Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 28
April 29, 2018
Weekend Links | Gearing up for Screen-Free Week (April 30-May 6)
Screen-Free Week is coming up April 30th – May 6th, 2018 and I’ve discovered a bunch of goodies that will help families discover something fun to do together.
Technology, whether TV, computer, iPad, or cell phone, is a tool and a tool is only as good as the hand that guides it. That hand is only as good as the heart and mind that picks it up as well.
Here are some wonderful articles, blog posts, crafts and links to help your family embrace and enjoy Screen-Free Week
Have the kids do a no-electronic week. (You won’t believe how well they get along by the end of the week!) Read more here.
Try some of these 60 Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids.
If your child is having trouble transitioning from electronic time to family time, try this trick. My friend Samantha told me something years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since. I now tell parents this tip to help them have their kids turn off electronics without an argument. It works in so many other areas, too. Here’s How to turn off their electronics without an argument.
Educators Spin has some great info and ideas for Screen-Free Week here.
Parenting is tough in this technology world. Here are some Screen Free Time Ideas from Heartbeats and Soul Stains and how you can benefit by giving your Family A Technology-Free Week.
Go on a field trip! 25 Mini Adventures in the Library from Mama Scout is really fun and your kids will learn a lot about where things are in your local library.
Are your kids not a big fan of reading? You are not alone. Reluctant Readers may take a little extra finessing, but it is possible to get them to embrace books! The best way to motivate your reader is to know what inspires them! Making reading an adventure and not a “task, chore, requirement” during the summer months is a great way to help the desire to read and getting them loving the written word.
Think Outside the Box!
This delightful book offers over 400 ideas to help parent encourage a “disconnect” from tech devices and a “reconnect” with their families in a healthier way. Parents and kids can pick from DIY activities to games to weekend outings. Since many of the activities work well for kids at various ages, families will be able to grow along with the different projects and make plans for both younger and older siblings alike.
Screen-Free Fun is well-organized into 4 sections: Embrace Your Creativity, Enjoy The Great Outdoors, Support Your Community, and Put A Fun Twist On Local Travel. The last section is filled with fun activities to do while out and about. Oh how I remember some of these like: Don’t step on the Crack, Road Trip ABC Game, Road Trip Bingo was a family favorite.
Other fun things to do are crafting veggie dolls, having a water balloon toss, Race paper airplanes, Go on a sound walk, craft soap sculptures, Have dessert in the bathtub, and so many more.
Read the full review of this book HERE .
Reluctant Reader Tips
Early and emerging readers are discovering their world in a whole new way. They are learning how to communicate and absorb information via their language skills. By the time a child is 8 years old, they have evolved for the most part into independent learners. Each one of my children went through phases of passion between the ages of 5 and 8. Bringing them books about their interests sparked long moments of delving into books to capture the desired information they were looking for.
Books About: Dinosaurs, horses, American Girl books, memoirs such as the Little House on the Praire series, magic, nature, gardening, space, how things work etc. ranked high on their “discovery lists”.
By bringing books about topics they love shifted the focus from “you have to read” to “let’s discover”.
Planned Activity: Sit down with your children, both readers and non-readers, and ask them what their favorite topics are. Things they would like to really know about. Have them make a well-decorated list with all of their favorites on it and then head to the library. My children always displayed their topic lists on the fridge, that’s why they made them beautiful in the first place.
One series I’m very fond of is the Treehouse Club by Mary Osborne. Inside the pages of these books lie incredible adventures for both boys and girls. They are designed in such a way that it tells a story while including the reader inside the process of discovering facts. Ranging in a vast variety of topics lends itself well to emerging readers.
What are your children passionate about? What types of books are they reading to squench the their curiosity thirst?
The post Weekend Links | Gearing up for Screen-Free Week (April 30-May 6) appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
April 26, 2018
Every Child a Reader | Children’s Book Week 2018 #CBW18
I’ve always felt that this site and Children’s Book Week (#CBW18) go hand-in-hand. Jump into a Book has great activities for hundreds of books and I’ve hand-crafted each book adventure to instill a love of reading, adventure, and play.
Children’s Book Week, created by the non-profit, Every Child a Reader, understands that it is not enough for children to learn to read — it is essential that they enjoy their personal and shared reading experiences so that they will nurture those skills for the rest of their lives. Every Child a Reader’s vibrant national programs connect kids with their favorite books and authors to create meaningful experiences that will instill a lifelong love of reading at zero cost to kids and caregivers.
Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading.
Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes — wherever young readers and books connect!
