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!!!!

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