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In the wonderful book, The Mountains of Tibetby Mordicai Gerstein, the young boy living in the mountains of Tibet lived a wonderful life of flying kites, hard work, a loving family, and peace.
When he died, which is the natural progression of life, he rose into the sky where he was given the choice to move on to Heaven or choose to live another life as anything he wanted to be and anywhere in the world. Because that was his one regret in life–not seeing more of the big wide world.
A Tibetan woodcutter dreams of exploring the world, but is too busy with his life to ever leave his valley. After he dies, he is taken on a journey through the cosmos and all the places on Earth as he makes choices that lead him to a new life.-Amazon
The man’s journey to pick a new life starts on the largest plane–picking a galaxy. His path to a new life follows the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Start at the biggest part of life and go down to the minutest detail. And these are all hard decisions. Which galaxy? Which star? Which planet? Which country? There are so many choices! So will the Tibetan man choose to go back to his familiar home in the mountains of Tibet, or will he choose to experience new things in exciting countries far away?
Mordicai Gerstein’s book The Mountains of Tibet shows a unique way of explaining death and life to young children. It’s a beautiful, natural process filled with free will decisions. The illustrations are simple yet beautiful, helping children’s imaginations to flare to life.
{CLICK TO TWEET} If you could travel anywhere-where would you go? The Mountains of Tibet review & activities @Jumpintoabook1
Something To Do
1. Create a Galaxy in a Jar (this is your galaxy!) Get the full instructions and watch the video tutorial HERE.
2. Make a would you rather game for the choices of life!
– Would you rather live in a blue galaxy or a purple galaxy?
– Would you rather live on Earth or Mars?
– Would you rather be an animal or a human?
Make this a lively discussion with friends, family and students!
3. Make your own kite! These are perfect for a windy day at the park or the beach or even in your own backyard!
Grab this free gift and discover 180 ways to explore the world we live in!
FREE Gift! Free 180 Multicultural Book Ideas ebook to inspired fun Summer Reading!
School is out and our youngsters are settling into a new summer routine of sleeping in and hopefully doing some exploring and discovering. With the hectic days of summer just beginning, oftentimes one of the first habit to go by the wayside is the habit of daily reading.
Reading is always an important part of our children’s lives no matter what time of year it is so I decided to wrap my knowledge of fun kidlit books and activities up with my experience as one of the co-founders of the very successful Multicultural Children’s Book Day and create a unique resource for parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. Reading is important, but so is helping our young readers learn about other cultures, religions and traditions through the pages of these books. Here are some great booklists and resources that I have created over the years at Jump Into a Book that will not only give parents and readers great ideas on diverse kids’ books, but fun activities related to books that will bring stories to life!
Sign up below for quick and free access to 180 Multicultural Book Ideas: World Travel through Kidlit Summer Reading!
Sign up for 180 Multicultural Book Ideas for Summer Reading
The Civil Rights was an extremely tragic yet absolutely necessary piece of American history. Both black and white people made great strides in human rights and equality in our country. Many people seem to forget that African Americans were not the only people standing up for equality. White, Indian, Asian–people of every heritage were standing together. Joan Mulholland was one of these people. Raised in Virginia, she grew up with segregation and harsh racism. She grew up being taught that mixing races was wrong. But despite all this chatter in her ear, Joan knew that this was wrong. She took a stand when she began college, joining peaceful movements, sit ins, protests, and other demonstrations. She was kicked out of Duke University for her involvement with the Civil Rights Movement.
Despite the backlash and threats that she received, Joan never gave up on her belief that what she and the rest of her friends doing was the right thing. She was one of the first white students to attend an historically black college and join a black sorority. Her life was almost always at risk; she lost many friends and family; she lived in jail for several months of her life. All because she was doing the right thing. And the rest of culture couldn’t accept this. She was an average hero.
She Stood for Freedomis extremely timely in its release. With all of the turmoil in our society right now, this book reminds us that we are all working together for a common goal. We’re all humans, and it’s high time that we remember that. Our world needs to be changed? Then let’s do it together, with our friends, one step at a time. Grab your copy of this amazing book HERE or click on the book image above to take a closer look.
Something To Do
1. Write a Poem
Research a Civil Rights hero (Joan for example) and write a poem telling about their life.
FREE Gift! Free 180 Multicultural Book Ideas ebook to inspired fun Summer Reading!
School is out and our youngsters are settling into a new summer routine of sleeping in and hopefully doing some exploring and discovering. With the hectic days of summer just beginning, oftentimes one of the first habit to go by the wayside is the habit of daily reading.
Reading is always an important part of our children’s lives no matter what time of year it is so I decided to wrap my knowledge of fun kidlit books and activities up with my experience as one of the co-founders of the very successful Multicultural Children’s Book Day and create a unique resource for parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. Reading is important, but so is helping our young readers learn about other cultures, religions and traditions through the pages of these books. Here are some great booklists and resources that I have created over the years at Jump Into a Book that will not only give parents and readers great ideas on diverse kids’ books, but fun activities related to books that will bring stories to life!
Sign up below for quick and free access to 180 Multicultural Book Ideas: World Travel through Kidlit Summer Reading!
Sign up for 180 Multicultural Book Ideas for Summer Reading
With the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio just around the corner, I am seeing more and more wonderful books that help our young readers understand the importance of this athletic milestone, but also to celebrate all of the notable athletes who have left their mark in Olympic history. Here are some of my top picks.
Olympic-themed books for kids
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Coretta Scott King winner Frank Morrison, is a charming story about wanting to be the fastest kid in Clarksville. It’s also about determination, dreams, and the friends we meet along the way.
In this fun review that is found right here on JIAB, we also take a look at the inspiring life of Wilma Rudolph; a three-time Olympic Gold medalist.
Concerned that your kids aren’t getting enough “outside time?”
Despite data that shows that 80% of natural vitamin D comes from the rays of the sun, many children, roughly only 23% are spending enough time outside and welcoming the sun’s rays. Most children do not get enough vitamin D from food alone and are at risk of deficiency if they are spending prolonged periods of time indoors. Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book and Marilyn Scott-Waters from The Toymaker have combined their respective talents to not only create a clever solution, but also an amazing guidebook to help parents help their children regain their interest and love of nature.
With over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for families to enjoy, learn, discover and play together, A Year In the Secret Garden brings the magical story to life while also enjoying nature and the great outdoors.
With fascinating historical information, monthly gardening activities, easy-to-make recipes, and step-by-step crafts, designed to enchant readers of all ages. Each month your family will unlock the mysteries of a Secret Garden character, as well as have fun together creating the original crafts and activities based on the book. Our goal is to not only raise awareness for the necessity of families spending more quality “unplugged” time together, but to also share monthly activities that incorporate nature and the outdoors as well. Get your kids moving, exploring and playing today. Get access to this wonderful children’s activity book here.
Over the past few years I’ve watched the screen debate evolve as families choose between having a “screen-free” or a “screen-filled” home. In our family we’ve carefully chosen what is watched on TV, what Internet sites can be accessed, and enforced a strict “no cellphone until you can drive” policy. Of course, every on-line safety precaution has been taken as well as placing a time-tracker on the family computer.
All of this is fine and good until schools and society started encroaching on my little domestic bubble. Our schools have chosen to embrace technology in a variety of ways from turning in term papers, taking tests, research, and in-school discussions forums.
Our children’s visiting friends come over to our house with a variety of electronic gadgets, and with them come their own rules. My first reaction was to say, “my house, my rules,” but then it dawned on me that the conversation that was not being had was the one about balance.
What does an electronically balanced family look like?
