Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 107

::Weekend Links:: The Spring Edition

Hello Everyone !!

This week has seen Winter end in Tennessee and Spring bloom in full fashion. I’ve found many fun and interesting discoveries this week while out and about on the Web. Please feel free to share any interesting links you’ve found as well in the comment section.

First up,…. Our friends at Sparkle Stories launched their first kindle e-book Junkyard Tales: The Cat’s New Home which also included junkyard games and crafts.  To celebrate their new release they’re hosting an incredible giveaway. You won’t want to miss it.

Incredible Harry Potter news!!! University of New Hampshire is having an online summer course for kids in grades 4th-8th. This media rich program features a lot of interactive learning while exploring the magic of Hogwarts through language, writing, history, art, and culture.

 

For those of you with boys or who work with boys, here is a great article to help them become vibrant readers. Here’s an excerpt:

Some sure fire starters for young boys

If you can’t get your 3-5 year old boy to listen to a story try one of these ideas to turn this around:

1. Read a book dramatically that lends itself to lots of action, loud noises and maybe a rumble half way through (when the wolf eats Grandma, or the boy gets falls out of the tree). Be dramatic, get their attention!

Get the rest of the story HERE.

 

No Time For Flashcards has a fabulous post “50 Ways to Teach Your Child to Read.” I’d love to know what learn to read tips and tricks have worked for you and your family.

We’ve been creating booklists for our Read Around The Continents series and I also saw that our good friend Mia from Pragmatic Mom did a wonderful Top 10: Korean American Children’s Books (ages 2-16)

Happy Reading and please have a wonderful week !!!!

The post ::Weekend Links:: The Spring Edition appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

App-y Hour Book Apps for Kids: Dandelion (Bullying eBook)

“With all my might, you’ll all take flight… If I could but wish for better things, you’d all disperse and grow your wings. ”  Benjamin Brewster, Dandelion

 

This past weekend I received a very special email with a link to a very special book app. The email toted the message “An interactive e-book like you’ve never experienced.”  You must know that I was so intrigued .

Rarely do I feel captivated and drawn into an imaginary app world, but this app had me with the first screen and the first note of the it’s beautiful soundtrack. From there, we entered into a world of hope and possibilities. Even more surprising is the topic matter of e-book app, which is bullying.

CLICK TO TWEET “Bullying is for people with no imagination.” -Benjamin Brewster, (from the book app Dandelion) #bullying

 

When author Galvin Scott Davis’ son came home from school sharing that he was being bullied, Galvin having few answers decided to offer his son a solution by way of using his imagination and creativity. Lucky for us, we too have been let in to the world of his imagination to discover solutions to this difficult problem by providing solutions for the main character of the story.

 

Dandelion is a story about a little boy named Benjamin Brewster who is bullied each day at “The School for the Misguided.” One day, when all seems lost, a patch of magical Dandelions appear which allow him to conjure a new world from his imagination.

Galvin Scott Davis along with the award-winning app developers at Protein have created something truly magical as they encourage kids to discuss bullying through their interaction with the Dandelion app.

The entire e-book is so interactive in a very clever way. Blowing Dandelions on the screen, just as if we were doing it for real in a field somewhere. Pulling levers to turn the page and helping dear Benjamin Brewster out by touching a variety of things on the screens. Have a look at the video to see how this book reacts and interacts. It’s just amazing !!!

I personally like the way the app is organized with some of the interactive features set as extras. Another nice component is the text is set in a variety of languages.

It is the author’s wish that Dandelion encourages parents and children to talk about bullying and to use imagination to solve this very difficult and precarious problem. This creative team has risen to the occasion  and have done so brilliantly. From within the app you can purchase the book, a wrist band, and dandelion decal. Dandelion is  iTunes BEST of pick for 2012. Once you’ve seen this ingenious app you’ll see why.

 

Dandelion can be found on iTunes HERE.
Something to Do:

Bullying has been a very real problem all over the globe. Following are some perspectives and activities to help you and your family investigate and create solutions which work for you and yours.

 Storytelling:

The story behind Dandelion allows and engages the imagination to allow readers to “live” the story.  Storytelling is an excellent teaching strategy because stories ignite kids’ interest, helping them to create vivid mental images and stories activate the thinking process. The storytelling process is also brought to light in Pacer.org’s tale of SpookyThe Pumpkin. 

Spooky is a square pumpkin living in a round pumpkin world. Through Spooky, Pace.org has created a wonderful system of stories, role-playing, and video to help young minds understand the effects of bullying.

 Empathy skills: Happy-Mad-Sad.

Encourage children to label their own feelings and tell each other how they feel about bullying.
Discuss how children who are bullied might feel.
Explain that despite differences between people, everyone experiences certain basic feelings.
Remind children how they felt in situations like those faced by others in distress.
Model empathy by talking about how you identify another’s distress and think of ways to help.

 

Encourage your kids to be creative by creating ” bullying art.”  Ask them to create masks depicting the different human emotions. This helps to  get them thinking about bullying and the emotions that go along with it.  Our friends over at No Time For Flash Cards has a great tutorial on making Emotions Masks from Paper Plates.

Emotions Mask Activity

DLTK-Kids Also has some great printable facial expressions to help add color and flair to your mask. Those can be found HERE.

 

Puppet Show!

Using your new emotions masks and other puppets from Pacer.org, your family or class can create a puppet show! Pacer also has a great script to print off and use for your show HERE.

