Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 18
March 7, 2019
A Round-up of Activities and Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month
This particular round-up of book reviews, activities and resources are especially near-and-dear to my heart because I am focusing on the fact that March is Women’s History Month.
The 2019 National Women’s History is Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence.
This year we honor women who have led efforts to end war, violence, and injustice and pioneered the use of nonviolence to change society. These Honorees embraced the fact that the means determine the ends and so developed nonviolent methods to ensure just and peaceful results.
For generations, women have resolved conflicts in their homes, schools, and communities. They have rejected violence as counterproductive and stressed the need to restore respect, establish justice, and reduce the causes of conflict as the surest way to peace. From legal defense and public education to direct action and civil disobedience, women have expanded the American tradition of using inclusive, democratic and active means to reduce violence, achieve peace, and promote the common good.
From women’s rights and racial justice to disarmament and gun control, the drive for nonviolent change has been championed by visionary women. These women consciously built supportive, nonviolent alternatives and loving communities as well as advocating change. They have given voice to the unrepresented and hope to victims of violence and those who dream of a peaceful world. Learn more about this celebration and initiate at NWHP.org
A Round-up of Activities and Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month
March 8th is celebrated as International Women‘s Day and Kitaab World has compiled a list of titles that celebrate stories of girls and women to inspire all of us to reach our highest potential.
Use code GIRLPOWER to get 15% off their entire girl power collection!
Want to celebrate Women’s History Month with the entire family? HuffPOWomen has a great list of children’s books that offer stories about several women who changed the world.
A #Kidlit Book Round up for Women’s History Month (And 15 very Special Honorees)
Looking Back at Women-Led Movements Around the World in 2018
Women Inventors That Changed the World Picture Books & GIVEAWAY!
Help Chronicle Books Keep Women’s History Month going with stories by and about inspiring women—both real and celestial—including the mighty goddesses of Legendary Ladies.
From the beloved author and artist behind Bad Girls Throughout History comes this lushly illustrated book of goddesses from around the world. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess whose love overcame mortality. Mazu, the Chinese deity who safely guides travelers home. Lakshmi, the Hindu provider of fortune and prosperity. These powerful deities and many more are celebrated in gorgeous artwork and enlightening essays that explore the feminine divine and encourage readers to empower themselves. Ann Shen’s signature watercolors make Legendary Ladies a unique, gift-worthy homage to the mighty women within. Grab your copy on the Chronicle Books site or on Amazon.
Something To Do: A Girl Power Coloring Book for all ages: RealGirls Revolution!
Terri Birnbaum’s The RealGirls Revolution was created out of her frustration that modern dolls and princesses didn’t reflect the diversity and uniqueness that makes women beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Cofounded with her tween and teen daughters, Terri enlisted the help of talented artists to create visual alternatives to stereotyped princesses and dolls.
The RealGirls Revolutions was born.
“Our book, RealGirls, is a 50-page illustrated coloring book created by many artists of diverse cultures and ethnicities working to fight stereotypes and generalizations by making visible what isn’t shown in our mainstream popular culture: the unique and beautiful qualities in the myriad girls that exist in reality.”
ForGood is on a mission to provide girls with images they can identify with so that they might feel empowered to remain proud and confident. Terri’s tween-aged daughters, Evelyn and Lydia, felt there needed to be an alternative to representations of princesses and dolls, so they spent six years producing a coloring book that celebrates our differences.
RealGirls is giving $100 each month to an organization that supports girls. Please help Terri and her RealGirls team by sending your suggestions to terri(at) realgirlsrevolution (dot) org. Each month we will list the charity and the person who suggested it on the RG website.
The bottom line is that, though any sort of color makes me giddy, this book is so much more. Embedded in each illustration are real stories, real hopes, and real aspirations, put onto the pages with the hope that girls everywhere might see an image they can identify with.
About Terri
Terri and her daughters are honored to have partnered with Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Helping Hands Foundation, National Down Syndrome Society, Lucky Fin Project, and The Cleft Lip & Palate Foundation of Smiles, to feature girls they recommended.
Connect with Terri and the RealGirls Revolution via their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Did you know that 70% of all kids quit organized sports by the age of 13, with girls quitting at 6x the rate of boys?
Alison Foley, former Boston College’s Women’s Head Soccer Coach and current CEO of Foley Athletic Advising, and Mia Wenjen, a parenting blogger at PragmaticMom.com, help coaches — both parent volunteer and professional — crack the code of how to keep girls in sports. When these two ambitious moms joined forces, the result was an information-packed guidebook on how parents and coaches can work to keep their girls in the game.
HOW TO COACH GIRLS by Mia Wenjen and Alison Foley
As a mother of two daughters who played a lot of sports, Mia provides personal accounts to illustrate issues discussed throughout the book. Alison, also a mother of a young female athlete, has hands-on advice from coaching young women professionally for more than two decades.
Volunteer parents and experienced coaches alike will find invaluable advice on creating a successful team that motivates girls to stay in sports beyond the middle school years. Twenty-two chapters cover major issues, including how to pick captains, the importance of growth mindset, issues around body image and puberty, as well as the challenges of coaching your own daughter.
