80s Themed Books

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As I watch my kids develop new interests, I always get nostalgic about my own childhood. I found myself feeling disappointed that they wouldn’t get to enjoy the same characters I loved growing up, but then I realized I could introduce these things to my kids. My family and I started having movie nights where we each take turns picking a movie we love and watch it with the whole family. Once someone chooses, you’re not allowed to veto their choice or mope around about it. You watch and support each other’s choice, and maybe even surprise yourself with how much you enjoy it. Ben and AJ have definitely surprised me.

I thought they’d think my choices were too dated, but that wasn’t the case at all. We introduced the 80s to our kids through movies first, and Ben and AJ couldn’t get enough of Gremlins, ET, and Back to the Future. We went to the bookstore afterward to see if we could find any of my old favorite books for the boys, and we stumbled upon something even better. They had the cutest collection of 80s-themed books, and my kids were able to pick up an edition of ET and Back to the Future where the characters were “Funko POP!” illustrations. It was really rewarding to see the boys genuinely interested in reading these books because they reminded them of the movie night we shared.

This experience taught me that you can introduce your kids to anything as long as you give them the chance to decide for themselves if they enjoy it. Never hesitate to share your childhood with your rascals. Whether they share the same interests or not is up to them. My main goal is to give them the opportunity to connect with my childhood in their own way, and the 80s-themed books we found were something we were able to experience for the first time together.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10.

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Chapter Books and our MILLIONAIRE Reader

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Watching my boys grow up before my eyes is always bittersweet, but I love getting the chance to watch them outgrow different stages in their lives and move onto new ones. AJ has not only grown out of being called AJ (he goes by Austin, at least for this summer), but he has also left the picture book stage. He’s getting into chapter books and series, and helping him into this phase is nostalgic for me because I get to revisit a ton of series that I used to love as a kid. Surprisingly, there are so many series that I grew up with that are still really popular now, so I get to pass on a little bit of my childhood to him. Or, more accurately, I get to try to pass it on. I let him borrow my old set of Harry Potter books, and, as he read them, he ended up wanting his own set!

AJ’s Own Set of Harry Potter Books

This new version has so many amazing illustrations that really captures young readers. My versions were the original from when each book was released. I even have book 3 of the British version, when I studied aboard at Sussex University.

AJ set a goal last year to be a millionaire reader at his school. This meant that AJ had to read a million words, along with passing accelerated reader quizzes. It filled me with so much pride to see his determination sprout all on his own. While I had my doubts, he ended up being one of only 70 kids at his school who became a millionaire reader! He was one of the few 3rd graders who succeeded in this challenge, and a huge part of him reaching this goal was his move into chapter books.

One thing I learned about myself through AJ hitting this milestone was how afraid I was of challenging him. I know, as a parent, I’m not alone in that. I think a common thing amongst parents, especially when your kids are so young, is that we’re afraid to push our rascals too hard or have them grow up too fast or push them too soon and watch them fail. My advice? Let them jump straight in. Give them that challenge, whether you think they’ll succeed or not. Let them set their own goals and reach them, or fall a bit short, and then watch them pick themselves up and try again.

The only way your rascals will know how much they can accomplish is if they try, and, as parents, we have to not only let them, but encourage them to do so. I can’t wait for the next challenge I get to watch AJ take on.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9.

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Favorite Childhood Books

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If anyone ever asked me to describe what my early childhood was like, I’d probably say, “I went with my mom everywhere,” but that’s only half-true. A more accurate statement would be, “I was always with my mom, and we were usually in the hospital.”

My older brother was seriously ill as a child. As a result, I spent all my time accompanying my mom to the doctor for my older brother. We walked through the sliding glass doors of hospitals more frequently than our own home. Whenever my parents were whisked away to the hospital for my brother, I came right alongside them. I always stayed out of the way, lost in the world of whatever book I was reading. Every single visit, my mom made sure I had at least three books cradled in my arm, ensuring that I had enough to keep me occupied for any duration of time.

I wouldn’t describe reading as my escape. It was, strangely, more like my connection. I was able to be by my mom’s side through everything because I was always engrossed in a book, rather than exploring unauthorized areas or being a general nuisance in dire situations. Books helped me connect to my dad, who spent long hours at work but always made sure he set aside enough time and money for father-daughter trips to Borders, back when that was still a thing. And my brother, my seriously ill but ever-positive brother, never hesitated to ask me questions about what I was reading, even through pain beyond what I could imagine.

Thankfully, my brother’s condition improved immensely. As the hospital trips became less frequent, my love for reading still continued to grow, and it’s often what I turn to in times of turmoil, even now. I am able to look back at my childhood fondly, in large part because of the feeling of safety that books offered me in times that felt anything but secure. I’d like to share a few of my childhood favorites.

Corduroy by Don Freeman

“No one ever seemed to want a small bear in green overalls.”

Corduroy is a fun story about a stuffed bear exploring the department store he lived in, in search of his missing button. In large part, this story was my favorite because green was my favorite color and Corduroy wore green overalls, which makes me laugh now because being a kid is so simple and sweet, and your favorite book can be based on something as seemingly trivial as the main character wearing your favorite color.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

“But time went by.”

Shel Silverstein’s writing style was a favorite of mine growing up for its simplicity and matter-of-fact nature. The Giving Tree was my favorite work of his because it pushed me to explore my own thoughts on generosity and taking, and the relationship between us and nature. Seeing the tree being reduced to a stump at the end was actually part of the reason I became so obsessed with being environmentally-friendly from a young age. My heart broke for the tree, who gave its all to the boy until it had nothing left to give.

In re-reading this book as an adult, the running theme of time going by, growing up too quickly, and becoming too busy for the playful things we did as kids hit a little harder. However, the theme served as a reminder to live a bit more slowly and enjoy life a little more.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

“I don’t want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn’t mean anything.”

