Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 15

Wanting to “live tiny?” Here’s what you need to know

As the team at Audrey Press have traveled the journey of publishing the new and unique diverse children’s book, Sissy Goes Tiny by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard over the last year, we’ve had the chance to learn and understand the life choices that go along with choosing to live in a home that is under 399 square feet. These revelations and lessons have come to us courtesy of co-author,

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HOW TO COACH GIRLS is now on Kindle! {+Bonuses}

FACT: Girls quit sports 6x the rate of boys. Based on this knowledge, two moms put their creative heads together to pen a book that has parents, coaches, and volunteer coaches clamoring for more. HOW TO COACH GIRLS by Mia Wenjen and Alison Foley was released in 2018 to rave reviews and now this popular book that is helping coaches keep young females athletes in sports is available on Kindle!

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Why you need Multiple Editors in your Book Editing Process

Editing your book as an indie author is NOT something you want your brother’s wife’s cousin’s uncle to do. How your book is editing reflects your credibility as an author and too many self-publishers cut corners on this process to save time and money. The result is less-than-perfect work, bad reviews, and reduced books sales. As you build your editing team, know your sense of voice and build a team

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4 New Graphic Novels for Middle-Grade Readers

Guest post by Becky Flansburg

My daughter is a reluctant reader.

I can’t begin to tell you how much this makes me scratch my head in dismay. I love books and as a child, I would devour books and beg for more. I read all of the Nancy Drew series, everything from Laura Ingalls Wilder, most of the Hardy Boy mystery books and anything else that would appeal to my middle reader self. Later in my teens, I adored Agatha Christie books and anything by John Dickson Carr. Believe it or not, as a high-schooler, one of my favorite books was Alas Babylon by Pat Frank.

My daughter, however,  did not inherit my “I love to read” gene and getting her to read has always been a challenge…until she discovered the magic of graphic novels for middle-grade readers.

In case you are wondering, graphic novels are like comic books and chapter books all rolled into one. These colorful books are a highly visual medium and can put stories with diverse, multicultural elements into a new perspective for young readers.

4 New Graphic Novels for Middle-Grade Readers

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

THE OKAY WITCH is a hilarious, one-of-a-kind graphic novel debut that follows a half-witch who has just discovered the truth about herself, her family, and her town as she does her best to survive middle school. It’s important to note that, even though graphic novels, even though they are similar to comic books in a chapter book form, are an excellent way to get reluctant readers to be excited about books.

My super-picky-reluctant-reader 13-year-old daughter LOVED The Okay Witch…a “win” in this homeschooling mom’s eyes.

Magic is harder than it looks. Thirteen-year-old Moth Hush loves all things witchy. But she’s about to discover that witches aren’t just the stuff of movies, books, and spooky stories. When some eighth-grade bullies try to ruin her Halloween, something really strange happens. It turns out that Founder’s Bluff, Massachusetts, has a centuries-old history of witch drama. And, surprise: Moth’s family is at the center of it all!

When Moth’s new powers show up, things get totally out-of-control. She meets a talking cat, falls into an enchanted diary, and unlocks a hidden witch world. With that revelation, Moth’s adventure truly begins – an adventure that spans centuries, generations, and even worlds – as she unravels the legacy at the heart of her life.

Moth is spunky, messy, hysterical, relatable, and shows readers that it is okay to be, well, OKAY! I fell in love with her from the first chapter and I know she will resonate with readers when she flies onto bookshelves this fall.

DC SuperHero Girls: Spaced Out by Shea Fontana

Earth’s new Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz, learns that she must report to Oa and introduce herself to the Green Lantern Corps–as if learning new powers and being the new girl at Super Hero High weren’t enough!

Luckily, Supergirl, Star Sapphire, and Big Barda are happy to accompany Jessica on her outer-space journey. But when they arrive on Oa, instead of the Green Lantern Corps they find Kryptonians they thought were long gone–General Zod, Faora, and Non. While the spacefaring girls take on this intergalactic mystery, the earthbound students are faced with their own challenge–pet-sitting Krypto!

