All month long, we have been hosting a ridiculously fun Coffee and Books Photo Challenge over on Instagram. You can head over there to see all of my posts, and you can search the #CoffeeandBooks hashtag for fantastic titles from the Coffee and Books community, but I have had multiple requests to share all of the books from the past month in one handy-dandy post.
February Coffee and Books photo challenge!
And now, without further ado, here the books we enjoyed throughout this month’s Coffee and Books photo challenge.
Coffee and Books Photo Challenge Book List
{February 2018, Organized by Subject}
Day 1: Favorite Author
This is a tough one, you guys. As a lifelong book addict, I struggle to pick a favorite *anything* when it comes to books. Author, illustrator, book, etc.
My favorites change daily!
This morning, I have two crabby kiddos and one mischievous little pup.
And so I picked William Joyce because these books never fail to make us laugh and to inspire creativity.
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- Author Study: William Joyce
- Author Study: Nicola Davies
- Author Study: Leo Lionni
- Author Study: Bill Peet
- Author Study: Steven Jenkins
Day 2: Math
Let’s face it- math can be one of those tricky subjects. For many, it can cause frustration and even tears at times.
I know it happens over here!
I want my children to delight in math, to play with it, to have fun.
And so, when math gets tricky, I put the traditional materials away and I turn instead to fantastic math stories and educational games.
It’s amazing what some books and play can do for a child. Soon, the smile – and the confidence- returns.
RELATED:
- If You Read Your Kids a Math Book…
- 10+ Math Picture Books Your Kids Will Love
- Delightfully Fun Math Books for Children
- 10+ Amazing Math Games for Your Homeschool
Day 3: Childhood Favorite
Anne of Green Gables was – by far- my favorite childhood book. I read it and reread it. In fact, I lived it. Anne Shirley was one of my 65,000 imaginary friends.
There’s another book that shaped my childhood. It made me a reader before I met Anne. It is not popular but does have a bit of a cult following. It’s called Behind the Attic Wall and it helped to make me a reader.
Some of my other favorites titles and authors include: L’Engle, White, Lobel, McCloskey, Wilder, Dahl, Sendak, Cleary, and – of course – Caddie Woodlawn.
Day 4: Poetry
Here are a few of the poetry books we enjoy in our homeschool.
We start and end most days with a poem, thanks to A Poem for Every Day of the Year and A Poem for Every Night of the Year.
We love childhood favorites such as Silverstein and Prelutsky. We love audio poetry including Poetry Speaks to Children and Hip Hop Speaks to Children and we absolutely love the Poetry for Young People series.
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Day 5: Geography
Here are some of the geography books we love.
Is your favorite here?
These books are *perfect* for strewing… especially with the Olympics on the horizon! I am so excited to watch the 2018 Winter Olympics with my children.
Here’s what we are doing:
- I have a stack of Olympics-themed books on our coffee table.
- A book basket in the same room is filled with geography books.
- I also moved our Pin-It Maps and a globe into the same room.
- I purchased a few inexpensive Olympics decorations.
- I have the game Flag Frenzy ready to play – perfect gameschooling prep for the opening ceremony!
When fantastic books and resources are sprinkled around, children can’t help but dive down those rabbit holes. I think this will be a fun one!
RELATED:
- 6 Books for Teaching Map Skills
- How to Make Your Homeschool Geography Amazing and Fun
- The Best Geography Games for Your Homeschool
- 10 of the Best History and Geography Gifts
- 5 Ways We are Using Around the World Stories
Day 6: Biography
Here are just a few of our family’s favorite biographies:
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Day 7: Myth/Legend
Here are a few of our favorites. I’ve also included the game Zeus on the Loose because it pairs well with Greek Mythology.
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Day 8: A Book & A Game
This is my *favorite* way to learn. As a book-loving gameschooler, I’ve seen time and time again how much learning happens when you just relax and let it.
Games don’t judge. There are no red pen marks. They are a safe way to learn new skills, practice older skills, and have fun in the process.
Our gaming – and our read alouds, for that matter- are far from perfect. We have the same interruptions, tears, sibling squabbles, and board flipping that you do.
But…
I know they will remember this, as will I.