Create a Caring Chain

Crayola.com has a wonderful activity called The Caring Chain:

How do you stop bullying? These bright paper rings—looped into a chain—highlight kind and respectful ways to treat people. Even bullies want friends!

For extended details, directions, and supply list go HERE.

Sing a Little Louder: Be heard. Share. Talk About it. Be a Spokesperson

Hayley Reardon was a shy quite teenager who never aspired to be a musician. Then one day she picked up a guitar and started to play. And then she started to write.  One of her first songs? A song called She’s Falling.

“Hayley Reardon, who is 5-foot-1 and has a warm round face and long brown hair, was moved to act after seeing the emotional wreckage bullying can cause up close. In the seventh grade, she watched a friend, a target of online attacks, struggle badly and leave school for a time. Reardon felt helpless. She wrote a song called “She’s Falling,” as a way to work through the experience. That’s when she hit upon a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization, PACER, and its National Bullying Prevention Center. Reardon says she’s received e-mails, messages, and tweets from youth around the world sharing tales of bullying — victims and aggressors both. One lonely Iowa girl wrote from a bathroom stall and became the inspiration for Reardon to finish the song “Tribe,” about belonging, which is on the new record.” -Boston Globe

To read more about this amazing 16-year old, go HERE.

What projects or activities have you found useful for talking to your kids about bullying?

The post App-y Hour Book Apps for Kids: Dandelion (Bullying eBook) appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Read Around the Continents: South America Booklist

 

Welcome back to installment #2 to our Read Around The Continents series! You may remember our last journey involved exploring Africa and Africa-inspired projects like the African Library Project.

I’m happy to share that Jump into a Book and Audrey Press have chosen the African Library Project as one of their charity projects for 2013. In 2013, each time a book is purchased from Audrey Press we will donate 30% of our profits to literacy charities throughout the world.

Our next adventure is exploring South America!

South America is the fourth largest continent in size and the fifth largest in population. It is located primarily in the southern hemisphere. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the West. The geography of South America is dominated by the Andes Mountain Range and the Amazon River (second longest river in the world).

Prior to European colonization, the Incan Civilization was a dominant force in South America. In the 1500′s, Spain and Portugal colonized much of South America. The colonies gained independence in the 1800′s with the help of leaders such as Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin. As a result, much of South America still speaks Spanish and Portuguese is the primary language of Brazil.

With our map and library card in hand it’s time to read around the beautiful continent of South America.

Victoria Goes to Brazil by Maria de Fatima Campos

 

Victoria’s mother was born in Brazil, but she and her daughter live in London. Now it’s time for a visit to the country where Mom grew up. From a coffee farm to a saint’s day procession, from a street children’s shelter to a huge family barbecue, Victoria learns about her mother’s country and enjoys getting to know her large Brazilian family. Using vibrant photographs and a first-person narrative based on the fresh perceptions of a child, Victoria Goes to Brazil stimulates young imaginations by showcasing the unfamiliar yet fascinating food, clothing, customs, and culture of this colorful and diverse country.

Secrets of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark

 

“The story of an Incan boy who lives in a hidden valley high in the mountains of Peru with old Chuto the llama herder. Unknown to Cusi, he is of royal blood and is the ‘chosen one.’ A compelling story.”–Booklist. Newbery Award Book.

Moon Rope: A Peruvian Folktale by Lois Ehlert

 

Fox wants to go to the moon. Mole does not–at least not until he hears about the huge worms waiting up there for him to eat. So the two of them set off on their adventure, with a little help from a rope of grass and their friends the birds. The bilingual text and bold art showcase Lois Ehlert at her captivating best.

You Wouldn’t want to be an Inca Mummy: A One Way Journey You’d Rather Not Make by Colin Hynson

 

Hanging out at the palace with the number one Inca has lots of benefits, but you don’t want to get too chummy with Sapa Inca. If you do, you’ll be expected to follow him everywhere – including his next life!

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson

 

Accompanied by Miss Minton, a fierce-looking, no-nonsense governess, Maia, a young orphan, sets off for the wilderness of the Amazon, expecting curtains of orchids, brightly colored macaws, and a loving family. But what she finds is an evil-tempered aunt and uncle and their spoiled daughters. It is only when she is swept up in a mystery involving a young Indian boy, a homesick child actor, and a missing inheritance that Maia lands in the middle of the Amazon adventure she’s dreamed of. Readers of every generation will treasure Ibbotson’s lush historical adventure that harkens back to the beloved classics of Frances Hodgson Burnett and Louisa May Alcott.

Love and Roast Chicken: A Trickster Tale form the Andes by Barbara Knutson

 

K-Gr. 3. Cuy, a clever, fast-talking guinea pig, outsmarts Tio Antonio, a hungry fox, in this lively picture book. The eye-catching colored woodcuts, which so vividly depicted the fauna and flora of the Andes Mountains in the original version, decorate this edition, which remains a delightful tale for both young Spanish speakers and learners. Isabel Schon Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Tierra Del Fuego: A Journey to the End of the Earth by Peter Lourie

 

Ferdinand Magellan was searching the new world for a passage to the Pacific Ocean and the riches of the East. His quest took him down the coast of South America, on an expedition that seemed doomed to failure until Magellan spied a waterway heading west. Sailing his ships onward, he passed through ominous land, where smoke from unseen fires rose high in the air. He called the land Tierra del Fuego, or “land of fire.” It was here Magellan found his passage to the Pacific and the Strait of Magellan, and where Charles Darwin later sailed the legendary Beagle. Joshua Slocum, who sailed the globe alone, outwitted pirates who lurked in coves and channels. Peter Lourie takes young readers on a journey to the island at the end of the earth that for centuries was shrouded in mystery.

