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We love our local library. We spend a lot of time there. And my favorite approach to finding new books is picking one shelf and going through every book. This only takes a few minutes and I do it with a kid by my side sometimes and other times while they play on their own. We’ve found so many favorites by taking the time to do this. Once we’ve found a book we like, it becomes a jumping off point for reading the author’s other books. We definitely read a lot of books from popular movies or shows, but I do my best to keep our kiddos engaged in other picture books too. If you’re looking for books for the upcoming gift giving season, we hope this short list helps you find some new-to-you favorites!

Bunny’s Book Club
Annie Silvestro
This charming story of animals who love to read is beautifully illustrated and so much fun.

Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months
Maurice Sendak
I remember reading this classic as a kid and JJ has really hooked on to it. I love a rhyming story and this one is helping her to learn the months of the year too.

Dreams for a Daughter
Carole Boston Weatherford
This beautiful letter to a daughter is a great bedtime story and pep talk all in one.

Inside a Zoo in the City
Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Better known for her Biscuit series, Capucilli’s rebus books are fantastic for young readers who want to help tell their bedtime story.

Little Owl
Piers Harper
We love textured books around here and this wonderful story has soft illustrations to experience while learning valuable lessons about trying and being brave. There are several stories in this series and we’ve collected them all to enjoy.

Mary Wore a Red Dress
Merle Peek and James Cross Giblin
We were looking of an illustrated version of Raffi’s song when we found this story, but are so glad we found this rendition.

Mommy, Do You Love Me?
Jeanne Willis
This is the perfect story to end a tough day. I yell at my kids more than I’m proud to share and this story has certainly helped them to understand that even when I get mad, I certainly do love them.

Patrick Picklebottom and the Longest Wait
Mr. Jay
This is an amazing story (that rhymes) about finding ways to wait and to work through boredom. I’m happy to read this story to my kids any time to drive the moral home!

Peggy
Anna Walker
Peggy is the short story of a chicken who accidentally goes on an adventure in the big city. I love a good story about finding home.

What Does Bunny See?: A Book of Colors and Flowers
Linda Sue Park
If the kids in your life enjoy the cadence of Karma Wilson’s Bear Sees Colors, this is another great read to help kids participate in reading and identifying colors. 

Feels early for gift guides? It’s not! We’re running into October and soon the Halloween aisles at Target will be completely replaced with holiday decor instead of just partially like they are now, in September. My kids have running Christmas lists, always ready to offer up a suggestion for a gift. Luke (5) wants Lego sets and Nintendo Switch games for Christmas, plus a Star Wars droid “that really moves.” JJ (3) wants princess dresses, princess dolls, and makeup. They may not notice it, but sometimes they do play with other things. If you have kiddos in your life who still like to play with toys or read books, hopefully, this list gives you some inspiration to get some holiday shopping checked off your to-do. As always, I am totally for experience gifts or no gifts at all! But, for those on your list who are expecting something wrapped up and delivered, let’s get them something they’ll love.

You Choose by Pippa Goodhart 
Both of my kids love these books! We have a few and the rest on are on our Christmas lists. These are the kinds of books I loved as a kid — with so many illustrations I could stare at them and study them forever.  

Perler Beads
Full disclosure, I’m into Perler Beads! But, I also think they make great gifts and the licensed sets are endless. Both of my kids have enjoyed creating their favorite characters from kits and from looking at new patterns online. These can be handy over that long December break from school too! 

Vintage Board Game
My kids aren’t great with board games — there is a lot of sore losing and advertent/inadvertent cheating around here. But, one game they have accepted is Candy Land. I think it is easier to learn with the “vintage” version with cards as opposed to a spinner. We asked for these classy looking board games as wedding presents. For folks with limited storage space, these are a cute find because they can sit on an open shelf without screaming “kid toy." 

Who Would Win
If you have a kid who loves animal facts on your list, these books are great. Luke likes the gamification of anything, so adding some competition to non-fiction gets him engaged. 

Makedo Explore Toolbox
We were gifted a small set of these this year and at first I was skeptical, but when Luke demanded a working door on one of his Amazon box forts over the summer, these little guys saved the day. Makedo tools and screws help you and your little builders actually be able to come up with dimensional creations for forts, playhouses, and whatever structures you have in mind. 

Snapbots
We bought these secondhand a few years ago and they are still a hit with Luke. He likes to have Snapbot battles which can be a little rough on the knuckles, but these are great for littler builders too. 

Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils
No sharpening needed! We love Twistables for everyday use, but especially for on the go. These would make for a great stocking stuff or gift with a coloring book or a few other art supplies. 

Kids Anywhere Chair 
This is a big one. Do not buy this for someone as a surprise — make sure they want it and have a space in mind for it. My kids really do enjoy their classic Pottery Barn Kids chairs. I purchased the chairs secondhand and the monogrammed covers new, which really helps bring the price down if you have time to take a look on Facebook Marketplace. My kids lounge in these and more excitingly use them for living room fort making. Luke and JJ fit in the standard size, but I think we will be looking into the oversized ones in the next year or two. 

Nintendo Labo Building Kit
Someone in our house may be getting this for Christmas this year. We haven’t tried these kits yet, but I’m eager and hopeful that they will add a layer of fun engineering to playing extra video games during the December school break. 

Cook in a Book 
JJ loves these and has a few on her Christmas list. We received the Cookies! one years ago and it is still a hit. These books are sweetly interactive which makes them great for kids to look at with a reading helper or on their own. 

Pattern Blocks
JJ has been enjoying these sets at our local library. Last year I recommended a particular tangram set, but this year’s recommendation is definitely better for younger ones working on spatial development. What I like about this set is that the cards are big enough to build on top of instead of design cards that you build alongside.  

Popper Puzzle
This is one of my favorite toys in our house right now. I keep it in our sitting room and it gets lots of playtime from kids and visiting adults too. 

Never Touch A…
These books are for really little ones, but JJ is still obsessed. If you’ve got a tactile youngster on your list, these will be a pleaser. There are so many books to choose from and their textured pages and rhyming cadence make them regular requests around here. 

Lego Tool
This handy little tool comes in some of Lego’s larger sets, but if you know a builder without one, it’s a game changer. These puppies can help take apart stuck bricks and the pry apart the tiniest elements in your Lego project. Perfect stocking stuffer! 

Lego Storage Container
I love the IKEA Lego collaborations, but they don’t snap shut, so they are not great for travel. This storage container has a drawer and the handle keeps it from being pulled all the way out — less mess is a win for me. 

Big Book of Lego Facts
We live in the world of Lego, so we might as well be knowledgeable! This book has been a hit with Luke and a 12 year old in our life. We really enjoyed Legoland New York this summer; so, if you’re looking for a big experiential present, tickets would be an amazing present paired with this book. 

Light Stax Building Blocks
These are another item that is fun for kids and grownups alike. The kits are pricey and come with few blocks, but still offer coffee table fun and can make cute decorations or nightlights.  

Melissa and Doug Stained Glass Activity Kit
My mother in law gifted Luke a Christmas kit like this one a few years ago. These are well made and great for kids 3 (with assistance) and up. These would make a low stress December break activity too! 

Hape Quadrilla Marble Run Sets
We’ve been building our collection of Hape Marble Run sets over the last few holiday seasons. Again, we’ve been lucky finding them on the secondhand market because they are pricey — but they are well made and fun for many ages. You can purchase additional accessories to make the run more engaging and find additional configurations online too. 

I described how I did on my 22 for 2022 list as “bleak,” but I’m feeling much more confident about 2023. Halfway through the year and there are a considerable number of things completed (marked in green) or underway (marked in yellow). However, I may not be doing so well at the LISTEN goal I set for myself this year — open to suggestions there. 

Plus, I’m looking for something to add into my FREE SPACE if anyone has ideas about that. I’m thinking I’d like to find a way to incorporate chalkboard space outside once our deck project is completed. Please send inspiration my way. 

​My life is full of lists. In addition to my 23 for 2023 list, I’ve fully embraced daily checklists and related rewards system to make the most of our summer days. I have high hopes for making some sort of summer bucket list graphic for the kids to help with, but haven’t found the motivation for that just yet. How are you keeping the kids in your life from watching tv all day?

Bleak is the word I would use to describe how I did on my 22 for 2022 list. I am using the excuse of new home ownership for many of my drop offs -- there are several items that I was doing up until our tricky real estate transaction got underway. But, as for my word of the year, TACKLE, I feel pretty good about the number of things we took head on this year. My minimal success this year is motivating my 23 for 2023 list to make sure it's realistic, but still pushes me to make some positive changes. 

I hope to be able to share my list soon in the New Year and welcome you to get started on your own. Click here for the template.

