-cool imagination, this book tells a story in vibrant pictures about dragons and their obsession with crunchy, delicious, sometimes too-toasty cuisine.

The Best Kids' Magazines for Curious Little Learners - 2014

Image credit: http://www.momondealz.com

Youngsters have an innate sense of adventure that (in my opinion) parents should nurture and encourage.

Instead of making up reasons why the sky is blue and where the biggest mountain in the world is, the following best kids’ magazines offer scientific fact on anything your kiddos will have a question for. Their imaginations will flourish, and their thirst for knowledge will be quenched with recurring subscriptions to child-oriented magazines, arriving in the mail every month with your young’un’s name on the address label. Exciting!

I have picked a trio of inspiring magazines – each brimming with amazing, full-color photographs, dozens of kid-friendly, learning activities, and stories galore. 

________________________________

National Geographic Little Kids

With their sponge-like minds, children will love learning and grasping new concepts about their favorite animals. Every month is a different animal-themed focus, detailing the cool behaviors, markings, and habitats of each creature – all in ways youngsters can comprehend.

Don’t be surprised if your kiddo suddenly wants a tiger one month, then a monkey the next!

Not only are there pages that overflow with information and fun facts, there are also beautiful photographs and games to keep your kiddie entertained and engaged.

________________________________

Ask

Ask is the perfect name for this magazine because each page encourages your children to do exactly what the name suggests… ask! Natural curiosity is something that thrives in youngsters, and there are hundreds of facts, poems, stories, illustrations, and contests in this magazine that satisfies the aforementioned curiosities. Every avenue of learning is covered – arts, animals, science, music, and so much more.

Described as oh-so-much-fun and super-cool by magazine-loving kiddos, Ask gives kids something to look forward to, striving to ignite an early passion for learning and exploring.

And how many issues can your youngster expect over a 12-month period? 9!

________________________________

Cricket

There are dozens of explorers in every profession, and the meaning of exploration can mean almost anything – which is why I’m including Cricket in this top 3 list. For aspiring writers and young’uns who love storytelling, each issue of this magazine is packed completely with amazing stories told by professional authors and like-minded tykes. There are opportunities to send in custom poems and stories, as well as games and activities associated with each tale.

9 issues are spread across 12 months, and each publication is filled with child-friendly literature and intriguing puzzles. This is the kind of magazine I would have LOVED as a kid.

________________________________

There are more magazines for kids for this year that are pretty amazing to expand on kids' imaginations - find them here:

http://top-10-store.com/top-10-kids-magazines

3 Disney Books about Friendship & Family in 2014

The best Disney books for kids this year focus on friendship and family – two of the most important things that assist in the amazing, intelligent development of a healthy, happy child.

And friendship and family don’t have to be separate. You can be best friends with your sometimes-annoying siblings, or consider all close friends your family. It can be anyone – no matter size, shape, color, or gender – because you can love and cherish anyone. This is the message that Disney strives to send to youngsters, eliminating the prejudice of today’s society and accentuating the positivity of having people you care for who care for you.

3 of the best Disney books 2014 to convey this message are:

________________________________

Disney Bedtime Favorites Storybook Collection

In my humble opinion, bedtime is the best time for Disney! Kiddos can drift to dreamland with awesome life lessons and sweet stories on their mind, making for the best dreams. This collection has 19 original Disney stories in one book, complete with beautifully gilded pages and over 250 brilliant illustrations. Characters range from the noble Mufasa to the curious Nemo and everyone in between.

Plus, each story says something about friendship and the power of family.

________________________________

Disney’s Frozen (Little Golden Book)

Anna is a young dreamer with a penchant for flights of imaginative fancy. She’s a fantastical beauty and hopeless romantic who has grown up with visions of the proverbial sugarplums and happiness dancing in her head. Whereas, her sister Elsa is the polar opposite. She has a wintry gift – a magical ability that allows her to turn everything around her into an icy realm of chills and snowflakes. And she despises it.

This tale is one of the best from Disney – EVER. The songs have stilled the world, and the movie is amazing. The story embellishes the bond between sisters, and how love can overcome the coldest heart.

________________________________

Disney Cars Storybook Collection

Direct from the Pixar studios, Cars was an instant favorite amidst adorable fans the world over. This storybook puts the speedy friends in over a dozen tales of fast-blooming friendship. There are movie retellings, silly shorts, and a few bedtime stories, featuring the always goofy and loveable Tow-Mater. I suggest trying to read Tow’s stories in his voice. Youngsters will love it!