Coraline tells the story of a young girl named Coraline who was bored of her plain old life. She discovers an “other” world, where things seem brighter and better, and she is instantly enamored by it, until she discovers that perfect is not all that it seems.

Coraline remains one of my favorite novels to this day. It was my first “scary” book, which made it all the more exciting. I actually started out hating the book. I couldn’t understand how Coraline could have such a disdain for her life, and her parents. For me, that was unfathomable. I love my family more than anything in the world. I immediately disliked Coraline, and put the book down for months. When I finally picked it up again, I was pleasantly surprised at the lessons Coraline learned about bravery, family, unconditional love, and having everything you want. Coraline ended up being the bravest girl I had ever heard of, and I decided I wanted to be just like her. I tried to emulate her bravery whenever I was afraid for my brother’s health, because if Coraline could face darkness and an evil “other” mother, then I could face anything, too.

I am grateful that Ngoc has given me the tender opportunity to share three of my favorite, timeless childhood books with her Hello Rascal Kids community.

While my older brother and I aren’t little kids anymore, he’ll always be my big brother and I’ll always be his little sister. We’ve changed a lot throughout the years, but our friendship has never faltered. In fact, it only continued to grow as we reached adulthood together. This past May, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Cal Poly Pomona, after a journey like no other, and I gifted him two books, coming full circle to when he gifted me a love for reading without even knowing it.

Contributed by Valerie Marquez, copy writer for Hello Rascal Kids.

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Spring Books

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I’ve asked each of my rascals to select their favorite Spring book. We celebrated this season of growth and change with books that include blooming flowers, trees, adventure, and gardening.

The Story

We Are the Gardeners is the first book by Joanna Gaines and her children. This book tells the story of how the Gaines children became interested in gardening after their dad brought a fern home. The children began watering the fern multiple times a day and, over time, the fern died. The children were disappointed but learned the important lesson of never giving up.

The Artwork

This book takes illustrations to the next level. In true Magnolia style, this book is beautiful and worth purchasing for the artwork alone. I also love the custom hand lettering that illustrator Julianna Swaney included throughout the book. I’m already a huge book lover as it is and books with aesthetic appeal continue to woo me.

The Lessons

In addition to being a fun, beautifully illustrated read, We Are the Gardeners teaches children important life lessons of never giving up after we fail. Failure is part of the gardening journey and a part of growing up.

The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be

The Story

A timely story about how beautiful life can be when we celebrate our differences.

The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be follows a group of children as they build hot air balloons.

Some kids like to work alone, some kids like to work in a team, some kids like to follow a plan, and some kids like to see where their creativity takes them. No matter how the little ones build their balloons, once up in the air, the sky shines bright with a confetti of colour.

The Artwork

With stunning watercolor illustrations on every page, this is a gorgeous book about sharing our individual talents and abilities with the world, and never holding our true selves back.

The Lesson

Each of us is different and we all have unique gifts to offer the world. We can celebrate our differences.

Whether you grab a picnic blanket and go out in the sunny backyard or cozy up in a chair by the rainy window, these Spring books are the ones that my kids love reading over and over again.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 9. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

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Lost Books Review

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Living in Los Angeles, there is no scarcity of things to do. You can fill every weekend with something new and never run out of adventures to pencil in for another day. But, with so many trendy spots and photo-ops popping up faster than I can add them to my calendar, it’s really easy to get caught up in a blur of newness. If I tried to visit them all, the journey would never end, so things really have to catch my eye for me to give them a visit. The maze-like labyrinth of Lost Books LA pulled me right in. I’m a reader at heart (specifically, a sucker for a good romance), so I fell in love with the way they breathe new life into the lost art of book shopping. We spoke with owner, Jenna Spencer of Lost Books LA to learn more about this bookstore and the story behind it.

Lost Books LA creates a space where a love for plants and books can intersect. Guests enter through a tunnel bursting with over 350 living plants hand-placed by Yuko of Yuko Kitchen in DTLA (@yukokitchen), who spent over 150 hours perfecting the tunnel. This sounds like an adventure in itself, but, beyond the entrance, the store is home to a selection of curated new and used books, vinyl, thriving tropical plants, and a saltwater fish tank featuring “Dori” and her friends. As if that weren’t enough to create an unforgettable experience, the store will be adding chirping finches in the bookshelf aviary. When asked how Lost Books LA juggles the variety of things they offer, Jenna said, “When working with things you love, it’s a joy, not a juggle!” This love, coupled with an amazing staff who serve as the backbone of Lost Books LA, is what allows the space to literally flourish. So, why books and plants? I asked Jenna how they landed on this unique pairing, but, to Jenna, the pairing seemed too natural not to combine!

The idea for the store itself came in the aftermath of a dinner date between Jenna and her husband. While taking a stroll down the twinkle-light-filled street after dinner, a large “for rent” sign was waiting for them in the window of a shop just two doors down from their meal. They locked eyes and instantly knew that this was their spot. A few days later, they signed the lease, and Lost Books LA was born.

Meet Jenna Spencer

Thank you for sharing Lost Books LA with us.

Lost Books LA is actually a companion store to The Last Bookstore, but don’t be fooled by this relationship: the two stores are completely unique from each other. The Last Bookstore is 22,000 sq ft., 2 levels, and provides a museum-like experience. Famous for its book tunnel, The Last Bookstore also boasts a rare books Annex filled with first editions and one of a kind collectibles, thousands of hand-selected new and used books and records, a mezzanine of talented artists, a haunted horror vault, and more. There’s even a yarn shop!

Where The Last Bookstore is museum-chic, Lost Books LA is an intimate boutique. In addition to their highly curated selection of new and used books and vinyl, they sell house plants and award-winning espresso, nitro brew, and cold brew through Coffee Love. Lost Books LA also offers a wellness wall filled to the brim with essential oils, magic mists, crystals, and a collection of oil perfumes. It’s the self-care loving best friend we all deserve.

