Curious George: Time for School

Help your little ones adjust to a "back-to-school" routine and prepare for the new school year while introducing the concept of "time."

Platt, Cynthia.
Curious George: Time for School.
July 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

As George heads off to his first visit to Kindergarten with friend, Allie, his day is described through the telling of time - sharing with readers each hour of his school day and the activities in which he participates. From packing his lunch at 7:00 until he heads for home at 2:00, nearly all parts of the typical school day are covered in this unique book that allows children to manipulate the clock and "work" their way through the day.

Perfect for discussing the typical school day with new Kindergarteners or to use as an introduction to exploring the concept of time, Curious George: Time for School is ideal for sharing at the beginning of a new school year!

Reading/Learning Activities:

• Help your child anticipate and work his/her way through the (sometimes difficult) first days of a new school year. Talk with his/her teacher ahead of time and to get an idea of what the classroom "schedule" will consist of. Write out the schedule on a piece of paper and glue some "clocks" - downloaded however many you need here and scale them down to the size of your liking. Include your child in writing the numbers on the clock and then, using the schedule you've gotten from the teacher, have your child use a pencil to draw the hour and minute hand on the clock to represent each time. At the end of the day, add something fun that your child can look forward to coming home from school!
• After several days of school have passed, work with your child to create their own version of Curious _______: Time for School. Using their schedule, create a book unique to their class. Work together to illustrate and draw the clocks, along with writing the text. Allow your child to surprise their "class" by returning with their book to keep in the classroom for the school year after their first weekend home from school!
  

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Curious George: Parade Day

Introduce the youngest of children to the celebrations surrounding Independence Day with Curious George: Parade Day!

Perez, Monica & Cynthia Platt.
Curious George: Parade Day.
May 2011.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Curious George: Parade Day introduces children to the iconic symbols of America and Independence Day. It doesn't get more American than the classic apple pie... or does it? From apple pie to the traditional 4th of July fireworks, families across America will participate in a variety of traditions this Independence Day. The text in Curious George: Parade Day is simplistic and in some cases rhyming... each symbol representative of America's independence has it's own page and significance in the story, making it perfect as a stand alone read (each page a different day) or as a book in it's entirety.

This is definitely a book you'll want to use if you have a little one who is old enough to begin recognizing July 4th as an American holiday! It's simple and fun to read with a much-loved character returning to introduce American traditions and for this $7.99 board book edition, how could you go wrong? It'll last for years to come!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Work together to bake an apple pie.
• Pack a picnic.
• Head to a local parade.
• Enjoy a picnic in the park, and turn it into a "counting picnic" as Curious George does, counting all of the fun things around you... kites, hats, trees, dogs, etc.
• Spend some time at a local playground, playing as a family.
• Create your own "Lady Liberty" costumes or make patriotic parade wear!
• Put on some "jammies" and head out to the local fireworks display!
  

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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!

Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George

Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George

Platt, Cynthia and Julie Bartynski.
Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George.
September 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

From cooking the feast to saying thanks and everything in between, Curious George does a wonderful job introducing young children to the Thanksgiving holiday. This book is perfect for children who are old enough to begin understanding that Thanksgiving in a special day - out of the ordinary. The text is simple, yet detailed enough to paint a thorough picture of many traditions of family Thanskgiving celebrations. Coupled with the illustrations, children are sure to comprehend what's important and special about Thanksgiving!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Use this book to help introduce your children to the Thanksgiving holiday.
• Involve your children in helping prepare the turkey for the feast... chances are the parts of the job you'll hate (removing the gizzards, seasoning with your hands, etc), your child will take delight in! Just make sure they wash their hands to eliminate any possible bacteria spreads after handling the uncooked bird!
• Turn into the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. As a family, have each member pick which float/display they like most!
• Tables often feature centerpieces or nameplates at Thanksgiving, have your child craft a handprint turkey similar to Curious George's! Use these as nameplates for each guest. A pattern can be found here.
• Children love to help out - give them the assignment of setting the table (of course, if you're using fine china or similar, you'll want to modify this a bit) - allow them to set out the silverware and napkins!
• Anything in the kitchen is fun for kids - allow them to help you prepare the side dishes - peeling vegetables, mixing, or even measuring and pouring are tasks that children can handle with supervision.
• Be sure to include your children in "Saying Thanks!" They're definitely old enough to name something they're thankful for! Of course, you might need to do some prompting, but they'll enjoy being a part of the conversation during the meal.
  

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!