In addition, fifteen professional coaches from a range of sports, including former Olympian athletes, give their advice on what girls need from a coach to allow them to flourish in sports, and most importantly, have fun. This is a hands-on manual to help coaches keep girls in sports! Grab your copy on the AudreyPress.com website or on Amazon.
The post A Round-up of Activities and Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
March 5, 2019
Celebrating World Water Day with H20 For Life + a Booklist for Kids
Do you realize that the average American uses the
World Water Day, which occurs on 22 March every year, is about taking action to tackle the water crisis. Today, there are over 663 million people living without a safe water supply close to home, spending countless hours queuing or trekking to distant sources, and coping with the health impacts of using contaminated water.
H20 For Life is a Minnesota-based organization that is involved in a program which allows them to partner with small rural schools in Nicaragua to help provide hand washing stations, vented latrines, and hygiene education. It is also a non-profit organization that was formed for the purpose of raising funds for water, sanitation and hygiene education for schools in developing countries.
The average walk for water in these countries is three miles and can take up to six hours daily. Women and girls are responsible for the largest burden of carrying the water. The average water load is 40 – 50 pounds. Girls often drop out of school once they are old enough to begin carrying water. The lack of bathrooms at schools also forces young women to drop out.
So how did H20 For Life begin?
In 2007, Patty Hall received a cry for help from a small village in Kenya that was desperate to build a water project. Could she help? She introduced the idea to her school, Highview Middle School in New Brighton MN, to see if they could help raise funds for the project. Staff and students embraced the challenge with open arms. Students learned about the global water crisis and created action plans. It was an amazing and inspirational school year as students organized walks for water, sold wrist bands, note cards, and t-shirts. They also held piano concerts, pizza parties, babysitting events and asked family and friends for donations.
In the end, Highview Middle school donated $13,000 (twice the amount requested for the project) to Kathungu Village. Today, Kathungu Village has water available year round due to the efforts of Highview Middle School. Highview students and teachers didn’t stop with one project. They wanted to do more. This led Patty and a group of committed parents and teacher volunteers to establish H2O for Life as a non-profit.
H2O for Life educates, engages and inspires youth to learn, take action and become global citizens. We provide students with a unique and valuable learning experience through service-learning opportunities focused on the global water crisis. Learn more about their mission and how you can help here.
6 Books That Help Kids Understand Water
The Water Princess by Georgie Badiel
Based on supermodel Georgie Badiel’s childhood, a young girl dreams of bringing clean drinking water to her African village With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own.Inspired by the childhood of African–born model Georgie Badiel, acclaimed author Susan Verde and award-winning author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds have come together to tell this moving story. As a child in Burkina Faso, Georgie and the other girls in her village had to walk for miles each day to collect water. This vibrant, engaging picture book sheds light on this struggle that continues all over the world today, instilling hope for a future when all children will have access to clean drinking water. For ages 5-8.
A Drop Of Water by Gordon Morrison
A child crouches beside a meadow brook, and a drop of water collects and falls from the child’s fingertip to continue on its journey. Where does that journey begin? High in the sky, rain clouds are parting. Water trickles and flows down the mountain, collecting in an upland bog, seeping through a beaver’s dam, rushing over rocks, passing many plants and animals along its winding way—each dependent on water and the different environments it shapes to live. Author and illustrator Gordon Morrison has captured a single moment in time, revealing the course and influence of water, and inviting readers to pause and consider the world around them in this beautiful and lyrical appreciation of nature and the resource that makes it all possible—a drop of water. Perfect for grades 2-4.
One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss, illustrated by Rosemary Woods
This books is beautifully illustrated and has easy-to-read text. Per the book’s title, it helps young readers understand water conservation via demonstrates that all the water on the earth (in the atmosphere, oceans, rain…) comes from one well–a well we depend on for survival. It covers water usage, pollution, and conservation topics.
This title is clearly written to teach water conservation, not necessarily the water cycle, but it does do a good job of showing water in its many different forms (rivers, atmosphere, etc) and how that relates to human lives. Perfect for grades 4-8.
All The Water in The World by George Ella Lyon
A fun and educational book on the water cycle that helps to make this ‘hard to see’ topic finally click for kids, This ‘ode to water’ is would be a fun read-aloud on Earth Day, on a rainy day, or even a really hot day! And, of course, this is a great book to read when teaching about the water cycle for kids. However, we want to be clear that the treatment is light and poetic, not scientific and descriptive, and only part of the book touches on stages in the water cycle. One spread covers rain and run-off, the next evaporation, and a third condensation and rain. The book then moves on to other water-related topics. Thus, this ‘celebration of water’ could be a nice supplemental text once the water cycle has been introduced. Perfect for k-Gr. 3
A Cool Drink of Water by Barbara Kerley
An Italian boy sips from a fountain in the town square. A hiker takes a refreshing drink from a mountain stream. Black-robed women in India stride gracefully through a field with brass water jugs balanced on their heads. Whether they squeeze it out of a burlap bag, haul it home from a communal tap, or get it out of their kitchen faucet, people all around the world are unified by their common need for water. Barbara Kerley brings home this point simply and eloquently in this beautiful and educational picture book that combines striking National Geographic photographs with a poetic text to show how people in various cultures use and conserve the world’s most vital resource. Perfect for grades K-2nd.