Even though it may seem like Lost Books LA is at its peak, this is only their beginning. They have plans to add a custom hibiscus tea to their menu, a sign for their storefront is in the works, and are eventually planning for an official website. When asked about the future in the long-term, Jenna said, “We’re excited about events, signings, shows and more, but, for now, we’re not trying to be anything more than what we are in this moment - and that’s books, vinyl, plants, and a whole lotta love.”

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 9. For more of Lost Books LA, find them on social media at @lostbooksla. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

Ah! Reading and Spelling (and Books to Help)

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Learning the rules of the English language is no easy feat. Letter sounds change depending on other letters in the word. Entire words are spelled completely differently when made into a plural. Root words change when you add the -ing and -ed suffixes. It is a lot for kids (and non-native speakers) to learn and a lot to try to teach.

Two books that have helped my young learners are The B on Your Thumb by Colette Hiller and P is for Pterodactyl by Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter. Well, if I’m being honest, the first book has helped my kids and the second book mostly brings me joy amongst the insanity of teaching my kids to spell and read.

The B On Your Thumb is a compilation of poems that scaffold reading and spelling for young learners in a very fun, imaginative, and creative way. The poems are delightful and a helpful resource for reinforcing specific skills at home. We keep this book handy whenever we are reading and sounding out new words. You can use this book as a direct reinforcement for whatever reading and spelling strategy is being practiced in the classroom; or you can use it as a launchpad for learning a new skill.

P is for Pterodactyl is a humorous book about so many of the wonky spellings and sounds in the English language. It is quite the tongue twister and brain mixer as you attempt to read English words with atypical spellings and sounds. This book reminds me that learning the rules of the English language is not easy and to have grace and patience with my kids (as well as immense respect and appreciation for classroom teachers everywhere!).

Grab a copy of these books to add to your home library and toolkit.

Written by Brandi Stanton, mom of 2 rascals ages 4 and 6.

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The Power To Choose Books

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As kids get older, they begin to do things they’ve never had to do before - like pick out weather-appropriate clothing, stay in their big-kid beds until they fall asleep, and choose to tell the truth. These are big milestones for kids to reach because they contribute to independence and foster decision making skills. Making the right choice is indeed a CHOICE and kids have to navigate that world step by step, decision by decision.

Making the right choice is something adults can do easily; we understand cause and effect and accept that decisions have consequences. Kids learn these things by making their own choices, discussing options with caregivers, and working through consequences as necessary.

My mother-in-law recently purchased What Should Danny Do? and What Should Danny Do? School Day to help our kids understand choices and decision making. They are from the Power To Choose series.

The Power to Choose Books on Hello Rascal Kids

These books remind me of the Choose Your Own Adventure series I read when I was a kid. In that series, by making choices throughout the book, the reader decides the fate of the characters (I’m looking forward to when my rascals are old enough to read those books too!).

Each of the Danny books begins by setting the scene: Danny is starting his day and has to make his first choice. The reader selects between two options (one is inherently less desirable) and turns to the corresponding page. The plot continues and presents the reader with another two choices. On and on it goes until the end of Danny’s day.

The Power to Choose Books on Hello Rascal Kids

As parent and child read the story together, conversations about each choice and the corresponding effects occur naturally. Similar to the real world, selecting a less desirable choice does not ruin the whole day; Danny has many chances to turn his day around and end on a positive note.

These books extend beyond story time. You’ll often hear me saying to my kids when faced with a difficult choice: “You have a choice to make here. What would Danny do?” When they get in a rut or are having a fussy moment, I will say: “You can turn this around. What would Danny do?”

This isn’t fool-proof parenting, but it does provide opportunities to have low-stakes conversations about choices, how to weigh options, and natural consequences.

Written by Brandi Stanton, mom to 2 rascals ages 3 and 5.

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Lido Village Books

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I love purchasing my books off of Amazon. I’m a sucker for instant gratification and knowing that my books will be on my doorstep the next day is almost too good to be true. But, as much as I love the speed and convenience of Amazon and other big retailers, there is something special about small, independent bookstores. Lido Village Books in Newport Beach, CA is the perfect example of one of these irresistible shops. I was excited to find this bookshop and I’m grateful that my family has been able to make visiting a semi-regular event. I know books often cost more at independent bookstores, but I use these trips as a teaching moment to encourage my little ones to support small businesses and local sellers.

It is a literal hidden gem, nestled at the end of a small, covered walkway in Lido Village Marina. Inspired by London and Paris, this tiny independent bookstore is home to a curated selection of books ranging from new releases to classic favorites for both children and adults and, despite its size, it seemed to have everything in between as well.

Lido Village Books strikes the perfect balance of having a fancy atmosphere without feeling too intimidating. It’s small, but its size shouldn’t fool you – there’s tons to do and see. From author book signings (which will hopefully pick up again in a post-COVID world) to weekly storytimes for kids, there’s no shortage of experiences to be had here. The effort they put into creating not just a bookshop, but a book buying experience, is clear. The set up of all the books is well-done and organized. Their children’s corner is a perfect place for your little rascals while you browse the adult books. They also celebrate author birthdays every month, and even offer a discount if you purchase works by that author. My favorite section is called “Take an adventure with a book.” It’s this shop’s take on a “blind date” with a book! You get to see the genre and a short description, but you don’t know what book you’re getting until you take it home and unwrap it.

When I go with my family, I like to make it an experience – I suggest you do the same for you and your little ones. Sometimes, we bring food and picnic down by the harbor. Other times, we stroll through the nearby shops and pick up food or a treat there. There’s the cutest ice cream/coffee shop just around the corner, right on the water. If you’re really up for an adventure, you have the option of taking a boat ride nearby. It’s a great way to spend the day with your family.

