Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 44
March 16, 2017
For the love of Greek Mythology: The Adventures of Odysseus
Here’s a look at a journey into “The Odyssey” :
This is the tale of the wise, brave Odysseus, king of Ithaca, who nineteen long years ago went to fight in the Trojan War for ten years. These past nine years have been his attempt to return to his home, his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, who was just a baby when he left.
He washes up on the shore of King Alcinous. His daughter, Princess Nausicaa finds Odysseus and brings him back to her father. From here he tells the court of his difficult journey from Troy. He blinded the enormous cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, angering the God of the seas. He then lands on the island of circe, where all of his men are turned into pigs, showing their true nature, but thanks to Hermes, Odysseus is immune to her power. After staying on her island for a year, Circe sends the men off with plentiful provisions and a plan for Odysseus to travel into the Underworld to visit the blind poet Tiresias. Here, he learns what he must do to earn Poseidon’s forgiveness. He must listen to the sirens’ song as his men row the boat past them.
Next they come to Scylla’s domain, and Odysseus and his men watch helplessly as six men are devoured to save the rest of the crew. They are left to mourn their fellow crewman shipwrecked on Hyperion’s island, home to his sacred animals. The number one rule: do not touch the animals. What do his men do? Roast two animals. So their fates are cursed. They sail off into Chrybdis, and everyone except Odysseus dies. He washes up on the shore of the nymph Calypso, who holds him hostage on her island for seven years.
Eventually at the bidding of Athena, Calypso allows him to build a raft, but Poseidon’s waves destroy his raft and this is when he ends up on Alcinous’s island. The king then provides Odysseus with new clothes, treasure and a ship to see him home. When he gets to his home in Ithaca, the goddess Athena appears to him and turns him into an old beggar man, because a happy welcome does not await him. Suitors have ravaged his home for these long years in hopes that Penelope will pick them as a new home. Telemachus has been gone searching for news of his father, and he arrives just as Odysseus does. They are both told to go to the herdsman Eumaeus, where they are reunited at last.
After they arrive back at their home, Penelope has been discovered unweaving the shawl that she is making for Odysseus’s father, so now she must pick a husband. She decides that the man that can string Odysseus’s bow and shoot it through twelve axes will be her new husband. They all try and they all fail, until Odysseus, still disguised as the beggar, succeeds, and he and Telemachus kill all the greedy suitors. After a test that only Odysseus would know the answer to, Penelope welcomes him with open arms and his family is reunited once more.
I loved this retelling of this classic tale. It is much easier to comprehend than the high school’s copy! The illustrations are beautiful and really remind me of Greek art! Including two complete discs, this is a must read for the family. I can picture reading this in sections, that way the next night, you will have to recap everything you read the night before until you know the entire story by heart!
Grab your copy of The Adventures of Odysseus and other amazing Barefoot Book titles HERE.
ALSO…here are a few Books Like Percy Jackson for grades 6 and above, covering a wide range of ages and interests. They are ALL series! Happy Reading!
Something To Do:
How funny is this!? Cyclops Polyphemus TP Roll Craft from DLTK Kids:
What animal would Circe turn you into? (from What Animal Am I?)
Become an Ancient Greek at Crafty HomeSchool Mama
Enchanted Homeschooling Mom got pretty creative with these Medusa Snake Hats in honor of the least like (but most memorable) Greek character.
**some of these links are affiliate links
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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 For the love of Greek Mythology: The Adventures of Odysseus appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
March 14, 2017
Celebrate Mathematics on Pi Day
Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point.
Why March 14?
Pi is what’s known as an irrational number, meaning its decimal representation never ends and it never repeats. It has been calculated to more than one trillion digits, but 3.14 is often a precise enough approximation, hence the celebration occurring on March 14, or 3/14 (when written in US month/day format). The first known celebration occurred in 1988, and in 2009, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution designating March 14 as Pi Day and encouraging teachers and students to celebrate the day with activities that teach students about pi.
What to really get crazy with Pi? Go to the piZone to learn everything from formulas to pop culture facts about pi. Get your fill of pi here!
