Thursday, December 22, 2011

Celebrate/Recognize Hanukkah

Christmas isn't the only holiday currently being celebrated... the celebration of Hanukkah began on December 20 - share the celebration with your children!

Howland, Naomi.
Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story (It's a Book! It's a Card!).
October 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Children will learn the very basics about the Hanukkah celebration in this Send a Story, Share a Story. The story is of interesting nature and will likely capture the attention of children easily and the note provided at the back of the book allows children to gain a better understanding of the celebration of lights and the symbols representative of it - the latkes, the dreidel and the menorah.

This book is a wonderful, inexpensive way to help children understand that different cultures celebrate different ways than their own and can help them gain an appreciation for these cultural differences.

Cohen, Deborah Bodin.
Engineer Ari and the Hanukkah Mishap.
September 2011.
Lerner Publishing Group.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Another wonderful Hanukkah story is shared with children here. Each of the symbols discussed above is also referenced in this book, in more detail than in Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat. There are also additional symbols mentioned. Being that the book is a bit more detailed, it would likely be most appropriate for older children (ages 8-12), or younger, if children are showing an interest!

Reading Activity:
  • Spend a day during your child's holiday break learning about the festival of lights (Hanukkah). There are crafts, recipes and activities that can be explored to gain an understanding of this cultural celebration!




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!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Day 12 of the 12 Days of Christmas:The Snowman's Revenge

Another great choice for a winter break read... at least if you have snow in your area and could have some snowman fun!

Smythe, Mark.
The Snowman's Revenge.
May 2009.
Mark Smythe.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


A snow day leads the children of the family to head outside and brave the elements. Once outdoors, they quickly set to work building a snowman. But, as the frigid weather reaches their bones, the children head inside out of the storm to warm up with Mom's hot chocolate and then some playing with toys. As the snowman watches from outside in the storm, he becomes angry and seeks revenge. Determined to scare the children, the snowman sneaks into the house to make a drastic discovery and quickly hides in the freezer. As the night goes on, his determination to scare the children builds and sets forth from the freezer to doing some scaring. Again, he notices that drastic discovery, and before long, all that's left of the snowman is his hat, scarf and jacket. When the children find that laying in the hallway in the middle of the night or come morning, they're sure to be a bit startled!

This book is great for a variety of age ranges - the youngest of children (~3's) would be able to possibly make the connection that the snowman is melting because he's indoors where it is too warm for snow to stay snow. Older children will enjoy the humor provided throughout the story. All around, I'd say it's a hit!

Reading Activity:
  • With younger children (those that I'd work with), experiment with snow. Bring some in the house and leave it on the counter. Put some on in the refrigerator. Put some on the stove and turn a burner on low. Watch what happens. Discuss with your child what is happening and the reasons for that observation.




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!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Day 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas: Martha Speaks: A Winter's Tail

Winter's here... embrace it!

Barss, Karen.
Martha Speaks: A Winter's Tail
October 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Skits, Martha's much-loved dog heads out for a winter adventure with Martha and her friends. While out being active during the wintertime, the group decides to play a game of hockey on a local lake. Despite the safety prep talk, Skits heads to close to the stream and the thin ice, facing danger as the ice begins to crack beneath him. Even though he is rescued, Skits is now fearful of hockey pucks, as the hockey puck is what ultimately led him towards the thin ice and danger. The fear of hockey pucks leads the family to an interesting discovery - a resourceful way to keep Skits away from the garbage can!

As the long winter months approach, it's going to be difficult to keep kids busy and active! This book provides just one suggestion of an activity that will get out some energy. Hockey (or even just skating) is very active and a great way to burn some energy. It also provides children with a way to use motor skills in a variety of different ways - always a plus!

Giving this book as a gift this holiday season will hopefully spark an interest in outdoor winter activities! The familiar character will likely inspire children to quick the book up faster than they might another, as "series" seem to be quite popular these days with children!