Lido Village Books on Hello Rascal Kids

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We Love Books!

Most of our family adventures lead us back to a bookshop.

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Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 8.

The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, The Couch Potato, and The Cool Bean Book Review

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The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, The Couch Potato, and The Cool Bean Book Review on Hello Racal Kids

Let’s talk about behavior and actions and how they affect others. Or better yet, let’s read about it and then use the books as ways to discuss these important topics with our kids. At least, that is what I did.

The Bad Seed Book Review on Hello Rascal Kids

The Bad Seed

Book Review

This story is great for showing kids that your reputation and past actions don’t make you who you are.  It is possible to change but you’re not going to be good all the time. 

Purchase Here

The Bad Seed is a story of a seed who does some pretty awful things.  His manners (and hygiene) leave a lot to be desired.  One of my rascals favorite pictures is when the Bad Seed intentionally makes a baby cry.  He happily disturbs the peace. The seed has been through some rough patches.  He had a happy family life but they lost their home and were separated.  He felt that the things that he had gone through had caused him to turn into a bad seed.  But one day, he decides to be better. 

The book also shows that your behavior is a decision that you make.  It’s also refreshingly honest in showing that some people will hold your past actions against you and that the rest might not think you’re immediately good, but maybe not all bad.

The Good Egg Book Review on Hello Rascal Kids

The Good Egg Book review

It’s a amazing message that you don’t have to take care of the world or be perfect all the time.  It’s also nice to see mental and physical health tied together.

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A companion book to The Bad Seed, The Good Egg is a fun self help book that my rascals could relate to while reading it.  The good egg is as helpful as possible (sometimes in a way that makes things worse, as the very funny illustrations show).  He has put himself in charge of everyone.  The other eggs in his carton misbehave and he spends all his time trying to fix their messes until finally he cracks.

He decides he needs to leave.  He goes on a long journey of self discovery.  Along the way, he learns to take care of himself.  The egg finds hobbies and ways to relax.  Taking time for himself helps him heal.  He realizes that he misses his carton of friends and returns home.  While he was gone, they’ve learned to appreciate him a bit, too.  Most importantly, he’s learned that they can be a bit bad and it doesn’t really affect him.  Sometimes, he even joins in.

The mindfulness and coping tools used in this book are ones that kids can easily use themselves when alone, at home, or in a classroom.

The Cool Bean on Hello Rascal Kids

The Cool Bean Book Review

This is a gentle, sweet story of how generosity and kindness are the true qualities to champion, and offers a great example for young readers and an important reminder for older readers.

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In this story, we meet three coooool beans...and one pretty uncool bean. Although the beans started out close, they started to grow apart thanks to different interests. Day after day, the one bean tries his best to fit in, but he just never could reach the “coolness” of the other three. But in his most challenging moments, he learns that the real definition of being cool is kindness.

The Couch Potato Book Review on Hello Rascal Kids

The Couch Potato Book Review

The story stresses balance between devices and the outside world, The Couch Potato also teaches children that relaxation inside is important too and it’s OK to veg out on the couch every once in a while.

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The Couch Potato is a delightful story that will teach children (preschool to elementary age) the value of unplugging in a technology-driven world. Parents will appreciate Couch Potato’s humorous personality and will have fun laughing along with their children as Couch Potato rediscovers all the things he’s been missing.

The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, The Couch Potato, and The Cool Bean Book Review on Hello Racal Kids

We each had our favorite in this book series. Mama’s pick was The Good Egg. This book’s important message acknowledges anxiety and teaches kids healthy ways of dealing with their emotions. AJ loved The Couch Potato because he could relate to the main character, creating balance from screen time and enjoying time outdoors. Ben appreciated The Cool Bean because of the kindness shown to others; it gave him examples of how he could be kind to his friends. I loved using these books as a starter of many discussions with my rascals.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 8. Photos by Simply Adri Photography.

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Time with Rascals (Happy 2nd Birthday to Hello Rascal Kids)

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As we celebrate our 2nd birthday for Hello Rascal Kids, I reflect on time with my rascals. I started this website as a way to share ideas and document our family’s journey. The boys started back at school this week and having them at home, like we did during the pandemic, will be surely missed. I will miss my mid-day cuddle session, our messy work/school dining table, and our shared lunchtime. If you asked me a few weeks or months ago, I couldn’t wait to send them back to in-person school. Now, here I am, thinking about the short time I have with them when they are truly kids. I wrote this note last year when I was thinking of how quickly my boys have grown. When you are a parent, time passes by quickly and so slowly all at the same time.

Time with Rascals (Happy 2nd Birthday to Hello Rascal Kids)

Today, I looked at AJ and Ben and it feels like they sprouted so quickly over the past few months. The idea for Hello Rascal Kids started when AJ was about 4 and Ben was 2. They were babies to me then, and now they are so grown but they’ll always still be my Rascals!

Since the start of Hello Rascal Kids, we have shared:

  • 15 articles on ways to Celebrate as a family

  • 25 articles on idea to Play with your rascals

  • 25 articles on ideas to Create together

  • 17 articles on ways to Eat

  • 13 articles on Travel adventures and tips

  • 22 articles on books we love to Read with our rascals

We hope continue to grow the Hello Rascal Kids community in the coming year and welcome other families to contribute and share their ideas. For submission information, visit out Contact Page or send us an email at info@hellorascalkids.com.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 8.

I Am Books

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It’s no secret my rascals and I love our books. Our new favorite series is the I Am books by Brad Meltzer. These books allow kids to see the power and potential within themselves, while also learning about real heroes.

I Am Books by Brad Meltzer on Hello Rascal Kids
“Little Books That Create Big Dreams”
— Brad Meltzer

We started building our library of real heroes. Watch our review video that my rascals created about their favorite I Am books.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 6 and 8. Photos by Simply Adri Photography.

