A few weeks ago we had our kids’ parent/teacher conferences to discuss how they are doing in school. At the end of the conference the teacher asked, “Are there any other questions you have?” “Yes,” I said. “Are they kind to others?” It’s a question I ask every time. Don’t get me wrong. Academics are important, but as a parent who strives to raise good humans, doing well in school also means being kind to EVERYONE. Children’s books are a great way to teach kindness and empathy to kids. They can relate the story to their own lives and hopefully choose kindness when the time comes. Below are our ..read more

To find inspiration for the perfect book-themed baby shower, just open a favorite children’s storybook. Let guests wander into the colorful world of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Or get lost in the garden with Peter Rabbit. Share the timeless wisdom of Winnie the Pooh. Or make Brown Bear, Brown Bear come alive with a rainbow of colorful foods and decorations. Children’s books provide the perfect inspiration for a baby shower that is personal, themed and charming. Be inspired by cute characters and quotables that stand the test of time. 5 of Our Favorite Themes The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Er ..read more

We were excited to share our love of reading with Sacred Heart School yesterday! Grades Kindergarten thru 3rd Grade welcomed us into their classrooms. We talked about what poetry is and read a few of the kid poems aloud from The Yeti in My Freezer. At the end of our visit, we surprised the students by giving them their very own copy of the book…donating 80 books in all to include the teachers’ classrooms. We hope the students and staff share the book with others and enjoy it for years to come. Thank you Sacred Heart! The post Sacred Heart School Book Drop appeared first on MarbleSpark ..read more

There’s something about the change of seasons in the Midwest that always gets me thinking about the changing seasons in our own lives. As we say goodbye to flip flops and lemonade stands–and as the leaves turn colors and fall–I also become more aware of the changing seasons of my kids’ lives.  One child got a phone this year and has started making plans with friends—for the first time, the kind of plans that are not organized and approved by the moms.  He’s graduated from the pumpkin patch to REAL haunted houses.  One started a new school this year and seems to have grown up ov ..read more

What could be better than book-inspired Halloween costumes for little ones? We sure can’t think of anything! Little kids can spend hours reading with mom and dad and getting lost in their favorite story. Halloween is the perfect time to help them bring those favorite storybook characters to life. Read on for some our favorite ideas for book-inspired Halloween costumes. Anything Dr. Seuss Any book-inspired Halloween costume list (really ANY costume list) starts with Dr. Seuss. The colorful characters from his stories were made for dress-up: siblings as Thing 1 and Thing 2; The Cat in the Hat ..read more

Our oldest turns 14 in six weeks. I don’t pretend to understand how that happened! The months leading up to his birth were full of doctor appointments, prenatal classes, reading every book about expecting a baby, painting the nursery, agonizing over the perfect name and the list goes on and on and on. Time was also spent researching what to include on our baby registry. Friends and family threw several baby showers for us and the registry helped them know which gifts would help out the most. Little did we know how many essential items were needed to get through the first year of baby’s life ..read more

Jazz up your little one’s lunchbox with inspiring lunchbox quotes or jokes hidden inside. Sandwich. Check. Veggie. Check. Fruit. Check. Chocolate milk. Check. Hidden note. Double check. Lunchtime Pick-Me-Up A special note can provide the perfect pick-me-up at lunchtime for pre-school and school-age kids needing a little extra motivation. It can also serve as a conversation starter for a shy child. Or an uplifting note may provide a confidence boost to a child who is feeling lonely. I know one mom whose first-grade daughter was struggling at a new school. Every day she would include a fun note ..read more

Even though it’s 90 degrees outside, the calendar says Fall will officially arrive soon. In our house, this means many fun fall activities to plan. At the top of the list are all things pumpkin (picking, carving, eating, decorating), and of course, football…because we were born and raised in the Cornhusker state! The change of seasons is also a great time to find related books to get your kids excited about what’s to come. Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered! Take a peek at our favorite fall children’s books. Favorite Fall Children’s Books The Falling Leaves by Steve Metz ..read more

We recently asked a group of kids: Who is your real-life superhero? We thought it was the perfect way to honor all the brave first responders and civilians who did superhero things on Sept. 11. According to talking points for the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, one important way to talk to little ones about the day is to emphasize hope and to focus on the stories of the first responders and others doing good to help others. And on a such somber day, there really is nothing like little kids to boost your faith in humanity! What makes a superhero? Who is your real-life superhero ..read more