Princess GieGie Water Is Here by Georgie Badiel
Water Is Here! Princess GieGie lives in a small village in Burkina Faso, Africa. Every morning, she has to walk for miles to fetch water for her family. Determined to find a better way, she devises a plan to change her community for the better. The book takes readers on an inspiring journey as this kind-hearted princess works to make her dreams a reality.
Princess GieGie’s story shows readers that young girls in Africa are intelligent, capable, and resilient. Water Is Here gives readers a glimpse into the diverse realities of children in Burkina Faso, Africa. Princess GieGie’s story also helps us realize the importance of staying determined in the face of hardship. Readers can identify with her work ethic and her unshakeable faith in her goals. Additionally, readers learn that failure is inevitable and is the key to cultivating inner strength and resiliency. Using songs, colorful illustrations and native vocabulary, Princess GieGie shows readers the hidden beauty of the people and land in Burkina Faso.
Something To Do: Activities thing bring the message of water importance to Life.
KcEdventures has a great activity for Teaching Kids to Conserve Water .
Becky at Kid World Citizen has great activity ideas and recommended reads to help celebrate the day as well.
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 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.
Meet you “in the garden!”
The post Celebrating World Water Day with H20 For Life + a Booklist for Kids appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
March 2, 2019
The March #DiverseKidlit Linkup is OPEN!
March is an exciting month filled with all sorts of milestones and observations. From Women’s History Month to Read Across American, there are many reasons and opportunities to discover new Diverse Children’s Books.
If you are a parent, grandparent, caregiver, teacher, or librarian looking for amazing diverse kidlit recommends to share with your young readers, you will love this recurring monthly resource of diverse book reviews.
If you are a book reviewer, please join us in sharing your diverse children’s book links and resources, as well as visiting other links to find great suggestions and recommendations.
First, What Is #DiverseKidLit?
Diverse Children’s Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children’s books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds.
We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.
We hope this community serves as a resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors!
#DiverseKidLit is Hosted by:
Katie @ The Logonauts
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest
Becky @JumpIntoaBook
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Bethany @ Biracial Bookworms
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Goodreads
Carolina @ La Clase de Sra. DuFault
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+
Gauri @ Kitaab World
an online bookstore for South Asian children’s books, toys, and games
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Gayle Swift, Author of ABC, Adoption & Me
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+
Marjorie @ Mirrors Windows Doors
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest
Mia @ Pragmatic Mom
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Myra @ Gathering Books
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Goodreads
Shoumi Sen, Author of Toddler Diaries
Blog / Twitter / Facebook
Svenja @ Colours of Us
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Tumblr
Terry @ The Reading Tub
Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
Click here to join the mailing list. Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact Becky@JumpIntoaBook.com.
The post The March #DiverseKidlit Linkup is OPEN! appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
February 28, 2019
5 Picture Books about Astronauts and Space (and a rocket craft!)
The world is a place to be explored. And that include the places way, way, way high in the sky! Here are 5 Out-of-the-World Picture Books about Astronauts for young readers. Let the pretend play begin!
Picture Books about Astronauts and Space Travel
Finn’s Rocket by Serena Schreiber
In Finn’s Rocket, Finn and his little Sister Gabriella go beyond the bounds of earth into the little-explored realm of space. But this was not exactly in the plans for these two siblings.
Both Gabi and Finn are very intelligent, which wins them both spots at a space camp at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Gabi gets to learn all about being an astronaut, while Finn gets to play with rocket fuel and explore the mechanics of space travel. However, neither of them are able to see the evil plot that the camp’s commander, Commander Morton, has been planning.
Finn’s summer vacation plans didn’t include leaving the planet. Whether surfing or snowboarding, Finn’s up for any challenge. He loves racing and engineering for speed. Little sister Gabi dreams of becoming an astronaut and being hard-of-hearing never slows her down. So both kids head to Kennedy Space Camp where Finn can design rockets and Gabi learns to pilot them. But a shocking countdown is ticking behind the scenes, and Gabi goes missing. Finn is determined to find her. As always, friends Axel and Burrito jump in to help him on his mission, out of the country and beyond. Lucky for Gabi, Finn will do anything and go anywhere to get her back–even the International Space Station. Don’t miss the action of another high-velocity Finn adventure!
What keeps objects from floating out of your hand?
What if your feet drifted away from the ground?
What stops everything from floating into space …
Jason Chin has taken a complex subject and made it brilliantly accessible to young readers in this unusual, innovative, and very beautiful book.
Chin’s approach makes this book a must-have common core tool for teachers and librarians introducing scientific principals to young students.