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Reading Nonfiction Books

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Reading Nonfiction Books on Hello Rascal Kids

When my husband and I first began buying books for our kids, we imagined shelves upon shelves of books. In that, we succeeded and it really makes us happy. Back then, I was also insistent on those books having storylines (or a plot), with characters, a setting, and a plot climax. This was mostly because those are the kinds of books I enjoy reading. However, I quickly realized that many board books for babies are less about characters and a story, and more about identifying images.

As many good parents do, we embraced these books and read them every day. We also enhanced our kids’ knowledge base with non-fiction board books like these.

  • My Big Dinosaur Book by Roger Priddy. A very simple book of pictures of dinosaurs with their names, sorted by categories and a few comprehension questions per layout. (A phonetic guide would be helpful with this book.)

  • Usborne Book What is Poop? A very cute and practical book about what poop is made of, how people poop, and what happens to poop after it leaves the body and the toilet.

  • Solar System by Jill McDonald. A brilliantly colored book about the parts of the solar system, and a fact or two per planet.

As our children moved from infants to toddlers, we also updated their library to include paperback books with more words and more non-fiction features (graphs, diagrams, labeling, and glossary, to name a few).

In this male-centric world, I am determined to raise my rascals (who are boys) to see women and girls in their surroundings as much as men and boys. To that effect, they have really taken an interest in these books:

  • For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story by Rebecca Langston-George. Not only does this book teach us about Malala Yousafzai, but it also raises awareness of how privileged my rascals are in their upbringing, education, and opportunities. (This book is part of the Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books series.)

  • She Persisted and She Persisted Around the World by Chelsea Clinton. Similar in style to the This Little books above, each page provides a brief story about women who persisted despite the people, culture, and rules holding them back.

And now we are entering the world of leveled readers and I couldn’t be more excited about watching my rascals read to me! To keep non-fiction books in their hands, we have turned to these styles:

  • I Can Read! Our current favorites are the Ranger Rick series that explores the lives and habits of various animals.

  • Step Into Reading. Right now we are focused on the History series that provides fairly detailed accounts of major historical events. To be honest, sometimes I learn a thing or two!

  • National Geographic Kids. To me it appears that there is nothing that can’t be figured out through National Geographic so these books are worth it!

However and whatever you decide to read, just keep doing it! And check out these books, series, and authors along the way.

Written by Brandi Stanton, mom of two rascals ages 3 and 4.

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Essential Oils for Mama and her Rascals

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If you are here and reading this, chances are you have a little rascal (or a few!) just like me, and I am so happy to connect with you! My name is Wilmarose Orlanes and I am a mama, wife, Wellness Advocate, Prop Stylist, and Creative Art Director in Los Angeles, CA. 

I started incorporating essential oils into my life just before my daughter was born. I’ve been on my oil journey for about 6 years now, but it wasn’t until recently that my passion for natural wellness and essential oils inspired me to guide others on their wellness journey! As a Wellness Advocate, I love to share my knowledge and passion with others who want to learn about the benefits that essential oils can have on a family’s physical, mental, and emotional health.* 

While I might have products like acetaminophen and ibuprofen in my medicine cabinet, I love to also have natural options to consider for my family. This is a way that I take control of my family’s health and well-being while also having a stronger handle on what I’m putting in and on my child’s body. I believe that being proactive rather than reactive about our health needs and concerns is important.

So, what exactly are essential oils? They are the super fuel of plants; they are oils extracted from different parts of plants like the bark, leaves, seeds, roots, etc. through methods like steam distillation or cold pressing. This allows the essential oils that are procured to be highly potent and concentrated. More than just a scent, every essential oil has a unique chemical makeup that can provide dozens of benefits for the body and mind. This is why we call them nature’s medicine cabinet!

There are 3 ways to use essential oils - aromatically, topically, and internally. As a mama, I find that the most accessible ways to start using oils with my family is aromatically with a diffuser and topically with roller bottles. I love that a diffuser allows everyone in the room to benefit from the aroma as well as the mood boosting and air cleansing effects. Depending on the oil, properties can include antimicrobial, antibacterial, analgesic (painkilling), antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory benefits. With roller bottles, people can directly take advantage of these properties and use oils to boost the immune system, treat aches and pains, promote circulation, and help alleviate skin ailments, etc. 

When I think about the overall wellness of everyone in the family, I want to be clear that this includes you, mama. How many times have you fed your kids breakfast and lunch before realizing that you haven’t eaten a single meal yet yourself? How many baths have you drawn for them, before realizing you can’t remember the last time you washed your own hair? I truly believe that you can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s very important to make sure that we fill our cups by taking care of ourselves in small and in big ways.  By incorporating the use of essential oils in your daily lifestyle (whether in a diffuser or easy-to-access roller bottles in your purse or kitchen drawer), you can easily experience their benefits together with your family. With custom roller bottles for mama and rascals, you can conveniently address your respective physical and emotional concerns without worrying that you are getting a side of toxins with your relief. 

Now, when it comes to which type of essential oils I choose for my family, I specifically recommend and choose doTERRA essential oils due to the fact that they are certified pure therapeutic grade (CPTG) - the purest, safest and most tested oils in the world. doTERRA sources oils from all around the globe, in their natural habitat, working directly with farmers and giving back to the communities of these sourcing partners through their work and non-profit foundation. With 3rd party testing (each oil is tested over 50 times!) and a commitment to 100% transparency (each bottle is marked with a unique code to allow you to trace where the oil is from), doTERRA oils have proven to be the most potent and effective essential oils available. 

One problem can be addressed by many different oils, and one oil can address many problems. As you become more comfortable with using essential oils, you will discover and create your own blends to meet your needs. With that being said, I wanted to provide you and your little rascals with some of my favorite blends that can be used in your diffuser or a roller bottle and hope that they help to fill your cup as you explore the option of natural wellness. 

