Illustrator Love: Molly Idle

December 13, 2014April 11, 2015 / Petite Stag / 1 Comment

Source: Amazon

It’s the time of year when you are thinking you need to find a perfect gift for a petite. Flora and the Flamingo and Flora and the Penguin are stunning books. Flora and the Flamingo is a Caldecott Honor Book, this wordless book with interactive flaps begs to have a charming inscription written within the cover. Books that years from now a petite will pull off the shelf and look at with fondness, books that inspire creativity and imagination, books that will make you want to open a box of colored pencils and start to draw. I love these books. This year these books will be under my Christmas tree, one for each petite.

I wrote about Tea Rex a few months ago, this book is lovely. I have given this book as a gift to one of my favorite petites along with a tea set…the illustrations in this book are lovely. If camping is more of your petites thing then you are in luck, because not only does Tea Rex love tea, but camping as too! Camp Rex, is a dinosaur with a love of the great outdoors. I’m so excited to say that another addition, Sea Rex comes out in May of 2015, but if it’s anything like the other two, then I am sure it will delight even the youngest of readers.

If you’re looking for a great gift to give the petites in your life check out these books, they are simply gorgeous. Molly Idle is an amazing illustrator I am sure you will love her books as much as my petites and I do.

Happy Reading,
Erin

Yo Ho, Yo Ho Pirate Books for Petites

December 11, 2014June 28, 2016 / Petite Stag / Leave a comment

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates’ loot on Treasure Island and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.”

Walt Disney

When I was small of my favorite rides at Disneyland was Pirates of the Caribbean. There is something about pirates that are so fun when you’re small. Maybe it’s the treasure? Or possibly the adventures? Or even the argh!

Here are some Petite Stag picks for pirates:

Pirates Go to School, by Corinne Demas (Orchard Books, 2001) is a really fun rhyming book that your petites will love. It is so silly thinking about pirates attending school and following rules. This story is sure to get some giggles.

No Pirates Allowed Said Library Lou, by Rhonda Growler Greene, (Sleeping Bear Press, 2013) is phenomenal, I have shared this story before here, the best part about this book is that the treasure lies within books – what an amazing message to send to petites.

How I Became a Pirate, by Melinda Long with illustrations by David Shannon (No David!), (Harcourt, 2003) is hilarious. The petites love this book, Jeremy Jacobs is indoctrinated into pirate life, and although it is terribly fun at first, there are no bedtime stories and no goodnight kisses. It is a great story that any petite swashbuckler will love.

Pirates Don’t Change Diapers by Melinda Long and David Shannon (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2007) have created a hilarious follow-up story to How I Became a Pirate, this time the main challenge is the care of Jeremy Jacob’s little sister.

Pajama Pirates by Andrew Kramer (Harper Collins, 2010) is one of our favorite nighttime books, the petites love how after putting on pajamas the adventure begins. That dreams can take you on the most wonderful adventures.

1001 Pirate Things to Spot – by Rob Lloyd Jones (Usborne, 2010) this really fun seek and find book will keep you little one searching for all the pirate items. Perfect for a plane or car ride.

If I a missing a great pirate book for petites let me know in the comments. We’re always looking to add to our collection.

Erin

For the Love of Princesses

December 9, 2014December 12, 2014 / Petite Stag / 3 Comments

I find that as a mom of a five year old I am surrounded by princesses anything with frills and lots of glitter. Seriously, glitter is everywhere. When my petite was first born I gave her Nana strict shopping rules for nothing pink, nothing princess and certainly no Barbie’s. My aim was to make sure I had a strong, independent, free thinking petite and not just another princess loving pink wearing petite. What I found out was that the more I fought the princess and the pink, the more it was an ever present topic.

In the last five years I’ve learned to embrace pink, frills and glitter…even a large amount of princesses. What I also learned is that there are princesses who are super fun to watch, but rely on princes to save them. Princesses who seem a little naïve and again need men or princes to spell it out for them. However, in this very same mix there are qualities that I want my petites to have and at the risk of letting them turn into hopeless romantics – I acquiesced.

I thought this quote from Meg Cabot pretty much sums it up:

“I think it would be a shame for parents not to let [their daughters] have [princesses] just because they don’t believe in “the princess thing.” Because the princess thing is amazing. It’s about standing up for what you believe in, protecting the people you love, and never letting the bad guys win. It’s about rescuing yourself, and yet risking your heart when you meet someone who seems worth giving it to.”

With all that said, here at the Petite Stag there are princesses that I love and promote whole heartedly. First up Tiana from The Princess and the Frog – she is by far my absolute favorite. She works hard, she is determined, she has goals, and she knows that it is okay to wish for things, but you have to work hard to get them too.

We also love Merida from Brave – what’s not to love about a fiery redhead? She is very independent and speaks her mind freely. Okay, so she is defiant and pretty reactionary, but in the end she learns a really important lesson – family bonds are the strongest and often times most important.

