Emma's Poem

Do you know how the Statue of Liberty came to be a greeting to the immigrants?

Glaser, Linda.
Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty.
April 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Emma Lazarus grew up living a very privileged life, fortunate to have all that she needed and wanted. In 1883, Emma set out to visit Ward's Island in New York Harbor, a place where she met very poor immigrants who had traveled to America from Eastern Europe. Noticing the way they looked and emotions they expressed, Emma felt a longing in her heart to help them and made it her personal mission to help them achieve what they came to America in search of. In order to help the immigrants, Emma also reached out to the community writing poems and to the newspapers, hoping to change the views toward immigrants. Around the same time that Emma was reaching out to the immigrants, France was reading out to the United States through means of a giant statue to show the great love of liberty shared between both countries - the statue would stand in New York Harbor, the same place where immigrants formed their first impressions of America. In an effort to help raise money for the statue's platform, Emma was asked to write something - something she cared about. Of course, Emma knew she had to use this opportunity to share with the American public about the immigrants. she ended up writing the sonnet that is today, still very much associated with the Statue of Liberty. She wrote what she felt would be a strong, caring voice, portrayed through the Statue of Liberty, who just happened to have a torch lamp held out to welcome immigrants to America.

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

This is a wonderful book to share with children symbols of what America stands for. It also is a perfect introduction to use when teaching children about immigrants - the reasons for immigrating to America and how their lives may or may not have changed upon the time of their immigration. It is a bit "too old" for my preschoolers, but seems very much appropriate for children in 3rd-8th grade. Seeing as we will soon be celebrating America's birthday, this is more than an appropriate time to check out this new book, as the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of all that America stands for!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Check out the Statue of Liberty Junior Ranger Package, provided by the National Park Service. Print out the packet and find time to take a trip to NYC to visit and explore the Statue of Liberty with your child this summer!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Colors... Everywhere

The world is 100% full of colors. Everything, everywhere is a color of some sort or shade. In the newest non-fiction series, Colors Everywhere, authored by Kristin Sterling and published by Lerner Books, a few of these colors are shared with readers in some detail. Colors are explored as a part of nature, as human-made (shade mixing). They are also explored in the context of meaning - yellow can portray happiness, mellowness. Red can portray anger or represent the act of being annoyed.

Sterling, Kristin.
Red Everywhere.
March 2010.
Lerner Books.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Sterling, Kristin.
Black Everywhere.
March 2010.
Lerner Books.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Sterling, Kristin.
Blue Everywhere.
March 2010.
Lerner Books.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Sterling, Kristin.
Yellow Everywhere.
March 2010.
Lerner Books.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

The titles listed above are just four of the six titles in the series. Silver and Gold Everywhere and White Everywhere are also a part of the series. The books are actually quite engaging, asking readers questions to get them involved and sharing information of which children can easily relate to. I am definitely considering using these titles in my preschool classroom when introducing/reviewing colors.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Use this series as a basis for color collages. Introduce/review the colors explored in the series first, and then branch out and create collages for other colors as well - pink, purple, green, brown, orange, etc. Using the appropriate colored construction paper, have children search for items that represent/show the given color. For example, on red construction paper, have them use newspapers/magazines to show all things red - a red car, an apple, a cherry, tomatoes, crayon, marker, pencil, pen, ladybug, a shirt, pants, shoes, etc. Repeat this activity for all of the colors you want children to learn! It's a fun craft project and will likely introduce children to vocabulary they aren't familiar with as they find new "red" things to add to their collage!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

What's the Difference?: An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story

Practice subtraction facts while at the same time learning about various endangered animals.

Slade, Suzanne.
What's the Difference?: An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story.
February 2010.
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When reading What's the Difference?: An Endangered Animal Subtraction Story, children are in for twice the educational value! Not only will they be able to practice simple subtraction problems, they will also learn a great deal about what "endangered" means, what animals are considered endangered and the reasons for their endangerment!

This is a wonderful story for many reasons! I love the rhyming, lyrical text that will easily engage and interest children. Beautiful illustrations will quickly catch eyes, as children will be mesmerized by the lifelike images!
If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Ubiquitous

Take a look at nature's survivors in a whole new light!