Children’s Book Week originated in the belief that children’s books and literacy are life-changers. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children’s books. He proposed creating a Children’s Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.
Here are some fun and inventive ways your readers can enjoy their own book adventure and instill a love of reading, adventure, and play from April 30th- May 6th and beyond.
Children’s Book Week Resources, Swag, and Links
Bookmark Reveal: With Big Old Names Attached
This year, the CBC was not content to settle on a single artist so they picked five instead to create memorable activities and printable for this wonderful week. Available to print here, and here’s a sample:
Don Tate
Have you seen our Children’s Book Week event map yet? It is a premier resource to check what locations around the nation near YOU are official hosts of Children’s Book Week events April 30th-May 6th! (Link) #CBW18 pic.twitter.com/UpKO4PwREk
— Every Child a Reader (@EveryChildRead) April 23, 2018
This year’s poster is designed by Jillian Tamaki, the co-creator of Caldecott Honor and Printz Award-winning This One Summer. The 2018 poster features this year’s Children’s Book Week slogan, “One World, Many Stories,” highlighting the power of books to unite readers of all backgrounds.
For hi-res images please download them from our Dropbox here.
Read Aloud
Both CBW18 and JIAB also know that reading out loud to our kids and having them read out loud to us is also very beneficial.
But how about the activities that are inspired by the books we and our children read? The activities we engage in called “companion activities” or “book extensions” that bring the story to life and help kids become more involved in the stories that they read. Are these important?
YES. Activity around learning is nothing new-classrooms implement this practice daily. But the act of pulling activities from the pages of a favorite to deepen learning is a little less common. Yet something I have always believed in strongly.
That belief can be seen everywhere in the content of Jump Into a Book. Here, I write about the importance of collaborative play. When we weave play into the fabric of our everyday life, we open the door to transforming our relationships, our viewpoints and perspectives on creating happiness, and the joy of innovating with our children.
I write about experiencing and journey taken through the pages of our favorite children’s books. Through the process of experiencing and sharing our stories, our books and shared moments become a part of us, leading to creativity and collaborative problem-solving.
I write about taking books off the shelf, and stories off the pages.
I write about giving back whether through giveaways, book donations, Reading Is Fundamental, or through book charities such as Room to Read.
Welcome to the wonderful world of jumping into books.:)
I also love it when I see quality children’s books that take the extra step of including book-related activities and resources either in the back of the book or on the author’s website. Here are some examples:
Reading Rockets has some great thoughts on making books come to life HERE.
Kids Activities Blog has 100 crafts inspired by books…you KNOW there’s going to be some fun stuff there!
My Head Elf, Becky, recently called my attention to a great book called Bat Count- A Citizen Science Story.
Bat Count 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 30-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. Bat Count is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The enhanced e-book reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension.
Author Resources that Bring Books Alive
Here is some amazing children’s book author who also have learning/reading inspired activities on their sites:
Jan Brett’s Activities
Toni Buzzeo’s Curriculum Guides
Dr. Oneeka Williams Dr. DeeDee Dynamo series has fun companion activities as well.
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Katie Davis’ Educator Freebies
Dianne de Las Casas’ Book Activities
Elizabeth Dulemba’s Activities
Dottie Enderle’s Activities
Denise Fleming’s Activities
Bruce Hale’s Fun Stuff
Jennifer F and Jennifer J’s It’s A Jungle Out There (for Father Goose’s Books)
Eric Kimmel’s Hear a Story
Grace Lin’s Activities and Crafts
Wendy Martin’s Coloring Pages
ME! Inspired by my award-winning book, Dragons Area Real, I have a free gift for my fellow Dragon-lovers. Grab my FREE Downloadable Dragons Are Real Activity Guide below:
Happy CBW18!
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April 24, 2018
Something for the Parents just in time for Screen Free Week (4/30-5/6, 2018)
Screen-Free Week is coming up April 30th – May 6th, 2018 and I’ve discovered a book that will help families discover something fun to do together.
But first, let’s discuss the whole idea of “screen free” families. Over the past few years, I’ve watched the screen debate evolve as families choose between having a “screen-free” or a “screen-filled” home. When our three kids were younger and still under our roof, we carefully chose what was watched on TV and what Internet sites could be accessed. Of course, every online safety precaution was taken back then as well.
All of this is fine and good until schools and society started encroaching on my little domestic bubble. Back then (and even now) schools have chosen to embrace technology in a variety of ways from turning in term papers, taking tests, research, and in-school discussions forums. It quickly dawned on me that the conversation that was not being voiced was the one about balance.
