Books

How a mom’s joke turned into a bestselling book

One night during story time, Bess Kalb read a national parks book to her son and noticed the word “Buffalo” made him crack a smile. An Emmy-nominated comedy writer, Bess went further by calling the animals “Buffalo Fluffalos” and he erupted with laughter. This heartwarming moment inspired Kalb’s debut, bestselling picture book Buffalo Fluffalo, which she wrote later that night. Aiming to make her son giggle while teaching him about empathy, the story follows a cute but very grumpy buffalo who acts tough to mask insecurity. But once a rain storm reveals he’s bluffing about his size and is all fluff, Buffalo Fluffalo realizes the other animals love and accept his true, tiny self.  The book is already a hit: “If you don’t have little kids at home to entertain with this book, ge...

Colorado’s newest National Park looks a bit different than you’d expect

Grab the family for an educational road trip to the country’s newest national park: Amache National Historic Site. Almost two years after President Joe Biden signed the bill that would turn the former World War II Japanese internment camp into a historic site, the National Park Service on Thursday announced its official inclusion in the system. This comes after the town of Granada acquired and donated the land needed to set up the site. Amache, also known as the Granada Relocation Center, was one of 10 incarceration sites established by the War Relocation Authority during World War II to detain Japanese Americans forcibly removed from the West Coast of the United States under the terms of Executive Order 9066. More than 10,000 people were incarcerated at Amache from 1942-1945, wh...

Winter of Reading challenge: for adults!

Why should kids have all the fun?  Did you participate in your library’s summer reading program as a child? The fun doesn’t stop just because you’ve grown up. Take part in the Denver Public Library’s adult reading challenge, Winter of Reading, to find your next favorite book, explore the library’s offerings, and connect with other readers around Denver! Pick up an activity brochure at any DPL location or download an accessible PDF version, complete five of the activities, then trade in your brochure for a limited edition scarf or travel mug. Winter of Reading runs all of January and February. It is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Additional activities available in Arabic. It is open to anyone 18 or older. Go here to download the activity brochure and an adult colo...

Colorado Gift Guide: 50+ Ideas for Denver Moms

The season is giving is here and we’ve curated the perfect Colorado gift guide for Denver moms. We’ve teamed up with Colorado.com for ideas (plus, we have thrown in some of our favorites). Need more inspiration? See 75 Best Gifts for the Holidays with many Colorado favorites and don’t miss out on our Guide to Denver Holidays: Events, Lights and Fun and scroll down for some experiential fun for mom. Colorado Holiday Gift Ideas Take Them Outside Colorado is, perhaps, best known for its epic mountains, an abundance of state parks, expansive vistas and adventures. Bridgestone Winter Driving School is the most fun you’ll have on ice. Give the gift of exploration, with park passes to a Colorado State Park or a subscription to Colorado Outdoors Magazine. Give ...

Top 20 books for middle schoolers (from an English teacher)

A friend recently put out a query regarding what books his middle schooler would love…and a local English teacher responded with her favorites. And since we rather have our kids reading than the many other mischiefs they can get into with their phones, here are her top picks. Best Books for Middle School Kids Fablehaven. For centuries, mystical creatures of all descriptions were gathered in a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely! Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite. Series by Brandon Mull.  Harry Potter. is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a y...

New ‘Storybooks Club’ makes books accessible to special needs kids

Winnie-the-Pooh & Storybook Accessibility, too!  Children’s illustrated books like Winnie the Pooh have not been fully accessible to over 5 million children with special needs in the U.S., until now. Children ages 3-8 who are vision or hearing challenged or have a learning disability have been limited by books not made for them. The new “Storybooks Club“ from Denver Nonprofit ImaginationStorybooks.org is bringing the magic of books to all children in three different ways: Professional narrators describe all the pictures so blind and low vision children can enjoy the whole story. Videos include sign language and captions that include picture descriptions for deaf children. Both video and audiobooks have pictures richly described, so children who are dyslexic, autistic, ...