Sidman, Joyce.
Ubiquitous.
April 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Summary from BN.com:

Why is the beetle, born 265 million years ago, still with us today? (Because its wings mutated and hardened). How did the gecko survive 160 million years? (by becoming nocturnal and developing sticky toe pads.) How did the shark and the crow and the tiny ant survive millions and millions of years? When 99 percent of all life forms on earth have become extinct, why do some survive? And survive not just in one place, but in many places: in deserts, in ice, in lakes and puddles, inside houses and forest and farmland? Just how do they become ubiquitous?

In this unique take nature, Sidman shares with readers the true stories of nature's fittest (survival of the fittest). Coupled with interesting poems, a great deal of factual information is presented about each of the survivors discussed in this book. The book is an interesting way to share different forms of poetry (when teaching children about poetry, or even just for children who love poetry). The book can also be used as a reference tool, as there is so much factual information to be learned! I could definitely see this holding a place in an upper-elementary classroom (grades 3+).



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Scare a Bear

How would you scare a bear?

Wargin, Kathy-Jo.
Scare a Bear.
June 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

A bear has shown up at camp and nothing this family does really scares that bear away! Banging pots and pans, rattling cans - nope, doesn't work! Yell, ring a bell? Still doesn't work. There are some very creative methods to scare away the bear, but this bear just isn't scared! After being given dinner and even put to bed, the family decides something else must be done to scare the bear and call in the ranger. However, the ranger's only suggestion to get the bear away from camp is to scare him!

This book is wonderfully hilarious! Children will absolutely love the silliness and challenge being faced! Of course, when they find out the real trick to scaring the bear away, they'll likely roll around on the floor laughing - it's just too simple! This is a great summertime read, especially for a rainy day, when coupled with the activity suggested below!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Play "Scare the Bear." Deem one person the "bear." Everyone else has the job of scaring the bear away. Of course, it's up to the bear to really decide how he's going to be scared away! But the fun lies in seeing what ways your children can come up with to attempt to scare the bear! Whoever is lucky enough to scare the bear away gets next dibs at being the bear!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Written Anything Good Lately

Introduce the ABC's of Writing using Written Anything Good Lately?!

Allen, Susan and Jane Lindaman.
Written Anything Good Lately?
February 2010.
Lerner Publishing Group.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Written Anything Good Lately? is an alphabet book of wonderful proportions! Taking readers on an adventure through an alphabet of written works, children are introduced to all sorts of writing which they may or may not be familiar with. Each letter of the alphabet not only introduces a type of writing to go along, but also gives a brief example of that writing style to give children a bit more to work with!

The book can be used with children of virtually all ages, as even though they may not recognize certain writing styles, children will delight in learning new words that start with each letter of the alphabet. Older children will quickly become immersed in learning that there really is a type of writing for each letter of the alphabet - from autobiography to zig-zags and zeros! I could see using this as a writing project with say, a third, fourth or fifth grade classroom, assigning each child a writing project and then compiling a classroom book titled, "What We've Written Good Lately!"

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Challenge your child(ren) this summer to participate in the "Summer Writing Challenge," in which he/she actually completes a small writing piece for each letter of the alphabet, using the suggested writing methods (or create your own)! Directions and detailed activities for the activity can be found here. You can participate in the Summer Writing Challenge without even having read the book, so download the activity here!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

The Solar System

A breakdown of topics related to the solar systems let's little ears not become overwhelmed!

Waxman, Laura Hamilton.
The Solar System.
January 2010.
Lerner Publishing Group.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

By introducing the solar system as a "neighborhood" to the Earth, children will be eager to dive into the learning of such a topic! Once children seem to have grasped a handle on the idea of the solar system, Waxman gradually begins to introduce the different planets in a way that will make sense to children, focusing on the sun being at the center of the universe and then proceeding to make mention of rocky and gassy planets, as well as the smaller, lesser known planets. She then goes on to share with readers how scientists have come to discover the information that was shared throughout the book.

