Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 43

Welcoming Spring-Revisiting Secret Garden Wednesday

Spring is in the air! Moreso in TN than other regions….but winter has released it’s frigid grip and I am looking forward to several months of hiking, traveling and gardening.

Speaking of gardening, I want to take a look back to a wildly popular series I did earlier this in the Spring of 2016. Jump Into A Book readers loved it and I had a blast creating it as well. It was fun, fresh, and truly got everyone in the “garden” mood

Pax by Sara Pennypacker (and an update on the Maryville Foxes)

{Guest Post from Hannah Rials}


War is coming. This means that everyone must make sacrifices, including a young boys and his pet fox that he’s raised from a kit. Peter leaves Pax along the side of the road. Well, he’s more forced to do it by his father, who is off to join the war. So now Peter is alone, living with his grandfather who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and doesn’t know how to say a comforting word to his grandson. And everything feels wrong. Peter’s anxiety spikes; he knows he’s done the wrong thing, and now he must correct it.

Peter takes off in the middle of the night with his pack and a map, planning to retrace his steps and find his way back to Pax. Hopefully, the fox hasn’t moved too far away. But a wrench is thrown in his plan, when he falls and snaps a bone in his leg. After trying to make progress on his own with a broken leg, Peter comes across an older woman with a peg leg living alone in the forest. Vola, an ex-soldier and retired medic, takes Peter in, feeds him, sets his bone, and teaches him how to live with one leg, all while learning the truth from this young boy.



Meanwhile, Pax has to learn to live on his own as a wild fox for the first time in his life. Early in his journey, he comes upon a group of foxes that begrudgingly take him in. Bristle, Runt, and Gray become his new family as he waits for his boy to return, if he will ever return.

Both creatures, boy and man, deal with the price of war and the separation it has caused them. They will forever be changed, as will the world around them.Pax by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen is a uniquely original and beautiful tale told from two perspectives–the boy, Peter, and the fox, Pax. I can’t remember reading a book told from the perspective of an animal in which is was not overly personified.

Pax is a fox, a domestic fox, but a fox nonetheless. He has instincts and respects the rules of the forest. It was so interested and heartbreaking to read about the separation. I think many people can relate to a lost pet, but this story takes it in a new direction. Plus, you all know that here, at Jump Into a Book, we love our foxes! Overall this award-winning book touched my heart, and I know it will touch yours too.

When it comes to “fox experience, my good friend and mentor, Valarie Budayr (who also happens to be my publisher!) is the queen! She has a long-time, strong connection with foxes.


It was back in 2009 when the foxes first arrived in her yard.  She has shared with me many times that, after all these years (and many batches of foxes families) she is still enamored with this special connection  she feel with these beautiful animals and the interactions she has had with them. This connection inspired her to write and publish her first children’s book, The Fox Diaries-The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden.

Then came Fox Batch #2. And Fox Batch #3 and then Batch #4!

You can read more about the Spring 2013 Fox kits, Smudge, Styx and Skye HERE. Valarie told me that this year (2017) there are not one, but TWO dens of red foxes living on her vast property. Stay tuned for more amazing pictures and foxy fun!

Something To Do

1. Make a Marionette like Vola:
     Vola loves her marionette puppets, even more so when Peter puts on a performance for her. Here’s a tutorial on how to make your own, non-wooden marionette.

 2. Wood Working!
       This might be your next new favorite hobby! Wood working goes back centuries and is not just something you pick up and do. It’s a real craft. Vola had a knack for it, and so, as it seems, does Peter. What about you? There are tons of books and videos that can get you started on wood working so that you can carve your favorite animal or a beautiful bowl, maybe even a door! Here’s a tutorial “Woodworking for Beginners!”

3. Facts about Foxes
    – A group of foxes is a skulk or a leash
    – Foxes are characteristically known for their high leaps used during hunting. It’s the first thing kits learn in the wild.
    – Foxes can hear up to 40 yards away!
    – A male fox is a “dog fox” whereas a female fox is a “vixen”
    – Foxes hide food to eat later (you see Pax do this a lot).
    – Foxes live in dens underground for protection and to raise their litter.
    – A fox can run up to 30 miles an hour. Wow!

**Some of these links are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may get a very small commission. This money goes towards postage and supplies to keep books and ideas in the hands of young readers!

