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« Previous EntriesTuesday Tales – Isabella: Girl on the Go
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012Last year, I read a blog post about a book called My Name Is Not Isabella: Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream?
In the first book, Isabella uses her imagination to showcase to her mother the amazing scientific women that she is pretending to become. She learns that the sky is the limit if she follows her dreams. In Isabella: Girl on the Go, we watch as Isabella sits in her backyard and talks to her father.
Once again, Isabella’s imagination takes her from her yard and propels her into the adventure of a lifetime. Each time her father asks her who she is, we are whisked off to a new city where we see a famous structure.
Thanks to Isabella, we are able to see that everything in the world is just a dream away. We learn about new careers like being an archeologist, artist, astronomer, and more while traveling to places like Paris, London, China, and beyond. The playful words from Fosberry allow readers to see where Isabella has gone in her imagination. They are paired perfectly with the gorgeous illustrations from Litwin.
The book really could be for multiple age levels. Younger children will marvel at Isabella’s silly imagination and talks with her father while in her own yard. Older children can use the tale as a starting point to do more research about the places and structures that Isabella sees within her vivid imagination. At the end of the book, there is even more information about the places and structures that we visit.
I know that I highly recommend this book and hope to use it for gifts in the future. More information about the book, a downloadable Isabella Girl on the Go Passport and activity kit, and book tour can be found on Sourcebooks website. I know I will be printing these out to try with my kids soon. They look like a fun addition to a book study in a classroom, or something to try at home on a snowy or rainy day.
What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.
Disclosure: I received this book complimentary of Sourcebooks in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. Two Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post for the two books mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the book through that link.
Tuesday Tales – Shiver Me Letters A Pirate ABC
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012
For almost a year now, my little guy has been quite into all things having to do with Pirates. When we made his birthday party, his request was for a Jake and the Never Land Pirates theme. Of course, Jake was new on the scene. Thanks to this, we had to improvise.
Once again, Pirates are on JSL’s mind. Yesterday, he wore his Jake shirt for the premier of Peter Pan Returns. Yes, Peter Pan finally arrives on the scene with Jake and the Never Land Pirates. This is a huge event in a four year old’s world.
The popularity of all things pirates is evident when you see all of the pirate themed birthday items, costumes, and lots and lots of books. Yes, authors are reaching out to new landlubbers to take them on an adventure with their own cast of pirate friends.
Last year, a Scholastic Book Club flyer came home and a book caught my eye. When I saw the title by June Sobel, I knew it was being purchased for our family. Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC
This book is now a family favorite. Big brother NHL even likes to practice his pirate talk when reading this fun tale to JSL. The pirate adventure begins with the captain of the pirate ship ordering his crew to find him more letters. After all, a pirate does need more than just his R’s you know. The bright, cheerful illustrations by Henry Cole add another dimension to the story. What I really enjoyed was allowing JSL to search for each new letter within the pages. This helped him with letter recognition and gave us time to talk about what we could see within each page we turned.
As an educator, I love picture books that tell a story, captivate their audience, and teach children at the same time. Shiver Me Letters certainly does this and more. What I also adore is that June Sobel has a page on her website for teachers. Here you can find some great items to print and pointers to use when reading this with your class. She also linked up to Scholastic’s PDF with Read Aloud Activities to accompany the book. I have a feeling that JSL and I may have an alphabet treasure hunt next week during break. I know NHL would love to help us to make a map and I think it would be a great activity for all of us to do. I highly recommend this book to use with preschool and kindergarten age children to reinforce alphabet recognition and to create fun adventures with pirates and letters.
What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.
Disclosure: An Amazon Affiliate link is included in this post for the book mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the book through that link. We bought this book on our own from Scholastic and know it is on our gift list for other children.
Tuesday Tales – Protecting Our Kindle
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012It is hard to believe that there was once a time when I was unsure how I would feel about reading with an eReader. When we got our Kindle, I quickly realized some of the big perks and possibilities. I could keep multiple books with me at all times, I could instantly get books from the library for it, I could purchase a book and have it ready to read within minutes, and your kids can’t knock a book mark out of it.