The book is a wonderful resource to use when teaching the Solar System. Not only is it a wealth of information that will be of interest to students, there is also a note to adults about sharing the book with children, as well as a list of vocabulary pertaining to the reading. I don't think that young children (ages 5-10) will be able to hand the book on their own, but they would certainly be able to learn a great deal if sharing it with adults!



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Curious George: Plumber's Helper

A unique resource to introduce children to plumbing systems!

Rey, H.A. & Margaret.
Curious George: Plumber's Helper.
March 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this household-educational tale, Curious George takes readers on an adventure through means of the plumbing in his own house! When Curious George takes a bucket full of toys to the bathtub for bathtime, it turns into more of an adventure than he ever could have imagined, as the drain slowly sucks down the non-tub-friendly toys, resulting in a blocked drain and overflow from other drains! When the plumber is called, Curious George (and readers) will learn about what caused the massive overflow of waters and how to prevent future recurrences.

This is actually a very interesting way to teach children about the importance of not putting toys in the toilet/tub! The way Curious George worked alongside the plumber will allow children to really gain an understanding of what happens and why and will hopefully keep them from exploring plumbing themselves (or peak their interest and really cause some damage)!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• There are two learning activities provided in the back of the book, allowing children to further explore plumbing and the use of tools.
• Or, I found an interesting plumbing-type game that children ages 5+ should be able to catch on to rather quickly, as they are asked to line up the piping to make sure the water doesn't flow where it shouldn't. That game can be played here!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

A Wish for You

A wonderful graduation, baby gift or shower gift for new moms (and dads)!

Novak, Matt.
A Wish for You.
March 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Parents share with the children the delight they (likely) experienced with the arrival of their first child's birth. Starting out as one (individuals who have not yet even met), progressing to their meeting and marriage, children will likely delight in seeing how their parents came to be. After taking some time to be "two," the parents realize what they are missing, an addition to their family. Readers follow along as the parents prepare for the first child's arrival and the joys that come following that special day.

I would almost deem this book appropriate mostly as a shower gift for mom's and dad's awaiting the arrival of their first-born child. The sweet story, coupled with the rhyming, lyrical text is very appealing and readers will delight in sharing this story over and over again. As the first-born child ages, this would make for a perfect introduction to open a discussion about the family - how parents met and their lives together before children entered the picture. I could also see this book being used as a graduation gift. The title, A Wish for You, easily allows parents the opportunity to share with a graduating child important memories of the past, as well as wishes for the new future and the new beginning that arrives on graduation day. On the very last page, there is even enough room for parents to write (or share) a special poem about a graduation wish for their first-born child.



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

!Muu Moo!

Nursery rhyme-a-day - 16 nursery rhymes to share!

Ada, Alma Flor.
!Muu, Moo!
March 2010.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In !Muu, Moo!, Alma Flora Ada and F. Isabel Campoy have compiled a selection of sixteen animal nursery rhymes, shared in Spanish. Rosalma Zubizarreta has compiled the English version of the same sixteen. The animal nursery rhymes found within the pages of this particular title come traditionally from Spain, Latin American and the United States. The rhymes are fun, and beautifully illustrated, helping the youngest of children to make a connection between text and context clues found within the illustrations. The following is a list of animal nursery rhymes found within:

• Martin Found a Mouse
  Debajo de un boton
• Little Brown Duck
  Patito, patito, color de cafe
• The Rooster Cock-a-Doodle-Dows
  El gallo Espolon
• A White Turtle Dove
  Una paloma blanca
• My Dear Little Rabbit
  Mi conejito
• My Donkey
  El burro
• The Meadow Toads
  Los sapitos
• The Cat and the Mouse
  El gato y el raton
• Fly Hushed Frog
  La mosca a la rana
• 'Twas Half an Hour to Midnight
  Las once y media serian
• The Flea's Wedding
  Las bodas de la pulga y el piojo
• Chirp, Chirp
  Cri-cri
• Spring
  Primavera
• The Owl
  La lechuza
• Ramon and His Dog
  Ramon y su perro
• The Musical Cicada
  La cigarra guitarrista
  

