Creating a Culture Where Stories Matter...
"Thought breeds thought; children familiar with great thoughts take as naturally to thinking for themselves as the well-nourished body takes to growing; and we must bear in mind that growth, physical, intellectual, moral, spiritual, is the sole end of education." - Charlotte Mason
Wanda Hazel Gag's, Millions of Cats (1928), is considered the oldest American children's book still in print. An elderly couple decide to get a cat but find "millions, billions, and trillions" of cats to bring home instead. The cats fight among themselves until only one scrawny, shy kitten remains. The kitten thrives and the couple find satisfaction in simplicity.
Nearly a century later, there are currently millions of children's books in print and thousands more added each year. All of these books are competing for a space in your home. Finding the quality books that lead to intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth is becoming increasingly more difficult. Politics have found their way into children's literature, AI imagery has begun to replace illustrations, and the majority of content is what Charlotte Mason would call "twaddle."
Our goal at The Floating Library is to provide your family with thoughtfully selected picture books that honor your child's growth and love for stories. Just as there are millions of cats needing homes and books needing shelves, there are lists of recommended reading for your child. The books you find on our lists are well-written, featuring engaging narratives, thought provoking content, and rich language. We focus on what is "good, true, and beautiful." We focus on simplicity in the story.
Thank you for supporting our small family business!
The Book Lists
Invest in one (or all) of our curated book lists and receive instant access through our secure digital portal. We proudly donate a book for every five booklists sold.
1. The Little Patriot
2. The Little Artist
The Balloon Bouquet
Our motto is "elevating the experience" after all. Celebrating life's beautiful milestones is our specialty. Each balloon bouquet is inspired by one of our favorite picture books. The perfect gift for gender reveals, baby showers, new baby, birthdays, etc.
The Floating Library
elevating the experience
The Book Box
For all of our picture book enthusiasts, we recommend the book box. Each month, your child will receive a new book paired with an engaging activity to nurture their love of literature.
The Art Gallery
The Art Gallery is where books inspire art. Each piece of art is an original design and no two pieces are the same. We proudly donate three books for each piece sold.
The Book Shop
Whether you are looking for a new book to adorn your shelves (our books have gorgeous illustrations), the perfect gift, or a clever gender reveal, we have you covered. Our gifted books and gender reveal books are wrapped and ready to go. Shipping available.
The Community Connect
Book us for a pop-up event at your local business. We bring along an engaging book and an elevated experience for your guests. Send us an email at hello@thefloatinglibraryva.com to connect. Where will we float next?
The Art Gallery
Current Installation: "Monet's Cat"
Claude Monet (1840 - 1926) is often regarded as the father of Impressionism. He sought to capture the fleeting moments in life, always painting en plein-air. Monet was an avid gardener and once said, "my garden is my most beautiful masterpiece." After his death, some of his possessions, including a Japanese glazed biscuit ceramic cat, seemed to have vanished from his home in Giverny. In 2017, the cat resurfaced and Japanese art dealer Hideyuki Wada purchased it and donated it to the Claude Monet Foundation. Today, the cat sits on a pillow in Monet's dining room where it once did many years ago. It is thought that the "sleeping cat" ornament was given to Monet by a Japanese admirer. Author, Lily Murray was inspired by the story of Monet's sleeping cat and creatively intertwines it into an adventure, revisiting some of his most famous paintings. Accompanied by gorgeous illustrations from Becky Cameron, this book won a coveted spot in our regular book rotation. The story of Monet's sleeping cat inspired my own creative homage to the story by creating origami cats with Monet's renowned paintings, thus intertwining art history, literature, and Japanese tradition. Each piece is a unique, original creation. We will donate three books for each piece purchased to our local community.
Monet's Cat
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Monet's Cat
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Monet's Cat
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Monet's Cat
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Choose Your Plan
"The Floating Library has completely transformed our family reading routine. We finally feel confident in every book we choose for our children."
— Sarah J., Parent of Two