Coquette Maman

Every Little Girl is a Princess by Andree Prendergast

Every Little Girl is a Princess by Andree Prendergast (Illustrated by Riva England)

I review and read a lot of children's books and with a 4 and a half year old little girl, definitely a lot of princess ones. Every Little Girl is a Princess ($9.99 on Amazon) by Andree Prendergast is a different kind of princess story – one that finally shows little girls the power of being a good person that will in turn enhance self esteem. I read this book to Chloe and she loved it. She used to tell me before bed, "I wish I was a real princess". She hasn't said it again since I read her this book.

The book's heroine is Callie who much like my own Chloe, wishes she could be a real princess. Her dog Toby discovers an old book in the backyard that outlines the five virtues to be a real princess: faith, love, kindness, courage, and friendship. By accomplishing each virtue, "you will feel a warm glow inside". I loved that quote and as I read through the book, I also talked with Chloe about some of the good deeds she did and how good it made her feel. The book also celebrates each person's differences. Callie didn't like her red hair or freckles but came to embrace it all by the end of the story.

Needless to say, this book is a huge hit in my home. Sure Chloe still plays princess (along with her other make believe games) but she no longer pines for the false reality of princess royalty because she enjoys her life and seems to understand it all better.

I have been emailing back and forth with Andree for a couple of weeks now, excited to ask her how she was inspired to write this book. I also have to commend her for going the self-publishing route. Writing a book is not easy (trust me I know) but having to self-publish it is even harder. So if you have a little girl in your home or know of one, Every Little Girl is a Princess is the perfect story to give girls the boost and foundation to becoming a good strong person.

Here's more from the author Andree Prendergast:

I started writing the book, Every Little Girl is a Princess, several years before I had granddaughters [now 4 1/2 years old]. At that time, I wanted to write a story about a little girl who wanted to be a princess, and didn't have a lot, so she thought the answer to her happiness would be to become a princess. I didn't have a time table to finish the book, but kept at it, and never lost my desire to tell this story. I remember thinking that I wanted my book to send a very special message that would have meaning to little girls who perhaps weren't happy with themselves, but needed to believe that they were special just the way they were.

As it turned out, after I became a grandmother, and was blessed with two beautiful granddaughters, my desire to finish my book was reignited! The message I had wanted to convey became clearer to me, and it was something I wanted to pass on to my granddaughters, as well as all little girls.

The message would stress that happiness doesn't result from having a lot of things, and that being a princess isn't really about being treated a certain way or looking a certain way. Being a princess is about who you are inside, and how you treat yourself and others. I was able to demonstrate this through the discovery of the princess virtues, faith, love, friendship, courage and kindness, all traits of a true princess. Little girls would find out that they had always possessed the princess traits, —they just had to discover them!

It's important for my granddaughters, and all little girls to love and accept themselves just as they are, and believe that they are good enough just the way they are!

My Town by Delphine Doreau - A Paper Town Kids Can Build

We love crafty things in our home and when they are small and cute, it's extra special. My Town: A Little World for You to Build ($11.48 on Amazon) by my friend Delphine Doreau is just that sort of special, magical book. The book (translated into English from her French book Mon Village) features perforated buildings and animals that can be made into a fun play town. Featuring Delphine's adorable illustrations of animals, you'll love building the various stores and houses that make up the little town.

The back of the book features a pull out map that acts as a sort of playmat for the buildings. The pieces were easy for my 4 1/2 year old to punch out and I helped her fold them into place and glue. I loved how each building had it's own special magic to see from the pastries in the bakery to the fruits and veggies at the grocery store. There are also pages where your child can color in their own buildings and animals. This is the perfect activity to keep your child busy and entertained. Chloe would build each little house with me and start playing right away with the characters. We are looking forward to making more together on the weekends.

(Photo: Non Dairy Diary)

Here's a version Delphine's son built complete with cars at each house and a big truck. I love how each child can interpret their own imagination into their own special town. Read more about it in her post here.