Technology, whether TV, computer, iPad, or cell phone, is a tool and a tool is only as good as the hand that guides it. That hand is only as good as the heart and mind that picks it up as well.
I decided I was tired of feeling like a “screen-cop” so I decided to sit down with my kids and come up with a set of guidelines that we could all agree to. I was really impressed with their perspective and how complete they were in coming up with guidelines for our family.
Guidelines for Screen-Time:
• Get On The Same Page: Begin the talk by discussing with your children why there needs to be limits and talk about computer and Internet safety.
• Priorities: Using computers, TVs, and electronic devices are wwwaaayy down on the priority list and can occur only after homework, music or sports practice, and family time. As one of my children put it, “screen time is a privilege and not a right.”
• Active Engagement: A point that is really important for my husband and myself is that screen time is often a passive activity. One of our Golden Rules of Home is that screen time must engage our children actively. Programs we value are Mindcraft (on our server), STEM computer activities which engage our children into building robots, airplanes, and creative computer games requesting kids to solve math problems, etc.
• Must Add Value: Whether watching a good movie, playing an iPad game, or texting on a cell phone, everything must add value our lives. Is my child learning something? Are they texting for a purpose such as directions or meeting times? Is the screen time
creating a problem solving moment such as building a STEM game? Is what they’re doing on the screen purposeful?
• Be Together: A wonderful way to connect with children and their friends is to set up a game night, and play along with them. We have a Wii and love to play the family-friendly games together. We add one half hour to our game nights so everyone gets a couple of turns and then we change the game to an off-screen one. It’s created a nice balance between on-screen and off -screen games.
• Cell-phones and Friends: Many of my children’s friends are now carrying cell phones. Before they come to our house, I make sure their parents have our land-line and cell phone numbers in case they should need to speak with their child. Near our front door is the cell-phone basket where everyone’s cell phones are turned off, placed inside, and not retrieved until it’s time for our guests to head home. I love this “electronics bin” idea I spotted on Facebook, but unfortunately I don’t know the source.
• Laptops and Friends: Many friends have laptops and iPads and are usually surprised when they are asked to leave them on the shelf inside our front door. It may sound odd, but I feel I have a responsibility to make sure our kids cannot access inappropriate websites at any time. Balanced screen time applies to everyone who enters our home. After the first couple of times visiting, friends begin automatically leaving their computers by the front door or in their backpacks which, to me, shows great understanding and support.
The best guide that we’ve found for balanced screen time is to model the behavior we want to see. One of the most important steps in creating balanced screen time is for your child to watch you turn off your devices. By creating a balance in your own habits you will help create a natural model for your children to pattern their behavior after. We’ve been very conscious to do this in our own home and have seen similar screen usage results in our growing extended family.
One More Thing…
My Secret Codes, Mysteries and Adventures Activity PDF for kids will keep young minds percolating for HOURS with this screen-free activity!
Inside young super detectives will discover:
*19 pages of sleuthing fun for your family to enjoy.
*Use Pilot Frixion Pens and craft paper to create Invisible Secret Notes!
*Make I Spy Cookies!
*Discover a President of the United States who was a Master Code Creator!
This free activity guide is a great way to encourage kids to pull books off of shelves, discover the power of imagination and build a new excitement and anticipation for reading. Fill out the info below and grab your FREE copy. Enjoy!
Is summer flying by or WHAT?! Goodness, before we know it we will be reading about “first day of school” booklists!
I’ve been having so much fun with my Notable Women series these last few weeks. I kicked things off American Revolution hero Sybil Ludington, then moved on to favorite author Pam Muñoz Ryan. This week I want to focus on the wonderful works of author Linda Sue Park.
Linda Sue Park is the author of the Newbery Medal book A Single Shard, many other novels, several picture books, and most recently a book of poetry: Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems). She lives in Rochester, New York, with her family, and is now a devoted fan of the New York Mets. For more infromation visit www.lspark.com
Here are a few of my favorite Linda Sue Park books for kids:
The New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.
In this Newbery Medal-winning book set in 12th century Korea, Tree-ear, a 13-year-old orphan, lives under a bridge in Ch’ulp’o, a potters’ village famed for delicate celadon ware. He has become fascinated with the potter’s craft; he wants nothing more than to watch master potter Min at work, and he dreams of making a pot of his own someday. When Min takes Tree-ear on as his helper, Tree-ear is elated — until he finds obstacles in his path: the backbreaking labor of digging and hauling clay, Min’s irascible temper, and his own ignorance. But Tree-ear is determined to prove himself — even if it means taking a long, solitary journey on foot to present Min’s work in the hope of a royal commission . . . even if it means arriving at the royal court with nothing to show but a single celadon shard.
Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, live in Korea with their parents. Because Korea is under Japanese occupation, the children study Japanese and speak it at school. Their own language, their flag, the folktales Uncle tells them—even their names—are all part of the Korean culture that is now forbidden. When World War II comes to Korea, Sun-hee is surprised that the Japanese expect their Korean subjects to fight on their side. But the greatest shock of all comes when Tae-yul enlists in the Japanese army in an attempt to protect Uncle, who is suspected of aiding the Korean resistance. Sun-hee stays behind, entrusted with the life-and-death secrets of a family at war.
In a riveting narrative set in fifteenth-century Korea, two brothers discover a shared passion for kites. Kee-sup can craft a kite unequaled in strength and beauty, but his younger brother, Young-sup, can fly a kite as if he controlled the wind itself. Their combined skills attract the notice of Korea’s young king, who chooses Young-sup to fly the royal kite in the New Year kite-flying competition–an honor that is also an awesome responsibility. Although tradition decrees, and the boys’ father insists, that the older brother represent the family, both brothers know that this time the family’s honor is best left in Young-sup’s hands. This touching and suspenseful story, filled with the authentic detail and flavor of traditional Korean kite fighting, brings a remarkable setting vividly to life. AUTHOR’S NOTE.
Julia Song and her friend Patrick want to team up to win a blue ribbon at the state fair, but they can’t agree on the perfect project. Then Julia’s mother suggests they raise silkworms as she did years ago in Korea. The optimistic twosome quickly realizes that raising silkworms is a lot tougher than they thought. And Julia never suspected that she’d be discussing the fate of her and Patrick’s project with Ms. Park, the author of this book!
**some of these links are affiliate links
Something To Do
In honor of the amazing Linda Sue Park book Project Mulberry, here are some fun ways to bring this book to life.
As we stood under our mulberry tree remembering this great story, we decided right then and there that we had to grow our own silkworms. I must admit to you that we are at the beginning of this process and are waiting for our little silkworm eggs to arrive. We promise to keep you updated on our progress.
Would you like to join us in growing silk worms? Just leave a comment below and let us know if you will share this experience with us.
A few weeks ago I saw the most interesting TED talk about what they are now using silk for. It’s amazing and is being used in ways one could not even imagine. It is taking science and technology to a new level. This is a great video for kids probably age 8 and older.
Looking for more ways to not only get your youngsters reading, but get them OUTSIDE as well? Enjoy more month-by-month activities based on the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! A Year in the Secret Garden is a delightful children’s book with over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together.
Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE.
Last week we had some much fun digging into the Minecraft Lab book from John Miller and Chris Scott. So much so, I decided to roundup a Minecraft booklist just for the Minecraft fans in your life! Here are 14 Minecraft Books for Kids to inspire reading and creativity.
Breaking News! Proof that Dragons are indeed REAL!
My newest book, Dragons are Realis available and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off at Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
Breaking News! Proof that Dragons are indeed REAL!
Maybe this news prompted you to drop your sandwich or even roll your eyes with disbelief….but I am here to tell you; Dragons are Real! How do I know? I have proof. In fact, I have MORE than proof! As a child I had a Dragon friend for two whole summers in Gotland, Sweden.
