(As an Amazon affiliate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you).

Our Favorite Easter Books

The Classic Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter HERE

Ten Little Bunnies: A Magical Counting Storybook by Amanda Sobotka HERE

How to Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace HERE

Happy Easter, Mouse! (If You Give…) by Laura Numeroff HERE

The Good Egg Presents: The Great Eggscape! by Jory John HERE

True Meaning of Easter: Religious Easter book for kids about Jesus by Melissa Wingo HERE

The Donkey Who Carried a King by R.C. Sproul HERE

Marshmallow: An Easter and Springtime Book for Kids by Clare Turlay Newberry HERE

Little Blue Truck’s Springtime by Alice Schertle HERE

Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson HERE

Happy Easter, Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton HERE

Easter is Coming! by Tama Fortner HERE

Little Blue Bunny by Erin Guendelsberger HERE

Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown HERE

The Little Rabbit by Nicola Killen HERE

Here Comes the Easter Cat by Deborah Underwood HERE

E is for Easter by Greg Paprocki HERE

A Little Chick by Rosalee Wren HERE

Check Out My Other Book Lists:

The post Best Easter Books for Young Children appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

This year, I have read books that have made me really think about my life, made me cry, or kicked me in the booty and motivated me beyond belief.

If someone were to ask me my reading genre of choice, I’d definitely say that historical fiction is what I gravitate toward most but I tried to branch out a bit and get into the “self motivation” genre as well.

Here are the books that were my top picks from 2022 that are definitely worth the read.

(As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you).

The Traitor’s Wife is a historical fiction about Peggy Arnold, wife of Benedict Arnold. My best friend Meghan shares a love of my favorite topic to read about; The Founding Mothers of the Revolutionary War. This one is right in my niche. I literally could not put this one down. Although she wasn’t quite the patriot like Martha Washington or Abigail Adams, hearing about her courtship and life as a socialite was simply entertaining. Meghan, you have to borrow this one from me so we can discuss Peggy! 

The Four Winds is the first of Kristin Hannah’s books that I’ve read but I now see why her books pop up on so many “must read” lists. This historical fiction is set during the Great Depression, and gives a glimpse into life during the Dust Bowl. It beautifully depicts what migrant workers in California had to endure. I cried at the end of this book and gained a new appreciation for the true determination of a mother’s love. 

To say that this book has been eye opening for me would be an understatement. The Warmth of Other Suns tells the biography of three African Americans who each left the South at three different decades during the great migration. The struggles these individuals faced is beyond anything I have ever come close to experiencing and gave me a new understanding of the lasting effects of slavery in our country. What really hit me was that one of the men ended up settling in Los Angeles in a neighborhood that was literally a few blocks from where my husband and I bought our first home. This is a long book but definitely worth the read. 

Similar to the last book, Homegoing tells the story of 2 African sisters from Ghana in the 18th century and how their lives and their descendants’ stories unfold after they are separated. One remained in Ghana and one was taken into slavery in the American south but each have a unique story to tell. 

The Tattoist of Auschwitz was the last book I read in the year. I literally could not put this one down. Based on a true story, this book follows two individuals in a German concentration camp. The courage and hope it took to survive is truly inspiring. 

I just found out that A Man Called Ove was just made into a movie and I can see why. Ove is a grumpy, heart broken man who is struggline in the year following his wife’s death. To see him evolve over the course of the book, mostly in part by some interesting characters he meets, is so heart warming. This is another book that made me cry, simply for the realization that you can find love after despair. I am looking forward to seeing how this book plays out on the big screen. 

I loved The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate. It’s a novel about novel of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post-Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives.

Self Motivation Books for 2022

As you can tell from this list, I do love fiction and especially historical fiction. But, I did manage to read some “self motivating” books this year. Starting Burnt Pancakes is just the tip of the iceberg for what I plan to accomplish but along with that comes a lot of self doubt and insecurities. Everything is Figureoutable gave me the boost in confidence I needed to keep pushing forward. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has just started or wants to start a new venture in life. 

Girl on Fire by Cara Alwill Leyba. If this book doesn’t light a fire under your butt I don’t know what will. As the title suggests, this book sparked something in me that couldn’t be extinguished. I powered through this book soaking in every ounce of inspiration to keep moving forward with my dreams.

