Ryder still asks for "Me Too!" every night before bed, but this is the one he's been handing me the last couple of weeks. As it comes closer and closeRyder still asks for "Me Too!" every night before bed, but this is the one he's been handing me the last couple of weeks. As it comes closer and closer to Halloween, it's funny to me that he somehow managed to pick this one out at the right time.
He points out the pumpkins and calls them Halloweens. He asks "what's that" at all the things he doesn't know. He asks why Little Critter is crying and I have to explain that he's upset he lost the candy out of his bag. He points to the scary monster masks and does his best monster roar- which I must admit is pretty fierce.
I dread the day that Ryder stops asking me to read him bedtime stories. So for now, I'll just keep reading the same 5 books to him 2-5x a night until that day comes.
Just Me and My Dad is another fun Mercer Mayer book that's about exactly what the title indicates. Our favorite Little Critter goes on a camping trip Just Me and My Dad is another fun Mercer Mayer book that's about exactly what the title indicates. Our favorite Little Critter goes on a camping trip with his Dad.
What I love about this one is that the pictures show us a more accurate side to the story being told. While the words tell us that he stayed up so his dad wouldn't be scared, we can clearly see it's the other way around.
I think the reason I love these books so much is they remind us what it's like to be a kid. They remind us that how our child interprets the day is much different from both how we interpret it and how it actually went down. The innocence of youth and all that. ;)
Ryder and I read this one over the summer. Hearing his giggles makes my heart feel like it will explode. I particularly love hearing him roar like a bear and pointing out the mouse in every scene. These moments are the best part of my day, every day.
When I was a kid, these books were my favorites. I think at one point I owned the whole collection. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Ryder loves When I was a kid, these books were my favorites. I think at one point I owned the whole collection. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Ryder loves them too.
There are two things Ryder asks for every night now. "Mama read Me Too?" being the first. We traipse up to his room where I somehow manage to fit into his toddler bed with him. We read the book. Then when I say "The End" he says, "More?". So I tell him, "Ok, I'll read this one more time" while holding up a finger to indicate one. His response? "No, 2!" where he dutifully holds up two fingers to show me. What ensues is a kind of back and forth giggling battle where I try to fold one of his fingers down to show him ONE more time, not two.
Whether it's one more time or two more times that I end up reading it, I always end up giving in to his other request. "Twinkle Twinkle?" We shut the lights off for the night and I sing or hum twinkle twinkle, little star to him until he falls asleep. Usually I do too, either waking up on my own or to my husband telling him it's time for bed.
If there's one thing I've learned from being a mom it's this. It all goes way too fast. No matter how cliché that sounds to you all. But I also know the parents reading this know all too well what I mean. They move on so quickly. One day it's Dinotrux and the next it's a story about being a big brother. But regardless of the subject matter, it's our job as parents to make it fun. Whether it's doing silly voices or making dramatic shows of emotions like the characters making it fun is what will make it a habit. And as we all know, the joys of a healthy reading habit are endless.
I work at a small local bank. Our branch in particular is very invested in the community. We raise money every couple of months for different local chI work at a small local bank. Our branch in particular is very invested in the community. We raise money every couple of months for different local charities/causes. Last month we donated books and then set them up in our conference room for people to browse. If they found anything they liked they could just put a donation in the bucket and all proceeds were donated to the local food pantry. We raised over $125.00! Not too shabby for a few weeks of collecting.
So what does this have to do with the book I'm attempting to review? Well, it was a few days before Easter and I was taking the mail out when I saw this sitting on the table. I thought to myself- Boy, I bet Ryder would like that. Ryder loves anything that has wheels and anything that roars which makes this book his holy grail. It made its way into his Easter basket and he immediately wanted Mommy to read it to him.
Mommy happily obliged.
This book is about dinosaur/truck hybrids- cyborgs? It's the story of how they once were fierce, wild and untamable creatures that ran the world. They did so right up until a crazy storm came crashing through and the Dinotrux were drowned and rusted and unable to function...except for the few that made their way down south to better weather. They shed their teeth and claws along the way and became the super helpful trucks we all know and love today: delivery trucks, semis, cranes and rollers, Oh my!
Added bonus, the paver and oil trucks poop constantly according to the story and that happens to be the cherry on top for Ryder. "Pootin', Mama! Pootin'!" he yells while laughing and gauging my response to this miraculous event.
Ryder has two bookshelves that are literally overflowing. He even has a couple decorative baskets that have books stashed in them. No matter where I put this book, it is the one he brings to me when it's time for "book please" and "sittin'" with Mama. I have now read this book so many times I could recite it by heart.
While there are times that I think reading this book even one more time will make my head explode, I can't turn my boy away. The days of Mommy reading to Ryder are going to come to an end one day and I want to get as many of them in as I can before it does. So tonight after dinner, a shower and the brushing of his teeth he will seek out Dinotrux and bring it over to me. Then he'll grab his cup of milk and ask for a blanket while climbing up into the chair with Mommy. And Mommy will read it 3 or 4 times before he's satisfied and ready for bedtime.
It's not my favorite, but he enjoys it and that makes ME happy. ...more
Ryder selected this book himself off his ever-growing book shelf. And what a lovely read it is.
I particularly loved the illustrations in this one andRyder selected this book himself off his ever-growing book shelf. And what a lovely read it is.
I particularly loved the illustrations in this one and more importantly, so did Ryder. But what I enjoyed the most is the reassurance it gives a small child that no matter how dark and dreary things may seem, Mommy or Daddy(or both) will be your sunshine. That even though you're having a bad day, someone will be there to help you through.
A beautiful message that tells a child from a young age that (s)he is not alone and that there will be sunshine, no matter how dark those clouds coming through appear to be.
Ryder was particularly fond of the mouse MC in this one. He kept turning the page back to look at one of the up-close illustrations of the mouse. He'd point and try his best to say what Mommy was saying.
What I find most endearing is that Ryder, in his jabbering, pointing and insistence that we turn back to that OTHER page, is what makes my day so much brighter. He is in fact, MY sunshine, though the book indicates that the parent/caregiver is the sunshine for the child. What a truly beautiful message for both parents and child.
I loved the illustrations as much as I loved the words. An eloquent testament of a parent's love for thQuite possibly my new favorite children's book.
I loved the illustrations as much as I loved the words. An eloquent testament of a parent's love for their child.
This is apparently Ryder's new favorite as it is the one he grabs most frequently, before plopping down in my lap for his bedtime story. There is nothing that makes my heart happier than a boy who wants to sit in his Mama's lap with a good book before bed. <3
This is a truly beautifully written story about the incredible bond between a parent and child....more
One of the many books gifted to Ryder at the baby shower. I finally got around to reading it, and it is delightful. A wonderful story where a child isOne of the many books gifted to Ryder at the baby shower. I finally got around to reading it, and it is delightful. A wonderful story where a child is asking his mother if she would still love him if her were a stinky skunk, swamp monster, or a man-eating dinosaur.
And of course the mother reassures her sweet child that no matter what he was she would still love him.
An endearing tale of a mother's love and a child's need to feel both loved and accepted for who he is.
I really enjoy this story, and Ryder seemed to as well. ...more
I had not read this before having my son. I guess I always thought it would be so much more. I forget that a lot of children's books are less than 10 I had not read this before having my son. I guess I always thought it would be so much more. I forget that a lot of children's books are less than 10 sentences total.
It was good but I was expecting so much more.
I enjoyed the illustrations more than I did the actual story.