TTT: Books to Buy for the Littles on Your List This Holiday Season

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This week's theme features books to buy for the littles on your list this holiday season.  Here we go!

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick

Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie.

Counting Lions by Katie Cotton

A spectacular, visually stunning celebration of wildlife—and gentle counting book—that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood

Cat hates Valentine's Day, but can he change his tune?

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Bruce accidentally becomes the mother to some goslings.  What's a bear to do? 

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes

Spring brings baby birds, sprouting seeds, rain and mud, and puddles. You can feel it and smell it and hear it—and you can read it!

How Do Dinosaurs Stay Friends? by Jane Yolen

Find out how little ones can make and keep friends the dinosaur way.

Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat

Every parent has heard this classic kid question on a long car ride--and after reading this astonishingly inventive new book (that even turns upside down for several pages!), you'll never look at being bored the same way again.

One Big Salad by Juana Medina

One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten watercress seahorses swim onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen

Two turtles have found a hat. The hat looks good on both of them. But there are two turtles. And there is only one hat. . . . 

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel

When you see a cat, what do you see?

Maple and Willow's Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols

Whenever Maple gets near the tree, she starts sniffling and sneezing. Could she really be allergic to the perfect Christmas tree? And if so, how will the girls find a way to make this the best Christmas after all?

Do you have to buy books for little ones this year?

Leave me a list or link in the comments of your picks this year!

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

I struggled with what I was going to say about this series.  I watched this series after the fact, but fell in love with Lorelai and Rory all the same.  I wanted to be cool and hip like Lorelai, and as smart & well-read as Rory.  

I thought Rory was going to be doing great things when we returned to her.  Instead, she's floundering.  We've seen her flounder before, but never to this extent.  She's 32, and seems like she's still living like she's 22.  Finally, Jess comes back and gives her the push she so desperately needs.  He's done that before, and I figure he'll always be there when she needs him.  So Rory sits down and writes a book, Gilmore Girls, based on growing up with her mother.

Cut to Lorelai.  We also see her floundering.  Sookie has gone off on a jaunty sabbatical that was supposed to only be 6 months.  6 months has turned into 2 years, and it doesn't look like she's coming back.  Lorelai is understanding as always, but desperately tries to expand the Dragonfly so that Michele doesn't leave her too.  Her father's death has also affected her in surprising ways.  One of the ways she tries to cope is by doing "Wild".  So Lorelai flies out to California, hoping to find peace and clarity on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Well, after finding her clarity behind a diner waiting for coffee, Lorelai rushes home to Luke, insisting that they get married.  Luke and Lorelai get married the night before their actual ceremony (of course).  It looks like everyone stays up all night, and so we end with Rory and Lorelai sitting on the gazebo.  And finally.... we get to hear Amy Sherman-Palladino's famous last four words.

Now I won't tell you what they are.  They're floating around cyberspace, so if you really want to be spoiled, I would go look them up.  

I was shocked.  Disappointed.  I really hope they continue the story.  I know they probably won't.  I truly hope that Rory will get her story published.  Life is funny that way.  We never end up where we expected to be, but always where we need to be.

Did you watch Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life?

Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Favorite Christmas Movies: The Santa Clause 3

Summary: "Santa, aka Scott Calvin, is faced with double-duty: how to keep his new family happy, and how to stop Jack Frost from taking over Christmas."

Cheese Factor: 3/5

The cheese factor gets higher with each movie.  Santa has to deal with Jack Frost and his in-law's for Christmas.  Also features what would have happened if Scott Calvin wouldn't have become Santa.

Overall: Still a movie I would watch with kids.  The North Pole is still magical to watch, and Martin Short will provide laughs for both kids and parents.

Where can you find this movie? Check the TV listings here!

The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

The Copper Gauntlet by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Published by Scholastic Press in September 2015
Magisterium #2

"Callum Hunt’s summer break isn’t like other kids’. His closest companion is a Chaos-ridden wolf, Havoc. His father suspects him of being secretly evil. And, of course, most kids aren’t heading back to the magical world of the Magisterium in the fall.

It’s not easy for Call . . . and it gets even harder after he checks out his basement and discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and Havoc.

Call escapes to the Magisterium -- but things only intensify there. The Alkahest -- a copper gauntlet capable of separating certain magicians from their magic -- has been stolen. And in their search to discover the culprit, Call and his friends Aaron and Tamara awaken the attention of some very dangerous foes -- and get closer to an even more dangerous truth." - From Goodreads

Will you like it?
I liked this novel better than the first one.  The first bit was slow, but the ending more than made up for the slow start.  The world building and character development continued with this book, and I loved that now we got to see more of the history between Constantine and Call's dad.  I'm excited to continue with this series and see where it ends up.

Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.

Favorite Christmas Movies: Santa Clause 2

Summary: "Scott Calvin has been a humble Santa Claus for nearly ten years, but it might come to an end if he doesn't find a Mrs. Claus."

Cheese Factor: 2/5

Definitely more cheese in this movie than the first.  The introduction of other legendary figures?  Plus, the fact that they forgot about the Mrs. Claus clause for 10 years?  Unlikely.

Overall: Still a great movie to watch with kids because of the humor.  Plus, the North Pole is still magical.

Where can you find this movie? Check the TV listings here!