That’s why I am always thrilled to review books that embrace going “screen free” for a week to remind us all what is important and help families find that balance. Simon and Schuster kindly sent over a little book of fun to make sure our Screen-Free Week is going to be celebrated in style.
Shannon Philpott-Sanders has created and written a wonderful book called Screen-Free FUN that is filled with over 400 activities and this activity guide is a guarantee for a fun-filled week of No Screens.
About Screen-Free FUN
Written from her own childhood memories of screen-free days, Shannon Philpott-Sanders believes that the benefit of expressing your creativity, staying active outdoors, and giving back to your community are important values to impart to today’s children. Shannon and I are kindred spirits in one regard and that’s about doing activities with our families and friends which create lasting childhood memories.
Screen-Free Fun is well-organized into 4 sections: Embrace Your Creativity, Enjoy The Great Outdoors, Support Your Community, and Put A Fun Twist On Local Travel. The last section is filled with fun activities to do while out and about. Oh how I remember some of these like: Don’t step on the Crack, Road Trip ABC Game, Road Trip Bingo was a family favorite.
Other fun things to do are crafting veggie dolls, having a water balloon toss, Race paper airplanes, Go on a sound walk, craft soap sculptures, Have dessert in the bathtub, and so many more.
It doesn’t have to be Screen-Free Week to use this incredible activity guide. It’s small and easy to carry along all year round.
This delightful book offers over 400 ideas to help parent encourage a “disconnect” from tech devices and a “reconnect” with their families in a healthier way. Parents and kids can pick from DIY activities to games to weekend outings. Since many of the activities work well for kids at various ages, families will be able to grow along with the different projects and make plans for both younger and older siblings alike.
Outdoor-sy folks; you can try indoor projects like homemade slime, outdoor activities like building a fort, or learn more about your favorite destinations with activities like a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood or an i-spy game at the zoo. There is also space for your family to add your own favorite activities so you never forget a great idea or memory! From summer vacation to holiday breaks and every rainy day in between, with this book you and your family will always have something fun to do together—without ever having to resort to a tablet, phone, or computer.
Shannon Philpott-Sanders (Collinsville, IL) has written extensively about the joys of parenting for local and national newspapers and magazines throughout her fifteen-year career as a freelance journalist. A mother of two, she has dedicated herself to becoming a lifelong learner when it comes to parenting her son and daughter who are now in their late teens.
A graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Philpott-Sanders holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in English. When she is not writing and offering tips for fun-filled experiences with children, she serves as an associate professor of English at St. Louis Community College – Meramec and advises the student-run newspaper.
More Screen-Free FUN Ideas
Go on a field trip! 25 Mini Adventures in the Library from Mama Scout is really fun and your kids will learn a lot about where things are in your local library.
Are your kids not a big fan of reading? You are not alone. Reluctant Readers may take a little extra finessing, but it is possible to get them to embrace books! The best way to motivate your reader is to know what inspires them! Making reading an adventure and not a “task, chore, requirement” during the summer months is a great way to help the desire to read and getting them loving the written word.
Reluctant Reader Tips
Early and emerging readers are discovering their world in a whole new way. They are learning how to communicate and absorb information via their language skills. By the time a child is 8 years old, they have evolved for the most part into independent learners. Each one of my children went through phases of passion between the ages of 5 and 8. Bringing them books about their interests sparked long moments of delving into books to capture the desired information they were looking for.
Books About: Dinosaurs, horses, American Girl books, memoirs such as the Little House on the Prairie series, magic, nature, gardening, space, how things work etc. ranked high on their “discovery lists”.
By bringing books about topics they love shifted the focus from “you have to read” to “let’s discover”.
Planned Activity: Sit down with your children, both readers and non-readers, and ask them what their favorite topics are. Things they would like to really know about. Have them make a well-decorated list with all of their favorites on it and then head to the library. My children always displayed their topic lists on the fridge, that’s why they made them beautiful in the first place.
Not only that but this year Children’s Book Week and Screen-Free Week are at the same time. Oh, my glorious goodness that means you can read, play, and jump into your favorite books to celebrate both occasions! I don’t know if I can handle all of this greatness. Here’s a party guide to host both events together:
The post Something for the Parents just in time for Screen Free Week (4/30-5/6, 2018) appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
April 22, 2018
Weekend Links: Re-visiting Miss Rumphius with new activities!
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney is a classic. I’ve read it to a variety of nieces and nephews throughout the years, and my own children grab it often. Miss Rumphius is an old friend that we go back to again and again.
