Day 14 of the 25 Days of Christmas: Bedtime Gift Basket for Little Ones

The end of last week left me lacking time and motivation to prepare and type up posts 10-13. However, I'm back... and hopefully in full swing to finish out my 25 Days of Christmas posts!

Create a bedtime gift basket to help make the bedtime transition memorable and easier at your house!

Fox, Mem.
Time for Bed.
August 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this rhyming bedtime book, children will love the tales shared about nighttime as animals help send children peacefully to sleep. With the help of a mouse, goose, cat, calf, foal, fish, sheep, bird, bee, snake, pup, and deer, children will learn about the night and rhyming, all in one, while enjoying one last story of the day.

Brown, Margaret Wise.
Goodnight Moon, ABC: An Alphabet Book.
July 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this sequel (of sorts) to Goodnight, Moon, readers have the opportunity to explore bedtime in an all new way! Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book introduces readers to a plethora of items (Air through Zzzz...). So many things can be found in the famous, recognizable green bedroom. Children are encouraged to search for them all, and in doing so, will begin to make a connection between written words and meaning (objects illustrated throughout). The book is perfect for infants and toddlers, as it allows them to be actively involved in the reading without overstimulating them at bedtime.

Rey, H.A.
Curious George: Awake Asleep.
October 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this very simple cloth book, children are introduced to "awake" activities before being "sent" to bed with a simple "It's bedtime for you. Asleep." The book is intended to be a door hanger outside a child's door to indicate whether the child is awake or asleep, but you could easily allow your child to take this to bed with them if you cut off the handle at the top to eliminate the hazard!

Along with the tree titles mentioned above, include in your gift basket:

• Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light
• Dreamland: World Lullabies & Soothing Songs
• Pick out a Pillow Pet, appropriate to your child's interests
  

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!

Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book

A new take on an oldie, but goodie!

Brown, Margaret Wise.
Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book.
June 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this sequel (of sorts) to Goodnight, Moon, readers have the opportunity to explore bedtime in an all new way! Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book introduces readers to a plethora of items (Air through Zzzz...). So many things can be found in the famous, recognizable green bedroom. Children are encouraged to search for them all, and in doing so, will begin to make a connection between written words and meaning (objects illustrated throughout).

Goodnight, Moon was pretty much one of my favorite books as a child - in fact, I just two weeks ago found my childhood copy (I believe the copyright on it was 1974). It's certainly a timeless treasure that has been considered one of the greatest bedtime reads of all times and this would be a welcome companion to it! Your beginning readers will love being able to "read" Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book all on his/her own or to you and/or younger siblings. Definitely a must have for your little ones!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Use the two books, Goodnight, Moon and Goodnight Moon ABC: An Alphabet Book together. As you are reading the ABC version, have your child look through the original text, locating all of the objects found within that treasured green bedroom! Let this be a bedtime treasure hunt. Hide some of the same objects in your child's bedroom, turn on a nightlight and allow your child to "search" their own room from the bed while they are trying to fall asleep!
  

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!

Mischievous Monday: Christmas Kitties

For some reason, children love Christmas books that include animals... here are two of the latest Christmas books featuring kitties!

Brown, Margaret Wise.
A Pussycat's Christmas.
September 2009.
Review Copy Provided Courtesy of: HarperCollins Publishers

In this delightful tale, a young pussycat experiences the joys and wonders of Winter and the Christmas season, by examining the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of this wonderful time of the year. Upon reading, children will likely look at entirely new side of the holiday season, stopping to take in the beauty that they have not previously recognized. Added to the story are beautiful illustrations that allow Pussycat to appear in a life-like manner, almost asking reader to reach out and pet the delicate looking fur!

Learning/Reading Activity:

Use this book to help your child explore the ways in which each of their five senses come into play during the Christmas/Winter season.

1. Read the story together.
   
2. Discuss the different things that Pussycat hears, sees, smells, tastes, and touches.
   
3. Then, using the following worksheet (save and then print as a full page image), ask your child to determine how their five senses are put to use. For example, he/she may taste Christmas cookies, so list that under "I Can Taste..." or he/she may tell you they hear Christmas carols. Place that under the label "I Can Hear..."
4. Finally, ask your child which of their five senses they like to use best at Christmas. On a sheet of lined paper, ask him/her to write a few sentences describing why. For example, My favorite sense to use at Christmas time is my sense of taste. I like to eat the sweet Christmas cookies, drink the warm hot chocolate, and taste the honey-glazed ham.
   

Scotton, Rob.
Merry Christmas, Splat.
September 2009.
Review Copy Provided Courtesy of: HarperCollins Publishers

All of a sudden, it's dawned on Splat that it's the night before Christmas... has he been naughty or nice? He's certainly tried to behave himself, but was it enough? Splat isn't sure, so he decides to spend Christmas Eve day helping out his mom just to be sure Santa comes to visit him. Afterall, he has been hoping for a really big present. He even stays up almost all night to catch Santa in the act, but happened to somehow fall asleep. When his little sister wakes him up on Christmas Day, Splat is disappointed... it looks like his efforts weren't enough... However, his family was just looking to have a little fun with him... Santa did make it after all!

Children are likely to love Splat's added efforts on Christmas Eve to make sure Santa will visit... they'll be chuckling at his failed attempts, but will feel at ease to see that Santa did still visit! It will allow them a bit of a confident feeling if they've been struggling to make the "nice list" this year.

Learning/Reading Activity:

Readers never truly learn what it was inside that "really big present" that Splat was looking for. Encourage your child(ren) to use their imagination to determine what Splat received for Christmas. A coloring page of an open package can be downloaded here. Just print out the picture and ask your child(ren) to draw Splat's present and then color the entire page! If you're looking to improve/practice writing skills, ask him/her to rewrite Splat's letter to Santa using specific details about what he's hoping for inside his "really big present."

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.