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4.22.2014

WHEN I WAS SMALL


something a little off the beaten path today, but back in the 'burbs while on a target run, huck + i came across this little book called when i was small. it's about a boy named henry and his mother, who, if you ask me, happens to look rather a lot like me. if you squint or whatever. i swear it was as though it had been written for the two of us. it's the sweetest little story, i get all lumpy every time we read it together.


there are two others in the series, when you were small and where you came from, that are equally as wonderful. especially where you came from; there's a page in there where henry's dad says they found henry in the garden, growing from a peony bush. come on. this is right up there with that time i finally read anne of green gables and suddenly my whole life made sense. i swear it couldn't be any more perfect.

anyway. we've been on a bit of a bed time book tear recently and are in need some fresh blood. any favorites you recommend that i should be checking out at the library? 

47 comments:

  1. "This moose belongs to me" by Oliver Jeffers! Anything by him is lovely though.

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  2. I love Matilda and the Orange Balloon for this age. Frog and Toad, Mickey and the Night Kitchen, Oh What a Busy Day.

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  3. I love these illustrations! This brings back memories of when I used to ask my dad for stories before bedtime. I'd always want to hear about his childhood adventures with my aunts and uncles.

    Thanks for sharing!

    http://thatumamilife.wordpress.com

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  5. King Bidgood in the Bathtub! It's what childhood bathtub dreams are made of I tell u! By Audrey and don wood (along with like, EVERY one of their books...heckedy peg is another huge fave). I love this post and your adventures with your little Huck. If I had a son I would have named him Henry! (English History nerd over here, but I was blessed with four girls instead, no complaints). I enjoy a vicarious world of mother-son love through your writing so thank you for sharing. I am so excited for your upcoming book!!!!
    King Bidgood in the Bathtub! It's what childhood bathtub dreams are made of I tell u! By Audrey and don wood (along with like, EVERY one of their books...heckedy peg is another huge fave). I love this post and your adventures with your little Huck. If I had a son I would have named him Henry! (English History nerd over here, but I was blessed with four girls instead, no complaints). I enjoy a vicarious world of mother-son love through your writing so thank you for sharing. I am so excited for your upcoming book!!!!
    Raescorner.blogspot.com

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  6. Oh my gosh clearly I am having issues publishing my comments...der, sorry.

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  7. Miss Suzy by Miriam Young. My little boys loved this story at this age.

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  8. Huck might like "The Day the Crayons Quit". It's no classic but it's tells tells the story of a box of crayons that quit for various reasons and shares each crayon's perspective. It's playful and silly.

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  9. Dragons Love Tacos. It's awesome.

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  10. We're big fans of Elsa Beskow's stories. My personal favorite is "Children of the Forest." The illustrations are exquisite.

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    1. Thank you for your recommendation, after I read it, I borrowed this book from the library yesterday to read to my little ones. : )

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  11. The barbapapa books are really fun. Originally in French, so that's cool. :) also good for this time of year is The Rabbit School by Albert Sixtus. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1567923836?pc_redir=1398089945&robot_redir=1 going to the library here in Germany has opened up a whole new world of books to us! Such fun! Oh and the Jan and Julia books by margret rettich are good. Also, it makes me so happy to hear what you've wrote about this book. So very lovely and beautiful.

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  12. 'We're going on a bear hunt' by Michael Rosen - i don't even have to read the book i know it off by heart!

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  13. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a beautiful and compelling story. The owner of a local book store (who reminds me so much of Kathleen Kelly!) recommended it, and I can't stop thinking or talking about it. I wrote about it here (along with four reading habits you should start with you child):

    http://alsothatsit.blogspot.com/2014/02/four-reading-habits-to-start-in-first.html

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  14. Hello Natalie! Here are a few of our favorites...

    "Lost and Found" by Oliver Jeffers is precious. (I know you guys like penguins ;)

    "The Dark" by Lemony Snicket/ Illustrated by Jon Klassen

    "The Sailor Dog" by Margaret Wise Brown/ Illustrated by Garth Brown (an old golden book that has be re-published)

    "Red Sings from Treetops" by Joyce Sidman/ Illus. by Pamela Zagarenski

    "May I Bring a Friend" by Beatrice Schenk de Reniers/ Illus. by Beni Montresor

    ...and "Officer Buckle and Gloria" by Peggy Rathman

    Happy reading and cuddling!

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  15. An old classic kind of on the small theme "If Jesus Came to My House"…out of print but I've found it online before.

