Showing posts with label lit list. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lit list. Show all posts

10.24.2016

lit list | 10 books the girls are loving this Fall

I've shared countless favorite children's books here over the past two years of blogging and on instagram @blessednestblog in my Lit List series and this time of year I normally do a round up of our favorite classic Fall books. Instead, I thought it would be fun to share the 10 books the girls are loving the most, some related to Fall and others just being newly released books that are beautifully illustrated & have equally wonderful stories. For a look at our favorite traditional Fall books, you can find last year's roundup here


// We also love her first picture book, Adventures with Barefoot Critters...all about teaching children their ABCs. The illustrations in this book are so charming and perfect for not only grasping the concept of counting but naming all different types of animals //

Sam and Dave Dig A Hole by Mac Barnett
// A story about two boys on a quest to find something spectacular. They don't find what they are looking for but end up having quite a great time in the process. This book is all about finding joy in the ordinary, even if it looks different than you imagined it would. I love the warm and simple illustrations and the surprise at the end for the readers //

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
// This has been a favorite around our home for a long time, and continues to be one Olivia asks for day after day. She loves laughing at everything that happens as the story goes on and Jeffers' sense of humor is well integrated throughout the book, it's a really fun one for children of all ages //

// With striking and bold illustrations, this book tells the story of a farmer's cat as he journeys through fields, farms, forests and more. Olivia absolutely loves cats (and always tells me they "go to the bathroom in a glitter box") so this is a perfect fit for our bookshelf //

// Author of our favorite books, Dream Animals and Day Dreamers, this is a story about a little bear family that just moved into the woods and their adventure while out on a walk. Olivia loves the fox pup in it and the illustrations are of course so whimsical and darling //

// I included this favorite in our Fall list last year; not only is it perfect for this time of year, but I love the illustrations and Poppy always giggles at the squirrel that appears throughout it. It's a great book to read before taking a walk around the neighborhood and going on a leaf hunt, something Olivia has enjoyed doing after dinner as a family // 

// A quicker read all about a little girl and the magic of nighttime. Simple and sweet //

// This has more lengthy text but remains Olivia's pick each night because it's about two of her favorite things -- princesses and dancing. Bonus: Alison Jay's illustrations are absolutely incredible //


// A beautiful celebration of Fall, the changing leaves and animals preparing for winter //

// The first book I bought for our babe on the way, this one makes me tear up every time I read it, it it just so sweet. It would make a beautiful gift for an expectant mama or new baby and a great addition to any child's library //

What books are your little ones loving this Fall?! Hope this gives you a few new ideas for the season! Happy Monday!!

9.06.2021

september lit list | babylit + fairy friends

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! More about what we were up to will be on the blog later this week in conjunction with my Friday Favorites post!

If you've been following along for any length of time, you'll know that children's books are one of our favorite things. I love sharing all the books we love in my Lit List series here on the blog. You can also find a peek at other favorite books on instagram under the hashtag #BlessedNestLitList.

This month I'm so excited to be teaming up with Gibbs Smith Publishers to share a handful of their newest board book releases, including our favorite BabyLit series and a new Fairy Friends series with the most gorgeous, whimsical illustrations.


If you're not familiar with BabyLit books, they are board book forms of classic literature that teach basic ideas and concepts to little ones, such as counting, opposites, colors and more. Over the past few years we have gained the complete collection but favorites of ours include Jane Eyre {A Counting Primer}, Sense & Sensibility {An Opposites Primer}, The Jungle Book {An Animals Primer}, Don Quixote {A Spanish Primer}, and The Secret Garden {A Flowers Primer}.

This Fall BabyLit released Little Women {A Playtime Primer} and The Odyssey {A Monsters Primer} and Little Women has quickly become Olivia's new favorite. Each page shares a playtime activity -- such as gardening, picnicking and reading. Olivia loves pointing out every single item on each page and telling me what they are.


Gibbs Smith also released a Fairy Friends series this September with an initial collection of 4 books by author Merrilee Liddiard that we have totally fallen in love with. These include...

Fairy Friends: A Colors Primer
Fairy Friends: A Counting Primer
Fairy Friends: An Opposites Primer
Fairy Friends: A Seasons Primer

There is something so dreamy & whimsical about fairies, especially paired with Merrilee's enchanting illustrations of hand drawn elements with photographic collages. At 11 months, Poppy loves books as much as Olivia does and they sit endlessly flipping through the pages together, Olivia "reading" to Penelope and pointing out all her favorite pictures.