DC Super Hero Girls: Spaced Out continues to develop the relationships forged throughout the beloved DC Super Hero Girls series. Written by Shea Fontana and illustrated by Agnes Garbowska!

This story is perfect for ages 6-10.

My super-picky-reluctant-reader 13-year-old daughter thought this one was “babyish,” but still found the story entertaining and read the whole book.

Dear Justice League by Michael Northrop

“Prepare to see superheroes in a whole new way…or, in the case of Aquaman, SMELL then in a whole new way.”

Hello! Justice League here. Ask us anything!

Does Superman ever make mistakes? Does Wonder Woman have to listen to her parents? Does Aquaman smell like fish? The greatest heroes in the DC Comics Universe, the Justice League, answer mail from their biggest fans–kids!

From New York Times bestselling author of TombQuest, Michael Northrop, comes a new middle-grade graphic novel series where iconic heroes are asked questions both big and small and, when they’re not busy saving the world, the Justice League even finds time to respond. Their honest and humorous answers will surprise and delight readers of any age, as it turns out that being a superhero is not too different from being a kid.

Full of feats, follies, and colorful illustrations by Gustavo Duarte, Dear Justice League gives readers the inside scoop into everyday heroics, no matter who wears the cape!

My super-picky-reluctant-reader 13-year-old daughter said she liked this one and I know for a fact she secretly loves anything WonderWoman. Shhhh, don’t let her know I told you

A book about a family who chooses to live Tiny and do More with Less.

Home is where the heart is and no matter how you define “home,” the common denominator is that it is almost always the place where love grows best. But what would you do when the “home” that you have always known is about to change in a very drastic, but exciting, way? One of Audrey Press’ most recent published picture books is the unique and delightful Sissy Goes Tiny: a

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Creating an Island of Learning | Ms. Love’s Mystical Island Adventures

As a former foster child, current foster care advocate, Philadelphia teacher, and children’s book author Susan Love has just released a vibrant and enchanting diverse picture book that is sure to capture reader’s hearts.

 

And if the book wasn’t mesmerizing enough, the author’s backstory will inspire readers even more.

Susan has experienced the foster care system firsthand when at the age of 5 was rescued from a fire that destroyed everything her family-owned and left her mother unable to take care of her and her siblings. Her passion is to provide these children with a strong support system, mentor, and to make changes to the current system of foster care.

When she was new to teaching, she was a little depressed by her classroom. The room was infested by mice and roaches, the kids were uninspired, and the parents uninterested. She was sure the year would be a failure until her trip to the Caribbean guided her to feel refreshed in which she decided to turn the classroom into an “Island of Learning” and encouraged her students, many of whom had island backgrounds, to write stories. To her surprise, the children wrote island stories about her and suddenly she decided to create her own Ms. Love island story incorporating the kid’s creative ideas and to share it with the rest of the world.

About Ms. Love‘s Mystical Island Adventures

Sabrina, Arthur, Miguel, and Lucy arrive on Ms. Love’s Mystical Island bursting with excitement. The young explorers have been chosen to witness the flowering of a rare and magical orchid, which blooms once every century with an explosion of light and energy—mysteriously repairing Earth’s ozone layer. But Ms. Love greets the children with devastating news: The scientists hoping to study the orchid’s secret power are not coming, and a massive hurricane is headed their way. If the destructive storm strikes the island while the fragile orchid is in bloom, this extraordinary plant will be wiped out forever.

There is only one hope—the Magic Power Flower—a flower-shaped crystal that once magically protected the island from danger. Although Sunflower, Ms. Love’s mother, possesses the flower’s centerpiece, the other hidden pieces must be found—and found quickly—if the island and its precious orchid are to be saved.

As the hurricane rapidly approaches, the children and Ms. Love race against time to complete seemingly impossible tasks: decode the ancestor’s map, discover and unravel the clues to find the missing pieces, and safely return this supernatural power source to Sunflower—unless Ms. Love’s jealous, power-hungry Rivals find and steal the sacred flower first.