RELATED:
- 100 Games and Picture Books for Play-Based Learning
- 100+ Fantastic Gameschooling Resources for Amazing Play
- How to Make Gameschooling Work for Your Family
- Ultimate Gamelist: A Free Library of Gameschool Resources
- Gameschool Challenge: Add More Play To Your Day!
Day 9: Nature
Our family loves to spend time outdoors, and I love that homeschooling allows us the flexibility to hike daily.
But, it’s important to study nature when you’re INSIDE, too!
Today I am sharing a few of our favorite nature books.
I’m also sharing some photos of the coffee table in our playroom. It’s our nature center!
One basket contains nature “finds” from our hikes and exploration. The other basket is filled with field guides and nature books.
Before we head out on a hike, we’ll grab a book or two from the coffee table and put them in our nature backpacks. And, of course, our pocket microscopes.
We always manage to find something interesting!
Favorite nature resources:
RELATED:
- 5 + Nature Games for Your Homeschool
- Exploring Nature with Children & DIY Nature Explorer Packs!
- Gardening Books and Resources for Your Little Nature Lover
Day 10: Bookshelf
I’m sharing three book stacks and one book basket.
Photo 1: These are my “downstairs books” and you can find them in my family room.
(Confession: I read multiple books at the same time depending on my mood. I have an upstairs book, a downstairs book, a car book, an audiobook, and more.)
Photo 2: These are my “upstairs books” located on my nightstand. Please note How the Crocodile Made Christmas – I got an advance reader copy because I happen to live with the author. It’s fantastic!
Photo 3: Our coffee table Olympics stack. If you strew it, they will come! These books are located right near our TV and I cannot tell you how many rabbit holes we have enjoyed already!
Photo 4: This is our geography basket. We don’t usually have a geography basket, but we made one for Olympics-fueled learning. It’s right next to our TV!
RELATED:
- How to Build an Amazing Children’s Library on a Budget
- National Library Week: 10+ Books to Get Your Kids Excited About the Library
- Books to Help Parents Grow Readers
Day 11: Science/STEM
This is one of our *favorite* subjects and I didn’t even know where to begin with this post!
So I turned to my favorite little readers and asked, “Can you find a few science books you’ve loved lately?”
And here is the result:
RELATED:
- 15+ Superb Books for Young Scientists
- The Best STEM Games for Your Homeschool
- Homeschool Science in the Early Years: 5 Ways to Keep it Fun!
- 10+ Science Games for Your Homeschool
Day 12: Favorite Illustrator
I can’t choose a favorite illustrator, you guys!
Here are just a few of our family’s favorites: Maurice Sendak, Beatrix Potter, Robert McCloskey, Ernest H. Shepard, Shel Silverstein, Quentin Blake, Ezra Jack Keats, Dr. Seuss, Mo Willems, Jon Klassen, Jim Kay, Mercer Mayer, and Oliver Jeffers.
Did I miss your favorite?
Swipe to see which favorite author/illustrator we read today!
Favorite illustrators:
If you have budding illustrators at home, I have a resource for you! As a homeschool mom, I love that this resource is created *by* a homeschooler *for* homeschoolers.
Masterpiece Society Studio is now LIVE and open for enrollment! And, right now, you can get instant access to ALL MasterpieceSociety art courses for kids and teens at a low price!
Click here to check out Masterpiece Society Studio!
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Day 13: History
I’m sharing a few of our favorite history resources. Keep swiping to see them all. The book we are reading this morning is at the very end.
Photo 1- The “You Choose” series. They are like “Choose Your Own Adventure” series but with historic events. Oregon Trail, anyone??
Photo 2- The “Horrible Histories” series. These books are fantastic- and they have them for *every* subject!
Photo 3- The “What Was” series. I gushed about the “Who Was” series on our biography day. If your kids love those, they will love these!
Photo 4- Candlewick’s “Diaries” series is such a unique take on history.
Photo 5- Usborne, Usborne, Usborne. Need I say more? I’ve yet to meet an Usborne book I didn’t love.
Photo 6- Unspoken by Henry Cole. This wordless book tells a story from the Underground Railroad. It’s haunting. It’s beautiful. It’s sad.
