I wish I had known about this book and exhibit much earlier! My family loved it, and it is too good of an activity to pass up! Nightly Night, Noah: An Ark Alphabet is a beautiful book. It’s sweet, vibrant, engaging, and perfect for bedtime. Large, framed illustrations from the book are hung on the exhibit wall, and my husband and I would both love to have them in our home.

The book is featured at “Read Me a Picture,” an exhibit at Tempe Center for the Arts. We badly needed a break in the middle of a very hectic Saturday. The entire experience was like a breath of fresh air. We would trade off taking the kids around to see all of the illustrations and snuggling up with a child in one of their chairs to read one of the stories on display. We almost had the place to ourselves. It was cool and quiet and the kids loved the “make your own book” project! You have to move quickly but both the book and the exhibit are a must see!

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Summer is in full swing, and it’s hot! What do you do? Hit the pool of course. Kids love to swim and there are so many great benefits for them. It’s fun, it cools them down, and it’s a great form of exercise and outdoor activity. But deep water has inherent dangers, and with an abundance of pools in AZ, all children should be taught to swim. This can be daunting and scary for some kids. Swimming Lessons is about those nerves children get when first learning to swim. It’s a fun story that will set your child at ease if they are nervous about being so wet.

Aqua Tots is a great pair with this book. They have a year-round indoor swimming facility, with locations all around the valley. You get to stay indoors with air conditioning during lessons, you don’t have to worry about lathering your kids with sunscreen, and your kids have a great time, all while being taught by professional instructors. What a win-win opportunity! So, grab this book, sign up for lessons, and swim away your summer.

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Hippity Hoppity Easter’s on it way! Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a beautifully illustrated book with the entire beloved song as its text. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. My parents always made it memorable for us as children. Easter morning was filled with goodies and excitement.  There was always a beautiful new Easter Dress with gloves, a purse and a bonnet to wear to church, which we loved! And then, of course, there was the hunt! The Easter Bunny always hid both our baskets and the eggs.  The older we got the harder they were to find. The joy was evident on my father’s face as we searched and searched our house diligently seeking our prize. I cannot think of a new tradition or event that would be more fun.  Enjoy this Easter together as a family. Happy Easter!

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