We loved the creativity of this book and how the adventure story was cleverly woven together. Arm your reader with map-making materials and crafts to make your own supernatural power source and let imagination run free!

Ms. Love’s Mystical Island Adventures is currently sold at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and is perfect for ages 6-9. You may view her website here: http://mslovesmysticalisland.com/

Something To Do: Making your own supernatural power source/suncatcher!

We love this DIY-super-easy suncatcher craft from The Jersey Momma! Not only is it a great way to create your own SuperNatural Power Source, it’s a fun way to repurpose items like broken jewelry and left-over beads. The glass beads came from the dollar store and add a wonderful flair to the project.

Get the full tutorial here.

 

Looking for a beautiful and unconventional diverse picture book for kids? Check out the upcoming, Sissy Goes Tiny!

Sissy Goes Tiny by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard

In Sissy Goes Tiny, eight-year-old Sissy and her parents make the bold choice to downsize their life and embark on a journey of living tiny and doing more with less. At first, Sissy struggles to get used to the idea of living in a tiny house on wheels and traveling around the U.S, but as she and her mommy and daddy learn about downsizing, repurposing, and how “stuff is just stuff,” she soon understands that a life of “living tiny” will be filled with the big adventures and learning.

This gorgeous diverse picture book will be available July of 2019 and you can read the full story of this journey here and also reserve your hardcover copy here.

“I believe that Sissy Goes Tiny is going to open so many minds for people! A tiny house is absolutely not for everyone, but we all like to dream and step into the shoes of another lifestyle in our minds. Learning about this lifestyle I think will help people be more supportive of people who do choose to live unconventionally. Sissy and her family are a great example of that.” Co-author, B.A. Norrgard

Join us in celebrating the idea of Tiny Living and BIG Adventures!

The post Creating an Island of Learning | Ms. Love’s Mystical Island Adventures appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

A Kid-Friendly Joke Book that will tickle Everyone’s Funny Bone

What would be better than a day filled with laughter? National Tell a Joke Day is observed annually on August 16th, and that’s no joke!

Did you know that jokes have been a part of human culture since at least 1900 BC?

A joke is described as something that is spoken, written or done with humorous intention. They can come in many forms. On National Tell a Joke Day, try a one-liner or a knock-knock joke if you aren’t comfortable with the whole comedic act that can be involved in the short story versions. Some simply rely on gestures to express humor.

So how can you observe this positive national holiday?

Tell a joke
Listen to a joke
Laugh
Have fun and enjoy!
Use #NationalTellAJokeDay to post on social media.

AND, if you can’t think of any good “kid-friendly” jokes to share, then the new book from author Carole P. Roman is just the ticket!

The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids

Carole’s newest book (she’s published over FIFTY kids’ books) is The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: a book brimming with over 800 knock-knock jokes, riddles, tongue twisters, and silly stats for endless hours of hilarious entertainment anywhere.

Tons of jokes, tons of laughs, tons more time kids spend reading.

“Why do fish live in saltwater? Because pepper makes them sneeze!” and so much more!

This illustrated collection of jokes for kids is inclusive and family-friendly, with knee-slappers that kids will be bursting to tell every chance they get (parents, you’ve been warned). The jokes also get more challenging with each chapter, so this book will tickle funny bones of all ages.

The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids is hysterical fun for any time and anywhere:

Are we there yet?―Keep kids engaged and giggling at home, on the road, and beyond.
Reading frenzy―The best way to keep them reading? Make it so much fun they forget they’re reading.
Budding comedian―Kids will learn about setups, punchlines, and how to write some jokes of their own.

Keep them laughing and reading for hours with this massive book of jokes for kids.

Grab your copy of this book and be READY for Nation Joke Day ASAP!

About Carole

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the Captain No Beard series. Both Captain No Beard-An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life and Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis have received the Kirkus Star of Exceptional Merit. The first book in the series was named to Kirkus Reviews Best 2012. Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis has been named to Kirkus Reviews Best of 2015.

