My Brave Friend is a special book for young children. It focuses on Noah, a first grader, who notices his best friend Emma did not come back to school after winter break. His teacher explains Emma is in the hospital and she has cancer. The book uses calm, simple language that is easy for children to understand. It explains what it is like to be a patient in a children’s hospital and also that cancer is not contagious like some other illnesses.
Read Victoria's book review.
By
Victoria Castillo on March 2, 2026
Ever find your child or even yourself struggling to achieve perfection? While this can feel problematic, readers are introduced to Petunia, a young girl who takes pride in doing everything perfectly. Throughout her journey, we can start to feel normalized that not everyone or everything can be perfect.
Read Jessica's book review.
By
Birgit Sund on February 16, 2026
Calling all book-loving families, storytime superstars, and parents of tiny page‑turners!
Does your kid devour books like snacks, or melt into your lap the moment you say, “Once upon a time…”?
We’re swimming in amazing children’s book submissions — a wonderful problem to have — but there are simply too many for us to review on our own. And saying “no” to authors who pour their hearts into these stories? It hurts our book‑loving souls.
So… we had an idea. A fun one. A community-powered, story-celebrating, book‑sharing idea - and a chance for you and your littles to receive free children’s books in exchange for writing honest reviews.
By
Birgit Sund on January 29, 2026
Book reviews are essential for authors—especially indie authors who rely on visibility, word of mouth, and authentic reader feedback. As a community of readers, parents, and book lovers, we love supporting fellow writers and helping great books find their audience.
We also believe deeply in fostering a love of reading in children and making books accessible to families in our community. This program supports authors while also putting more stories into the hands of young readers.
This Read & Share Book Review Program connects children’s book authors with real readers and provides honest reviews that are shared on the Live Grow Play Austin blog, newsletter, and Facebook page, with many reviewers also choosing to post their honest review on Amazon.
By
Birgit Sund on January 27, 2026
Welcome to the 2025 Home & Lifestyle Holiday Gift Guide—where cozy meets clever, and every corner of your home gets a little more “ooh, where’d you get that?” Whether you’re gifting to a design-obsessed friend, a wellness-loving aunt, or just treating yourself (because yes, you deserve it), we’ve rounded up our favorite finds to elevate the everyday.
So whether you’re hosting, hibernating, or just trying to keep the peace between the quiet and the chaos, we’ve got gifts that bring joy to every nook and cranny.
By
Birgit Sund on November 28, 2025
Nestled in the heart of Liberty Hill, Texas, Simply Home Boutique stands as a charming yellow house brimming with unique treasures. Established in 2012, this delightful boutique has become a local favorite, offering an eclectic mix of home décor, fashion, kitchen treats, and gifts for all occasions. Whether you're stopping by for a fun shopping event, hunting for the perfect gift, or simply soaking in the boutique’s cozy charm, every visit feels like a little getaway filled with warmth, community, and delightful treasures.
By
Birgit Sund on February 13, 2025
School’s in full swing, the kids’ extracurriculars are in overdrive, the house still needs to function like a well-oiled machine (or at least not completely fall apart), and, oh yeah—there’s work, errands, and the endless to-do list that never seems to shrink. Sound familiar?
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, let’s talk about something you really deserve: a little self-care. Whether you’re dropping hints to your significant other or treating yourself (because, let’s be real, you’ve earned it), these handpicked self-care products are here to help you relax, recharge, and reclaim some much-needed “me time.” Because taking care of you isn’t selfish—it’s
essential.
By
Birgit Sund on February 4, 2025
Today’s featured book The Sun and The Planets by Patricia Geis, reviewed by our reader and local mom Yvette, is a very detailed and informative adventure about earth and outer space, with pop-ups, pull-outs, sliders, and foldouts.
By
Yvette Fischer on October 18, 2023
Did you know that according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), harmful chemicals found in plastic called Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) interfere with children's hormones, growth and brain development?
Did you know that more than 80% of baby and children's feeding products are plastic?
Did you know that by decreasing your child's exposure to these plastic chemicals, the level in their bodies can drop dramatically within just 3 days?
Read on and find out how.
By
Birgit Sund on November 16, 2021
Today's featured books,
My Daddy is a Monster/My Kids are Monsters and
My Mummy is a Monster/My Children are Monsters by Natalie Reeves Billing and illustrated by Lisa Williams are part of “The Monstrous Me Collection”. Both books are uniquely engaging and describe one story from two points of view, the children's and the father's and mother's respectively. Once you reach a certain place in the book, you flip the book over and read it again, it’s the same, yet different.
Who's going to be the monster today, Mom or Dad?
Read the book review of a fellow Live Grow Play Austin reader and enter for a chance to win your own copy.
By
Erin Thompson on October 8, 2020