Encantado: Pink Dolphin of the Amazon by Montgomery Sy

 

Welcome to a forest filled with water. In the wet season, the swollen Amazon becomes a looking glass into another world, where pink dolphins swim like something from a dream. In Peru they are called bufeo colorado—the ruddy dolphin. Their color ranges from white to gray to a vivid pink. These astonishing mammals, actually river-dwelling whales, easily navigate their way through the complex, hazardous world of the Amazon rain forest. Encantado invites readers on the adventure of a lifetime as we travel into one of the world’s most lush and beautiful jungles in search of these magical creatures. Our guides include scientists and researchers as well as the local people, who have lived with the encantados—the enchanted ones—literally at their doorsteps for centuries. Our main guides are the dolphins themselves. They lead us into myth. They take us back in time to a prehistoric era. They alone can show us the depth of the Amazon’s beauty, diversity, and magic—and help us to keep our planet rich and whole.

Cooking the South American Way by Helga Parnell

 

Introduces the history, land, and food of the countries of South America, and includes recipes for such dishes as black bean casserole from Brazil, beef soup from Argentina, and almond meringue from Chile.

Mariana and the Merchild: A Folk Tale from Chili by Caroline Pitcher.

 

Old Mariana longs for friendship, but she is feared by the village children and fearful of the hungry sea-wolves that hide in the sea-caves near her hut. When one day Marianna finds a Merchild inside a crab shell her whole life changes- but she knows that one day, when the sea is calm again, the Merchild’s mother will come to take her back. A memorable story of unconditional love, this poetic retelling of a traditional South American folk tale beautifully conveys the joy that may come if you open your heart to what you cannot keep.

The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan

 

Winner of the 2011 Pure Belpre Award for fiction now in an elegant paperback edition!

From the time he is a young boy, Neftali hears the call of a mysterious voice. He knows he must follow it–even when the neighborhood children taunt him, and when his harsh, authoritarian father ridicules him, and when he doubts himself. It leads him under the canopy of the lush rain forest, into the fearsome sea, and through the persistent Chilean rain, until finally, he discovers its source.

Combining elements of magical realism with biography, poetry, literary fiction, and sensorial, transporting illustrations, Pam Muñoz Ryan and Peter Sís take readers on a rare journey of the heart and imagination.

 

Amazon Diary by Hudson Talbott

 

The handwritten diary of a twelve-year-old boy offers readers a perspective on the Yanomami tribe that takes him in when his plane crashes, a story that follows such adventures as Alex’s participation in the rescue of a kidnapped girl.

Inca, Aztec, Maya (DK Eyewitness Book)

 

Now reissued with a CD and wall chart! Eyewitness: Aztec, Inca & Maya is a spectacular and informative guide to the rise and fall of the pre-Columbian cultures of the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas, who built vast empires and left behind a legacy of mystery and wonder. Amazing color photographs offer children a unique “eyewitness” view of these incredible civilizations.

The Great Snake: Stories from the Amazon by Sean Taylor

 

As the Rio Afuá ferry wends its way along the Amazon, Sean Taylor takes in not only the sights and sounds of this extraordinary landscape but also the stories of the people he meets. From sly jaguars and the slowest of sloths to spine-tingling giant serpents and white-suited strangers, his retellings teem with legendary beings, vivid color, earthy comedy, and the mysteries of the rainforest. Together, with Fernando Vilela’s dramatic, color-saturated illustrations, they reveal the Amazon people’s’ beliefs and way of life. Notes and a glossary provide additional information about the region.

 

Saturday Sancocho by Leyla Torees

 

Every Saturday, Maria Lili looks forward to making chicken sancocho with her grandparents Mama Ana and Papa Angelino. But one Saturday they discover that there is nothing in the house except eggs, and Maria Lili wonders how they will ever be able to have their favorite meal. Mama Ana has a plan, though, and taking the eggs with her, she invites Maria Lili to come to the market. Somehow, Mama Ana has a way to make chicken sancocho with eggs, and Maria Lili can’t wait to find out how.Bold, cheerful watercolors evoke the busy atmosphere of the village markets of Central and South America. Also included in the book is a recipe for chicken sancocho from the author’s family.

Indestructibles: Old MacDonald has a Farm by Jonas Sickler

 

The title is adapted from classic nursery rhymes and illustrated by Jonas Sickler. Sickler’s paintings are whimsical and fun, filled with dazzling textures and eye-popping color. They will grab and keep a baby’s attention, and delight adults. The book offers a multicultural twist on a classic nursery rhyme – Old MacDonald Has a Farm, set in Bolivia is full of llamas, alpacas, sheep, and cows. The text for the nursery rhyme is printed on the back cover.

