Just Between Us - family conversation starter cards
ISBN 9781452174839
Regular price $19.99 Sale price $18.50 Save 7%by Meredith & Sofie Jacobs
From the bestselling authors of the Just Between Us series comes a set of conversation cards to help the whole family get beyond the chit-chat and deepen the conversation.
Housed in a sturdy and pleasing keepsake box, these conversation starters can sit on a shelf near a family gathering place, or be tossed into a bag for a road trip.
If you like, you can slip a conversation card into the display window in the front of the box. Take turns answering the question. Then flip the card over for more ways to enrich the conversation.
With more than 150 prompts, these cards generate many rich opportunities for connection, and because the questions are open-ended, they can be reused again and again.
75 cards, front and back. More than 150 prompts.
Chronicle Books. Published April 2019.
Nest Note: We also find this to be a nice activity before bed, as a kind of journalling aloud together. We have used 'the cuddle cards journal' for this same activity, and it is an absolute family favourite for children kindergarten aged right up to adults. This set from the 'just between us' series for us feels like a natural expansion of the cuddle cards journal.
Sample prompts:
Front of card: "Imagine you're my age - what's your day like?"
Back of card, digging deeper: "Imagine you're my age - what are you like?"
About the Authors:
Sofie Jacobs graduated from the University of Michigan and lives in Rockville, Maryland.
Meredith Jacobs is an award-winning columnist and author. She lives in Rockville, Maryland.
cuddle cards
MER 95400111
Regular price $25.00 Sale price $16.50 Save 34%A personal favourite at Nest!
The cuddle journal is wonderful for families to read aloud, listen to the answers without comment if you like. A great oral journalling experience for little ones and people of all ages. To think, to feel, and to discover together. Judgement does not feel present in the questions. All of the emotions are given sunlight and air in this way.
Purchase just the journal, just the cards, or both together. In our home, our littlest one liked to play with the cards, while we read the questions aloud. Whomever liked could comment aloud, with little good, good pauses in between. Rare moments of calm and quiet overtook our household with this thoughtful and special journal.
Just Between Us - a no-stress, no-rules journal for mothers and sons
ISBN 9781452182360
Regular price $25.95By Meredith & Jules Jacobs
The bestselling journal series, Just Between Us—now for moms and their sons.
This thoughtful keepsake journal is the perfect place for a mother and son to share stories and dreams, hopes and fears.
Advice, guidelines, and prompts by author Meredith Jacobs and her son pave the way to discussing everything exciting and scary about growing up, from friendships and school to positive masculinity. With plenty of free space to write about whatever's on their minds and fun pages for drawing pictures and making lists, this journal will open the lines of communication and help strengthen mother-son relationships.
• In the age of #metoo, conversations between mothers and their sons are even more important—this journal allows a safe space for sharing.
• Perfect Mother's Day gift!
• A great way to approach and share difficult challenges that boys face growing up, and share important milestones and memories.
Written by a mother (Meredith Jacobs, the award-winning coauthor of the Just Between Us series) and her son, Jules Jacobs.
Recommended for ages 10 and up. Mothers can begin making entries when their daughters are younger, in preparation for handing it over...
Hardcover. 6.5" x 8.75". 144 pages.
Chronicle Books, 2020.
Just Between Us - a no-stress, no-rules journal for girls and their moms
ISBN 9780811868952
Regular price $25.95By Meredith & Sofie Jacobs
A journal to share, to hand back and forth, and communicate by pen, with helpful advice from a mother-daughter writing team. Includes writing prompts for discussing friends, school, crushes, and growing up. Fun pages for drawing pictures and making lists.
Recommended for ages 10 and up. Mothers can begin making entries when their daughters are younger, in preparation for handing it over...
Hardcover. 22 cm (8.8 inches) high.
Chronicle Books, 2010.
A Case for Buffy (early reader, 4th of 5)
ISBN 978-1-77657-178-9
Regular price $21.99Written by Ulf Nilsson and illustrated by Gitte Spee. Translated by Julia Marshall.
The final story in this big-hearted series takes on the most important case ever investigated in Detective Gordon’s forest—where is Buffy’s mother? Gordon faces his old nemesis, the fox, in an investigation that leads to the edges of the forest.
- Interest Level: Kindergarten -> Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 2
Hardcover, 108 pages. 5.8 x 8 inches.
Gecko Press.
About the Detective Gordon series:
Detective Gordon is a friendly, philosophical, humorous, and thoughtful detective series following the adventures of the rather tired—and often hungry—Detective Gordon and his chirpy assistant, Buffy.
Detective Gordon is something of a humanist, and keeps an eye out for the weaker inhabitants of his woods. The books are full of warm, witty wisdom from one of Sweden’s foremost children’s authors, Ulf Nilsson. The text is affectionately and generously illustrated in watercolor and pencil by acclaimed Dutch illustrator, Gitte Spee. This is a detective series with depth—ideal for elementary school, perfect for reading alone, wonderful for reading aloud.
A Case in Any Case (early reader, 3rd of 5)
ISBN 978-1-77657-108-6
Regular price $21.99Written by Ulf Nilsson and illustrated by Gitte Spee. Translated by Julia Marshall.
Gordon is on vacation, and Buffy is the sole detective at the small police station in the forest. It is not easy for a police officer to be alone. Especially when there are strange noises outside the station at night. Buffy decides to seek out Gordon in his little cottage by the lake to ask for help. After all, two police think twice as well as one. Two police are twice as brave!
- Interest Level: Kindergarten -> Grade 5
- Reading Level: Grade 2
Hardcover, 108 pages. 5.8 x 8 inches.
Gecko Press.
About the Detective Gordon series:
Detective Gordon is a friendly, philosophical, humorous, and thoughtful detective series following the adventures of the rather tired—and often hungry—Detective Gordon and his chirpy assistant, Buffy.
Detective Gordon is something of a humanist, and keeps an eye out for the weaker inhabitants of his woods. The books are full of warm, witty wisdom from one of Sweden’s foremost children’s authors, Ulf Nilsson. The text is affectionately and generously illustrated in watercolor and pencil by acclaimed Dutch illustrator, Gitte Spee. This is a detective series with depth—ideal for elementary school, perfect for reading alone, wonderful for reading aloud.
The Gutsy Girl
ISBN 9781632861238
Regular price $22.00 Sale price $19.80 Save 10%Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure
by Caroline Paul; Illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton
A New York Times Bestseller
From the author of You Are Mighty, a real-life derring-do woman, a collection of exhilarating stories, activities, and tips to inspire girls to pursue a life of adventure and excitement.
Why should girls miss out on the joy of adventure? They can jump off rocks, swing on ropes, and climb trees just as well as boys can. But girls often allow fear to stand in their way.
In The Gutsy Girl, author Caroline Paul emboldens girls to seek out a life of exhilaration. Once a young scaredy-cat herself, Caroline decided that fear got in the way of the life she wanted--of excitement, confidence, self-reliance, friendship, and fun. She has since flown planes, rafted big rivers, climbed tall mountains, and fought fires as one of the first female firefighters in San Francisco. In The Gutsy Girl, she shares her greatest escapades as well as those of other girls and women from throughout history, and offers engaging activities such as confidence-building stances, creating a compass, positive self-talk, and using crickets to estimate outside temperatures. Each section includes a place for girls to “journal” their adventures, thus encouraging a new generation to develop a zest for challenges and a healthy relationship to risk. The Gutsy Girl is Lean In for young girls, a book about the glorious things that happen when you unshackle from fear and open up to exhilaration. Fully illustrated and enlivened throughout by bestselling illustrator Wendy MacNaughton's whimsical pen-and-ink drawings.
Hardcover, 160 pages. Black and white illustrations throughout.
Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2016.
Reviews
From Nest Owner, Lisa Di Lorenzo: "After signing this book out of the library the third time, I decided that I just had to carry it in the shop. I read aloud to my son, 6 yrs at the time, the story of how she collected 2L milk cartons, made a large, layered, duct-taped milk carton raft with her father, and convinced other kids to sail it down river with her. There's the call to abandon ship as it's starting to sink after not too long, but it's absolutely hilarious and like all her stories, we felt in an adventurous and very free state of mind, and we had some great laughs while reading. This is a wonderful book to have in the home for all children, in my opinion! I do think that as a young girl, I'd have especially appreciated it, and I wonder if having books like these in our home library opens up the world a bit and the paradigms that we tend to think in. Overall, the book is very well-written, illustrated, edited, and printed. It's chockfull, and a great book to gift/ own for inspiration and laughs."
