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Tuesday Tales – Time for a Hug

Everyone 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.

Hug Time

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.

Time for a Hug cover

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.

Pages from Time for a Hug

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.

It's Me

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.

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Preoccupied with Pinterest

“‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, I was trying to avoid things and got distracted by all things Mickey Mouse”

My Pinterest

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.

It's Me

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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 Friday by Kailani at An<br<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
    /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
    Island<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
    Life

Aloha #185

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Tuesday Tales – Disney Drawing Books

Do your children like to draw? My eight year old son, NHL, has caught the drawing bug. I still remember growing up and constantly drawing with the Ed Emberley books. I loved, loved, loved them and would spend hours making the critters and characters in the books come alive. I think these books may have sparked my desire to continue with art classes when in high school. To me, they were great to be creative and relax a bit from the high level science and math courses that I took.

Book bought in February 2010

During our February 2010 trip to Walt Disney World, NHL was fascinated with the drawings and animation area at Hollywood Studios. While visiting one of the gift shops, he begged TechyDad and I to allow him to purchase something. It was a giant “How to Draw” book of Disney characters. It looked like a bit much for him, but certainly something he would grow into. As a perk, it was not a plastic toy or new stuffed animal. We bought the book seen above. We pulled the Learn to Draw Disney: Celebrated Characters Collection book out recently and NHL adored it. He kept trying new characters and making up stories to go along with his drawings.

Time to draw Phineas and Ferb charactersRecently, a Scholastic book order came home and something snagged my attention. There was Learn to Draw Disney Phineas and Ferb Book that I knew NHL would love. This would combine his love for Perry, Doofenshmirtz, and other characters from the show with drawing. I ordered it to put away for Chanukah. TechyDad and I were right, NHL was in love with his new drawing book.

We were impressed with the easy to follow instructions in the book. The new Phineas and Ferb book is actually made by the same Walter Foster publishing company. Inside the book there is a table of contents with all of the characters that you can learn to draw yourself. NHL was excited to see not only Phineas, Ferb, Perry, but also Baljeet, Buford, Jeremy, and many others.

Here is a sneak peek inside the book at drawing Agent P and Dr. Doofenshmirtz:

Drawing Agent P and Dr. Doofenshmirtz

During one of the days of vacation, we pulled out the drawing books and other items to spending some time inside the warm house. NHL immediately picked a character to draw. Much to my surprise, he picked Buford and got started.

First Drawing

It was fun to watch NHL concentrate and smile when he was finished and had a favorite Phineas and Ferb character drawn on his own paper. Yes, I do believe many hours of drawing fun will continue with this book, and likely more from Walter Foster in our future.

Do you have any drawing books that your family loves? I would love to know. I would also like to hear about what have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Tuesday Tales and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

It's Me

Disclosure: As mentioned, we bought both of the books featured in this post. Two Amazon Affiliate links are included. Should someone purchase these from Amazon I will receive a small percentage of the sale. As always, all opinions are my own.

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Tuesday Tales – Chanukah Bugs

A year ago, I wrote about a great book that my little guy received from his speech therapist called Snow Bugs. The book is written and masterfully illustrated by pop up author book extraordinaire David A. Carter. Carter has many other books that we have seen, but I have always wanted to view one in particular. Enter JSL’s speech therapist and her Chanukah gift that was left with his things last week.

New Chanukah Book

Like Snow Bugs, this books is also a pop-up book that will delight all readers.  Chanukah Bugs takes you on a fun journey to meet eight Chanukah bugs. Yes, there is a special Chanukah bug for each night of the Festival of Lights.

Each night of Chanukah, we are presented with a box to open on the page.

Start of a Chanukah Bugs page

Then there is a flap, pull, or other item which will real something inside. On the first night, we meet The Shammash Bug.

Hello Chanukah bug

Not only did my little guy love reading about the different Chanukah Bugs, but I did as well. Nana was also mesmerized when she looked inside. The details of the pop-ups make it a book that adults will really appreciate. Kids may even notice that the Storyteller Bug is actually reading a familiar book. Now to share two of my favorite bugs (hard to narrow it down).

One of the favorite Chanukah bugs  

Bubbie Bug time

I know that this book will be gifted for family and friends in the future, both children and young at heart.

Have you read any of David A Carter’s books? I would love to know. I would also like to hear about what have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Tuesday Tales and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

It's Me

Disclosure: As mentioned, the book was a gift to my son from his teacher. Two Amazon Affiliate links are included. Should someone purchase these from Amazon I will receive a small percentage of the sale. As always, all opinions are my own.

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Tuesday Tales – The Magic of Brian Selznick

Tuesday Tales

Although I am not in a classroom right now, I try to stay up to date on Children’s Literature. Thanks to my boys, I am able to keep up a little more with picture books and early elementary school chapter books. Still, I love reading more than just that.

A little over a year ago, I read a book that changed my book reading world. Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret was something I had never experienced before. It took me on an adventure with words, thought, and most important amazing illustrations that made the story come alive. Yes, it was a novel that was 550 pages long that read so quickly and kept me turning pages.

The book was so popular that it was just made into a major motion picture called Hugo. Once again, it has me wondering IF Hollywood can live up to my interpretation of a book. Of course, it has something intriguing when you see the trailers and know it is a Martin Scorsese film.

Now, I just wait for a time to see Hugo since The Muppets are more the speed for my children. I am hoping to see it soon with a childhood friend who is a librarian. Until then, I am thrilled to have Brian Selznick’s new book to read.

Wonderstruck

Yes, Wonderstruck was released in September and already has amazing reviews – like The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I picked up the book and can not wait to read and review it.

Have you read any of Brian Selznick’s books or seen Hugo? I would love to know. As always, I would also like to know what have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Tuesday Tales and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

It's Me

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