Well, since I already have posts for Best Books for 2 Year-Olds and Best Books for 3 Year-Old Boys, I figured it was high time for me to put together a list of the best books for 4 year-olds. You may notice just a couple of repeats, but just because my son is a year older, doesn’t mean he no longer likes books from when he was “little”.

Without further ado, below are my 4 year-old son’s favorite books!

The Day the Babies Crawled Away
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Right now, this is one of my top 3 favorite books. It’s rhythm and rhyme make it fun to read and the pictures are phenomenal. If you look closely, you can see that the sun gradually sets as the story is told.

TIP: Look for the upside-down baby. There is one on almost every page!

Flotsam
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

My sister-in-law sent this book out of the blue, and I immediately fell in love. There are no words, but Flotsam proves that a picture is worth a thousand words. The story is absolutely magical.

Gulliver Snip
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Yes, this is a repeat from my Best Books for 3 Year-Olds list, but I love it too much to not put it on this list as well. The day that I read it for the first time, I actually contacted the author and told her to write more books. I haven’t written an author since a 4th grade reading assignment. (And, yes, she responded. Double stars for Julia Kay!)

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Any book that involves huffing and puffing is a fun read, but I also dig the story. It is a spoof on the Three Little Pigs (duh), told from the point of view of the wolf. I am not keen on the fact that he ate the pigs (it isn’t graphic or anything), but I guess that is how it went in the original story.

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

My 4 year-old son and I both love reading this book. “Rings on fingers. Rings on thumb. Drum Drum Drum Drum Drum Drum Drum.” The rhythm and rhyme make it absolutely addictive, and the pictures are too cute!

The Foot Book
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

The Foot Book is classic Seuss; easy for early readers and so much fun to read. It is my go-to book whenever I want my son to practice his reading because he enjoys it so much he doesn’t even notice that he is doing all the work. (Sneaky, sneaky.)

Dinotrux
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Lord help me, but my 4 year-old loves this book. Frankly, I am a little tired of reading this one, but I have to include it in the list because my son thinks it is the bees knees. As a parent, you have to suspend all semblance of reality as you read; but just about any 4 year-old boy will love it.

Harold and the Purple Crayon
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

So simple, and yet so perfect. Harold and the Purple Crayon is a sweet story about a boy who has a little adventure, armed with nothing but his imagination and a purple crayon. The drawings are simple, but still so engaging. It is a nice, calm read before bedtime.

I Broke My Trunk!
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

When you read this book, you absolutely must pinch your nose when you speak for the elephant. It is a requirement. I like a lot of books by Mo Willems, but this is my favorite to read because it makes my 4 year-old laugh out loud. Always a good thing when making a life-long reader.

Where the Wild Things Are
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This book is a classic, and it is easy to see why. The story is beautifully written with wonderful rhythm. Even though it does not rhyme, it still reads like a poem. My 4 year-old is entranced by the pictures, and I love reading it.

Big Plans
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Big Plans is about a little boy who is sent to the corner in school where he thinks about his plans. This is another one of those books where the main phrase has made its way into our family vocabulary. Now, Edison will say, out of the blue, “I got big plans! Big plans, I say!” Too funny…

I Am A Leaf
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This book is such a great way to explain what leaves do to little kids. I discovered I Am A Leaf when Edison was 2 years old, and now I check it out from the library every fall. Although it is perfect for autumn, it goes through the entire life-cycle of a leaf, so it works year-round.

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For 3 years-old, my son has become quite the literary critic. He spends quite a bit of time, thoughtfully choosing the picture books he wants before bed. Some of the books inevitably get chosen time and time again…and again…and again…

Obviously, there are countless amazing picture books out there, but these are some of his absolute favorites. Check out our list of (what we consider to be) the best picture books for 3 year-old boys.

Gulliver Snip
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

The very first time I read this book, I absolutely fell in love with it. It has everything, and I mean everything, that I look for in a great children’s book. The story is imaginative and reads like a poem without being too rhymey. The pictures are beautifully done and the idea is wonderfully unique. When my preschooler asked to read it again a few hours later, I had no complaints. I love this book!

Mungo and the Spiders from Space
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Little man is all about rockets right now, so this book is just perfect. It is about a little boy reads a book and gets to join in a space adventure. The pictures are interesting, the storyline is cute, and it is fun to read. (Thanks for adding this to the library, “Glandpa”.)

How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This book is absolutely perfect for a 3 year-old boy. First, it is about dinosaurs. But, what I love is how I can make references to it during bed time. “Hey…”, I say when my son whines about going to bed. “Do dinosaurs do that at bedtime?” Of course they don’t. This book makes bedtime a lot nicer.

Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I actually found this book when I was pregnant. I was looking for books with high contrast images because I read that babies found them more interesting. Well, my son wasn’t really interested in it as a baby. No surprise. But, now as a 2 year old, this is one of his favorite books. This is one we have to hide or else we would have to read it every night.

Please, Puppy, Please
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I found Please, Baby, Please at a thrift store and immediately went on a hunt for more books by this incredible author/illustrator team. Both books are easy to read, great for practicing sight words, and the pictures are mesmerizing.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I adore Mo Willems…He has a knack for writing easy-to-read books that are fun for both kids and adults. Edison is so engaged when we read this book, and that is half the battle with spirited kids.

Chicka Chicka 123
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Known in our home as “Chicka Chicka Number Boom Boom”, this one instantly held a number 1 ranking for our 3 year-old. It is a sequel to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (obviously). Although it focuses on the numbers 0-20, the numbers 0-100 are listed in the back. Every time we read it, my son insists on counting each number. This wouldn’t be too bad, but if he messes up, he starts again. Ugh. But, he is learning to count to 100, so it is totally worth it.

Making the Moose Out of Life
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

This book makes me happy, and Edison can tell. I love the art, and I love the message. It is about a moose who goes off on an adventure and finds there is a lot more to life than he thought. My husband and I just love the message, and it is such a good thing for kids to learn when they are young. (Actually, we love a number of books by this author…see more.)

Blue Hat, Green Hat
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Blue Hat, Green Hat has a special place in my heart because it was the very first book that my son read cover to cover. It is so much fun to read all because the “oops” make my son laugh every time. (If you read the book or look at the Amazon preview, you will know what I mean. )

Shark VS Train
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

When my husband brought this home from a book fair, I rolled my eyes. Could a book be more boy? But, when it was my turn to read it, I changed my tune. It goes through different types of challenges and whether a train or a shark would win. Silly, but it sparks some great conversations. I wouldn’t say it is my favorite book, but it is certainly one of my preschooler’s top picks.

Little Pirate: What’s in the Egg?
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I finally had to hide this book for a little while because my son picked it so often. Don’t get me wrong, I totally get why my 3 year-old loves this book. It has flaps and dials surprises and all the things that boys his age love. And it’s educational…I think I just talked myself into bringing it out of hiding.

P.S.
In case it isn’t obvious, I love picture books as much as my son. I put a lot of time into looking for books for him, and I can get a little picky. Check out my post on how I choose the best picture books for my son.

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You cherish and love your child. You do everything in your power to make sure they can flourish to become healthy, well-rounded adults.

Of course, you want to create the best home for your children to learn and grow. But what about holidays and downtime?

You might think that your kids might get lazy or miss out on some learning milestone if you take a break. The truth is, the experiences they have on vacation can help with things like school and helping them focus on long-term goals.

This is especially true if you take educational vacations. Take a look at these five great ideas and start planning your trip!

Ideas for Educational Family Vacations

1) Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California

This place has everything you’d want in a getaway that enriches your child’s mind! There are tons of activities to see, touch, and do.

With over 200 activities and almost 35,000 animals and plants, there aren’t many educational vacations that can beat it! Get ready to splash and play all day!

2) Smithsonian Sleepovers, Washington D.C.

What kid (or kid at heart) doesn’t love the Ben Stiller movie, “Night at the Museum?” It seems so fun to spend an evening after hours with all of the exhibits after everyone else is gone.

Thanks to the Smithsonian, you can! You’ll get a guided tour, do arts and crafts, and be up close and personal in your pajamas with all the cool stuff in these historic museums.

3) Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Among all of the educational vacations you can choose, this one is definitely an undiscovered gem!

Touted as the largest children’s museums in the nation, your kids will delight in exploring all 472,900 square feet of it. You’ll have a great – and education – time checking out Chinese terracotta warriors, examining a shipwreck, or deciphering hieroglyphs.

4) Grand Canyon National Park

Not much can stack up against the majesty of nature. You and your family will have a wonderful time in the great outdoors, learning about how this incredible formation came to be.

Figuring out how to get there might seem like a big task. There are plenty of specialty tours that can guide you while planning educational vacations for your kids.

5) Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

How was America founded? How were laws crafted at the beginning of our nation? What interesting inventions did our founders contribute to the world?

There’s so much to see and do in Colonial Williamsburg it’s hard to be bored. This entire town is dedicated to preserving and demonstrating history.

Don’t just go for an afternoon – there are things to see both day and night.

Start Planning Your Educational Vacations Today!

Learning doesn’t have to end when spring break or summer vacations start. Educational vacations can help keep your child’s mind active in a fun and exciting way.

A big bonus? Family bonding time!