Bilingual books are quickly finding a place in my heart, as I have found out that I will have a child in my preschool class next year whose parents speak only Spanish. In order to ensure the success of this child (with the help of her parents), I want to be sure to reach out to them and make them feel comfortable in helping their child in any way possible. Providing that family with bilingual literature will allow them the opportunity to work with their daughter, and at the same time, pick up on a little bit of the English language they are working hard to learn! Because of this, this is another book that will certainly be included in my "literacy backpack" sets!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Because nursery rhymes (and these in particular) feature lines containing rhyming words, use these nursery rhymes to reinforce the concept of rhyming! Download the following worksheet and, while you are reading, have your child(ren) point out (at least) one pair of words that rhyme from each individual nursery rhyme.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Curious George at the Park

Use Curious George to introduce the sense of touch!

Rey, H.A. and Margaret.
Curious George at the Park: A Touch-and-Feel Book.
March 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Curious George engages readers in learning about the sense of touch, as readers team up with him for an afternoon in the park. Along the adventure, readers have the opportunity to use their hands and experience first-hand the way different objects feel in this touch-and-feel story! From soft, fluffy fur to the bumpy bark of a tree, children will delight in learning about their hands as a means of discovery!

I love this book and am so excited to know it will become a part of my preschoolers' unit on My Five Senses (in more ways than one)! It will surely captivate attention and elicit eagerness to learn and explore with hands!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• I will be creating two sets of literacy bags (20 different books in each set) for my students to take home as "homework" for the week. One of the books I will be featuring will be Curious George at the Park. Along with the story, I will be sending home the worksheet that can be downloaded here, as an activity for families to participate in. The worksheet asks families to explore five objects with their hands and to then describe the object using words. Check it out! This is a great way to encourage whole-family involvement, while at the same time instilling the importance of literature in children's language development!
• Create a sensory activity for your child(ren)! Using lunch-size brown bags, collect a variety of items to place inside (for example: a scrap of fleece material, grass, sand, rocks, play-doh, gummiworms, etc). Have your child place his/her hand inside the bag (without peeking) and guess what is found inside. Create a list of all the guesses for each bag. After having your child(ren) guess, reveal the contents! You can also use this as an opportunity to explore graphing (if completing the activity with several children), by graphing the object from each bag that had the most guesses and then comparing the different categories!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

A Tale of Two Seders

Celebrate the uniqueness of families, while helping children appreciate diverse holidays.

Portnoy, Mindy Avra.
A Tale of Two Seders.
March 2010.
Lerner Publishing Group.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Divorce, remarriage and its impact on children are all featured in A Tale of Two Seders, a story in which a young girl introduces the Jewish holiday of Passover to readers, while at the same time, sharing the ways in which divorce and remarriage have shaped her young life. Over the course of three years, the narrator (a young girl), spends the Passover holiday shared between her two homes - once with her mother and once with her father. Many aspects of the traditional Passover Seder is discussed at some length, allowing readers to begin to gain an understanding of the holiday and it's similarities and differences to holidays celebrated by other religions.

While the book is definitely sharing with readers a wealth of information regarding Passover, it seemed more to me as a story of coping with a significant change in family dynamics. In order for children to make the most of this book, it seems as though they need to have a basic understanding beforehand about Passover. This could be done simply by using the glossary found at the back of the book (a plus, in my eyes, as I'm not too familiar with Passover, myself). I definitely enjoyed the story being told, as there was an important message relayed at the very end

families are like charoset. Some have more ingredients than others, some stick together better than others, some are sweeter than others. But each one is tasty in its own way.

Learning/Reading Activity:

• To understand the "moral" of the story (found directly above), have each member of your family create a smaller batch of each of the Charoset recipes found on page 30 and 31 of the book. Discuss as a family, the different ingredients. Choose which Charoset was the sweetest. The stickiest. The most ingredients. Compare these to your family. What makes your family unique?
• Research more about the Jewish holiday of Passover. Choose 3 holidays from different cultures (ones that you don't typically celebrate in your family) and celebrate those holidays to find out more about different worldy cultures.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

A Boy Had a Mother Who Bought Him a Hat

H is for Hat!