TechyDad and I wanted to get something to protect Kimberly Kindle. Yes, we named her – just accept that. Here is Kimberly when we first got her without anything to protect her screen.
There were some gorgeous Kindle covers on Etsy. As much as I adored them, they were just a cover and did not help to protect our eReader. Thanks to several people on Twitter, we focused on M-Edge products. They seemed to be the most focused on protecting electronic devices. Many of them specifically suggested the M-Edge Latitude Kindle Jacket
After a bit more research, we bought the M-Edge Latitude Kindle Jacket. I love that it zips up to cover all of Kimberly. I love that it has a pocket for a little lamp should we opt to purchase one down the road. I also like that the cover flips back completely to make it each to hold and read my books. I can keep it in the case to recharge and the keyboard is still able to be used without any fuss.
Now I can’t wait to start my next book on the Kindle. Actually it’s a series that everyone has been talking about. Here’s it is all ready to go:
Yes, my next three books will be The Hunger Games Trilogy
I would love to know your thoughts on The Hunger Games Trilogy, eReaders, and anything else. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.
Disclosure: Two Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post with the two items mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the books through that link. We bought the M-Edge Jacket on our own and I wanted to share since we enjoy how well it works with our Kindle.
Under the Weather on Groundhog Day
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012While everyone else is watching to see what Phil the groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania sees this morning, I will be busy. First, I will be taking one kid to school and trying to make an appointment for the little guy to see the doctor. Much of Wednesday was spent trying to get the sick little guy to do this
He was so exhausted after waking up during the night with a fever. There are no other symptoms, aside from a cough when he gets upset. He did get sick all over me, but it was not illness related. JSL is NOT a fan of medicine. Unfortunately, with his febrile seizure history, we do not wait around with fevers. We have to act quickly to get his temperature down. While he has gone eight months without one, we never know if today could bring another seizure.
We did not go to the doctor Wednesday because it may just be viral. If he is miserable during the night, we will likely head to the doctor to have his ears and throat checked to make sure. JSL never complains about his ears bothering him and often they are the cause of fevers.
While we rest, I do hope to read some Groundhog Day books, like the one I reviewed last year.
Source: theangelforever.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest
If you are looking for other Groundhog Day ideas, I found some and pinned on my Groundhog Day board. There are pancakes, fruit snack, predictions craft, cupcake push pops and more. Stop by because the photos are amazing and they link to the items shown.
Do you have any special plans this Groundhog Day? What do you think about the little rodent’s prediction given the relatively mild winter in a lot of the country?
Tuesday Tales – Reading Multiple Books
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012Books, books, and more books. As an educator our house is filled with books of all kinds. We have picture books, board books, drawing book, Newbery books, library books, Kindle books, travel books, and many more. Most of the time, I never know what I am going to read next.
The other day, I finally caught up with Ridley Pearson’s Kingdom Keeper books. The fourth book, Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play
Of course, these are not the only books I am reading. The person that once thought it was impossible to have more than one book being read at a time does. I have a book in my Kindle for when I am on the go and am always reading with the boys. So what would I read next?
I recalled a book that I had been hoping to read. It would take me back to the good old days. You know, when I was a carefree kid who lived to see the next episode of Little House on the Prairie with her best friend. After I finished reading Prairie Tale: A Memoir
I am about a third of the way done with the book and am in love with Arngrim’s style of writing. I can almost hear Nellie Olsen reading the book. She tells us about her life growing up before Little House and then gives us her thoughts on the people she worked with for years. More details to come as I continue to read. If you are a fan of Little House and Nellie – I highly recommend Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated.
Do you read more than one book at a time? I would love to know your thoughts on this. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your book posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child, or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.
Disclosure: Four Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post with the four book titles mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the books through that link.