In this classic story, George tries to write a letter—but, when he spills ink everywhere, his cleanup efforts fill the room with soap bubbles.
He also frees a pen full of pigs, rides a cow, hitches a ride on a pickup truck and crashes into a dinosaur! After repeatedly disastrous efforts to get himself out of trouble, George ends up being the first monkey in space which results in the happiest day of his life—he gets a medal, of course!
Graphic Designer and devoted daddy, Roscoe Welply, created a very special DIY Curious George rocket craft for his boys and we know you will love it too! Details below under “Something To Do.”
Mission to Space by John Herrington
A Chickasaw Astronaut Shares Passion for Space in a Diverse Picture Book!
Blast off into space with Chickasaw astronaut Commander John Herrington in his new children’s book Mission to Space.
“My space journey started when I was a boy launching rockets with my dad and older brother. Like lots of children, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut someday. That dream came true for me,” Herrington said. “Flying in space takes a lot of training. It takes a lot of hard work to do something well.”
In the book, Herrington shares his passion for space travel and provides a glimpse into his astronaut training and mission to the International Space Station. The book includes an English to Chickasaw vocabulary list with space-related terms.
Time Magazine for Kids Book of What: Everything Space
TIME For Kids The Book of What: Everything Space presents kids 8-12 years old with answers to the kinds of intriguing questions that appeal to their sense of curiosity. Colorful graphics, spectacular photos, and clear, engaging diagrams will help answer questions such as: What is acid rain? What is the biggest star in the universe? What is the driest place on Earth? What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?
TIME For Kids The Book of What: Everything Space is a must-have book to satisfy the most curious of kids.
Something To Do:
Curious George Gets a Medal DIY Rocket Craft! Bring Curious George Gets a Medal and the other Picture Books about Astronauts and Space Travel to life with this in-depth rocket making tutorial.
Click HERE to get the full instructions for this craft.
Build your own soda rocket (from Lemon Lime Adventures)
Fun Facts about Space Travel:
~It takes 3 to 5 days for a spacecraft to reach the moon.
~A space suit can weigh between 50 and 350 pounds—on Earth, that is.
~There is no sound in space because of the lack of air.
~Recent technology allows the use of phones in space.
~Since 2000, permanent crews have been living and working in space at the International Space Station.
~You become taller in Space.
~In space, the skin on your feet peels off!
~The word astronaut comes from the Greek word “Astron” which means star and “nautes” which means sailor.
The Russian cosmonaut has a similar meaning from ‘kosmos’ meaning universe and again “nautes” sailor.
Blast off!
The post 5 Picture Books about Astronauts and Space (and a rocket craft!) appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
February 26, 2019
Let’s Get Chilly with 6 Cool Antarctica Books for Kids!
Antarctica is a continent that has intrigued us for as long as we can remember. The mysteries are endless!
What lives there? How does one survive there? Do they have any seasons? It’s also a land of complex explorations and discoveries. Though few have made it to Antarctica, the ones who have, had to endure much some even losing their lives. Fascinating!
So if your young reader has an interest in all things ice, sled dogs and penguins, they will love our roundup of Antarctica books for Kids and all the mystery and magic they hold.
Antarctica Books for Kids
Here is Antarctica by Madeleine Dunphy:
This book is part of a beautiful series that includes the exceptional Antarctica book that combines beautiful paintings and a lyrical, predictable, verse. This story is great for showing the food web of Antarctica.
A Smart Kids Guide to Abundant Antarctica: A World of Learning at your Fingertips by Liam Saxon
Bestselling children’s author Liam Saxon presents “A Smart Kids Guide To ABUNDANT ANTARCTICA”. This book uses captivating images and expertly written words to teach children about a range of subjects. Perfect reading for any occasion and especially ideal for bedtimes, long journeys or for bonding with your child. Ages 5 and above.
Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure by Samantha Seiple ages 8-12
BYRD & IGLOO is the first narrative nonfiction book to tell the daring adventures of legendary polar explorer and aviator Richard Byrd and his lovable dog explorer, Igloo. Byrd is known for being the first to fly a plane over the North and South Poles, while Igloo is famous for being the only dog to explore both the North and South Poles. The adventures of Byrd and Igloo opened the door for science and research in the Antarctic. Featuring direct quotes from letters, diaries and interviews, newspaper clippings, expedition records, maps, charts, as well as never-before-seen photos, it will give the complete story of the explorers’ journey. Though rooted in history with evidence from many museums and research centers, Byrd & Igloo will be exciting in tone, making it accessible and interesting for young readers.
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong
In August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and 27 men sailed from England in an attempt to become the first team of explorers to cross Antarctica from one side to the other. Five months later and still 100 miles from land, their ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice. The expedition survived another five months camping on ice floes, followed by a perilous journey through stormy seas to remote and unvisited Elephant Island. In a dramatic climax to this amazing survival story, Shackleton and five others navigated 800 miles of treacherous open ocean in a 20-foot boat to fetch a rescue ship.
