READY TO BE OFFERED: read-aloud

I love to read books to my children that "co-inside" with the seasons or holidays that we are celebrating. It's a way to create enthusiasm, excitement, and wonder in a child's heart while introducing them to basic concepts and ideas about a specific subject or time of year. So November means taking out our Thanksgiving books.

This year, one of the Thanksgiving books that I am reading with my children is Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story. I found this book last year at the library and was so delighted by it that I wrote down the title hoping to purchase it the following year.

I love the simple, old-fashioned illustrations, the careful attention to detail in words and pictures, the poetic style of this book, and especially the emphasis in the end of the book upon thanking the Lord for His provision. This book is just delightful for all of those reasons and more. It is a wonderful book for families and I am hoping to continue to read it to my children (ages 2 and 4 now) even as they grow a little older.

Other Thanksgiving books we've been enjoying:

A Turkey for Thanksgiving, by Eve Bunting

Bear Says Thanks, by Karma Wilson

My First Thanksgiving, by Tomie dePaola

My Thanksgiving Prayer, by Crystal Bowman

Thankful Together, by Holly Davis

What Thanksgiving books have you been enjoying this year? :-)

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A wonderful read-aloud picture book for children, dog-lovers, and the child-like at heart . . .

This delightful story, written by my sister, Alicia, and illustrated by her husband, is a sweet, endearing tale of one pug's quest to find out what his "purpose" is in life. Creative and suitable for all ages, this story would make the perfect gift for a child for Christmas, a family, or any animal-lover! Delve into the world of Mr. Portly and be richly entertained by his amusing journey and final discovery!

Description from the back of the book: "When Miss Cat-Next-Door informs Mr. Portly the Pug that he is Useless, Mr. Portly is heartbroken. He decides to find out for himself whether or not the Cat is telling the truth...and discovers that everyone - even the most seemingly-useless among us - has worth. A sweet and encouraging read-aloud story for children, the childlike, and all pug-lovers!"

Alicia writes: This book is available in paperback only, and it is currently available exclusively through Amazon. My hope is that sharing and reading it with your children or grandchildren will bless you with sarcasm-free, humorous enjoyment that also encourages each of us to be thankful for the worth God with which our Creator has endowed us. :-)

The Ruggieris and their emotionally-troubled second-hand pug live on the New England coast. They dream of having their very own "grumble" of pugs someday.