I shared this story with Rocco during an interview at the wonderful KitLit TV.
My newest book, Dragons are Real tells this story in vibrant color and I am so honored that I was able to team up with reknown children’s book illustrator, .
Michael Welply was born in London, England ad raised in Winnipeg, Canada. He studied art in Winnipeg and Paris. He has illustrated over 80 books in Europe and in North America ranging from historical work to fantasy and fairy tales. He has two grown children, three grandchildren and currently lives in central France with his wife. It was Michael’s talent and vision that allowed us to accurately (and magically) capture what my brother and I experienced with our dragon friend for two summers.
SO basically what I am trying to tell everyone is that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG!
Dragons are not only Real, they are different than you’ve ever imagined.
This book isn’t for everyone. It’s only for those BRAVE enough to go looking for dragons in the most usual of places.
Once you find your nearest dragon you’ll need to know a few basic skills.
Are You:
– Good at finding hidden things, like dragons in disguise ?
– Wanting a best friend who will take you for rides on their back ? OK we missed
an important detail….riding on their backs while flying through the air ?
– Good at telling jokes and riddles ?
– Good at roasting hot dogs and marshmallows in a constant stream of fire. Don’t
worry no fire protective gear needed.
– Willing to be a dance partner ?
– Willing to listen and share poetry, especially rhymes ?
– Are you clever enough to read a Dragon’s secret message? And then of course
be able to send one back your local and friendly dragon ? Just a reminder that
Dragon’s don’t text. They love to send secret messages.
If you’ve said a loud “YES” to even half of the above questions, chances are this book is just right for YOU!
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad. We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
I also received exceptionally exciting news a few weeks ago and keeping the news of this huge honor has been hard! Here is the email that popped into my inbox that had me doing the Happy Dance for weeks:
Hi Valarie,
I hope you are well. I’m following up to let you know that your review for “Dragons are Real” was selected by our Indie Editors to be featured in Kirkus Reviews 7/1 Issue. Congratulations! Your review will appear as one of about 35 reviews in the Indie section of the 7/1 Kirkus Reviews magazine which is sent out to over 5,200 industry professionals (librarians, publishers, agents, etc.) Less than 10% of our Indie reviews are chosen for this, so it’s a great honor. The digital version of this issue will be available for me to send to you on July 5th, and the print version will be available in a week or so after that.
All the best & congratulations again,
Crystal Timbeross
Client Promotions & Advertising Associate
KIRKUS REVIEWS | KIRKUS MEDIA LLC
To everyone who helped make this book not only a huge success, but let the story of Dragons among us be told, THANK YOU!
{Guest post from Hannah Rials} What is going on? Now we’re writing books that are encouraging kids to play video games? I thought we were supposed to be discouraging this? I’m so confused!
I’m sure a lot of you parents are thinking that right now. And yes, kids should be getting outside, exploring their world, reading books, and every else like that to live a balanced life. However, science and research are revealing more and more how helpful video games can be in a child’s cognitive development. Minecraft, for instance, helps with creativity, sharing, innovating, continuous learning, problem solving, craftsmanship, teamwork, interdependence, flexibility, storytelling…just to name a few.
Minecraft does not have to be just a kid’s activity. This book provides six different quests that teach gamification, which is the process of applying game principles to real life. Parents, you will learn about the world of Minecraft, while also bringing your children out of it. You’ll learn the lingo, the levels, the different things that you can do within the game, and you’ll come to realize why your kids love it so much and how beneficial it is to them.
But having this book, showing your kids how the skills they are learning inside the game are relevant in out-of-game experiences, is a wonderful opportunity for family bonding and for crafting and creativity!
How you can Gamify these quests:
Quest 1 – This quest is all about taking inventory of your resources. That’s easy. Together, your family can take an inventory of something in your house: the pantry, the refrigerator, your movie or book collection, etc.
Quest 2 – Textures, Patterns, and Landscapes, which talks about cooking and gardening. Do we really need to explain this one? I think you’re getting the hang of it!
Quest 3 – This is about architecture, so this gives your family a wonderful excuse to take a neat vacation to some city with unique architecture. Road trip to Charleston, SC or New Orleans, LA. Going abroad? Well, basically all the cities over there have interesting architecture! Have some fun!!
Quest 4 – Here, we look into the arts: the colors, textures, and styles of a museum. So obviously, you need to find a museum to day trip to! Even if your town, or the one next to you, doesn’t have the equivalent of the MET or le Louvre, that’s okay. All museums are great experiences.
Quest 5 – Game making; think how fun this could be! Each of the family members making up their own games and then hosting a family game night to try them out. Sounds like a good time.
Quest 6 – is the culmination of all the skills you have learned previously–you’re making a city. Maybe before you jump head into the game, you and your child can write about your city, make up people, laws, specific places or activities that go on there. Help them create their world both in and out of the game!
Grab your copy of this amazing book that is not only going to excite your young readers, but get their brains reading and exploring this summer!
**some of these links are affiliate links
Something to Do Minecraft-Inspired Activities:
Who can resist making this fun Creeper from TP rolls?! Instructions at Kids Activity Blog
For those interested in using Minecraft for Homeschooling, The Spectacled Owl has some great Homeschooling with Minecraft ideas and projects.
HANNAH RIALS: A Maryville native and current college student at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Hannah began writing her first novel at age twelve. Eight years later, the result is her new YA novel Ascension; a modern day teenage romance filled with “double-blooded” vampires and revenge-seeking witches (to be released in August of 2016). When not spending time with her family and playing with her beloved Corgis, Buddy and Noel, Hannah leads a creative group, crafts and cultivates her writing skills. Connect with Hannah on Facebook, Twitter and via her website.
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Breaking News! Proof that Dragons are indeed REAL!
My newest book, Dragons are Realis available and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off at Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
I’ve been having some summer fun shining the spotlight on “notable women.” To me, notable women are women who have made a difference in this world due to their actions or talents. Last week I had fun sharing some American History with notable woman, Sybil Ludington thanks to my “head elf,” Becky.
This week I want to focus on the wonderful works of one of our favorite authors, Pam Munoz Ryan.
Pam Muñoz Ryan is the author of more that thirty books for young readers, including four beloved novels, Riding Freedom, Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi León, and Paint the Wind, which collectively have garnered, among countless accolades, the Pura Belpré Medal, the Jane Addams Award, and the Schneider Family Award. She lives in Southern California with her family. You can visit her at www.PamMunozRyan.com.
And according to myintern Hannah, one of Pam’s books Esperanza Rising is one of her all time favorite books which she goes to again and again. I think we can say that Esperanza Rising is a close and dear friend to Hannah. So here is a closer look at one of the many wonderful books written by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
From Hannah……
Esperanza Ortega lives a live of privilege in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Her father owns El Rancho de las Rosas where he grows rows of roses and grapes. Esperanza is treated like a princess, with beautiful gifts, loving parents, loyal servants, and wonderful friends.
When bandits kill her father, her mother and her lives are uprooted. Her evil uncles wish to take over the ranch and her eldest uncle to marry her mother, Esperanza, Ramona, and their loyal servants are forced to flee Mexico, leaving an ill Abuelita to heal with her sisters at the convent. With all their papers in order, they sneak out of Aguascalientes by cover of darkness to travel into the United States for work.
Here, Esperanza discovers the hardships of life, responsibility, and so many other experiences that her life of privilege had shielded her from.