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World vividly re-creates one of the most extraordinary adventure stories in history. Jennifer Armstrong narrates this unbelievable story with vigor, an eye for detail, and an appreciation of the marvelous leadership of Shackleton, who brought home every one of his men alive. For ages 8-12.
When the Sun Shines on Antarctica by Irene Latham: Imagine our surprise when we discovered a book of poetry written about the icy continent! Each poem was paired with some facts about Antarctica and wonderful illustrations.
Icebergs brighten
as the sky peels
itself of darkness
and stretches awake. . . .
Welcome,
Summer.
We’ve been waiting
for you.
Experience summer like you’ve never experienced it before by traveling to Antarctica with evocative poetry. The sun rises, ice melts, grass grows, seals squabble, whales sing, and young penguins slide, glide, and belly flop. Whimsical illustrations and additional facts accompany each poem to provide further details about the animals and the environment at the bottom of the world.
Ann and Liv Cross Antarctica by Zoe Alderfer Ryan
This non-fiction book is the true story of two women and how they crossed the Antarctic. When Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen crossed Antarctica, more than three million schoolchildren worldwide were inspired by the achievement. For those young fans and for the millions of children yet to be touched by this amazing story, Ann and Liv Cross Antarctica chronicles the historic journey in words and beautiful oil illustrations. The book recounts how Ann and Liv made their dream a reality and shares the fascinating details of the trek: what they packed, what they ate, how they ice-sailed, and what they saw. As inspiring as it is educational, Ann and Liv Cross Antarctica will appeal to schoolchildren everywhere.
Something To Do
Picklebums (best blog name EVER) has a fun and colorful Polar Habitat Imaginative Play – Plus Booklist and Craft ideas on their site.
Love their Painting Ice Activity too!
We love this Penguin Popsicle Craft from 7 on a Shoestring!
The post Let’s Get Chilly with 6 Cool Antarctica Books for Kids! appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
February 24, 2019
Weekend Links. Books for Sporty Girls and Parents
“When I was in elementary school, I vividly remember the Scholastic book order form and the excitement I had to put in an order. As the only girl in my class that played sports, I, like most of the boys, gravitated to books about football, hockey, and basketball. But never in the choices listed was there one about girls playing sports – no one who looked like me. But I did play and continue to throughout my life. “ Shelly Boyum-Breen, author of the Shelly Bean The Sports Queen picture book series.
“Sporty” girls come in all shapes and sizes and most want just one thing; to matter. Kids’ and YA books that showcase our girls and young women are sorely needed but thankfully, they are also becoming more common. Here are some great Books for Sporty Girls and Parents.
Books for Sporty Girls and Parents
Shelly Bean the Sports Queen series:
Shelly Bean is a sporty, dirty knee little girl with a “can-do” spirit. It might take falling down, getting hurt and getting back up but Shelly Bean is determined to learn new sports and be great. After watching an event on TV or seeing other kids in the neighborhood, she gets it in her mind that it is her time to play and to reward herself each time she’s successful, she creates a new sports charm to put on her crown like a jewel of accomplishment.
HOW TO COACH GIRLS by Mia Wenjen and Alison Foley
It was early 2017 when co-author Mia WeNjen, the mother of two girls involved in sports, had a conversation with her daughter’s coach that planted a seed of an idea.
“My oldest daughter had an amazing volleyball coach who was so positive that even when they lost every game in a tournament,” Mia recalled. “He emphasized their improvements so it left feeling like champions. I was walking next to him for a team dinner and he told me that early in his coaching career, he was that coach that yelled more at the most promising player. It took him a long time of trial and error to learn how to effectively coach girls.”
That revelation inspired Mia to then reach out to neighbor and friend, Alison Foley and together the dynamic duo cultivated a plan to create a blueprint for coaches that would help shed light on the intricacies of coaching girls and how they could keep girls active ins sport. Learn more about the HOW TO COACH GIRLS Book HERE.
Booklist on Pragmaticmom
Mia is also a blogger at PragmaticMom.com, a mash-up covering education, parenting, and multicultural children’s books. Her blog receives over one million views a year. We love her #OwnVoices Diverse Track and Field booklist for kids!
Skye at Planet Jixatron has a great Sporty Booklist that has some awesome “sporty girl” titles included!
6 Winning Kids’ Books About Sports
Of course, we can’t talk about sporty girls without mentioning Wilma Rudolph, the three-time Olympic Gold medalist.
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.
“the triumph can’t be had without the struggle”- Wilma Rudolph Quickest Kid in Clarksville
It’s the day before the big parade. Alta can only think about ONE thing: Wilma Rudolph. She’ll be riding on a float tomorrow. You see, Alta is the quickest kid in Clarksville, Tennessee, just like Wilma was.
Alta knows that it doesn’t matter if your shoes have holes, Wilma’s did too. But what happens when a new girl shows up with her shiny new running shoes? Yes, this girl has shoes to strut in and shoes to run in. These shoes are just like “Wilma’s.” But Alta knows that it’s not shoes that make one fast, it’s the feet. So what happens when the said, “new girl” challenges Alta to a race? Will Alta still remain the fastest kid in Clarksville?
