The Short List

I was cleaning up the bookshelf in the kids' room the other day and I thought I would share with you our short list of most beloved board books.  That middle stack of books has withstood a lot of love and reading in heavy repetition in the time we've had them. Poor "Bear Snores On" is in need of some serious binding repair, but I never tire of it.

The Dr. Seuss books on the left would make the long list of favourites - with a particular mention of "Hand Hand Fingers Thumb" (which, incidentally is NOT by Dr. Seuss) and Mr. Brown can Moo!

What are your most beloved books to read to your wee ones?

Reasons Why Yarn is a Weapon

Just when I was feeling a bit gloomy from being busy and discouraged and, let's face it, grumpy with my kids, I got this beautiful gem of a book in the mail from my friend Pam.  I must have rubbed off on her during all those Sunday nights of board games with NHL200whatever in the background.  I'm quite sure she would never have bought me book of horrific, scandalous and emasculating yarn catastrophes, complete with less-than-appropriate commentary.  But she did, and I love her for it.

Oh, how I love that knitted helmet!

Now, I'm not sure I'm supposed to be posting pictures from this book, but it is all in praise of Stitchy McYarnpants and her work in uncovering these treasures from the past.

This is one of my favourite parts.  It has long been discussed in yarny circles, this problem with knitting for our manly loved ones.  After thumbing through this chapter I think Keith would happily wear anything I knit for him provided he never ended up looking like any of these chumps.

And onto my the most entertaining and perhaps most disturbing chapter on knitted toys.  I have now seen enough terrifying clowns and babies in knitted unitards with gun holsters and cowboy hats.  It has definitely made me rethink the toys I've thought of making for the kids.

Thank you, Pam  for this fantastic book.  Whenever I start to feel discouraged about my own knitting disasters it will be nice to have this little piece of perspective!

Wooly Readings...Book Review

For all of you knitting mamas out there - here are two fantastic books to help teach your wee ones about where the beautiful wool you knit with comes from.  I really enjoyed both of these books!

Feeding The Sheep

written by: Leda Schbert

pictures by: Andrea U'Ren

Synopsis: "Go from sheep-raising to sweater-making, with a mother and daughter who make a game of all the stages that lie between.  From day to day, season to season, Mom is busy tending the family's small flock of sheep and then harvesting their wool to make yarn: shearing and washing, carding and spinning, dyeing and knitting.  Every step of the way, her little girl is busy, too, questioning, teasing, and imitating.  Filled with colour and coziness, Feeding the Sheep offers young knitters-to-be a fresh, fun look at husbandry and handicraft."

Amos's Sweater

written by: Janet Lunn

pictures by: Kim LaFave

Synopsis: "Amos was old and Amos was cold and Amos was tired of giving away all his wool."  Amos is a sheep who tries very hard to avoid the inevitable shearing of his precious wool.  When he sees his wool knit up into a sweater worn by Uncle Henry, he begins a campaign of violence against it, biting holes in it at every opportunity and even breaking out of the barn to pull it apart. It is an entertaining story that will leave you warm and cozy at the end, just like Amos.

I hope you can find these stories at your local library.  They are well worth the read.