She, along with 5 other people, live in a two room cabin with no warm water in California. They work unreasonable hours, but they must work, or there will be no food on the table. Being only thirteen, Esperance lucks out of having real work, instead being charged with watching the babies and sweeping. That is, until her mother falls ill with Valley Fever.
Five months, Esperanza prays for her mother as she heals in the hospital. In less than a year, Esperanza has lost her father, had to leave her abuelita, watched her mother grow weaker, and begin to work with the rest of the women. To her, hope does not exist. Will the valleys, as abuelita says, ever turn into mountain tops?
Esperanza Rising has a special place in my heart. As a child, I read this book several times, and at the time, I was not sure why I was so connected to this novel, with a lifestyle that I could not relate to. It doesn’t matter that I cannot empathize with the situation because I love these characters. Esperanza is alive—her temper, her kindness, her selfishness, her newly learned wisdom. All the characters are so alive, that I believe they are real. And that is what makes this story so amazing. Ms. Ryan based this story off of the life of her grandmother. To her, these are real people, and because of this truth of them, this idol to hold them up to, they are made all the more real for us. I love this book, because I am an only child, because I love my mother and my grandmother who smells like peppermint.
Ms. Ryan also offers interesting insight into the Mexican Repatriation in her Author’s note. This is one note that you don’t want to ignore.
Something To Do Book-Inspired Activities:
Rosehip Tea recipe (like Hortensia makes). Rose hips produce a mild, tangy, fruity tea. Use them solo or combined with a hint of fresh spearmint or peppermint leaves. Chilled and sweetened with stevia, the tea is a vitamin-rich, sugar-free alternative to fruit juices or Kool-Aid that is appealing to kids and adults alike. Grab the full process HERE.
Yarn Dolls (for all of Isabel’s friends). Yarns are fun and easy to make (great project for kids!) Get the full tutorial at Little House Living.
**some of these links are affiliate links
I was given a copy of this book for this for review. The opinions expressed are purely my own.
***
Looking for better guide for successful homeschooling? The Waldorf Homeschool Handbookis a simple step-by-step guide to creating and understanding a Waldorf inspired homeschool plan. Within the pages of this comprehensive homeschooling guide, parents will find information, lesson plans, curriculum, helpful hints, behind the scenes reasons why, rhythm, rituals, helping you fit homeschooling into your life. Discover how to educate your children in a nurturing and creative environment.
Grab your copy HERE: The Waldorf Homeschool Handbook: The Simple Step-by-Step guide to creating a Waldorf-inspired homeschool.
Welcome to Weekend Links! This is my chance to share the best-of-the-best when it comes to books and booklists for young readers that I have discovered in my weekly online travels.
As usual the Internet is buzzing with great facts, books and activities families can do surrounding the big beautiful world we all live in. This weekend, let’s dig into Exploring China with Great Kidlit Books, learning some Mandarin Chinese, explore Indonesia and even get a glimpse of Australia via diverse pictures books for kids. Here are some of my top picks this week:
What great diverse pictures books have you discovered this week?
One More Thing….
Breaking News! Proof that Dragons are indeed REAL!
My newest book, Dragons are Realis available and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off at Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
I also picked this story because I love the state of Maine! In Maine the sites and scenery is plentiful and when combined with the endless outdoors activities like hiking, arts & crafts, gardening, fairy houses and building them, I imagine it would be a spectacular vacation. Though all of these are reasons enough to visit Maine, it is the call of the Maine Blueberries that has always held my interest.
“Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey, has a very special place in my memories. This delightful story is about Little Sal and her mother who venture off to Blueberry Hill to pick blueberries. Sal’s Mommy wants to can, or preserve, the berries so they will have food for the winter. On the opposite side of Blueberry Hill and at the very same moment, a mother bear and her cub are eating blueberries. Their motives are the same-they are looking to store up fat for the winter. Both Sal and the cub stop to rest and end up getting left behind. It doesn’t take long for the two mothers (bear and human) to discover their children are missing and go off to find them.
The good news of this story is that everything works out in the end, but you can imagine what an entertaining story it would be to read! I remember in my childhood years how my Grandma would read me this story during blueberry season. Grandma wasn’t much of a canner, so we had to settle for pies and cobblers. Good times were had by all
**some of these links are affiliate links
Something to do:
It’s summer. It’s hot. As much as I’d love some of my Grandma’s hot blueberry cobbler or blueberry pie, all I want right now is something cool, healthy and YUMMY. Here’s my favorite recipe for Summer Blueberry Smoothies:
Blueberry Cobbler Smoothies
What you’ll need: {makes 2 smoothies}
1/2 cup pomegranate-blueberry Juice – chilled
1/4 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
2 graham crackers – crushed
1 cup crushed ice
What to do:
1. Into your blender add: pomegranate/blueberry juice, blueberries, yogurt, honey, graham crackers. Pulse to combine.
2. Add ice. Pulse to combine. Evenly distribute between glasses.
After strawberries which ranks first, blueberry is the second most popular berry among people.
People from northern Europe believed that blueberry is God’s gift. This fact is true because there are many compounds present in the blueberry that have anti-viral and anti-bacterial elements. A regular intake of blueberry prevents most of the common contagious diseases. It is also said to prevent heart diseases.
Out of the total production of blueberries, 25% is produced in Maine. In fact, this place produces the largest quantity of blueberries in the world.
Blueberry is a good source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, dietary fiber and soluble and insoluble fiber like pectin. It contains anthocyanin, phenolic, antioxidant pigments, phytochemical and ellagic acid, that prevents cell damage, inflammation and cancers.
Concerned that your kids aren’t getting enough “outside time?”
Despite data that shows that 80% of natural vitamin D comes from the rays of the sun, many children, roughly only 23% are spending enough time outside and welcoming the sun’s rays. Most children do not get enough vitamin D from food alone and are at risk of deficiency if they are spending prolonged periods of time indoors. Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book and Marilyn Scott-Waters from The Toymaker have combined their respective talents to not only create a clever solution, but also an amazing guidebook to help parents help their children regain their interest and love of nature.
With over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for families to enjoy, learn, discover and play together, A Year In the Secret Garden brings the magical story to life while also enjoying nature and the great outdoors.
With fascinating historical information, monthly gardening activities, easy-to-make recipes, and step-by-step crafts, designed to enchant readers of all ages. Each month your family will unlock the mysteries of a Secret Garden character, as well as have fun together creating the original crafts and activities based on the book. Our goal is to not only raise awareness for the necessity of families spending more quality “unplugged” time together, but to also share monthly activities that incorporate nature and the outdoors as well. Get your kids moving, exploring and playing today. Get access to this wonderful children’s activity book here.
I’ll never forget when my daughter was in 3rd grade and her class was studying famous people affiliated with the American Revolutionary War. Each student was asked to pick a famous influencer from that time period to write a book review and character study one.
My daughter, my reluctant reader, chose Sybil Ludington. I was almost afraid to admit I’d never heard of this person! As it turns out, this book report was a great lesson for both mom and daughter, and also a lesson on remembering the unsung heroes as well.
What brought this back to my memory was the wonderful Facebook post from A Mighty Girl about Sybil that shared her accomplishments and backstory.
“In celebration of Independence Day, we remember a little known hero of the American Revolutionary War, 16-year-old Sybil Ludington. At approximately 9 pm on April 26, 1777, Sybil, the eldest daughter of Colonel Henry Ludington, climbed onto her horse and proceeded to ride 40 miles in order to muster local militia troops in response to a British attack on the town of Danbury, Connecticut — covering twice the distance that Paul Revere rode during his famous midnight ride.
Ridimble. While the regiment could not save Danbury from being burned, they joined forces with the Continental Army following the subsequent Battle of Ridgefield and were able to stop the British advance and force their return to their boats.