“Never Underestimate the Power of Dreams and the Influence of the Human Spirit.”
― Wilma Rudolph
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville has a powerful message and that is to run after your dreams. It is beautifully told and illustrated. I love the layout of the book and the fun fonts that are used. The story, illustrations, and graphic design work in tandem to create one keeper of a book. This book is slated to become a classic! It’s so well done.
Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky
A richly illustrated and inspiring book, Women in Sports highlights the achievements and stories of fifty notable women athletes from the 1800s to today, including trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than forty sports. The athletes featured include well-known figures like tennis player Billie Jean King and gymnast Simone Biles, as well as lesser-known champions like Toni Stone, the first woman to play baseball in a professional men’s league, and skateboarding pioneer Patti McGee. The book also contains infographics on topics that sporty women want to know about such as muscle anatomy, a timeline of women’s participation in sports, pay and media statistics for female athletes, and influential women’s teams. Women in Sports celebrates the success of the tough, bold, and fearless women who paved the way for today’s athletes.
Of course, Mighty Girl always has the motherlode of great book recommends and their list of true stories of female sports pioneers as well as contemporary and fictional stories about girls participating in sports books are sure to please.
Something To Do
Free Award Certificates. for your sporty girls! Wise Owl Factory created free editable award certificates for every member of a sports team. Her award certificates are HERE.
Happy Reading!
The post Weekend Links. Books for Sporty Girls and Parents appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
February 19, 2019
A family constellation unfolding | BabyMoon by Hayley Barrett
The first time I was exposed to the term “babymoon,” it was in the form of an explanation from a friend of mine who had gone MIA for 3 months after the birth of her little boy. “Sorry,” she offered. “I’m in my babymoon phase so time has just slipped away from me.”
Babymoon? I remember thinking. Now, as the parent to two beautiful kids of my own, I understand it is a sacred and special time when the whole household is smitten with the newest arrival and every day spent with this new tiny human is a magical experience.
Though also used to refer to something similar to a honeymoon (a last hurrah to get away as a couple before the baby comes), author Hayley Barrett’s intention in her new book BabyMoon is about sharing sweet and precious moment in time in life after a new Little Person arrives.
About BabyMoon by Hayley Barrett
Inside the cozy house, a baby has arrived! The world is eager to meet the newcomer, but there will be time enough for that later. Right now, the family is on its babymoon: cocooning, connecting, learning, and muddling through each new concern. While the term “babymoon” is often used to refer to a parents’ getaway before the birth of a child, it was originally coined by midwives to describe days like these: at home with a newborn, with the world held at bay and the wonder of a new family constellation unfolding.
Author Hayley Barrett’s lyrical ode to these tender first days will resonate with new families everywhere. But I promise readers will be “smitten” by the gentle, warm and winsome illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal as well.
You can preorder Babymoon at Whitelam Books, on Indiebound.org, Barnes &Noble, or Amazon.com.
HereWeeRead says Babymoon is:
“A definite must-have for newborn parents or parents-to-be. Add this one to your baby shower gift giving list!”
About The Author and Illustrator
Hayley Barrett wrote BABYMOON to encourage growing families to take time together to rest and fall in love. Once an aspiring nurse-midwife, she honors the arrival of any child, whether newborn or older, by birth or by adoption, as a momentous event. “I’m thrilled Juana Martinez-Neal agreed to illustrate BABYMOON. Juana’s characters are luminous, and her ability to portray their tenderness and affection for one another is breathtaking.” Hayley lives in eastern Massachusetts.
Juana Martinez-Neal says, “Babymoon is a book for the parents before and after having their little one. Representing Babymoon’s family as a biracial couple of color, and Babymoon’s newborn as gender neutral, were two purposeful decisions that not only me but the whole team as a group felt were important for the book.”
Juana Martinez-Neal is the author-illustrator of Alma and How She Got Her Name
and the Pura Belpré Award-winning illustrator of La Princesa and the Pea
and of La Madre Goose: Nursery Rhymes for los Niños
, both by Susan Middleton Elya
. Juana Martinez-Neal was born in Lima, Peru, but now lives in Arizona.
I highly recommend this beautiful diverse picture book for kids!
Something To Do
What better way to celebrate a Babymoon than with a brand new, deliciously soft fleece blanket. Better yet, one that doesn’t require sewing! All it takes is a yard or two of quality fleece fabric, a very sharp fabric scissor and the ability to tie knots and a new blanket will be yours in a jiffy. Creating one of these no-sew fleece blankets is something adults and kids can do together as well. A Girl with a Glue Gun has a video tutorial with 4 fun unique no-sew ways to finish off the edges of a fleece blanket…
…and you can even find the whole tutorial with pictures on her website here.
Get ready to snuggle up, read, and enjoy your own Babymoon.
One More Thing
The much-anticipated sequel to JIAB intern, Hannah Rials’ runaway YA hit, Ascension. Book Two in the Ascension series is Clandestine and its already bringing in raves reviews.