Lately, I’ve noticed some wonder new activities inspired by this wonderful classic so I thought it was time to pay dear Miss Rumphius a new visit! But first, let’s recap the book.
Re-visiting Miss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius is the life story of Miss Alice Rumphius (otherwise known as the Lupine Lady) as told by her young niece, Alice. When she was a young child, Miss Rumphius set two goals for herself; she would follow in her grandfather’s footsteps by traveling to faraway places and then settle down in a home by the sea. Alice’s grandfather tells her there is one more thing she must do.
She must do something to make the world more beautiful.
Alice agrees to honor her grandfather’s request but does not yet know how she will do it. Alice grows up and accomplishes her goals of traveling the world and finding a home by the sea.
Still, Miss Rumphius wonders how she will make the world more beautiful.
Then one spring day, after having spent many months in bed with a bad back, Miss Rumphius discovers that the lupines she had planted in her garden had spread to a nearby hill. Miss Rumphius orders five bushels of lupine seed and begins to sow them wherever she goes that summer. By the next spring lupines are growing all over her seaside town and Miss Rumphius, now known as the Lupine Lady, has accomplished her grandfather’s request.
Now a very old woman, Miss Rumphius graciously entertains the neighborhood children with stories of faraway places. Her niece Alice says that she will follow in her aunt’s footsteps by traveling to faraway places and then settle down in a home by the sea. Aunt Alice tells her that there is one more thing she must do.
She must do something to make the world more beautiful. Young Alice agrees to honor her aunt’s request, but she does not know yet how she will do it.
Grab your copy of this beautiful book on Amazon
Something To Do
Here are a few ways you can make the world a more beautiful place and also enjoy the magic of Miss Rumphius herself.
Miss Rumphius Write and Color Pages Freebie at the Wise Owl Factory
First Year Teaching Tales has a whole handful of wonderful activities and organizer inspired by Miss Rumphius!
I simply adore this Pipe Cleaner Lupines flower craft inspired by Miss Rumphius from Sunny Day Family!!
Here’s a free How I Would Make the World More Beautiful download with a space to make a list and a couple of pages on which to write an essay about the list from Lit Mama Homeschool.
The post Weekend Links: Re-visiting Miss Rumphius with new activities! appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
April 19, 2018
Shelly Bean: The Sports Queen and the Brave Swim by Shelly Boyum-Breen
Shelly Bean the Sports Queen and the Brave Swim , is a read which pushes us to our limits and bravery of trying new things. with the support of her mom and friends, Shelly Bean learns that she can swim across the pool. It might take several tries but with kind encouragement, determination, and bravery, anything is possible. Rarely are we good at something the first time we try. We have to come back to it again and again. Motivation works wonders.
(For ages 4-9)
Shelly Bean is a sporty, dirty kneed 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 to play new sports!
After watching an event on TV or seeing other kids in the neighborhood play, 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. Shelly Bean the Sports Queen is a role model for all children who demonstrate hard work and perseverance.
This is the 5th book in the Shelly Bean series. I love the whole concept of the series which is encouraging and supporting female athletes by finding themselves in the pages of the books they read. Shelly Bean is an inspiration.
A couple of things I really like about this book is that it uses bold colors and handwritten text. It gives it a very personal feel and approachability that I really like. The best thing about this book, along with a girl sports heroine, is that it is a book swathed in multiculturalism. Shelly Beans support group is a blend of multi-cultures and religions. All of these fine kids are learning to swim and increase their skills. It makes for a fun day at the pool.
In the back, author Shelly Boyum-Breen gives us some excellent swimming tips to practice when we’re swimming. Such as safe entry and exit of the pool, breath control, how to float on your front and back, as well as the importance of why it’s important to learn how to swim.
Something To Do
To find a swimming lesson provider near you have a look here .
It’s nearly pool weather here in the US and Northern Hemisphere. Here are 17 Great Pool Games.
17 Swimming Pool Games for Kids This Summer | Babble
Make your own Shelly Bean Crown! Click here to get the template with a bonus coloring page!
Teaching Empathy: All of the Shelly Bean series touches on a very important subject; empathy and understanding for others. If you’d like to explore more books on this topic or even discover some great activities for classroom or home, grab the free Classroom Empathy Kit from Multicultural Children’s Book Day!
MCBD2018’s FREE Classroom Empathy Kit is Here!
An Educator’s Classroom Empathy Kit
Sign up
HERE
to get your FREE Downloadable
Empathy Classroom Kit containing:
~ Book List – 18 books on Understanding Immigration and Refugees
~ Classroom Empathy Activities
~ Empathy Poster – printable
~ Multicultural Children’s Book Day Poster
~ Multicultural Children’s Book Day eBook
Read Your World: A Guide to Multicultural Children’s Books for Parents and Educators is a “Best Of” list of diversity books lists for children.