Each book in the series has won numerous awards including the NABE Pinnacle Award, IAN Award, Moonbeam Award 2014, National Indie Excellence Award Finalist, Shelf Media Outstanding Series Award, ForeWord Review Five Star and Finalist in the Book of the Year, and Reader’s Views Children’s Book of the Year 2013.

Roman is also the author of the award-winning non-fiction culture series If You Were Me and Lived in… that explores customs and cultures around the world. She has co-authored a self-help book, Navigating Indieworld A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing. She lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children and grandchildren.

The following are some of her social media links so you can get to know her better.

Carole P. Roman’s Website: http://www.caroleproman.com/
Carole P. Roman’s Blog: http://caroleproman.blogspot.com/
Carole P. Roman’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/caroleproman
Carole P. Roman’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolePRomanAwardWinningAuthorAndBooks/?ref=bookmarks
FORBES: Navigating Self-Publishing Or What Two Successful Business Women Call Indieworld https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinseatonjefferson/2017/02/24/navigating-self-publishing-or-what-two-successful-business-women-call-indieworld/#63cb8617107c

Looking for a beautiful and unconventional diverse picture book for kids? Check out the upcoming, Sissy Goes Tiny!

Sissy Goes Tiny by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard

In Sissy Goes Tiny, eight-year-old Sissy and her parents make the bold choice to downsize their life and embark on a journey of living tiny and doing more with less. At first, Sissy struggles to get used to the idea of living in a tiny house on wheels and traveling around the U.S, but as she and her mommy and daddy learn about downsizing, repurposing, and how “stuff is just stuff,” she soon understands that a life of “living tiny” will be filled with the big adventures and learning.

This gorgeous diverse picture book will be available July of 2019 and you can read the full story of this journey here and also reserve your hardcover copy here.

“I believe that Sissy Goes Tiny is going to open so many minds for people! A tiny house is absolutely not for everyone, but we all like to dream and step into the shoes of another lifestyle in our minds. Learning about this lifestyle I think will help people be more supportive of people who do choose to live unconventionally. Sissy and her family are a great example of that.” Co-author, B.A. Norrgard

Join us in celebrating the idea of Tiny Living and BIG Adventures!

The post A Kid-Friendly Joke Book that will tickle Everyone’s Funny Bone appeared first on Jump Into a Book.

National Pollinators Week 2019 | Celebrating and Protecting our Pollinators

Pollinator Partnership is proud to announce that June 17-23, 2019 has been designated National Pollinator Week!

National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them.

Twelve years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of a week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats, and beetles.

Though sometimes viewed as a “pests,” bees play a key role in the productivity of agriculture and the beauty of our world and are responsible for the pollination of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and flowers.

But our cherished bees are facing peril in the form of the disruption of natural habitats. This disruption is in the form of lack of “bee flowers” due to the widespread overuse of pesticides, and numerous bee diseases and parasites have pushed bees to the tipping point. Families can do their part by planting “bee-friendly flowers” like coneflowers, verbena, sedum, climbing petunias, and not treating those flowers with pesticides (insecticides, fungicides or herbicides). That simple act can help to keep bees healthy and firmly on their own six feet.

What is pollination?

Pollination is a vital stage in the life cycle of all flowering plants. When pollen is moved within a flower or carried from one flower to another of the same species it leads to fertilization. This transfer of pollen is necessary for healthy and productive native & agricultural ecosystems.

About 75% of all flowering plant species need the help of animals to move their heavy pollen grains from plant to plant for
About 1,000 of all pollinators are vertebrates such as birds, bats, and small
Most pollinators (about 200,000 species) are beneficial insects such as flies, beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, and

National Pollinators Week 2019 | How You Can Help Pollinators

Reduce your impact. Reduce or eliminate your pesticide use, increase green spaces, and minimize urbanization. Pollution and climate change affect pollinators, too!
Plant for pollinators. Create pollinator-friendly habitat with native flowering plants that supply pollinators with nectar, pollen, and For information on what to plant in your area, download a free eco-regional guide online at www.pollinator.org.
Tell a friend. Educate your neighbors, schools, and community groups about the importance of pollinators. Host a dinner, a pollinated food cook-off or other event and invite your friends.
Join the Pollinator Partnership Go to pollinator.org and click on “Get Involved.” Be part of a growing community of pollinator supporters.