Kuskin, Karla.
A Boy Had a Mother Who Bought Him a Hat.
March 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When a young boy's mother bought him a new red hat the color of a rose, it sets off a whole chain of events that readers will surely not be expecting! As his mother continues to purchase him new toys, the little boy is determined he must be able to take everything with him, able to show everyone his possessions. One day, in a race, the treasured hat is swept away during an elephant race... and must be replaced.

With rhyming, lyrical text, children are sure to love this story! The ending, in which the little boy is in need of a new hat will inspire children to imagine in their mind the next turn of events and what more adventure can possibly take place with the arrival of a new hat. I really, really enjoyed this story and have made a note to include it in my curriculum plans for letter Hh week next school year! Hopefully you and your children will find it just as enjoyable!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• The story ends with Then his mother yelled, "Dear, I am off to the store. It is very clear that you must have a new hat." And she rushed out the door.Encourage your child to show his/her creative side by asking them to create the boy's new hat. You can use the worksheet I created, or just have your child use construction paper. I would suggest sharing with children photographs of or actual different hats, so they can see just what a wide variety of hat designs there are out there and then ask them to see what they can come up with!
• I am going to attempt to create a flannel board set to go along with this story! The story is a lot of fun and I'm sure children would love partaking in the flannel board retelling. If I am able to create one, I'll be sure to post pictures and patterns!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

The Punctuation Station

Giraffes can teach punctuation?

Cleary, Brian P.
The Punctuation Station.
March 2010.
Lerner Publishing Group.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

All aboard! Readers will delight in boarding train at the Punctuation Station alongside a family of giraffes to learn all there is to know about punctuation - the forms and appropriate uses of. Periods, commas, apostrophes, question marks, hyphens, quotation marks, and exclamation points are all touched upon. However, in considering this book for use in your classroom, you must think of the ages and needs of your children, as some of the topics may be too "old" for younger children. Keeping this in mind though, it is entirely possible to skip over pages that do not pertain to the writing levels of your children and an (almost) entire story of playful rhymes will still keep them intrigued!

In the past, I have reviewed several books authored by Brian P. Cleary. This is the first on the topic of punctuation and I enjoyed it no less than any of his other books! The book is broken apart almost into sections, making it developmentally appropriate for use with even the youngest of writers. The book can be used in collaboration with teaching children about punctuation - either as an introduction to the writing element, or as a reminder throughout such a unit!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• After reading, create a "Punctuation Station" of your own, similar to that in Mrs. McDowell's Classroom.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

The Quiet Book

How many different quiets can there be?

Underwood, Deborah.
The Quiet Book.
April 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Have you ever stopped and wondered just how many "quiet" activities you might be able to get your child to undertake in one day? In The Quiet Book, Underwood addresses just that, sharing with readers all of the quiet moments a child is likely to experience in one day's time - from just crawling out of bed, until they are sound asleep at night. It's really very interesting when you think of all of the reasons for silence in a child's daily life.

Thinking of a good reason you were drawing on the wall quiet
Hide-and-seek quiet
Last one to get picked up from school quiet
Swimming underwater quiet
Pretending you're invisible quiet
Lollipop quiet

I don't know who will delight in this story more - children or their parents! As I was reading the book (silently, to myself, of course), I found myself imagining that I would almost read this book in a very soft, quiet, almost-whisper of a voice to give children the true effect of quiet. The illustrations are rather quite simple, almost as if to not elicit a great deal of chatter during the reading! I try to envision using this with my preschoolers, and I think it would probably be most effective during letter Qq week, or as a read aloud prior to rest-time!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• It will probably be somewhat difficult for children, but with the help of an adult, I'm sure they could pull off making a list of all of the times in which they are quiet - perhaps starting with "listening to a story" quiet. I'm sure together, you'll be able to brainstorm quite a list!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Mimi's Dada Catifesto - Special Summer Giveaway!