My Town: A Little World for You to Build ($11.48 on Amazon)

For daily inspiration, visit Delphine's blog at Non Dairy Diary. She has lots of paper toys you can download for free.

Style Mom: Stephanie from All About Ami Talks Pregnancy & Nursing Fashion

(All Photos: All About Ami)

Stephanie Lau from All About Ami doesn't just crochet cute amigurumi animals. She's also a very fashionable new mom to six month old Myla. I became friends with this Canadian beauty a few years ago when I was an editor at CRAFT and she did her first published pattern, this crochet spring bunny. I have been loving her recent blog post on her nursing fashion tips so I decided to do an interview with Stephanie on how she stays so stylish and fashionable as a new mom.

How would you describe your fashion style?

I would describe my fashion style as classic and feminine. I love wearing dresses and romantic pieces such as delicate crocheted shawls and items with ruffles and lace. With that being said, comfort is also key for me, and I enjoy layering different pieces together (such as my chambray tops and oversized sweaters), which is key to surviving the Canadian winter! I also love accessorizing as I feel that accessories really help pull an outfit together. I'll usually sport my stud earrings, a necklace and a stack of bracelets when going out! I loved accessorizing from a young age as I have pictures of myself as a toddler wearing chunky beaded necklaces and bracelets with little clips in my hair!

The first few months post-pregnancy is probably the most fashion challenging for a new mom. What was your solution to looking great?

I remember my "What to Bring to the Hospital" pamphlet stated to bring a going-home outfit that would fit you when you were 5 months pregnant… And so, I knew to expect to continue to look somewhat pregnant for a little while even after the baby was delivered! I definitely did not fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans and most of my bottoms, so I continued to wear what I wore when I was pregnant (flawy tops and leggings)! This turned out to be a little more challenging as well since I was also nursing. Now all of my outfits had to be breast-feeding friendly, particularly since newborns feed so frequently! I layered pretty cardigans, oversized sweaters and blazers over my nursing tank tops to continue looking stylish post-pregnancy!

What 3 pieces of clothing could you not live without?

I could not live without my jeans, my leggings and my little black dress.

When you were pregnant, what maternity pieces did you live in?

When I was pregnant, I lived in my leggings, long tunics, maternity jeans and maxi dresses. I continued to accessorize a lot and I also belted my outfits to help give some definition and to make them look more polished. I had a lot of fun trying to figure out how to style my ever-growing baby bump!

What are some of Myla's favorite things?

Myla absolutely loves her pink bouncer- she enjoys sitting in it and taking in her surroundings. She likes it even more than her swing or any other baby item! She also has a little ribbon tug blanket that she loves playing with: this minky blanket has ribbons of varying textures along the edges that she enjoys feeling and tugging! Myla loves it when I sing songs and read books to her as well. She especially likes books that have songs associated with them, such as "Five Little Monkeys" and "Ten in the Bed"- it's really cute because she vocalizes along when I read and sing to her!

You are also a very crafty mom. How does crafting/crochet play into your life as a working mom?

I am currently on maternity leave, and I am really enjoying my time with Myla. Everyday we have story time, song time and floor time. Myla is so inquisitive and curious. She enjoys watching me do everything, from washing the dishes, preparing meals, to doing my hair! It's definitely been more challenging finding time to craft, crochet and finish projects, but thankfully Myla actually enjoys watching me crochet. I think she likes seeing the yarn and crochet hook moving so quickly! However, I do most of my crafting when she is napping or at night when she is sleeping. I continue to enjoy crocheting items for Myla and designing new projects. Crocheting is so therapeutic for me, and the blog motivates me to keep being creative and working on new projects!

Visit Stephanie's blog All About Ami. You can also see her previous post on her maternity fashion.

