Morris's Disappearing Bag A Christmas Story by: Rosemary Wells

One of the funniest Christmas stories that is a favorite in this house is Morris's Disappearing Bag.  By the author of Max & Ruby this book is a funny look at how siblings get along and share their gifts on Christmas. 



Morris is the youngest and none of his older three siblings want to share their presents with him and they aren't in the least bit interested in his teddy bear he got.  So while they use each others gifts Max becomes more and more depressed.  He sits under the tree while his family is eating and he sees one last gift left unopened. It was a disappearing bag and in he went.  His siblings start searching for him and when he reappears they can't wait to try the bag out.  So Morris opens the bag and in they disappeared while Morris gets to use all of their gifts without anyone else around!

 "Bedtime.!" said Morris.  "May I use the bag tomorrow?" asked Rose "I want to sleep in it tonight," said Betty. "Morris," said Victor, "I hope you remember where you put the bag."  But Morris was already fast asleep.  Now don't we all wish we had a bag like that for holidays and birthdays?  Imagine using your brothers or sisters gifts while they disappeared!


Here is to a Merry Christmas in this wonderful season of giving and sharing!  

Super-Completely And Totally The Messiest By: Judith Viorst

 

This great book really showcases how different two sisters can be.  Olivia the big sister in this book is very neat and organized while her younger sister Sophie is well, just plain MESSY!  Poor Sophie, not only is her sister constantly reminding her to be neat but her parents like to tell her too.  Even when Sophie tries to be careful it makes it worse. 


 This book has Judith Viorst great sense of humor sprinkled throughout.   Viorst really understands all the stages of life we all go through and she has a great way of making things that drive us crazy really funny!

Emy then (pudding time)

 My girls are a little like this too.  Isabela more on the neat side likes to have things lined up and to color in the lines "perfectly" while her younger sister Emma has to squeeze anything she holds just to check its durability out first.  Yes of course this ends up with a lot of things broken but how else can you test if it is indestructible?  Emma was one of those babies you fed sweet potatoes to and wondered how she ended up with it all over her entire face and how could she possibly reach her toe in her Boppy to get it down there too??  I laugh picturing Emma eating a Pb&j sandwich and the peanut butter mustache that follows it.

Emy now (Smore fun)

Read this to your little ones for a great laugh!  I'm sure we all have a little Sophie or Olivia in all of us.  They will be sure to find something to relate to!

Me Too! By: Mercer Mayer

"Me too" comes out of my youngest daughter's mouth quite often as I am sure it does any younger siblings.  In this little critter book the little sister always spoils the fun by saying "me too" and tagging along when the big brother just wants to do big kid stuff and play with his friends.  We love this book in our house and my oldest daughter Isabela likes to read the pages and Emma likes to shout "Me too!".  We always get a good giggle with this book because it captures how both siblings feel as life happens to them.

"I went hiking with my friends and my little sister said, "Me too!" I had to carry her because she got tired."  How funny and how true!
"When I went fishing she said, "Me too!" Then she caught the biggest fish."
It ends happily though with the little sister sharing her candy cane with her big brother.  Those are the moments as parents we love!

Here is to a fantastic read and to siblings young and old!

Sisters Written & Illustrated by: David McPhail

This book was given to me by a great friend when I was pregnant with my second daughter. I remember I would sit with my big belly heavy on my legs with Isabela barely over a year old herself and read this to her almost everyday before her sister arrived. I had it displayed on a shelf in her soon to be new sisters room and she loved picking it up and rocking on the chair with me as I read it to her. This was one of the first books Isabela memorized and it was a great introduction to what she was in store for for years to come! This book showcases the love between two sisters and the fun they have together and the fun they have at each others expenses. This book is so true when it lists the things they both like and the things that make them different and their unique selves.
The illustrations are darling and I love reading this story with my girls even now because it reminds us all how special they are to each other! "But the way they were most alike was the most special way of all. Because, you see, they loved each other so very much."

Think about this book next time you have a pregnant friend who will have two girls or if you have a girlie twosome you already know, they really will enjoy it!

Emma Dilemma Big Sister Poems By: Kristine O'Connell George Illustrated by: Nancy Carpenter

This collection of "Big Sister Poems" is a great read for all girls. When I was thinking of creating this blog I recalled one of my favorite poems in this book and sat for awhile trying to figure out which book it was in.  When I remembered it was from Emma Dilemma I quickly rechecked it out of the library so myself and the girls could enjoy it again!  Older girls can definitely relate to the big sister in this book Jessica and any little girls with big sisters can relate to Emma.  Both of my girls attention was fixed on the poems from start to finish. My littlest daughter Emma is so much like the Emma character in this book that we started calling her Emma Dilemma for awhile!

The poems create a full story that leads you into the lives of these two sisters and how they love, play, protect and annoy each other.  The poems do a great great job of showing how kids go through daily life and all the craziness that unfolds.  The humorous tone lends itself to help both parents and children relate to this book. Not to mention the sincerity of their relationship through the good and the bad.  You never doubt their love for one another and you see that a lot in these poems in daily small offerings of kindness.

So if you have little girls or you are a sister please read this book!  You will enjoy it!  Isabela wanted to add that her favorite poems are "Funny", "Not Funny", and "Sharing".  (Then she started picking more and more and eventually the whole book ended up being her favorite!)

My favorite poem in this book is pictured at the right of the page and is called :

Picture Books:
When I read
my picture books
to Emma, 
I feel 
as if 
I'm visiting old friends.

I don't think you can say it any better than that!

To learn more about the author of Emma Dillema or to learn about her other books visit her at : http://www.kristinegeorge.com/