Mama, are you wondering how to get started with essential oils? I would love to offer you these starter kit options. With the purchase of either of these kits, I will include a set of these Rascal & Mama inspired roller bottles and a colorful roller bottle pouch as my gift to you!

HEALTHY START KIT $160 (100PV)

This kit contains 5ml size bottles of some of the best essential oils that tackle wellness and physical health! It’s a great starter kit to use to begin making over your Wellness Cabinet. When you enroll with the Healthy Start Kit, I will include my personal Welcome Kit that comes with tools to get your started, dilution charts, recipe cards, FOUR custom Mama & Rascal rollers, a colorful roller bottle pouch, AND a free bottle of Citrus Bliss (with my promo code).

HEALTHY ESSENTIALS KIT $249 (200PV)

This kit contains mainly 15ml size bottles of some of the best essential oils that tackle physical wellness AND mental and emotional wellness! This is the kit I got started with many years ago and it continues to be the kit I highly suggest to mamas. When you enroll with the Healthy Essentials Kit, I will include my personal Welcome Kit that comes with tools to get your started, dilution charts, recipe cards, SIX custom Mama & Rascal rollers, a colorful roller bottle pouch, AND a free bottle of Citrus Bliss (with my promo code).

Please inquire directly with me to enroll with these Custom Hello Rascal Kits.

I am also happy to put together a CUSTOM KIT based on your needs. Please click here learn more about these Custom Hello Rascal Kits and examples of custom Mama Magic Kits I curated with mamas & families in mind.

When you get started with me you not only get me as your guide, but you also get access to a private oil community where you can tap into ebooks, recipes, charts, guides, and a private Facebook group that will allow you to connect with other mamas on this journey. I still remember looking up sleep remedies in this FB group for my restless baby in the middle of the night many moons ago.

I am incredibly grateful for your time and I look forward to guiding you on your oil journey! You can find me on Instagram and reach me via direct message or you can email me. Talk soon!

* Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am a mom who uses natural remedies and prevention as a first approach. I value all medical professionals and believe there is a time and place for both. Seek guidance from your doctor/naturopath before implementing *radical* changes. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Although gentle on children, essential oils should be used with adult supervision. If you have fur babies at home, some oils may be dangerous to pets and to make sure to do research or check in with your veterinarian before diffusing oils.

Post sponsored by Wilmarose Orlanes, mama of one rascal, age 6. Photos by Sally Pinera.

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Our Favorite Interactive Books

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Our Favorite Interactive Books on Hello Rascal Kids

We cannot get our fill of books in my household. Have I mentioned that my little rascals sleep with at least three books in their beds each night? Or that my nightstand has three neat towers of books at least six spines tall? Or that my husband’s mancave has seven bookcases filled to the brim with books stacked two deep? You get the idea - we are book lovers!

With this in mind, I am sharing a few of our favorite interactive books for kids.

Age: Baby

Squawk. Beep. Vrrrrooom. Buzz. Weeoooo weeoooo. Sound books invaded our household for quite a few years. They provided the boys with an opportunity to “read” all on their own and be learners in their own right. We began with a more basic book such as Noisy Trucks, where there is one unique sound on each page that corresponds with each vehicle. Books that have a couple of sounds on each page, such as Discovery Noisy Backyard, are the next step up. As you read about the different sounds that may be present in a backyard, your little one can connect the picture of the buzzing bee on the page to the picture and sound of the buzzing bee on the sound panel. Finally, we arrived at books like Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site that encourage your child to follow along while you read and press the corresponding sound button. (For those of you going through potty training, I recommend Potty Time with Elmo sound book that reinforces the steps of how to use the restroom.)

Age: Toddler

Around the age of 2, my rascals pulled these books by French artist and author Herve Tullet from the shelf so often that they simply had a permanent home on the sofa. Press Here is a fantastic book that invites the reader (child) to perform certain actions that cause reactions. Mix It Up is very similar, once again encouraging the child to interact with the pages while learning about primary and secondary colors. My favorite, Say Zoop, is a fun way to play with sounds. (Consider adding the Press Here Game to family game night.)

Age: Preschool through Elementary

My contemporaries may remember the Choose Your Own Adventure series that were wildly popular in grade school. I know I loved them, which is why I was so excited when my kids were gifted books from The Power to Choose series. What Should Danny Do?, What Should Darla Do?, and What Should Danny Do? School Day all invite your child to make decisions for Danny and Darla and understand that all actions have reactions (good and bad). This series reinforces the concept that we all have the power to choose to make the right choices all day, every day.

Written by Brandi Stanton, mom of two rascals ages 3 and 5.

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Wintertime Reading

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When living in Houston, Texas, snow seems as real as fairytales. My kids - who have not yet been to the snow - can’t even imagine what it might be like, feel like, or taste like. Just this morning I explained to them that you have to wear special clothes and shoes if you want to play in the snow. Their minds were blown. They looked down at their short sleeve and short pant pajamas and smiled. “You mean, we can’t wear these?” Nope.

We obviously need to plan a winter snow trip.

To broaden their horizons - even just a little bit - I pulled from our bookshelves books about winter and snow. We leafed through the pages noting the clothes, the shoes and the accessories worn by the characters, as well as the color of the landscape, the sky and clouds, etc. Below are our favorites.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz is a heartwarming story about a child’s love and infatuation with the first snowfall of the year. This book touches on the differences in the way a child and adults think. It also beautifully illustrates how snow changes the look of the city and scenery all around.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats follows young Peter as he wakes up one morning after heavy snow has fallen overnight. The story walks us through Peter getting ready to go outside, the crunching sound of walking in snow, and the adventures kids have while playing in the snow.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg is a classic holiday story about a young child who believes in the magic of Christmas.