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  16. Such a cute and classic bed time story..

    xo Josephine
    www.joselovincolors.com

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  17. King Bidgood's in the Bathtub and The Snowy Day

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  18. The Day the Crayons Quit and Miss Suzy... both already mentioned but both favorites!

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  19. Everything from Mo Williams. Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus...sure fire hits.

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  20. Anything by Tedd Arnold... Parts, More Parts, Green Wilma. They are all good!

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  21. This is so sweet, it's like it's just for you guys!!! I love Imogene's Antlers and Brave Irene -- both with girls as the main characters, but they're just such awesome stories. And I second the Don't Let the Pigeon comment from Melanie above... such a hilarious series!!

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  22. Have you read the other Anne of Green Gables books? It's a series. My favourite series when I was a girl....well, let's be real, it's still my favorite! it follows her life as she grows up and has children. : )

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  23. The Tiger who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr

    Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

    Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

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  24. My latest bedtime story obsession is Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett (illustrated by Jon Klassen!). It's so sweet and it makes me tear up every time I read it. It's a picture book, so I'm not sure where that stands for a three and a half year old (my almost-two year old is really into it) but I adore it.

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  26. "Voices in the Park" by Anthony Browne. After reading it to my daughters (2 & 5) I reread it to myself multiple times.. letting the message and perspectives sink in. You will not be let down by this one. :)

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  27. Spoon.
    You Are My I Love You.

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  28. I've just got to admit something...

    I read this book a couple of months ago in the middle of Target.
    Bad idea.
    That last page had me reduced to tears.

    Anyway, we love "The Day The Crayons Quit", "Tea Rex", and "Goldilocks and The Three Dinousaurs."

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  29. A couple of lesser known Mo Willems books are my faves: "Leonardo the Terrible Monster" and "City Dog, Country Frog".

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  30. the perfect gift by rohan henry!!!!!!! so adorably charming. just really sweet.

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  31. any and all Elsa Beskoq books especially "Peter in Blueberry Land"

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  32. Dude, the where's Waldo books. My husband and son have been on such a kick with those suckers lately.

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  33. Little Bear! I love love love those books. My kids know them by heart, but Birthday Soup is a favorite.

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  34. I must find Bobo! is probably the most hilariously adorable book ever. It just makes me smile.

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  35. Gruffalo!!! You really can't go wrong with anything by Julia Donaldson but Gruffalo and Room on the Broom can be read over and over again without getting annoying. I'm now on the hunt for When I was Small. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  36. That book looks so sweet.

    As far as Anne of Green Gables, may I suggest to anyone else looking for more soul connections the Betsy-Tacy series? If you are grown now I'd start with her high school years with Heaven to Betsy, but if you have a child the writing in the books goes along with age, so it's great to start at the beginning. They are truly gems and every time I reread them it's magic. (Anna Quindlen and Meg Cabot, both wonderful authors of their own right, have written great pieces about why to read them, too.) Take a moment to check it out- it will be worth it : ).

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  37. Lovely! don't miss the trendiest sunglasses everybody was wearing at Coachella this year! http://bit.ly/1lR7Eam Check 'em also on Instagram http://bit.ly/RPJmUf

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  38. I am Abraham Lincoln. I know it's not completely factual but it's so stinking cute and I loved the message, I swear it made me tear up. My four year old loves it. We also like the other one in the series, I am Amelia Earhart. I'm a fan of introducing a little history early on. Especially when they are good role models. I'm excited for the Rosa Parks and Albert Einstein ones coming out soon.

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  39. My son loved 'Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb.' I can still say the who thing from memory. He also loved Toad by Ruth Brown.

    Thanks for letting me think about when my boy was small.

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  40. This book looks just lovely! Must find a copy for myself. I don't even have children, but have a collection beneath my bed of some of my preschool class children's favourites. Some of my personal favourites are Harold and the Purple Crayon, This is Not A Box, Red is Best, Mouse Paint, Madeleine, The Ghost's Dinner (out of print and so hard to find!), Knufflebunny.

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  41. this book sounds so sweet. my youngest son will often tell me the things we will do together "when i grow smaller like him."

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  42. The Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood and Don Wood is my all time favourite children's book! My children loved it when they were small, and the children in my daycare all love it, too! It is a fun book to read, and has beautiful illustrations!

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  43. Hi there! A friend of mine just sent me the link to this so here I am to say thank you! What a lovely, lovely write-up for our little book!

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  44. I love this. I'll have to find these books.
    My three year old son loves "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak right now.

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