If I Could Keep You Little.... by Marianne Richmond: Kids' Book Review

If I Could Keep You Little..... written & illustrated by Marianne Richmond is a book all about letting your kids grow up.  As a mom, I daily feel the tug of "if I could keep you little" but I have to push myself to let Evan grow up by giving him room to be his own person.  It is so hard!  While reading, I felt myself smile at the parts where I could see myself in the pages.  Evan loved the book too because he liked seeing the things he will be able to do in the future.

The illustrations are bright and cheerful and feature a wide variety of mommies, daddies and kids so that your little one can see someone that looks a bit like them.

I think this book would make a great gift for a baby shower because though it is a children's book it also is a great reminder for parents to let their children grow up!

"If I could keep you little,
I'd decide on matching clothes.
But then I'd miss you choosing
Dots on top and stripes below

If I could keep you little
I'd cut your bread in shapes.
But then I'd miss you finding
"Hey! I like ketchup with my grapes!"

Buy It: Available at Chapters.  Online price is currently $14.43.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of If I Could Keep You Little for review.  I was not paid for this review & all opinions are my own.

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Top Ten Tuesday - Reasons to Start a Book Club

Tonight I am going to be spending my Tuesday evening with my girlfriends at Book Club.  We get together about every 6 weeks to 2 months and we take turns hosting and choosing the book to be discussed.

Here's the Top Ten reasons you should start a book club:

1. It's a great way to "force" you to read more.  Let's face it....no one has tons of extra time.  Our lives are crazy these days and only those things with deadlines attached actually gets done.  Book Club meetings are a deadline to get those books read!
2. There are GREAT "book club books" out there so it's easy to find a book to suggest.  Just go to your favorite book website and you will find a "book club" section.   Many sites even have suggested discussion questions.
3. It's "scheduled" time out.  We all want to see our girlfriends more often but it gets pushed to the back burner so easily.  If you have a standing book club date in your calendar, it's easier to stick to it.
4. There are appy's and sometimes....WINE.  All I have to say is...."YUM!"
5. It's a great non-threatening way to meet new people.  Want to broaden your social circle? It's easier to invite someone to book club than to invite them over for dinner.  Since there is a whole group of people, you aren't responsible for carrying the whole conversation.
6. You have an excuse to throw a theme party.  Now don't freak out...you don't HAVE to do this. It is cool, though, to have a theme party when you are reading a book.  Example: Have an Italian feast when reading Under the Tuscan Sun.
7. You get to read great books - Over the last few years we have read AWESOME books such as: The Birth House, The Red Tent, etc.  
8. You read books you would never pick.  Love 'em or hate 'em, it's great to get outside your reading "comfort zone".  No easier way to do that than to read books that someone else picked.
9. You get to gossip with your friends.  What? You thought you only talked about books at Book Club?  NOT!
10. Some Tips: Discuss with your friends and see who is interested.  Talk about what kinds of books everyone likes.  It's best to get an idea of interests before embarking on Book Club because if half of you want to read Classics and half want to read romance novels someone will be upset.

So....are you part of a Book Club?  What do you love/hate about it?

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