Otis by Loren Long: the quiet little tractor that keeps finding his way back into our reading pile

Otis is not a book that announces itself loudly.

It’s subdued, calm, and almost unassuming and that turns out to be exactly why it works so well as a read-aloud.

Deeeeeep breeeeaaath.... and lets continue.

 
And what about the art?

Dare I tell you how the stroke of Loren Long's paintbrush, coming from afar brings smiles to the faces of my twins? 

Now, please stop reading this post. 

Kindly look again at the pictures. 

Now let's say it together.... 

Wow. 

The Harry Potter Book Set To Buy First (Plus the Best Illustrated Options)

If you want only one Harry Potter set, get this one.

If you want the simplest answer that creates the fewest regrets, buy one of the standard unabridged and complete 1-7 box sets. 

Our Harry Potter bookshelf at home
with a hardcover, paperback set, 
Hogwarts Library and the Marauder's Map!

For most families, it’s the format most likely to get fully read, because it’s complete, portable, and low-fuss.

But also read on for the answer to which Harry Potter edition is the best for those who want an even more immersive experience or a follow up edition. 

Plus, as a family we do have the qualifications to answer this, just look at our Harry Potter home bookshelf in the photograph above (and several pics below)! 

The Five Chinese Brothers: Parent Read-Aloud Review + How to Handle It in the 21st Century

This is a favorite book for a lot of families and that’s exactly why it’s complicated. If you’re asking “Can I read this today?” you’re already being the right kind of parent. Here’s how I read it aloud now, and why.

"Dad, do you know what is my favorite book?" 

Cover of *The Five Chinese Brothers*

I was surprised. Did I hear well? 
 
A favorite book?

Wow, among hundreds and hundreds of books, my little boy has a favorite?

And he never told me about it.

I wanted to know.
 

If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss: Read-Aloud Review + What Parents Notice Today

I picked up If I Ran the Zoo expecting classic Seuss nonsense. 

Then the “nonsense” turned out to be… a little too familiar. 

Here’s what still works brilliantly aloud, and what I’d frame for kids today.

But let me start at the beginning. 

Stumbling upon a good Dr. Seuss book is not exactly a surprise, but for me this book was precisely that.

 
A double surprise, in fact.

Children's Audio Books - Portals to a New Galaxy

Children's audio books were a chance discovery.

It was a fluke.

Kate Winslet can help parents, but you remain Reader no. 1

But before you accuse me of being dimwitted, let me explain myself.

Of course, I knew about audio books.

But what I did not know about was the amazing power of children's audio books.

They have quadrupled the amount of reading aloud/listening that we can do in a single day.

It's no longer just me reading to my kids.