Of the new Fairy Friends series, Olivia's favorite is Opposites. She learned every single opposite it included within just four days of it arriving. Her favorite set is "Sometime I dress simple" / "Sometimes I dress fancy" and I'm pretty sure hearing her say "fancy" is the cutest thing ever.


All these books are such a hit in our home with our girls and a fun refresh to our library, that I teamed up with Gibbs Smith & BabyLit to give away a set to one of you! One winner will receive 3 books of their choice from the new set of 6! To enter, head over to my instagram @blessednestblog and find the giveaway post here. The giveaway will run today September 6 through Monday September 12 and the winner will be announced on the original post. For an extra entry, leave a blog comment below sharing which book you're most excited to get your hands on! Happy reading!! XO

6.14.2016

lit list | top 10 counting books

Last Tuesday I shared ten of our favorite animal books in a post here and had so much fun putting the list together I thought I'd continue this week with ten of our favorite counting books. Olivia loves to count and each of these books make it so much fun with their beautiful illustrations. These days, Poppy enjoys flipping through the board books that Olivia stacks in front of her any time we sit down to read, even though sometimes I think she would rather eat them ;)


All these books are not only great for learning the basics of counting 1-10 or 1-20 but also for number recognition and understanding quantity, since many of them have representative pictures which accompany each number, which is really key to a child understanding the concept of numbers & quantity and eventually addition and subtraction.
one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten

Are any of these favorites in your home?! To see more of our favorites, be sure to follow along on instagram @blessednestblog with my #BlessedNestLitList series & check out the Lit List tab as well! 

Hope your week is off to a great start!!

6.07.2021

lit list | top 10 animal books

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!

Joining in #toptentuesday to share our Ten Favorite Animal picture books! In our house, we all love children's books and I'm pretty sure even if I didn't have kids, I would have a collection because they are just so beautiful & reading them makes me feel like a kid again. Thankfully, both the girls love books and even though Poppy just pages through board books right now, Olivia is sure to teach her all about what makes a good book and how to read as she gets older!


A lot of the books we've been reading lately have been all about animals so I thought it would be fun to round up 10 of our favorites here. 
one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten

Are any of these your favorites as well?! 

Be sure to follow along instagram @blessednestblog with my #BlessedNestLitList series and check the Lit List tab here on my blog if you're in need of some new book ideas! XO

2.17.2016

lit list | spring babyLit + a giveaway

I've expressed our love of babyLit books before in my Lit List series and I'm so excited to be sharing their newest Spring collection today (and giving a few away!). Olivia and I haven't stopped reading them since they arrived and I couldn't wait to get them up on her bookshelves, they are so much fun and have quickly become new favorites in the girls' library.


This March babyLit is releasing 8 new titles, 2 of which are their classic lit books, 3 of which are their All Aboard! books and 3 are from their newest alphabet series, with which we are obsessed!
All the links for quick purchasing are below.


Classic Lit

This series is all about taking classic literature such as The Secret Garden, Romeo & Juliet, Don Quixote and more. Using these works as a foundation, babyLit transforms them into easy-to-read board primers for babies and children, based on concepts such as colors, numbers, languages & more.

All Aboard! Series

Written & illustrated by husband and wife team Kevin and Haily Meyers of Lucy Darling Shop, the All Aboard! series takes young readers on a journey traveling around the world by train while teaching basic concepts, such as geography, animals, monuments & more while pairing their stories with illustrations that are eye-catching and colorful.

Alphabet Series

Last but not least, the new alphabet series from babyLit focuses on opening a window into a period of time in history while teaching toddlers their ABCs. The illustrations by Greg Paprocki are one of a kind and being that Olivia loves saying her letters and spelling words out loud, these books are such a hit in our home. I think we read M is for Monocle about 10 times to Poppy the other day!


We absolutely love Gibbs Smith Publishers and their babyLit series. One after another, we fall in love with the stories, the illustrations and the concepts Olivia is learning through them. They are perfect for little hands since they're all board books and it would be nearly impossible to choose a favorite. We own the entire collection and love them all! 

