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Purpose of this Blog...
You may have noticed that not all books are equal in capturing children's imaginations and in cultivating those innocent, tender souls. My goal is to help you find the ones that do!
(Painting by Mary Cassatt: "Mrs Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren" -1888)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
A SPECIAL LIBRARY STORYTIME...FOR SOME VERY SPECIAL KIDS
Super S.T.A.R.s: "Storytime Touching Autistic Readers"
Today I'd like to highlight a program that the Placentia Library District, here in Orange County, CA, has instituted for children with autism. Super S.T.A.R.s is designed for children ages 3-8, who attend with a parent or guardian, and can even bring their siblings along.
Would you like information about starting a program like this at your local library? Click here.
PARENTS: Want information about children's literature for children with autism? Stay tuned! I'm working on a follow-up post now with some good information and suggestions for you from some experts.
Note: The Placentia Library has lots of great storytimes, inlcuding a "Lap Sit Time" for 0-2 year olds!)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
not your everyday princess books...
"Whatever comes," she said, "cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it." -Sarah Crew (A LITTLE PRINCESS)
I hope you won't limit your kids' experiences with Princesses strictly to the popular Disney versions. Girls ages 4-8 will also love these beautifully illustrated picture books about these rather unconventional princesses who are courageous, innocent, loyal, and resourceful ...
THE PAPER PRINCESS
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
THE MAGIC HILL
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
E-READERS OR TRADITIONAL BOOKS? WHICH IS THE GREENER CHOICE?
THE JURY IS STILL OUT...
I'm no expert when it comes to questions about digital technology or the environment, but the experts are saying there's a LOT to consider in determining the carbon footprint of e-books versus traditional paper books. My head is spinning from all the information I've been taking in lately. Kind of like reading Jabberwocky.
PLANT A TREE: SAVE A BOOK?
One of the main selling points in favor of e-readers is that they are paperless. But everyone knows that traditional books are sustainable and can be easily shared among friends, donated to used books stores, and ultimately recycled at the end of their shelf life.
From "E-Readers vs. Old Fashioned Books - Which is Greener?" on the SIERRA CLUB GREEN HOME website: Here’s the best answer... go to the public library next time you are downtown. Borrow three or four books, finish them all, then return ‘em next time you’re near the library. This is truly the most sustainable way to read: the good old fashioned public library. We preach “reduce, reuse, and recycle” and library books can be read by dozens of people over their lifetime. And once they are finally too dog-eared and beaten up to grace library shelves, they can be easily recycled since they are generally all paper (even the leather on deluxe bound editions can be recycled).
IT'S NOT E-ASY BEING GREEN...
So, what if you like buying new books and you read lots of books? E-reading may be paperless, but that doesn't mean it has no carbon footprint, as you can see from another well-researched article, "The Environmental Impacts of E-Books", posted by the GREEN PRESS INITIATIVE. To make up the various electronic components and battery, e-readers require several mineral sources such as plastic (derived from oil) metal, and glass. There is also the energy consumption of an e-reader to be considered, and whether or not e-book manufacturers have recycling programs(and how they go about it, if they do).
I'm not personally excited about e-books for children, especially those with distracting apps, but it appears we're seeing the beginning of a trend that could explode. Since consumers help determine the market, I just hope parents will only supplement, not replace, good old fashioned books with e-readers, if or when they decide to follow the trend. But that's a whole different blog post...
My mantra stays the same: visit the library with your kids! Your wallet will thank you and you'll benefit the environment. If there are special books you want to own or give as gifts - especially children's picture books - my advice is to shop for the traditional paper versions (new or used). I think the environment will survive these sustainable purchases and your children (and grandchildren) will thank you for not leaving their tangible, paper friends behind!
I'm no expert when it comes to questions about digital technology or the environment, but the experts are saying there's a LOT to consider in determining the carbon footprint of e-books versus traditional paper books. My head is spinning from all the information I've been taking in lately. Kind of like reading Jabberwocky.
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Trial of the Knave of Hearts illustration by John Tenniel |
One of the main selling points in favor of e-readers is that they are paperless. But everyone knows that traditional books are sustainable and can be easily shared among friends, donated to used books stores, and ultimately recycled at the end of their shelf life.
