This summer, I read a few books written in verse and was surprised by how much I enjoyed them. I’ll admit that I’ve made honest attempts at reading verse novels before, but something about the formatting left me feeling hesitant. The first book I picked up was Jazz Owls. I was eager to read it because
10 Middle Grade Novels in Verse for ages 8-12 Read More »
I recently became a member of NetGalley, where you can read and review books before publication. I started off with picture books as there were some very interesting titles. Today, on the blog, I’m sharing these newer picture books and my honest review for parents who care about clean reading. Release dates are listed so
9 New Picture Books to Check Out (2026–2027) Read More »
Finding chapter books that are well written, exciting, and clean isn’t always easy. Finding ones that also point kids toward Christ is even harder. Thank goodness for Christian authors who have written books for just this reason. I have a list of Christian chapter book series that are full of adventure and imagination, and they
10 Christian Chapter Book Series Kids Will Love Read More »
Today’s blog includes some of the best books I’ve read for 5-year-olds. Five is such a sweet age for books. Kids can finally follow longer stories, catch jokes, and start giving their opinion on characters. They are also at that age where they still enjoy a good snuggle up with a picture book at bedtime.
10 Best Picture Books for 5-Year-Olds Read More »
Before I get into Advent calendars, I know it’s only October, but Advent is already on everyone’s mind. With holiday sales running from now through the end of the year, it’s a smart time to plan ahead and pick Advent calendars for kids and families before the best ones sell out. That said, you don’t have to
10 Advent Calendars for Kids (& Families) This Christmas Read More »
Looking for fall and Halloween books that aren’t scary? Here’s a gentle, faith-friendly list of picture books and early chapters our family actually enjoys.
12 Family-Friendly Halloween Picture Books to Read This Fall Read More »
I love movie night with my kids. But I’ve learned something important as a parent: a kids’ movie is not always kid-friendly. Even popular animated and family films can include sexual innuendo, potty humor, flirting, kissing, crude language, and other content I don’t want my younger kids absorbing. I’m cautious about what we watch at
Are Kids’ Movies Really Kid-Friendly? 17 Clean Movies We Love Read More »
We read a lot of books this summer. Between my three kids, we had everything from Harry Potter and The Wild Robot to Little House on the Prairie, The Bletchley Riddle, and plenty of Vanderbeekers! The secret to this much reading was pretty simple: we prioritized reading. We deliberately participated in summer reading programs, but I didn’t spend our summer tracking minutes
How to Get Kids to Read More + Great Books for Ages 7–12 Read More »
This list is a follow-up to our first middle grade historical fiction book list. That earlier roundup focuses on gripping stories kids can’t put down. This one is different: 10 middle grade historical fiction books set in places and moments around the world—so your reader can travel history beyond the usual WWII-in-Europe shelf. We had an incredible summer
10 Middle Grade Historical Fiction Books From Around the World Read More »
We are losing the battle against screens. Everywhere I look, parents are surrendering to screens with increasing ease. There are many understandable reasons parents turn to screens. We use them to prevent meltdowns, stave off boredom, keep children occupied while we cook or work, ease long car and plane rides, and avoid disruptive behavior at
How to Limit Screen Time and Protect a Play-Based Childhood Read More »