The Best Kind of Books

I'm not a big reader compared to some people...I love a great book every now and then but one genre of book I can ALWAYS get into?  Craft. Duh.  I recently got sent 2 books that spoke to my soul.

 The first was Washi Tape Crafts: 110 Ways to Decorate Just About Anything by Amy Anderson.  Amy is from washi tape crafts blog, & Mod Podge Rocks Blog, so I already know this was going to be good.  It comes built in with 10 rolls of washi tape so you can get crafting right away.

It's full of new ideas you haven't seen on other blogs or images not actually linked on Pinterest.  This has step-by-steps of projects that are big to little and all easy to do for even beginners. 

I was also sooooo excited about The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering: Create and Develop Your Own Style by Valerie McKeehan.  You know those gorgeous chalkboards from Lily & Val..

That's Valerie! This book is full of gorgeous instructions, useful information & even built in chalkboards to help you learn all about chalk art.  

So many fonts & chalkboard designs to recreate...I'm in love. These are 2 books that you definitely need to add to your Christmas list...or just wrap them up for yourself from "Santa"! 

Friday Favorites: Kids Books

We (okay, mostly me) picked out our top 4 favorite books right now. My son will be 4 in July and has always loved books & I've loved buying "big kid books".

But they are so expensive! Can I get an amen?! So I often do 2 different things: 1. Ask for them for him for Christmas/Birthday. 2. Find them at a thrift store. I'm always amazed at some of the books I've found there that are new or practically new!
So let's start with 2 Dr Seuss classics...

 "Oh, the Places You'll Go" has always been popular & well-quoted especially for graduations.  I love it's encouragement, but also it's message that sometime, things WON'T go our way and when they don't, we have to push through them and keep working hard.

The second is a Seuss book that's maybe a little lesser-known but equally as good. 

"Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?" focuses on other character's poor circumstances to remind us that our life is pretty grand and we should never take our situations for granted, because there are others who have it harder.

Not a "classic", (yet) but we're loving "Press Here" by Herve Tullet.

My sister-in-law introduced us to this book & while it doesn't have a "message" it's so interactive and entertaining! Plenty of giggles and excitement always ensue when we read this book together.

Last but not least, is a book I consider a classic because I read it growing up as a child and I was SO excited when my son got it a few years ago and I'm even more excited that he is obsessed with it.

"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr & John Archambault is all about the alphabet & goes through the whole thing twice, presenting plenty of opportunity for kids to see the letters.

And our favorite part? On either side of the book is the whole alphabet and my son has loved matching his set of letters to the book! 

 Those are our TOP 4 current favorite books! There are plenty more we have in rotation, but at least on of these is always picked in our bedtime reading session.