Following the battle, General George Washington personally thanked Sybil for her service and bravery. Although every American school child knows the story of Paul Revere, unfortunately few are taught about Sybil Ludington’s courageous feat and her contribution to war effort.”
If you are as intrigued about this notable young women as I was, here is a Sybil Ludington booklist to check into:
Becky Flansburg is a Mom, Blogger, and Freelance Writer. Her veteran blog Franticmommy.com is all about moms, kids, parenting, and women in business (with a healthy side order of FUNNY). Rebecca prides herself in the ability to write in a fun, fresh, and conversational way and totally appreciates the value of naps and large quantities of chocolate. You can connect with her on Instagram or on Twitter.
Summer is packed with sun, fresh air and families travels, but there is also plenty of downtime as well. Here are some great activity ideas that will Keep Kids Thinking This Summer
Fiber Arts for Kids: Earlier this week I did a review of an amazing book called Knit, Hook and Spinby Laurie Carlson.
Knit, Hook, and Spin is one of those books that I wish I’d had as a kid! There are so many different activities and crafts to fill your day with fun! Carlson talks about felting, weaving, knotting, stitching, knitting, crocheting, spinning, dyeing, and even recycling old projects! But not only does she give us all of these wonderful crafts, Carlson can’t leave us without a little information first. We jumped headfirst into some of Ms. Carlson’s fiber arts for kids activities and go here to see the results!
There are some wonderful new kidlit books available summer that will challenge young minds on all sorts of topics. I especially love the Cookie Decorating: Easy-to-follow recipes and decorating tips for sweet cookie creationsI reviewed a few weeks ago. This is one FUN cookie decorating book and Cookie Decorating invites your kids to discover and explore the art of cookie decorating with confidence. Read the full review HERE.
Bring New Books to the Breakfast Table: Sound a little odd? Not really! This is how is works, I have stacks of books everywhere in this house. Often times there are a few books that have recently come in that just sit on the kitchen table. As the family wanders in for breakfast each morning, they’ll grab a book to read while eating their cereal. I always know a popular read when they ask where the book has gone once I move it to the review crates. “When is it coming back?” they ask.
In my first ever Breakfast Table Book Club post I two such titles that have tried to leave the breakfast table but have been a constant companion since they’ve arrived. Read the full blog post here.
Be a Flâneur! A flâneur (\flä-ˈnər\), is a French word that means to wander around and my thoughts on how we can all be flâneurs was inspired by The Story of Diva and Flea. You can read the full article here and also enjoy the below ideas on how your family can do their own “wandering” this summer!
One More Thing: Surprise and HAPPY NEWS came in my inbox this week! My newest book Dragons Are Real received high honors and reviews from Kirkus Reviews a short time ago. BUT now this exciting perk has been added! Here’s what this amazing email said;
“Dear Valarie, Hope you are well. I’m following up to let you know that your review for “Dragons are Real” was selected by our Indie Editors to be featured in Kirkus Reviews 7/1 Issue. Congratulations! Your review will appear as one of about 35 reviews in the Indie section of the 7/1 Kirkus Reviews magazine which is sent out to over 5,200 industry professionals (librarians, publishers, agents, etc.) Less than 10% of our Indie reviews are chosen for this, so it’s a great honor. The digital version of this issue will be available for me to send to you on July 5th, and the print version will be available in a week or so after that.”
To say I am grateful and thrilled is an understatement! Watch for more details on this amazing honor for Dragons Are Real and THANK YOU to everyone for their support!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
If you want to be among the first to know of special “dragon-y” updates, activities and specials, sign up below and we will keep you in the loop. Thanks for your support and Read On!
Margarita Engle’s new book Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music is an inspiring story based on true events. And since I played drums in high school, this poem has a special place in my heart. Us female drummers have to stick together!
Girl’s didn’t drum. That’s just the way things were in Cuba. Men were meant to be drummers. But then one little Drum Dream Girl decided to change all that. She lived, breathed, and dreamt drumming. Her fingers would start tapping beats without her even realizing it. Little Drum Dream Girl was meant to be a drummer. But no one would listen to her. They just told her that drumming was for men.
She dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream.
Until one day, her father heard what an amazing drummer was and decided to get her a music teacher. And he believed in her too! And the little Drum Dream Girl went on to be one of the most famous drummers in history! She didn’t listen to convention. She made her own way and changed history!
Yet again, Margarita Engle creates an amazing story told through poetry. Drum Dream Girl is based on the life of a real Chinese-African-Cuban girl who challenged the traditions of her community. The poem is beautiful and inspiring, and Rafael López’s illustrations are just magnificent! They’re vibrant and lively and fit perfectly with the rhythm of the poem!
Author Margarita Engle is a favorite here on Jump Into a Book. Past review of her beautiful books include The Wild Book
Fefa struggles with words. She has word blindness, or dyslexia, and the doctor says she will never read or write. Every time she tries, the letters jumble and spill off the page, leaping away like bullfrogs. How will she ever understand them? But her mother has an idea. She gives Fefa a blank book filled with clean white pages. “Think of it as a garden,” she says. Soon Fefa starts to sprinkle words across the pages of her wild book. She lets her words sprout like seedlings, shaky at first, then growing stronger and surer with each new day. And when her family is threatened, it is what Fefa has learned from her wild book that saves them.
**some of these links are affiliate links
Something to Do Activities:
1. Create your own drum AND save the planet by creating this Upcycled Pringles Can Drum from The Taylor House:
3. Millo Castro Zaldarriaga performed with her sisters in their group Anacaona, Cuba’s first “all-girl dance band.” Here’s a recording and pictures of their group who played for U.S. Preside FD Roosevelt!
HANNAH RIALS: A Maryville native and current college student at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Hannah began writing her first novel at age twelve. Eight years later, the result is her new YA novel Ascension; a modern day teenage romance filled with “double-blooded” vampires and revenge-seeking witches (to be released in August of 2016). When not spending time with her family and playing with her beloved Corgis, Buddy and Noel, Hannah leads a creative group, crafts and cultivates her writing skills. Connect with Hannah on Facebook, Twitter and via her website.
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Breaking News! Proof that Dragons are indeed REAL!
My newest book, Dragons are Realis available and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off at Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
JIAB Intern, Hannah, and I LOVE to knit. We can’t pass a yarn shop and are always looking for the next best pattern. Continuing on in our “Read to Follow Directions” series. Hannah gives us look into the new release Knit, Hook, and Spin by Laurie Carlson. I’ve long been a Laurie Carlson fan and was so thrilled and happy she wrote this Fiber Arts for Kids book.
Knit, Hook, and Spin is one of those books that I wish I’d had as a kid! There are so many different activities and crafts to fill your day with fun! Carlson talks about felting, weaving, knotting, stitching, knitting, crocheting, spinning, dyeing, and even recycling old projects! But not only does she give us all of these wonderful crafts, Carlson can’t leave us without a little information first.
Before readers even get to the activities, they first have to learn about the materials they are going to be working with. Each activity has a description and occasionally even a history of use included with it. We honestly didn’t know how many different types of yarn there was in the world! So many!
But I think my favorite part of this whole book is at the end. After learning how to do all of these wonderful activities, Laurie Carlson suggests putting our new found talents to good use: We can start making knit caps for premature babies, socks for homeless people, blankets to send to needy people around the world, comfort dolls to give to children who face abuse or tragedy prayer shawls, cancer caps…the possibilities are absolutely endless! Just get involved and make a difference with your crafting talents!!
I so wish that I’d had this book when I was a kid! I just recently found my love of knitting, and I wish I’d been more exposed to it as a kid. I would’ve had so much fun just crafting my way through this entire book! This gives children an outlet for their creativity in a productive, helpful way. This book is a library must-have!
