not a box

When is a box not a box?  When it's a race car or a mountain or a hot-air balloon.  Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis, captures the joy and magic of the quintessential childhood experience: pretend play!  The book follows a rabbit as he transforms a box and imagines it as a multitude of different things.  The sparse text adds to the charm of the bold, thick line drawings.  Avery's favorite part is when the box turned into a building.  This book is a reminder that sometimes some of the simplest objects make the best toys.  Now, where's that old box we were about to throw out?!

maps

Every once in a while a book is published that amazes you and leaves you in awe from cover to cover. Currently, that special book is Maps by authors and illustrators Aleksandra Mizielińska and Daniel Mizieliński.  Maps is anything but ordinary and is not your typical geography lesson.  It is so much more than that.  It features 52 different maps of the world and includes so many thoughtful details: interesting geographic elements, monuments, native animals, natural resources, national gastronomy, aspects of culture and much more.  I like how there are children featured with typical names in each country and Avery likes seeing the different foods and dishes that are eaten in each country.  This book is a great introduction to world geography and a wonderful way to engage children with the world around them.

Thanks to The Land of Nod for sending us this book!

felt board

"Come on Nate, let's make our story.”  These are photos of Avery and Nate playing and exploring with shapes on a felt board.  It was made and given to us by Crafting Community at the Oh Joy! for Nod launch party we went to earlier this month.  "It's cotton candy wearing a bow,” described Avery (about the third photo from the top).  Thanks to Crafting Community for a great tool for play and creativity!