Going places and doing activities together helps create a “happiness anchor.” This is a memory that will help your children become resilient adults.

Before you hit the road, be sure to check out these ideas for fun road trip activities for kids! Flying instead? Read our post on how to keep your cool when flying with kids.

Got a spirited kid and want them to learn about the world in a fun way? We have tons of activities for kids, both on vacation and at home!

The post 5 Educational Vacations for the Whole Family to Enjoy appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Electric golf carts are a convenient way to get your kids out of the house. In addition to being convenient, they’re also easy to maintain and a blast to ride. But finding the right one is important to ensure that they’re safe while they’re having fun.

But what should you look for in an electric golf cart?

Read on for the best features that you should be looking for in a kid’s electric golf cart.

Speed

One of the first questions kids will ask is how fast can the golf cart go? Speed is an important factor in choosing the best electric golf cart for kids.

How fast the cart can go is an important factor for a number of reasons. A golf cart’s speed can be a major selling point for some people. But what you look for in a golf cart’s speed can be very different when you’re shopping for your child.

But luckily, most of the golf carts made for kids were designed to keep them from going too fast.

On average, child-sized golf carts won’t go much faster than five miles per hour. While they won’t be able to move fast enough to hurt themselves, they can still enjoy their sweet new golf cart.

Numbers of Seats

The number of seats your child’s golf cart can also influence your decision. After all, what’s the point of buying a golf cart for your children if they can’t share with their friends?

Golf carts that were designed for kids typically either have one or two seats. While having two seats can make it easier to encourage sharing, single-seat carts can still be fun for the whole neighborhood.

The number of seats your golf cart has will depend mostly on the size of your family or neighborhood. If your child will be around other kids with the cart, having more than one seat may be helpful.

But at the end of the day, having a single-seated golf cart is better than not having one at all!

Power

The types of batteries your golf cart uses can be a very important part of the decision. The strength of the battery determines how well it can hold a charge.

Picking the right amount part is an essential part of choosing the perfect electric golf cart for kids. Not only will it determine how long the battery will run, but it’ll also affect how long it takes to recharge.

Golf cart batteries typically come in 6 volts or 12 volts. Batteries vary from cart-to-cart, but the differences aren’t as noticeable as you’d think. Your battery’s power will mostly affect how long its life and recharge time.

Another factor to consider when choosing a battery is whether it’s “deep cycle” or not. Deep cycle batteries use more of the battery’s capacity than normal batteries. These kinds of batteries are more versatile and can endure more over longer periods of times.

But batteries aren’t the only factor that affects the golf cart’s performance. There are also many differences between electric- and gas-powered carts.

Electric Versus Gas

There are two types of golf carts out there: electric and gas. While both work well, they do have their differences. But which one should you get for your child?

Electric golf carts rely on the batteries to run. Not only are they a little bit cheaper, but they’re also more convenient.

While they won’t move as fast as a gas-powered golf cart, electric carts will still get the job. They’re easier to maintain and can prevent your child from driving too fast.

Gas-powered carts usually a little bit more of a hassle to keep up and running. While you won’t have to deal with charging batteries, there is much more maintenance that needs to be done. In addition to doing regular oil changes and tune-ups, they’re more expensive to have around in general.

While electric golf carts for kids aren’t the best electric utility vehicle on the market, they are convenient and child-friendly. The fact that they stay at fairly low speeds and are easy maintain makes them an ideal choice for most families.

Safety Features

The top priority when shopping for a golf cart for your child is safety. While you want your children to have fun with their new vehicle, you also want them to be safe. Luckily, there are a number of different features that help make the ride a little bit safer.

One thing to look for in a cart is seatbelts. Passenger ejection is a major issue in golf cart accidents out there, especially because they aren’t required to be installed. But even if your golf cart doesn’t already have seatbelts installed, you can create your own restraints to ensure your child’s safety.

There also general features like brakes and headlights that can affect safety. Being able to see and stop are essential functions for a golf cart, especially if it’s taken out of the yard and into the neighborhood.

Doing the necessary research on the golf cart you’re looking at is an easy way to ensure they’re safe for your child to use. Take the time to look at reviews and read through different product descriptions to see what kinds of features the cart has.

Picking the Right Kids Electric Golf Cart

Golf carts can be a great investment for any family. They’re a fun way for kids to get around and get outside. But picking the right right kids electric golf cart can be a difficult decision.

The perfect electronic golf cart for your children will not only be easy and convenient to maintain, but it will also be safe. Taking the time to research your different options is the best way to ensure that your kids enjoy their new ride.

Are you looking for more fun family bonding activities? Visit our blog for more great ideas for you and your family.

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