Something To Do
1. So we decided to pull out one of the crafts from Ms. Carlson’s book! Last night, I spent a little while making yarn flowers with a fork. Super easy, fun, and cute! I had all the materials in my house, and they make the most beautiful bouquet! All you need is colorful yarn, green yarn, a fork, and a pair of scissors.
**Tip: weave your warn close together and almost all the way to the top of the fork’s tines for a fluffier, fuller flower.
**Tip 2: If you make the steps long enough, you can make your flower into a little bracelet!
2. Into knitting? Once you get the basics down, you can work up to knitting an afghan/quilt like this!
****Some of these links are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may get a very small commission. This money goes towards postage and supplies to keep books and ideas in the hands of young readers!
Just One More Thing-Inspire even more creativity this summer!
Enjoy more month-by-month activities based on the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! A Year in the Secret Garden is a delightful children’s book with over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together.
Whimsical author/illustrator Marilyn Scott-Waters and I created this book to not only encourage families to read and participate in some “unplugged” activities, but to also delve into the beauty and the wonder of this classic children’s tale. Get the full scoop on this vibrant book HERE and “meet me in the garden!”
In this installment, Sherlock and his assistant, Dr. Watson, are hired to solve the curse of the The Hound of the Baskervilles. After the lord of the Baskervilles dies of curious circumstances in the moors, his young heir from America comes to take over the care of his ancestral home. Except, it seems, that someone does not want any Baskervilles living on their land. Sir Henry’s life is immediately threatened before he even arrives on his property.
Sherlock sends Dr. Watson ahead of him with Sir Henry to the Baskervilles, while Sherlock stays behind to do some investigations in London. While the details of the curse are very convincing and terrifying, Mr. Holmes, the infamous detective known for his amazing use of observation and deduction, knows that there has to be a logical, non-supernatural explanation for the mysterious deaths that the locals say are caused by the devilish Hound of the Baskervilles.
Will Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson be able to solve this mystery before another Baskerville dies? Is the Hound of the Baskervilles real or just a clever invention? You’ll have to read to find out!
This charming, clever retelling of Sherlock Holmes is perfect for young children, especially those kids who love Legos. All of the illustrations of the characters are Lego-style people! But the dark images and backgrounds capture the eery story being told! This story would be great to read around the camp fire! It’ll send a shiver up your spine! Grab your copy of this highly entertaining book here.
Sherlock’s main tool is deduction. Here is the key rule:
“Once the possible has been eliminated, whatever remains, however irrational, must therefore be the truth.”
Solve Some Mysteries! Now pair one of these wonderful book activities up with this free gift I am offering and you’ll have a busy afternoon of sleuthing fun! My Secret Codes, Mysteries and Adventures ActivityPDF for kids will keep young minds percolating for HOURS!
Inside young super detectives will discover:
*19 pages of sleuthing fun for your family to enjoy.
*Use Pilot Frixion Pens and craft paper to create Invisible Secret Notes!
*Make I Spy Cookies!
*Discover a President of the United States who was a Master Code Creator!
This free activity guide is a great way to encourage kids to pull books off of shelves, discover the power of imagination and build a new excitement and anticipation for reading. Fill out the info below and grab your FREE copy. Enjoy!
Happy Summer Solstice! Did anyone happen to see the Strawberry Moon? The “strawberry moon” is the first full moon we’ve had on Summer Solstice since 1948! It was truly spectacular.
It’s hard to believe July is just around the corner too. Summer is flying by! Kids are loving being off of school and not having to do homework, but summer is not the time to let reading habits slide. The following is a recap and round-up of some my book-inspired initiatives here at JIAB and some great Summer Booklists to check out as well. Enjoy!
The Breakfast Table Book Club: I get many books to read and review during the year and the really successful ones, the books that become favorites, are those that get the “The Breakfast Table Book Club” approval! The first book is so appropriate for this year of all years because it’s an election year. Check out 50 Things You Should Know About American Presidentspublished by the QEB publishing.
We’ve always been huge fans of Fairy House Building in our family. Imagine my surprised when I learned at it is International Fairy House Week! (June 21st-28th). Build a Fairy House or Den to help raise awareness of the importance of nature and creativity in a child’s life. Get the full (and fun) scoop HERE.
The lovely people of Tinker Crate have sent us a wonderful Tinker Zine and box full of activities full of fun and interesting activities focused on gravity. It included reading for discovery and following instructions to have us delving into where we’re centered….Gravity! That inspired me to create a booklist for middle readers “centered” around the topic of GRAVITY. View the booklist here
As many of you already know, I am a huge fan of children’s classics and over the years my family has actively read old classics and discovered new ones. In 2016 one of my many goals is to discover even more classics and share them with you, my valued readers. This inspired me to create a new series call Read Kids Classics (#ReadKidsClassics). Here is just one of many of my classic-inspired review and activities articles.
But the most exciting news from these past few weeks has been the release of my brand new picture book, Dragons are Real
What if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us.
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
Today’s post is coming to you live from the breakfast table. We get many books to read and review and the really successful ones, the books that become favorites, are those that get the “The Breakfast Table Book Club” approval!
This is how is works, I have stacks of books everywhere in this house. Often times there are a few books that have recently come in that just sit on the kitchen table. As the family wanders in for breakfast each morning, they’ll grab a book to read while eating their cereal. I always know a popular read when they ask where the book has gone once I move it to the review crates. “When is it coming back?” they ask.
Today I bring you two such titles that have tried to leave the breakfast table but have been a constant companion since they’ve arrived.
Everything you should know about US presidents is broken down into 50 bite-sized chunks. Every president is covered, from the first person to take office George Washington, to our current US president, Barack Obama. Fascinating facts are included on each page, for example, did you know that Franklin D. Roosevelt is the longest serving president ? There are also details about the US political system, clearly stating the changes that have occurred from the 17th century until today.
This is a very colorful book and perfect for reluctant readers. I say this because reluctant readers love little snippets of information as opposed to chapter books. This book is well suited for ages 8 to 12. It has become a greatly loved edition on our breakfast table.
Our second Breakfast Book Club selection is 50 Things You Should Know About Wild Weather by QEB Publishing. Who doesn’t love wild weather. My children are obsessed with it so you can imagine that a fun book on the breakfast table about wild weather would be very welcomed.
Rain or Shine- the weather impacts everything we do. Packed with facts, diagrams, infographics and photos, 50 Things You Should Know About Wild Weather takes you on a whirlwind of discovery. Covering the earth’s atmosphere and how weather works, you’ll find out all you need to know about weather fronts, heat waves, hurricanes, avalanches, ice storms, climate change and our favorite topic, tornados and much, much, more. Filled with facts, figures and world records for the wildest weather ever documented, you’ll also discover storm chasers and weather scientists who have tried their best to keep the weather in check. Be warned, it’s a stormy ride.
Wild Weather is in full color and grabs the eye, drawing the reader in.
Both of these selections will have your children not only reading but reciting and retaining the fun facts they learn about weather and presidents. I’m so happy these books have found their way to our breakfast table.
Thank you to QED for offering us these fine books to review.We highly recommend them. They are perfect for any library public, home or school.
****Some of these links are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may get a very small commission.
This money goes towards postage and supplies to keep books and ideas in the hands of young readers!
Welcome to Weekend Links! This is my chance every weekend to share the best-of-the-best in the way of wonderful booklists and links that I have discovered during my Internet travels. This week I have found some amazing books that will help guide and grow our young readers and share some booklists that share the Power of Diverse Reading.
