Happy Mother's Day!

     

       "The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation."--- James E. Faust

     In honor of this very special day, we are shining a spotlight on some tales that are not only perfect cuddling up and sharing together with your little ones, but highlight the most special relationship between a mother and her child.  

     It is my hope that you'll find some lovely stories that will not only honor a mother's (grandmother's and all of the exceptional, significant individuals who play an integral maternal-like role in our lives) wise, warm and caring ways, but shows how their love shines in our hearts.

Just Fishing with Grandma

     Yet another delightful "Little Critter" story from the popular series from Mercer Mayer (with his wife Gina), as our tale begins, all Little Critter wants to do one sunny morning is to fish.  He asks his Dad, Mom and Grandpa, and they are all busy with other chores, when Grandma says that she'll take him out fishing.  Excited, Little Critter and Grandma and Little Critter make it out to Lake Pookatookee, where Grandma shows Little Critter the proper way to put the worm on the hook of his new fishing pole.  But, soon, Little Critter and Grandma see that the best laid plans often go awry (fishing rods that get tangled and then 'taken' by the fish!!).  With patience, understanding and a little bit of cleverness on Grandma's part, the day still turns out memorable. 

Just Fishing with Grandma

Written by Gina & Mercer Mayer

Published by Harper Festival, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (2003)

ISBN: 978-0-06-147808-6

Through Your Eyes- My Child's Gift to Me   

     This stunningly beautiful picture book which is the follow up to author Ainsley Earhardt's previous 2016 debut (the New York Times bestseller, Take Heart, My Child: A Mother's Dream) celebrates a mother's joy of the dreams and hopes she has when her child is born.  As we all have the tendency to race through life, we should all stop and draw upon the wisdom and perspectives from our children to to serve as a reminder of what not only is important in life, but what should be celebrated and remembered.  These are the simple, everyday joys, miracles and the quiet pleasures of life.

Through Your Eyes- My Child's Gift to Me

Written by Ainsley Earhardt & Illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim

Published by Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster (2017)

ISBN: 978-1-5344-0959-0

A Spotlight Flashback from May 2013!----The Berenstain Bears:  We Love Our Mom! 

     My family, like so many of yours, have been longtime fans of the lovable Berenstain Bears family collection of stories (okay, well, I'll just come right out now and admit it- I love ANYTHING with bears!).  When my son was a baby, I cherished the times that we cuddled together on the living room couch or in my rocking chair at bedtime, reading so many of Jan & Stan Berenstain's bear family adventures. And as a parent, I appreciated all of the morals and lesson's that my little boy learned along the way through reading their many lovable tales.

     Jan and her son, Mike Berenstain, do not disappoint in this latest tale, where we find Brother, Sister and little Honey Bear on the hunt for ideas for what they can do to honor their beloved Mama Bear on Mother's Day. Your little readers will clearly see from the delightful and comforting illustrations just how truly selfless Mama Bear is, as she does everything to make her family of little (and big!) cubs happy. Flashbacks from the young cubs show Mama Bear tending to Brother's scraped knee; sewing popped buttons back on their shirts and always making their favorite, yummy, bear-shaped pancakes for breakfast.  When recalling all of these wonderful things that their Mama Bear does for them all each and every day, they soon realize that they just have to do something truly special for her but they just don't know what to do. And, just when you think that the bears will not be able to come up with anything, inspiration strikes while on a visit to their Grizzly Gran and Gramps house, and the creativity and fun begins!

     An added bonus to this sweet book is the do-it-yourself, "My Mama's Book" where you and your children can create their very own scrapbook for their special moms just like Brother, Sister and Honey Bea

The Berenstain Bears:  We Love Our Mom!

Written & Illustrated by Jan & Mike Berenstain

Publisher: Harper Festival, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN: 9780062075475