"Dada is anything silly and surprising."
-Shelley Jackson

Jackson, Shelley.
Mimi's Dada Catifesto.
April 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Mimi is a cat like no other - she is an artistic cat, looking for a home with an artistic human. When she comes upon Mr. Dada, she is determined he is the human she is meant to live with, as an artistic human must have an artistic pet! As Mimi sets out to show Mr. Dada that she is the pet for him, readers will find great delight in the adventures brought about by Mimi.

While this is a wonderfully written story and very entertaining, I struggled at first to understand and grasp what was going on. However, when I discovered the author's note at the back of the book, things started clicking. It was only after 2 rereads that I really got into the story and found the humor and enjoyment in it. I think in order to share the book with children, they really need to have some sort of understanding about Dadaist art - read the author's note to them first. Research dadaist art and see what you come up with. Then, read the story and discuss how the two mesh together perfectly. I think children will definitely be giggling about the adventures Mimi takes them on, but without an understanding of Dadaism, I'm not sure how much they'll comprehend!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Dadaism is explained and represented perfectly at Art Smarts 4 Kids: Dadaism
• Check out the lesson plan found at Room 14 goes Dada! Art Lesson Plan. While it is intended for older children (grades 7 & 8), there's no reason you couldn't adapt it to be appropriate for younger children!
• Check out Recycled Art, Dada Style, also at Art Smarts 4 Kids. Then, with your children, collect a variety of recyclables. Have your child use the recycled materials (or anything else hanging around without use) create a Dadaist piece of his/her own.

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

• In a comment on this post, share with me (and my readers) the Dadaist piece your child has created. Describe the piece and the process your child took to create the piece.
  
• Then, in an email, addressed to: KateH12783@hotmail.com, send me a picture of your child with his/her piece. YOU DON'T NEED TO INCLUDE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR CHILD (i.e. Name, Age, etc). When submitting the photo, in the subject line, be sure to include "Dadaist Art Photo."
  
• Be sure to leave an email address along with your comment.
• Deadline to enter is Wednesday, July 14th at 11:59PM EST.
• For an extra entry(or two): blog about this giveaway on your own blog AND/OR leave a tweet on your Twitter page and then leave a link to the post/tweet.
• Contest is open to U.S. Residents only, sorry for any inconveniences!
• Winner will be selected by special guest poster on Friday, July 23rd and will receive a complimentary copy of Mimi's Dada Catifesto!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Pinkalicious and the Pink Drink

Who knew making a "pink drink" could inspire so much creativity!

Kann, Victoria.
Pinkalicious and the Pink Drink.
May 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Pinkalicious returns in Pinkalicious and the Pink Drink! This charming little girl, intrigued by all things pink, once again sets out on an adventure, brought about by the desire to purchase pink bubblegum after spending a hot afternoon blowing bubbles in the shade. Upon discovering her piggy bank was empty, Pinkalicious is determined to earn some quarters and therefore, Mom suggests a lemonade stand. I'm sure you can only imagine what color the lemonade must be! And Pinkalicous is off - determined to turn that lemonade pink, using all things pink from the refrigerator!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Reinforce mathematical skills in your child this summer, by having him/her host a neighborhood lemonade stand some hot, sunny afternoon. Children can participate in measuring activities, as well as counting money. To really make your child's lemonade stand the most unique, choose from the following recipes and signs for your child's lemonade stand!
• Blualicious' Lemonade Stand - Blueberry-Blackberry Lemonade
  
• Pinkalicious' Lemonade Stand - Watermelon Lemonade
  
• Purplicious' Lemonade Stand - Grape Lemonade
  
• Orangalicious' Lemonade Stand - Orange Lemonade
• Redalicious' Lemonade Stand -Cherry Lemonade
• Yellowicious' Lemonade Stand - Sparkling Pineapple Lemonade
• Greenalicious' Limeade Stand - Homemade Limeade
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Garbage Helps Our Garden Grow

A wonderful Earth Day (or summer vacation) project!

Glaser, Linda.
Garbage Helps Our Garden Grow: A Compost Story.
April 2010.
Lerner Publishing Group.