The post Shelly Bean: The Sports Queen and the Brave Swim by Shelly Boyum-Breen appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
April 17, 2018
April Picture Book #Kidlit Book Bundle #Giveaway!
Books! Books! I have so many books!
I am truly blessed to be able to receive and review children’s books from amazing authors and publishers…but I am running out of room on my bookshelf! So what do you do when you have too many books?
You give them away
April 12, 2018
Celebrate Diversity Month with Books that Encourage Conversations
April is Celebrate Diversity Month and also an excellent time to discover new reads that foster empathy, increases awareness and encourages authentic conversations.
Celebrate Diversity Month, started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will get a deeper understanding of each other. Two of the best ways to cultivate understanding and introduce new ideas and cultures is with books. This week I’d like to focus on some of the new picture, middle reader and YA books that do a great job of raising awareness and making those critical conversations happen. Enjoy!
Picture Books
Before She was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome:
We know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. As General Tubman she was a Union spy. As Moses, she led hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad. As Minty she was a slave whose spirit could not be broken. An evocative poem and opulent watercolors come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her larger than life.
Where Will I Live? by Rosemary McCarney
This year Multicultural Children’s Book Day has focused our classroom kit is focused on Empathy pertaining to refugees and immigrants. What does it mean to be a refugee, where do you live, eat, sleep? Do you go to school or have friends? Is your family all together? Or have you been separated? The book, Where Will I Live?, perfectly captures what life is like for many child refugees.
Many of the questions above are answered in this powerful diverse picture book for kids that is written by UN Ambassador, Rosemary McCarney. McCarney offers a glimpse into what life is like for child refugees. This timely book tells the story of the hundreds of thousands of refugees around the world who are on the move.
Every child needs a home. They need somewhere safe where they can be happy, eat their meals with their family, play with their toys, and go to sleep at night feeling unafraid.
But many children all over the world have had to leave their homes because they are no longer safe. Because of war and conflict, they and their families have become refugees. For them, life is hard and full of questions. In spite of everything, they find time to laugh, play, and make friends. And most importantly, they have hope that somewhere, someone will welcome them to a new home. Read my full review of this book here.
Momma, Did You Hear the News? by Sanya Whittaker Gragg MSW
This debut book, “Momma, Did You Hear the News?”, is centered around ten-year-old old Avery who is in a panic over the shooting of another unarmed black man. His parents decide it is time to have “The Talk”. They teach him and his brother a catchy and easy way to remember what to do if approached by an officer, while also emphasizing that all policemen are not bad.
A to the L to the I-V-E… come home ALIVE…that is the KEY! Momma, Did You Hear the News? is the first of the Memorizethe5 series, with Book#2 on Bullying coming in March2018!
Middle Reader Books
The Ostrich and Other Lost Things by Beth Hautala
Eleven-year-old Olivia Grant has a knack for finding lost things. But there’s one thing she can’t seem to find: her brother Jacob’s toy ostrich. And this isn’t just any toy; Jacob is autistic, and Olivia is certain that when he lost his ostrich, his autism got significantly worse. With Their parents focused on helping Jacob, Olivia has had to give up a lot. So, when a local community theater announces auditions for a children’s production of her favorite show, Peter Pan, Olivia jumps at the chance to claim something for herself. But nothing goes as planned, on stage or off, and when a real, live, ostrich escapes from the nearby zoo and causes even more trouble than Jacob’s missing toy, things turn to chaos.
Olivia knows that if she can just find Jacob’s ostrich, everything will return to normal. But what does normal really mean? And is everything lost meant to be found? A poignant and heartwarming story about the complexities and nuances of siblinghood, and the power—and struggles—of unconditional love.
This wonderful book from Capstone Publishing (for ages 9-12) tells the gripping story of four female African-American mathematicians who literally made it possible to launch US rockets–and astronauts–into space. Tells the thrilling tale of how each woman contributed, the struggles and resistance each experienced, and the amazing results.
Piecing Me Together: A timely and powerful story about a teen girl from a poor neighborhood striving for success, from acclaimed author Renée Watson.
Jade believes she must get out of her neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother says she has to take every opportunity. She has. She accepted a scholarship to a mostly-white private school and even Saturday morning test prep opportunities. But some opportunities feel more demeaning than helpful. Like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Except really, it’s for black girls. From “bad” neighborhoods.But Jade doesn’t need support. And just because her mentor is black doesn’t mean she understands Jade. And maybe there are some things Jade could show these successful women about the real world and finding ways to make a real difference. Friendships, race, privilege, identity—this compelling and thoughtful story explores the issues young women face.