Something To Do | Books, Recipes, and Activities Celebrating Bees!

Picture Books that help us Be Kind to Bees

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Pollination: Video and Ideas for Summer Learning from Pragmaticmom

With all of this traveling and the heat of summer, bees can get really thirsty. For a bee to drink water they need a surface to land on. To ensure that the bees are not only well fed but well watered too, let’s create a watering hole for them.

This fun activity is from JIAB’s Secret Garden Wednesday project!

Have you missed some of our Secret Garden Wednesdays? These are too much fun not to read!

Secret Garden Wednesday: Robin Cake
Secret Garden Wednesday: Studying the Class of Hunger
Secret Garden Wednesday: Planting Time
Secret Garden Wednesday: Book-Inspired FUN
Secret Garden Wednesday: Perfectly Good Porridge
Secret Garden Wednesday: Garden in a Jar
Secret Garden Wednesday: Sticky Toffee Pudding

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!”

 

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Baby Scientist Series: Science Books for Preschoolers

Author Laura Gehl understands that kids love to explore and discover their superpower capabilities.

Whether that is exploring space, the bottom of the deep blue ocean, discovering the new word “dibs” and claiming dibs on everything in your house and especially your brother’s stuff, or crashing the ceiling on gender stereotypes, Laura Gehl engages her readers from the first word.

 Science, siblings, and accepting yourself are topics of 4 of Laura Gehl’s newest kidlit books and the illustrations are bright, colorful, clear and packed with action. I believe Laura is doing her best to make reading an active sport. We are simply loving these books.

One of her illustrators Daniel Wiseman is a Knoxville area native who has recently moved back home from St. Louis. We’re so happy to have him back and beyond thrilled to see his adorable drawings.

“Daniel Wiseman likes to draw.” A lot. He likes it so much, he’s made a career out of it. Usually, he draws animals wearing clothes, or kids enjoying a good dance party. However, when prodded, he’s been known to draw pretty much anything else. Daniel lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He is online at www.danieldraws.com.


Illustrator, Daniel Wiseman and family

The Baby Scientist Series

Science Books for Preschoolers

Discovery is synonymous with early childhood. The first step is to explore the outside world; then to learn about relationships; and finally, children are ready to look at themselves in relation to others.

Dr. Laura Gehl highlights each of these experiences with compassion and humor in her new May books. In Baby Scientist: Oceanographer & Baby Scientist: Astronaut (HarperFestival/HarperCollins, Ages: 0-4), Dibs!, (Carolrhoda/Lerner, Ages 4-9), and Except When They Don’t (little bee books, Ages: 4-8); Gehl provides fun reading and great jumping off points for discussion about new experiences and feelings.

Baby Scientist: Oceanographer & Baby Scientist: Astronaut are the first books in a series that makes science jobs fun and accessible for preschoolers – next up are botany and paleontology. In each, a toddler “scientist” names the things he or she observes in the world they explore – in the ocean, dolphins, fish, an octopus, and algae; and in space, the moon, stars, a space station, and planets. Baby Scientist: Astronaut is just in time for this year’s celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the first moon landing, July 20, 2019.

Baby Scientist books – illustrated by Daniel Wiseman

Baby Oceanographer  • Written by  Laura Gehl • Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman • Ages 0-4 • HarperFestival/HarperCollins • ISBN: 978-0062841339 • $8.99 Hardcover.

“A cute infant-scientist offering…tuned to its audience.” —Kirkus

Baby Scientist is an adorable board book series that brings fun, accessible science concepts to baby’s world using simple language, recognizable settings, and vibrant art. Read them all with your baby scientist!

Baby Oceanographer explores the oceans. With his snorkel and mask, he looks at the animals and plants under the sea.

What creatures are found deep down?

Are waves in the ocean like waves in the bathtub?

Find out with Baby Oceanographer!

