I blinked, and I found myself staring down the second week in May. Michigan decided to basically skip spring this year and barrel directly toward summer. I don’t mind, but sunshine and warm weather make it a little more difficult to concentrate on tasks at hand. Thankfully, diving into books never feels like a task in our home. I’m happy to make a few recommendations for you and your family this month.
Savvy Sassy Book Picks
After taking my kids to see Hamilton during our spring break road trip, we’ve been chatting a lot about history. I’m super excited about my book pick for independent readers this month. Historical fiction and children’s lit might not seem like an exciting combination, but a new-to-me series works to change that.
Book recommendation for moms
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll offers a smart, cutting look at the pressure women feel to present a perfect life to the world. Ani FaNelli buried her humiliating past in a dazzling present. However, another secret from her past threatens everything she’s worked so hard to accomplish. I found Knoll’s prose compelling, and her look at modern ambition feels even more relevant after reading her opinion piece in the New York Times — “I Want to Be Rich, and I’m Not Sorry“.
Book pick for independent readers
Part of the Time Twister Series, Abigail Adams, Pirate of the Caribbean by Steve Sheinkin looks at what might happen if the First Lady of the United States got tired of being confined to White House protocol. Part history lesson, part societal commentary, and a whole lot of fun, Sheinkin’s novel gives kids the chance to see history as something fun and relevant in their lives.
A picture book to celebrate a big milestone
Don’t miss Llama Llama Loses a Tooth, based on the bestselling children’s book series by Anna Dewdney. The sometimes sweet and sometimes stubborn Llama Llama remains a favorite of mine, even though my kids have outgrown the stories — most of the time. This Level 2 reading book works as a book you read aloud with your child or a book they use for reading practice. Either way, I always recommend getting in some reading time with your little one. This book helps you talk about a milestone experience that can be exciting and scary all at once. Bonus? Listen to Ludacris rap the original Llama Llama story.