Since the creation of Multicultural Children’s Book Day; a non profit that works to get diverse children’s books into the hands of young readers, the importance of books that allow children’s to “see” themselves within the pages has truly been on my radar. This week I am sharing a great list of multicultural books for you to enjoy and add ot your family’s reading list. Enjoy!
But, before you go….
My newest book, Dragons are Realwill be available and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off at Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
It’s time for our May pick for #ReadKidsClassics! As many of you already know, I am a huge fan of children’s classics and over the years my family has actively read old classics and discovered new ones. In 2016 one of my many goals is to discover even more classics and share them with you, my valued readers.
So from now on, every month during my Read Kids Classic Challenge, I am going to present one classic that I simply can’t live without.
Joining me in this book-ish and fun campaign is a handful of powerhouse bloggers who are excited to share their very own #readkidsclassics picks! Please feel free to visit these five #ReadKidsClassics bloggers to see what classic book reading fun they have created.
This month we’re wandering into the jungle and reading Ruyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
One of the reasons for this is because of the recent movie which has just come out. It’s excellent and completely epic. I highly recommend it. Another thing I highly recommend is reading the actual book.
I had never read the book and I’m so happy I finally did. In both of the movie versions of the story we have a start to finish tale about Mowgli heading back to the man village so he can be with his own people. The book is a collection of jungle stories which of course has Mowgli as our main character. Some of the stories I recognized and then there were others that were completely new to me. The book version makes for great reading by a campfire or bedtime stories because you can finish a story in one night and then continue reading the following night. There are actually two volumes of Jungle Books written.
Nicola’s illustrations are exquisite. Working in crayon and colored pencil Nicola brings 3 of the 7 stories of the Jungle Book to life. Her beautiful illustrations drew me to the unabridged version of these stories. I want to hold them in my hands while I read them aloud to my family. I also downloaded the complete Jungle Book stories on kindle so I could get the full Jungle Book Experience.
Rudyard Kipling wrote both Jungle Book volumes between the births of his two daughter Josephine and Elsie. To my delighted surprise I learned that he was living in Brattleboro Vermont when he wrote many of his famous books but especially The Jungle Books. Even more spectacular is that we can actually rent the home he built there complete with his library and writing desk. It’s maintained and kept by the National Trust. I plan on going there soon as one of my little book pilgrimages.
Kipling is a master story-teller if you’ve never had the occasion to read him. He was born to British parents in colonized India. At the age of 6, he and his sister were sent back to live in England. He never got over his love of India and as soon as he was old enough he took himself back there. Knowing that he wrote the Jungle Book soon after the birth of his first daughter, one can hear the longing of a father wanting to share the mystic and beauty of his own childhood, to capture it somehow. And capture it he has. He created it for all of us to hold and share forever. I feel really regretful that I haven’t read these wonderful books until now. These will be pulled out and read often now. They are perfect for summer evenings or wintry nights. They are completely and perfectly stunning and captivating.
Happy Reading!
**Some of these links are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may get a very small commission. This money goes towards postage and supplies to keep books and ideas in the hands of young readers!
Something To Do
Rudyard is a fascinating man. He was a Nobel Peace Prize winner for literature and a true global citizen. The biography channel has a wonderful video and article about him.
One of the fun activities we did for our Jungle Book Nights was to make paper animals out of pattern paper. This is easier than it sounds thanks to a book called Pattern Play. They have over 19 different animals to make complete with over 40 stickers to make the faces and such. Pattern Play is published by Wide Eye Editions. They make such inventive books and we really enjoyed this one.
Indian Tea
To set the mood, we brewed some fresh Indian Tea known as Masala Chai. It is very creamy smooth and spicy tasting and we really enjoyed it. The word Masala means a combination of spices and Chai is the word for milk tea. Here’s the recipe to get you started. I hope you enjoy it.
Ingredients
10 green cardamom pods, cracked, seeds removed, and pods discarded, or 1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds or ground cardamom
1 (1 1/2-inch) piece cinnamon stick
4 peppercorns (preferably white)
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 cups whole milk
3 1/2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups water
5 teaspoons loose orange pekoe tea or other black tea
Equipment: a mortar and pestle or an electric coffee/spice grinder
Preparation
Grind together cardamom, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, and fennel seeds with mortar and pestle or coffee/spice grinder.
Bring milk just to a simmer in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Stir or whisk in brown sugar, ground spice mixture, ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes to infuse flavors.
Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan, add tea, and boil 1 minute.
Pour tea through a fine-mesh sieve into hot milk mixture (discard tea leaves) and cook over low heat 1 minute. Stir before serving.
The Ultimate Guide To Charlie And The Chocolate Factory is a step by step roadmap to this magical world. Just some of the fun includes:
A story filled with beautiful graphic illustrations including tantalizing Treasure Maps and vibrant tutorials.
Over 20 Crafts and activities that not only entertain, but educate.
You get to jump inside the book and enjoy creating the adventures yourself (Templates, maps, and more are included.)
Ever wonder where chocolate comes from? Or how gum is made? Wonder no more. Now you get to make your own.
Conduct activities in the areas of crafting, cooking, and game-playing as well as exploring many facets of candy production.
The option to take Charlie’s journey over the course of several days or take shorter journeys if you wish.
The creation of a new ritual of reading time with your family and the opportunity to experience the reading of this imaginative tale as a group activity, not a solitary event.
Go HERE to learn more and grab your copy from iBooks!
All kids have a dream of “being like Big People” and Miranda Paul’s charming book Whose Hands are Theseare planting the seeds of all the helpful things that a child could be.
If your hands can mix and mash, what job might you have? What if your hands reach, wrench, yank, and crank? The hands in this book—and the people attached to them—do all sorts of helpful work. And together, these helpers make their community a safe and fun place to live. As you read, keep an eye out for community members who make repeat appearances! Can you guess all the jobs based on the actions of these busy hands?
Miranda describes each of the different professions that a child could be—a farmer, cook, police, scientist, potter, new reporter, mechanic, architect, referee, physician, and teacher. And this is just the beginning of the dreams a child can dream. The charming illustrations bring all of these different jobs that might seem boring at first to life and show all of the helpful things that they do for the community. I love books like this, books that plant ideas and hopes in children’s heads.
Whose Hands are These is absolutely charming and goes beyond teaching lessons. Definitely a book to add to your child’s bookshelf.
Miranda Paul is an award-winning children’s author whose books Water is Water and One Plastic Bag were both named Junior Library Guild selections. Whose Hands Are These?, her newest title (release date: Feb. 1, 2016) is a book and guessing game in one. Miranda is a frequent speaker at schools and libraries, and presented in 2015 at the Library of Congress Young Readers Center in Washington, D.C. She is the original founder of Rate Your Story.org, a site for aspiring writers, and a team member for We Need Diverse Books. Learn more about Miranda or invite her to Skype-visit with your students at www.mirandapaul.com.
Something To Do
Hands are super important, and there’s so many fun things you can do with them!
1. You can make art! Paint up your hands and you can make birds, turkeys, flowers, or just a nice, simple hand print. I adore the creativity of these handprint jellyfish from Made to be a Mama.
My newest book, Dragons are Realwill be available and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off at Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
If you want to be among the first to know of special “dragon-y” updates, activities and specials, sign up below and we will keep you in the loop. Thanks for your support and Read On!
Welcome to Weekend Links! This is my chance every weekend to share the best-of-the-best in the way of wonderful booklists and links that I have discovered during my Internet travels. This week I have found some amazing books that will help guide and grow our young readers. The world can be a scary place, but luckily there are some wonderful books available to help kids understand tough subjects, Enjoy!