The post The Best Books I Read in 2022 appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

I want things that I know my boys will actually use but toys also need to be tough because my boys are very rough on their toys.

I have put together a list of our favorite gifts. These are toys that my boys have played with the most but that have also lasted at least a year in our house without break (if you know my boys, you will know that this is a very hard thing to ask).

My Ultimate List of Toys for Boys That Will Actually Get Played With and Last at Least a Year

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. All these items are things that we personally own and have use.

Brio Train Set

This is the absolute best toy train brand. Brio is a bit of an investment (this was the kit that we first started with) but I can honestly say that my boys play with this so much. The best part is that you can start with a small set and build on it through birthday and Christmas lists. My 3 year old is obsessed with these.

No Mess Paint Sticks

I love these No Mess Paint sticks. They are so fun for little kids to use, giving the same look of painting, but without the materials and mess to clean up. They are great for all ages too as my 8 year old still loves using them.

Melissa and Doug Interactive Dashboard and Steering Wheel

We found this gift at a local toy shop downtown and it was a HUGE hit. We gave it to my youngest when he was 2 but can honestly say that all three of my boys will play with it. It has gotten more use than I could have ever imagined.

Large Garbage Truck Toy

We have had this trash truck for almost 4 years now and can honestly say that we still haven’t lost the trash cans. My boys love filling the cans up with their lego pieces dumping them into the trash truck.

Bruder Fire Truck

If you have boys that play rough with their trucks then you NEED to invest in the Bruder brand. Like the Brio trains, these are a bit pricey but our firetruck is over 2 years old and has every piece still intact (and I can admit that I have seen this truck tossed off our play set more than once). I love that it has realistic parts including a working hose and adjustable ladder.

Sandbox Excavator

My boys LOVE this toy. We have had it over two years and even though it has been outside in our backyard the whole time, it is still in great condition! This is such a cool toy for any truck loving boy.

Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Set

Believe it or not, but this might be my 3 year old’s favorite toy at the moment. I have had to “eat” lots of ice cream since my 5 year old got this for his birthday, but I love the imaginative play that it creates.

Cash Register

Who knew a cash register would be such a hit, but pair it with the ice cream set and you’ve got yourself the perfect gift combo. My boys have played with this thing for hours.

Magnetic Tiles

What children’s play room isn’t complete without Magnetic Tiles? These things are amazing and I am blown about by the things my boys are able to create every time.

Spot It!

The Spot It! game is AMAZING! To this day I still don’t know how it works every time but these are soooo fun. The object is to be the first to find the matching animals on each card and shout Spot It! There are so many variations too. We have the Spot It! Jr, Camping Spot It! and Cubs Baseball Spot It! versions.

Outfoxed

I am a huge fan of cooperative games (anything to eliminate the fighting in my house) and this one is a favorite. Think of this as Clue for kids. Players work together to use clues to determine which suspect fox is the actual thief.

Race to the Treasure

Another amazing cooperative game is Race to the Treasure. Players work together to create a path to the treasure before the Ogre makes it to the end.

Smart Farmer Game

This is a lesser known game but is perfect for my puzzle loving 5 year old (heck, my kids caught my husband and I playing the “challenging” level). The object is to put up the fences to separate the animals according to a certain diagram. It may seem like a children’s game but it’s actually a great challenge for all ages.

Story Time Chess

We introduced the game of Chess using Story Time Chess to my oldest when he was 5. It is such a great game to teach kids step-by-step the moves of each piece. I wasn’t sure if a young child could learn to play chess but this game proved me wrong.

Catan Jr.

Talk about a game that you won’t mind playing with your kids. This Junior version of the popular Catan board game is a must for your house. It involves strategy and planning with a little dash of adventure as players race to buy and build ships and lairs before their opponents do.

Taco vs. Burrito

My 8 year old son gets the biggest kick out of this game every time we play. It’s perfect for this age.

Ninja Slack Line

This ninja slack line has been a huge hit. We put this up in our backyard and my boys love playing with it. My 8 year old especially has gotten a lot of use out of it.

