What We're Reading:

I love watching my boys imaginations being sparked 
by stories and having discussions with them about 
how they see it play out in their minds eye. 

On the reading list for my pre-teen is 'Magnus Chase', which he chose because the main character illustration reminded him of his little brothers and I thought that was the sweetest most endearing reasoning. This series follows a homeless orphan, who on his sixteenth birthday is told that his father is a Norse god and currently all the gods of Asgard are preparing for war, and it's his job to find the ultimate weapon needed to save the world. The Magnus Chase books bring Norse mythology to the modern day with unique cynicism, wit and flair. American author Rick Riordan is a fan favorite known best for his action-packed mythological stories, which started with the bestselling Percy Jackson series [also] based on the Greek myths. Percy Jackson was born from bedtime stories to Riordan’s son who loved Greek mythology.  When he had run out of real myths, Riordan started to make them up and came up with the story of Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief. There are lots of links between the Magnus Chase characters and Riordan’s previous series. - Toppsta

Recently, the oldest and I have come to really enjoy reading books together sparking deep profound discussions between us. Taking turns reading aloud and experiencing the story unfold beside each other, a tradition started by my mother that I have the fondest memories of and I hope my boys all look back on these days with the same warmth. This month we started reading The Uglies series by Scott Westerfield. This is a science fiction series that is set in a future post scarcity dystopian world in which everyone is considered an "Ugly," but then turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery when they reach the age of 16. This story follows a teenager, Tally Youngblood, who embraces her awkwardness, wearing it as a badge of pride and rebels against society's enforced conformity  after her friends Shay and David show her the downsides to becoming a "Pretty," even though it is obvious to most people. - Wikipedia 

The Good Egg/The Bad Seed/The Couch Potato/The Cool Bean/The Smart Cookie
These books are a huge hit with the littles. The illustrations and engaging story lines make it easy to digest for little brains and the witty adventures they go on is full of great messages about the importance of balance, self-care, and acceptance of ourselves and others. Some of the books are funny yet touching tales that remind us of the remarkably transformative power of will, acceptance and the just being you; while others emphasize family and positive messages about compassion, empathy and friendship in a whimsical little-kid-friendly way.