What great booklists have you discovered this week?
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Now Available on Amazon and GumRoad!
My newest book, Dragons are Realwill be available and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off at Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.
This charming and adorable book is about a little rabbit named Kenny who befriends a peace loving dragon named Grahame. The only problem is that the villagers seem to have preconceived ideas about dragons and call on George, the ever famous dragon slayer to exterminate the dragon problem and save the village. Kenny has to figure out a way to make the villagers see the truth about this kind and loving dragon.
Kenny is a little rabbit with a very big problem. His two best friends are heading into a battle of legendary proportions—with each other! In one corner there’s Graeme, a well-read and cultured dragon with sophisticated tastes. In the other there’s George, a retired knight and dragon slayer who would be content to spend the rest of his days in his bookshop. Neither really wants to fight, but the village townsfolk are set on removing Graeme from their midst and calling George out of retirement. Can Kenny avert disaster?
Tony DiTerlizzi puts a fun-filled, thoroughly theatrical spin on Kenneth Graeme’s classic tale of subterfuge and showmanship with this lighthearted romp of a retelling.- Amazon.com
Something To Do:
To celebrate the story of Kenny and the Dragon let’s have a little dragon fun of our own.
Have you tried our incredible dragon bread ?
Ingredients:
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
3 3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup warm water
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
Mix together the yeast and warm water. Let it rest. In another bowl, mix eggs, oil, salt, and sugar. Add flour. Add yeast and water mixture and mix until blended. Knead the dough on a floured surface until it’s firm and smooth, then round it into a bowl coated in a little oil. Turn the ball over once to coat both sides of dough with oil. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. Now place your dough on a greased cookie sheet or use parchment paper and shape it into a dragon.
Shaping your Dragon:
Make your dough into a long rectangle.
Take a section off on the left hand side of the dough for the head.
Take a little section off of the right hand end of the dough for the mouth, and feet.
Pull the end of the right hand side of the dough to make a tail.
Attach the head.
Place a ball of dough under the head for the mouth. Feel free to add almond slivers for the teeth.
Place the feet under the dragon body.
To decorate your dragon you can use dried fruit, almond slivers as spikes or do as we have and use your scissors to make dragon scales.
Cut down the middle of the body first and then another row on down on each side of the dragon’s body.
Do the same to the head. As much or as little as you’d like.
Add raisins or craisins for the eyes.
Some people cover and let their dragon bread rise again for about 30 minutes. We do not however ,as our children like the shape of their dragon to remain the same. Bake at 350 degrees until done, about 25 minutes.
Rhythm of the Home has the cutest felt dragon. Every home should have one.
Grahame the dragon especially loved Austrian Lattice Pie. Have you ever tasted Austrian Lattice Pie ? Well I think it’s about time.
Known as Linzer Torte, this is one of the oldest pies in the world.
Linzer Torte
Serves 12
Ingredients
1 3/4 cups sifted all- purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. dry cocoa ( not the drink mix)
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 egg, beaten
3 1/2 oz whole blanched almonds, ground ( 1 cup)
1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 jar (10 oz) red raspberry jam
Powdered sugar
Instructions
Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and cloves into a medium size bowl.
Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives.
Stir in egg, ground almonds, kirsch, lemon rind and juice until mixture is well blended. Chill 1 hour, or until dough gets firmer.
Cut the dough in half. Fit the bottom of a 10 inch greased and floured springform pan with first half of dough. Spread 1/2 cup jam over dough.
Sprinkle a pastry board lightly with flour and roll finger-thick strips of dough with second half of dough. Arrnage strips, lattice-fashion, over preserves. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50 minutes, or until pastry is firm.
Cool in pan on a wire rack.
Remove cake from pan.
Fill lattices with additional raspberry jam.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Has your family ever read Kenny and The Dragon? If so, what was your favorite part of the story?
**some of these links are affiliate links which means, if you click on the image or link of a book, and purchase
that book, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. I use this money for buying new books to
review, supplies for activities and postage.
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Its TIME!!
My newest book, Dragons are Real is now available on Amazon and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off of Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!
SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.
As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us
–
Now Available on Amazon and GumRoad!
If you want to be among the first to know of special “dragon-y” updates, activities and specials, sign up below and we will keep you in the loop. Thanks for your support and Read On!
Happy Mother’s Day! I hope this day finds you surround by love, family, and relaxation.
As usual, during my weekly on-line travels, I have happened upon some great, fun, and inspiring stories from fellow bloggers. So in honor of Mother’s Day, here’s some of my top picks:
There’s a wonderful Mother’s Day booklist on No Time for Flashcards (the Kissing Hand is a favorite!) Picture Books About Mothers
In honor of the book, Mama Miti, your family can plant a tree in honor of mom and help the Mother Nature at the same time!
Experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher, Valarie Budayr. The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden offers an enthusiastically educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together.
From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into the private lives of Momma Rennie and her babies. Come watch as they navigate this wildly dangerous but still wonderful world. Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning both individually and as a family unit. It is a perfect book for story time or family sharing. Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book that includes lots of facts and even a few “fox movies” that you can enjoy with your family. Grab your copy of this beautiful and inspiring book HERE.
BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the charming children’s book written by Valarie Budayr and illustrated by Michael Welply, Dragons are Real. The tour will run from May 9 – May 30, 2016
About the Book
Title: Dragons are Real | Author: Valarie Budayr | Illustrator: Michael Welply Publisher: Audrey Press | Publication Date: May 5, 2016 | Genre: Children’s Picture Book Number of Pages: 32
Book Description:
What if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG? What if I told you that Dragons are indeed REAL and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined? Did you know that Dragons are the master of disguises? Did you know that they love sugar and sweets (at unacceptable levels) and will do anything for treats? Award winning author Valarie Budayr brings us this fairly true story based on her childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon.
Take a look inside the book…
About the Author: Valarie Budayr
Award Winning and Best-selling author, Valarie Budayr inspires children and adults alike to experience their books through play, discovery, and adventure via engaging extension activities on her popular website, www.jumpintoabook.com.Valarie is co-founder of Multi-cultural Children’s Book Day , #ReadYourWorld, a celebration of diverse and cultural kid-lit shared with over 98 million people on January 27th. Her foundation puts hundreds of books into the hands of children in rural and intercity areas. www.multiculturalchildrensbookday.com
Valarie’s other best-selling and award winning titles are: The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden, The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and A Year in the Secret Garden.
Michael Welply was born in London in 1948. The family moved to Winnipeg, Canada, in 1950. He studied art in Winnipeg and then in Paris, but his idea of living from the sales of his paintings is somewhat compromised by the lack of buyers. He started his career as an illustrator in 1977 in London. In 1981 he returned to live in France with his American wife and their two children. Since then he has worked for publishers in both Europe and North America. To date he has illustrated over 80 books and more than 100 covers, in a wide range of subjects extending from detailed non-fiction to juvenile and adult fiction in the realms of fantasy, mythology, science fiction and fairy tales.
Prize: One winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card or $100 PayPal cash prize, winner’s choice Giveaway ends: May 30, 11:59 pm, 2016 Open to: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Valarie Budayr and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to [email protected].
HANNAH RIALS: A Maryville native and current college student at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Hannah began writing her first novel at age twelve. Eight years later, the result is her new YA novel Ascension; a modern day teenage romance filled with “double-blooded” vampires and revenge-seeking witches (to be released in August of 2016). When not spending time with her family and playing with her beloved Corgis, Buddy and Noel, Hannah leads a creative group, crafts and cultivates her writing skills. Connect with Hannah on
Becky Flansburg is a Mom, Blogger, and Freelance Writer. Her veteran blog 