Bird and Squirrel Graphic Novel Book 1

Bird and Squirrel Graphic Novel Set books 1-6

The Bird and Squirrel series by James Burke is probably my favorite graphic novel if not favorite books to read with my kids. The bird and squirrel characters have the best personalities and go on some crazy adventures each one ending with a wonderful moral about friendship and teamwork. One thing I love most about these books though is the fact that you can actually read them aloud easily unlike other graphic novels. Book 7 just came out and it is already on my 8 year olds list.

Bath Bombs Dinosaurs

Ninja Bath Bombs

You may be surprised to find bath boys on a gift guide list for boys, but these things have been a major hit in our house. My boys will beg me to take a bath because they love these things so much. We’ve gotten both the ninja set and the dinosaur set. They make really great stocking stuffers too.

The post Best Gift for Boys Ages 2-10 appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

What’s the solution? Cooperative games. We have been introduced to several cooperative board games and they have changed our game night experiences.

What are cooperative games? They are games that involve all the players working together to accomplish a task or beat the game.

Cooperative games promote:

1. Teamwork
2. Sibling Bonding
3. Encouragement of others
   

From my experience, introducing cooperative games has led to calmer and more enjoyable board game experiences.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Outfoxed! by Gamewright

2-4 players ages 4+

In this game, a sneaky fox has stolen a chicken pot pie and it is the job of the players to determine which of the 12 suspect fox is the guilty one. Think of it as Clue but for kids. There are clue cards that the players earn to help identify characteristics of the thief to determine which fox stole the pie. All the players work as a team to unveil the guilty fox before it makes it to the fox hole.

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We personally own and love this game).

Want to see this game in action? Watch my kids and I play Outfoxed!

Lion in the Way by eeBoo

2-6 players and ages 5+ (but my 4 year old plays and loves this)

This was our first introduction to cooperative games and it was a huge hit. My 4 year old especially loved this one. We are working on his speech and this game really got him talking and I could see his confidence rising while playing.

Object: come up with creative solutions to get past obstacles in the path. For example, in the scenario below, my son said that he would use the fireworks to blast through the mountain to get through them. After each player shares their idea with their tool card, a new obstacle card is placed in the path. Play continues for a predetermined amount of obstacles or until players are ready to stop.

You’d be amazed at the clever ideas your kids will come up with.

Which tool card would you pick to get past the fire in the path?

Race to the Treasure by Peaceable Kingdom

2-4 players (ages 5+ but my 4 year old plays this and loves it).

I personally have so much fun playing this game too!

Object: All players work together to build a path, collect three keys and beat an Ogre to the treasure chest. I especially like that the players need to use strategy to decide which direction to build their path. I have found my boys talking over different possible moves and deciding together which to pick.

It’s you against that ogre and the kids just love working together to beat him!

Get Race to the Treasure. Just click below!

The post Best Cooperative Board Games for Kids appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

Here are our favorites:

As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. These are all books in our own private library that we have purchased and loved.

Even Firefighters Go to the Potty: A Potty Training Lift-the-Flap Story by Wendy and Naomi Wax

This is our favorite!!! Not only is it a lift-the-flap book which is so great for active toddlers, the story shows many different people and asks the reader where he or she went…to the potty! This helps little ones see that using the bathroom is normal and everyone does it.

Dinosaur vs. The Potty by Bob Shea

From one of our favorite book series, this one shows a dinosaur competing against different liquids to see if he can make it to the potty in time. Dinosaur vs. Lemonade??? Dinosaur wins!

Potty Superhero: Get Ready for Big Boy Pants by Mabel Forsyth

This book shows a little super hero trying to stay patient and sit on the potty. It introduces your little one to the reward of wearing big boy pants.

Potty: Big Kid Power by Leslie Patricelli

Celebrate this little boy because he feels like he has to go potty, patiently sits and waits, and then successfully goes!

I Use the Potty: Big Kid Power by Maria van Lieshout

Follow the journey of this little child as he goes from wearing diapers to peeing in the toilet.

Where’s the Poop? by Julie Markes

Here’s another Lift-a-Flap book that will keep your little one engaged. Each page has a different animal and your little reader’s job is to find its poop hiding under a flap. Don’t worry, it won’t teach your child to poop in your backyard. The last page celebrates a little boy going in the toilet.

Duck Goes Potty by Michael Dahl

Little duck is ditching the diapers and trying to use the potty. Cheer on Duck as he works to make it in the potty without an accident.