One princess that we love is Belle, she’s a Petite Stag pick because she loves to read books! Even reading them more than once. My petite can be found pretending to be Belle walking and reading at the same time. Not to mention, she just told Belle at Disneyland that she loves her because she likes to read books….if that doesn’t make you swoon then Belle’s perfect response will Wow, that’s amazing, reading can take you on so many new adventures, keep reading little one. Well done, Disneyland Belle!

Next up, I bet you can guess what I am going to say, Anna and Elsa from Frozen – it would be nothing short of a miracle if I were able to have a frozen free household. Instead, I am going to embrace the message and promote it – when Anna needs an act of true love – who does she need? Her sister! Yes please, promoting the bond between two sisters.

Erin

Best Bookshops Seattle: Foodie Favorite

December 6, 2014December 3, 2014 / Petite Stag / Leave a comment

If you are a foodie, bibliophile or cookbook collector you simply must go to The Book Larder: a community cookbook store in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle (4252 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, Wa 98103). This is an entire store dedicated to cookbooks!

I personally love cookbooks, when I was a child I would sit and pour over the pictures in my moms cookbooks. I love them, everything about them. If you love cookbooks even a little bit, you will love this store.

What is even better is the staff are so knowledgable about the cookbooks, they can recommend books and have a huge array of cookbooks from around the country and globe as well as vintage cookbooks. What is so special about this store is the laid back feel when you walk in, you could spend hours in there and still not see all of the books they have to offer.

Another aspect that makes this shop so inviting is the kitchen table in the middle of the store. Not only do they sell amazing cookbooks, but they have classes and demos on a regular basis too! The cooking classes range from $30-$85 and the book talks are free. You may have to stop me before I completely start to swoon.

This is the perfect shop for people who love to cook or who want to buy a unique or special cookbook for the foodie in their life. With exceptionally unique cards, tea towels, totes and recipe cards.

Make the most of your visit:

Leave the petites at home so you can fully immerse yourself in this awesome shop. This is not really a kids bookshop and will be more enjoyable without petites in tow. With that said, I brought my five year old and it was fine, I just didn’t get to browse as leisurely as I would have liked. The shop owner graciously offered to bring out crayons, thankfully on our visit their were food samples which kept her occupied.

Store Hours

Monday–Friday: 11am–6pm

Saturday: 11am–5pm

Sunday: 12pm–4pm

Parking: lots of street parking that is free, you may have to walk a little bit.

Check their website for classes or book signings – https://www.booklarder.com/events

I can’t wait to hear what you think about this amazing shop and better yet what cookbook you leave with.

Bon Appetit!

Erin

Petite Foodies: Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious

December 5, 2014May 12, 2015 / Petite Stag / 3 Comments

Alice Waters is a true revolutionary in the culinary world. She in essence started the farm to table movement more than 30 years ago. In her Berkeley California restaurant, Chez Panisse, she sourced all of her food locally from farmers and foragers. In 2014, Time Magazine listed her as one of the 100 most influential people for her work in promoting good food for all. If you want to know more about Alice Waters and her amazing legacy listen to this story on NPR about her. She is amazing in more ways than one, a project she currently works on is called Edible Schoolyards where public school students learn to grow food that is then used in their school lunches. Amazing, right?

“We’re trying to bring children into a new relationship with food where they have an opportunity to work in a garden,” she says. “They know what it is to plant the seeds and pick the weeds and they’re learning about what it takes to cook the food. … We’ve been separated from this experience through a kind of fast-food indoctrination that’s been going on for the last 50 years. So we need to really come back to our senses and really understand, like most every other country in the world, that food is something precious.” – Alice Waters

What an important skill for our children to be learning. Alice Waters is culinary hero to me and I was thrilled to see this book showcasing her in the children’s section of our public library.

Source: ReaderstoEaters.com

Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrated by Hayelin Choi (2014), published by Readers to Eaters is not only pleasing to the eye, but filled with a fantastic story and really fun little factoids about Waters life.

To me this book hits on so many different levels of inspiration. Food and eating well, along with growing your own foods and sourcing local foods. Trying new things, which is something we strive to promote in our house. Travel and enjoying destinations and cultures through food. A sense of adventure and how food can take you to new places literally and figuratively.

I love this book and think you will too. Please tell me in the comments what you think or if you have other petite foodie recommendations.

Erin

Illustrator Love: Kit Chase

December 4, 2014November 18, 2016 / Petite Stag / 1 Comment

The petites and I picked up a bunch of books at the library and oh my goodness do I have a super cute book to share with you today. Oliver’s Tree by Kit Chase (G.P. Putnam’s Son Books for Young Readers, 2014) this sweet book was published in March and is so cute, you need to get your hands on it. I am sure you will fall head over heals for the illustrations and message, just like we did.

This book is just the book I needed to read with my girls. Sometimes in kindergarten playing with friends can be a challenge, and this book highlights teamwork, friends finding solutions so everyone can play and be included and what it means to be friends.