Some of us make pie and other people, like math and science game wizard Cy Tymony focus on teaching people fun ways to enjoy and learn more about science and mathematics. Cy is the author of the young adult educational book series “Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things”. These books are packed with cool math and science games and projects for kids and teens to play.
This year Cy created www.PiDayFun.com – an educational website dedicated to making Pi Day math memorable with free tips on how kids can have lots of fun using discarded items and without special tools. The site contains 5 Free ‘Pi’ and Math Projects.
There’s a free download for a whole set of Pi Cards, and directions on how to create a Sneaky Pi Detector, and instructions on how to make a Sneaky Pi Quizzer.
A huge thank you to Cy Tymony for making my Pi Card and for sending a Sneaky Pi Detector along with it. We’re having so much fun with Pi. Cy will be back on Jump into a Book a bit later with his new Sneaky Math book.
Want to learn how to recite Pi to 100 digits in 4 minutes or less? Common, who’s Brave?
It’s time to be on a memory mission. Did you know that the more digits of pi you memorize the easier it will be for you to learn math ? It’s true. Research from Harvard shows that the more you memorize pi, the better your brain works mathematically.
Pi Day Carols
In honor of Pi Day I think we need to gather around the piano, or pull out the guitar or something and sing these favorite Pi Day tunes such as:
Oh, Number Pi (to the tune of ‘O, Christmas Tree’)
Ludolph the Mathematician (to the tune of ‘Rudolph’)
Pi Day Time (to the tune of ‘Silver Bells’)
Ring the Bells (to the tune of ‘Jingle Bells’)
You can find words, music, and sing along sheets here.
The Pi Day Booklist
The History of Pi by Petr Beckman
The Joy of Pi by David Blatner
A Biography of Pi by Alfred S. Posamentier
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cinday Neuschwander
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table by Cindy Neuschwander
Why Pi? by DK Books
Pieces of Pi by Naila Bokhari
What will you do to celebrate Pi day?
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Ready to get your “sleuth” on? My Secret Codes, Mysteries and Adventures Activity PDF for kids will keep young minds percolating for HOURS!
Inside young super detectives will discover:
*19 pages of sleuthing fun for your family to enjoy.
*Use Pilot Frixion Pens and craft paper to create Invisible Secret Notes!
*Make I Spy Cookies!
*Discover a President of the United States who was a Master Code Creator!
This free activity guide is a great way to encourage kids to pull books off of shelves, discover the power of imagination and build a new excitement and anticipation for reading. Fill out the info below and grab your FREE copy. Enjoy!
My free gift to YOU!
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The post Celebrate Mathematics on Pi Day appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
March 10, 2017
Read an eBook Week: Fostering Diversity with the The Multicultural Children’s Day eBook
First conceived by author Rita Toews more than nine years ago as a response to the stagnant acceptance of electronic reading, Read An E-Book Week has slowly built a strong international following among digitally published authors and readers alike.
This year’s event, which began March 5th and carried through to March 11th, brought authors from eleven countries together for a week of e-reading. Many organizations continue to celebrate this event all month-long with e-book reading events and activities.
Read an E-Book Week works to educate and inform the public about the pleasures and advantages of reading electronically. Authors, publishers, vendors, the media and readers world-wide join in the effort to spread the love of e-books with families everywhere. Read more about the history of this event and the history of e-books HERE.
What better ebook to share than the one myself, my team members and MCBD Co-Founders (along with some pretty amazing bloggers and children’s literacy advocates) created ourselves!
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 contributed by 20 bloggers and 2 authors:
Alex Baugh of Randomly Reading
Amanda Boyarshinov of The Educators’ Spin On It
Valarie Budayr of Jump Into a Book
Erica Clark of What Do We Do All Day?
