Pascal (11) finished the entire Mysterious Benedict series in 1 month when he was 10 and loveeed them! I read Wingfeather a few nights a week to both my boys (we are on book 2) and I honestly love the book so much myself! Both my boys also like the Mr. Lemoncellos Library series.
Yessssss, a Create Anyway book club guide would be incredible!
Also, I feel like I’m shifting to where if someone’s child is having a meltdown in a store I just assume that parent is working on the delayed gratification waiting lesson with their kid, and I can be on my way. Hope the jump rope is a lot of fun come Christmas (and hooray for outdoor toys)!
60 books! I feel like that deserves more than a humble brag because I happen to know you also do 750 other things every week. You superstar. P.s. obsessed with the photos. Light, man, always alwasy worth searching for.
✔️checked on your song obsession and my 13yr old and I have been heavy OR fans for awhile. We get it.
✔️thoroughly enjoyed your jump rope story and oh my goodness, please please flex that muscle as long as humanly possible because it gets SO much harder when they are teens and you are looking for any bleak positive moment possible. And yet, I'm trying to hold firm because the consequences of giving in are so devastating over the long haul.
well I'm about to start reading Create Anyway because THAT SALE.
Been reading A Tree Grows In Brooklyn for my book club (that's been going since 2018 - even survived c*vid). And enjoying O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Jonathan Gibson for Advent.
If your son hasn’t read The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, they’re a delight (Just be sure to skip Disney’s The Black Cauldron though. It’s the worst kind of adaptation and one of the rare Disney movies I refuse to finish). I saw someone recommend the Wingfeather Saga and couldn’t agree more. Another good one is the Wings of Fire series.
Read and loved your essay! I do love a visual and those pictures are so pretty. Ugh, waiting is so so hard. Thank you for the reminder to do the hard thing, to delay instant gratification, to help these littles learn these hard lessons, to learn patience in my life. I just finished my 90th book. It was I'll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa de los Santos. Have you read any of her books? I'm rereading her books and loving them even more this time. I'm wearing a lot of sweatshirts and hoodies these days. (No fancy one arm tops. No dresses.) It's cold here in Amarillo, TX (in the 30s) and being cozy is my favorite. I have been filling my wardrobe with all the cozy green items for all the Wednesdays. Heading to write some more reviews! Ashlee, thank you for sharing your gift of writing with all of us. Thank you for doing the hard thing. Thank you for bringing encouragement, hope, and light into our lives.
Crystal thank you so much for these kind words ❤️ I haven't read anything by that author, but I am looking her up ASAP! Thanks for the recommendation! Wishing you a very merry (and very cozy!) Christmas ✨
Oh and another vote for Wingfeather Saga! I read the whole thing this year and then immediately started reading it aloud to my 10 year old twins. They love it. Angle Studios has the show, which is also so so good. Season two comes out soon.
Yes to unsolicited advice! I'm inspired to write my own list! I always love to give advice but often hold my tongue... This is the time to shine! 😁
Also Cimorelli does a really good *clean* cover of vampire and I LOVE A BIT OF RELATIONSHIP ANGST despite being very happily married for 7 years and I've never been through those kinds of relationships 😂🙈
Oooooh looking up that cover right now. I feel the same way about the angst ... it brings out my inner teenage girl and there's something comforting and soothing about the connection, even though it doesn't apply to my current life whatsoever
Ohhh yeah drama all the way for me as a teenager (and let's be honest, still now too 😂). My husband doesn't understand why I like this kind of music but it's just good fun, you know?
I contemplated reading that one for our latest story slam (found here - https://coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-story-slam-02c) but it was SO long. 😜 If you love the audio voiceover though, we plan to do that in February because we are hosting our entire Love After Babies series in Substack!
You should definitely write your own list, Ashlee! Thanks for sharing mine. 💛
Has your son read The Mysterious Benedict Society series or the Wingfeather Saga series? Those were big hits at my house.
I think we own the first wingfeather book but don’t think he’s read it, and I’ve never heard of the other one! Thank you!
Pascal (11) finished the entire Mysterious Benedict series in 1 month when he was 10 and loveeed them! I read Wingfeather a few nights a week to both my boys (we are on book 2) and I honestly love the book so much myself! Both my boys also like the Mr. Lemoncellos Library series.
Also, the History Smashers and I Survived Books!
Yes to unsolicited advice 👏👏👏
Yessssss, a Create Anyway book club guide would be incredible!
Also, I feel like I’m shifting to where if someone’s child is having a meltdown in a store I just assume that parent is working on the delayed gratification waiting lesson with their kid, and I can be on my way. Hope the jump rope is a lot of fun come Christmas (and hooray for outdoor toys)!