To my delight, Kit Chase has an Etsy shop: Trafalgar’s Square that is simply adorable. I am in love and thinking that when I makeover the petites book nook this shop will be my first stop. I love these prints and the love of literacy that they showcase.

You have to get your hands on Oliver’s Tree and visit Ms. Chase’s Etsy shop. Also, up to midnight tonight there is a discount code, so act fast.

Happy Reading and Shopping!

Erin

Bucket List Bookshops & Book Events: Scotland

December 3, 2014December 2, 2014 / Petite Stag / 3 Comments

Recently I was looking around the internet at possible future travel locations and ended up reading all about Scotland. What I found to be so fascinating about Scotland is not only that rugged beauty, but that the Scots have a deep love and appreciation of books and literacy. So much so, that they have a week long celebration of books every year in November. So I did a little more digging and it turns out that it was just last week. What is so remarkable, okay there are quite a few things that are remarkable, but the first is that its book week for all genres, here in the states we have Children’s Book Week and Banned Book Week. Still cool, but not exactly the same thing. What I loved most about Scotland’s Book Week is that it is about all aspects of books – early literacy programs and book gifting, writing of books, inspiring readers and writers, funding literacy events, outreach for needy families, online lists and resources for all book lovers. The Scottish Book Trust website is complete with lots of resources, fun articles and my personal favorite – book lists. Check it out here.

Another fun aspect is that I’m currently obsessed with is a mystery book sculptor, who hides (her, people believe it may be a woman) amazing sculptures all around Edinburgh. These mysterious sculptures have been hidden around the city since 2011. What is so neat is that the citizens of Edinburgh have been on a scavenger hunt, if you will, to find these sculptures. They are usually left at a Scottish historical site or points of literary interest. The sculptures come with a message about literacy and the importance of books and literacy. They are amazing.

Scottish Book Week, Scotland.org

I’m rather obsessed with how fun this is, in 2012 the sculptor created five sculptures and hid them around the city for Book Week. They released online clues as to where they would be hidden, when they were found the “winners” received a smaller sculpture and the honor of being awesome and finding the sculpture. So much fun.

Next Wigtown, this is where I want to go, it is a town that was named Scotland’s National Book Town in 1998, this charming little town has everything a book lover could ask for, 20 businesses dedicated to books. Its own book festival. This is where I get super excited, I found this on their website:

The Open Book is a six-month project run by Wigtown Festival Company. The project will invite members of the public to apply to help run a real bookshop in Scotland’s National Book Town in Wigtown for a period of between 2 and 6 weeks and to blog about their experience. Training will be given in bookselling, and help will be provided by Wigtown’s community of booksellers, who will also offer practical and moral support.

WHAT?! Amazing, right? If you want to check this out go to their website.

Finally, and I think I may have saved the best for last here, Leakey’s Bookshop and Café which is Scotland’s largest secondhand bookshop. It is in Inverness and just looks cool, it looks like it smells amazing…all you will need to be in complete bliss is a cup of tea, a drizzly afternoon and a wallet full of pounds….oh yeah and a cute tote bag to carry all of your finds home.

A Bookish Christmas Tradition for the Petites

December 2, 2014December 2, 2014 / Petite Stag / Leave a comment

A couple of years ago I saw a pin on Pinterest about different types of advent calendars and one of them was all about books. Of course I immediately wanted more information. Basically it is incredibly simple and a great way to promote literacy in a fun and festive way. What you need are 25 Christmas or winter books one for each day until Christmas.

Initially, I thought that this would be really hard to get my hands on 25 books, but when I dug through our books I already had 10. Getting the rest can be as simple or detailed as you would like it to be. I picked up a bunch of board books at the Target dollar bins. Another great place to get holiday books are used bookstores. If you don’t want to buy a bunch of books right now you can always hit up your local public library for some great titles to fill in the gaps.

Another idea would be to start with the 12 days of Christmas, that way you wouldn’t have to stress yourself out trying to find 25 books the first year and then you could build your collection over time. I’ve realized that I am missing some very classic holiday books (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, and The Mitten) that I need to get my hands on when I replace some of the board books next year. Part of the fun is finding out which books will become new family favorites. Another aspect that is so fun is that the books are put away after the holidays and only brought out for this, so there is a huge excitement when the wrapped books appear on the first of December.

It’s in the details: How it works, get your books and wrap them up, then each night your petites open a new book for story time. Lots of amazing bloggers out there have special wrapping paper and lovely cut tags, I went the low-key route this year and wrapped in paper I had (it doesn’t match) and am going to just write the number on the book with a silver marker.

There are lots of options for the 25th book, some families choose to use the Bible or The Night Before Christmas. There are so many options of fabulous Christmas books that you might be surprised at how fun it is to collect books for this bookish tradition. Enjoy!

Petite Stag Picks: