What We Read and What We Did
A monthly Reading Roundup paired with simple, screen-free ideas to support your analog motherhood
Hi, and welcome to Nurture Notes! I’m Cadence, a mama and a writer who cares deeply about intentional motherhood and building a more purposeful, connected life with our kids.
When I say “intentional motherhood,” I just mean making choices on purpose, not out of habit or pressure. It’s about slowing down long enough to ask, “Is this working for us?”—and being brave enough to do things differently when it’s not.
I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m so excited to share our Reading Roundup + the things that kept us (mostly) off screens for April. Here you’ll find everything my preschooler and I read, along with simple, screen-free things we did instead of reaching for the remote or pulling out a phone.
You’ll get book recommendations for you, Mama, and your little ones, plus ideas for all those in-between moments when you’re unsure how to fill the day without social media or screen time. Around here, progress is always better than perfection. I’m not a no-screens mom, just a low-screens one—doing my best alongside you.
I hope these books and ideas help guide your analog motherhood and give you a few concrete options for the next time your kid says, “Mama, can I watch a show?” and you’d really rather they…not.
What We Read
Each month, I’ll share what both my four-year-old and I read—what we loved, what didn’t quite land, and why. I’ll include a star rating (out of five) for the mama reads, but I’m skipping ratings for the kid picks because it’s pretty much all or nothing at this age. He’s either obsessed or uninterested, and that speaks for itself.
I hope this list gives you a few new books to try, or reminds you of some old favorites worth picking back up. We all need a little inspiration (and support) when swapping screens for books, and I hope that something here helps make that a little easier.
For Mama
In April, I read five books. Some I devoured, some I pushed through, and one I quietly DNF’d (no shame). I picked these up during independent playtime, after bedtime, and during our morning rhythm—in the margins of motherhood, when I could (you can read more about that here).
I love reading a mix of fiction and non-fiction, and this month was no different.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
I couldn’t put this one down. It’s layered with deeply touching storylines, beautifully written, and I flew through it in just a few days.
Trigger warning: it includes the death of a child, something I usually avoid completely, but in this case, it was handled with such care and depth that I’m glad I stuck with it. It was heavy, but it was worth it. I truly loved this one.
My Rating: ★★★★
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Abby Jimenez doesn’t disappoint. While this wasn’t my favorite of hers, it still delivered everything you want in a romcom. Fun, flirty, and full of idealized moments that go down easily. Her characters are always unique and likable, and this was precisely the kind of book I want to read after a long day of mothering. Light, playful, and the perfect amount of escapism.
My Rating: ★★★
The writing was beautiful, but it focused more on atmosphere and setting than plot, and I struggled to stay engaged. I wanted to love it, but eventually, I did not finish!
My Rating: ★★
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
I loved this book and highly recommend it for anyone interested in low-screens parenting. Haidt lays out the research in a way that’s clear, compelling, and surprisingly easy to absorb. It confirmed what I’ve felt intuitively and gave me language to talk about it more confidently. If you’re raising kids in the age of smartphones, this is a must-read.
My Rating: ★★★★★
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
Eye-opening and thought-provoking, this one doesn’t speak directly to parenting, but it makes a strong case for why building resilience in our kids matters, especially in a culture that doesn’t always leave room for discomfort or growth.
My Rating: ★★★★
For Toddlers & Preschoolers
In April, my four-year-old became completely hooked on the Magic Tree House series and some other chapter book series we stumbled on at our local used bookstore. I wasn’t sure he’d be ready for chapter books, but he's all in as long as there’s a picture or two on most pages. I’m so excited about this new phase because it’s opened the door to much more literature I’ve been waiting to share with him.
Is it Harry Potter time yet??
Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon
This one’s quickly become one of our favorite silly reads. Dory is big-spirited, wildly imaginative, and wonderfully unique—a kid who lives in her creative world. At first, I worried my son might pick up a few “bad habits” from her antics, but honestly, it’s been the opposite. The stories show the natural consequences of her behavior in a way that feels real and age-appropriate. Plus, the humor keeps him hooked.
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
I didn’t think we’d be here at age four, but my son has taken to more “advanced” storylines, and Magic Tree House has been a great early chapter book series to explore. We’re starting with the first few books, knowing that some later ones include more fear-based elements. We’re treading lightly and skipping anything that feels too mature.
I remember reading these as a kid, and I love that Jack and Annie are off on adventures with little adult supervision. It aligns with my “let grow” parenting values. While I wouldn’t recommend this series for young kids without guidance, it’s been a solid, exciting intro to longer stories we can enjoy together. I’ll monitor as we go, but it’s been a hit.