"A Modern Manifesto for Bravery, Perseverance, and Breaking the Tyranny of Perfection. A former firefighter and lifelong adventurer’s clarion call for the joy of adventure in a culture obsessed with risk-averse achievement." -Maria Popova, BrainPickings.org
“The perfect book for young feminists, or really any woman who needs a dose of inspiration in her life . . . Viva la Gutsy Girl!” – Buzzfeed
“Part high-energy how-to guide, part hilarious memoir, and part interactive adventure journal designed to help girls of all ages build confidence, pluck, and bravery by venturing outside.” – Outside Magazine
“Delightful . . . There's a lot here that will thrill any girl--or boy--of any age.” – San Francisco Chronicle
“Caroline Paul's inspiring and sometimes astonishing stories of the adventures that she and other great women have undertaken, alongside Wendy MacNaughton's beautiful illustrations, make The Gutsy Girl the book of the year for daredevils, doers, and dreamers of all ages.” – Cheryl Strayed, author of WILD
“Paul encourages readers--girls, specifically--to pursue lives of excitement in a book that blends elements of memoir, guidebook, and journal.” – Publishers Weekly
“If Pippi Longstocking and Sheryl Sandberg got together and penned a book for tween girls, this brilliantly written and illustrated gem would be it.” – Parent.co
“An incredible book for raising 'gutsy' girls and a must-read for adventurous women . . . Paul's book will convince any woman that she, too, is destined for a life of epic adventure--whether it's in the woods or in the boardroom.” – Quartz.com
“A must for inspiring girls of all ages--young and young at heart.” – Stanford Magazine
“Paul's exuberant prose is made even better by Wendy MacNaughton's charming illustrations, which help place us in the adrenaline-fueled scenes . . . An adventure tome, field manual, journal, and self-help book all in one, Gutsy makes an excellent gift for girls graduating elementary school, though it's a good read for anyone. The book aims to help young women widen their comfort zone, face fear, and manage insecurity.” – Sierra
“[Lost Cat] is revelatory . . . it moves easily and hilariously from one sentence and chapter to the next . . . it's ingeniously crafted . . . a fiercely charming narrative that sneaks up on a reader, just as the best fantastical books do . . . Lost Cat is an incredibly endearing work, a snapshot of the madness of loving and agonizing over and chasing after animals.” – Jillian Steinhauer, The Los Angeles Review of Books, on LOST CAT
“An uncommonly charming and wise tale.” – Alexis Madrigal, The Atlantic, on LOST CAT
“This playful, quirky book is like a cat that climbs into your lap and purrs; it's impossible not to love it.” – Gayle Brandeis, San Francisco Chronicle, on LOST CAT
“A tender, imaginative memoir infused with equal parts humor and humanity . . . an absolute treat from cover to cover.” – Maria Popova, Brain Pickings, on LOST CAT
'together' sculpture
FB 5164-1
Regular price $34.00This wooden sculpture is also a barometer of our relationships. When swivelled, the figures themselves can turn in or away from each other. One or both, leaning in close, standing shoulder to shoulder, looking in separate directions. The movements of each figure that can rotate in its own axis and circle, but the figures still on a solid base together.
Small is 14.5 cm high. Large is 23.5 cm high.
Solid hardwoods. Solid oak base.
Made in Germany.
My Happy Life (Book 1 in the Happy Life Series)
ISBN 9781877579356
Regular price $23.99 Sale price $22.80 Save 5%Written by Rose Lagercrantz and illustrated by Eva Eriksson; Translated by Julia Marshall
A sweet, funny illustrated chapter book about a young girl with a lot of optimism — even if sometimes life makes it hard to be happy.
Dani is probably the happiest person she knows. She’s happy because she’s going to start school. Dani has been waiting to go to school her whole life. Then things get even better—she meets Ella Frida by the swings.
After that, Dani and Ella Frida do everything together. They stick together through wet and dry, sun and rain, thick and thin. But then something happens that Dani isn’t prepared for…
A chapter book for children ages 6 and up.
The first in the My Happy Life series
Hardcover, 136 pages. 21 x 15 cm (8.3 x 5.8").
Gecko Press.