HANNAH RIALS: A Maryville native and current college student at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Hannah began writing her first novel at age twelve. Eight years later, the result is her new YA novel Ascension; a modern day teenage romance filled with “double-blooded” vampires and revenge-seeking witches. When not spending time with her family and playing with her beloved Corgi, Buddy, Hannah leads a creative group, crafts and cultivates her writing skills. Connect with Hannah on Facebook, Twitter and via her website.

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Experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher, Valarie Budayr. The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden offers an enthusiastically educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together.



From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into the private lives of Momma Rennie and her babies. Come watch as they navigate this wildly dangerous but still wonderful world. Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning both individually and as a family unit. It is a perfect book for story time or family sharing. Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book that includes lots of facts and even a few “fox movies” that you can enjoy with your family. Grab your copy of this beautiful and inspiring book HERE.

The post Pax by Sara Pennypacker (and an update on the Maryville Foxes) appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Weekend Links: April Showers Bring May Flowers

Welcome to Weekend Links! Do you remember hearing the childhood rhyme, “April Showers Bring May Flowers?” The rhyme was originally a short poem. The reality is that April showers DO bring spring May flowers! However, there is meaning behind the words, as well

“April showers bring May flowers” is a reminder that even the most unpleasant of things, in this case the heavy rains of April, can bring about very enjoyable things indeed — even an abundance of flowers in May. “April showers bring May flowers” is also a lesson in patience, and one that remains valid to this day.

So that’s what I’d like to share today-the sweetness/hilights/hints of what is yet to come in April. Enjoy!

April is Poetry Month!

National Kite Month: Here’s a fun Kite-themed booklist that is perfect for building excitement for a kite-flying adventure.

April 2: April International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is a yearly event sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), an international non-profit organization. Founded in 1967, the day is observed on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday. I have a post with some fun facts on things you may not have known about Hans Christian Anderson.

April 9- 15: National Library Week 

April 12: D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) Here are some great read alouds and picture book review round ups to help your family D.E.A.R.. 27 “dragon-themed” picture books for beginning readers

April 16th-Easter Sunday

April 21 World Creativity and Innovation Day-Book review that showcase How Creatively Changed the world. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is one of my favorite middle grade book about courage, innovation and creativity.

April 22 Earth day. Who doesn’t love Earth Day! 27 Books that Hug the Earth: An Earth Day Booklist for Kids

April 23: World Book Day-The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created this special day to celebrate books, authors, publishers, and illustrators. After all, reading is a huge part of our lives! World Book Day promotes reading to children and people in under privileged areas.

April 28: Arbor Day.A great chance to talk about nature conservancy and the importance of State Parks with your family.

Happy April!

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 HERE:

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The post Weekend Links: April Showers Bring May Flowers appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Book Pilgrimage: Getting to know author Selma Lagerlöf of Sweden

Many of you know by now that I have some deep Swedish roots in my family. From food, to vacations to books, I am always looking for ways to embrace my Swedish Heritage. Take books for example-one of my favorite books is The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf.

 

When Selma Lagerlöf was approached by the Swedish government to write a geography book that would encompass the entire country of Sweden, Selma got to writing and out came this incredible adventure about a naughty boy who was shrunk by a gnome and ended up travelling around Sweden on the back of a goose.

I have to share a favortie illustration from this book however, and that is the one of my family home Gotland. I’m a little bit partial. It’s not like I get to share my part of Sweden on this blog everyday is it?

Apart from this story, its author Selma Lagerlöf was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. I thought I would share a little bit about her and her very famous garrett.

On November 20th, will be the 152nd anniversary of the birth of Sweden’s beloved writer Selma Lagerlöf. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1909, Selma Lagerlöf has always been one of Sweden’s favorites writers.

                        

~….in appreciation of the lofty idealism,vivid imagination, and spiritual perception that characterizes her writings.”  From the Nobel Prize for literature presentation.

Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was born in Östra Emterwik, Värmland, Sweden. She was brought up on Mårbacka, the family estate, which she did not leave until 1881, when she went to a teachers’ college at Stockholm. In 1885 she became a teacher at the girls’ secondary school in Landskrona. She had been writing poetry ever since she was a child, but she did not publish anything until 1890, when a Swedish weekly gave her the first prize in a literary competition and published excerpts from the book which was to be her first, best, and most popular work. Gösta Berlings Saga was published in 1891, but went unnoticed until its Danish translation received wide critical acclaim and paved the way for the book’s lasting success in Sweden and elsewhere. In 1895 financial support from the royal family and the Swedish Academy encouraged her to abandon teaching altogether. She travelled in Italy and wrote Antikris mirakler (1897) [The Miracles of Antichrist], a novel set in Sicily. After several minor works she published Jerusalem (1901-1902) [The Holy City], a novel about Swedish peasants who emigrated to the Holy Land and whom she had visited in 1900. This work was her first immediate success. A book intended as a primer for elementary schools became one of the most charming children’s book in any language: Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (1906) [The Wonderful Adventures of Nils].

None of her later works matched the power or success of Gösta Berlings Saga. In the mid-twenties she published the historical trilogy: Löwensköldska Ringen (1925), Charlotte Löwensköld (1927), and Anna Svärd (1928) [The Ring of the Löwenskölds, 3 vols.]. She also published several volumes of reminiscences under the title Mårbacka (1922-32).

From Nobel Lectures, Literature 1901-1967, Editor Horst Frenz, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1969

In addition to her work as an author, Selma Lagerlöf was also a committed advocate of both women’s suffrage and the peace movement. She was highly respected within the cultural establishment, but also had deep ties to the common people, as witnessed by her incredible correspondence. The Lagerlöf Collection includes some 40,000 letters from some 17 000 correspondents

Please enjoy some photos of her home in Mårbacka. ~

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Concerned that your kids aren’t getting enough “outside time?”

Despite data that shows that 80% of natural vitamin D comes from the rays of the sun, many children, roughly only 23% are spending enough time outside and welcoming the sun’s rays. Most children do not get enough vitamin D from food alone and are at risk of deficiency if they are spending prolonged periods of time indoors. Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book and Marilyn Scott-Waters from The Toymaker have combined their respective talents to not only create a clever solution, but also an amazing guidebook to help parents help their children regain their interest and love of nature.

With over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for families to enjoy, learn, discover and play together, A Year In the Secret Garden brings the magical story to life while also enjoying nature and the great outdoors.

With fascinating historical information, monthly gardening activities, easy-to-make recipes, and step-by-step crafts, designed to enchant readers of all ages. Each month your family will unlock the mysteries of a Secret Garden character, as well as have fun together creating the original crafts and activities based on the book. Our goal is to not only raise awareness for the necessity of families spending more quality “unplugged” time together, but to also share monthly activities that incorporate nature and the outdoors as well. Get your kids moving, exploring and playing today. Get access to this wonderful children’s activity book here.

Meet you “in the garden!”

The post Book Pilgrimage: Getting to know author Selma Lagerlöf of Sweden appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

How to Be a Hero by Florence Parry Heide and Chuck Groenink

{Guest post by Hannah Rials}

How to be a Hero

Gideon, more than anything in the world, wants to be a hero. He doesn’t care about his nice house with his nice parents and all his toys. All he wants is his picture on the front page of the newspaper, to be a hero like the princes in the storybooks. But what does a little boy have to do to be a hero? Be courageous, intelligent, caring? Or is it just as easy in being in the right place at the right time to help someone out.

Once upon a time, there was a nice boy and his name was Gideon. He lived in a nice house, and he had nice parents and lots of toys. But Gideon wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to be a hero. You know, a hero, with his name on the front page of the newspaper. That sort of thing. So how does anyone get to be a hero, anyway? Heroes have to be strong. Heroes have to be brave. Heroes have to be clever. Don’t they? With wry humor, Florence Parry Heide and Chuck Groenink explore how we choose our idols in a witty story that leaves it to readers to decide the real nature of heroism.-Amazon

Heide and Groenink have created a charming story book about a boy wanting more than he has, like in the stories of old. I thoroughly enjoyed that the book follows Gideon’s stream of thought, thinking things as he would. And when he thinks he’s paying attention, he’s really missing so many opportunities to be an everyday hero. I love this little story of missed opportunities that still lead to a happy ending.

Something To Do

How to be an every day hero?

Give someone a compliment
If you see bullying, say something. Speak up. Don’t be a bystander.
Help a neighbor find a lost dog.
Help someone to carry their groceries in.
Do the dishes for your mom and dad.
And anything else you can think of!

Learning (and remembering) to say “Thank you” to everyday heroes takes some practice. Amy from Teach Mama has a great activity that teaches kids to do just that.

