If there’s one thing that I’m totally fine over-buying for Darah, it’s books. We try not to go too bananas on toys for her, but books….let’s just say she has as many as her father and I do, combined!
Books are a gateway to lands of adventure and imagination. They are filled with new words, interesting ideas and hilarious scenarios, all waiting to be enjoyed by young ones (and the young at heart!). Reading books with Darah is an absolute joy, and I have every intention of continuing to “spoil” her with reading material. I pray she will continue to enjoy it as much as she does now, and hopefully even more once she is reading on her own.
You may think that I don’t have any criteria for purchasing books and that I’ll buy anything and everything. Not so, my friends! I especially look out for work that is visually stunning, teaches lessons that will inspire conversation, and show people (or gendered animals) in roles outside of traditional stereotypes. Today I’m excited to introduce some international children’s publishing houses that have all of these options and more!
First up, Lemniscaat. This is a Dutch publishing house that is particularly known for its wordless picture books. Yes, I said wordless. A book doesn’t have to writing in it in order to get your imagination going! Our top pick: The Yellow Balloon. In this work, you watch a yellow balloon float all over the world, getting a bird’s (er, balloon’s) eye view of our gorgeous planet and its inhabitants. You will definitely see some interesting things on this adventure. When we read this wordless books, we spend 10-15 minutes with it, easily!
Next, we have Floris Books. This publishing company is from Scotland. They have a wonderful variety of traditional and new-to-you tales that you will love. Our top pick: Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This is Darah’s first copy of this beloved tale, and it is wonderfully told and beautifully illustrated!
We also got to review AMMO Books. This might well be my very favorite American publishing house! I’ve reviewed some of their books before (check out my review here) and I was every bit as impressed with what I saw from them this time around. We checked out this imaginary castle giant floor puzzle, and it was simply stunning. I can’t wait to put this puzzle together again and again with Darah over the next few years! It has 24 pieces, so it is appropriate for ages 2 and up.
Last, but certainly not least, we checked out some reading material all the way from New Zealand. Gecko Press is the publishing house, and it is FABULOUS!!! Their tagline is, “curiously good books,” and I’d say that’s exactly right. These books draw you in from cover to cover with funny, quirky tales that will make you laugh and also make you think. Our top pick: Odd Bird Out. This is about a raven who just doesn’t fit in with the typical flock. He loves to sing and to dress in colorful clothes. He eventually has to leave his home town because he isn’t accepted there. But the bird finds his bliss and his acceptance later in the story. I won’t spoil the end for you, but I will say that this book totally blew my mind with how many thought-provoking topics it uncovered and how many really good conversations it is going to inspire in my house about being different and why it is important to celebrate our differences, rather than try to hide them. This might actually be my favorite book of all the books we reviewed, and that’s really saying something, because we were sent MANY treasures!
Win it!: I want you to have overflowing bookshelves in your home, so one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win an assortment of books from Gecko Press! AWESOME!!!!
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Carole Spring says
My 7-yr-old granddaughter is reading chapter books as fast as she can get her hands on them 🙂 My 2-yr-old grandson asks daily for me to read Truckery Rhymes, Good Night Moon, and Ginger The Cat to him. He usually brings me a stack of books – including the three mentioned above – and says “Please read to me, since I can’t read yet.”
blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com
Beverly M says
We love any of the Dr Suess books right now. Thanks for having the contest!
Sand says
The Eloise books!
Storm, the Psychotic Housewife says
We’re on a Olivia kick currently.
Patricia Crowley says
Diary of a Wimpy Kid books!
DanV says
Right now our favorite is a book about Pilgrims
monica p says
Daughter wants wimpy kid books and my son.. anything to do with christmas or dogs!
AEKZ2 says
Any of The Black Lagoon Adventure books is a favorite right now
Heidi says
My kids are always wanting a new Magic Treehouse book. They are great little chapter books for young readers!
textbookmommy at gmail dot com
Christie Merryweather says
“The Help” is popular in our house right now.
Ed Nemmers says
“The Help”
Bonnigene Cloud says
We would really love to have the yellow balloon
Desiree @ Wee Share says
all of the Little Miss and Mr Men books by Roger Hargreaves
Theresa H says
my daughters loved the Munsch books (they are older now…this would be a gift for a book drive at my work or for my daughter’s growing library
tracey johnson says
right now my daughter is wanting the judy moody books
Stephanie Barmann says
My giant book of giants.
Jason says
They love the Captain Underpants series
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
Jennifer T. says
My daughter keeps asking for Read to Tiger by S. J. Fore and R.W. Alley.
jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com
melissa lundy says
My daughter loves to read ! she goes from one extreme to another loves all the fancy nancy books but she just discovered the boxcar children !
Sara says
My son loves the David series by David Shannon!
Tori says
The touch and feel kitten book is getting all the love around here these days.
vrtheriot@gmail.com
Lana Bradstream says
We have a complete Disney story book. My daughter loves it and asks for it or the complete Dr. Seuss book every night.
wendy wallach says
angelina ballerina
madamerkf at aol dot com
Wanda P says
Handy Manny seem to be a favorite of my grandsons right now, and I have no books for when he sleeps over.
Missy Lynnh says
Corduroy is the most-requested book right now
Penny Kathleen says
The Polar Express!
pkbw28(at)gmail(dot)com
Nicole says
My little ones love just about any books ((they’re 5 yo twins), my oldest (9) is really into Nancy Drew right now.
Patty White says
Where the Sidewalk Ends
april yedinak says
My daughter wants some Charlie and Lola books
katie tanner says
Right now the most requested book is diary of a wimpy kid
Isabela says
Any and all books are in demand in my home. They all offer something different and these books look amazing!