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!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Days 8, 9, and 10 of the 12 Days of Christmas: Books for Children of ALL Ages

Looking for a Christmas book for a young child? Middle reader? Older readers who may question their belief? There's choices for all here!

Dunrea, Olivier.
Merry Christmas, Ollie!
September 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Ollie is very excited about Christmas and the impending visit from Father Christmas Goose... excited and impatient, just as young children are, awaiting their visit from Santa Claus. The excitement and enthusiasm displayed by young children is mimicked in Merry Christmas, Ollie!, making it an appropriate read while counting down the days until Christmas! The story is short and sweet, so even the youngest of children can appreciate the tale!

Reading Activity:
  • Create a countdown calendar with your child to help them visualize and comprehend how many days are left until Santa visits.
Primavera, Elise.
Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas.
September 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Auntie Claus is back! In this sequel to the original Auntie Claus, a growing older young boy is beginning to have doubts about the existence of Santa Claus. Even though it is revealed to him by his older sister that their great-aunt is Auntie Claus is Santa's sister, Chris puts himself up to a little mischief to get on the bad boys and girls list to test the revelation. However, his aunt is out to prove to Chris about Santa and hands him the magical key, which ultimately helps Chris to really believe, by allowing him to see for himself all there is to the "family business."

This book is perfect for children who are just beginning to "question." It might allow you the chance to relish a couple more years out of their beliefs!

Moss, Kelly.
The Santa Club.
July 2011.
Palmary Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


There comes a time when children begin to ask two questions that can potentially make or break Christmas for them and their loved ones - Is there a Santa? or Is Santa real? When your child poses this question to you, especially if there are other children in the household who are still firm believers, this can be a difficult topic to handle delicately. The Santa Club is a perfect gift and discussion starter to help children understand what Christmas is really all about and to help them embrace it. The book is wonderful and a perfect way to help your child continue to enjoy the Christmas season!





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!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas: The Christmas Tree Ship

Share with children a story of selfless giving this holiday season.

Crane, Carol.
The Christmas Tree Ship.
September 2011.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy courtesy of publisher.


Based on newspaper accounts and other sources, Carol Crane tells the story of one man's ultimate sacrifice to provide the children of Chicago with Christmas trees.

"Captain Santa" has made it his mission to deliver Christmas trees from Michigan's upper peninsula to Chicago to provide the less fortunate children with a form of Christmas. This has been a tradition for years. When suddenly, one year, the ship is overcome by a winter storm and Captain Santa and his trees perish, it is worrisome that Chicago's children will suffer the misfortune of no trees. However, realizing the importance of giving, Captain Santa's wife and daughters decide to carry on the tradition.

This is definitely a heart-wrenching story but well-worthy of sharing this holiday season. It's not your typical Christmas-y story, which makes it all the more special, as the deeper meaning will really encourage older children to take a new look at the true meaning of Christmas!

Reading Activity:
  • As a family, after reading and discussing the story, think of something (however small) that you could do for a family or child less fortunate that your own.




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!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Day 6 of the 12 Days of Christmas: Where, Oh Where, Is Santa Claus?

Where is Santa Claus?!?!

Wheeler, Lisa.
Where, Oh Where, Is Santa Claus?
September 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


In a humorous, rhyming hunt, children are on the search to find out where Santa has disappeared to. With the help of a variety of polar animals and footprints Santa is eventually found and sent on his way... AWAY to make sure Christmas goes on!

This is a simple, short read, perfect for a pre-Christmas bedtime story! Children will love the sing-song nature of the story. This would also be an ideal time to help younger readers form an understanding of rhyming words, as the book is full of them! Definitely a great story to check out this holiday season!

Reading Activity:
  • Create a Santa treasure hunt of your own. Write up some rhyming clues and send your child(ren) on a scavenger hunt! Perhaps the reward at the end could be a new book or a chocolate Santa!




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!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas: Curious George: Curious About Christmas

Expose the youngest of children to symbols of Christmas with this touch-and-feel book.

