I am a father of grown children, and I once believed there would always be more time. The ordinary days felt endless, until they weren't. My children grew, and the days I wished away became the ones I missed. The loss of my son made time feel different. Since then, I see people differently. We spend much of life shaping, correcting, and comparing, while each person is already becoming who they are. I am drawn to stories that honor people as they are, imperfect, different, and unrepeatable, because simply being here is enough.
Those monsters with their yellow eyes and yellow teeth bring back all the memories. It reminds me of making tents with blankets under the table, and the adventures that would follow.
Even the boy's name, Max, feels like anything is possible. Max is snarky, and that's exactly who he is, wonderful in his own way. It's a treasure I still bring out today, to remember those glorious days.
Read-along with the story in this book and CD edition!
One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper.
That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins.
But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet,…
The Giving Tree. Unconditional Love. Sacrificial Love.
I first read this when I was young. I was heartbroken for the tree and furious with the boy. In fact, I would cry on the inside as the tree became less. Not fully understanding that the tree was really becoming much more.
As I've matured, I've come to understand that more important than myself is a vision of love that is giving of myself, in a deep, meaningful way.
To me, this book conveys that the heart of life is not possession, but devotion.
As recommended by Meghan Markle as the one book she can't wait to share with her child - the timeless fable about the gift of love
Once there was a little tree ... and she loved a little boy.
So begins the classic bestseller, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.
Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk ... and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree…
I have always had a soft heart for toys and especially misfits.
The Velveteen Rabbit carries the same longing I felt with Pinocchio and with the Misfit toys protected and collected by King Moonracer. The universal hope that what is odd, worn, or overlooked might someday be chosen to be truly real.
What has stayed with me is the quiet wisdom behind it all: that being real is not about fitting in or staying new, but about being loved deeply enough to become fully and truly yourself.
The beloved story of the Velveteen Rabbit, the toy rabbit made real by the love of a boy, is now available in a beautiful Little Apple Classic book.
Originally published in 1922, the classic story of a toy rabbit who loves a boy so much he eventually becomes real, has charmed children-and adults-for nearly a century. Author Margery Williams wrote this treasured classic that has warmed many hearts for decades. This story is among the top 100 books for children recommended by the National Education Association, chosen in a 2007 online poll, and also won the IRA/CBC Children's Choice award.…
I love the way this book cradles love so gently, as if a child's arrival is not just a family event, but something that changes the entire world. The moon stayed up all night, the stars shone brighter, even the polar bears danced.
Every time I read it, the same feelings of awe fill my soul with wonder. I realize that every one of us is already complete and worthy of celebration.
On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered. "Life will never be the same." On the night you were born, the whole world came alive with thanksgiving. The moon stayed up till morning. The geese flew home to celebrate. Polar bears danced. On the night you were born you brought wonder and magic to the world. Here is a book that celebrates you. It is meant to be carried wherever life takes you, over all the roads, through all the years. This debut…
An illustrated A-to-Z (plus an ampersand) poetry collection celebrating Victorian life. It's a lighthearted, illustrated journey through the unforgettable Victorian era.
From Ada Lovelace’s creation of the first algorithm to the gasp-inducing moving images of the Zoetrope, each poem and historical note invites you to relax with a cup of…
Nana never preaches or teaches with speeches. Nana helps C.J. learn to see the beauty where he didn't even know to look. From the kind bus driver to the blind man, each was respected for their uniqueness.
My favorite part was when they all closed their eyes to listen to the music. C.J. was transported by his imagination high above the city, into the clouds, tasting what he had yet to see.
The grace is evident throughout. When they end at the soup kitchen, and Nana shows her caring, that circle of grace is complete. From Nana's lessons to her laughing, to her caring, her ability to see is that beauty.
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty and fun in their routine and in the world around them. This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the love and understanding between grandparent and grandchild as the world comes…
The Forever is a tender illustrated reflection on the fleeting years of childhood and the deep, intentional love that shapes a parent's journey. It honors the wonder, reverence, and quiet celebration that belong to every child. Written with the vulnerability and honesty of a father, it is a heartfelt reflection on memory, devotion, and the hope that love can preserve what time cannot.
The Forever is shaped as much by the reader's own memories and experiences as by the words themselves.
Mamiachi & Me is a lyrical and empowering picture book about what it means to be a mariachi in an all‑female band.
Today, Rosa will take the stage next to her mami and play along with her popular mariachi band. But Rosa begins to worry. What if the audience doesn’t…
The Forever is a tender illustrated keepsake about love, time, and memory. Told with lyrical simplicity and emotionally rich imagery, it reflects on the kind of bond that stays with us long after a season has passed. It is a quiet book for anyone who has loved deeply, missed someone,…