Chugga Chugga Poooo-Pooooo! The Potty Train by David Hochman and Ruth Kennison

This title alone is enough to get this book. How fun is it??? This one teaches your little one that along your journey in potty training, there will be accidents, but you need to keep chugging along.

Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi

I actually remember this book when I was younger. What better way to get your kids comfortable with potty training than teaching them that everyone, from animals to moms and dads, poop.

How to Pee by Todd Spencer

There are two books in this series. Potty Training for Boys and Potty Training for Girls. These to come from one of our favorite illustrators. These funny books show little readers steps to peeing in different styles of peeing like Cowboy Style, Movie Star Style and Super Hero Style

Let me know if any of these are in your home library or if you have another favorite.

The post Best Potty Training Books for Kids appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

Some years I bring out the whole box and let the boys devour them on December 1st, and other years I add one per day, building up the excitement as they eagerly say, “Which one will we get tomorrow.” Some are funny, some are classics and some are special because of who gave them to us.

I have put together a list of our top 24 books that we read each December. Some are Christmas themed and others are winter.

*As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission if you buy a book from one of these links. I personally own all of the books I am recommending and have purchased them all personally.

1. The Gingerbread Pirates

My kids absolutely love this one! And who wouldn’t? A boy creates a pirate made out of gingerbread who ends up protecting the house from an intruder on Christmas. We read this at least a hundred times each year and have found that it makes the best gift for friends. Attach a cookie cutter or even some homemade pirate gingerbread cookies to this book and you have a gift that any child will enjoy.

Get the Gingerbread Pirates here

2. Home Alone

This one was added to our library when my son was 6. We were not sure if he’d be old enough to watch the movie so we read him the book first. He absolutely fell in love with this classic and the nostalgia that goes along with it will even capture adult’s hearts.

Get Home Alone here

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Who doesn’t love this classic? From the rhyming pattern to the heartwarming ending, anyone will fall in love with this classic story. I grew up watching the animated cartoon but really enjoy reading the story while cuddled up on the couch with my boys.

Get How the Grinch Stole Christmas here

4. A Wish to be a Christmas Tree

This is truly one of the most heartwarming Christmas story about friendship. An old pine tree watches year after year as families pass him but for other Christmas trees. The magic happens when his forest friends help to make his dream come true.

Get A Wish to be a Christmas Tree here

5. Bunny Slopes

This book is funny and interactive. Take a ride down the slopes with bunny and you tilt pages and soar into the air. This one is perfect for children that are active and don’t like to sit still.

Get Bunny Slopes here

6. The Polar Express

What says Christmas more than The Polar Express. We got this book from my mother-in-law along with a train set and it has become a favorite. When my son sees the train packed up high in the garage he begs us to take it down. This magical train ride to visit Santa gets me every time!

Get The Polar Express here

Get the train set here

7. The Tree That’s Meant To Be

This book teaches the sweetest message: You don’t have to be perfect to be special. A little tree learns the message in this adorably illustrated story.

Get The Tree That’s Meant To Be here

8. Dinosaur vs. Santa

This book is just plain fun. A dinosaur is getting ready for Christmas Eve and completes many challenges. Going to bed on Christmas Eve is the last one. Will he succeed?

Get Dinosaur vs. Santa here

9. S is for Santa

We always love a good alphabet book and this one has the best vintage illustrations. Each page is full of Christmas details keeping little eyes busy as you read.

Get S is for Santa here

10. Stick Man

From the creators of Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo, here is a story of a stick man who gets separated from his family at Christmas time. Facing many dangers, Stick Man must find his way back to his home with a little help from You Know Who. This one is sure to be a favorite in your house.

Get Stick Man here

11. Snowmen at Night

Take a sneak peek into the snowman world and read this rhyming book to see what snowmen really do at night while we are all sleeping. We also own Snowmen at Christmas and both are part of our Christmas library.

Get Snowmen at night here

Get Snowmen at Christmas here

12. A Loud Winter’s Nap

A grumpy old turtle just wants to take a winter nap but he keeps getting interrupted. Find out what finally makes him change his mind about snoozing through the winter season.

Get A Loud Winter’s Nap here

13. The Santa Thief

I am always looking for books that will teach my kids about the importance of giving rather than getting at Christmas. Step back to 1920 and a young boy really wants a pair of ice skates that his parents can’t afford. Find out what truly brings him joy on Christmas morning.