Rebecca Flansburg of Frantic Mommy
Anna Geiger of The Measured Mom
Svenja Gernand of Colours of Us
Michelle Goetzl of Books My Kids Read
Jennifer Hughes of The Jenny Evolution
MaryAnne Kochenderfer of Mama Smiles
Marie-Claude Leroux of Marie Pastiche
Katie Logonauts of The Logonauts
Stephanie Meade of InCultureParent
Katie Meadows of Youth Literature Reviews
Leanna Guillén Mora of All Done Monkey
Becky Morales of Kid World Citizen
Carrie Pericola of Crafty Moms Share
Jodie Rodriguez of Growing Book by Book
Melissa Taylor of Imagination Soup
Mia Wenjen of PragmaticMom
Uma Krishnaswami, author
Elsa Marston, author
Book Lists Covered by Multicultural Children’s Book Day ebook
Diversity in Children’s Books Presented as Everyday
50+ Picture Books About Mixed Race Families
A Year of Multicultural Picture Books for the Global Child
Top Ten Picture Books Featuring Diverse Characters
Multicultural Books for Preschoolers
Fairy Tales in Different Cultures
Book Lists for Kids by Geographic Region
Africa
12 West African Folk Tales
Picture Books Around the World: Africa
Antartica
Antartica Book List
Australia
Australia/Oceania Book List
Asia
India Ink: A Completely Subjective Book List
Travel to China with Books
Picture Books About Japan
Middle East
27 Books About the Arab World
South America
Day of the Dead Books
Read Around the Continent: South America
20 Great Picture Books to Learn About Mexico
World Religion
Books for World Religions
Jewish Books for Multicultural Children’s Book Day
16 Wonderful Ramadan Books for Kids of All Ages
LGBT
Best LGBT Books for Kids
Special Needs
Learning Differences in Children’s Books
Children’s Books About Disabilities
African American
Black History Month, Fiction and NonFiction
Latino American
Hispanic Heritage in California
Asian American
Top 10 Chinese New Year Books for Kids
Native American
Top 10 Native American Children’s Books
Diversity by Genre
Diverse Classic Picture Books
Multicultural Chapter Books to Read This Summer
Diversity Graphic Novels for the Middle Reader Girl
The, Read Your World: A Guide to Multicultural Children’s Books for Parents and Educators will be priced at $4.99. This is a fundraiser for Multicultural Children’s Book Day.
One hundred percent of proceeds will go towards donating books to teachers for their classroom libraries.
In fact, for each book purchased, one book can be donated to a teacher!
Thank you to everyone for their support and please celebrate this very special week with a very special ebook that supports a good cause. Grab your copy HERE.
p.s. We have other FREE resources to find diversity and multicultural books for kids!
Check out our extensive list: Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents .
Classroom Kindness Kit
We have a collaborative Pinterest board: Multicultural Books for Kids that is updated daily.
The post Read an eBook Week: Fostering Diversity with the The Multicultural Children’s Day eBook appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
March 8, 2017
International Women’s Day- #Kidlit books that ignite a global sisterhood
March 8 is International Women’s Day. Though I have never officially celebrated this global event on JIAB, I think it’s high time that I did!
The online world is filled with quotes, marches and articles celebrating the woman who are united in masses to work towards transforming the tense world we all live in. From what I understand, International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate, join together and ignite a global sisterhood.
The IWD website shares these thoughts and calls to action as well;
IWD 2017 campaign theme: #BeBoldForChange
For International Women’s Day 2017, we’re asking you to #BeBoldForChange. Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world – a more gender inclusive world. Submit your #BeBoldForChange action via the IWD website.
International Women’s Day as a vehicle for change, is it possible?
Last year, organizations and individuals around the world supported the #PledgeForParity campaign and committed to help women and girls achieve their ambitions; challenge conscious and unconscious bias; call for gender-balanced leadership; value women and men’s contributions equally; and create inclusive flexible cultures. From awareness raising to concrete action, organizations rallied their people to pledge support to help forge gender parity on International Women’s Day (IWD) and beyond.
I also think it’s the perfect opportunity to honor the women who have blazed trails, bent the rules, promoted World Peace and International Peace and persisted despite being stifled and “shushed.” Many names come to mind when I read this list including Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride (first American woman in space), Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala, Coretta Scott and so many more. Here are some “must reads” to consider on a day we are celebrating the strong women role-models who have made a difference in our world.