Creating a Hero’s Journey Activity for Kids

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

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

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

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

****Some of these links are affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may get a very small commission. This money goes towards postage and supplies to keep books and ideas in the hands of young readers!

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The day has come! The much-anticipated release of Ascension by Hannah Rials is finally HERE!

Enter this world of vampires, set in the south, and realize you are being pulled in more—and deeper—with each page.



Steeped in the mystery, intrigue and rich history of New Orleans and the secretive world of the Deuxsang, teen vampire, Cheyenne, and her forbidden love, Eli, embark on a very different, and vastly more dangerous, journey as the net of betrayal tightens around them. This intense and fresh novel is enchanting, engrossing and impossible to put down right up to the cliffhanger ending. Remember, the end is not the end.

What an extraordinary debut novel with new and intriguing twists on vampires—a strong female protagonist as one. I already can’t wait for book two.-Jill Murphy Long, author of The Conduit

This book is by the far the BEST YA/Adult fiction that I’ve read in a very long while. So exciting!-Rebecca F

The wait is over-Ascension is here! Thrilling and entertaining, like the experience on a crazy roller coaster. Hannah has grown into the most amazing writer. Watching her journey has been as much fun as holding the book in my hands. A “must read” for YA and thriller fans!-Valarie B

 

Grab your copy of Ascension HERE and visit Hannah on Facebook, Twitter and on her website.

The post How to Be a Hero by Florence Parry Heide and Chuck Groenink appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

March 26th is Hug Your Dragon Day (according to ME)

March 26 is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day! Every year is filled with predetermined holidays, but this one gives people a chance to make up their own.

And I did; it’s called Hug Your Dragon Day.

Establishing an official national holiday is not an easy process. For example, in the 1800s Sarah Josepha Hale decided that our nation should observe a national day of thanks. She wrote countless letters to politicians, governors, and even the president. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln agreed to Hale’s proposal, but Thanksgiving did not become an official national holiday until 1941!

Hopefully it won’t take that long to get Hug Your Dragon day deemed a national holiday!

SO….what does Hug Your Dragon Day entail? I’m not sure…this is a first for me! BUT, I do believe it would have something to do with celebrating dragons not as the fierce beasts that legend says they are…but as the fun, poetry-reading-candy-eating-book-reading friends that that are.

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To me, Dragons are not the scary, fire-breathing beasts that fiction makes them out to be. The Dragons from my childhood were a fun-loving lot who craved sweets, loved to dance and the only thing they devoured was BOOKS

Writing Tips and Resources for Kids and Budding Authors

Young authors publishing books is becoming more and more frequent these days and it makes me VERY happy to see this. Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press’ own intern, Hannah Rials is a great example of this accomplishment. Hannah was actually 12 years old when she first started penning her YA thriller, Ascension, and achieved her dream of publishing at age 20.

Other notable young authors include (and I know there are many, many more!)

Marley Dias

Erik Weibel

Olivia Bouler

Tori Nighthawk

Justin Muller

Do you know of a budding author? Perhaps in your home or classroom? If so, lucky for you (and said young author) there are many wonderful tools and sites to encourage their writing skills.

4 Tips to Help Your Reluctant Writer – Homeschool Your Boys https://www.homeschool-your-boys.com/... via @Homeschoolbys

Home page

Read Write Think

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

BBC Bite Size:  Writing

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

Mr. Nussbaum’s 1,000 Sites in 1

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

 

Check out Brighty’s list of the Top Sites for Teen Writers

Here are some other resources:

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

If you are the parent or teacher of a budding author, encourage them! Encourage them to write, talk to other writers, enter competitions, take courses and do what they need to do to hone their craft. Show them the process of writing, editing, illustration and book production or connect them to someone who can.

The world needs more young authors!

If you know of an author between the ages of 12 and 20, please let me know! Maybe we can do a “Part 2” to this post and shine the spotlight on their books!

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SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?

This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.

As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us

World Forestry Day Is March 21- let’s head to the trees and READ!

From the mighty oaks to the endangered rainforests, did you know that trees are the oldest organisms on earth? How do trees help to purify the air we breathe? Where is the world’s largest tree? How do trees help to clean the air?

Without trees and forests, the quality of the air we breeze would be far worse. Trees provide us with oxygen and process CO2. In addition, they filter pollutants from the air.