Get The Santa Thief here

14. Little Santa

This is a fun story that gives the reader a glimpse into what Santa was like as a child and how he came to be. See the origins of the chimney and his reindeer.

Get Little Santa here

15. Pick a Pine Tree

Traditions are such a huge part of Christmas. Follow this family as they pick out a tree, decorate it and celebrate the season one tradition at a time. The illustrations are cheery and festive and will put you in the holiday mood.

Get Pick a Pine Tree here

16. When Santa was a Baby

Here is another Santa origin story that helps explain the reason Santa looks the way he does and why he loves giving so much. My kids love seeing Christmas from “behind the scenes” in this fun story.

Get When Santa was a Baby here

17. Dream Snow

A farmer goes to bed dreaming of snow and wakes to find a winter wonderland. He then goes out to uncover his animals that have been blanketed by snow (flaps for your children to lift) and delivers them presents. This makes the perfect interactive book for busy toddlers.

Get Dream Snow here

18. Mouse’s First Christmas

Follow this little mouse as he explores the house on Christmas Eve and experiences all the joys of Christmas and eventually meeting Santa.

Get Mouse’s First Christmas here

19. Merry Christmas Curious George

Who doesn’t love George, the curious little monkey. Follow George as he gets into his usual mischief, but this time at the Christmas tree lot. Find out how he makes his way to the children’s hospital and finds a way to save the day.

Get Merry Christmas Curious George here

20. Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I can’t help but sing along as I read this book based on the classic song, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.” The illustrations are bright and festive and contain all the lyrics. You will be transported to a snowy meadow in the middle of winter.

Get Walking in a Winter Wonderland here

21. The Night Before Christmas

No Christmas library is complete without The Night Before Christmas. We read it each year on Christmas Eve.

Get The Night Before Christmas here

22. The Crayon’s Christmas

From one of our most favorite author’s, Drew Deywalt, The Crayon’s Christmas shows us how Duncan and the crayons celebrate Christmas. This one has real letters, games and puzzles tucked away in the envelope pages. It truly is one of the best interactive books for older readers.

Get The Crayon’s Christmas here

23. The First Christmas Night

With all the giving and trees and Santa, sometimes it is good to step back and read the real meaning of Christmas. I love that this version uses the classic poem “T’was the Night Before Christmas,” but instead tells the story of the first Christmas.

Get The First Christmas here

24. Snowflakes A pop-up book

This beautiful pop-up book is always the book I read to my boys before we make paper snowflakes. The reader truly learns the uniqueness of each snowflake.

Get Snowflakes A Pop-Up Book here

A List of the best 24 Christmas Books

1. The Gingerbread Pirates
2. Home Alone
3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
4. A Wish to be a Christmas Tree
5. Bunny Slope
6. Polar Express
7. The Tree That’s Meant to Be
8. Dinosaur vs. Santa
9. S is for Santa
10. Stick Man
11. Snowmen at Night/Christmas
12. A Loud Winter’s Nap
13. The Santa Thief
14. Little Santa
15. Pick a Pine Tree
16. When Santa was a Baby
17. Dream Snow
18. Mouse’s First Christmas
19. Merry Christmas Curious George
20. Walking in a Winter Wonderland
21. The Night Before Christmas
22. The Crayon’s Christmas
23. The First Christmas Night
24. Snowflakes A pop-up book

The post 24 Christmas Books for Kids appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

We’ve got books that have been in our collection since year one and others that have been recommended by friends. Here are our top Halloween books.

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. All the titles and pictures are clickable purchase links, taking you directly to the book.

Five Little Pumpkins by Dan Yaccarino

From one of our all-time favorite authors, Dan Yaccarino, this is the best book to read to babies and toddlers. It is a short, rhyming story about five Halloween pumpkins. The pattern is easy to remember making it perfect for your little one repeat and “read” to you. We love that this book leads to other activities like drawing, sticker work and finger puppets.

Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boynton

Another one of Sandra Boynton amazing books, Pookie is trying to decide what to be for Halloween, a topic of conversation in our house for months leading up to October 31st. What will Pookie decide to be? You will have to turn the pages to see all the costumes he tries on and read to the end to find out his final decision.