Through the use of beautiful photographs and simple text, children will learn nearly all there is to know about recycling garbage into a compost pile/bin. While the story itself goes in to great detail, none of it should be above the heads of your four or five year old! The text is simple and to the point, using child-friendly vocabulary, all of which is depicted throughout the story with the photographs. Children will learn the reasons for having created a compost pile, what can be disposed of in the compost pile, the simple, yet routine maintenance involved, and perhaps the most fun of all - how this mess of garbage helps not only our garden grow, but also the ways in which composting is beneficial to the Earth!

This is a wonderful story to share with children. It is both educational and interesting, easily captivating of the attention of children ages 4+. It's so interesting, in fact, I think you'll find your children eager to create a compost pile for your family. And, if your village is anything like mine, charging $1+ per bag of garbage, the idea is well worth it, especially if you do any gardening. And, if you don't garden, perhaps you might like to use this as an incentive to start - growing your own fresh fruits/veggies is a lot of fun and will save you some money during the spring/summer/fall months!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Further research Composting for Kids.
• Watch The GREENS: Episode 4: Kitchen Composting on PBS for Kids.
• Check out other forms of composting - Worm Composting for Kids
• You can also find out more of the benefits of Garden Composting.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Bedtime Without Arthur

The bedtime nightmares of children (and parents)...

Meserve, Jessica.
Bedtime Without Arthur.
March 2010.
Lerner Publishing Group.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Little Bella has a bedtime buddy she has come to depend on - a special bear called Arthur.

He is as brave as a knight.
He is as strong as ten elephants.
And he does karate.

As readers can only imagine, Arthur has likely been Bella's bedtime security item since she was a baby - protecting her from the evil nighttime monsters that children fear. However, one night, Arthur turns up missing, and in what seems a disaster to both Bella and her parents, it turn out to be a growing-up experience for Bella in the end - as she comes to realize her baby brother, Finley is in need of the services previously offered to Bella from Arthur. Bella quickly comes to realize that Finley needs Arthur more than she does - and quickly returns him to Finley with the reassuring words,

"Don't be scared, Finley. Arthur will look after you."

This would make a really cute bedtime story for your little ones and their security items! The book might even prove to be a look back in time for parents, as they remember their own security item! I know it got me thinking about "Carrie," a doll given to me from my grandmother on the day my twin brothers were born. Even today, 26-and a half years later, Carrie still holds a special place in my heart and rests on my bed daily! There was once a day when Carrie went missing when I was still very young, being left behind at my parent's business, a thirty to forty minute drive from our home. Do you suppose I would stop crying and go to sleep without her? Poor dad had to drive back to the shop and pick her up so that I would settle down and go to bed. Ever since, we've been extra careful to make sure she travels at the same time we do!

Care to share a memory of your security item?



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Once Upon A Time: Traditional Latin American Tales

Bilingual book of Traditional Latin American Tales that teach a whole heap of lessons!

Martinez, Rueben.
Once Upon a Time/Habia una vez.
March 2010.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Within the pages of Once Upon a Time/Habia una vez, a bilingual book, readers can delight in the telling of seven traditional Latin American (originating in Cuba, Colombia, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, northern Argentina, Andalusia, and Spain, as well as other areas in Latin America) tales:

• The Wedding Rooster/El gallo de bodas
• The Tlacuache and the Coyote/El tlacuache y el coyote
• The Mother of the Jungle/La Madreselva
• Marina the Cockroach and Perez the Mouse/La cucarachita Martina y el raton Perez
• The Flower of Lirolay/La flor de lirolay
• The King and the Riddle/El rey y la adivinanza
• Pedro Urdemales and the Giant/Pedro Urdemales y el gigante

"The Wedding Rooster" answers the question of how the rooster would be able to attend his uncle's wedding. "The Tlacuache and the Coyote" tells the story of the coyote and his reasons for howling at a full moon. "The Mother of the Jungle" reminds us of the importance of taking care of Nature and learning to live in harmony with her (Martinez, 38). "Marina the Cockroach and Perez the Mouse" was probably my least favorite of the tales, as there wasn't a strong "story" that had a great deal of meaning (in my eyes, at least). "The Flower of Lirolay" proves worthy, leaving children with an important thought, have many (valuable) possessions doesn't make you an important person, as they say beauty is more than skin deep! "The King and the Riddle" insinuates the important role that riddles play in Latin American culture - and this tale is full of them! "Pedro Urdemales and the Giant" tells the story of a trickster, who does everything in his power to win a bet, even if he is cheating in the process. This would be an important tale to share with youngsters who are sneaky in the process of always trying to win.