The Inca (True Books: American Indians) by Stefanie Takacs

 

Grade 2–5—These fascinating cultures are outlined for young readers with care and precision. Although the gorier features of each culture are largely avoided, a reasonably complete picture of each people’s history and culture is presented. Loaded with access points such as captions, pull-outs, a time line, and a map, and with better-than-usual reproductions of well-chosen primary sources and art, the books sport a bright, peppy design. The authors are careful to use or at least make note of proper nomenclature—Maloy uses the phrase “ancient Maya” (rather than simply “Maya”) throughout, an important distinction that is often overlooked. These books are rigorous in distinguishing fact from theory, and conscientious about presenting competing theories where they exist. These are the best books on their subjects for this age group.—Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

City of Beasts by Isabel Allende, Margaret Sayers Peden

 

Equal parts magical realism and deft political commentary, City of the Beasts, the first novel of Isabel Allende’s page-turning adventure trilogy, takes young Alexander Cold on an adventure in the Amazon to find the legendary Beast and its home, El Dorado. Available in trade paperback for the first time, this exciting coming-of-age novel from Allende, acclaimed author of The Sum of Our Days and The House of the Spirits, is an “Indiana Jones-style adventure packed with daring feats, monster-like beings, intrigue, and mystery.

The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough by Katie Smith Melway, Sylvie Daigneault

 

From the best-selling author of One Hen comes the inspiring story of one struggling farming family in Honduras and their journey to growing enough food to meet their needs. Based on the real story of farm transformation underway in Honduras and many other countries, this book offers children ways they can be part of the movement to grow “good gardens” and foster food security. Eleven-year-old Mar?a Luz and her family live on a small farm. This year their crop is poor, and they may not have enough to eat or to sell for other essentials, such as health care, school uniforms and books. When Mar?a’s father must leave home to find work, she is left in charge of their garden. Then a new teacher comes to Mar?a’s school and introduces her to sustainable farming practices that yield good crops. As Mar?a begins to use the same methods at home, she too sees improvements, which allow her family to edge their way out of the grip of the greedy “coyotes” — the middlemen who make profits on the backs of poor farmers. Little by little, the farms — and the hopes — of Mar?a and her neighbors are transformed as good gardens begin to grow.

The Maya (True Books: American Indians) by Stefanie Taylor

 

Ideal for today’s young investigative reader, each A True Book includes lively sidebars, a glossary and index, plus a comprehensive “To Find Out More” section listing books, organizations, and Internet sites. A staple of library collections since the 1950s, the new A True Book series is the definitive nonfiction series for elementary school readers.

Up and Down the Andes by Laurie Krebs, Aurelia Fronth

This rhyming text takes readers from Lake Titicaca all the way to the city of Cusco for the marvelous Inti Raymi festival. They’ll meet children from many areas of southern Peru who are traveling to the festival, each using a different mode of transportation. Includes useful notes on the history and culture of Peru.

Biblioburro: A True Story from Columbia by Jeanette Winter

 

Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution–a traveling library! He buys two donkeys–Alfa and Beto–and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages. Beautiful!Complete with an author’s note about the real man on whom this story is based.

The Most Beautiful Place in the World by Ann Cameron

“Seven-year-old Juan lives in Guatemala, a place of stunning beauty and grim economic reality. Abandoned by his mother, Juan lives with his grandmother and shines shoes. He passionately wants to attend school, but fears Grandmother will say no. Finally gathering his courage, he is surprised when she not only agrees to send him to school but also chides him about the importance of standing up for himself. Juan tells this bittersweet story, which reads smoothly and powerfully on several levels, with warmth and dignity.”–Booklist.  

The Littlest Llama by Jane Buxton and Jenny Coope

 

The littlest llama has a problem—one that every child will understand. He’s eager to wrestle, jump, and chase all day, but there’s no friend nearby who wants to play.
“…the grown-up llamas had work to do. They had food to find and cud to chew…There was no one to play with the littlest llama.

No one had time, not even his mama.”


So the dejected little guy sets off without a goodbye in search of a playful pal. Soon he’s crossing the ridges and bridges of the high altiplano where he lives. But is he going too far? And who will he find?

The charming Andean-themed art features soft and gentle hues, as well as beautiful page borders that look like traditional weavings. Plus, they turn llama’s journey into a fun game, as kids try to locate the rattlesnake, chinchilla, cougar, and other animals in the images. A preoccupied llama may not notice them—but children will find the varied and unusual creatures irresistible.

The satisfying ending will delight everyone, and every child will relate to llama’s desire for a playmate and joy at a new sibling.

Dead-weather and Sunrise: The chronicles of Egg, Book 1 by Geoff Rodkey

 

Deadweather and Sunrise is an action-packed debut novel of adventure, friendship, and self-discovery–oh, and did I mention there are pirates? Thirteen year old Egbert Masterson–Egg–is a book loving, intelligent 13-year-old with a big heart and a nose for hidden treasure. While Egg’s life has a lot of reason for despair, he takes his lumps in stride and discovers that “…not everyone who lives on a pretty street is a good person, and that in even the rottenest places you might find someone you can trust with your life.” With suitably gruesome pirate bits, endearing characters, surprising twists, and a delightful quirkiness, Deadweather and Sunrise has all the makings of a breakout new middle grade series. –Seira WilsonBrazil (True Books) by Tara Walters

We’re Roaming the Rainforest by Laurie Krebs and Anne Wilson

 

The Umbrella by Jan Brett

A walk through the Costa Rican cloud forest provides a wonderfully lush setting for Jan Brett’s beloved animal illustrations. When Carlos drops his umbrella to climb a tree for a better view of the animals, they all cram into the banana-leaf umbrella as it floats by–from the little tree frog to the baby tapir to the big jaguar and more. It gets so crowded in the umbrella that there isn’t even enough room for a little hummingbird! So over the umbrella tumbles, everyone falls out, and poor Carlos comes back wondering why he didn’t see any animals all day.