Reviews
"A fast moving, yet empathetic journey of a young girl starting school and setting out on her first adventure of independence…Eriksson’s pictures are quaint and charming and frequent…These books will appeal to tamariki who are preparing for school (whether read to them or starting to read themselves) and those who are transitioning to chapter books. This is a space that Gecko Press operates best in." ~ The Groove Book Report
"This early chapter book handles difficult subjects with a gentle and optimistic touch, perfect for reassuring kids that they can make it through their own struggles." ~ A Mighty Girl
"Young readers will recognize the school setting and identify with the situations that Dani encounters there. It is refreshing that while it’s not all sunshine and perfection, it is rather positive. The illustrations are a delight! I loved the hearts on the end papers – simple but lovely too." ~ Cassie L, Netgalley
"The subject matter and tone are deeply respectful of younger readers, their needs, concerns and experiences." ~ Book Wagon (UK)
"This is tender, empathic, empowering and thoughtful early story telling with deft and considered themes. The subject matter and tone are deeply respectful of younger readers, their needs, concerns and experiences." ~ Book Wagon (UK)
"The book’s intended readers may not realize they are reading about anything unusually prized, but they will recognize they’re on to something quite splendid. If only all early chapter books were this beautifully conceived." ~ New York Times (US)
"Dani is eager to start school, but as she and her father approach the building, she begins to worry. Will she like her new teacher? Will she feel alone? Soon Dani and her classmate Ella become fast friends, sitting together, playing together, eating lunch together each day, and even having occasional sleepovers. When Ella moves away, Dani is forlorn, and every other hurt is magnified by her sorrow. Her father's gift of hamsters cheers her a bit, but it takes some time, reflection, correspondence with Ella, and a promised visit before Dani feels whole again. Translated from the Swedish, this simply written chapter book tenderly portrays the happiness of a child whose life is in balance, as well as the colossal, unremitting, inconsolable sorrow of one who is suffering loss. Lagercrantz mentions Dani's experiences when her mother died some years earlier, but leaves it to readers to draw the inference. The clarity and simplicity of the writing are balanced by the verve and finesse of Eriksson's captivating illustrations. Working beautifully with the text and usually given more space on the page, these sensitive ink drawings feature clean lines that express emotions through every character's stance, gesture, and expression. A quietly compelling book for young readers." ~ Booklist
"Young Dani has what she considers a happy life, but she wonders if she will still be happy once she starts school. The butterflies subside when she meets Ella, and they are soon fast friends. When Ella moves away, Dani doesn't think she'll find happiness again, and she reflects on how unhappy she was when her mother died. The story unfolds in short chapters, with just a few sentences per page and large, plentiful, black-and-white drawings. The illustrations complement the narrative well, and will enable younger readers to feel a sense of accomplishment for tackling a lengthy chapter book. The few characters are well developed and the everyday happenings in Dani's life feel genuine, such as friendship woes and childhood fears. The difficult subjects are handled gracefully, allowing children to realize that happiness comes and goes, and that everyone has hardships to face." ~ School Library Journal
"To understand the true meaning and value of resilience, look no further than the 20 brief chapters of this early reader, created by two longtime Swedish collaborators and beautifully translated into spare, lyrical prose. Even at a young age, Dani has seen more than her share of heartache: the best friend she meets in chapter four moves away by chapter eight ("[Dani] wished she could move, too. But she had to stay behind"), a departure that prompts the sad revelation that Dani's mother died sometime earlier. "They said she had passed away,” writes Lagercrantz, “but how could a dead person pass anything? And away to where?" But as Eriksson's emotionally astute and often endearingly funny pencil drawings show, Dani does indeed have much to be happy about. She has a loving father and extended family, an unflappable teacher whose lesson plans form a wry running joke ("They had a fruit week and a vegetable week. They learned all about fruit and vegetables"), and—above all—an openness to reflection and new possibilities, big and small. ~ Publishers Weekly
"For young middle grade readers, a new chapter book, 'My Happy Life,' takes up the subject of resilience in such a natural and powerful way, children won't remotely feel like they're reading a manual. Instead, 'My Happy Life,' written by Rose Lagercrantz and illustrated by Eva Eriksson, is one of those joyous rarities: a book about girls who are neither infallible nor pratfall-prone, but who are instead very real — both admirable and relatable. 'My Happy Life' isn't about death but about how children process negative experiences, whether it's a friend moving away or a classroom spat that ends in a bloody mouth (not Dani's). It's about children's natural and learned resilience, the incredible bouncing back that never ceases to surprise their worn-down parents. The book's intended readers may not realize they are reading about anything unusually prized, but they will recognize they're on to something quite splendid. If only all early chapter books were this beautifully conceived." ~ The New York Times Book Review
"A chapter book about childhood depression paradoxically delivers a very happy reading experience.