Uniqlo + Ladurée Tees for Girls & Women

UNIQLO has partnered with famed Parisian patisserie company Maison Ladurée, to create a t- shirt collection for a cause, featuring playful "Les Amis de Ladurée” graphics with 9 styles for kids and 10 for women. A portion of the sales will be donated to IVY, a nonprofit organization helping children in the Tohoku region of Northeast Japan, which was severely affected by the 2011 earthquake disaster. Pictured above are 3 cute designs for girls: T-shirt with Macarons and Eiffel Tower (in mint and navy), Jour de Chance T-shirt (in white and purple), Stripe T-shirt with Kitty (in pink or green stripe). Each kids t-shirt retails for $12.90.

For women, choose from a selection of adorable prints. I love this Laduree Short Puff Sleeve T-shirt in green and this Laduree Print T-shirt in white or pink. All women's t-shirts are $19.90 each. The collection launched this week at all UNIQLO retail locations and also online.

Shop all Laduree T-shirts at uniqlo.com.

BonLook: Stylish Sunglasses for Kids

BonLook has launched a stylish kids collection of sunglasses in collaboration with Bleu Bird and Love Taza. These stylish sunnies come in classic and fun styles like they popped off the runway and shrank down into little mini me versions. Each pair of sunnies are only $39.

PBS Parents Play & Learn App: Help Build Kids' Math Skills

My husband has a math degree and he's always trying to incorporate fun math games or whatnot into our daughter's play. PBS KIDS recently announced their new initiative, It All Adds Up, a fun and educational new initiative focused on providing families with educational resources to support informal math learning at home.

The new PBS Parents Play & Learn App features more than a dozen games parents can play with their kids, connecting math and literacy skills to everyday experiences. The app works on the iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Android and more. You can download the app depending on your device from this page.

Girls' Spring Dresses: Seeing Dots

Polka dots get fresh this spring with vibrant colors and mixed patterns. I love the look on little girls and these dresses at the Gap are perfect for Easter celebrations to a day out with the family. I love the purple and bright green/yellow combo in the Tulle Dot Dress ($39.95 at the Gap) and the mix of color and dot prints in the Dot Tank Dress ($39.95 at the Gap).

Here are more spring dot dresses for girls:

Mia Chica Chambray Dress ($36 at Nordstrom)

Pleated Dot Dress ($44.95 at the Gap)

Dot Print Party Dress ($45 at Tea Collection)

Harrisville Designs Potholder Deluxe: Great Beginning Weaving Set for Kids

Thanks to my crafty friend Nancy, I bought this fantastic weaving set for Chloe. The Harrisville Designs Potholder Deluxe ($19.26 on Amazon) is a great set that comes with everything you need to start weaving right away. I liked that the material provided were cotton loops that were easy for my 4 year old to attach on to the metal frame of the loom. While she organized her colors for her potholder, I helped her weave the metal rod down and over the loops on the frame and she did the rest on the her own which was attaching on the new loop and bringing it through the frame to hook it on the end on the other side. I did help her a bit in case the hook got caught on the existing loops.

I like the deluxe set because it comes with 3 bags of cotton loops to make 6 potholders. There is also a smaller set set but that one only gives you enough to make 2 potholders. You can buy extra loops Harrisville Designs a-Lotta Loops ($15.82 on Amazon, makes 8 potholders) or a smaller pack of cotton loops for $7.28.

These kinds of projects help your little one with fine and gross motor skills as well as teaching them about color combinations and patterns. The loom isn't limited to making just potholders. It comes with an instruction booklet to show you how to make a purse, stuffed animal/doll sleeping bag, magic box, tissue box holder, or a little quilt. I love that this helps teach kids about working on longer term projects. It's something they can do a little bit at a time and finish it over a course of a few days or week if they have to.