World Forestry Day (or International Day of Forests) is celebrated worldwide every year on 21st of March at the international level in order to increase the public awareness among communities about the values, significance and contributions of the forests to balance the life cycle on the earth. This holiday is also known as The International Day of Forests and it was established by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on November 28, 2012.

Each year, various events celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests, and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations. Countries are encouraged to undertake efforts to organize local, national, and international activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns, on International Day of Forests.

FORESTS are essential for life on Earth. They give us shade and shelter, refuge and refreshment, clean air and water. Today, with a growing global population and subsequent demand for forest products, the forests of the world are at risk from widespread deforestation and degradation. I think humanity has slipped into the bad habit of taking our beloved trees for granted. Now is the time we need to band together and be aware that healthy trees are critical to our existence on this earth.

The trees in our world come in many shapes, sizes and varieties. Many wonderful books have been written about the magic of trees-here are a few of my favorites to help us celebrate World Forestry Day:

Inspired by her trip to Costa Rica, Kate Messner’s Tree of Wonder tells the story of the hundreds of thousands of animal and creature lives supported by the Almendro Tree in Latin America’s rain forests.

Now let’s visit the Redwood Forest and enjoying Northern California! We are so inspired by these incredible trees. They are the oldest, tallest trees on the planet. Some of them are 1000 years old. It’s been a huge challenge to save these glorious trees from the blade of the lumber companies. Muir woods it a save haven for the redwoods. It’s our hope that our Great Redwood Tree booklist will inspire you as well to make a trip to visit these ancient giants and become active in saving them for future generations.

In Just Like Me Climbing a Tree: Exploring Tress Around the World, award-winning author/illustrator Durga Yael Bernhard travels around the globe visiting 12 beautiful and favorite trees.

Exploration and inquiry are the keys to unlocking the secrets and treasures of the trees. Each page asks a question:

What if we swung from a tree branch as monkeys do ? What type of tree would we be swinging form?

What type of tree would we choose if we were a bat and needed to hang upside down?

Each question takes us to a new tree in a new land.

Just Like Me Climbing a Tree is perfect for ages 5 and above. It is beautifully illustrated with full color drawings, bringing this tree adventure to life. Each double page spread hosts the lyrical poetry of  tree, a question, and the classification of the tree and where it is found on our planet.

I’d like you to think about Conservation! Please Save Our Rainforests!

Here are some lovely reads to inspire you.

Something To Do

Learn about Tree Rings

As a tree grows, it produces new layers of wood around the trunk, just under the bark. If a tree is cut down, the layers are visible in a cross-section. The layers appear as a set of concentric circles known as tree rings.

In general, one layer of wood grows each year. Each layer consists of two colors of wood: light-colored “earlywood” that grows in the spring and summer plus darker, denser “latewood” from the fall and winter.

Tree rings—also known as annual growth rings—vary in size each year depending upon the environmental conditions that the tree experiences. For most locations, tree rings will be wider during years of abundant rainfall and narrower during times of drought.

By counting back from the year a living tree was cut, it is possible to determine how old the tree is. Find a tree stump and start counting the tree rings from the outside and move to the center of the tree trunk.

Climate Records

Some species of trees can live for thousands of years. Because the widths of a tree’s rings reflect yearly precipitation patterns, the rings can be analyzed to reconstruct a record of past climate conditions.

Fires

Tree rings also record the occurrence of forest fires. New layers of wood added around the exterior of tree trunks are vulnerable to damage by fire. If a fire damages a tree’s bark and exterior, but does not kill the tree, a new layer of wood can grow over the scarred layer the next year, preserving the scar as a record of the fire.

Spend some time outside near a tree stump and see what history it’s telling you. How old is it ? Was there years of excessive rainfall ? Was there years of drought ? Were there any forest fires ?

Learn more about unfamiliar trees including Noah’s Olive Trees in Lebanon

There is a grove of ancient trees way up north in the mountains of Lebanon. It is known that these are the very trees that a dove took a branch in it’s beak from to bring to Noah to show him the flood waters had subsided and land had been found. For thousands of years these trees have seen feast, famine, good times, war, and in a simple word, life. To this day the trees still bear fruit and they press olive oil from it.

Here’s a look at these old and beautiful giants who carry such a large lineage.

just a note: Because of the incredible difficulties the countries of Lebanon and Syria are facing these days I am not giving the specific location of these trees. I want to protect them for future generations and keep them from harms way.