The Last Firehawk by Katrina Charman
This one’s brand new to us and is already a hit! We started with the first two books, and the stories are adventurous and clever, just the right level of challenge without being too complex or confusing. The characters are all animals (which I love), and there’s a strong theme of bravery throughout, something I’m always looking for in stories to share with my son.
Okay, this one is an all-time favorite in our house. We’ve been following the Dragon Masters series since my son was around three, and it’s stuck with us in a big way. There are about 28 (maybe 29?) books in the series—and yes, we own every single one. I’m not saying you should go out and buy them all (I’m still figuring out where to store them), but they’ve been such a consistent hit that I highly recommend them.
Each book features a new dragon and a new “dragon master,” with stories that span cultures and introduce characters from often underrepresented communities. There’s a picture on nearly every page, which makes them approachable for early readers. The writing itself isn’t anything to write home about, but the stories are fun, fast-paced, and exactly right for this age group. We also love them on Audiobook.
What We Did
In our house, that 3 to 5 p.m. stretch can feel never-ending. I get the urge to turn on the TV, and honestly, some days we do. But more often, I try to reach for something simple and intentional instead—activities that invite connection, spark a little creativity, and help us end the day feeling like we lived it, not just survived it.
This section is a collection of those ideas—nothing fancy, nothing exhaustive. Each month, I’ll give you real-life things that you can do that worked for us—slow, screen-free moments that gave us something to do instead of something to watch. I hope these help you feel more inspired during those tricky windows of the day and remind you that it’s about progress, not perfection.
Dragon Softie Activity
We checked out a sweet book called The Secrets of Ninja School from our local library and were excited to find a fun activity in the back—a tutorial for making a felt dragon using embroidery floss. I hesitated at first (I am definitely not a sewer, though I do love a good craft), but we had some leftover felt from a previous project, so I decided to give it a shot. We were only missing stuffing, so we picked some up at Michaels and dove in!
It ended up being an easy, fun activity to do together. The project took us a few days to finish, which I loved because it became a little lesson in patience and follow-through for both of us. Bennett was especially excited for the stuffing part, so he was thrilled when it was finally time to do it!
If you’d like to do this project, I found a downloadable guide here, or you can find the book at your local library!
Volcano Project
Remember making a volcano erupt in science class as a kid? Turns out, it’s just as simple (and fun) to do at home. A little clay, some baking soda, a bit of paint—and you’ve got yourself a volcano. We picked up this activity at our local hobby store, and it ended up being a huge hit. It’s another one of those multi-day projects, since you have to let the mold dry before the big eruption, which worked in our favor; Bennett got to build anticipation and stay excited about it for a couple of days. You can pick up your kit here.
Reading Games
We recently invested in the new Lovevery Reading Skill Set (just part one), and we’re so glad we did. The games are fun, educational, and have sparked my son’s interest in some of the basics he’ll eventually need to start reading on his own. That said, I’m not in any rush. He is only four and I’m not necessarily pushing for him to learn how to read yet—studies show that early reading doesn’t always lead to stronger reading comprehension later on. So take the pressure off, Mama.
The box includes activities for isolating sounds, learning letter sounds, and basic spelling. And honestly? I actually enjoy playing them too.
Outdoor Adventures
Getting outdoors will forever be my #1 screen-free “hack.” I know it’s not new or groundbreaking, but wow, does it work—especially in the spring when the weather is just… perfect. Fresh air resets everyone. It shifts the energy, calms the chaos, and gives kids the kind of open-ended play that they need to develop into curious, confident, problem-solving kids. Whether digging in the garden, “hiking” a local trail (and by that I mean running full speed or stopping completely for snacks), or just wandering the backyard. Being outside can turn the day around in a way that not many other activities can.
Karate
I’ll preface this one by saying I am a HUGE believer in NOT over-scheduling our kids. Especially in these toddler and preschooler years, the most important thing they should be doing for healthy growth and development is having many hours of open-ended play. You can get into the details of this in Peter Gray’s Free to Learn.
That said, ever since my son turned four, I’ve noticed he’s been craving a little more structure—some real “lessons” and activities to focus his energy. So, we enrolled him in karate. It’s the only extracurricular we’re doing right now (outside of his three mornings a week at a progressive preschool), and it’s brought him so much joy.
He’s always loved “big play”—running, jumping, wrestling, sword fighting, you name it. Karate has been a great outlet for all that energy, helping him learn how to channel it in a focused, respectful way. It’s also reinforcing something we talk about a lot: it’s totally normal to want to move your body in big, strong ways—we just have to learn how to do it safely and appropriately.
I hope this month’s Reading Roundup + the things that kept us (mostly) off screens had something to inspire your analog motherhood. I would love to hear if it did!
Thanks for reading,
Cadence
Hey, Mama. I’m Cadence, and Nurture Notes is where I share ideas for intentional motherhood, low-screen living, and building a connected family culture.