A few years ago, I designed a special, whimsical blanket with a matching bag to keep in the car to use on picnics, park visits, and sunny days (mine is in the trunk of my car… and probably has some dried grass woven in now).
The pattern for this “Adventure Travel Blanket” is available from my pattern shop: CLICK HERE.
I hope you will make one for happy moments with kids, family, friends, or for quiet alone time. If you do, please tag #snappytots when posting on social media so I can see your adventures.
The pattern also includes a bag to carry the blanket, books, snacks, and more.
Some of my favorite memories include special blankets:
- Spreading out a blanket in the spring through fall for a picnic or to play games and read books
- Building blanket forts
- Cheering on our favorite soccer players
- Bundling up during a movie, on a car ride, and cuddling with loved ones
Happy “Read Across America Day”!
The free pattern and giveaway have ended. Thank you very much for supporting my site.
Giveaway Winner – Lynne Moore
Lynne, please email [email protected] to claim your 5 snappy patterns.
- Prize: 5 current or future snappy tots crochet and/or knit patterns.
Some Free Snappy Patterns You Might Enjoy
- Cat in MY hat crochet pattern
- Seuss Sayings Printable
- Mini Top Hat and Bow
- Ready to Read Tote
- Marni’s Blanket Lapghan
Some of My Favorite Books
My daughter, an avid reader, has reminded me of the joy and importance of reading. I love how much she reads. She also has shared some of her creative writing on a blog, The Riveting Raven. You can also follow her on Instagram @the.riveting.raven where she shares what she is reading and some of her favorites.
I am a very slow reader so I tend to be picky about what I read. My favorite books seem to be more because of the life experiences at the time I read them. I know, I am a weirdo. Here are my all time favorites:
- Dr. Seuss: audible | GoodReads
- To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: audible | GoodReads
- The complete Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rolling (especially the first one): audible | GoodReads
- All Creatures Great and Small series by James Herriot: audible | GoodReads
I often listen to books through audible so I have included links for both the audible version (for those that might use audible) and a link for the book review/info.
Here are some of my recent favorite books:
- Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey: audible | GoodReads
- Ella Minow Pea, A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn: audible | GoodReads
- I collect the classics and Stephen King books and hope to own and read them all someday. I am about halfway there.
- Currently listening to – Atomic Habits by James Clear: audible | GoodReads
My Family’s favorites:
- Two of my mom’s favorite author’s: Agatha Christie, Mary Higgin’s Clark
I will always remember my mom being able to read really quickly and I bet she has read every book by those two authors… and many, many more. - Nicolas’ favorite (my oldest son) – Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins: audible | GoodReads
Nicolas goes on and on about this book, quoting it often. It has had a big impact on him. - Hillary’s suggestion (my daughter) – Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: audible | GoodReads
Hillary had several great suggestions and I could have made a list of them. You really will want to follow her on Instagram @the.riveting.raven if you are looking for books. - Hayden’s suggestion (my youngest son, age 15) – The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan: audible | GoodReads Hayden really enjoys this series!
- Kelly’s suggestion (my sister) – The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley: audible | GoodReads
Kelly has also always been an avid, fast reader. She is the one I think of when I think of sitting on a blanket reading a book. I think she stole all of the “quick reading” genes! - Kayleigh’s suggestion (my daughter in law) – The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: audible | GoodReads
I hope you will take time to enjoy moments with a book. I often hear people say that books make a great escape from reality. Let’s go!
I Love where the red fern grows, But also loved reading Twilight and the Harry Potter series.
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
Anything by Janet Evanovitch, charlaine Harris, Darynda Jones, Harry Potter. Oh so many I can’t even name them all!!
One of my favorite books from childhood that I still read today is The Westing Game by Ellen Raskins, a murder mystery that suits all ages!! And a favorite author from now is Seanan McGuire, who writes paranormal fantasy with lots of sass, snark, lyricism, and heart and I just can’t get enough of it!!