Fun facts about Olives

Olives have been a staple in the Mediterranean for at least 5,000 years.

Olive trees may live to be 1500 years old, the average life span is about 500 years. There are olive trees in Lebanon and on the island of Crete that are at least 5000 years old.

Over 90% of world olive production is used to make oil, and almost 98% of the acreage is in the Mediterranean region.

Green olives are picked early in the season and black olives are picked later in the season as they have ripened and turned black.

California is the only state where olives are grown commercially.

There are 500 million olive trees in Europe, and 50 million in California. California produces less than 5% of the world crop, but it produces more than 70% of the ripe olives consumed in the U.S.

Why Trees Matter-Fun Facts About Trees

You can also find more infographics at Visualistan

Discover even MORE Jump Into A Book Booklists and their companion activities by visiting and following my Pinterest Board!

Follow Valarie Budayr @Jump into a Book’s board Jump Into a Book Kidlit Booklists on Pinterest.

Follow Valarie Budayr @Jump into a Book’s board A Year In The Secret Garden on Pinterest.

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American Chocolate Week: Wonka Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Recipe

It’s American Chocolate Week!

When I think of Chocolate, I think of Willy Wonka. When I think of Willy Wonka, I think of the children’s classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Do you remember the first time you read Charlie and The Chocolate Factory as a child?

Do you recall the thrill of discovering that magical gateway into Willy Wonka’s world inside the pages of a book? A world with geese that laid golden eggs, squirrels that could sort nuts, and colorful little people called Oompa Loompas?

Would you like to re-live that experience with one of the greatest children’s books of all time like never before? 

Then come along on a magical adventure into The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!  I created this book several years ago with the help of the super-talented Roscoe Welply. Together we created an interactive ibook that is a chapter by chapter exploration all of the wonders of Willy Wonka’s World. And give you all the tools you need to play along!

I thought I’d get you started inside the wonderful pages of this interactive guide with our Willy Wonka Chocolate River Chocolate-Covered Pretzels as a taste of what’s in this ibook.

Ingredients

24 pretzel rods
12 oz. of semi-sweet chocolate chips
An assortment of your favorite sprinkles
1 tbsp. shortening

Cooking Utensils

waxed paper
Non-metal spatula or spoon
Double boiler, or a pot and a non-reactive heat-proof bowl.

Step 1: Tempering Chocolate

Set a long piece of waxed paper on your work surface. (if it slides too much, place a damp paper towel or dish towel beneath it.)

Place the chocolate chips and the shortening in a double boiler or in a non-reactive bowl set on top of a pot containing an inch or so of simmering water. It’s very important to make sure the double boiler insert or bowl does not touch the water. Stir the chips and shortening until completely melted and well blended.

Note: Some people may prefer to melt chocolate in a microwave but it is much more difficult to evenly control the heat. Remember, tempering is about heating chocolate very slowly. In a microwave, the chocolate may get too hot in spots and turn into a big clump of unmanageable goo. If you decide to use a microwave, stir the chocolate every 20 seconds or so to more evenly distribute the heat.

Step 2: Dipping the Pretzels

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. If you don’t have a cookie sheet, just place a sheet of waxed paper on your work surface.
Take a pretzel rod and hold it by one end.
Starting at the top of the chocolate River, roll the pretzel down toward the bottom. Repeat until the pretzel rod is well-coated.
Place the coated pretzel on the waxed paper to cool.
Continue with the remaining pretzel rods.
shake your favorite sprinkles all over them quickly before they dry or they won’t stick.

**This book is not affiliated or associated with the author, publisher, or distributors of Roald Dahl’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

More About The Enhanced Digital E-book The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Chapter by chapter we explore the world of Willy Wonka. Charlie is a 185 page step-by-step guide with over 20 activities and crafts that lets readers really delve into the story of Charlie and the Chocolate factory in many fun and innovative ways. Charlie was #1 on iTunes 31 times in 2012 and 2013!

I admit to being “all in” while exploring the entire world of Charlie, Willy Wonka and his mysterious Chocolate Factory while creating this amazing ebook. Readers will get to float down the chocolate river and learn how chocolate is made in South America.
 
Inside the pages of Charlie, I explore the world of mazes as the chocolate factory, play games with Oompa Loompas and engaged in a few moments of fun with the squirrels and their keen memory. Last but not least, Willy Wonka told us how to get one of his hats with a fun and kid-friendly Willy Wonka hat craft. This ebook is chock full of Wonka magic and hours of explorations and activities.