On a cold (or as cold as it gets depending on your location) night, grab a blanket and your rascals, snuggle close with them, and read a good wintertime book. Don’t forget the mugs of hot cocoa and marshmallows!

Written by Brandi Stanton, mom of two rascals ages 3 and 4.

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Helping Your Kids Grow and Develop Through Every Stage and Age

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Helping Your Kids Grow and Develop Through Every Stage and Age

As a parent, you need to adapt quickly as your child reaches new developmental milestones. Knowing exactly what your child needs at every stage is a challenge, but there are many resources that provide guidance. Below, you can find great information for helping your children from infancy to their teenage years. 

Growth and Development in Babies and Toddlers 

From birth to two years old, your child will go through rapid development. These resources can help you provide a supportive environment as your baby starts learning about the world around them.  

Helping Preschoolers and School-Aged Children Grow

Preschoolers and grade-schoolers will become more independent, social, and curious. These resources will help your child explore and develop social skills, physical abilities, and creativity. 

Providing Guidance for Your Teen 

Most teenagers like having the ability to make more decisions on their own, and while it’s scary to watch your kids go off alone, it’s important for their development. However, as a parent, you’re still responsible for making the rules at home and helping your teenager face the challenges of adolescence. 

Each year of your child’s life will bring new adventures and challenges. Keeping up with everything you need to know as a parent is hard, but it helps knowing that you’re not the only parent who feels overwhelmed from time to time. Hopefully these resources will help you through each stage of your child’s development.

Sponsored Post by Kris Louis from Parenting with Kris.

Time Capsule for Kids

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As 2020 (and hopefully the chaos it brought) comes to a close, I wanted to create a way for my children to reflect for years to come. Resolutions don’t really stick in our family, so we decided to start a time capsule tradition for our boys this year. 

We wanted our time capsule to be a way for our kids to look back on their childhood and see how much they’ve grown or changed from one year to the next. The capsule can truly be anything: a small keepsake box, a journal, a photograph, or even a digital time capsule. We’re going to turn ours into a family activity and take time to sit down and reflect on our lives and our year together. 

We envisioned our time capsule idea to involve clear reflection and goal-setting (mainly for me). As I always say, it is important to meet your kids where they are. If they can reflect on their own, allow them the creativity to do so. If they aren’t quite there yet, feel free to encourage them with open-ended prompts. What accomplishments did they experience this year? What fun things did they do? What difficult things did they make it through? What are some things they did this year that they don’t want to do again? What is something they are proud of? If your kids aren’t able to write on their own yet, feel free to have them share their ideas and write it down for them. They can also draw out their ideas and experiences. 

We hope our time capsule project inspires you to find a way to reflect that works for you and your loved ones.

Written by Ngoc Nguyen Lay, Head Rascal. Mother of two rascals, ages 5 and 7.

99 Compliments for Kids

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Kids love to be complimented, especially by their parents during these crazy times. Try sharing a few of these with them every day.

1. I love when you ______.

2. You’re talented.

3. You have great dreams.

4. You’re intelligent.

5. You’re interesting.

6. I’m so glad you’re mine.

7. You have great ideas.

8. You make me so proud.

9. You win me over every day.

10. You’re so special.

11. I’m so lucky to have you.

12. You’re fun.

13. You’re smart.

14. You’re beautiful.

15. You’re handsome.

16. You are such a blessing to me.

17. You’re creative.

18. You are so good at ______.

19. You’re helpful.

20. You’re inspiring.

21. You love me well.

22. You’re fantastic.

23. You’re athletic.

24. You’re artistic.

25. You color my world.

26. You encourage me.

27. You’re the light of my life.

28. You’re one of a kind.

29. You have my heart.

30. You’re delightful.

31. You’re kind.

32. I believe in you.

33. You’re so trustworthy.

34. You’re unique.

35. You’re compassionate.

36. You can do anything you put your mind to.

37. You’re incredible.

38. I admire how you _____.

39. I love your laugh.

40. You make my days sweeter.

41. You make me smile.

42. I love your smile.

43. There’s no one else like you.

44. You are a joy.

45. I love that you belong to me.

46. You’re thoughtful.

47. You are excellent.

48. You’re a great big brother/sister.

49. You’re a great little brother/sister.

50. My favorite time is time with you.

51. I value you.

52. You are worth so much to me.

53. I love when you confide in me.

54. You’re so strong.

55. You’re the best.

56. You rock.

57. We make a great team.

58. You do things with excellence.

59. Nothing will ever keep me from loving you.

60. I love being on your side.

61. You’re a great leader.

62. You make a difference.

63. You matter to me.

64. You’re so fun to play with.

65. You always make me laugh.

66. You are a great student.

67. You’re radiant.

68. You shine every day.

69. I love how you’re so truthful.

70. You brighten my life.

71. You’re amazing.

72. You’re awesome.

73. You are a wonderful part of our family.

74. You make memories sweeter.

75. You’re so respectful.

76. You have incredible insight.

77. You’re so hopeful.

78. You’re positive.

79. You love your friends well.

80. I admire how you keep promises.

81. You are such a leader at school.

82. You’re a team player.

83. I love that you never give up.

84. You set a great example.

85. You’re tremendous.

86. You impact me every day.

87. You’re so fun-loving.

88. You’re nice to others.

89. You’re outstanding.

90. You are a great son/daughter.

91. You’re so refreshing.

92. You put others first.

93. I have confidence in you.

94. I enjoy you.

95. You’re marvelous.

96. You make gray skies disappear.

97. You’re doing great things.

98. You’re unbelievable.

99. I love you.

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Resources shared from our friend Sachi Tanimoto, mother of two rascals.