In the spirit of Jan Brett’s The Mitten and The Hat, this cheerful tale of escalation will have readers poring over every illustration for the world of details Jan packs in. With its classic story, exotic jungle setting, and brilliantly colorful menagerie, The Umbrella is sure to take its place among Jan’s many family favorites.

The Rainforest Grew all Around by Susan Mitchell

Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song, The Green Grass Grew All Around. The jungle comes alive as children learn about a wide variety of the animals (jaguars, emerald tree boas, leafcutter ants, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and bats) and plants (kapok trees, liana vines, and bromeliads) living in the lush Amazon rainforest. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the three-page For Creative Minds educational section.

Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, By Eric Carle

 

Slowly, slowly, slowly?that?s the way the sloth moves. slowly, it eats and then, slowly, it falls asleep. what strange kind of creature is this? the other animals wonder. why doesn?t it run or fly or play or hunt like the rest of us? ?why are you so slow?? the howler monkey inquires. but the sloth doesn?t answer any questions until the jaguar asks, ?why are you so lazy?? Anyone who has ever felt too busy will appreciate the sloth?s peaceful lifestyle and realize that it?s okay to take time to enjoy life. Eric Carle’s dazzling collage illustrations introduce readers to the exotic beauty of the Amazon rain forest and the many unusual animals living there.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon by Lynne Cherry

 

The author and artist Lynne Cherry journeyed deep into the rain forests of Brazil to write and illustrate her gorgeous picture book The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest (1990). One day, a man exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant kapok tree. While he sleeps, the forest’s residents, including a child from the Yanomamo tribe, whisper in his ear about the importance of trees and how “all living things depend on one another” . . . and it works. Cherry’s lovingly rendered colored pencil and watercolor drawings of all the “wondrous and rare animals” evoke the lush rain forests, and the stunning endpapers feature world maps bordered by tree porcupines, emerald tree boas, and dozens more fascinating creatures.

Awards: IRA Teacher’s Choice (1991), ABA’s Pick of the Lists, Reading Rainbow Review Book, NSTA-CBC Outstanding Trade Book for Children

 

The post Read Around the Continents: South America Booklist appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

And The Winner of our Conference of The Birds Giveaway IS..

Our   The Conference of the Birds. by Alexix York Lumbard  book review and giveaway has ended and we are excited to announce the TWO lucky winners of the   The Conference of the Birds book.

::drum roll::

Winner #1 is Dianne Osmun

Winner #2 is Madinah!

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!

In case you missed it, our Conference of the Birds review and giveaway was LOADED with fun activities and related information.

From Bird Puppet tutorials

To the history of some of our most inspiring words of wisdom..

To a delightfully fun family activity called The Conditions of the Heart (complete with free Conditions of the Heart words and questions and discussion guide)

This bookjump and review was exciting to create and we hope you enjoyed it as well. Watch for more bookjumps, booklists, and fun happenings to come later this month!

***Winner of the Conference of the Birds books will have 48 hours to respond.

The post And The Winner of our Conference of The Birds Giveaway IS.. appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

The Conference of the Birds Review and GIVEAWAY!

This last February we had the very distinct pleasure of meeting author Alexix York Lumbard during our Family Book Festival and her families favorite book Amos & Boris by William Steig.

Children’s Book Author-Alexis York Lumbard

Today we get to look further into her world by jumping into her book  The Conference of the Birds.

The Conference of the Birds re-tales the 800 year old sufi Persian poem written by Farid ud-Din Attar. In the poem the birds of the world gather to decide who is to be their new king, as they don’t have one at the moment.

The hoopoe, the wisest bird of them all, suggests that they should find the legendary Simorgh, a mythical bird which resembles the Phoenix.

The hoopoe leads this flock of 30 birds in the original story and 6 in this one, to the dwelling place of the Simorgh. Along the way each bird casts off the negative attribute it carries clearing the way to enlightenment. I will not spoil the ending for you. All I can say is that it is soul revealing.

I know this poem well but I have to be honest when I say that when this book crossed my desk (in picture book form no less) I had my doubts how this gem of a story could be condensed into a children’s version. From the first page my doubts and concerns were quickly put at ease since this story is brilliantly and simply told using rhyme.

Collaborating in perfect unison with the story are the phenomenal artistry and illustrations of Demi. Demi is on my top 10 list of favorite illustrators and she doesn’t disappoint in The Conference of the Birds.  She uses vibrant deep colors, gold, and action to portray the journey of this fretting flock.

Inside this inspiring tale, virtues such as humility, patience, detachment from our worldly goods, and courage are taught and shared through beauty, kindness and encouragement. This book is a fantastic teaching tool regardless of one’s race or religion in developing a moral compass of integrity and compassion.

Somethings To Do:

As with all sufi tales, they are multi-layered and tend to “meet you where you are” on your own journey in life. With each re-telling the listener discovers something new about themselves and their life perspectives. The Conference of the Birds gives us the opportunity to delve deeper into the pages of this gorgeous tale.

The activities we have designed are for a variety of ages and listeners. From the very young to the very old, I hope you find many enriched reading moments together.

Coloring Page

Author Alexis York Lumbard and Demi have created this fun coloring page of the Hoopoe bird. It’s a fun way to kick our book jump off.

Sufism

Let’s look into the world of Sufism. What is it and Who are they ?