Because of that, I've teamed up with babyLit to GIVE AWAY their TWO NEWEST CLASSIC LIT BOOKS, A Midsummer Night's Dream & Les Miserables. Head over to my instagram @blessednestblog for details on how to enter. And be sure to follow along under my #BlessedNestLitList series there, where I'm sharing my 100 favorite children's books throughout 2016. Giveaway runs Wednesday, February 17 through Tuesday, February 23 and the winner will be announced directly on my original IG post. Happy Wednesday! 

12.04.2021

25 Books of Christmas | December Lit List

One of my favorite things is filling the girls' book shelves by theme & season and pulling out all their Christmas books when December hits always fills my heart. There are so many fun traditions to do with books this time of year so below are our top picks straight from Poppy's nursery shelves!





Santa's Favorite Story // A wonderful way to share the true meaning of Christmas

The Very First Christmas / Purchased at Hallmark Stores in 2013...My Grandma Bea recorded this for Olivia's 1st Christmas -- if you haven't heard of the recordable story books, they are an incredible way to preserve a precious memory, and even though she's gone now, she'll always be able to read a book to the girls



The Spirit of Christmas // a new one we got this year that is so, so good to teach children about the true meaning and why we celebrate
In My Forest // A fun finger puppet book that Olivia just loves reading
The Story of Christmas // another excellent one sharing the Christmas story in simple terms for young children to understand


Do you have any favorite books this time of year? Olivia and I love to read books all day long and now that Poppy is here, Olivia always "reads" out loud to her...ohh it gives me all the mama feels. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! We're hosting a game night tonight and alongside my best friend, I'm hosting a girls' Christmas Cookie Swap on Sunday night, so it should be a fun weekend! Dustin and I are also working on a very special project for Olivia that I can't wait to share more about soon! xoxo

9.30.2015

lit list | favorite fall reads

Happy Wednesday! We've been waking up to dropping temperatures and views of changing leaves outside our windows and now that Fall is officially here, I've rounded up a handful of my favorite festive books for your little ones. Last week I changed over all our bookshelves and we've had so much fun reading books with Olivia that we haven't read in quite some time. With a mix of picture books and board books, below is a list of our all time favorite Fall books; click each title for direct links to purchase.


Picture Books:
Kitten's First Full Moon // also available as a board book
Adventures with Barefoot Critters // a gorgeously illustrated ABC book

Board Books:
Dracula // babyLit
Room on the Broom // definitely an all time favorite
Frankenstein // babyLit


Hope you all are having a wonderful (and relaxing!!) week! If you have any favorite fall reads, I'd love if you shared them below! 

7.30.2015

July Lit List | BabyLit

One of my favorite qualities about Olivia is her deep love of books; I loved reading books to her during my pregnancy and as a newborn. Ever since I can remember, books have been her very favorite thing. Even now, the first thing she does when she gets out of bed in the mornings is go straight to her bookshelf and choose a stack for us to read before breakfast or for her flip through on the couch while I'm cooking and she's munching on cheerios.


I've shared before how much we love books through both my blog and #BlessedNestLitList series on instagram. One of our favorite companies for modern and stylish children's books is hands down BabyLit -- if you haven't heard of them yet, you will. They feature a series of board books based on classic Literature, such as Pride & Prejudice, Romeo & Juliet, Treasure Island and more. Using these works as a foundation, BabyLit transforms them into easy to understand primers for babies and children, based on concepts such as colors, numbers, opposites, and more. 


I'm so excited to be partnering with BabyLit to share their newest releases, including the classic works of Emma {An Emotions Primer} and Treasure Island {A Shapes Primer}, as well as their new series of All Aboard Books in collaboration with Lucy Darling Shop, including All Aboard California {A Landscape Primer}, All Aboard New York {A City Primer} and All Aboard Paris {A French Primer} 

One of Olivia's favorites from BabyLit's last release remains Don Quixote, which is a Spanish primer. I studied 6+ years of Spanish throughout high school and college and lived in Spain so it's one of my favorites as well. She loves hearing foreign languages being spoken, so naturally All Aboard Paris ranks high on her list from the new collection.


One of my favorite parts about all classic BabyLit books are the gorgeous illustrations by Alison Oliver. They are bright, bold and attention-grabbing, even for the youngest of bookworms. Both Emma and Treasure Island are right up her alley, especially since she is now learning to recognize and name shapes. Emma is perfect as a child begins to understand their feelings and what it means to be happy, sad, surprised or angry. I think so many times our little ones know they are feeling a certain way but are unsure (or unable) of how to express it. Via loves looking at the character's faces from Emma and gets sad when they are sad and giggles when they are happy. A perfect new addition to our collection.