My Preschool Star
Sunday, January 29th, 2012Dear JSL,
This past week was your turn to be the Star of the Week in your class. You were only the third child and first boy, so we were making things up as we went along. Last weekend, we had the sheet home from school with what we needed to send in. First, we had to fill out the All About Me page
- Name – JSL
- Favorite color – blue
- Favorite book – If You Give a Pig a Party
- Favorite toy – Bumblebee Transformer
- Favorite food – Mac and Cheese
- Members in my family – JL, B, and NHL
Then, you had a bag to put a few items for the week in. You needed something that God made and we picked a feather from Whiskers. Your favorite book which I went in to read to the class on Wednesday, and three toys. The toys had to stay for the week, so this was a tough decision. In the end, you picked Bumblebee, a Buzz Lightyear on his ship, and Pirate Stitch. The last item was to include 12 photos for the bulletin board (featured on Wordless Wednesday). The two of us went through a bunch of photos and made a folder. Then we worked on narrowing it down to the 12. You finally picked these out to share with everyone.
On Tuesday, you shared your photos and feather with the kids in your class. Wednesday, I went in to read your favorite story, and on Friday you shared the rest of your special toys. It was a fun and busy week. I was so proud of how much you helped to work on this project and heard that you did a great job sharing. You are growing up so quickly and I am so proud of you.
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday Tales – Newbery Books
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
On Monday, the American Library Association announced the 2012 Youth Media Award Winners. Some of the awards given out were the Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, and many others. To see the full list of 2012 award winning books, the ALA has the press release with all of the titles, authors, illustrators, and other important information on their website.
As a parent who has an older child that is now reading chapter books, I like to keep up to date on these new award winning books . Of course, during my days in the classroom I read a lot of them as well.
I previously wrote about some of the Newbery titles that I have read over the years. I not only read these because I adored seeing all of the children’s literature that are out there, but also to see what to use within my classroom. I will not lie, I often selected titles that were Newbery Medal or Honor winners. They were not the only titles, but most years I would select 1-2 Newbery trade books to read as a literature unit.
- The Egypt Game
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
- Number the Stars
by Lois Lowry
- Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine
- The View from Saturday
by E.L. Konigsburg
The four books above have something in common. They are all Newbery Medal or Newbery Honor books. They are also four books that I taught during Language Arts units in my own classroom. Each of them is unique in their own way. They connect with other subject areas and are fantastic books.
I know that I hope to check out the new Newbery winners for 2012 soon.
Have you read any of the 2012 award books? I would love to hear about them. What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Book Posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.
Disclosure: Four Amazon Affiliate links are included in this post with the four book titles mentioned. I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the books through that link.
The Sleeping Blanket
Monday, January 23rd, 2012There is nothing better during the cold months than to curl up under a cozy blanket and read a book. It doesn’t matter whether the book has pages to flip, or is found within my Kindle – it is just as relaxing. All that I need are my newly knitted blanket and current book.
I am about half way finished reading Kingdom Keepers IV – Power Play by Ridley Pearson. I love these books and have written about them before. Although they are not specifically written for adults, I enjoy them because the story puts me into the magical world of Disney. There is something special about favorite characters battling the evil Disney Villains like Maleficent and Cruella De Ville.
Sunday afternoon, the boys were busy playing Nintendo and it seemed like the perfect time to catch some more of the Kingdom Keepers adventures throughout Walt Disney World. I read for quiet a bit and then I felt like I was being put under a spell. Of course, the Evil Queen was not in my house. I felt the need to close my book and eyes.
After I woke up from my nap, I joked to TechyDad. I think there is something to this blanket. Several nights this week, I would curl up on the couch to sit and watch television or read, only to fall fast asleep under the blanket.
Does this cozy, soft, warm blanket have special powers to make those who curl under it forget their mission to read or get work done?
Hmmmm. . . could it be?
After TechyDad and I came up with this theory we asked the boys to test it out, but for some reason they refuse to try it. Of course, I still am going to test it with them one of these days – insert evil laugh here!
Do you own a special blanket, pillow, or something else that just seems to make you fall asleep? Makes me wonder if the baby blankets like this do the same for those that have received them?
Tuesday Tales – Time for a Hug
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012Everyone knows that Valentine’s Day is coming in a little under a month. During that time, we often think about the ones that we love to hug. There will be lots of hearts, hugs, kisses, special notes to those that we love, and more.