Oh!!! And Janet Evanovich…the Stephanie Plum series is laugh out loud characters! The firs book is One for the Money. My favorite series of all times. I don’t miss a one of them!!!
Karen Marie Moning is one of my favorite authors! The Fever Series is so exciting and fun. Kept me on the edge of my seat and could not turn the pages fast enough!!!
The Selection and The Elite by Kiera Cass
Christine feehan
Hello, the first thing that came to mind is , Where The Crawdads Sing. I never wanted to read a book again the second time. This was so good.
I read a lot of books about early pioneers. Woman homesteader in the west and Alaska. One Man’s Wilderness about Dick Proenneke’s life in Alaska. Books on homesteading and herbal remedies.
Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Mary Higgins Clark just to name a few!
My favorite book is David Copperfield by Dickens. I also enjoy books by GK Chesterton, Willa Cather, etc. And, I read a lot of mysteries!
I love to read and have so many favorite classics. This year, some of my favorites have been Lilies of the Field, The Bronze Bow, Shane, Jane Eyre, The Hound of Baskervilles, Silas Marner. Just to name a few.
My favorite author is Jana DeLeon.
My favorite books as a child were The Secret Garden and The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
For general reading, I don’t have a favorite author but I do tend to enjoy more novels from the past, the ones you can read over and over like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. As far as specific books, To Kill a Mockingbird really stuck with me, I was probably too young for it at the time, but how horrible some people are and how important it is to be kind to everyone really stuck with me. And still others I could read repeatedly are Anne of Green Gables; Heidi; Little Women; Rendezvous with Rama; The Secret Garden; The Time Machine; Where the Red Fern Grows.
Mine is J.K rolling I love the Harry Potter series
My favorite author is Meagan Brandy!
My older granddaughter is in love with the Harry Potter books on Audible. I read just about anything, but enjoy Rachel Caine, who was a great writer and friend. John Sanford’s Prey series and Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series are also favorites.
I have several authors I love, Debbie Macomber, Lauraine Snelling,Linda Lael Miller, and several more women that writes Amish Story books
I like several. Anne of Green Gables being one
As an adult, my favorite author & book is Dean Koonts – Watcher.
My favorite author is Diana Gabaldon. I love the Outlander series.
When I did day care in my home i read to the children
Dr.Suess even their school books
I love most anything historical fiction. I’ve read quite a few lately with a WWII theme. I will pretty much try reading most anything.
Growing up it was Judy Blume or Beverly Cleary. As an adult my favorite Author is Harlan Coben. I love everything he writes but particularly like the Myron Bolitar series.
Growing up my favorites were anything by Judy Blume or even Peter Cottontail. As you can see it’s been a very long time since I have read anything.
When my sons were little, our favorite book was Mike Mulligan and the Steamshovel, as well as all of the Dr. Seuss books
Mostly read non-fiction and self help these days. I really need to get back to some fiction and reading for fun!!
my favorite writers are terry prachet and tad williams and sophia drenth (dutch writer)
I have several favorite authors. E.B. White who wrote Charlotte’s Web. C.S. Lewis who wrote the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe Series. And A.A. Milne who wrote the Winnie the Pooh books. These are just a few of my all time favorites.
my favorite books are Harry Potter books for sure. but I have currently been reading the Witcher series!
I have 2 favorite series that I reread yearly: Jan Karon’s Mitford series and Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache series. Both have great characters and attention getting plots.
I am a retired school teacher and have enjoyed lots of children authors (Suess, Wilder, Berstain, Etc.). On an older range I enjoyed Harry Potter and Agatha Christie.
I have reread the Secret Life of Bees several times
Good Morning Heidi,
I look to read all kinds of books.
My favorite author is Laura Ingalls Wilder. I am middle aged and still enjoy these books. They taught me so much about myself.
I quite enjoyed the Sweet Potato Queens series by Jill Conner Browne. Funny and forthright.
I do not read much at all anymore, sadly. As a teen, I loved Lori Wick. The book I am reading now is “The Red Sea Rules” by Robert Morgan… Very practical & helpful.