AND because we love BabyLit books so much, I'd love to give away a set of two to one of you! Head over to my instagram @blessednestblog to enter! The giveaway runs from Thursday, July 30 through Wednesday, August 5. The winner will be announced on the original instagram post and is responsible for contacting A Blessed Nest within 24 hours of being announced or a new winner will be drawn. Of course if you just can't wait, you can shop for all your favorite BabyLit books here! Happy almost-Friday!

6.04.2021

top picks in summer picture books | june lit list

This month, we are all about beach + summer books. There are so many fun options in both picture books and board book styles to beach out your little one's bookshelves. Below are my top picks for June books to get you in the mood for the summer sunshine & your toes in the sand!

5.06.2021

top picks in board books | May Lit List

It's a new month (yay for May!) and I'm so excited to be sharing an all new Lit List. Children's books are one of our favorite things and I am always on the hunt for new, modern books that are not only beautiful but meaningful or educational. 

You can find all my previous Lit List posts below:


And for new books every week, follow along on instagram @blessednestblog under the hashtag #BlessedNestLitList

This month I'll be sharing a handful of board books that we just LOVE! Olivia is now able to sit with picture books and look at them without destroying them, but she still really enjoys board books. I always keep them within access for her, whereas our picture books are generally kept higher on shelves. Flora and the Flamingo is one of our favorites!



In the world of board books, I recently discovered the Alain Gree series {above} and still cannot get over the old school illustrations. My First Book of Letters was the first one I purchased and as soon as it arrived, I ordered the rest! Olivia is really into saying her letters right now and recognizing different objects on each page. These books are perfect for that!


I also love Orla Kiely's board book series, because seriously, I love Orla Kiely and her beautiful designs. I gave this series to Olivia about a year ago and they are still some of her favorites. 


I also spotted this beautiful bound baby book by Orla Kiely, perfect for pregnancy and your first year with baby!


Another favorite board book series is by Xavier Deneux and called TouchThinkLearn. I randomly came across these at a bookstore about a year ago and bought one to see if Olivia would enjoy it. I then ordered the other three in the series a few weeks later. I am ecstatic that two more are being released this August and can't wait to put them on our babe's nursery bookshelves. 



A few interactive board books we've been enjoying are below. Any time I can get Olivia involved and participating, she loves it even more. Whether it is following a trail through a book with her finger, playing with a finger puppet or mix and matching pictures, these are so much fun!





Snuggle the Baby // A PERFECT book for getting a child ready for a new baby, this book is one of V's most requested and I love how she can participate as we read

Finally, a few random board books that we've been enjoying are below. I love their modern illustrations and simple concepts, perfect for a two year old to understand and enjoy.

4.15.2015

BabyLit | April Lit List

Each month I feature a curated Lit List of all my favorite children's books by theme. This month I'm so excited to be sharing a collection that Olivia and I have both loved from Day 1 -- BabyLit books. I have teamed up with BabyLit to feature their two newest releases as well as host a giveaway! 


I initially came across BabyLit books during my first pregnancy, and I immediately fell in love with the concept. If you're unfamiliar with them, BabyLit is a fashionable way to introduce your child to the world of classic literature. Each board book is based on a classic work, such as The Secret Garden, Pride & Prejudice, Romeo & Juliet and more. They are all themed primers, meaning they take concepts and characters from the classics and teach children about basic ideas -- colors, numbers, animals, the weather & more. The books have outstanding illustrations, all done by Alison Oliver, that capture a child's attention from the very first page. These are books you absolutely can judge by their covers, because they are so striking and vibrant that you can't help but know you are about to open and read some of the best children's books ever written!


Over the past two years, we have collected nearly every BabyLit book there is! Our two favorites are of course the newest releases - The Secret Garden & Don Quixote. In high school I completed four years of Spanish, traveled to Spain and lived with a family there and then continued on to receive my minor in it in college, so I especially love that I am able to teach Olivia a little bit of Spanish through the book. I knew The Secret Garden would be a huge hit with my tiny gardener, as she is a lover of all things floral. It is the absolute perfect book for Spring!