Walking many miles to school in the dusty road, young Coretta knew, too well, the unfairness of life in the segregated south. A yearning for equality began to grow. Together with Martin Luther King, Jr., she gave birth to a vision and a journey–with dreams of freedom for all.This extraordinary union of poetic text by Ntozake Shange and monumental artwork by Kadir Nelson captures the movement for civil rights in the United States and honors its most elegant inspiration, Coretta Scott. A Mighty Girl
We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of this lively, collectible picture book biography series from New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer.
Amelia Earhart refused to accept no for an answer; she dared to do what no one had ever done before, and became the first woman to fly a plane all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. This book follows her from childhood to her first flying lessons and onward to her multi-record-breaking career as a pilot.
She Stood for Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero
by Loki Mulholland is a unique story explores the life of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland; an ordinary girl from the South who just did the right thing.
Wilma Rudolf and 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.
Capstone Young Readers has published the most beautiful book called For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story written by Rebecca Langston-George and illustrated by Janna Bock. The words and deeply colorful illustrations work together in concert to tell the story of a young teenage girl whose courage has become legendary.
“One Child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. ” -Malala Yousafzai\
Here’s another wonderful Malala book: Malala-A Hero for All:
This Step 4 Biography Reader shares the inspiring story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Even as a young girl in Pakistan, Malala spoke up about the importance of girls’ education, via speeches and a blog. Since the Taliban regime was intent on denying girls an education and silencing anyone who disagreed with their laws, this was very dangerous. Malala was shot, but she survived the attack and it did not silence her. In fact, she spoke at the United Nations on her sixteenth birthday, just nine months after she was shot. Malala’s resolve has only magnified her voice, delivering her message of human rights to millions of people.–Amazon
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark
Get to know celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—in the first picture book about her life—as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable! Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spent a lifetime disagreeing: disagreeing with inequality, arguing against unfair treatment, and standing up for what’s right for people everywhere. This biographical picture book about the Notorious RBG, tells the justice’s story through the lens of her many famous dissents, or disagreements.
Sally Ride was the first American female astronaut to go to space. She worked on a space shuttle for two different missions. But Sally Ride did more than just travel to space. She also was a teacher, an author, and a professor. Learn more about her amazing life in this new biography!
The WHEN I GROW UP easy readers are the perfect introductory biography series. Each book takes the reader on a journey from a recognizable figure’s obscure childhood to famed adulthood. Aspirational first-person text is accompanied by a mix of photography and illustrations. This fun take on the early biography is ideal for home or the classroom and will inspire children to live out their dreams.-Amazon
What female role models inspire you? Go forth and #BeBoldForChange!
**Some of these links are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will get a very small commission. This money will be used to get more books into the hands of parents, teachers and librarians.
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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 International Women’s Day- #Kidlit books that ignite a global sisterhood appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
March 7, 2017
Read an eBook Week-2 Kids’ ebooks about bullying, empathy and forgiveness
A while back I discovered these 2 delightful ebooks and it seems incredibly timely to share them again with my readers during Read an eBook Week!
First conceived by author Rita Toews more than nine years ago as a response to the stagnant acceptance of electronic reading, Read An E-Book Week has slowly built a strong international following among digitally published authors and readers alike.
This year’s event, which began March 5th and carried through to March 11th, brought authors from eleven countries together for a week of e-reading. Many organizations continue to celebrate this event all month-long with e-book reading events and activities.
Read an E-Book Week works to educate and inform the public about the pleasures and advantages of reading electronically. Authors, publishers, vendors, the media and readers world-wide join in the effort to spread the love of e-books with families everywhere. Read more about the history of this event and the history of e-books HERE.
You Are Special (Max Lucado’s Wemmicks)
Every day the small wooden people called Wemmicks do the same thing: stick either gold stars or gray dots on one another. The pretty ones–those with smooth wood and fine paint–always get stars. The talented ones do, too. Others, though, who can do little or who have chipped paint, get ugly gray dots. Like Punchinello.