“Gripping until the very end.” – Scott Reintgen, author of Nyxia
“Dark, surprising, and full of twists, the Ascension series is a delectable addition to vampire canon. Rials paints a rich and engrossing world of vampires, half-vampires witches– each with their own agenda. Cheyenne’s struggle to be free is one that every girl will recognize, and I rooted for her as she bristled against the roles cast for her by society. It’s the story of a girl yearning to come into her own powers, powers both frightening and beautiful.” ~Maggie Thrash, author of L.A. Times Book Prize nominee Honor Girl
Cheyenne Lane never believed it could come to this—imprisoned by her own family, who are plotting to overthrow the vampire Council. Ripped away from the happiness of her summer romance and friendship in New Orleans, Cheyenne is forced to begin her education at Clandestine, the secret Deuxsang University, one year early.
She is guarded constantly, separated from her best friend Anne, and desperate for any word from Eli and the witches. Meanwhile, her cousin Lilith has discovered that Cheyenne possesses all four vampiric abilities—unheard of for a Deuxsang—and intends to use her in the Ascending’s rebellious scheme.
At 17, Cheyenne finds herself the center of a centuries-old conspiracy involving the vampires, Deuxsang, and witches, and everyone is telling her who she should trust and what she should do. Her head is too full of voices and opinions, and it’s time for Cheyenne to make up her own mind.
Is she ready to step into the role she was made for? Who can she trust? Who is her friend and who is her enemy? Is she really a born leader? All questions that only she can answer. As the information and scenario gets more confusing, she knows she must listen to her intuition if she is going to shift the truth from all the lies.
Grab your copy of the #YAThriller Clandestine HERE and get sucked in…
The post A family constellation unfolding | BabyMoon by Hayley Barrett appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
February 12, 2019
Chickasaw Astronaut Shares Passion for Space in a Diverse Picture Book
Lucky for us, Chickasaw Press landed on our radar thanks to Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019.
The first of Chickasaw’s many wonderful books that we reviewed on JIAB was the advanced diverse chapter book, Chula Fox.
Read the full review of this book here.
NOW, we are setting our sites on another diverse book from Chickasaw Press: Mission to Space.
Chickasaw Astronaut Shares Passion for Space in a Diverse Picture Book
Chickasaw Astronaut Shares Passion for Space
Blast off into space with Chickasaw astronaut Commander John Herrington in his new children’s book Mission to Space.
“My space journey started when I was a boy launching rockets with my dad and older brother. Like lots of children, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut someday. That dream came true for me,” Herrington said. “Flying in space takes a lot of training. It takes a lot of hard work to do something well.”
In the book, Herrington shares his passion for space travel and provides a glimpse into his astronaut training and mission to the International Space Station. The book includes an English to Chickasaw vocabulary list with space-related terms.
About John Herrington
John Herrington holds the distinction of being the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space. An active and dedicated citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, he was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2002. Since his space flight, he has led efforts to broaden public awareness of the importance of space travel and has worked to increase interest and opportunities in math and science education among Native American children and youth. He earned a doctorate in education from the University of Idaho in 2014.
Herrington was born in Wetumka, Oklahoma, and became the first registered member of a Native American tribe in space in 2002 during a mission to the International Space Station. He spent 330 hours in space on STS-113 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, including 19 hours and 55 minutes in spacewalks attaching a strut to the space station.
He has been encouraging Native American youth to pursue higher education for more than a decade and recently earned a doctorate in education from the University of Idaho. In addition to speaking events, he rode a bicycle more than 4,000 miles across the U.S. to bring attention to the need for Native American youth to pursue an education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
In 2015, he joined First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other high-level officials to speak at the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering in Washington, D.C.
Herrington is also a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. He was inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame in 2002. Since his space flight, he has led efforts to broaden public awareness of the importance of space travel and has worked to increase interest and opportunities in math and science education among Native American children and youth.
Grab your copy of Mission to Space. on Chickasaw Press’ website or on Amazon.
Something To Do
Ready for your own space adventure? Moon landings and space travel are simply fascinating! Check out our Moon Landing booklist that we pulled together back in 2013!
Katie @ Gift of Curiosity has 50+ awesome space activities for kids to learn about the planets, the sun, the moon, stars, constellations, astronauts, space travel and more!
Nothing makes youngsters hungrier than experiencing space travel! We love this idea of incorporating sweets with healthy treats to help our little astronauts back in action!
Read on!
The post Chickasaw Astronaut Shares Passion for Space in a Diverse Picture Book appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
February 7, 2019
Fun February Observances that Make for Great Book Recommends
The second month of the New Year may be a short one, but it is chock-full of interesting, important, and thought invoking observances. Some last a week and some are celebrated all month long, but all have some great book-related connections that I’ve love to share with you now. So without further ado, here are some…
Fun February Observances Make for Great Book Recommends
All Month Long
Black History Month: Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in the U.S., is an annual observance in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. Wikipedia
A Black History Booklist from Peachtree Books
A Roundup of Books that Remind us why Black History Matters
Lily Ann Granderson and Her Secret School
Library Lovers Month: The entire month of February is dedicated to the people who love whole buildings devoted to the reading, housing, organizing, categorizing, finding, studying and otherwise loving books. It’s National Library Lover’s Month! Ironically, next to supporting locally-owned independent bookstores, the library is an exceptional place to discover new reading delights!