Other favorites include The Jungle Book {an animals primer}, Jane Eyre {a counting primer}, Sense & Sensibility {an opposites primer} & The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn {a camping primer} / You know how toddlers love to read the same books over and over and over a thousand times? Well, these are books I actually look forward to reading with Olivia and even after the 10th read-through, I am never bored with the words or the brilliant illustrations.


how to purchase || To purchase your own BabyLit books, simply visit the BabyLit shop here / They can also be found at your local bookstore!

giveaway || BabyLit is so generous to offer a giveaway to one lucky Blessed Nest reader! Enter below to win two BabyLit books of your choice! Simply complete the steps in the Rafflectoper to enter / This giveaway is open to residents in the U.S. only and will run from Wednesday, April 15 through Tuesday, April 21. All entries will verified and the winner is responsible for contacting A Blessed Nest within 24 hours of being announced to claim their prize.

3.12.2021

march lit list | spring & easter books

I can't believe we are already two weeks into March! Today I'll be sharing the books we are loving for Spring & Easter in this month's Lit List!


board books

picture books



What are your favorite books for this time of year?

2.10.2021

a lit list for wives & moms

As a wife & mom, I often feel like I am always busy. In the free time I do have, I love to slow down and do something relaxing but purposeful. My favorite way to do that is by curling up on the couch with a hot cup of peppermint tea and an intriguing book that is relevant to the stage of life I am in. And while I haven't completely finished any of these books yet, they are all becoming my favorite reads for lazy afternoons while my little girl sleeps, so I wanted to share them with you in this month's Lit List for Wives & Moms.

P.S. If you're still in search of what you want for Valentine's Day from a loved one, or you are looking for the perfect gift for a sister or friend, I would highly recommend any of these.

The Fruitful Wife: 
Cultivating A Love Only God Can Produce

This book takes a look at how to be the woman God is calling you to be - a woman who bears the fruit of the Spirit in your marriage and daily life. 

The author explores the biblical significance of all nine fruits of the Spirit, explaining how each fruit first begins to grow and then how each impacts your day to day life. I've found it relevant not only in my marriage but also in motherhood and enjoy reading it on a daily basis.


Nourished: A Search for Health, Happiness, and a Full Night's Sleep

Written by a mother and daughter duo, Nourished looks at ten of the most common stressors that mess with a woman's mind - daily challenges that routinely steal her peace and joy. Together, they offer up a way to live a less depleted and more nourished life. "Opposites in many ways mom and daughter share their successes and failures as they make peace with their imperfect bodies, create living spaces they love, get wiser in their relationships, tame jam-packed schedules, settle into God’s love, and more. In short, they stumble and journey together toward a life that better nourishes them - body, mind, soul and spirit."


Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp what Really Matters!

I found this book after reading a moving article in the Huffington Post by Rachel Macy Stafford titled "The Day I Stopped Saying 'Hurry Up'" / Written by the same author, this book discusses how to find balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world with the goal of giving our loved ones the gift of undivided attention instead of constantly trying to conquer the to-do list. I am a very organized, Type A person and often find myself multitasking to the extreme. This book was one I bought with the hope of challenging myself to back off the lists and tasks, slow down and savor every day as a wife and mom. 

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Apparently everyone I know had read this book before I did, but I was so intrigued to learn more that I picked it up and got sucked in immediately. Going along with the previous book which encourages being present, this book explores how to find joy in the "midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties" / It begs the questions 'What does Christ-life really look like when your days are long and sometimes dark and difficult?' / Ann Voskamp invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. Being a person who tries to find joy in the little things and tiny moments every day, I knew this would be right up my alley.

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full: 
Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms

The title alone struck me and I knew this book would be so relevant to the season of life I am in. Even when I commit to reading the Word regularly, I often wish I was able to meditate more upon His word on a day to day basis in a way that connected with exactly what I was doing. This is an encouraging book for moms which helps us reorient our vision of motherhood around what the Bible teaches, showing us how to pursue a vibrant relationship with God -- even when discouragement sets in -- and it will help you to treasure Christ more deeply no matter how busy you are!


What books are you reading that have positively impacted your marriage & journey of motherhood?

2.03.2022

lit list | february 2015

February is all about love so of course this month's Lit List is the same. There are so many fun books centered around the theme of love, hugs and kisses and below are our favorites in alphabetical order.


Picture {Hardcover} Books



Board Books



Below are some we don't own personally but that look super cute too!


I'd love to know your favorite books for this time of year!

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