As with all the Disney collections, this book has amazing gilded pages, each brimming with beautiful illustrations in lustrous colors.

________________________________

Find the complete top 10 list for the current year - Disney children's books:

http://top-10-store.com/top-10-disney-books-for-kids/

Encouraging Kids to Read with Chapter Books in 2014

I began reading at a very young age, and as a result, I still love reading everything I can get my hands on. Yes, this includes cereal boxes and shampoo bottles. I also strive to instill a love of reading and learning in youngsters. I want them to have the love of adventure and curiosity for education that can only be fulfilled through learning from through reading. Because that is an amazing feeling!

With this in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 3 of the best chapter books for kids 2014. These can be read to children as bedtime stories, during classroom time, or any time in between. Get your kid excited about reading!

These books are unique, innovative, and satisfying for thrill-seekers and little explorers alike.
And those 3 are:

____________________________

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Grown-ups will certainly remember this one! Pippi Longstocking is a quirky, amazing, red-headed little girl with adventure brimming in her heart and hope in her eyes. She’s intelligent and savvy about everything – from sailing the seven seas, to tending to exotic animals, and exploring the whole world.

This book has several different focuses, as Pippi Longstocking takes the reader on weeks through her life. She makes friends (and a few enemies), and impresses everyone with her sense of exploration and ability to overcome any obstacle.

____________________________

Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book #2: Amelia Bedelia Unleashed by Herman Parrish

You might recognize this one, as well! However, Amelia Bedelia has been revamped for modern youngsters. She’s still a thriving, imaginative beauty who takes everything literally. And her parents have just agreed to a pet!

Amelia wants a puppy – but not any puppy. She wants the best pup in the world. And this tale follows her from one adventure to another until she finds her ideal doggy.

____________________________

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

James Patterson is a name that grown-ups will certainly remember (especially if you’re a reader of thrillers and suspense). He’s well-known in the adult world, but this story is his way of trying out youth fiction. And he nails it!

The “about” portion of this tale is all in the title. A young boy is headed to Middle School, and he documents every day of misadventure. With laugh-out-loud moments, he makes friends, finds crushes, does tons of homework, and discovers that Middle School might not be so bad.

____________________________

Here is a cool slideshow - giving the top 5 picks based on popular demand, for the "best of" chapter books for kids in 2014:

Educational Books for 10-Year Olds That Love History

Reading is awesome! And History is one of the greatest subjects ever! When combined, these 2 make an excellent hobby for young bookworms.

The following best books for ten year olds in 2014 are all about historic events (usually told from the point-of-view of other kiddos). There are biographies and true-to-history stories that are super-education and ultra-entertaining for miniature reading buffs.

Some are blatantly historical, and others document personal actions that have been done by youngsters in the past – such as kids who have overcome adversities to find hope, happiness, and uniqueness.

________________________________

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

This book is actually on several classroom readings lists in both homeschools and public schools. Set in 1943 during Nazi-held Denmark, this story follows a little girl named Annemarie Johannesen.

Her best friend, Ellen Rosen, is hiding from the Nazis, and on the eve of the Jewish round-up, Annemarie’s family helps Ellen and her parents escape the country.

Told from the point-of-view of a 10-year old little girl, this story is both tragic and riveting, as Annemarie doesn’t understand the actions of politics – only the feelings she has to protect her best friend.

________________________________

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Melody is an 11-year old with an extremely photographic memory. She remembers everything in alarming detail! However, no one else knows. Melody has an ailment that makes it impossible for her to communicate, both verbally and with body language. She’s an absolute genius, but no one knows because she cannot tell them. Until she discovers a way to communicate her thoughts and feelings.

This story is based on an actual invention in history! Over time, it has helped people, like Stephen Hawking, speak without actually saying anything. And Melody is this tale’s beacon of hope!

________________________________

Locomotive by Brian Floca

“A new road of rails – made for people to ride.” – This sentence began the Transcontinental Railway in 1869; a transportation idea that flourished and has since spawned hundreds of advancements in railroad travel.

In well-paced rhythms, this poem explores the concepts of train stations and vintage transportation in prose. Beginning with how the road was built, and ending with the upgrades in modern times, the story provides train buffs and history fans with an outlet for their imaginations. The illustrations are amazing and realistic, matching the greatness of each melodic verse.

________________________________

Following is a video presenting the author of "Number the Stars," Lois Lowry (a fascinating woman):