"I need the blue box!" My youngest is not a baby anymore, but he LOVES these little board books. He opens the box, goes straight to the 'animals' book, and flips back and forth through the pages. And then carries it around the house all afternoon.

My First 100 Words (Kane Miller, by Amanda Gulliver and Elizabeth Golding, designed by Anton Poitier) is a heavy duty box with a strong magnetic clasp that holds 9 tiny board books on different topics: animals, people, get dressed, outside, etc. Each of the mini books contains six pages and 11 different labeled images. The images are simple and easily identifiable but illustrated with beautiful detail. And, measuring in under 2" on each side, they fit perfectly into little hands!

This little set would make a really fun baby shower gift because it is so well made and will be enjoyed by little ones for a long time. Not only will the set help young children learn new words, it fosters imagination and play because the books themselves can be a game. They can be stacked, sorted, and matched to their spot in the box.

​And once the little one begins to read, these books will again become a point of fascination, because the lettering is bold and easy to read.

It's that book that starts as a book, turns into a toy, and then evolves back into a book.

Book benefits:

• The sturdy cardboard box and heavy duty magnet will withstand even a toddler's curiosity
• Bright, colorful pictures attract young eyes
• Small book size fits perfectly into a young child's hands
• 109 different pictures introduce babies to common words
• Matching pictures inside the box can be used as a matching game
• Thick-paged board books can be stacked and sorted for different types of engagement

Once you hold this little board book set in your hands, you won't be able to resist buying it for gifts, too! It's beautiful, thoughtful, and engaging all at once.

Like this book? There's a set for numbers, too! I Can Count

Buy My First 100 Words here ($12.99, board books and box)

Want to see more? Check out my video!

It's that book that helps you remember it's ok to be you - that in fact, it's great to be you!

​Book benefits:

• Beautiful, bright illustrations to pull you into the story
• Important message for kids and adults alike
• Sweet, lovable character you want to read about again and again
• Sing-song, rhyming text that adds a lyrical note

Meet Cordelia and listen to her story - read by the author herself!

Book benefits:

• Flaps of all shapes and sizes to explore
• Themed pages to show connections between simple and complex machines
• A wide variety of topics to engage kids with all sorts of interests
• Easy-to-understand explanations of what's going on
• Detailed diagrams to help pre-readers be equally fascinated
• So. Much. Information. Hours of exploration waiting for you!

Added bonus - this book is part of a series, so if your kids like this book, you can keep 'em coming!

"This is Apple Tree Farm. This is Mrs. Boot, the farmer. She has two children, called Poppy and Sam, and a dog called Rusty." I wrote that line from memory, as I've read it many many times - they are the first lines in each of the 20 short stories in Usborne's The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales (written by Heather Armery, illustrated by Stephen Cartwright). 

I find these opening lines endearing, as Josh has also learned them by heart and recites them whenever we read one of these stories together. Each of the stories in this collection tells some aspect of the lives of Mrs. Boot, the farmer, and her life around Apple Tree Farm. 

The stories are designed for early readers: the first line on each page is short, for the child to read, followed by a slightly more complex sentences, for the parent or pal reading alongside the child. The stories are simple but engaging: a pig gets stuck after eating the chickens' food, a tractor loses control and runs into a pond, a snow storm covers the sheep, the local train station is brought back to life.

And, to put the cherry on top, the book comes with an audio recording of all of the stories. I was hesitant about this at first, but they're really fun: the narrator has a soothing, British voice, and there are sound effects sprinkled throughout to further bring depth to the stories. (listen to a sample below)

Put simply, it's that book so full of life, on multiple levels, you will pull it off the shelf again and again.

Book benefits - there are so many!

• 20 diverse stories mean endless opportunities for reading
• Multi-level text allows early readers to share in the process
• Bright, colorful illustrations add depth to the stories
• A map at the front of the book puts all the events in context
• A CD of the stories, narrated with music and sound effects, comes with the book!
  • Listen to a sample here
• Thick, glossy pages and a padded cover allow for a long reading life for this book
• A little duck hides on each page, waiting to be found!

One more benefit is that Apple Tree Farm is the focus of several Usborne books - so if your child is pulled into the series, there are many ways to enjoy these characters! (See more here)

I'm happy Josh loves these stories... but even if he didn't, I would still curl up in a chair and read about life on Apple Tree Farm! 

Buy The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales ($24.99, padded hardcover)