Pala, Anjali.
Curious George: Curious About Christmas.
September 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


The real importance of Christmas is referred to at the end of this Curious George tale, exposing children to the true meaning of Christmas from a very young age. The story also exposes children to traditional symbols of Christmas - stars, stockings, ribbons, reindeer, snow, Santa's beard... and of course, Curious George's present - a sled.

The touch-and-feel aspect of this story allows children to become engaged in the story in a sensory way, allowing them the opportunity to really make a connection between the text and their prior knowledge of Christmas symbols. Definitely a book to pass along to the little ones in your life this Christmas season.

Reading Activity:
  • Help your child to really make a connection to the objects explored in this book. Set out to "experience" all of the textures in the book - visit a petting zoo to touch a reindeer, check out the stockings for sale in your local Walmart (or similar), make cookies together, play in the snow, go sledding, check out Santa's beard @ your local Santa display and feel and discuss the textures of the ornaments on your Christmas tree. Make this a linguistic experience for your child - use lots of descriptive vocabulary in your explorations to help build your child's language development!


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!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas: A Christmas Spider's Miracle

A peasant, a spider and a year's worth of good fortune are shared in this Ukraine tale.

Noble, Trinka Hakes.
A Christmas Spider's Miracle.
September 2011.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


It's a mother's instinct to want the best for her children and to do everything in her power to provided that to them. No less can be expected in the Ukraine tale told by Trinka Hakes Noble.

One Christmas Eve, a spider nestles deep into a pine tree, trying to keep her spiderlings safe from the dangers that a warm home might pose. Not far away, a peasant mother longs to provide her children with the Christmas they deserve. Unable to provide them with gifts, she decides to at least present them with a Christmas tree, full of homemade ornaments. When she struggles to create the ornaments and ultimately falls asleep on the table while trying, the mother spider takes note of her efforts and realize that they both are just seeking the best for their children, as the spiderlings have been left safely alone in their pockets. She sets to work, thankful for the warm, safe home to sleep - weaving a web of homemade ornaments as a thanks for the warm place to sleep.
But both mothers felt richly blessed; one by the safety of a warm house and the other by a small spider's Christmas miracle.

Even to this day, in the land of Ukraine, if you see a spider on Christmas Day, it will bring you good fortune for the whole year. But just to be sure, Christmas trees across the land all have one very special ornament... a sparkling jeweled spider.
This story is eloquently shared through Noble's text and Costanza's illustrations. It is however, a bit complex for younger children, but would most likely be appropriate for children ages 8-12. Children's books are a wonderful way to share the traditions and tales of other cultures and this book is no exception - it's definitely worth sharing this holiday season!

Reading Activity:
  • Add a bit of Ukraine tradition to this year's Christmas tree! After reading, work with your child to create a sparkling jeweled spider of your own to ensure a year's work of good fortune!




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!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas: It's a Book!, It's a Card! - Send a Story/Share a Story

Start a new tradition come this year's Christmas Eve!

Moore, Clement C.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas (Send a Story).
October 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

The traditional poetic telling of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" is passed along to children to enjoy in the form of a book AND a card in this wonderful edition! It's a classic that all children are sure to love, despite the sparse illustrations. The story alone is enough to capture their attention!

This has been a tradition in my house on Christmas Eve. For as long as I can remember, the story was shared on Christmas Eve, albeit a different version, A Hallmark Pop Up Book, also written by Clement C. Moore! 20+ years later, the book still holds a place on my bookshelf and I pull it out to enjoy on Christmas Eve!

Start a new tradition this Christmas Eve for the children in your lives by sending this special "It's a Book! It's a Card!" edition of the traditional retelling.





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!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas: It's a Book!, It's a Card! - Send a Story/Share a Story

Who knew Santa could be a kid expert, a toy expert, and a gift expert?

