I seem to be constant shock at how old my kids are. Every year on Luke's birthday, his new age just feels SO OLD. I had just gotten used to having a 5 year old and now he has the nerve to be turning 6! Why does 6 seem so much older than 5? Maybe because of school and kindergarten is serious but it's still kindergarten but going into 1st grade just feels so much more official and like "real" school. 6 feels like definitely leaving behind those little kid years and like we're definitely hitting bigger kids years. Next year I will also be fully freaking out that he is turning 7. Which seems so old for a kid I swear was just my baby. Is this how parents feel all the time? It's a bit overwhelming every March.
But our biggest kid is now 6 and very excited about it. It's the first year (since his actual birth day) that I haven't spent his whole birthday with him, because of school and all that. That's why summer birthdays are the best.
We've been reading less picture books lately as we work through some chapter books and also try to get in more play outside time. Although we still, at all times, have a pretty decent stack from the library, just not getting through them nearly as fast lately! But I still really enjoy when I can get him to sit on the couch or on the porch with me and go through a couple of books. We've been doing this for years and it still feels like he's my little kid when we're reading books together. I treasure it because I know it won't last forever!
Here are 5 picture books he's enjoyed over the last couple of months. I know it's a winner with him when he immediately asks me to read it again or if he doesn't want me to return it to the library right away. AND if it's not based on Star Wars or superhero characters.
There's a Dinosaur on the 13th Floor by Wade Bradford, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Mr. Snore is just trying to get some sleep (I think we can all relate) but every room the bellhop of the Sharemore Hotel shows him just won't work. Maybe the 13th floor will be lucky for him. But by the title, it's obvious that it won't. Luke thought this one was funny, I found it clever. Very enjoyable.
Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins, illustrated by Emily Hughes
Matt spent a large portion of last summer working on a playhouse for Luke in the backyard, it's not in a tree but next to a (small) tree and so this one was going to be a winner. This book tells you everything you "need" for a treehouse with wonderfully creative pictures showing a whole bunch of different kinds of tree houses. It was almost magical.
T. Rex Time Machine by Jared Chapman
Two T. Rexes get in a time machine and end up in our modern world with cell phones and magical new foods. They can't figure out how to get back but do they even want to? A reminder of all the modern comforts we enjoy and Luke enjoys almost every book about dinosaurs. This also further reiterated why we never want to meet one in real life.
Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Jen Corace
Little Oink is a very neat pig but his parents MAKE him do pig things like be messy and stinky. Luke thought it was hilarious that the pig parents are so opposite of what we are telling him and maybe dreamed a little that his parents would encourage him to make messes instead of (horrors!) cleaning up after himself. It was very clever.
Thank You, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony
There are a couple of books in this Mr. Panda series and most of them feature Luke's beloved lemur which is why it ended up on this list. Luke was delighted to spot the lemur on the pages. And book with a lemur sidekick is going to be a winner for him! (I know he'll grow out of his lemur stage at some point but I am really treasuring it while it lasts!)
Have you read any good picture books lately? I'm always looking for more suggestions!
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