And let’s not forget the Little Free Libraries Project! Read more about that here.
Second Week of February
February 8 is Kite Flying Day: This time of year tends to be …crisp weather-wise in our area so there are not much kite flying activities to be had. But in prep for the days when the air is warm and the winds are friendly, check out my 9 Kidlit Books About Kites.
February 9 is National Stop Bullying Day: Bullying is a global epidemic that needs as much awareness as possible. In recognition of that important day, we created a blog post filled with Bullying Prevention Booklists and Links for grades 3-5 and 6-8
February 9 Weather Day and Read in the Bathtub Day: What better way to navigate not-so-good weather days than with a little bathtub reading! Here are some books and booklists that are sure to please.
February 11 is Make a Friend Day: Friendship is such an amazing thing. Our friends pick us up when we are down, include us and make us feel special, and cheer us on as we strive to be better. But sometimes friendship is just a quiet knowing that someone else has our back. For kids and adults alike, friends are part of what makes our world sweet. Here is an idea on a simple and fun way to tell our friend how much they mean to us.
Third Week
RAK Day is February 17, 2019! “RAK” stands for Random Acts of Kindness and I am sure we all can agree the world needs more KINDNESS.
Here’s a Kindness Booklist for Kids
Third Monday of February is Presidents Day and we are pretty proud of our Presidents are People too Booklist!
February 18 is Kid Inventors Day: When we think of “Kid inventors, ” William Kamkwamba just about always comes to mind. His story is shared in the book The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind;the inspirational tale about a boy who had hope.A boy who believed that he could bring relief from drought and hunger to his people.
Fourth Week
February 26 is Tell a Fairy Tale Day: Fairy Tales are a long-time favorite here at JIAB so of course, we have a bunch we recommend!
A Modern Way of Retelling Fairy Tales and Classic Children’s Stories: Le Madre Goose by Susan Middleton Elya (Author), Juana Martinez-Neal (Illustrator) and Le Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya (Author), Juana Martinez-Neal (Illustrator).
[image error]
Sherlock Holmes- The Hounds of Baskervilles
In this installment, Sherlock and his assistant, Dr. Watson, are hired to solve the curse of 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.
The Cozy Classics series is the brainchild of two brothers, both dads, who were thinking of ways to teach words to their very young children. They hit upon the idea of “the classics” as the basis for their infant primers, and the rest as they say, is history. Read more about these wonderful books here.
Every book in the series is condensed into twelve child-friendly words accompanied by a beautifully hand-felted illustration, which accurately and humorously summarize each book’s plot.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the book co-penned by JIAB founder and fellow author, Marilyn Scott-Waters. Enjoy 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!” http://amzn.to/1DTVnuX
Enjoy your February! It will be gone before you know it!
The post Fun February Observances that Make for Great Book Recommends appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
February 3, 2019
Diverse Children’s Books | Linkup your #DiverseKidlit Books here!
Now that the 6th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day has come to a close, we need to keep the buzz and excitement surrounding diverse kidlit going!
If you are a parent, grandparent, caregiver, teacher, or librarian looking for amazing diverse kidlit recommends to share with your young readers, you will love this recurring monthly resource of diverse book reviews.
If you are a book reviewer, please join us in sharing your diverse children’s book links and resources, as well as visiting other links to find great suggestions and recommendations.
First, What Is #DiverseKidLit?
Diverse Children’s Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children’s books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of diversity including (and certainly not limited to) diverse, inclusive, multicultural, and global books for children of all backgrounds.
We encourage everyone who shares to support this blogging community by visiting and leaving comments for at least three others. Please also consider following the hosts on at least one of their social media outlets. Spread the word using #diversekidlit and/or adding our button to your site and your diverse posts.
We hope this community serves as a resource for parents, teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors!
#DiverseKidLit is Hosted by:
Katie @ The Logonauts
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest
Becky @JumpIntoaBook
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Bethany @ Biracial Bookworms
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Goodreads
Carolina @ La Clase de Sra. DuFault
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+
Gauri @ Kitaab World
an online bookstore for South Asian children’s books, toys, and games
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Gayle Swift, Author of ABC, Adoption & Me
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Google+
Marjorie @ Mirrors Windows Doors
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest
Mia @ Pragmatic Mom
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Myra @ Gathering Books
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Goodreads
Shoumi Sen, Author of Toddler Diaries
Blog / Twitter / Facebook
Svenja @ Colours of Us
Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Tumblr
Terry @ The Reading Tub
Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
Click here to join the mailing list. Interested in joining as a host or an occasional co-host? Contact Becky@JumpIntoaBook.com.
The post Diverse Children’s Books | Linkup your #DiverseKidlit Books here! appeared first on Jump Into a Book.