Frazee, Marla.
Santa Claus The World's Number One Toy Expert (Send a Story).
October 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Very simply put, Santa Claus is the World's number one toy expert - from making sure the toys are perfectly constructed to making sure that each child is matched with the exactly right toy (99.9% of the time), Santa would definitely be considered an expert in his field! Children will love the almost comic-like illustrations and simple text that accompany this new holiday title! If you know of a young child who is just starting to show an interest in Santa Claus, this is definitely a book/card to pass along their way this holiday season!





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!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Day 1 of the 12 Days of Christmas: It's a Book! It's a Card! Send a Story/Share a Story

Send a story instead of a card this holiday season!

Brett, Jan.
Annie and the Wild Animals (Send a Story).
October 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


As the winter drags on, Annie notices changes taking place with her cat, Taffy. She's stopped playing, eats more than usual, and sleeps all day long, curled up in strange places. After Annie notices that Taffy has disappeared, the loneliness sets in and Annie is desperate to find a new friend. Just when Annie decides all the corn cakes in the world will fail to bring her a new pet, the south wind sets in, sending winter on it's way... and Taffy back home... with a surprise of her own!

The "Send a Story, Share a Story" aspect of this card and book make it an ideal Christmas present to be sent to children this holiday season from a relative that won't be able to be with the child on Christmas, as it kind of gives off the message that despite absence, they are always remembed. What's awesome about this book is that although it seems to be a Christmas-y story, it would even be ideal during the late winter months, when a case of the winter blues seems to have set in and children need a sense of hope about the impending arrival of spring!





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!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Guidecraft's Rainbow, Sand and Crystal Bead Blocks: Review & Giveaway Link

Each month, the Guidecraft Educators will share our honest feelings about a Guidecraft product(s) and how these products would fare in an early childhood classroom. This month's selection is a variety of blocks from puzzles from Guidecraft's "Block Play" line!

Block play, as you will see from the photographs below, allows children the opportunity to develop and use their imaginations in a variety of educational ways, from the very basic (great for toddlers & preschoolers) to more complex (appropriate for middle elementary schoolers, age 8-11). In any event, chances are, you know someone who would love the blocks in the Guidecraft "Block Play" line! The use of blocks in early childhood education promotes eye-hand coordination, visual perception, patterning (color/size), measurement, scientific exploration (levers and inclined planes), vocabulary usage, and dramatization and role play. The rainbow, sand and crystal bead blocks only make all of this exploration that much more engaging and fun!


I added these blocks to our shelf on a Friday afternoon, after the children had left for the weekend. I watched excitedly come Monday morning to see what their response was. I was surprised to discover that they all immediately noticed new blocks in the "block area" and almost immediately began exploring them. However, NOT ONE actually used language to share with friends that these block were "new." The blocks were quickly put to use - as castle toppers, "garbage" on dump trucks, and as "wood" for new dinosaur houses. Another interesting observation that was noticed by the children was that if they held the rainbow blocks up to their eye and looked through, they saw objects take on a different color (red, yellow, blue). "Miss Katie, you're red now!"

The blocks have definitely been a hit in the classroom and welcome addition to the "Block Area." It is evident that the blocks are a favorite and would be a well-loved, put-to-use Christmas present this holiday season!

What do other 'Guidecraft Educators' have to say about these blocks?
Maureen at Simply Stacie
Andrea at MommyPR
Deborah at Teach Preschool
Carrie from Huppie Mama
Jody from Mommy Moment
Candace at Mamanista!

For a chance to win a set of ALL 3 of these wonderful blocks sets, visit:
Carrie at HuppieMama,
the host of the DecemberGuidecraft Educators giveaway!

Or... if you just can't wait or really want to get your hands on this wonderful line of products, they can be purchased online at either Amazon.com or on Guidecraft's Website!

