Favorite Picture Books, Spring 2018

If you’ve read The Gingham Apron for long, you know how much we love books! You can check out all of our posts about books here. As a homeschooling mom of five elementary/middle school kids, I are in a stage of life where I am especially surrounded by lots of wonderful picture books. Here are some of our current favorites.

The King and His Seed

My friend Christina told us that we had to find and read this book, and boy was she right. It is wonderful for so many reasons. When the elderly king decides to hold a contest to determine who will be his heir, all of the strongest, biggest men come from far and wide to compete for the throne. But the king offers a surprisingly different kind of contest, and Jack, the local farmer’s boy is intrigued enough to enter. This is a lively retelling of folktale with fanciful illustrations. Most importantly, it has a great lesson about honestly. You’ll love reading it with some special kiddos in your life.

My boys especially love this book!

Katy No Pocket

Katy is a Kangaroo who doesn’t have a pocket. She wonders how she can take care of her Joey with no pocket! After enlisting the help of her animals friends, she comes up with a creative solution. This story is fun and sweet and whimsical. The kids loved the illustrations by H.A. Rey, the creator of Curious George.

Blueberries for Sal

We were given this book when Olivia was born by our dear friend Cath (Molly’s mom!), and we ready it to many times that it simply fell apart. I recently rediscovered it at the library and remembered what a charming story it is. Two mothers go picking blueberries one morning, and their two children try to help but find themselves in a bit of mischief. This story is endearing and I simply love the simple, vintage illustrations. I especially love the pictures of the mother canning blueberries because it makes me nostalgic for my grandma in her farm kitchen.

The Story of Ferdinand

When the movie about Ferdinand came out last year, it reminded me about the original book, which is now seventy-five years old! There is so much to love about this book: the peaceful, loving, flower-smelling Ferdinand, the beautiful pen ink drawings, and the Spanish culture that comes through the story. The kids think the ending is funny, and we just really enjoy reading this book together.