It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas
Another fantastic brand new release! Fitting in has become even more difficult for brainy loner Zomorod Yousefzadeh. Her family has just moved again, this time to Newport Beach, California, and she is determined to fit in, even changing her name to all-American Cindy.It’s the late 1970s, and fitting in becomes more difficult as Iran makes U.S. headlines with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages. Even puka shell necklaces, pool parties, and flying fish can’t distract Cindy from the anti-Iran sentiments that creep way too close to home. It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel is a moving yet lighthearted middle-grade novel from the author of best-selling Funny in Farsi.
YA Books
Like Vanessa by Tami Charles (Charlesbridge Publishing)
In this semi-autobiographical debut novel set in 1983, Vanessa Martin’s real-life reality of living with family in public housing in Newark, New Jersey is a far cry from the glamorous Miss America stage. She struggles with a mother she barely remembers, a grandfather dealing with addiction and her own battle with self-confidence. But when a new teacher at school coordinates a beauty pageant and convinces Vanessa to enter, Vanessa’s view of her own world begins to change. Vanessa discovers that her own self-worth is more than the scores of her talent performance and her interview answers and that she doesn’t need a crown to be comfortable in her own skin and see her own true beauty.
Love, Hate, and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
American-born seventeen-year-old Maya Aziz is torn between worlds. There’s the proper one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter: attending a college close to their suburban Chicago home, and being paired off with an older Muslim boy her mom deems “suitable.” And then there is the world of her dreams: going to film school and living in New York City—and maybe (just maybe) pursuing a boy she’s known from afar since grade school, a boy who’s finally falling into her orbit at school.
VOCES SIN FRONTERAS: OUR STORIES, OUR TRUTH by ShoutMousePress
During the summer of 2017, Shout Mouse Press held a month-long workshop with LAYC’s Latino Youth Leadership Council (LYLC), a passionate group of young people dedicated to social justice in their community. The workshop, led by a team of teaching artists with experience devising and illustrating comic books, will result in a graphic memoir collection by Latinx youth that inspires, motivates, and educates its readers, and that changes the narrative about America’s immigrants. Pre-order your copy from this non-profit organization here.
This project is timely, ambitious, and a much-needed addition to current national discussions about who we are as a country.
Something To Do
Teaching Special Thinkers has a beautiful craft that most any age group can do and all you really need is a pack of a bunch of little hands to trace and some multicultural construction paper.
The Respect & Dignity Campaign has some wonderful ideas on everyone can facilitate your own Celebrate Diversity Day.
As we enter April, I’d like everyone to take some time to Celebrate Diversity Month. Take the time to INVOLVE yourself and others in learning about cultures and religions that are not part of your daily life. Involve your children, family, friends and neighbors; so that we may all gain a better understanding of our global family. Talk about, show examples of and become involved in celebrating diversity today and every day. There are endless possibilities of how you can do this, but here are a few examples if you need a bit of inspiration:
1. Invite friends and family over for a pot luck meal where participants bring in dishes that represent their ethnicity or their favorite ethnic foods.
2. Create a craft with your children that represents different cultures.
3. Plan an event that brings together different ethnic groups to celebrate.
4. Bring together different religious groups to learn about each other or pray for world peace together.
5. Explore different cultures through art forms, poetry, music, crafts, traditional costumes, language, etc. Have an art show featuring local, diverse artists, or a poetry reading, or a concert.
6. Rent movies that deal with diverse topics.
7. Have a display or flag ceremony of different nations’ flags.
8. Read about a religion you have heard of but don’t know much, if anything, about.
The post Celebrate Diversity Month with Books that Encourage Conversations appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
April 8, 2018
Weekend Links: Links that help us give Mother Earth break
Welcome to Weekend Links! This is my chance to share the best-of-the-best thanks to my online travels of the course of the week. This week has been filled with wonderful booklists and activities surrounding loving and celebrating our Earth and all that inhabit it. Here are some of my top picks this week.
Earth Day is not far off and during my online travels this last week I discovered a plethora of amazing love-the-earth/nature-related activities that could be utilized and enjoyed all year-round. Some are resources, some are suggested booklists and some are earth-friendly fun for families. But they are all important tools and ideas that will help your family love and honor our Earth 365 days a year. Enjoy!