Baby Astronaut  • Written by Laura Gehl • Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman • Ages 0-4 • HarperFestival/HarperCollins • ISBN: 978- 0062841346 • $8.99 Hardcover

Baby Astronaut explores the stars and planets in space. She wears her space suit and helmet and rides in a space craft.

Can ants live in space?

Can plants grow in space?

Find out with Baby Astronaut!

Don’t miss the other books in this series, including Baby Oceanographer!

More About the Books from Dr. Laura:
Dibs! – illustrated by Marcin Piwowarski

The siblings in Dibs! can get in on that anniversary too. In this book, with a rivalry that will be familiar to many families, Julian claims territory by declaring “dibs” on everything he wants – which works fine until his baby brother, Clancy, catches on and makes “dibs” his first (and, it seems, only) word. This escalates until Clancy calls dibs on NASA and blasts off into space. When Julian realizes the value of having a baby brother, he needs to harness the power of dibs himself in order to rescue Clancy.

Marcin Piwowarski is a self-taught artist in traditional and digital illustration and has created illustrations for hundreds of books. His artwork is inspired by nature, daily life, and music, mixing magical and mysterious ambiance with down-to-earth elements of everyday reality. Marcin lives in Portugal.

Except When They Don’t – illustrated by Joshua Heinsz 

Children are often told by many different people about what toys they’re supposed to play with, what interests they should have, and who they should be simply because of their gender. This stereotype-breaking book invites children to examine what they’re told “boy” and “girl” activities are and encourages them to play with whatever they want to and to be exactly who they are! This book is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.

Exploring different passions and different aspects of one’s identity is what Gehl explores in her fourth book, Except When They Don’t. Here girls and boys are at first shown in gender-stereotypical scenarios. But, the real learning is when Gehl points out, “You might think you need to choose/dolls or robots, pinks or blues…Except that you don’t.” The book concludes, “be exactly who you are!”. Except When They Don’t is published in partnership with GLAAD (formerly the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), and a portion of the sales will go to “accelerate LGBTQ acceptance”. June is Pride Month.

Joshua Heinsz is the illustrator of A Paintbrush for Paco. He has a love for bright and whimsical imagery with a flair for the fantastical and an air of nostalgia. He currently lives in Chicago. See more of his work at www.joshuaheinsz.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Gehl is the author of popular picture books, including One Big Pair of Underwear, I Got a Chicken for My Birthday, and the Peep and Egg series.  She holds a B.A. in psychology from Yale and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Georgetown.  Laura has taught reading to little kids and biology to big kids. Laura has four children. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Visit her online at www.lauragehl.com.

Something To Do

Laura’s books have excellent discussion questions, but since June is Pride Month, we thought we would share some great conversation encouraging Qs for the book Except When They Don’t.

Make a list of “boy” stereotypes and “girl” stereotypes. Then write a story with the main character who does not fit with these gender stereotypes. Maybe you will write a story about a girl who is a football star, or a boy who has the lead role in a ballet. Maybe you will write about a boy who loves wearing necklaces to school, or a girl whose favorite toys are cars. Remember: your character should have lots of sides to his or her personality, just like every real person does! A girl who loves football might also love pink and be great at math and have five pet cats. A boy who loves wearing necklaces might also be the president of the school student government and play soccer at recess and play the drums in the school

 

Can you think of a time in your own life when you felt like you couldn’t do something because of your gender? Maybe you couldn’t get the sparkly red shoes at the shoe store because they were “girl shoes.” Or maybe you couldn’t sign up for wrestling because “that’s for boys.” Or if you can’t think of a memory like that, imagine that you have a friend coming to you with a secret. Your friend wants to paint his nails, but he is embarrassed to ask his mom to borrow her nail polish because nail polish is just for girls. Or maybe your friend wants to cut her hair really short, but she is worried everyone will say she has a “boy” haircut. What advice would you give your friend? How could you help?

Download the rest of the discussion questions here.

