For fun, here’s a round-up of some of our favorite new discoveries this year…
Best New Children’s Book—The Greatest Skating Race by Louise Borden
This book combines all of my childhood passions–ice skating, the Dutch Resistance, and running away from Nazis. We discovered it at a random bookstore in Willmington, OH, because it was signed by the local author. Still a bit long for Tommy, but great pictures, and a great concept–a little boy finds inspiration in the historical Dutch canal races as he helps his friends escape from the Nazis during WWII.
Best New Children’s CD–States and Capitals Songs from Veritas Press
Okay, I’m one of those weird homeschooling moms, buying educational CDs for my 2 year old (no offense to the homeschooling mom reader who told me about this great find!). But Tommy’s obsessed with his United States puzzle and placemat, and I figured that he might as well learn the capitals of the states as he learns where they are. He begs for this CD almost every day. It’s annoyingly repetitive and hokey, but Tommy loves it, and I’m very up on my US geography now. =)
Best New Toy—The Little Engine That Could Train
Tommy loves the book, so somehow Derek stumbled across a wooden Brio-compatible train to go with the story! As soon as Tommy opened his present, he exclaimed, “I have a book about that!” Classic and classy, in our humble opinion.=)
We started using that same CD this year, and the big kids LOVE it. And I am now very well versed in US geography as well. We just bought the world one to try next semester.