Spooky, Spooky Little Bat by Rosa Von Feder

This is the perfect interactive book for those fidgety babies and toddlers. The finger puppet bat compliments the story of how it flies through the night sky on Halloween night. What a perfect book for baby’s first Halloween!

Baby Touch and Feel Halloween

My toddler loves this book because it has different textures to touch as you read. It has great Halloween vocabulary words and each pages has something for them to touch. My son especially likes the sticky potion and go back to that page multiple time.

The Biggest Pumpkin Surprise Ever by

Another interactive book, this one is perfect for littles because it has flaps on each page to lift and find hidden pumpkins. There is just something about these lift-a-flap books that just captivate my kids.

The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilky

Dav Pilky is one of our absolute favorite authors and when we heard he wrote a Halloween book, we knew we needed it in our library. Oscar, the wiener dog, gets teased all the time but on Halloween, he uses his “short comings” to prove there’s more to him than you’d think. This is the perfect message with a Halloween theme.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

I can easily say that this is our all-time favorite Halloween book. Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, takes the reader on an adventure of friendship and wit. She writes with the cutest rhyming pattern making it not only enjoyable to read but totally engaging for any young reader. We cherish this story and it is always such a treat to find in our Halloween box each year.

Happy Howloween by Janet Lawler and Renee Jablow

This book is just as fun as its title. A group of dogs in Halloween costumes go trick or treating. Not only do my kids get a kick out of what the dogs are wearing, but this book is a pop-up book, making the pages come to life. If you are a dog lover, you will want to get your hands on this book.

The Biggest Pumpkin Surprise Ever by Stephen Kroll

This is the cutest story of two mice who unknowingly tend to the same growing pumpkin each with different intentions; one to win the biggest pumpkin contest and the other to win the pumpkin carving contest. How will these two mice learn to compromise and work together?

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle

Who doesn’t love the Little Blue Truck? This Halloween version takes the reader back to the farm with all the favorite animals including the Little Blue Truck. This time they are dressed up in costumes for Halloween and the flaps in the book can be lifted to reveal which animal is under each costume. Can you guess what the Little Blue Truck dresses up as?

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman

The witch in this story wants to make a pumpkin pie but the pumpkin is just too big to carry. Other Halloween characters give it a shot to move the pumpkin but ultimately it is up to a little bat to come up with the solution.

The Monsters’ Monster by Patrick McDonnell

This is a super cute, children’s version of the Frankenstein story. Three little rascals create what they hope is a very bad monster but in the end, this big monster teaches them about the power of gratitufe.

Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin

We just love Click, Clack, Moo so this is the perfect version for Halloween. Farmer Brown does not like Halloween, but the animals on the farm have different plans. Find out what they have in store in the old barn!

The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Trolano

Spookley is different than the other pumpkins at the patch and gets teased by the others. He learns though that being different can be the biggest advantage.

The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches by Alice Low

This “I Can Read” book is the perfect one for your budding little readers. Wendy is a witch who is afraid to be mean and is always put down by her two bossy sisters. Wendy though, discovers a magical trick and she uses it to overcome her fear of being a witch.

Get an inside look at these books on my YouTube channel!

The post Our Favorite Halloween Books appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

I pulled together our favorites and put them together in a list for you. I can honestly say that we have read all of the books on this list at least 20 times and they are still at the top of my all-time favorite books we own.

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com at no cost to you. These are all books that we own and love and can be found in our home library

Hello Ninja

by ND Wilson, Illustrated by Forrest Dickinson

This is the ninja book that got us started on our love of ninjas. It is a short, rhyming board book which makes it perfect for your youngest reading. Because of the easy to remember pattern, my kids and I can not repeat this book word for word. The little boy in this story takes the reader through a day in the life of a ninja with his imagination. And a bonus to this book, it ends with the ninja falling asleep, making this the best book to read right before bedtime.

The Three Ninja Pigs

by Corey Rosen Schwartz, Illustrated by Dan Santat

This book is a take on the classic story, “The Three Little Pigs.” These pigs must learn to outsmart the big, bad wolf but in this book they are all ninjas studying different forms of martial arts. Corey Rosen Schwartz writes in the most entertaining way which hooks any little reader’s ears. He writes with rhymes that gives this book the perfect reading flow. Will these ninja pigs be able to outsmart the big bad wolf this time? I especially love that the third little pig is a girl in this version.

