if you want to see a whale (and more great kids’ books)

When I open the mailbox, the girls always ask, “Is there something for me?”  Mostly we get bills and bank statements.  Sometimes they get excited to see a package, until I tell them, “It’s just a book for Mommy.”  Last week, though, I handed them the package and said, “These books are for you.”  They couldn’t wait to get home and start reading.

if you want to see a whale is a very cute story about a little boy watching for a whale.  This book invites you to read slowly and thoughtfully, looking at the simple yet endearing pictures carefully.  I loved the way the words and the pictures went together, saying so much more than either of them could say by themselves.  I was smiling all the way through the story, which I knew the girls would like because we’ve been whale watching and they often talk about humpbacks (the whale in this story) and orcas.  This would also be a great bedtime story because of it’s quiet, gentle pace.

Which Way Back? is based on characters from Knowledge Kids whom Sunshine and Lily recognized.  They were very excited to read a story about Luna, Chip and Inkie.  I liked this story because it’s about three friends out in a park on a hike… who then get lost and have to find a way back.  We see each of the characters deal with the problem and then work together to come up with a solution.  The story talks about maps, friendship, and being creative—a great story to foster  discussions with children about what to do if you get lost or face a scary situation.

The Snatchabook is a fun book to read because it’s all rhymed.  The illustrations are absolutely adorable as well—little forest creatures tucked into bed in dens all over the place.  The heroine of the story is a small bunny named Eliza, who decides to take action when something begins stealing all the books.  She faces the creature and comes up with a solution that makes everyone happy.  Again, this story about bedtime stories would be great to read at bedtime, yet is also a great way to talk to kids about dealing with problems, like someone who is taking something that isn’t theirs.

All of these books are available from Raincoast Books, a BC-based book wholesale and distribution company.  I recently connected with their publicist on social media and hopped over to their website to take a look around.  Besides the three books we picked out, I recognized Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site (which we’d read at the library and really enjoyed for its fun rhymes and cute illustrations) and It’s a Book (which I’ve heard friends talk about because it deals in a fun way with the fact that reading is becoming less common in our digital age).

If you have a bibliophile of any age on your Christmas list this year, browse the titles over at Raincoast Books.  Besides children’s fiction, they also have a wide selection of YA novels, biographies, craft books, fiction, and more.

These books were provided for review; all opinions expressed are my own.