In this heartwarming children’s tale from the best-selling pen of author Max Lucado, Eli the woodcarver helps Punchinello understand how special he is–no matter what other Wemmicks may think. It’s a vital message for children everywhere: that regardless of how the world evaluates them, God cherishes each of them, just as they are.
This tale originally appeared within one of the chapters in the award-winning children’s bestseller Tell Me the Secrets. It is also EXACTLY the message we need to share with those closest to us. Now more than ever, this world needs kindness, tolerance, understand and non-judgemental ways to live together. I highly recommend any of Max’s books…but this one is a winner.
“With all my might, you’ll all take flight… If I could but wish for better things, you’d all disperse and grow your wings. ” Benjamin Brewster, Dandelion
“An interactive e-book like you’ve never experienced.” Rarely do I feel captivated and drawn into an imaginary app world, but this app had me with the first screen and the first note of the its beautiful soundtrack. From there, we entered into a world of hope and possibilities. Even more surprising is the topic matter of e-book app, which is bullying.
When author Galvin Scott Davis’ son came home from school sharing that he was being bullied, Galvin having few answers decided to offer his son a solution by way of using his imagination and creativity. Lucky for us, we too have been let in to the world of his imagination to discover solutions to this difficult problem by providing solutions for the main character of the story.
Dandelion is a story about a little boy named Benjamin Brewster who is bullied each day at “The School for the Misguided.” One day, when all seems lost, a patch of magical Dandelions appear which allow him to conjure a new world from his imagination.
Galvin Scott Davis along with the award-winning app developers at Protein have created something truly magical as they encourage kids to discuss bullying through their interaction with the Dandelion app.
The entire e-book is so interactive in a very clever way. Blowing Dandelions on the screen, just as if we were doing it for real in a field somewhere. Pulling levers to turn the page and helping dear Benjamin Brewster out by touching a variety of things on the screens. Have a look at the video to see how this book reacts and interacts. It’s just amazing !!!
I personally like the way the app is organized with some of the interactive features set as extras. Another nice component is the text is set in a variety of languages.
It is the author’s wish that Dandelion encourages parents and children to talk about bullying and to use imagination to solve this very difficult and precarious problem. This creative team has risen to the occasion and have done so brilliantly. From within the app you can purchase the book, a wrist band, and dandelion decal. Dandelion is iTunes BEST of pick for 2012. Once you’ve seen this ingenious app you’ll see why.
Dandelion can be found on iTunes HERE.
And the print version HERE.
Something to Do:
Bullying has been a very real problem all over the globe. Following are some perspectives and activities to help you and your family investigate and create solutions which work for you and yours.
Empathy skills: Happy-Mad-Sad.
Encourage children to label their own feelings and tell each other how they feel about bullying.
Discuss how children who are bullied might feel.
Explain that despite differences between people, everyone experiences certain basic feelings.
Remind children how they felt in situations like those faced by others in distress.
Model empathy by talking about how you identify another’s distress and think of ways to help.
Encourage your kids to be creative by creating ” bullying art.” Ask them to create masks depicting the different human emotions. This helps to get them thinking about bullying and the emotions that go along with it. Our friends over at No Time For Flash Cards has a great tutorial on making Emotions Masks from Paper Plates.
Emotions Mask Activity
DLTK-Kids Also has some great printable facial expressions to help add color and flair to your mask. Those can be found HERE.
Puppet Show!
Using your new emotions masks and other puppets from Pacer.org, your family or class can create a puppet show! Pacer also has a great script to print off and use for your show HERE. 
Create a Caring Chain
Crayola.com has a wonderful activity called The Caring Chain:
How do you stop bullying? These bright paper rings—looped into a chain—highlight kind and respectful ways to treat people. Even bullies want friends!
For extended details, directions, and supply list go HERE.
Looking for Kindness Classroom books and activities for your students?
Multicultural Children’s Book Day’s Downloadable Kindness Classroom Kit for Educators, Caregivers and Homeschoolers is OUR gift to YOU.