I really love this perspective 😜 Let's make more positive assumptions about public tantrums!
60 books! I feel like that deserves more than a humble brag because I happen to know you also do 750 other things every week. You superstar. P.s. obsessed with the photos. Light, man, always alwasy worth searching for.
Always, always 💫💫💫
And it's amazing how many books you can read when you constantly delete IG 😜
✔️joined the accountability group for deleting IG
✔️checked on your song obsession and my 13yr old and I have been heavy OR fans for awhile. We get it.
✔️thoroughly enjoyed your jump rope story and oh my goodness, please please flex that muscle as long as humanly possible because it gets SO much harder when they are teens and you are looking for any bleak positive moment possible. And yet, I'm trying to hold firm because the consequences of giving in are so devastating over the long haul.
✔️thank you for encouraging me. I need it!
Thanks for this kind note, April!!
My daughter loved the WingFeather series as a rec for Carson.
Oh, also The Green Ember series.
well I'm about to start reading Create Anyway because THAT SALE.
Been reading A Tree Grows In Brooklyn for my book club (that's been going since 2018 - even survived c*vid). And enjoying O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Jonathan Gibson for Advent.
I love that your book club has been going for that long!
I find it astounding, really. Especially since it's a hodgepodge of ladies from all different ages and walks of life.
I would love to read your list of advice!!
If your son hasn’t read The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, they’re a delight (Just be sure to skip Disney’s The Black Cauldron though. It’s the worst kind of adaptation and one of the rare Disney movies I refuse to finish). I saw someone recommend the Wingfeather Saga and couldn’t agree more. Another good one is the Wings of Fire series.
Um yes!! You should do an unsolicited advice list and share it! ❤️☺️
I got several copies -- hope you still get the full royalties. :D
Also, books I and my family loooooove (especially my boys, who are just older and just younger than yours!)
* Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Series (definitely not creepy like the movie)
* The Wild Robot Series
* Pip Bartlett Series
* The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series
* The Mysterious Benedict Society series
Love this, always looking for recommendations for boys your ages who are voracious readers. And yes please I want all your unsolicited advice :D
Read and loved your essay! I do love a visual and those pictures are so pretty. Ugh, waiting is so so hard. Thank you for the reminder to do the hard thing, to delay instant gratification, to help these littles learn these hard lessons, to learn patience in my life. I just finished my 90th book. It was I'll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa de los Santos. Have you read any of her books? I'm rereading her books and loving them even more this time. I'm wearing a lot of sweatshirts and hoodies these days. (No fancy one arm tops. No dresses.) It's cold here in Amarillo, TX (in the 30s) and being cozy is my favorite. I have been filling my wardrobe with all the cozy green items for all the Wednesdays. Heading to write some more reviews! Ashlee, thank you for sharing your gift of writing with all of us. Thank you for doing the hard thing. Thank you for bringing encouragement, hope, and light into our lives.
Crystal thank you so much for these kind words ❤️ I haven't read anything by that author, but I am looking her up ASAP! Thanks for the recommendation! Wishing you a very merry (and very cozy!) Christmas ✨
Oh and another vote for Wingfeather Saga! I read the whole thing this year and then immediately started reading it aloud to my 10 year old twins. They love it. Angle Studios has the show, which is also so so good. Season two comes out soon.
Yes to unsolicited advice! I'm inspired to write my own list! I always love to give advice but often hold my tongue... This is the time to shine! 😁
Also Cimorelli does a really good *clean* cover of vampire and I LOVE A BIT OF RELATIONSHIP ANGST despite being very happily married for 7 years and I've never been through those kinds of relationships 😂🙈
Oooooh looking up that cover right now. I feel the same way about the angst ... it brings out my inner teenage girl and there's something comforting and soothing about the connection, even though it doesn't apply to my current life whatsoever
Ohhh yeah drama all the way for me as a teenager (and let's be honest, still now too 😂). My husband doesn't understand why I like this kind of music but it's just good fun, you know?
Snagged a book! Can’t beat that price
Also read your post Stay Curious, loved the mixing back and forth. I just wish it had the audio function like it does in Substack.
Substack has spoiled me and tired eyes (too many eye surgeries 😎)
I contemplated reading that one for our latest story slam (found here - https://coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-story-slam-02c) but it was SO long. 😜 If you love the audio voiceover though, we plan to do that in February because we are hosting our entire Love After Babies series in Substack!
Thanks Ashlee! Can’t wait!!