Sufism or Tasawuf, as it is known in the Muslim world, is Islamic Mysticism. Sufism isn’t a sect of Islam but an aspect or dimension of Islam. Sufism is a way of life in which the person becomes closer to God by living in harmony with all that exists and through reflecting the love of God.

Someone who practices Sufism is called a Sufi. The term Sufi comes from three Arabic letters sa, wa, and fa. The word Suf means wool and Sufis used to wear simple cloaks made of wool. Oftentimes in Sufi poetry writing the letters in words express hidden meanings. The word Sufi could also mean enlightenment coming from the Arabic word Safa which means purity. It has also been linked with the word Sufiya which is linked with the Greek word Sophia meaning wisdom.

Throughout history Sufism has created the most noted and celebrated poetry, music, and literature in the world. Famous authors and philosopher’s included Rumi, Al-Ghazali, Ib Khaldun, Attar , Ibn-Arabi, and Hafiz just to name a few.

Examples of Sufi Poetry:

 

Poetry Magnets

It’s time to have a little poetry fun of our very own.

It’s fun to spend a wonderful afternoon creating fun poetry.

Print the words onto a magnet sheets which can be found at any office supply store or HERE on Amazon.
Cut and arrange them on your refrigerator or any surface which will hold magnets, such as a metal tray.

Alternative

If you can’t find magnet paper go ahead and print them onto card stock.
Arrange your poetry onto a beautiful piece of paper and glue into place.

Whirling Dervish:

The Whirling Dervish come from Turkey and I recently saw a different variety of Dervish in Egypt. The Dervish of Turkey spin in a dance form while songs of remembrance are sung, connecting them to the earth, the heavens, and ultimately god.

Reader’s Theater and One Broken Rule

Reader’s Theater is reading a story aloud, like a play, without memorization, stage, or props. Each person is assigned a character role and reads their part with expression, meaning, and enthusiasm.

For the Conference of the Birds the kids created a “master” script from the book. The Hoopoe has a huge part and depending on the level of your readers, may need to be shared between a couple of people.

Make enough copies of the Master script for everyone.
Have each person highlight their parts for easy reading later on.

The Broken Rule…….If you have “youngers” in your family, feel free to let them use the bird stick puppets which follow, to re-enact the story as it’s being read aloud by the “olders” and adults.

Due to copyright laws I can’t place a version of our master here but I’ll tell you that part of the learning of Reader’s Theater is constructing the script as a group.

Bird Stick Puppets

Supplies:

Printed Birds
scissors
7 Barbecue skewers
Tape

Directions:

Print out a copy of the 7 birds in the story. This includes the 6 birds plus the guide and mentor the Hoopoe.
Cut out the birds. We just cut around the birds and didn’t cut in high detail just some detail. Remember you need enough paper to tape the stick on the back.
Using a barbecue skewer, place the pointed side up on the back side of the bird. Tape into place.

The Hero’s Journey

The Conference of the Birds is a “Journey Myth” or a Hero’s Story. The character of the story, in this case the birds, sets out on an incredible adventure which holds nearly impossible tasks to be accomplished.

Although there is always a destination to arrive at or a road where the journey ends, the hero’s journey isn’t really about place. The hero learns lessons about himself or herself. It’s about how the hero over come their fear, short-comings and losing their negative traits.

The Hero’s Journey has 3 major sections with steps inside each one.

*The first section is the separation from the hero’s usual life. Within this section is the call or invitation to adventure, the refusal of the invitation, and the meeting with the mentor who will guide them through the journey.

*The second section of the journey is the initiation into the trials, challenges, and difficulties. This part of the journey entails crossing the first threshold, enduring tests by allies and enemies, finding new approaches to solving the trials, and facing a major ordeal.

*The third and final section is the Hero’s Return. The Hero returns to his or her former life a changed person. Steps in the final section are the reward, the road back home, the final test known as the Resurrection and the Return.

There are many books and movies which have the hero’s journey as a theme. The Wizard of Oz, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Star Wars, The Hunger Games, and many more.

Go back and read the story finding elements of the hero’s journey in Conference of the Birds.

Who is the mentor in the story ?

What invitation doe he make to the birds?
What challenge does each bird face?
Where are they going?
What do they expect to find there?
What do they find when they arrive?

Conditions of the Heart Craft and Activity

In the Conference of the Birds, each bird has a personal trait that they need to look at, deepen or discard to continue the journey to the Simorgh. Oftentimes we wish to instill values,morals , and character into our children but how do we do this?

This wonderful book is a great tool to teach moral values and conduct.

The following craft and activity is a starting point to building young people who think critically and carefully. The best way to instill this in our children is through conversation. Children act out what they have been modeled. Open communication is a great way to know what your child/children are thinking and it gives us parents the opportunity to share our viewpoint as well.

Craft:

Supplies:

12 Cut paper hearts or foam hearts.
Printed words and questions
Scissors
Tape

Print out the page with the words and questions.

Tape the word on one side of the heart and the corresponding question(s) on the back side.

How to play:

Put all of the hearts into a box or bag and mix them up. Sitting in a circle, have everyone pick a heart.

One by one share the word on the outside of the heart. Talk about the meaning of the word first.

Next turn the heart over. Answer and discuss the questions.

To download your FREE Conditions of the Heart discussion guide (which can help facilitate your discussions) go HERE.
To download your FREE Conditions of the Heart Words and Questions, go HERE.