Vickie Howell's Sheep(ish) Yarn + Cloverfield Cardigan Pattern

There's a sense of inner peace I get while I'm knitting. It's like using all my senses together from design, crafts, to even math. This sweater, Cloverfield Toddler Girls Cardigan (Sizes 18 months, 2T, 3T - featured on Petite Purls) by Vickie Howell is particularly dear to me. Vickie is an amazing crafter I met while working at MAKE/CRAFT and as a fellow mom, she's inspirational. I still remember one afternoon when I had to do a conference call with her. I didn't know Vickie that well yet and I definitely wanted to be professional. I had timed our conference call for one of Chloe's nap time. Of course, this was the one time she didn't take that second afternoon nap and I was frantic at trying to juggle between getting her napping right and moving her into a bouncy chair. I just remember Vickie telling me that she didn't mind. It was all going to be ok. It made me so relieved I just took a deep breath and relaxed. She made this new mom feel so much better and I'll never forget it.

To me, knitting for kids is perfect because the projects are small and your little one is old enough to appreciate your handiwork. For the Cloverfield Cardigan, I let Chloe pick the main colors she wanted so that she felt like she was a part of the making process. Ideally I could have knit this project within a month but life as a mom is hectic as you all know. I finally finished it about a year and a half later, only having to add around an inch of length to the sweater in the middle to ensure the right fit. Knitting the little bobble flowers while you knit the cardigan was a really fun process too! This sweater made me realize how much I loved the idea of short sleeved sweaters for girls. Even as we live in San Francisco which is year-round sweater weather I never have to worry about these sweater sleeves getting all grimy as all of her messes end up on the t-shirt sleeve. hehe.

Chloe loved the fittings when I would try the sweater on her in different stages. Today she wore the sweater to school for the first time. She couldn't wait to tell her friends that "My Mama knit this sweater for me."

Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) Yarn from Caron

Vickie sent me some of her new Sheep(ish) Yarn produced by Caron to knit this project. The yarn is so soft and is a blend of acrylic and wool making it very affordable at $3.99/ball. You can machine wash the yarn in cold water and dry flat. You can find this yarn at your local Michaels, Jo-Ann's and more. Use the store locator to find out where to buy Sheep(ish).

I used Teal(ish) and Turquoise(ish) for the main colors of the sweater with the flower bobbles in White(ish) and the stems in Olive(ish).

And let's just say, kids will be kids. In order to get the few wonderful smiling photos of Chloe for this post, I had to endure five minutes of her silly faces and infectious giggling. I wouldn't change that for the world!

Note: Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) Yarn was provided by Vickie Howell/Caron for this project.

For Little Preschool Writers

Little preschoolers love to practice their letters and numbers, sometimes pretending they are writing a letter. At home we have a lot of books and sets for kids to practice letter writing but by far my daughter's favorite and the most used in our home is this Crayola Dry Erase Activity Center ($15.01 on Amazon).

The board is just the right size for her to write large and she loves to erase the board when she is done. The board comes with multiple template cards for ABC writing, numbers, games, and a blank one for them to doodle for fun. I love that everything stays together in this set and the dry-erase pens and eraser fit nicely in the board. You can also make your own templates online at Crayola.com. I haven't tried this yet but I love how this little dry-erase pad can grow with her.

Of course, writing with a marker is slippery so I don't think you should banish the idea of your child writing pencil to paper. There's definitely a tactile necessity for them to be able to slowly write on paper. In this case, I really like the Mead See and Feel Learn to Write Raised Ruling Pad ($6.29 on Amazon). The lines on the paper are not only printed but also embossed so a child can feel the pencil go over the lines. Chloe likes this a lot but she also is more inclined to start getting off the task of writing and will begin to doodle on the paper. Yes that's ok too but I found that with the activity center, when she chooses to doodle, she'll put the right template in to do so.

I'm also inclined to get her the Mead Letter Stories - Capital Letters ($4.64) and the Mead Letter Stories - Lowercase Letters ($4.90) with the letters printed on each page workbook-style so she can practice the letters she is having problems with.

If anyone else has some great writing activity sets their kids like, please let me know in the comments!