Ninja! Attach of the Clan

by Arree Chung

Our family can totally relate to this story. The boy in this books can’t find anyone in his house to play with. His mom, dad, and sister are all just too busy. But, little does he know, after realizing his disappointment, his ninja clan has a surprise in store for him. Arree Chung has a very unique style. My kids were especially drawn to it. The pages are displayed in panels like a comic book and he uses speech bubbles instead of narration. There are two other books in this ninja series, Ninja and Ninja Claus

The Ninjabread Man

by C.J. Leigh, Illustrated by Chris Gall

This is another take on a classic story, “The Gingerbread Man.” Set in a dojo, in this version it is a sensei that mixes up the recipe for the ninjabread man, who escapes before being eaten. Can this cookie escape the animals in this book and outsmart the clever fox at the end?

Dojo Daycare

by Chris Tougas

This might be our favorite ninja book and it comes in a three book series. The first book starts off as ninja parents drop off their little ninjas at a dojo style daycare center. The wild and mischievous ninjas give the master a run for his money until one little ninja steps in to remind the rest about the behavior code that the master has been trying to teach. We love how this book is written because it rhymes and has repeated phrases that my kids like to say as we read. This is a must add to your home libary.

Dojo Daytrip

by Chris Tougas

In this sequel to Dojo Daycare, this time the master takes the sneaky ninja kids on a field trip to the farm. It’s no surprise that these mischievous ninjas wreck havoc the minute they get there. When master finds himself in trouble, it’s his crazy ninjas who step in to help, using his famous ninja creed as their guide. The ending to this one is especially surprising and makes my kids laugh every time.

Dojo Surprise

by Chris Tougas

In the third book of this series, these sneaky little ninjas are at it again, but this time they have good intentions. They are throwing a surprise party for their master, who happens to get scared by the noises and shadows they are creating behind him. Written in the same appealing format and flow as the other two in the series, my kids just gobble this one up!

Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed

by J.C. Phillipps

Wink is accepted to ninja school and couldn’t be more excited. But soon, Wink learns that ninjas need to be quiet and stealthy, and this is not who Wink is. Wink wants to be loud and boisterous. Wink learns to stay true to his own self and not change to fit in with everyone else. The ending of this book has a great lesson for young readers.

The Secrets of Ninja School

by Deb Pilutti

Young ninja girls and boys come to the ninja school to learn the ways of a ninja but also their own secret skill. Little Ruby realizes she lacks the bravery of a ninja and just can’t seem to find her secret skill. But late one night, she discovers she is in fact brave and that kindness and compassion just might be the best ninja skill of them all.

Unplugged Ninja

by Mary Nhin, Illustrated by Jelena Stupar

This book comes from a series of books called Ninja Life Hacks Growth Mindset. It’s a series of books focusing on personality qualities. In unplugged ninja, children learn how to detox from technology. Yes, this is a very difficult idea for my kids to accept but this book explains the concept in a fun and humorous way and gives realistic solutions to help with digital detoxing.

There you have it. Our top picks for the best ninja children’s books. These will keep your little readers engaged, entertained and inspired at every turn of the page.

Let me know if you have read and loved any of those books or if you have any others that we might want to add to our home library. Drop me a comment below. I love hearing from YOU all!

Get a Sneak Peek Inside These Books:

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The post Our Favorite Ninja Picture Books appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

But then it started. He found the long, window curtains and decided that today was the day to play peek-a-boo. I gave a little warning stare, got up, pulled him back to the circle and reminded him that it was story time and he needed to sit in my lap. 

For the next 15 minutes, I chased him around the room as he jokingly made a bee line for the exit or tried to take every book off the bookshelf. I envied the other moms with their kids obediently signing “The Wheels on the Bus” or listening attentively to The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Mine? He wanted nothing to do with storytime. I tried for several weeks though, each time leaving embarrassed that my son grabbed the apples off the felt board or ran and hid behind the librarian. 

That’s when I decided we weren’t cut out for story time. It made me stressed. I left each week feeling like a bad mom and my son wasn’t getting the energy out that he so badly needed to.