I’d like to say a huge thank you for the kindness of Alexis York Lumbard and her family for providing a copy of The Conference of the Birds for my family to enjoy.

Giveaway!!

We are so fortunate to have 2 copies of The Conference of The Birds to giveaway to 2 lucky winners (one book per winner). Books were provided by the publisher Wisdom Tales.

***This Giveaway will run from April 4, 2013 through to Monday April 8, 2013. Winner will be announced Tuesday April 9, 2013. (See Giveaway rules and disclaimer below)

To enter please do the following:

MANDATORY:

Follow Valarie Budayr/Jump Into a Book on Pinterest and comment below that you did so along with your Pinterest handle (account name). Here’s a sample of what your comment might look like once you’ve followed us on Pinterest:

“I’ve followed you on Pinterest and my Pinterest handle is http://pinterest.com/YOUR NAME/”

FOR BONUS ENTRY:

*Tweet about this giveaway and comment below that you did so. Use our handy Click-To-Tweet tool below!

CLICK TO TWEET : Enter to WIN-Children’s Book Giveaway! The Conference of The Birds by Alexix York Lumbard http://bit.ly/ZcbZgQ #kidlit

Disclaimers for the Giveaway:

*Must be 18 years or older to enter
*One entry per household.
*Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
*Grand Prize winner has 48 hours to claim prize
Winner must have mail service in their area.
Participants in this giveaway may receive future emails from Jump Into a Book
By entering you give us permission to use your name and profile information to announce as a winner. If you want to know who won, the winner’s name will be announced on Twitter/Facebook as soon as possible.
The winner will chosen via Random.org and will be announced on April 9, 2013. Winner has 48 hours to respond and claim prize or a new winner will be selected.

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A Little Book Fun with the Coons Family

We love having Giveaways here on Jump Into a Book.

We love the fun, the excitement, and especially the thrill of putting amazing books into the hands of deserving readers.

Stacey Coons is not only our most recent winner, she is definitely one of our “deserving readers.”

Stacey was the winner of our recent Dr Seuss 31 Book Giveaway and this proud mama of three has been putting her new books to good use.

“My kids were so excited to get all of the books, even my baby boy had a little board book just for him! Our usual routine includes reading time for 30-45 minutes every night, but with packages of books coming almost the whole week, my kids were begging for reading time all during the day. My oldest (4) insists on reading the books to me (with a little help) and my girl (3) now goes around the house quoting her favorite story, “The Cat in the Hat.” My favorite books are the paperback ones that came with CD’s. We keep them in the car and love listening as we drive around. Thank you so much for this great giveaway!”-Stacey




Enjoy your books Stacey!

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Happy Easter!

Happy Easter
Happy Spring
Happy Passover
…….from all of us at Jump Into a Book!

 

The post Happy Easter! appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

App-Y Hour Book Apps for Kids: There’s A Wocket in My Pocket

It’s App-Y Hour! This is our Friday feature that helps locate wonderful and book apps for kids. This week we’d like to share…

There’s a Wocket in my Pocket!

Isn’t it fun just to say that?

This app is not only based on a story from one of our favorite authors (Theodor Seuss Geisel), it is another products from our friends at OceanHouse Media.

“Children will adore this rhyming story that describes imaginary creatures you can find around his house. Like the little zlocks behind the clocks, or the furry zowers who take up the shower. The fun and playful illustrations and the boy’s light hearted perspective shows children that they don’t have to be scared of the unknown. In fact this boy likes his creatures just the way they are. . . well most of them!”

SPECIAL iOS FEATURES:

* Record your own voice
* Share voice tracks with others that own this app
* Page selector
* Retina main menu
* New options for sound effects, hot spots and alerts

Features:

* Three ways to read: “Read to Me,” “Read it Myself,” and “Auto Play”
* Picture / Word association — words zoom up and are spoken when pictures are touched
* Individual words highlight and are read aloud when tapped
* Professional audio narration and custom background audio for each scene
* Pages pan & zoom to accentuate the beautiful, original art of Dr. Seuss
* This ‘Universal App’ is optimized for Retina displays and the iPad

Get your app via iTunes HERE.

Get your app from Google Play HERE.

Get your app from Amazon HERE.

Get your app from Nook HERE.

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Whispering woods – Tales from the Caledonian Forest by Alan Crawford

Whispering Woods is a magical and enchanting walk through the Scottish forest told by Alan Crawford and exquisitely illustrated by Susan Gray.

Author Alan Crawford invites us to sit by the fire and read this collection of tales aloud, and that’s exactly what our family did. Whispering Woods is a collection of 5 stories divided each into 2 parts. This organization mass great starting and stopping points.

Tale is told based on five of Scotland’s well known trees, The Alder, Ash, Birch, Rowan, and Softs Pine. Whispering Woods delivers us into the world of each tree and the folklore associated with it.

Whispering Woods’ is a collection of stories about Scotland’s native trees, that weave together threads of mythology and lore, herbal medicine, uses of timber and wood, woodland ecology and imagination to produce unique tales that are appealing to adults and children alike.

These stories will both entertain and inform. Whilst entering into the imaginary world of the story, the reader or listener will also start to become more familiar with the features of our native trees and their associated flora and fauna, leading to a deeper understanding of how species, including ourselves, depend on one another and the environment for survival. These beautifully illustrated stories evolved through a fortuitous, accidental meeting between the author and a teacher searching for original stories to read to children in the forest – stories that would both capture their imagination and enhance their understanding of, and respect for, the woodland environment. They will bring much pleasure to all who love the natural world.-Amazon

 

One piece of advice I would give is to read the glossary section first before reading the tales aloud. Each day I’d go into the glossary section to learn the Gaelic pronunciations of names and places, and it helped to know this information before hand so I could deepen the experience for the kids as I read each night.