Did you know that this Saturday, Jan 21, is National Hug Day? It is and it seemed like a great time to share a new book that I reviewed by Phillis Gershator and her mother Mim Green called Time for a Hug. Once I started to read and they saw the illustrations from David Walker, they were hooked.
Too often, we forget about the simple things in life and never stop even for a brief second to enjoy them with our children. Before we know it, they grow up before our eyes. In Time for a Hug, we are reminded that there is never a wrong time to pause for a bit and enjoy a hug with someone special. In this tale, we go from sunrise to sunset with Little Bunny. As we watch Little Bunny get dresses, eat meals, play, and go about the day – there is always time to stop for a special hug no matter the hour.
Toddlers and preschoolers will appreciate the activities that Little Bunny does throughout the day. My youngest caught onto the rhythmic nature of the book and quickly jumped in every time I asked “What time is it?” within the story.
The beautiful illustrations from David Walker just melt your heart with the touching story from Phillis Gershator and Mim Green.
Time for a Hug – Written by Phillis Gershator and Mim Green – Illustrated by David Walker – Sterling Children’s Books – January 2012 – ISBN 9781402778629 – $9.95 – Ages 3-5
With older children, I could see making crafts like a hug around the clock. For really crafty people, it could even be in a mobile form. Perhaps stopping each hour while your child is awake to have a hug and mark down on a heart what you are doing during that time (breakfast, taking a walk, building with Legos, or something else). Of course, you could also make a hug picture book and take photos of you and your little one each hour to make a special scrap book for Valentine’s Day or just because. The possibilities are out there and so many great extensions of this book could be created with your own family.
What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Book Posts in the comments below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.
Disclosure: I received this book complimentary of Sterling Children’s Books in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was given. The opinions expressed in the review are my own. An Amazon Affiliate link is included where I will receive a percentage of money for the sale should you opt to buy the book mentioned.
Preoccupied with Pinterest
Friday, January 6th, 2012“‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, I was trying to avoid things and got distracted by all things Mickey Mouse”
What am I talking about? Just before Christmas, when I was busy with all things Chanukah and beyond, my friend Kelby Carr, aka @TypeAMom, mentioned something about Pinterest. This was far from the first time she had mentioned an addiction to it. I heard about it while in NYC during SheStreams. Of course, I tried to stay away. Why? Not because I didn’t think I would like it. I knew I would and didn’t want another item in my bag of tricks.
Well, Kelby brought me to the dark side that evening. When I said I was avoiding it, she sent me an invite. Within minutes, I was a sold. What’s not to love as a mother, geek, social media person, and crafter? Seriously, WAY too much to offer.
The beauty of Pinterest is you can personalize in any way you want. So far, I have organized my pins into 16 boards. My topics include:
Disney Life For Me – Recipes to Try – Sweet Goodness – Knitting Things – Crafts for Kids – Geek I am – Need to Read – For Those Eeyore Kind of Days – Chanukah Oh Chanukah – Recipes that we Enjoy – Bullying Be Gone – Books from Tuesday Tales – Just for Laughs – Around the House – <3 Day Items – Birthday Party Ideas
On Type-A Parent, Kelby has shared 5 Pinterest Tips for the Beginner. This post does a great job summarizing things for the newbie getting to know Pinterest. Now, let me share a few fun pins.
From “Disney Life For Me” – a favorite Dreamfinder and Figment post from Zannaland
Source: zannaland.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest
A funny saying that several fellow Geeks shared and I loved for my “Geek I am” board:
Source: nerdquirks.tumblr.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest
Of course, there are lots of sweet temptations in my “Sweet Goodness” board. Here is one with cookie dough that is taunting me to make it one day:
Source: recipegirl.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest
There are SO many other goodies out there, but I will leave you with those three pin examples. If you are on Pinterest Type-A Parent also has a Pinterest Profile Linkup that they are running to locate more people. Oh one more thing, congratulations to Kelby. While I sit and type this, she just announced that she was signed on to write a Pinterest for Dummies book.
So my question to you this week:
Are you on Pinterest yet or not? If you are, what do you like using it for? If you are not, I would love to know what you are waiting for.
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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.
Aloha #185
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