Rainbow Blocks (10 pieces) - Amazon.com or Guidecraft Website
Rainbow Blocks (30 pieces) - Amazon.com or Guidecraft Website
Deluxe Rainbow Blocks (42 pieces) - Amazon.com or Guidecraft Website
Crystal Bead Blocks (8 pieces) - Amazon.com or Guidecraft Website
Sand Blocks (8 pieces) - Amazon.com or Guidecraft Website





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!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Exploring Fall with Children's Books

Explore fall with Cloverleaf Books new series, Fall's Here!

Rustad, Martha E.H.
Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter.
September 2011.
Millbrook Press (a division of Lerner Publishing).
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Children are simply introduced to the ways in which animals prepare for winter in this book - migrating, hibernating and changing for their winter needs. The book is very basic and to the point, allowing the youngest of children to keep focused and understand the changes that animals go through in preparation of the winter months. Definitely a hit for exploring the fall season or to introduce the concept of "Animal in Winter" as a thematic unit!

Learning Activity:
  • The last few pages of the book contain a glossary, other books on the topic, websites to explore and an activity that allows children to "experience" how a gray whale's blubber works.
Rustad, Martha E.H.
Fall Apples: Crisp and Juicy.
September 2011.
Millbrook Press (a division of Lerner Publishing).
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Introducing children to the process of growing apples, this book is slightly more complex than Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter and will likely be more harder to use with younger children. However, I would imagine that some parts of the story could be modified for use with the younger ones as well! The process shared will likely catch the attention of many children, as many have probably had some kind of experience with apple picking and likely enjoy apple cider. The book is definitely a good one to use as part of a thematic unit on the fall season!

Learning Activity:
  • The last few pages of the book contain a glossary, other books on the topic, websites to explore and a recipe that involves children in making "Upside-Down, Inside-Out Apple Crisp."

There are 4 other books in the series, also by Martha E.H. Rustad, that I am excited to check out at some point!



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!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Guidecraft's Little Lectern Review & Giveaway Link

Each month, the Guidecraft Educators will share our honest feelings about a Guidecraft product(s) and how these products would fare in an early childhood classroom. This month's selection is the Little Lectern, a piece of furniture that promotes public speaking and group presentation skills.

What did I think of the construction/durability?

The unit was pretty easy to put together, although by the time I got to putting this piece together my hands were a bit tired and I struggled a bit with the screws on the carpeted riser (no fault of anyone other than myself)! It was not too heavy and relatively easy for one person to move (a plus considering all the "things" I take to my classroom also have to be removed before year's end as there's no guarantee I'll end up in the same room). The piece seems very steady and appears that it will hold up for some time to come!

How did we use this in the classroom?

My classroom consists of twenty Head Start/UPK children, many of whom are still only three-years old. The lectern required some introduction as none of them had any clue what it was. I got lots of "oohs" and "ahhs" initially and then lots of ants-in-the-pants while children waited for their turn. I chose to introduce this during our "planning time," a time in which children "plan" for which area of the room they will use during their "work time" AKA exploratory center play. I explained to the children that the "podium" (incorrect terminology on my part) is used by people when they have something important to share with others and that they would all be a part of sharing something important (their plan for work time). I started off by giving an example - "I am Miss Katie and I'm going to work in the block area with the cars." The children were then each given a turn sharing their plan at the podium. (Typically, after the children plan, they immediately go to the area where they intend to "work." However, because I wanted to stress the importance of the lectern as a "public speaking" piece, I did have the children stay and listen as their friends planned.)

While the children planned, my aide took their picture at the lectern and wrote down their plans, as we thought this might make a nice "book" to add to our classroom library - "The Planning Podium." The responses were great - some of the children took the opportunity to be very serious, while others decided to have fun with the new planning activity. This one little guy in particular told me he was "Michael Jackson!"