From "E-Readers vs. Old Fashioned Books - Which is Greener?" on the SIERRA CLUB GREEN HOME website: Here’s the best answer... go to the public library next time you are downtown. Borrow three or four books, finish them all, then return ‘em next time you’re near the library. This is truly the most sustainable way to read: the good old fashioned public library. We preach “reduce, reuse, and recycle” and library books can be read by dozens of people over their lifetime. And once they are finally too dog-eared and beaten up to grace library shelves, they can be easily recycled since they are generally all paper (even the leather on deluxe bound editions can be recycled).
Are e-books green? GREEN LIVING says, "The short answer is almost certainly yes, but only if you're comparing e-books to new books. As usual, the greenest way to go is reuse."
IT'S NOT E-ASY BEING GREEN...
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I'm not personally excited about e-books for children, especially those with distracting apps, but it appears we're seeing the beginning of a trend that could explode. Since consumers help determine the market, I just hope parents will only supplement, not replace, good old fashioned books with e-readers, if or when they decide to follow the trend. But that's a whole different blog post...
My mantra stays the same: visit the library with your kids! Your wallet will thank you and you'll benefit the environment. If there are special books you want to own or give as gifts - especially children's picture books - my advice is to shop for the traditional paper versions (new or used). I think the environment will survive these sustainable purchases and your children (and grandchildren) will thank you for not leaving their tangible, paper friends behind!
Monday, February 21, 2011
THE LADY WHO SAVED GEORGE WASHINGTON - WELL, SORT OF.
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George Washington portrait by Gilbert Stuart |
But you won't learn anything from those books about the brave lady who saved George Washington, because she saved him during the War of 1812, many years after his death. Well, she didn't save him, but she did save a very famous portrait of him that hung in the White House when her husband, James Madison was President. Her name was Dolley and here is a picture book about how she saved the painting, for ages K-4th grade...
DOLLEY MADISON SAVES GEORGE WASHINGTON
Thursday, February 17, 2011
AL YANKOVIC HAS WRITTEN A CHILDREN'S BOOK, AND IT'S NOT THAT "WEIRD" AT ALL!
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I'm not usually interested in children's books written by celebrities, but I had a feeling this one would be worth reading. I mean, someone who starts playing the accordion at age six, attends Cal Poly SLO to pursue a degree in architecture, and then goes on to write a parody of "MacArthur Park" with lyrics like this is bound to do better than most in penning text for a children's picture book, right?
All the dinosaurs are running wild...
Someone let T. Rex out of his pen!
I'm afraid those things'll harm me
'Cause they sure don't act like Barney
And they think that I'm their dinner - not their friend!
Oh nooooo!
Right! I wasn't disappointed. When it came my turn to step up to the table and have Mr. AL sign my copy of his book, I told him how his creative sense of humor had always inspired my son.
"Really? And I read Shel Silverstein...." (yes... I was waiting, and could tell he was trying to remember something...)
He reflected another second and then said, "THE CIRCUS McGURCUS!" (I agreed and said yes. YES! and we both started laughing because we knew that wasn't the title, but could remember in that moment what the title was.)
The story of the Circus McGurcus is such a "WEIRD AL" kind of story - and if you've followed my blog very long, you might remember it was my son David's favorite too! Here's the Dr. Suess book:
IF I RAN THE CIRCUS, by Dr. Suess, has "Mr. Sneelock";
Below is the book trailer (with Al reading excerpts). I think any child ages 5-8 will like this book, written with "Weird Al's" typical nerdy sense of humor. And adults will like the cute twist at the end. (it's not revealed in the trailer, you'll have to go find the book!) Your child will love the imaginative illustrations are by Wes Hargis.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
VINTAGE LIBRARY
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It's not one of the seven original Rey books, but the publishers have done a great job keeping the New Adventures in line with what Margret and H.A. Rey would have done for a seamless continuity of Curious George stories.
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Margret & H.A. Rey, United States, late 1940's (credit: H.A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond children's Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, the University of Southern Mississippi) |
CURIOUS GEORGE VISITS THE LIBRARY
(illustrated by Martha Weston)
Go to LIST OF ALL BOOKS from curiousgeorge.comBest Value: Order THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES OF CURIOUS GEORGE
Monday, February 14, 2011
HAVE A HEART...DONATE A BOOK!