The Great Redwood Forest of Northern California is the oldest, tallest gathering of trees on the planet. Check out this #booklist of Great Redwood Tree Picture Books will inspire future generations. https://www.jumpintoabook.com/2015/07...
Love this graphic from Whole Foods!
I created a booklist in honor of Earth Day and…well…I went a little crazy! I found so many amazing and unique books in our own personal library, I just had to share:
An Earth Day BookList: Great Reads for High Schoolers
An Earth Day Booklist- Great Chapter & Non-Fiction Books for Kids
An Earth Day Booklist for the Whole Family
Does recycling, “upcycling,” and reusing items fascinate you as much as us? If so, you’ll love these 50 Cool Recycled Crafts for Earth Day from Makes and Takes!
Looking for some fun ideas to celebrate Earth Day? Check out these 22 awesome Earth Day Games for kids. #10 will get your kids moving!
How will your family honor the earth this year?
**Some of these links are affiliate links
SPRING MEANS FOXES! The Fox Diaries: The Year The Foxes Came to Our Garden
From the forest to the front yard, experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher (that’s me!).
Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning both individually and as a family unit. It is a perfect book for story-time or family sharing. Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book which includes lots of facts and even a few “fox movies” that you can enjoy with your family.
Purchase your copy of The Fox Diaries Today!!
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April 5, 2018
Wally the Wayward Sea Turtle: A #PictureBook About Choices, Mistakes, and Saving Grace
When it comes to reviewing quality picture books here at Jump Into a Book, nothing makes me happier than to find a beautiful one with an equally beautiful and relevant message.
This is the case with Wally the Wayward Sea Turtle: A Story About Choices, Mistakes, and Saving Grace by Laura Joy Pewitt.
The story is about a newly-hatched sea turtle who instinctively begins his journey from sand to water by following the light of the moon.
Somewhere along the way, Wally finds himself off course and mistakenly sets path towards the glow of a streetlamp. Wally follows the glow of a streetlight and mistakenly heads off in the wrong direction, where trouble awaits.
Eventually and with help from a kind Savior, Wally gets back on track and makes it home to the ocean.
Author, Laura Joy Pewitt, thought this was an appropriate metaphor for life. “Who among us has never made a bad choice, a mistake that takes us down the wrong path?” she noted. “Who couldn’t use a saving grace when we’ve gone astray?” She now shares this insightful lesson in the thoughtful and engaging children’s story, “Wally, the Wayward Sea Turtle: A Story About Choices, Mistakes and Saving Grace.”
With adorable illustrations and an easy-to-follow storyline, Wally the Wayward Sea Turtle will delight children, sparking an interest in animals and assuring them that needing a helping hand or guiding light from time to time is normal.
“Children and adults alike can be led astray by the things of this world. We are all vulnerable to it, as vulnerable as a baby sea turtle hatchling.” Pewitt said. “The story of, “Wally, the Wayward Sea Turtle” speaks to all ages and its spiritual message is gently weaved throughout the tale. Children will find comfort in the rescue and grace offered to Wally by a kind Savior.”
I couldn’t agree more! Teachers and parents will love sharing this book with their children. Not just because of the science, but the deeper message about following your goals and helping others. Learn more about sweet Wall by visiting www.wallythewaywardseaturtle.com
Something To Do
MoonBlushBaker.com has a simply adorable recipe and tutorial on making Turtle Bread! Have fun making “mini-Wallys” along with his brothers and sisters.
Carolyn at the Wise Owl Factory has free sea turtle 3-part Montessori cards which can be found on her Montessori password protected page. The first newsletter of the month has the password of the month for the protected pages on Wise Owl Factory. Sea turtles are so popular now with the summer movie, as are ocean creatures.
Conservation of our ocean species is such an important topic for kids to know. Here are a few more books picks that can help reinforce the message of respecting our great oceans and other bodies of water.
The post Wally the Wayward Sea Turtle: A #PictureBook About Choices, Mistakes, and Saving Grace appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
April 3, 2018
D.E.A.R. Day #ReadingIdeas | Drop Everything and Read is April 12
It doesn’t take much encouragement for any member of our family to “drop everything and read” and now that all my chicks have grown and “flown the coop,” I have even more time to read!
There are many amazing book-related holidays out there and one of my favorite ones is D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything and Read) on April 12.
D.E.A.R. stands for “Drop Everything and Read,” a national month-long celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. Because, what’s more fun(damental) than reading, really?
Different than family story-time, D.E.A.R. accomplishes a couple of things. First, it sets an example of the importance of reading in a family setting. When your children see that reading is important to you, it will also become important to them. As they see you read a variety of material from newspapers, magazines, and books, they will also want to model that behavior of having an eclectic mix of reading material.