Let’s just say the blog goals I made on my 22 for 2022 are not going to be achieved (and that’s ok). But, I absolutely love putting together my annual gift guides. So, we are back baby, to bring you some holiday gifting ideas. First up, the kiddos!

Initial Bank
I collected things to put on my dresser as a kid. I loved figurines and pretty little things to look at. I did not love sorting through them as my parents downsized over the years. So, I’m trying really hard not to start those kinds of collections for my kids. One practical item to have on a dresser is a coin bank. I think these initial banks are fun and there are lots of options on Etsy for designs and personalization. 

All Better! by Henning Lohlein + Feed the Animals by Bernd Penners
JJ loves this All Better! book that comes with reusable sticker bandages that young readers apply to the different animals’ boo-boos. Feed the Animals is on our Christmas list this year. The only down side to these is that that my children have lost some of the stickers. So, I recommend keeping these on a special shelf to read alongside your kiddos. 

National Geographic Little Kids
My kids are not as into mail as I think they should be, but I do know some kids who are. Consider a fun magazine subscription to slip into your favorite kiddos’ mailbox monthly. 

Melissa & Doug Pop Blocs Farm Animals
These were a gift for Luke’s first birthday and both of my kids still play with them — making them gift guide worthy. These guys fit into my many ways to play category and could make perfect stocking stuffers for even the littlest hands to grab. 

Stepping Stones
We received these off our Christmas list last year and they are still a hit. My kids like to play floor is lava with them and we’ve even used them as a jumping off point for a full indoor obstacle course. They are a bit pricey for a toy, but would be great family gift to someone with multiple little kids to share. 

Classic Little Critter Book Set
Luke is very into Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer right now. These are great to find on Thriftbooks, library book sales, and even garage sales; so, I always have my eyes peeled. Every once in a while we come across some problematic wording or reactions (in my opinion) in Mayer’s writing, but I use those as quick teachable moments or just skip right over them.  

Magnetic Maze
JJ gets really focused on these magnetic maze puzzles at the library; so, they will be on our Christmas list this year. She is not super into regular puzzles, but these capture her attention. 

Kite
Kites are the most underrated toy - period. I love kite flying, my kids aren’t super into it, you know, because they are way cooler than my. But, whenever we break out our kites around other friends, they are ready to play. I think a kite is a marvelous family present. 

Salariya Books
Sometimes I come across a book publisher by chance (usually at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, yes, really!) and feel like I have to get my hands on everything they create. We have some beautiful animal and dinosaur books from Salariya Books and I hope to discover some more of their titles in my holiday shopping. 

Rubber Stamp Set
I am a big fan of the Melissa & Doug rubber stamp sets. They have lots of different themes to choose from and include washable stamp pads. These have been a great addition to our project drawer over the last year. 

GeoSafari Binoculars
These binoculars convince me that my kiddos are actually seeing what I think they are seeing because they neatly (with padding) smoosh against their little heads.  

Open Ended Play Kaleidoscope / Kaleidoscope Kit
JJ loves kaleidoscopes and she is always asking to open ours — which does not open, womp womp. These beautiful kits are great for a range of ages. 

Button Making Kit
I like the idea of giving kids a gift they could use with their friends. I would have loved to invite a friend over to make buttons for our backpacks or gym bags — and I might still enjoy doing that ;) 

Bubble Machine
Our bubble machine was a COVID purchase, but it has proven to be exciting on a Tuesday morning with just us and with a bunch of neighbors after school too. 

Hungry Hungry Hippos
This is basically the only game that Luke really gets really into because he can just whack something, but it also gets him counting and comparing numbers.

Magnifying Glass Set
I like sets like this to keep outside. It’s nice to have a bunch to share if friends are over to play. Magnifying glasses are such an open-ended play toy that can lead to the best kid adventures. 

Bluey Trouble
This is on our list this year. I’m hoping that getting to whack the trouble bubble will fill Luke’s tactile demand, but also gets him counting and thinking. I like Trouble because all the pieces have a place on the board and kids will like it because it's Bluey.

No Stress Chess
Thanks to a Bluey episode all about Chess, my kids like to play with our Chess board. If you have a school age kid on your list, this teaching version of the game may get them into chess with a little less frustration.  

Chuckle & Roar Tangrams
Luke got these for his birthday and he really enjoys figuring out the puzzles. This tangram set is great because the pieces are magnetic and kids can complete the puzzles directly on the tin.