Reading and literacy was important to me though, so I decided to invest in interactive books that could hold his attention. I bought books that had flaps, textures and buttons to keep his tiny fingers busy while I read. I read to him at home, away from the distractions of the outside world. The books helped him build his vocabulary and, more importantly, his listening stamina.

We may not have been cut out for story time but it didn’t mean we had to stop reading.

Here are some of the Interactive Books that we have loved throughout the years.

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. These are all books that we personally own and love.

Busy Bear: Lets Get to Work

By Benji Davies

This board book series has great rhyming patterns with sliders that allow little fingers to push and pull pictures.

Poke-a-Dot: Who’s in the Ocean?

by Melissa and Doug

Who doesn’t like popping things? Each page of this book has buttons to push making a fun and satisfying sound. It is the perfect book to introduce counting.

Everyone Is Yawning

by Anita Bijsterbosch

Your little one will love this one. Each page has an animal with a flap mouth to flip open and yawn. My toddler and I each take turns making a yawning sound as he opens the flap. A book is always a winner when it ends with, “And everyone is sleeping.” The perfect transition to the crib.

Lift-a-Flap Books

These Lift-a-Flap books were our first introduction to interactive books. This series is full of illustrations, pictures and flaps and come in many different topics. Our first in this series was the First 100 Animals books.

That’s Not My Dinosaur

by Usborne

Little mouse is trying to find his dinosaur. Each page shows a different dinosaur who has distinct features to touch and feel. Will mouse find the right dinosaur by the end?

This book series is called “Touchy-Feely” for a reason. They are meant to be touched and played with.

See, Touch and Feel

by Roger Priddy

These Roger Priddy books are colorful and full of textures for little fingers to explore. The pages have raised portions making them a sensory experience.

Animal Alphabet Slide: & Seek the ABCs

by Alex Lluch

Your little ones will love learning the ABCs with this sliding tab book. The pages have an animal illustration for each letter of the alphabet which slides open to reveal the animal.

Are You There Little Tiger

by Usborne

Little fingers will love to trace the sensory paths in this book as they search for little tiger. This series is great for playing book peek-a-boo and engaging your toddler while reading.

If you are feeling discourage or intimidated by story time at your library, invest in some of your own interactive books and let your child’s fingers do the learning!

Get All the Books Here:

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com at no cost to you. These are all books that we personally own and love.

Leave me a comment and let me know if you read any of these.

The post Why We Weren’t The Right Fit for Library Story Time – Our Favorite Interactive Books appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

With a little one in our house, still shoving things into his mouth, I like that there are no small parts and everyone from my 7 year old to my 1.5 year old can enjoy them. And let’s me honest, I don’t always feel like getting on the floor and playing with my boys, but these toys are actually enjoyable for adults too!

There are so many teachable moments when “playing” with magnetic toys too. They can help reinforce shapes, colors, counting, engineering, imagination, and cause and effect (like when my toddler demolishes the tower my 4 year old built). I always love hearing my 4-year-old count the number of squares or say, “Mommy, there are more green ones than red.” One time he even noticed the sides of his creation had all squares, “Yes, honey, that’s called a cube.” I didn’t know I’d be teaching geometry while we played, so it was a win-win.

There are no limits to the imagination when it comes to these toys

I told my son that I loved the new rings he put on my hand and he corrected me saying that my hand now had bear claws.

It’s fun to search the house to find places where these toys stick.

These magnets have survived over 4 years with my very rough boys so I can safely say that they are incredibly durable. I’d call these toys “money well spent.”

The best part is that they can be contained quickly and easily in these plastic bins and then they go right back in the cupboard for easy storage. No messes in my house, well at least not this tiny corner of my house.

Our Favorites Magnet Toys:

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SmartMax Building Set

SmartMax My First Farm

Magnetic Building Blocks for Kids, 184PCS

Why Every House Needs Magnet Toys

• Easy to clean-up
• Great for all ages
• Promote imagination
• Safe for little ones
• Make great gifts
• Perfect for strengthening fine motor skills
• Very Durable
• Easy to store
• STEM activities
• Additional sets can be added-on to initial basic set

This is just a little behind-the-scenes of how things REALLY go when I try to get pictures for the blog. Fingers, toes and everything in between make it into my pictures.

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