Even the youngest child knows that a HEART symbolizes love and that Valentine's Day is about sharing it! This holiday is a perfect chance to help our kids put "love of neighbor" into action!
BookEnds was founded in 1998 by an 8 year-old boy who independently led his school class in a book drive to build a much-needed library at a home for abused children. His simple act of generosity was the inspiration and model for BookEnds, where kids can recycle gently-used children's books to provide under-served children in the greater Los Angeles area the opportunity to read.
Are you donating? I'm sending BOOKENDS two read aloud books that I know will be "loved". What will you send?
ACORN'S STORY
WOLVES IN YELLOWSTONE by Randy Houk (A Benefactory Book) This will be a 2-for-1 donation! The Humane Society gets proceeds from the sale of this book.
Another Giving Company: BETTER WORLD BOOKS ("the Online Bookstore With a Soul") - when you buy your books from them, look who you help!
Friday, February 11, 2011
POP-UPS GALORE!
The book I've decided to highlight for Valentine's Day is by Robert Sabuda. This American author/illustrator is literally a paper engineer! On his website he even shares some fun pop-up projects your kids can make themselves! But first, I'd like to show you one of Sabuda's non pop-up books, SAINT VALENTINE
, that is illustrated with beautiful mosaics he cut from paper...it's a beautiful read aloud for ages 6-9.
In ancient Rome there lived a gentle and humble man named Valentine. He was a physician, but he was also a Christian priest whose life and freedom were in constant danger in a city of people who believed in so many gods, not just one. So Valentine tended to his patients in the daytime, but he prayed for them only at night.
One day a jailer from the emperor's prison appeared at Valentine's door with his small child, a girl who was blind. Knowing the difficulty of curing blindness, Valentine vowed to do his best, and over the weeks of treatment and prayer the three became fast friends. But even his friendship with the jailer could not save Valentine when the Roman soldier came to imprison him.
(Amazon Product Description)
Robert Sabuda's specialty: "Pop-up Books"...
As I said, his website has a treasure trove of fun pop-up projects your child can make - from ANIMALS to STAR WARS (and of course a few for VALENTINE'S DAY). Scroll down to watch a video of his newest 3-D book, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
(if you're able, I suggest trying to watch it in full screen).
BOOKS with pop-ups by Robert Sabuda:
(Note: these books are very delicate, and not intended for children under 3)
THE CHRISTMAS ALPHABET
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
WINTER'S TALE
COOKIE COUNT: A TASTY POP-UP
THE MOVABLE MOTHER GOOSE
THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ
ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
YOUNG NATURALIST'S POP-UP HANDBOOK: BEETLES
YOUNG NATURALIST'S POP-UP HANDBOOK: BUTTERFLIES
AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL
ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS
ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: SHARKS AND OTHER MONSTERS
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Enjoy Robert Sabuda's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
In ancient Rome there lived a gentle and humble man named Valentine. He was a physician, but he was also a Christian priest whose life and freedom were in constant danger in a city of people who believed in so many gods, not just one. So Valentine tended to his patients in the daytime, but he prayed for them only at night.
One day a jailer from the emperor's prison appeared at Valentine's door with his small child, a girl who was blind. Knowing the difficulty of curing blindness, Valentine vowed to do his best, and over the weeks of treatment and prayer the three became fast friends. But even his friendship with the jailer could not save Valentine when the Roman soldier came to imprison him.
(Amazon Product Description)
Robert Sabuda's specialty: "Pop-up Books"...
As I said, his website has a treasure trove of fun pop-up projects your child can make - from ANIMALS to STAR WARS (and of course a few for VALENTINE'S DAY). Scroll down to watch a video of his newest 3-D book, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BOOKS with pop-ups by Robert Sabuda:
(Note: these books are very delicate, and not intended for children under 3)
THE CHRISTMAS ALPHABET
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
WINTER'S TALE
COOKIE COUNT: A TASTY POP-UP
THE MOVABLE MOTHER GOOSE
THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ
ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
YOUNG NATURALIST'S POP-UP HANDBOOK: BEETLES
YOUNG NATURALIST'S POP-UP HANDBOOK: BUTTERFLIES
AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL
ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS
ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: SHARKS AND OTHER MONSTERS
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Enjoy Robert Sabuda's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
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