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The bonus rule: follow the excitement, not the list; Henry lights up for NYC books. Seeing places he actually knows? He’s hooked. The best book is always the one they can’t wait to open.

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids

The bonus rule: follow the excitement, not the list; Henry lights up for NYC books. Seeing places he actually knows? He’s hooked. The best book is always the one they can’t wait to open. LTKmomlife LTKKids

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New York City | Amazon (US)

Night-Night New York City: A Bedtime Board Book of New York City Landmarks | Amazon (US)

Good Night New York City (Good Night Our World) | Amazon (US)

Lonely Planet Kids Pop-up New York | Amazon (US)

Mr. Boddington's Studio: NYC ABCs | Amazon (US)

This Is New York | Amazon (US)

My Little Golden Book About New York City | Amazon (US)

Weird But True! New York City: 300 Bizarre Facts About the Big Apple | Amazon (US)

there’s a reason some books end up with ripped pages and worn-out covers. they’re the ones Henry reaches for again and again.

and honestly, I never mind reading them one more time.

as both a Pre-K teacher and a mom, I’ve read hundreds of children’s books over the years. the ones in this list aren’t just fun. they’re engaging enough to keep little ones coming back, while building vocabulary, imagination, and a genuine love of reading.

if you’re looking to grow your home library (or just need a good library list), these are the books I’d recommend over and over.

save this for your next library trip 📚 and send it to another parent 💌

📖 If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Series by Laura Numeroff
📖 Pigeon Series by Mo Willems
📖 Nat Geo Kids Series (Dinosaurs, Animals, Ocean)
📖 I Want to be Spaghetti by Kiera-Wright Ruiz
📖 New York City by Paul Hannigan
📖 Just Be Who You Are by Todd Parr

#preschoolbooks · #childrensbooks · #readalouds · #nycmom · #parentingtips

preschool books · books for 4 5 year olds · picture books · read aloud books · children’s book recommendations · teacher approved books · home library · literacy at home

#LTKstorytime #LTKKids #LTKmomlife

new sibling on the way and your oldest isn't sold yet? same. here's what actually helped — a stack of books, not a lecture, picked as both a teacher and a mom.

don’t forget to save this for your next trip to the library!

#LTKmomlife #LTKBaby #LTKKids

stop overpacking for the playground and splash pad, these are the only things that make the cut

#LTKmomlife #LTKBaby #LTKKids

Ages 4–5 (continued) Melissa & Doug pattern block set · lacing beads with pattern cards · bristle block 3D tiles · peg board activity kit with cards

#LTKmomlife #LTKBaby #LTKKids

Ages 4–5: they want to problem-solve now. let them struggle a little. resist the urge to fix it, you'll thank me later. LEGO Duplo farm set · 24–48 piece floor puzzle · STEM building set (K'nex)

#LTKmomlife #LTKBaby #LTKKids

Ages 3–4 (continued) wooden train set · Play Doh deluxe kit · Learning Resources pattern blocks · create-a-burger sequencing stacker

#LTKmomlife #LTKBaby #LTKKids

Ages 3–4: this is peak "let me build it myself, Mama" energy. hand them something with enough pieces and step back. Magna-Tiles starter set · lacing cards set · Melissa & Doug scissor skills book

#LTKmomlife #LTKBaby #LTKKids

Ages 2–3 (continued) Duplo starter set · bath letters/numbers set · mix & match magnetic wild animals · wooden supermarket food starter set

#LTKmomlife #LTKBaby #LTKKids

Ages 2–3: welcome to the play dough era. it's sticky, it ends up in the carpet, and it will buy you a genuinely shocking amount of silence. Play Doh starter set with tools · chunky puzzle set (4–9 piece) · wooden tool bench

#LTKmomlife #LTKBaby #LTKKids

Ages 1–2 (continued) push-and-go car set · activity cube · stacking cups · hide & peek pop up toy

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids #LTKBaby

Ages 1–2: cause and effect is the name of the game here. push it, spin it, stack it, watch it fall. repeat 400 times. they'll never get bored of this (but you def might!). shape sorter cube · stacking rings · shape sorting bus

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids #LTKBaby

Oh, the Places You'll Go — Dr. Seuss; one note from every teacher, every year, until high school graduation. the most sentimental tradition I've ever come across — and we just started Henry's copy. grab it before the school year ends!