Our favorite history books:
RELATED:
- Inspire Learning with Fantastic History Games
- History Unboxed: Hands-On History Fun
- 10 of the Best History and Geography Gifts
Day 14: Fairytale
We rang in Valentine’s Day with the stomach virus, so there is nothing fairytale-like about today! Hope your Valentine’s Days are happier, healthier, and fairytale-filled!
Here is a photo of some of our favorite fairytale books. And a photo of my puppy. Just because.
Confession: Coffee and Books did not happen for us this morning.
Judith Viorst said it best:
Our favorite fairytales:
RELATED:
- Fairy House STEM
- Including World Folktales and Fables in Your Homeschool
- 20+ Fantastic Reading and Language Arts Games
Day 15: Nonfiction
I’ve shared other fantastic nonfiction resources over the previous days, so today I’m keeping it super simple tonight and picking two fave nonfiction authors.
Randall Munroe is an author, cartoonist, engineer, scientist, and the creator of the webcomic xkcd. He is hilarious!
David Macaulay is an author and illustrator. His books are incredible. The New Way Things Work is one of my favorite gifts to give.
Both of these authors write nonfiction books that you simply CANNOT PUT DOWN.
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Day 16: Book Nook
Honestly? We aren’t picky when it comes to reading places. These kiddos read everywhere- even while walking!
This time of year, our favorite thing to do is to read by the fire.
Tonight, I asked each of the kiddos to share a favorite reading spot with you.
My 9-year-old picked a cozy chair. (He’s reading Calvin and Hobbes.)
My 8-year-old picked her rocking chair- a chair from my own childhood. (She’s reading A Wrinkle in Time.)
And my 6-year-old picked his bottom bunk. (He’s reading the graphic novel version of A Wrinkle in Time.)
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Day 17: Audiobook
When my babies were young, I relied heavily on audiobooks.
Some of you guys know my kids in real life. And I’m sure you can remember my oldest, as a toddler, greeting you at our front door with a book (or five) in hand and sweet-talking you into a reading hour.
It’s tough to keep up with kids like that, even when you are a reader yourself. But it’s *especially* challenging to keep up when you are juggling babies and nursing and all those first-years-of-motherhood-things.
And so I created my own audiobooks. When he was napping, I’d record at least one favorite book per day.
We still have these recordings and while I can’t stand listening to the sound of my voice, I do cherish the sounds my youngest made as I read, and I remember those days with a smile.
Later, I ordered audiobooks through the Scholastic classroom orders. I have an audiobook basket in our playroom and a CD binder near our stereo.
Lately, we are thankful for Audible.
Nowadays, we tend to have at least one Audible book happening. They are wonderful for the car, for meal times, and for sick days.
I love to experience one of my childhood favorites alongside my children in this way. Right now it’s A Wrinkle in Time, but it the past we have enjoyed E.B. White, A.A. Milne, Dahl, Cleary, and others.
Audiobooks also come in handy when you want to read a phenomenal book with your children… but you know you’ll cry through most of it.
(Ahem, WONDER.)
The Audible for Wonder is SO GOOD.
Favorite audiobooks:
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Day 18: Art
Here are some photos of a few of our favorite art books.
The very first photo is hands-down my favorite art book right now.
The second photo is Usborne, Usborne, Usborne!
And the final photo is a few books about specific artists that we have enjoyed.
Is your favorite art book listed here? If not, please share it in the comments below!
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Day 19: Classic
This is another tricky one, you guys!
I asked the kids to dig through book baskets to find some favorites.
(Right now we are reading this one, and I have waited so long to share it with them!)
Do you have a favorite classic? Share in the comments below!
More classics:
Day 20: Favorite Character
My favorite character is Anne of Green Gables. She was my favorite imaginary friend. (I had about a bazillion of them!)
My boys’ favorite character is Harry Potter and my daughter’s favorite character is Meg Murray.
Day 21: How-To/Hobby
The truth is, today was so unseasonably warm and sunny that we listened to ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ and ‘Tall Tales’ on Audible (and we ended our day watching Mary Pope Osborne in a live author event via Read-Aloud Revival – AMAZING!), so we didn’t get to Coffee and Books.