P.s-this is also available in PDF form as well.
What We Encountered Along The Way

We won our own golden tickets by sheer wit.
We entered into the jungle to learn how chocolate and gum were made and even got to make some of our very own.
We met Oompa Loompas and even had a wardrobe exchange. We’ve never truly been right since then as they have very short legs.
We learned the true secrets of gobstoppers. We’d tell you but our mouths are full.
Willy Wonka’s factory is a masterwork of mazes. We had to utilize our skill at them to work our way through this enchanting chocolate factory, including but not limited to the ever famous scissor maze where we walked clean through a piece of paper. Of course we haven’t kept that info to ourselves but have happily shared it with all of you.
After all that we were truly thirsty and so very glad to discover that fizzy lifting drinks are real. Not only that but we came away with many new recipes for you to try as well as the science behind them so you can make up your very own fizzy concoctions. The best part is the burping of course.
Square candies looking round aren’t just for the Chocolate Factory but they can look round your very own home or classroom too.
One of our more hilarious encounters happened to be made in the Nut Room where a bunch of very ingenious squirrels taught us a very fun snatching game. We still play it all the time. No special occasion needed.

All of these adventures we’ve taken together and now you can too. Although The Ultimate Guide to Charlie is a beautifully illustrated PDF, the entertainment comes from doing the crafts, recipes, and games once the book is shut. It’s good old fun -21st century style. We loved creating a balance between the virtual world and the actual world. Magic comes from our inspirations and imagination. The Ultimate Guide to Charlie will lend itself to hours of fun again and again.

To purchase your Charlie iBook in iTunes, go HERE. To learn more about this enhanced digital e-book that is fun for the whole family, go HERE.

Now go eat some chocolate

Weekend Links: Resources that can help us support World Water Day

World Water Day, 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.

For Weekend Links this week I would like to share the multitude of wonderful non-profits and resources I have come across that will help us all understand and support World Water Day.

One Well The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strausse (I have not read this book yet, but it looks very interesting!) Seen from space, our planet looks blue. This is because almost 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered with water. Earth is the only planet with liquid water — and therefore the only planet that can support life. All water is connected. Every raindrop, lake, underground river and glacier is part of a single global well. Water has the power to change everything — a single splash can sprout a seed, quench a thirst, provide a habitat, generate energy and sustain life. How we treat the water in the well will affect every species on the planet, now and for years to come. One Well shows how every one of us has the power to conserve and protect our global well.-Rochelle Strausse.com

Check out her teaching resources here.

Ryan’s Well is the story of a very amibitous 6 year old, Ryan Hreljac, who was determined to make a differance in the world’s water crisis.

“One day in January 1998, I was sitting in my Grade One classroom. My teacher, Mrs. Prest, explained that people were sick and some were even dying because they didn’t have clean water. She told us that some people walked for hours in Africa and sometimes it was just to get dirty water. All I had to do was take 10 steps from my classroom to get to the drinking fountain and I had clean water. Before that day in school, I figured everyone lived like me. When I found out this wasn’t the case, I decided I had to do something about it.

So, I went home and begged my mom and dad to help. After a few days, they told me I could do extra chores to earn the $70 I thought would build a well. I thought that’s all it would take to solve the world’s water problem. I worked for four months to earn my first $70. Then I learned that it was actually going to cost $2,000 to build a well in a place like Uganda. I also learned that the problem was way bigger than I realized.

I started speaking to service clubs, school classes, to anyone who would listen to my story so that I could raise money for my first well at Angolo Primary School in Uganda. That’s how my little Grade One project became the Ryan’s Well Foundation.”

The video below documents Return to Ryan’s Well – the story of Ryan’s return to Uganda to see the well that he built when he was 6 years old. It was destroyed by the rebels and has been rebuilt now. 15 years since the journey began, Ryan returns to Uganda to see how the village is doing, and what kind of impact his tireless work has done.

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.

The money raised by school all across the US will go toward the construction projects for selected schools. Visit the H20 For Life school page to view photos of this year’ schools, along with our completed projects from previous years.

H20 for Life, a non-profit organization, 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.

Learn more about H20 For Life and how you can help HERE.

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.

What can you do to make a difference in this world?

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