Milo is reading (and reading and reading and READING) all the time these days, mostly Magic Treehouse books, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and most recently, the Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket (obviously novelist Daniel Handler’s pen name). He seems to have no interest in picture books at the moment, labeling them “baby books,” which breaks my heart just a little bit.
But Oliver and Emil are still all about them, thank goodness! And some of our favorite (and funniest) books are the vintage finds we pick up at Goodwill, flea markets, and antique stores. The above are just a few of our growing collection. I love the illustrations and the gritty stories and lessons. And the innocent bunny books are Emil’s favorite. Go figure, he was born in the year of the Rabbit.
I’m currently glued to The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert, an immensely interesting and scary story about the sixth major extinction humans are on the path to causing. In it, we are taken on several journeys through species extinctions humans have had a direct role in causing, and the brutality of each is shocking. I am a huge science and natural history enthusiast, so it is all fascinating to read about, but be warned, it’s not the light reading you might want to engage in if you want to feel good about humanity around the holidays, ha!
What are you reading?
Do you have any recommendations for other science books for science book lovers? My husband’s birthday is next week and I need some ideas; so far, I am thinking of the Alan Turing biography and Atul Gawande’s new book. Thanks!
I remember having and loving that “I Am A Bunny” book. Gorgeous illustrations.
t – Happy Birthday to your husband! If he hasn’t read any Richard Dawkins books, I would recommend The Ancestor’s Tale:
http://www.amazon.com/Ancestors-Tale-Pilgrimage-Dawn-Evolution/dp/061861916X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417532801&sr=8-1&keywords=the+ancestor%27s+tale+a+pilgrimage+to+the+dawn+of+evolution
or The Blind Watchmaker:
http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Watchmaker-Evidence-Evolution-Universe/dp/0393315703/ref=asap_B000AQ3RBI_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417521821&sr=1-6
Both contain such beautiful and really astonishing tales about the natural world. Also, for some lighter reading, I adore Mary Roach. She writes in a very funny (dark humor) pop-science way. My favorites of hers are Stiff and Gulp, and I have to read Packing for Mars. It got great reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Packing-Mars-Curious-Science-Life/dp/B00AR2BCLW/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417533028&sr=1-5&keywords=gulp+mary+roach
I have not read Atul Gawande’s newest book, but I really enjoyed Better. Man, now I am looking at more books on Amazon! 🙂
Oh! And check this out too! It’s The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2011 (and it includes short fiction and nonfiction pieces by Atul Gawande, Malcolm Gladwell, Oliver Sacks, and others. It’s on my wish list!
Here’s the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-American-Science-Nature-Writing/dp/0547350635/ref=pd_rhf_schuc_s_cp_5_NB9E?ie=UTF8&refRID=1KRX3VQ04997M3TPT5YS#customerReviews
My two year old is obsessed with Pete the Cat books all of them, can’t get enough of that cool cat 🙂 I on the other hand am forever in awe of the female body and the things it does to create a human being so as a Doula in training I am reading and re-reading many books. The latest one Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin ( my personal hero)!
Hope you’re having a great day!
Oh, Alma! How exciting! We need more people like you in this world. I am so with you on Ina May Gaskin. She is some lady!
Loved Sixth Extinction. Loved it. I’ve read it twice now and it just gives so much fodder for my thoughts. Thanks for sharing this fun stuff.
We all love “I Am A Bunny”. Come to think of it, we love all sorts of books about seasons.
Another season one we’re loving is “Inside Outside” by Lizi Boyd. I think your little ones might love it. There are no words, but the changing seasons and peaks through to the next page are so fun. Especially for families that garden and love to bring nature inside and art outside. It’s relatively new, and the hardback edition makes for a really nice gift.
I’m reading “A Constellation of Vital Phenomena” and oh my goodness I can’t put it down… except that I do because I don’t want it to end. After four months of only reading for licensing exam studies, reading for pleasure is like the most wonderful gift ever. I forgot how much nicer I am as a mom and person when I can disappear into a book for awhile each day.
So exciting this morning- I heard your husband on the radio!! I loved it, but I’m not so sure I want him to take my chair away!
I just had to gush.
Last week, Twentieth Century Fox was in my town filming part of the movie-to-be, Paper Towns, so I had to read that this week (YA, John Green). It’s great! (I’m a fan of John Green’s brother, Hank, for his Biology Crash Course and SciShow series on You Tube; and John is quickly becoming a favorite, too).
I’d recommend David Quammen for the science fan. Song of the Dodo is amazing (long, heavy, detailed, but brilliant). It’s seemingly about island biodiversity, but it is oh so much more!
That’s awesome, Shairstin! I am so bummed I missed it, but am going to find the podcast if I can. So glad you heard it!
What’s a good starter “chapter” book or series for reading aloud to kids? I know you’ve mentioned reading Hatchet aloud. Any other books that worked well when you started that phase of reading together?
Adah, we started reading chapter books aloud to Milo when he was pretty young — from what I remember, we exposed him to Roald Dahl books, which aren’t stingy on grit — you may want to edit a few choice words if you start there — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Witches (only recently — that one’s scary!). The Little House series is much more tame! We read the whole series and they loved it. Really, just give anything you liked as a kid a try — see how your little one likes it. If he is listening attentively, you know you have a winner!
Thanks for the suggestions, Lauren!
I am a Bunny is the best. I’ve given it to everyone who has a new baby, even non-English speakers. The illustrations are so great.
Our house is filled with books about science like the ones you mention, most of them J’s. I tend to want to balance those out with lighter ones. I’m usually a fan of memoirs from comedians, of which there are many right now. The last one I read was Yes Please! by Amy Poehler.
I Am A Bunny was Shane’s favorite book as a babe. It’s so cute. Great suggestions and the book you reading sounds very interesting 🙂
I just finished Unbroken, and now reading Redbird Christmas (both for book club), but I want to start reading Arrow of God.
Mina is reading the Little House on the Prairie series…makes me want to learn how to make something substantial with my hands!
Wyatt and I are reading the Little House series… and he is also listening to the audio books. He seems to like to hear the sections over and over and ask questions. There are some odd moments, but it’s mostly awesome. We also just started reading ‘The One and Only Ivan’… And that’s kind of my speed these days, kid’s chapter books 😉