Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Ideals Books are well...Ideal :)

Disclosure: We received three books to help facilitate the review. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I know the word play in the title is a bit corny, but it's also 100% true: Ideals Books really is an ideal place to find great books. They've got a great selection of children's titles to choose from, and since our local bookstore closed a few years back (*gasp*), we now opt to do most of our book shopping online. Ideals never disappoints with their number, or quality of selections.

I chose all board books, but with over 400 selections in stock,
you can get whatever kind of book that you like!

To help you see what kinds of books are available at Ideals, I went with Christmas (though they have every holiday covered), and Grandma themes (because I've got a new book lover in the family to buy for now too).

The inside of this sturdy board book is colorful and true to the story
we all know and love!

For Christmas we celebrate the religious meaning of the holiday first and foremost, but we also enjoy the secular. To help celebrate both, I opted for a book theme from each.  Frosty the Snowman is one of our favorite stories, and the bright, colorful board book I selected was a huge hit. There's just something cheery and happy about that snowman, and I'm happy to have this version of the book in our library. This book was written by Jack Rollins & Steve Nelson, and the lyrics are simply the words to the old Gene Autry classic we all know and love. I dare you to try and read this book without singing... we tried, multiple times, and could not. ;)

This book features lyrics from the Christmas song,
"O Little Town of Bethlehem."
It has a music button that plays the same (melody only) in the upper right-hand corner.

The second selection I chose was O Little Town of Bethlehem. This is also a board book, and in the upper right-hand corner it has a button that when pushed plays the melody of the song of the same name. It tells the story of Jesus' birth, and does so with soft colors & gentle drawings for the pictures (illustrated by Nathalie Beauvois). I think this might well be the last year my youngest enjoys push-the-button music books, so I was happy to add this one to our collection. Pushing that little button gives him a little happy dance, and the story is a great way to reiterate to him why we actually do celebrate Christmas each year. As an added Fun Fact: "O Little Town of Bethlehem," (the song) was written in 1868!

Such soft, pretty pictures
for my sweet, soft, and very pretty baby grand (grandchild).

The third book I chose was Grandma Loves You by P.K. Hallinan. This little board book is for my sweet baby granddaughter who loves to have her mummy and daddy read to her. It's nice and sturdy too, for when she wants to do a little 'reading' on her own. ;) Katherine Kirkland is the illustrator and her drawings depict everyday things grandma's love to see the little ones do (there is a 'grandpa' version as well). At the end it has a tender moment shared by grandma and granddaughter.  The front of this book has a heart insert that allows you to slip a photo of your own choosing into the cover, and that's exactly what I plan to do. This will be either a Christmas gift, or just an 'I love you' gift from me to the little one.

Ideals Books is just a wonderful website to visit, and a great place to buy children's books...both old favorites and new titles too. They also offer very reasonable prices, and shipping is free on orders $25 or more.

Ideals Books

Ideals Books publishes 20 to 25 new children's titles each year, primarily for 2 to 8-yr.-olds. The company actually started out in the 1940's as a magazine of the same name (Ideals), which you may have heard of because it is still in existence today. In the '60's, they expanded to the publishing of children's books as well. The books, and the magazine, were centered around family, home, holidays, and God.

There are over 400 titles to choose from at Ideals, and though the three books I selected are all  board books, you can find most any format you prefer. Ideals publishes picture books, activity books, board books, and novelty and sound books covering a wide array of topics.

You can learn more about Ideals by visiting their website. You can also follow them on Facebook and/or Pinterest.

76 comments:

  1. This sounds perfect for my 7 year old. He loves to read :)

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  2. Love the books you chose and have to look into this for my girls :)

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    1. makes me miss my kids being young. They loved when I read to them

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  3. I always try to make sure I have new books for my Grandkids when they come to visit. They especially like when I sit down to read to them.

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  4. I think I had some of those when I was a kid.

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  5. These look like great books. I love Frosty - one of my favorite stories as a kid. :)

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  6. Frosty looks just like the book I gave the kidling when she was wee! Anything which encourages a love of reading is, well, 'ideal' in my book. =)

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  7. When my first granddaughter was little I had piles of books for her to read. She would select several each night and bring them to me to read. It was a ritual that I've always remember fondly. These books look far more kid friendly.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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  8. cool...i could def see gramma loves you being a best seller because it would be cool to give a grandchild so they could be constantly reminded...

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  9. They have been around quite a while. Sure I had a few of those too. The frosty one I remember.

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  10. Whoo my daughter would love the snowman book :)

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  11. These look like great books! I love picking up a few news ones each holiday and they would be perfect!

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  12. We have the Snowman book, and my kids love it. I need to get the O Little Town of Bethlehem book for them.

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  13. You caught this grandma and she is heading to order these. Little man in Switzerland must have these!

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  14. Oh how fun. We love book here, my kids can't get enough of them.. we read every single night at least 3 books!

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  15. these books are so cute. I so want them for myself.

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  16. I love a good kids book with artsy illustrations. Frosty the Snowman was one of my favorites through life.

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  17. Love board books for kids and I love that this company offers free shipping after a certain dollar amount. That tends to help a lot.

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  18. Very cool! I like the board books, too - they tend to wear well!