**Please, oh PLEASE do not let a little Gaelic deter you from reading this book!  You will be depriving yourself of a Scottish nature adventure like you’ve never heard of.

I have to mention this next little bit as well; this book is an actual joy to hold and handle. The pages are soft and silky and the book opens easily. There is a great balance in the design of the book between the gorgeous illustrations of Susan Grey and the lovely little imprints of each specific tree. All of this beauty of a book is printed on paper made from responsible resources which means there will be plenty of forest to walk through in the future as well as clean air because Whispering Woods uses responsible sources for its paper and non-toxic ink for its text.

Whispering Woods isn’t just a great teaching tool into the people, traditions, and woodlands of Scotland but a call to everyone of the importance of the trees that surround us. By the end of this book everyone will want to sustain and protect their forests. Alan Crawford plants these seeds brilliantly and with the confidence that we can live up to the challenge.

 

Author and master storyteller Alan Crawford knows a lot about the forests of Scotland as he has walked through most of them as a woodland consultant for the Forestry Commission’s Native Woodland Survey of Scotland. His knowledge is woven beautifully into each tale.

Something to Do:

All five of these stories inspire the imagination to do a myriad of activities to jump into the pages of this very fine book. However, we have chosen to jump into The Ferryman and the Fern King (The Alder Tale)

To save the ancient trees of Coille na Fearna from being cut down by Colum MacAllan, the Ferryman enlist the help of his very creative friends. To save the forest we will need to make a waistcoat, felted slippers, and a wooden brooch.

Waistcoat:

Supplies:

 Light-weight cotton lab coat .
A collection of dry leaves. If it isn’t autumn in your part of the world, you can use paper or felt leaves as well.
A glue gun. When working with children we always use a cold glue gun.

~ Gather a collection of leaves. You will need many of them for this project.

~ Start on the back of the lab coat and then work your way to the front section.

~Glue the leaves on the collar next.

~And then the sleeves.

It’s alright if you don’t cover the whole jacket. You can create a pattern with the leaves so that you have white sections and leafy sections of your jacket.

Felted Slippers:

 

felted boot photos by Jennifer Tan

I learned how to make felted slippers from the ever talented Jennifer Tan. By far one of the best tutorials I’ve ever encountered. This tutorial is step by step with very clear instructions.  Here’s a sampling of what you can do.

 

Wooden Brooch:

Supplies:

Round wooden disks.
Colored Pencils
Pin clasp

1. Using colored pencils make a design on one side of the wooden disk.

2. Once finished add a pin clasp to the back side in a centered position.

We hope that you will read this amazing book, and if you do please share your experiences with us her on Jump Into a Book, or on Whispering Woods’ Facebook Page.

Get your copy of Whispering Woods HERE. Happy Reading!

**some of the above links are affiliate links.

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The Write Stuff :Writing Tips and Resources for Kids

Read Write Think

Read Write Think is one of the most popular websites to practice writing skills.  This website has both informative and interactive elements.  Children can learn about the various aspects of writing by reading the lessons provided.  They can then put what they have learned into action by using the interactive resources like the build a comic creator, creating a timeline, and the Printing Press which helps students to make various documents like brochures and letters.

BBC Bite Size:  Writing

The BBC Bite Size site has educational resources for younger children in the areas of reading, writing, spelling, grammar, math, and science.  The writing component includes a game, a reading section, a video, and a quiz.  Topics include persuasive writing, writing letters, newspapers, and reports, and how to write and follow instructions.  The four components under each topic provide children with an online lesson into the various types of writing in a fun and interactive manner.

Mr. Nussbaum’s 1,000 Sites in 1

Mr. Nussbaum’s 1,000 Sites in 1 provides annotated image links to appropriate learning websites for children.  They are broken down by subjects and topics like science, math, reading, and games, creativity, and apps.  This teacher created site provides links to language arts sites on various topics including spelling, comprehension, nouns, pronouns, and commas.  However, the best part of this is the games that are created specifically for this site.  Under language arts games, there are games ranging from learning spelling, proper use of semicolons, digraphs, and sentence structure.

Lightning Bug is a writing resource companion website with interactive elements.  This site can help tween and teen writers to brainstorm ideas for their writing, develop stories ideas, and then figure out how to tie up the ending of a story.  Each section provides different suggestions on how to start, develop, and end the story in a fun way, but still using the main concepts of the writing process.  Under character development, the article provided shows Lego characters and how each different character could fit into a story along with teaching the concept of mind mapping.  Creating a story together is a great way to share time with a teenager and allows for one-on-one interaction.

Here are some other resources:

Ten tips for young writers from Aaron Shepard – includes turn on the TV which I agree with. I got rid of my TV 4 years ago and it really works!
A young author’s bookshelf - books you might like to read on being a young writer, also from Aaron Shepard
YoungWritersOnline.net – a community for young writers
Google Directory for young writers - lots of links to communities etc
Resources for young writers – more links to other sites
Inkpop - a community for young writers and readers run by HarperCollins but in the forums there are a lot of teen writers to connect with
Magazines that young writers can submit to

 

 

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