I recently read an article that talked about whether your kids will inherit your books. Basically, it was about whether you keep your books or if you buy e-books and what will your kids inherit. While I don't have an e-reader, I'm not totally against them. I see their value. It would be great to take on vacations and it's also convenient to carry in your purse to have when you are unexpectedly waiting in a long line for something. The article did make me think though. While I'm not buying a ton of e-books, I have never really thought about saving my books for my kids. Taking a look at my book shelf, there's not a whole lot on it that I would be proud to pass down. Sure there's some best sellers but most of them are paperbacks. I don't have any classics. Well, maybe some of those best sellers will become classics. I'm on a mission now to find some of the classics that I loved reading as a child and as an adult and to build a book shelf worthy to pass down to my kids. I think a visit to the used book store is in order. What would be on your list of books that you would want to pass down to your children? Leave a comment below and let me know. You might mention a book that I forgot about and would love to have : ) p.s. You can read the article I was talking about here: http://www.npr.org/2012/06/21/155360197/will-your-children-inherit-your-e-books

The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems is illustrated by Jackie Morris and is suitable for all ages.  I often get asked what the age range for our books is. I usually answer that I think that most of our books are suitable for grade 5 and below with the exception of a few books. This is one of them. I strongly believe that this book should be in every child's home, every adult's home, and every classroom. This book contains 74 classic and enduring poems in the English language. Each page is beautifully illustrated by Jackie Morris. As a watercolor artist, Jackie Morris creates dreamy and rich illustrations that really do spark a child's imagination. I am in love with her artwork and would recommend the book solely on the art. The poems in this collection trace our journey through life from birth to old age. They touch on topics such as childhood, animals, love, war, and the stages of life. You will see all the familiar poets such as E.E. Cummings, Edgar Allan Poe, Yeats, Lewis Carroll, William Blake, William Wordsworth, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, William Shakespeare, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Robert Frost, and Alfred, Lord Tennyson just to name a few! I highly recommend this as a perfect baby gift, graduation gift, end of the year teacher gift, and really any gift giving situation! This is a book that will be passed down from generation to generation.