I then opted to leave the lectern out during "work time" for any of the children who might want to explore. One little guy surprised me tremendously! I noticed him very seriously standing at the lectern and decided to join him in his activity.
  • "T, what are you doing?" I asked.
  • "I not T, I Judge Judy." (He takes his fist and bangs it as though it's a gavel on the lectern). He responded.
  • "Who is Judge Judy?" I asked (this little guy receives speech therapy mainly for receptive language, so getting him to respond to questions is a big part of his IEP).
  • "I watch Judge Judy with my mommy and my S. She send T to jail." He told me.
  • "She does? How come?" I prompted.
  • Again, he pretends he has a gavel, "T go to jail for flushing the toilet in my mommy's bafroom when T have accident."
  • "How long will T go to jail for?" I asked him.
  • "Two hours." ("Judge Judy" ended at that point because another child came over and tried to join in at the lectern, upsetting T and causing a slight outburst!)
I was pleasantly surprised at the connection this little guy made with the lectern to a television show he obviously watches with his mother and sister. This went on to show me that the lectern, which I had thought would be "too old" of an activity for my preschoolers, encourages the use of their imagination and helps to build the use of language skills tremendously! This is definitely a piece of furniture that preschool classrooms could use in promoting language use!

Find Out More:

You can find out more about the Little Lectern on the Guidecraft website. The Little Lectern is available for purchase at Amazon.com and also through the Guidecraft website.

For a chance to win your own Little Lectern unit, visit:
Maureen at Simply Stacie,
the host of the October Guidecraft Educators giveaway!

You can also check out the reviews of the Universal Book Display & Storage unit from the other Guidecraft Educators:

Candace at Mamanista!
Andrea at MommyPR
Deborah at Teach Preschool
Carrie from Huppie Mama, now Busy 'Lil Hands
Jody from Mommy Moment





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!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Mouse and Mole: A Perfect Halloween

Participate in Halloween activities Mouse and Mole style!

Yee, Wong Herbert.
Mouse and Mole: A Perfect Halloween.
September 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


In this latest edition of the Mouse and Mole tales, Mouse and Mole partake in four Halloween adventures - decorating for Halloween, carving pumpkins, a jack-o-lantern contest, and dressing up in costumes for trick-or-treating. As they prepare for all these fun Halloween adventures, the duo have a lot of fun, but not without scaring each other a little along the way!

This book is perfect for beginning readers, or for younger children, if the "chapters" are broken down over four nights to make the story shorter and easier to comprehend, as it would appear to be quite choppy for little ears that aren't used to the way chapter books are written. Definitely a fun read this Halloween season!

Reading Activities:
  • Decorating - spend some time as a family making (or using store bought) decorations to spruce up the house for Halloween. You might even be able to find a relatively cheap CD of Halloween music to help bring about the spirit!
  • Head to the pumpkin patch and choose the perfect pumpkins for each member of your family. Have your child(ren) use descriptive words to tell about their pumpkin!
  • Ask a neighbor to "judge" the jack-o-lanterns. Be sure to have as many categories as you do jack-o-lanterns, so everyone will win a 1st place prize!
  • Rather than heading out to buy Halloween costumes, be resourceful! Use things you have at home or head to the local thrift store to see what kind of creative costumes your family can come up with!




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!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Halloween Mice

Halloween isn't always about the candy - much of it is about the act of warding off roaming ghosts, so why not experiment with moonlight shadows this Halloween and see if you can't scare some of those ghosts away!

Roberts, Bethany.
Halloween Mice!
September 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


The infamous holiday Mice return in Bethany Roberts' board book edition of Halloween Mice! The mice are out having a party in the pumpkin patch, enjoying their friskiness when they suddenly stumble upon the Halloween Cat. Needing to outwit the cat, the mice quickly come up with a plan to save their Halloween that involves scaring the cat away by making scary moonlight shadows. When they finally frighten away the cat, they head back out for more Halloween adventure before heading home to receive a fright of their own!

Reading Activity:
  • After reading Halloween Mice!, break out the flashlights and head into a dark room. Take turns holding the flashlight to see who can make the scariest "moonlight" shadow to scare away any roaming ghosts!




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!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Little Football

Delight your sports lover with these rhyming riddles about all things football!