Mother’s Day in Denver 2023: The Ultimate Guide to Brunch, Gifts & More

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 14, 2023, because Mother’s Day is almost here! From unique gifts from your favorite Colorado artisans to brunch to tea, we have the Ultimate Guide to enjoying Mother’s Day in Denver. Don’t miss our annual gift guide and scroll down for Mother’s Day events and brunch. Tip: We will be updating this list frequently so be sure to check back!  Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Denver Moms Wellness Getaways For experiential gifts, there’s nothing better than Colorado’s unique wellness getaways, retreats, programs and clubs. A few of our favorites: Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks offers Shinrin Yoku, the Japanese art of forest bathing, a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in fore...

Denver children’s book explores careers for kids who love animals

Children’s imaginations are inspirational, they see life as limitless. “If You Like Animals You Could Be” is about inspiring youth to take their passions with them throughout life. For too long, so many kids think one passion of theirs is directed toward one career.  If you’re a parent or educator looking for a children’s book that not only entertains but also educates, then look no further than “If You Like Animals You Could Be” which inspires kids to explore the many career options available to those who love playing with animals.  New Book Explores Careers for Animal Lovers From biologists to veterinarians, “If You Like Animals You Could Be” offers a comprehensive overview of the many ways people can work with animals. ...

Book: ‘I Love Everything About Me’ for Girls

Given this week’s startling news from the CDC about teens – particularly girls – who are caught in an extreme wave of sadness and violence, the book’s message of self-acceptance and love is tremendously relevant.  And, children and their parents may benefit from the author’s insightful, diverse voice. Little Lark, the new children’s book imprint from 100% women-owned, midsize publisher Entangled Publishing, will debut its first titles in the fall of 2023. In keeping with Entangled’s popular adult and young adult brands, Little Lark stories will focus on strong female characters discovering the world around them and learning more about themselves through positivity, humor, creativity, and fun.   The launch book for Little Lark, I Love Everything About...

Date nights then and now (and how to keep them FUN!)

We love this article by Christina about date nights: then and now. We also love changing things up a bit! If you feel like you need to add some excitement back into your relationship, consider checking out The Adventure Challenge Couples Edition – 50 Scratch-Off Adventures & Date Night Ideas for Couples, Couples Scratch Off Book, Couples Gift for Valentine’s Day, Anniversary or Wedding Gift. My husband recently bought us this book and I can’t wait to start infusing fun back into our relationship.  ====== My husband and I waited for our dinner and had a glass of wine. After a few bits and pieces of conversation, he whispered to me: “Look at those people. They’re here with their kids, it’s so late.” It was 8:30 in the evening.

Fatherhood and Grief: A Heart That Works

“I went through a real transformation from anger to really more love,” Comedian and Actor Rob Delaney says of writing his new memoir, A Heart That Works, which shares an intimate look at life after losing his 1-year-old son Henry to a brain tumor. This visceral and deeply personal memoir by the star of the Amazon Prime series Catastrophe shares their journey about love, loss and fatherhood. The family had moved from Los Angeles to London with their two young boys when Rob’s wife was pregnant with Henry, their third. The move was an adventure and a challenge that would bind them even more tightly together as they navigated the novelty of London, the culture clashes, and the funhouse experience of Rob’s fame—thanks to his role as co-creator and co-star of the hit series C...

Confessions of a (former) perfectionist mom

No one really talks about how challenging the transition from perfectionist to parent can be. Or how parenting as a perfectionist can consume so much of the energy you don’t have. Before motherhood, I was a perfectionist in many aspects of my life. I am slowly transitioning out of it, but I will likely always carry some of the traits. This adds a layer of difficulty to the already, at times, difficult season which is early motherhood. And it’s not surprising really is it? Perfectionism demands us to be perfect; parenting requires us to embrace imperfect. The two are not meant to work together. But knowing this doesn’t always make it easier does it? It’s hard when you are triggered easily. Triggered by mess, noise, and the unfinished. Triggered by the imperfect parenting moments. Triggered ...