Karen M. says
Absolutely anything by Robert Munsch!
jodi zimmerman says
I am reading chapter books with my older son, but we are reading classics like Corduroy, Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnite Moon, Pat the Bunny 🙂
renee walters says
We are reading Beatrix Potter story books right now. Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Renee Walters
Bored2quickly@hotmail.com
Corey Olomon says
The Cat in the Hat.
renee says
We are reading Beatrix Potter story books right now.
Daiva says
Thomas books
Gianna says
The Hallo-wiener by Dav Pilkey.
Tracy says
We read several books every night, it’s whatever my toddler grabs and brings to us. He especially likes books that have animals and cars. No particular favorites yet.
Pat says
Berenstein Bears books.
Julia says
my two boys are requesting thomas the train quite often
Christian Nunez says
The little sibs like curious george books
Pauline Milner says
We are all working on reading the Harry Potter series for a second time. As each book is finished it is passed on to the next family member. Our Daughter has been really busy with activities, so we are sharing a book at the moment.
Thanks for the great giveaway opportunity. ~Pauline (dod@rogers.com)
Lisa says
My son is really into the Jigsaw Jones series.
frugalmommieof2 at gmail.com
Melanie Calcut says
We have been reading the Curious George books all day. My boys love them. They keep saying “again, again, again” melaniecalcut@gmail.com
Becky Grayson says
“I Was So Mad” is a frequently requested book here. I read it to my youngest son over and over and now I read it to all four grandchildren over and over.
dbkagrayson2002 at gmail dot com
Kathy says
Poo Bum!
Elsie says
We love the Cat in the Hat Comes Back..AND THAT’S THAT!!
It rhymes, we laugh, that cat is so silly,
We giggle, we chuckle , the cat makes us crazy
with smiles…
… and miles of jumping and running and playing and hopping and being like The Cat!
Susan Chester says
My granddaughter always asks for fairy tales-usually Cinderella.
smchester at gmail dot com
Marci J says
books in the Curious George series
Marlibu says
Anything princess
larissa brunken says
My son keeps asking for The Ugly Truth Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Lesa McMahon says
My daughter would love more of the Warrior cat series books.
Sammi says
anything Dr Suess
Kathy Dunaway says
The Night Before Christmas. The kids are getting a really early start thanks to ads on tv.
ACMommy3 says
Dr. Suess, Patricia Polacco, and Geronimo Stilton books! 🙂
Melissa Belle says
The Hobbit
Shiloh K says
My daughter is all about “In My Nest” a cute little owl finger puppet book right now. She’s 9 months! [mckinneymommas (at) yahoo (dot) com]
Marlene V. says
The most requested book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar
brittney says
my daughter wants pinkalicious every night
brittneydejajason at gmail dot com
sindy says
Biscuit and the baby!!
Lauren says
We have to read “night night little pookie” by Sandra Boynton before every nap and bed.
Tamara Sz says
Right now my daughter is obsessed with The Wheels on the Bus book that we have!
Madeline says
“Good Night Gorilla”…although, Sophia did just tear it in half, so we’ll be needing a new copy of it asap!
anne s. says
muncha muncha muncha and gruffalo r our favorites now!
annsavd at gmail dot com
McKim says
Edward the Emu and Edwina the Emu.
deanna_boocock says
Everyone in my class is asking for The Littles
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
last of the really great whangdoodles
by Julie andrews edwards yep mary poppins wrote it lol
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Chelsea Saulpaugh says
The teen Sweep series books are in high demand in my household.
Sunnie says
Since we are in the middle of moving, Im have just been reading random kids chapter books.
Jessica Eaton Ledford says
Definitely Wizard of Oz! (we have three different versions)
Lim says
Since the little one in my life is only 4 months old, there isn’t any requesting yet, and she seems to like everything.
Brittany C. says
My 4 year old loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar book! We read it almost every-night, I know there is more books to this series and she’d love them! Thanks for the giveaway!
kng says
Anything trains! Chuggington or Thomas the Tank, it doesn’t matter, it just needs to have a train in it 🙂
Betty says
We love the Dr Seuss books – The Lorax is very popular now
Mary Beth Elderton says
The most requested right now is “Dr. Seuss” this includes ‘One Fish, Two Fish,’ ‘The Butter Battle Book,’ ‘Hop on Pop’ and others–they seem to like the rhythm and fun pictures.
Kristie says
My kids tend to change it up quite a bit, but one that I’ve read several times recently is “I’m Gonna Like Me”
Tara says
Mine-o-saur!
EMMA L HORTON says
CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG
Sarah Hull says
My son loves books! Right now he is a big fan of “10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” and “The Pokey Little Puppy Counting Book”
Kimberly Schotz says
Our favorite is Mr. Doodle had a Poodle
Kims2312@Verizon.net
susanlanai says
We just found a new book at the library “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site” and it is requested just about three times a day!
lace says
Right now it’s Ivy and Bean books (7 year old can’t wait for the next one which was just released a few days ago) and Clementine books. Skippyjon Jones and Mo Willems books are also always requested.
Bethany C. says
Right now it’s Goodnight, Gorilla.
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
Jenny says
Goodnight Moon is a favorite at our house.
Meghan Page says
pinkilicious
Kathy S says
If YOu Give A Mouse a Cookie…
Heather C says
Anything that has anything to do with Curious George!
colleen says
Trains….my son gets this book out at the library every other week.
Alanna says
Samantha also loves to read “Good Night Moon” right now!
Yolanda R says
“Good Night Moon” is my daughter’s favorite book.