Every monthly shipment of Mother Goose Time includes a book that goes along with the theme of the month. The authors’ use both simple and complex words and sentence structure to capture children’s interest, build vocabulary, and stimulate curiosity. The pictures are engaging and typically feature familiar objects and experiences. Strong story lines and character development are evident in each selection. Many indirectly teach basic concepts such as letters, shapes, and colors through their image choices. The books are the perfect length to be read in one sitting to preschoolers and most toddlers and help them to think about real life events. Most importantly these books are inspiring and encourage children to ask questions and explore the world around them. 
Get Close to Nature! A Guessing Book (July 2015, Nature Detectives)
In this selection, gorgeous images of plants and animals were displayed. The first photograph was a close-up of part of the image with the question, “What am I”? The following page showed the entire image and gave some basic information about the subject. A parrot, mushroom, turtle, sunflower, fish, worm. leaf, butterfly, lotus, and tree were featured. My kids loved trying to guess the images. It inspired them to create some of their own artistic works, showing how different objects looked like close up versus far away. My favorites were drawings the kid’s made of seashells. I also loved how they started to develop an appreciation for how birds look different in the sky versus perched on one of our feeders based on the principles of perspective gained from this book.
Aesop’s Fables for Preschoolers (August 2015, Fables and Folktales)
This book was a compilation of Aesop’s fables in a format and length appropriate for youngsters. As an added bonus, the book was accompanied by a Circle Time CD featuring Leslie Falconer reading these and other stories aloud. I was a little surprised by how much my preschooler loved these stories, but was thrilled to see her responding to fables with life lessons. She routinely states some of the morals, her favorite being “a kindness is never wasted” from “The Lion and the Mouse.” The CD is still used in our house during quiet time!
A Big Problem by Carter Oosterhouse (September 2015, Friends and Feelings)
This book is by far the most requested by the kids out of all the Mother Goose Time books! An elephant is stuck in a tree (which my kids find both fascinating and hilarious) and his human friends must devise a way to get him back to the ground. Problem-solving and working together as a group are encouraged, as is creative thinking and trouble shooting. Since this book was introduced, I have found my children using words like pendulum and perplexing in appropriate context. They also discuss making plans and how important it is to learn from things that don’t work and try, try again. This book is a winner!
Johnny by Leslie Falconer (October 2015, In the Orchard)
With short and simple text and delightful images, children are introduced to Johnny Appleseed as he travels through the states of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana delivering apple seeds. It showcases the importance of sharing and having an open mind. The kids loved finding the states on their map and were delighted to learn that the book was about a real person. The last page shares some fascinating and simple facts about the real Johnny Appleseed/John Chapman. I knew that the importance of charity had been successfully communicated via this book when we were collecting clothes to take to a shelter. My preschooler told me that she was “glad we were sharing what we had with those who didn’t have, just like Johnny Appleseed.”
Are you home schooling a preschooler?
I’m looking to connect with other parents who are homeschooling preschool and I’d love to hear from you!
As a blog ambassador for Mother Goose Time, I am happy to share preschool curriculum ideas, activities, and crafts with my readers. Mother Goose Time provides our family the opportunity to use their curriculum free of charge in exchange for honest and authentic stories based on our personal experience. 