But…
Tomorrow is going to be cold and there is some snow in the forecast. I plan to hunker down with one of our favorite activities- nature journaling!
Here are the books I have ready for tomorrow morning- and the coffee is all set to go, too!
Day 22: Library
I was going to show you our oversized, overflowing, and occasionally overdue library totes, but instead, I thought I’d share a stack of books for moms.
These books will help you on your next library trip! They are my go-to resources for book lists and read aloud tips.
From top to bottom:
- The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie –
You can preorder this one now and – trust me- you’re going to want this on your shelf! And you’ll fill it with ALL THE BOOK DARTS. - Give Your Child the World by Jamie C. Martin –
Travel the world through amazingly delicious books. I refer to this book all the time! - The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease –
I think this book should be required reading for all parents and teachers. So, so good! - Some of My Best Friends are Books by Judith Halsted –
If you have a kiddo who reads early and nonstop, this is a must-have. It’s so helpful when you are trying to meet their needs but also make sure the content is appropriate. - Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt –
Such a delicious book!
Is your favorite listed here? If not, share your favorite title in the comments below!
RELATED:
- National Library Week: 10+ Books to Get Your Kids Excited About the Library
- Library Day Stillness
- Library Love and the Gifted Child
Day 23: Giggles
One of my favorite things to do is to pair a hilarious book with a giggle-inducing game. Here are just a few of our family’s favorite books to make you giggle:
- The Book with No Pictures
- Creepy Pair of Underwear!
- The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?
- Interrupting Chicken
- The Mischievians
- Billy’s Booger
RELATED:
- 10+ Games to Make You Giggle
- Dragons Love Tacos 2: Laughter is the *Best* Medicine
- Apples to Apples: Laughter Guaranteed
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- A Basket of Laughter
Day 24: Snuggles
There is nothing sweeter than fresh-from-the-tub, sweet-smelling siblings snuggled up together with a favorite book!
Day 25: Family Favorite
It’s so hard to choose just one. I tried to pick a title that I don’t see many people talking about. Do you have a kiddo struggling with temper tantrums? Keep this title nearby and start reading when his or her temper flares. I promise you, it will help!
Day 26: Re-Reading
This book has brought so much joy to our family, as you can see from its hanging-on-by-a-thread cover.
This little guy is proud to be a part of the HP read and re-read club.
What are your kiddos re-reading lately? Share in the comments below!
Day 27: Favorite Line
It’s SO hard to choose just one!
I’m going with this poem from ‘A Light in the Attic’- I’ve loved it since I was a little girl and I read it to my kids all the time.
Words to live by:
Day 28: Book Recommendation
If you are a book lover, if you love reading aloud to your children, or if you want to build a read-aloud routine but do not know where to begin, you need this book on your shelf.
The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie is one of those books you will keep on your bookshelf and refer to often. The book lists are incredible, the advice is gold, the research is wonderful
And, if you pre-order before March 27, 2018, you will receive Sarah’s brand-new course for free.
I’d love to hear your book recommendations. Please leave a comment below so that we can all fill those library totes this week!
Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: What books have you enjoyed lately? Share here!
Love Coffee and Books?
If you are new to Coffee and Books, be sure to bookmark this landing page:
Here are the posts in the Coffee and Books series:
- Coffee and Books: Select Titles from Fall 2017, Organized by Subject
- Coffee and Books: Select Titles from November 2017, Organized by Subject
- Coffee and Books: Select Titles from December 2017, Organized by Subject
- Coffee and Books: Select Titles from January 2018, Organized by Subject
Also, be sure to check out these related posts:
- Coffee and Books: A 5-Day Series
- Why You Should Start Your Day with the Easiest Thing
- Rock Your Read Alouds with this Simple Trick
- What to do When Bedtime Reading is Giving You the Blues
Guess what else I love?
Games. And I love to pair books and games! Read more here:
Do you want to see Coffee and Books in action?
Be sure to follow My Little Poppies because we share snapshots of our homeschool day… and heaps of fantastic books!
You are also invited to join the {Virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies, a private Facebook Group for parents who love to read fantastic books to their children… and chat about them!