Herzog, Brad.
Little Football.
Sleeping Bear Press.
February 2011.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Through the use of rhyming riddles, children will learn about the vocabulary related to the game of football. The book introduces basic vocabulary and in a sense, gives child friendly definitions of all the terminology.

The book is a wonderful springboard to introduce children to football, as well as the act of listening to language as a means of discovery and thought. This book would be a delight for little ones longing to join "Dad" for Sunday football and to help them gain and understanding of the sport!

Learning/Reading Activities:




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!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band

Expose children to a new musical genre with the help of Kwame Alexander's Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band.

Alexander, Kwame.
Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band.
August 2011.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Wishing to enter and hopefully to win the Barnyard Talent Show, Acoustic Rooster has been practicing strumming his bass guitar all summer long. Unable to join one of the other teams, Acoustic Rooster opts to start his own jazz band and calls upon Duck Ellington (pianist), Bee Holiday (singer), Poncho Ernesto Cruz aka Pork Chop (percussion) to help him claim a title at the talent show. While Acoustic Rooster's band doesn't win first place, compliments from one of their competitors leaves Acoustic Rooster feeling proud that he's got the world's best band!

With "rollicking, rhyming and rhythmic" text, this story is sure to appeal to children and capture their interest! Parents will take delight in the humor and takes on names that make the story fun for children, yet allow them to relate to the musicians just a bit more personally. The additional information provided at the back of the book (jazz glossary, musical vocabulary, and information about the musicians, characters and music, and jazz timeline) will help children to better understand the genre and how it came to be.

Reading/Learning Activity:




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!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Guidecraft's Universal Book Display & Storage Review & Giveaway Link

Each month, the Guidecraft Educators will share our honest feelings about a Guidecraft product(s) and how these products would fare in an early childhood classroom. This month's selection is the Universal Book Display & Storage, a display unit for traditional sized children's books on one side and a storage unit for big books on the other! I was super excited to see this, as I've been looking for a good way to store big books to get them off the closet floor.

What Did We Think?

The unit itself was fairly simple to put together, as the directions were easy to follow. I did have a problem with the last step, as according to the directions received in my unit, had me putting in a piece between the two side pieces that contained pegs. I had to unscrew the top several screws on one side of the unit in order to get that piece in. It wasn't a huge ordeal, but it did consume a bit more of my time than I had anticipated!

The unit is quite big in depth, but definitely ideal for the dual usage! My only wish was that the big book display contained slings that the books could rest in as they would on the traditional display side, so that children would have easier access to the titles available for browsing, whereas it is a bit difficult to display the books easily when they are slung over the bars.

When the unit finally made it's way into the classroom, it immediately caught the childrens' eyes, as it was new furniture that hadn't been there at the beginning of the school year! And they were super excited to see the big books find a place in the classroom where they would be accessible to little hands! As for displaying the traditional sized children's books, we (my team and I) decided to put a twist on this usage. The books we have out for the children have taken a beating, as we've discovered the children need a bit of an education in book handling! So... we decided to dedicate this shelving unit to store classroom-created books (books featuring pictures of the children in the room, engaged in a variety of activities, as well as books that we created together focusing on educational concepts - colors, shapes, numbers, etc). We thought the children might take more pride in these books that were created by themselves, while at the same time exposing them to books to gain an appreciation for appropriate treatment of books! So far, it is working! The children are enjoying seeing themselves in the books and they are readily accessible at many points throughout the day.

Find Out More:

You can find out more about the Universal Book Display & Storage on the Guidecraft website. The Universal Book Display & Storage is available for purchase at Amazon.com and also through the Guidecraft website.

For a chance to win your own Universal Book Display & Storage unit, visit:
Andrea at MommyPR,
the host of the October Guidecraft Educators giveaway!

You can also check out the reviews of the Universal Book Display & Storage unit from the other Guidecraft Educators:

Candace at Mamanista!
Maureen at Simply Stacie
Deborah at Teach Preschool
Carrie from Huppie Mama
Jody from Mommy Moment





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!