So, I’ve put together a “Winter Reading List” to give you some ideas for both kids…and Moms! We’ve also added in some of our mom friends who are some amazing authors- so make sure to give these moms a read too.

Kid List

InvestiGators – If your kids are fans of the Dog Man books, this is a great new series for them to check out by John Patrick Green. It’s graphic novel style, and follows the super spy alligator duo, the InvestiGators, as they fight forces of evil.

The Land of Stories – This is another great series for kids by author, actor, and singer, Chris Colfer. You might remember him from the series, Glee. He played Kurt Hummel. They’re a series of children’s fiction, adventure, and fantasy books. If your kids loved all the Harry Potter books, they might love these ones too.

New Kid – I came across this graphic novel by Jerry Craft a few weeks ago and it sounded like a really good read for kids. It’s about a 12-year-old boy named Jordan Banks, who experiences culture shock when his parents enroll him at a private school where he is one of the few kids of colour in his entire grade. It appears to be a great book about being new and learning to fit in.

The Last Kids on Earth – This is a really fun series by Max Brallier. These books are hilarious and full of gadgets and zombies. Think Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Walking Dead. My oldest has read a couple and he’s really enjoyed them. It’s also a Netflix series.

Honourable Mentions – Big Nate, Percy Jackson, and The Babysitter’s Club.

Mom List

Again, Rachel – I’ve been a fan of Marian Keyes since I was in my 20’s. She’s a British author and her books are just so enjoyable. They’re typically about everyday life of 20 and 30-something women living in London or Dublin. Her latest book is called, Again, Rachel. It’s a follow up to her book Rachel’s Holiday from years ago. You might want to read that one first before picking up her newest book. If you’re new to Marian Keyes, start with a couple of her older books. Last Chance Saloon and Sushi for Beginners are the two that got me hooked on Marian Keyes.

The Family Remains – This is the newest book by British author, Lisa Jewell. I just discovered her in the last couple of years and I decided to pick up one of her books because it sounded interesting. It was called The Family Upstairs, and I ended up reading it in less than 48 hours. I just couldn’t put it down. I’m currently reading one of her books called, The Night She Disappeared. Most of her books are thriller-like, and this newest one is apparently a sequel to The Family Upstairs. Can’t wait! It’s sitting in my “to-read” pile.

The Long Weekend – “Three couples. Two Bodies. One Secret.” I immediately picked up this book because I just need to know what happens! This one came out earlier this year and is by another British author, Gilly MacMillan. Apparently, I have a thing for British authors! I’ve discovered her books rather recently as well, and I’ve enjoyed them all. I’m excited to read this latest one. It’s also in my pile.

Mad Honey – I don’t think you can walk into a bookstore and not see a book on display by Jodi Picoult. Mad Honey is her newest book that just came out in October, and it’s already destined to become a best-seller. It’s described as… “A soul-stirring novel about what we choose to keep from our past, and what we choose to leave behind”.

Honourable Mention – Anything by Shari Lapena. She’s a Canadian author, and seriously, read any of her books! She would be considered more of a thriller type author, and I’ve read The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, and Not a Happy Family. I’ve liked them all. They could seriously turn them all into movies. Although, the book is always better. That’s right. I said it.

Parenting Favorites:  

Moms on Call
Step aside What to Expect, Moms on Call is the new parenting bible for new moms. Give it a read, and gift it to everyone you know!

Some of the favorite moms here in the Mabelhood:

Julie Cole – Of course we can’t have a book list without our very own favorite author! Like a Mother: Birthing Businesses Babies and Life Beyond Labels Find out how it all began, and how this mother of six became so accomplished. Our mentor in the Mabelhood!

Erin Pepler – Send me Into the Woods Alone
Mabel’s Label’s Blog contributor and amazing mom has written a book about motherhood, it’s a series of wonderfully relatable essays on motherhood.

Annie Lawton – Welcome to the Jungle A Frantic Journey through Motherhood 
Writer and mental health advocate Annaliese Lawton (or Annie as we call her here in the Mabelhood) is a humorously written book about her raw journey through motherhood. It’s very relatable and worth the read!

Mabelhood contributor Noelle Martin, parent and dietician has Super Foods for Super Kids Cookbook full of wonderfully creative recipes that your kids will love. It includes 50 recipes plus easy-to-understand instructions that teach everything from how to read a recipe, talk like a chef, and safely use the tools needed in the kitchen.

Our Friends and the founders of Feeding Littles have an amazing cookbook out- Feeding Littles and Beyond we love it and if you’re starting on the journey of baby led weaning then this is a must-have cookbook. Perfect for your family to start off on the right food and carry healthy habits into the future.

Even If – Mabel’s Labels contributor Heather McNulty has written a great book for reading with your littles, Even If is a story about a little girl who questions whether her behavior will affect her mother’s lover for her.

Got anything to add? Leave your favorite books and/or authors in the comments below so I can add them to my pile! Also, make sure to create the perfect reading nook – here’s how!  Happy Reading!

The post Winter Reading List for Kids and Moms (Plus Some of Our Mabelhood Favorites) appeared first on The Mabelhood.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to read. When I was a teenager, I would lay on my bed and get lost in a good book for hours. When I moved away from home in my early 20’s and got myself a teeny tiny apartment, I made sure there was a chair with a lamp overhead in the corner…a perfect reading spot. (It was one of those floral-printed chairs from the 80’s. It was ugly, but man…it was comfy!)

So, a few months ago, I realized there was no real designated spot in our home that was good for reading. I’d sit on the couch and read during the afternoon when all kinds of natural light came in, but there wasn’t enough light if I wanted to read at night. For someone who loves to read, that just wouldn’t do. So, I took it upon myself and created a cute little reading nook. (It’s the picture shown here!)

A lot of you might be thinking that you simply don’t have the space for a reading nook in your home, but I’m here to tell you…you probably do! As you can see from the picture above, you don’t need a ton of space to create a warm, cozy and welcoming spot to read. All you need is a corner in your home that isn’t being used. Then you just need the basics;

–           A comfortable chair. Maybe an oversized one that you just sink right into!

–           An overhead light/lamp.

–           A small table/shelf to store your books. It’s also a great spot for your coffee/tea while you read.

–           Cozy blankets and pillows.

When I decided to create this nook, I already had all of the above things in my house and you probably do too! The chair was in our basement not being used. (Unless throwing clothes on it counts as a use!) The lamp was sitting in my office not even plugged in. The little side table had a plant on it, so I moved the plant to a different spot. (where it now gets better sunlight! Win-win!) And the basket holding the blankets was sitting in a different corner as a decoration. So, I just brought all these things together and BAM! An adorable reading nook was born!

What I like about having this nook is, it encourages reading. Not only for myself, but for my kids as well. They see me sitting down to read in my chair and they come over and ask what I’m reading. They’ve even asked if THEY could read in my chair. I find it also encourages relaxation. We all need some quiet time for ourselves every now and then. You know, “me” time. Kids included! So, now that we have this welcoming corner in our home, we use it. I find myself actually carving out time to read. My 9-year-old has even grabbed a book from his room and curled up in the chair to read on more than one occasion.

So, if you’re a reader, want to raise a reader, or already have a house full of readers, creating a reading nook might not be a bad idea! And it’s a lot easier than you think! Deciding who gets to use it and when? Well, that’s a whole different…story. (See what I did there?)

Happy Reading! If you’re looking for some good books- check these out! 

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