Dani can’t sleep the night before school starts, and with good reason. Will she like it? Will she be forced to spend all her time learning? Luckily, she makes a new best friend on Day 2. Dani and Ella sit together at lunchtime, choose each other for partners, establish the Night Club (an ambitious name for sleepovers) and even wear two halves of one heart necklace. Nothing can come between them, except, all of a sudden, “thousands of streets and roads” between Dani’s town and Ella’s new house, where she has to move with her family. Dani is no stranger to loss; her mother died when she was younger, but when she loses Ella, her happy mood succumbs to depression. New hamsters help. New friends help. But what really helps is the promise of a visit. Acclaimed Swedish writer Lagercrantz applies exactly the right amount of whimsical childhood observation and attitude to a serious exploration of a very young, broken heart. Eriksson’s pen-and-ink illustrations supply a simple yet wholly engaged context for these small, brave characters.
A sweet read for both children and their parents, who may be grateful at the reminder of emotional complexity lurking behind their children’s smiles."
--Kirkus Reviews
Prizes:
ALA Notable Children's Books — 2013 — Winner
Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year — 2014 — Winner
New York Times Notable Children's Books — 2013 — Winner
USBBY Outstanding International Books List — 2015 — Winner
Eva Eriksson is one of the world's great illustrators. Her awards include the Astrid Lindgren Prize and the August Award and she is consistently nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award.
Just Between Us - The Original Bestselling No-Stress, No-Rules Journal, Father & Daughter
ISBN 9781797216119
Regular price $25.95By Meredith & Sofie Jacobs
The Just Between Us journal you know and love-now for dads and daughters! Co-written by a real-life father-daughter team! In this journal co-author of the original Just Between Us: Mother & Daughter, Sofie Jacobs, partners with her father, Jonathan Jacobs, to offer advice and prompts for fathers and daughters to express anything and everything. With sensitivity and thoughtfulness, this interactive keepsake journal provides the space and encouragement for father-daughter conversations, packed with all the essentials to cultivate shared respect and deep understanding in one of life's most important relationships. Perfect for dads and daughters who are already close, it is also a shared resource for any father-daughter pair looking to deepen their relationship!
Includes:
• Advice and guidance from a real father and daughter duo
• Writing and drawing prompts to get the conversation started-and keep it going
• Pages for drawing funny pictures and making ambitious lists
• Plenty of free space for writing about whatever is on both of your minds
BESTSELLING JOURNAL SERIES: First published more than ten years ago, Just Between Us: Mother & Daughter is the original bestselling mother-daughter journal. This latest addition to the series-written by a real dad and daughter duo!-contains all-new prompts and art, perfect for longtime fans and new journalers alike.
DELUXE KEEPSAKE: Complete with two ribbon-markers so that both father and daughter can mark their place, this colorful, highly-illustrated hardcover journal makes for the perfect gift to fill now and treasure for years to come.
DAD & DAUGHTER CONNECTION: There are so many benefits to kids-girls especially-when they have an active and engaged father, from health and IQ to stable jobs and relationships. Just Between Us encourages regular, active communication, ensuring that when you need each other most, you're there for one another.
A POWERFUL TOOL: This journal helps facilitate necessary conversations in fun, funny, and heartwarming ways by offering a safe space to be honest. Writing removes a layer of awkwardness by providing some distance, and encourages vulnerability and truthfulness in those more reluctant to share.
Perfect for:
• Daughters and mothers looking for the perfect birthday or Father's Day gift for dad
• Resource for mothers, fathers, or stepparents looking for bonding activities for their families
• Families familiar with the original journal who are eager for new content
• Fans of Wreck This Journal and Why a Daughter Needs a Dad or anyone looking for a high-value interactive journal for dads or stepdads
Recommended for ages 10 and up. Fathers can begin making entries when their daughters are younger, in preparation for handing it over...
Hardcover. 6-1/2 x 8-3/4 inches. 144 pages.
Chronicle Books, 2023.