Teach Your Kids About Voting

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With election season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to teach your children about voting. While it may be too early for some of them to understand the ins and outs of our election system, it’s never too early to teach your children that their voice matters. Our kids are the future and the earlier we teach them to use their voice and get in touch with their values, the stronger advocates they’ll grow up to be.

Teaching your Kids about Voting on Hello Rascal Kids. Lifestyle website for the modern family.

Here are a few pieces of advice I follow when teaching my kids about voting:

Meet them where they’re at:

My biggest piece of advice is to always meet your kids where they’re at. Start by asking them what they already know about our election system or the voting process. Build off of their current knowledge and talk about issues with them in simple terms. Explain the different levels of elected officials such as local, state, and federal offices. Define key terms and offices such as mayor, governor, and the president, using photographs if that is something your children respond to well.

Whenever you are engaging in discussion about voting with your children, try to incorporate things they can see affecting their lives today. For example, they may not understand specific laws regarding public health mandates, however, you can explain that the Safer at Home order was enacted by our government officials. This could be a great way for them to understand how voting for those officials effect on our everyday lives.

Get your children thinking about what they value:

Ask your children what is important to them. Whatever their values are, find a way to connect these values to voting, legislation, and current events. If your children express that they value outdoor play, explain to them how climate change legislation and land preservation laws tie into that. With fires ravaging many areas in our country, you can take this moment to teach them that our government officials make important decisions on how disasters like wildfires are prevented and handled.

Whether you choose to be neutral or share your own opinions will depend on what is best for you and your family. If you feel comfortable sharing your own opinions and rationale, be ready for your kids to ask questions. They might even ask questions that you haven’t thought of that challenge you!

Use election season to your advantage:

Election years are a great time to teach your children about voting. Not only are there be a wealth of resources to educate your children, but there are also different signals of the approaching election that you can start to teach your children to recognize such as bumper stickers, campaign signs, and commercials. Be sure to tell your children when election day is and the different ways to cast your vote. If you vote by mail, tell them why and let them sit with you while you fill out your ballot. If you vote in person and feel safe doing so, bring your children along so they can get excited about the process.

Election season also presents a great opportunity to teach your children about other things you want them to learn. Let them know that it is OK if their friends or family members have different opinions than them. You can also use election season to teach your children about different privileges that some people hold. If your children are American-born citizens, explain to them that not everyone has the right to vote. If they live in a big city, explain to them that some people in more rural areas have to travel far to be able to exercise their right to vote. If your children watch with you as electoral college votes are announced, you could also help sharpen their math skills by explaining to them how many votes are needed and having them add up the votes as they’re announced.

Your kids may also stumble upon election advertisements that promote behavior you don’t want to encourage, such as name-calling. You can use this as a teachable moment to explain to your children why candidates put out these types of advertisements but reaffirm to them that name-calling and bullying is not something that is appropriate for them to do at home or at school.   

Incorporate election education in your home:

Incorporating election practices in your home is a great way to help your children grasp the concept of voting. This can be as simple as holding a family vote for what to have for dinner or as elaborate as staging an election in your home. You can also help your kids understand different campaign advertisements together and figure out what issues are important to a candidate. If your children feel particularly passionate about a particular candidate or issue, help them get involved in campaigning!

Resources for teaching your kids about voting:

I used Vote for Our Future to help teach AJ about voting. We read it together and it showed him why it is important to vote, ways he could be part of the election without voting, and most importantly, it triggered questions for us to discuss together.

There are also a ton of other resources to help you teach your children about voting. Here are a few:

  • Check out this Scholastic book list for teaching children about elections

  • PBS Kids You Choose has kid-friendly educational resources such as trading cards, campaign posters, meet the president activities, and educational videos

Only you know where your child is at in terms of learning, development, and comprehension. Make the decision that’s best for you and your family on how comprehensive you want their knowledge of the election process to be.

Written by Ngoc Nguyen Lay, Head Rascal. Mother of two rascals, ages 5 and 7.

The Magic Tree House Books

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I love when we find a new book series to read with our rascals. As much as the kids want to read the same books over and over, I personally need a change from time to time. While there is much research supporting the habit of reading and re-reading the same books to your kids (so keep it up!), when a switch is needed, embrace it.

Recently, I was reminiscing with friends and we were discussing some of our favorite childhood books. Walking down memory lane was a ton of fun and so good for my soul, and it turned out to be a profitable business for my neighborhood bookstore (Blue Willow Bookshop).

The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne was an all-time favorite of mine. I cannot even believe it has taken me this long to bring this series into the lives of my kids! The imaginative details, the descriptive plots, the historical components, the beautiful rapport between siblings, and the pure joy of magic - these books have it all. What a fantastic series for kids.

We started by reading the first four books, all of which we devoured in a day! My wallet said we needed to make the most of these books, so of course we read them and read them again. Then we looked up educational age-appropriate videos about the historical and factual parts of these stories. We learned a bit more about dinosaurs and why people didn’t live at the same time. We learned about the armor worn by knights and their horses during battle. We realized (or at least they did) that the pyramids were built by hand and early machines, nothing like the great machinery of our day. Lastly, we made maps to guide each other through the house, backyard, and neighborhood (I wasn’t ready to tackle the idea of pirates, so we focused on maps).

Still, I thought we needed something more. Something active. My brain yelled: SCAVENGER HUNT and VOCABULARY. What a way to reinforce the new concepts and words learned in these books. I began creating scavenger hunts on paper and then formalized them using Microsoft Word (I’m not that technologically savvy). Some items were more obvious (tree), while others required a bit of creative and imaginative thinking (mummy). My boys loved getting to create their own “story” by actively participating in their scavenger hunt.

Once we have fully exhausted books #1 - 4, we will move on the next few books in the series, and eventually reading all 34. Stay tuned!

Written by Brandi Stanton, mama of 2 rascals ages 2 and 4.

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