Feast for 10

Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell, 1993.

"One cart into the grocery store. Two pumpkins for pie. Three chickens to fry...Ten hands help to load the car."

This is a counting book that also teaches family togetherness, sequencing and how to shop to make a meal.

"Eight platters down. Nice chairs around. Ten hungry folks to share the meal."

Eating the Alphabet

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert, 1989.

I bought this book as a gift about 7 years ago. I love that's it's educational in many different ways. In addition to being an alphabet book, it highlights in words and pictures your everyday fruits and vegetables and not so everyday fruits and vegetables like jicama, leeks, okra and ugli fruit.

You could have your child taste new things like kiwi and star fruit while reading this book. The illustrations are bright and bold and will surely help your child identify these foods in the grocery store.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa by Demi, 2005

"It is not how much we do but how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God."
- Mother Teresa

I've always admired Mother Teresa. There are few people that I know of who have lived such a self-sacrificing and compassionate life.

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiv was born Aug. 26, 1920 and died Sept. 5, 1997. She indeed lived a full life. Her father passed away when she was 9 years old, and at age 12, she received her call to religious life after learning about India and Catholic missionaries who served there. She received the call to live among the poor at age 36.

This beautifully illustrated book is a biography from birth to death. It is not only a history lesson about one of the most respected and revered women of modern day history, but the illustrations are equally educational in their intricate detail and rich color.

I believe it's so important that children and young adults are exposed to other cultures and the work of missionaries. I hope to teach my children about amazing women leaders like Mother Teresa.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

By- Mother Teresa

The Crippled Lamb

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado, Illustrated by Liz Bonham, 1994.

This is a sweet story to read your children at Christmas time. Strange as it may sound, it's very similar to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

The little lamb in the story is named Joshua. He is crippled and can't do what all of the other lambs do. Just like Rudolph is "different" with his red nose. He isn't like all of the other reindeer and feels left out.

Abigail is the cow that befriends Joshua in The Crippled Lamb. She tells Joshua "God has a special place for those who feel left out." He enters the stable where Jesus is born and helps to warm the baby Jesus. This is similar to Rudolph assisting Santa Claus lighting the way for his sleigh.

Each story, The Crippled Lamb and Rudolph, can help teach your child compassion for those who are different and also that God has a plan for each of us no matter who we are and how we may be different from others.

Celebrity Pick: Josie Bissett

A great book for your young one is called Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett, 2008. It's just a fun, interactive book to read to your child anytime you or they need a good laugh!

You can even buy special tickle monster gloves that go along with the book to have fun with your kids.

This book is sure to get your kids excited in anticipation of the reader turning into the tickle monster.

It makes a great gift too!

The Polar Express

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, 1985.

Part of the magic of Christmas for a child is Santa Claus. I still have vivid memories myself of listening for Santa's sleigh bells. We always set out cookies, sometimes carrots for the reindeer and sometimes "reindeer food".

This book helps foster these memories for children by taking us on a journey with a young boy on the Polar Express to the North Pole. The one gift the boy asked Santa for was a silver bell from Santa's sleigh.

I have a silver bell from Santa's sleigh that hangs on my Christmas tree every year!

Now also a major motion picture, you can share this story through movie with your children each year.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett, 1986.

Jan Brett is one of America's most beloved detailed illustrators. You will love this picture book to go along with singing this favorite Christmas song with your family.

In addition to the wonderful illustrations, the editor gives a brief history of the song and tradition in the back of the book.

What I never knew as a child is that the song is not referring to the twelve days before Christmas but the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6).

But the pictures are what makes this book great.