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Creating Gender-Neutral Play Spaces, Games, Activities, and Mindsets

Guest post by Author, Afsaneh Moradian

 

When my daughter was born, my husband and I decided not to focus on gender because we wanted her to feel confident to be herself and to play with whatever she liked. Even though we consciously tried to leave gender out of her life, she was still learning from the world around her.

When she was two years old, she announced one night that she wanted to be a boy. When we asked her why she answered because boys solve problems. I was stumped by this. She didn’t see too many two-year-olds solving problems, and in our family, I tend to be the main problem solver.

I started to think about the videos she watched and the books we were reading. While there are many female and diverse characters, many have male characters solving problems or taking the lead. I realized we needed to do something to broaden her view of what girls are capable of doing.

I immediately asked friends and family to send us picture books with strong female characters. While we now have many wonderful books about awesome girls, the girls are wearing skirts or dresses and many are princesses. My daughter just couldn’t see herself in any of these books and continued to identify with strong, male characters like Spiderman and Captain America.

While we supported her love of superheroes, gender stereotypes were influencing her peers and impeding on her social interactions. At school, the boys didn’t want to include her and the girls were mostly playing house or princess. My daughter was getting frustrated and I was getting angry that in 2019, games and toys are still gendered.

I decided to write a story where a child gets to play with everything and everyone without concern for what they are supposed to do according to their gender. By removing gender from the main character, Jamie, the reader is given an example that it’s okay to just have fun, be yourself, and be a good friend.

Free Spirit Publishing decided to publish the book and Jamie is Jamie: A Book About Being Yourself and Playing Your Way became part of their long list of titles that support children’s social and emotional development.   

There are many ways to create gender-neutral play spaces, games, and activities, especially with the materials you already have lying around.

Last year, I created this popular article on my publisher’s site on this very subject and you can view Creating a Gender Neutral Playspace HERE.

Here’s one gender-neutral activity that fosters cooperation and collaboration:

Gender-Neutral Play

Put together a variety of materials such as a paper plate, a spoon, a paper cup, a pair of chopsticks and tape. If you are working with different groups of kids, give each group the same materials to work with and the same number of pieces of tape. Give them 3 minutes to work together to create the tallest structure they can that doesn’t fall over. (Please feel free to adjust the time to the needs and ages of the kids). After the time is over, measure each structure to see which team won.

If you don’t have enough kids for teams, ask the kids to work together to make one very tall structure.

This activity can be modified for younger children by giving groups of children with a variety of materials that don’t require tape such as blocks, books, paper, dolls, Duplos, and other manipulatives.   

I also shared a similar activity on my website that involves making paper monsters. Talk about fun and giggles!

See the full activity here.

About Afsaneh
Author Afsaneh Moradian

Afsaneh Moradian has loved writing stories, poetry, and plays since childhood. After receiving her master’s in education, she took her love of writing into the classroom where she began teaching children how to channel their creativity. Her passion for teaching has lasted for over fifteen years. Afsaneh now guides students and teachers (and her young daughter) in the art of writing.

Connect with Afsaneh via her website or on YouTube and Twitter. Check out the fun Q&A MCBD did with her here.

 

One more thing…

Through color-coding in stores, kids “learn” which toys are “supposed” to be for girls or boy. Pink and yellow toys are considered “girly” and anything blue or dark green is obviously for boys, right? What about the toys themselves? Can boys play with dolls and girls play with trucks?

Of course, they can! And that’s the open-minded thinking that is captured in my children’s picture book, Jamie is Jamie.

I wrote Jamie is Jamie for my daughter who’d been told that only boys can play a superhero. My daughter and every other child deserve a book that gives them permission to be free to play and explore their own way-not the way everyone “thinks they should.”

I created my book to challenge gender stereotypes and encourages children to make play choices based on their interests. And because playing is fundamental to learning, I’ve created a special section in Jamie is Jamie for teachers, parents, and caregivers where they can find tips on how to make kids’ playtime learning time.

Get the scoop on Jamie is Jamie on Amazon or FreeSpiritPress.com

 

The post Creating Gender-Neutral Play Spaces, Games, Activities, and Mindsets appeared first on Jump Into a Book.