This bilingual book is full of information relevant to Latin American culture. I don't typically see children picking this book up willingly, though, as it lacks illustrations that would likely engage them in the tales being told. If I were to use these tales with a group of preschoolers (or early elementary children), I'd likely need to create illustrations and/or felt board activities to coincide to keep their attention. However, that being said, the tales within are wonderful and there is much to be learned from each and every one of them!



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Saving the Baghdad Zoo

A different way of helping on the war front - saving the animals of a war-torn zoo!

Halls, Kelly Milner.
Saving the Baghdad Zoo: A True Story of Hope and Heroes.
February 2010.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When one thinks of war, he/she typically tends to think about the fighting, innocent civilians being hurt and the soldiers being hurt/killed. What isn't typically thought about is others who's habitat happens to also be in the war-zone - the animals and wildlife. However, one U.S. Army Captain, Captain William Sumner was sent to check the status of the zoo in Baghdad shortly after the war broke out in 2003. Upon discovering the devastating state of the zoo, Captain Sumner took on a new mission - saving the animals of Baghdad with the help of a team of zoologists, veterinarians, conservationists, and animal lovers. Saving the Baghdad Zoo shares a details account of what this magnificent team was up again, while giving a scrapbook-style diary of what they were up against and what they were able to accomplish.

This is a wonderfully inspiring story! I very much enjoyed reading the story and looking at the pictures of the exact animals the team worked with as well as before/after style shots that allows readers to really connect with the devastation that existed prior to the work of humans that care so much about animals and rebuilding war-torn areas. I would recommend the book to children in grades 3+, as some of the photos are somewhat disturbing and there is a great deal of text to be read and understood! Overall, though, this would make for a very interesting research project!



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Curious Baby: My First Words at the Zoo

A perfect gift to introduce a new baby to books and reading!

Rey, Margaret and H.A.
Curious Baby Curious George: My First Words at the Zoo.
February 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

If you're looking to start reading to your little one or even just want to increase theme-related vocabulary, this is the book for you (and your L.O.). It's not a story, per say, but rather zoo illustrations in which all of the animals are properly labeled and clearly depicted!

I would say this durable board book, coupled with the sweet little "Curious Little Monkey" tee is well worth the $10.19!

If you're looking for more of these same style books, I would suggest checking out:

• Curious Baby Counting
• Curious Baby Music Play
• Curious Baby: My Curious World
• Curious Baby: My Curious Dreamer Gift Set
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Lily's Victory Garden

Children connect to WWII when learning about how one young girl decides to become a part of war efforts in her own community.

Wilbur, Helen L.
Lily's Victory Garden.
April 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Wilbur tells a moving story about a young girl who is willing to take chances and do all that she can to be a part of the war effort during WWII. Lily, a young girl, spends time with her older brother Jack, collecting tin to help with war production during WWII while Jack delivers the newpapers. During their collection walks, Jack shares with Lily his knowledge about the war and one family in particular - the Bishops, who happen to be the first family in their town to lose a son (a soldier) in the war. As war efforts continue in their town, Lily learns another way in which she could possibly contribute and takes to waiting in line for a plot in the community garden. When Lily is denied space due to her age, she goes to extreme measures to make sure she plants a victory garden of her own somewhere. While she meets many challenges, Lily's persistence pays off as she does grow her own victory garden - and make a new friend in the process!

I'll leave you with one final thought... my thoughts about the Tales of Young Americans Series (Yes, that's me, quoted on the back cover of Lily's Victory Garden)!


Learning/Reading Activities:

• Check out the Teaching Guide provided courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press! There are lots of wonderful activities inside.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!