#LTKmomlife #LTKstorytime #LTKKids

Everything I use with my students in the classroom and with Henry at home to build hand strength before kindergarten. Therapy putty, Crayon Rocks, kid scissors, tweezers, lacing cards, beading sets, building toys, and kid chopsticks — all organized by what they actually build

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids

Ages 4–5: stretch their attention span; longer stories, early phonics bridges, books that make them ask questions

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids

Ages 3–4: mirrors and windows; books that say “you belong here” and “so does everyone else”

#LTKmomlife #LTKKids

Ages 2–3: humor + feelings. both matter; Mo Willems is a genius and the research backs it up — emotional vocabulary starts here

#LTKKids #LTKBaby #LTKmomlife

Ages 1–2: repetition is the whole point; if they ask for the same book 12 nights in a row, that’s the book working.

#LTKKids #LTKmomlife #LTKBaby

Ages 0–12 months: it’s not about the story yet; sensory input, high contrast, your voice. These are the ones that do the job

#LTKBaby #LTKmomlife

Cozy dinner meal prep 👩🏻‍🍳

#LTKHome

A cozy weekend in our small NYC apartment waiting for the winter storm ⛈️ #apartmentliving #nycfamily #cozyhomedecor

#LTKHome

How I style our media console and the 🔑 is to not overthink.

✨ Function first: this doubles as a toy storage
✨ The formula: a few meaningful pieces, textures, bearing heights, and leaving some space to breathe

#nycapartment #mediaconsole #functionaldesign #smallspaceliving

#LTKHome

Making my kitchen cooking station both functional and stylish 👩🏻‍🍳🧂🕯️🤍

#LTKHome

My Staub Cast Iron 4-qt Dutch Oven is now 62% off! It’s the cheapest I’ve ever seen it. I use it for soooo many dishes, it’s non-toxic and easy to clean 🤍

#LTKHome

Current kitchen counter situation 🤍

#LTKHome

Bathroom glow-up ✨ We swapped out everything—medicine cabinet, sink, and vanity—for a fresh new look. Loving the modern vanity with a little antique charm from the new knobs (seems expensive but I actually chose a designer dupe version of the medicine cabinet and the vanity was also on the cheaper end!).

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKFindsUnder50

Cozy living room corner 🤎

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKHome

Living room reveal! It’s been months since we moved in, and this space is still a work in progress—but that’s the fun part, right?

#LTKHome #LTKFindsUnder100

Cute little delivery from Pottery Barn today ❤️

NEW FLOORS! It was an exciting day for the kitchen as it drastically transformed the space. The old floor consisted of cracked old tiles with grout lines that were too dirty to even get cleaned. We used peel & stick vinyl (these are the “Bonneville” pattern in white and charcoal from @wallpops x @chrislovesjulia) that were fairly easy to install, no tools need except to measure the cut offs. My husband is the real MVP for doing all the work

#LTKhome

Not P.F. Candle Co. making our apartment smell like absolute heaven ☁️

4 RENTER & BUDGET friendly kitchen updates we’ve made so far…

✨New kitchen knobs: I couldn’t believe how big of a difference these made to the cabinets. And after giving the doors a decent wipe down, I love the way now look. I opted for an antique looking one because we’re going towards a classic theme for the overall kitchen aesthetic.
✨Faux soapstone contact paper: this was more of a challenging and time consuming project but with some patience, it was well worth it. The old countertops were old and just blah looking (and no matter how much I cleaned they still looked dirty 🫠). Pro tip: spray the sticky side with all purpose cleaner so it can be easily moved while installing.
✨Peel & stick tile backsplash: I made a Reel about this already and still loving these @smarttiles.official.
✨Magnetic motion sensory lights: this changes the entire mood of the kitchen and they’re rechargeable!

The day started slow, then came a spontaneous Facebook Market find with this beautiful antique Carrara marble top bar/cabinet!! It was stashed away in storage and the owner actually delivered it from Brooklyn. I can’t wait to turn it into a bar/entryway piece with some cute decor piece

#LTKhome

First small reveal of the kitchen and I’m beyond pleasantly pleased with how this project came out! It just shows you that just because you’re renting doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with the current backsplash situation.

#LTKhome

Round up of accent chairs I’m loving $60 and under!

#LTKunder50 #LTKhome #LTKunder100

My everyday water bottle, helps me drink so much more! Try to fill it up 3x/day 🤍 // http://liketk.it/3j4qv #liketkit @liketoknow.it