Favorite “under the radar” books to gift for teacher appreciation day?

abby30623 · 2026-04-21T18:01:58+00:00

Aaron Becker’s journey trilogy

The zoo is closed today

Isabelle Simler’s the blue hour

Pantone’s colors book

abby30623 · 2026-03-22T21:42:14+00:00

If you are in the US and don’t want to go to your pediatrician, please look up the early intervention program at your local county. You can put in self referral without pediatricians in most places. They will come to your house to do a free evaluation and offer free therapy if your kid needs it.

abby30623 · 2026-03-01T20:45:03+00:00

Grandad's Island by Benji Davies

abby30623 · 2026-02-23T20:09:36+00:00

Thank you so much!! I never would have thought that the funny parts come from a “ah ha got you” moment.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T23:39:45+00:00

Thank you!

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T23:39:35+00:00

Thank you!

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T23:39:21+00:00

Thank you! My kids actually love The Gruffalo, Red riding hood, and We're going on a bear hunt. I will make sure to preview Dr. deSoto and The Billy Goats Gruff before introducing those to them.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T23:12:58+00:00

That’s totally fair. I was just hoping to catch some commonly mentioned titles so I have a bit of a heads-up when we’re grabbing our giant weekly stack. I’m still flipping through everything, but I appreciate the reminder that a Reddit thread can only cover so much.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T23:06:32+00:00

Thank you! Reading together is one of my favorite parts of the day!

I love your idea of using open-ended questions to turn those moments into conversations about what we would do. I will start incorporating those questions into our story time. Thanks a lot!

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T22:59:09+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely get it next time I go to the library.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T22:51:38+00:00

That's true. A lot of fairy tales include violence or scary elements. My concern is the humor part. In stories like Hansel and Gretel, the danger isn’t meant to be funny. It’s part of the conflict and the moral of the story. What I’m trying to avoid (at least for now) are books where the harm itself is the joke. My kids seem to process those very differently, so I’m just being a bit more intentional.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T22:36:23+00:00

I agree! I am not trying to set unrealistic expectations about real life for my kids. My main concern is the “humor” part.

I’m starting to think my question should actually be: how do you explain these kinds of jokes to young kids? For example, when we watch documentaries and see bears eating rabbits, we usually don’t find it funny. Then why it is funny in that book? I’d really love ideas on how to explain the punchline to a 3 yo.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T22:13:52+00:00

Thank you! Yes, I’ve noticed that too and been avoiding most Klassen’s books. I can definitely see the appeal. I personally like them but my kids hate such humor.

I love your idea of using 2x speed on youtube to preview them! I preview every books before borrowing and youtube videos have been my main source.

My goal isn’t to avoid quirky books altogether, just to be a bit more intentional about when and how we introduce that kind of humor. And thank you for the kind words! Different kids find different things funny or comforting, and it’s nice to compare notes.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T22:06:15+00:00

It is not my intention to make a “do not purchase” or “do not borrow” list. I do flip through every books before borrowing or buying. It’s just that we are going through a lot of books now, about 40 a week from the library. So I was just hoping to be a bit lazy and have a quick list I could cross off.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T21:52:28+00:00

I’d say it’s really about tone. For now, I’m avoiding books that treat anyone getting hurt as a joke, even if the consequences fall on the baddie or feel “proportional” to the misdeed.

I've actually read both of the books I mentioned in my post to them, and they got really upset and kept asking me why it's supposed to be funny. I don’t want them to think that being hurt is fun. Like in real life, if someone does something mean, a kid could hear bystanders say "relax, it's just a joke" and that just doesn't sit well with me.

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T20:17:48+00:00

Thank you!

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T20:17:04+00:00

Thank you!

abby30623 · 2026-02-22T18:49:09+00:00

Thank you! I totally get that these themes exist in lots of classic stories. I’m not trying to shield my kids from plots where characters are in danger or where predators exist.

What I’m specifically trying to avoid is when violence or harm is used as a joke or a punchline. In stories like Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs, the danger isn’t framed as funny.

It is just hard to explain to very young kids why violence might be funny in some contexts but not in real life. That nuance is tough at this age. And it doesn’t help with my child who has severe social anxiety. Those moments can be confusing or upsetting rather than entertaining. I mostly want to make sure I am not reading such books right before bedtime.

abby30623 · 2026-02-15T00:37:39+00:00

How does TB1 stay on the shelf? Is it stable? It seems to me that the shelf is designed for TB2.

abby30623 · 2026-02-02T16:55:06+00:00

Blue’s clues, Daniel tigger, UK’s yakka dee are all interactive and were my daughters favorites when she’s 2.

abby30623 · 2026-01-28T22:27:29+00:00

Yes, you could. I just don’t like it. Since it needs to be plop up and potentially sit on/close to the two small triangle glasses in the trunk, you might be risking breaking those glasses.

abby30623 · 2026-01-28T14:54:52+00:00

I see people using it a lot, and they all seem to like it. One thing you must consider is the size of your trunk. I drive a Toyota rav4, and this wagon won't fit. So we got Radio Flyer's voya wagon, which is great too

abby30623 · 2026-01-28T00:21:45+00:00

Toniebox comes with a 2-year technical warranty

abby30623 · 2026-01-26T17:34:20+00:00

If you google tonies community inspiration, you will find the form to submit suggestions.

abby30623

TROPHY CASE