I’m baaaack! Folks, I’ve been so crazy- busy with the end of the school year, assembling Leo’s homeschool portfolio, getting Granite State Gifted up and running, and hanging out over at Raising Poppies that I’ve neglected this space. My apologies! In all honesty, my reading has been impacted by all of the above so you didn’t miss all that much!

For those new to The Books that Fill Our Shelves, the back story is that I’ve had folks ask me, both Facebook and Instagram, to share what our family is reading and our favorite books and therefore I’ve started a new series called The Books that Fill Our Shelves {weekend wrap up}, and I’m getting heaps of great feedback.

The Books that Fill Our Shelves

Cait recently finished:

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

This has been on my to-read list forever. I was dragging my feet because I knew it would be a heavy, sad read. It’s a truly amazing, sad, unbelievable story. I am so glad that this book was published because it is a story that needs to be told, even if it is hard to swallow. Schizz and I just started the movie last night (we never make it through a movie in one sitting), and it is very well done but extremely sad.

Cait is currently reading:

How to Change Your {Blogging} Life with Google Analytics by supermommyclub.com

As someone who impulsively started blogging without any understanding of the process, I often have questions. My friend Colleen suggested that I read this book.  I started it a few weeks ago but haven’t finished yet because those who know me IRL know that I sort of despise my kindle. I’ll get back to it!

What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

Okay, so somehow I’m the only person on the planet to not know about xkcd, so if you are a fan and you’re laughing at me right now: carry on to the next paragraph! Randall Munroe is hysterical and, not only is he hysterical, but he’s a scientist. And a comic. A scientist-comic- for real! In this book, Munroe gives serious, scientific answers to the craziest questions. I’m going to let Leo read this when I’m done because I know he’ll love it. Any parent of a child who asks nonstop crazy-making questions needs to read this book.

The kids recently finished:

This week, we have been enjoying book from our Mindful Month of Books at our {Virtual} Family Book Club. Who doesn’t need a little calm down after all the end-of-the-school-year excitement?

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud

How many times have I gushed about this book on my site, folks? We stumbled upon this gem at the free book table at our town dump. It became what we call an Instant Dump Classic. Not only do we love this book, but it changed the way we operate around here. It had a direct positive impact on our family, the language we use, and the way my children treat others. Before this book, we would talk about “kind words” but this book uses language that is more concrete for young children. Have you read it? Do you love it? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee Maclean

Peaceful Piggy Meditation is a wonderful introduction to meditation for young kids. It explains the benefits of mindfulness in a way that children will understand.I use yoga and meditation myself, and I have used it with students in the past, and so I’ve tried to use it with my own children in the past. My attempts were unsuccessful – due in large part to attention- until just recently. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying introducing my children to mindfulness, and this was one of the very first books that I used. My little poppies now request a relaxation story before bed each evening. It’s not uncommon for one member of our party to be so relaxed during that story that he drifts off to sleep for the night!

Leo recently finished:

Harry Potter (books 1-5) by J.K. Rowling

You should see how well-loved these books are, folks! Leo has read the first four books at least four times and he lost him self in them again over vacation. I’m interested to see whether or not he ventures on to the rest of the books this time, or if he self-censors again.

Leo is currently reading:

Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life, His Ideas, and 21 Activities by Janis Herbert

Our friends gave Leo this book for his birthday and it could not be more perfect. This biography is jam-packed with so much amazing information, including science, history, geography, and math. Your child will realize that da Vinci was so much more than just an artist! Plus, what parent doesn’t love a book that keeps their children busy with heaps of activities?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Leo has read the Harry Potter series countless times since kindergarten… but he has always self-censored and stopped after book four. This summer, he’s read books five and he’s deep into book six. Harry comes with us everywhere. Yesterday we were out and about and I noticed that the book was on the floor as we were leaving and I had to say, “Don’t forget Harry!” How many times do I say that each week, folks??

T is currently reading:

First Encyclopedia of the Human Body 

Yes, still. I told you she was obsessed with the body! T and Seuss have been devouring the pile of Usborne books that I’ve gathered since deciding to become an Usborne consultant. This one is among T’s absolute favorites

See Inside Your Body (an Usborne See Inside Book)

Ever wondered about the inner-workings of your body? Did you want to check out what your lungs look like? Or, follow your food’s journey throughout your digestive system? Then this is the book for you. T loves to lift all of the many flaps in this book to discover what is happening inside her body.

Seuss is “reading”:

How Things Work (an Usborne See Inside book)

My children are newly-obsessed with this series from Usborne, and this is one of Seuss’ favorites at the moment. This book is jam-packed with info on the inner workings of so many things and I love the lift-a-flap aspect where you can not only learn about a given object but then see inside it. This is a perfect book for the little STEMists in your life!

Famous Buildings (an Usborne See Inside book)

Did you ever want to look inside those buildings you read about, or see on television? Do you want to explore a pyramid, sneak a peek in the Taj Mahal, or check out the Leaning Tower of Pisa? This is a super-fun lift a flap book for future architects!

This weeks’ favorite audiobooks:

My little poppies love audiobooks and we’ve grown quite the collection over the years, between the ones we made ourselves and the ones we’ve ordered through Scholastic and received as gifts. I thought it might be fun to start including favorite audiobooks from the week, too.

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

This is an adorable story about a gloomy fish who spreads the “dreary wearies” throughout the ocean, until his friends help him to turn that frown upside down. This is our first full week of school vacation and T and Seuss have come downstairs and listened to this audiobook together every morning. So cute!

The Advenures of Beekle The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

Have you guys read this adorable book yet? It won the Caldecott this year – the illustrations are amazingly adorable. I don’t even want to tell you much about this book because I want you to read it for yourselves. It’s the sweetest story about friendship and bravery, combined with beautiful illustrations. It will become an instant classic in your home.

Next up this week:

As part of our Mindful Month, we’re going to continue to delve into these titles. I invite you to join in the fun if you’re feeling a little frazzled after the school year!

Tell me, what are you reading?? Share here!

I’d love to add your favorites to my Goodreads list! Also, parents… have you seen my How to Start a Family Book Club post? It’s a fun way to encourage reading for the entire family!

More Information on Our Book Club:

The {virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies is an awesome group of readers. It has been wonderful to connect with folks as book-obsessed as we are over here. If you would like to join in the fun, please join the Family Book Club @ My Little Poppies Facebook group. We cover one book every week and you can participate as much as you’d like. There’s no pressure! We share crafts, lessons, and other activities related to each book and by the week’s end we have an entire Pinterest board related to the text. That way, if you miss anything or if you have a crazy week (it happens to all of us), you can go back at your leisure and explore the book on your own time.

All of the books (and more!) from the {virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies can be found here:

All of the lessons, crafts, and activities based on each book can be found here, listed by title and author:

Visit Cait Fitz @ My Little Poppies’s profile on Pinterest.