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  19. These books sound perfect for families with little ones. I miss all the books we use to read with our son when he was little.

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  20. We love Frosty! My kiddo likes to sing the song while I read the story.

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  21. I have to check out their Christmas collection. I just realized we only have one Christmas book and who does not need more than one.

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  22. These look like great books. My kids would have loved the Frosty one!

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  23. I love frosty. I am in the process of choosing some books for my friend's adopted daughter.

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  24. I'm so happy to learn about new places to get books! We have to keep supporting those kinds of places!

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  25. I hadn't heard of Ideal books before. But I'm always on the lookout for books for my kids!

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  26. What some wonderful sounding books! I love how colourful the images are in them, very eye catching. x

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  27. Love these books! They make great gifts, too!

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  28. Oh my gosh, I LOVE Frosty the Snowman! I'd love for my kids to have that book!

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  29. oh wow, my nieces and nephews would love these books

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  30. I have a 2-year old niece that will love these books. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  31. Books are always great to give as gifts! I make sure to give at least 1 to each child every year. These all sound like great options. Especially Frosty!

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  32. I have never heard of these books! We love books! My daughter would really love these.

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  33. Such perfect gifts for families with little ones. Gotta love Frosty The Snowman!

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  34. I really disliked reading as a kid. Now I'm growing to like it more & more. The Frosty one is cute!

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  35. I miss my kids being little. I used to love reading these little stories to them at night

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  36. As a former Special Ed Teacher I definitely remember Ideals books that's for sure! I do not have children, but I do like buying books as gifts for kids to keep them reading actual books and get their little faces out of those tablets all day!

    Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly

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  37. Looks like a great selection of books to choose from and lots of age appropriate ones for my grandsons!

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  38. Great way to get kids to read. Mine will definitively enjoy what you are sharing

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  39. The Frosty the snowman would be fun to have! Isaak was super into him last year.

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  40. those look like great stories. we always have a big collection of books for all ages

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  41. These are adorable. My kids love to read.

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  42. My son would really like Frosty! He is a big fan of storytime.

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  43. Frost has been around forever! These books look awesome to read as a family.

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  44. They truly sound like gifts from the heart. I love each of the ones you mentioned and I think your granddaughter will love her new book!

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  45. What great books to enjoy with kids. I love the story of Frosty the Snowman

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  46. Books bring back so many precious memories. Dawn loved to be read to. Now she is grown and she loves to read.

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  47. Love the classic Frosty book! Definitely good gift ideas

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  48. All of those are super cute books! I will have to check Ideal Books out.

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  49. I love the Frosty the Snowman book! I like those thick board books for bedtime stories!

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  50. Those are adorable! I used to like looking at the Ideals magazines when I was a little girl. That brings back good memories.

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  51. My son loves books like these, so I really need to check them out!

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  52. Seeing that Frosty the Snowman book reminds me of my childhood. I like how I can share books with my kids that I enjoyed as a kid and in a way relive my childhood just a little bit.

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  53. Awesome that this company has been around for so long. The grandma loves you book looks like one we'd like!

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  54. I love books like those! I'll have to check out Ideal books!

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  55. Nice! You can never have too much knowledge and books are a great way to increase yours.

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  56. I LOVE Frosty the Snowman! I love the movies, books, merchandise etc haha :)

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  57. Both my children love to read, and I love to buy them vibrant fun books to encourage their enthusiasm! Thank you x

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  58. I love the mix of the religious and secular books. That's about what we do in our home. I think my children would love these books.

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  59. That Frosty the Snowman book is really cute! These would make some great Christmas gifts!

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  60. These are great books. We are big fans of the Frosty the Snowman one.

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  61. Sounds like these would make great stocking stuffers for my kids. Thanks for the ideas.

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  62. Aww, I want to read Oh Little Town of Bethleham! Looks like a great bunch of Christmas books!

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  63. I love that song Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.
    And board books are the best. My kids haven't been able to destroy them all.

    Books are great all the way around!

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  64. My youngest just is starting to learn to read and he's obsessed :) He wants me to read him everything!

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  65. I think this is a great way to encourage children to read... the books are cut;-)

    I hope all is well with the family and yourself... it seems like forever since I stopped by... have a great weekend ♡

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  66. You know how much I love books. I think it is awesome you were able to pick a couple... and I know everyone in your house will love them.. Especially that darling little girl! (The books your son enjoys will be great to pass down to her too!)

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  67. I am in love with books, will have to check out these ones to add to my collection as well as my sisters collection for my niece. Good books are great to have!

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  68. hey there, friend! it's been some time since I've sat for more than a few minutes at the computer (besides with PIper ;)) I'm happy to be catching up here! these books are great - LOVE stories that relate to the holidays. I loved your costume post above!!
    so excited for Halloween! I bet your babe is, too!
    have a relaxing night! xoxox

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  69. I love to find new books for the boys. Thank you for sharing these.

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  70. LOVE Frosty! :) We love books here! Great picks!

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  71. My kids are all big readers. They would love these.

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  72. I think we still have all these books even though our son is too old for them now... it's hard for us to give up books. :)

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  73. I have never seen these books before, but they look really cute. I'm always on the look-out for great books. I do love Frosty the Snowman movie.

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