Secondly, D.E.A.R. time is a great way to transition kids from the hecticness of their day into a “quiet time” that begins with the preparation dinner together at 6:30 and then shifts gears into reading time. Lastly, as your children learn to read more and more on their own, D.E.A.R. Time gives them independent reading time with a book or magazine that they think they will enjoy.
The one question I am asked over, and over again in a variety of ways, is how do I get my child to love reading? The answer is simple ……just read. If you spend 30 minutes each day reading, you can read on average 40 books a year. Maybe you’ve heard of the adage, “Practice makes perfect.” The truth of the matter is, that practice makes permanent. So the more you read, the more you will want to read and then reading becomes a part of your daily rhythm.
D.E.A.R. Time is a continuous commitment, not just an “April 12th thing.”
I suggest doing it the same time every day. A time that works best for your family. If 30 minutes to start with is difficult, be kind to yourself. Start with 10 minutes and work your way up to a half hour a day. The more everyone reads, the more and longer periods of time they will want to read.
Need some book and reading suggestions? Many people don’t realize that reading material can take the shape of many things. Just because it’s not a book doesn’t mean your youngsters aren’t “reading.” If your kids are reluctant readers, keep their D.E.A.R time simplified. Simplify as in; offering them easier Bite-Sized Reading Tricks to keep them reading and inspired.
Reading isn’t just for books only. On the breakfast table, family room and screen porch coffee tables, and in certain bathrooms, I leave bite-size reading materials like trivia, jokes, riddles, and quizzes which keep readers engaged. Reluctant readers do especially well with “snippets” of information.
D.E.A.R Reading Ideas | Magazines
Magazines are a great “portable” reading options for kids and again, is “bite-sized” information to keep them interested and learning. There are so many wonderful and educational kids magazine available these days too. Some of our favorites include:
Highlights,
Cricket
Muse
Ask
BabyBug
Dig
Click
Faces
Ladybug
Chop Chop
Time for Kids
Kids and Code
Owl Magazine
Brainspace
Military Kid’s life
National Geographic kids
Ranger Rick
Stone Soup for young writers and artists
Amy at Teach Mama has a wonderful Brain Teaser Activity for Kids!
Inspiration Laboratories has some excellent number cypher/secret code game ideas as well. “Creating secret messages is always tons of fun. Check out these secret codes for kids that involve number cyphers!”
Another “mom trick” I used when my kids were small was what I call “Cereal Box Trivia.” Next time your brood gathers around the kitchen table, notice how each kid grabs a cereal box to read the back as they’re eating their breakfast. I noticed that habit with my then reluctant reader and thought, “Why should I give this great reading opportunity to a bunch of advertising on the back of a cereal box?”
That was when “Cereal Box Trivia” was born. I began pulling all sorts of resources from my shelves such as Trivia books, jokes, magic tricks, brain teasers, and riddles and photo-copying one page for each cereal box. I then taped one of these trivia pages to the back of each box for early morning dining/reading fun.
One of my favorite books for this purpose is “Every Minute On Earth: Fun facts that happen every 60 seconds” by Steve and Mathew Murrie, illustrated by Mary Anne Lloyd.
D.E.A.R Reading Ideas | Picture Book Booklists
And if you are looking for some ideas on good-old-fashioned BOOKS, here is a whole blog post on books and April holidays that will keep kids reading for hours!
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FREE Gift! Free 180 Multicultural Book Ideas ebook to inspired fun Summer Reading!
School is out and our youngsters are settling into a new summer routine of sleeping in and hopefully doing some exploring and discovering. With the hectic days of summer just beginning, oftentimes one of the first habit to go by the wayside is the habit of daily reading.
Reading is always an important part of our children’s lives no matter what time of year it is so I decided to wrap my knowledge of fun kidlit books and activities up with my experience as one of the co-founders of the very successful Multicultural Children’s Book Day and create a unique resource for parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. Reading is important, but so is helping our young readers learn about other cultures, religions and traditions through the pages of these books. Here are some great booklists and resources that I have created over the years at Jump Into a Book that will not only give parents and readers great ideas on diverse kids’ books, but fun activities related to books that will bring stories to life!
Sign up below for quick and free access to 180 Multicultural Book Ideas: World Travel through Kidlit Summer Reading!
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Enjoy and let us know how it’s going. We would also love to know what you’re reading.
The post D.E.A.R. Day #ReadingIdeas | Drop Everything and Read is April 12 appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