Our FREE Classroom Kindness Kit from Multicultural Children’s Book Day includes:
– Diversity Kindness books for ages 4-12
– Classroom Kindness activities, both quick and project based
– Be A Hero Be Kind poster by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
– Multicultural Children’s Book Day poster by DEMI
Go here to download and Be Kind, Be a Hero today!
The post Read an eBook Week-2 Kids’ ebooks about bullying, empathy and forgiveness appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
March 5, 2017
Weekend Links: A treasure trove of Seuss
In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday (March 2) this first week of March has been filled with some delightful Seuss book apps and activities.
Here’s a few of our favorites “Seuss-related” titles that have been showcased at Oceanhouse Media this last week:
Dr. Seuss Beginner Book Collection #1 by Dr. Seuss: 5 classic Dr. Seuss books all wrapped up in 1 app!
The Dr. Seuss Beginner Book Collection #1 contains five exciting Dr. Seuss titles for young readers. Enjoy The Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, The FOOT Book, Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? and Fox In Socks all in one omBook!
CLICK HERE to get this app on Amazon, Nook, and iTunes.
Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
“I’ll just have to save him.
Because, after all,
A person’s a person
No matter how small.”
Horton the Elephant hears a small speck of dust talking to him. It turns out the speck of dust is actually a tiny planet, home to a city called Who-ville, inhabited by tiny inhabitants known as Whos. Their Mayor asks Horton to protect them from harm, which Horton happily agrees to do, proclaiming throughout the book that “even though you can’t see or hear them at all, a person’s a person, no matter how small.” In doing so he is ridiculed and forced into a cage by the other animals in the jungle for believing in something that they are unable to see or hear. How will Horton and the Whos escape this predicament?
CLICK HERE to get at the App Store, Nook, Amazon, HP webOS, and Google Play
Here’s a list I did awhile back on JIAB.
Lesser Known Dr. Seuss Books
– And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street
– The Sneetches
– If I Ran the Circus
– Oh Say Can You Say (another book of tongue twisters)
– Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are
– There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!
So Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss! We’re so happy that you decided to bless us with your brilliant mind and colorful characters. #ReadAcrossAmerica
This first week of March has also been a treasure-trove of fun “Seuss-related” activities for kids of all ages. Here’s our Top Seuss Picks:
This craft and writing activity inspired by the Dr. Seuss book Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
was a big hit with the kids at Inner Child Fun .
Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas: Make DIY Dr. Seuss’ OOBLECK!
More “Seuss-inspired” treats and eats at Keitha’s Chaos! (Love McElligot’s Pool)
Raising Little Superheroes has a classic activity. The Lorax Paper Plate Craft is an easy-to-make craft for kids based on the children’s book, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.
LOVE this FOX IN SOCKS DR. SEUSS KID CRAFT!
What Seuss-y fun will you create this weekend?
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Enjoy more month-by-month activities based on the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! A Year in the Secret Garden is a delightful children’s book with over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together.
Whimsical author/illustrator Marilyn Scott-Waters and I created this book to not only encourage families to read and participate in some “unplugged” activities, but to also delve into the beauty and the wonder of this classic children’s tale. Get the full scoop on this vibrant book HERE and “meet me in the garden!”
The post Weekend Links: A treasure trove of Seuss appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
March 2, 2017
The Mysterious Benedict Society #bookreview and activities for Kids
‘The Mysterious Benedict Society‘ written by Trenton Lee Stewart and Illustrated by Carson Ellis may have been printed in 2008, but it is a timeless tale that still delights readers to this day.
Age Range: 8 – 13 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
What would you do if you were specially chosen to take a series of tests? These aren’t ordinary, usual tests, but the sort which tries to see how clever you are. What if you passed these exams and ended up becoming a spy which uses secret codes and messages? Such is the case with the four main characters of the book “The Mysterious Benedict Society.”
Reynard “Reynie” Muldoon, George “Sticky” Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire pass a series of tests advertised in the newspaper and meet Mr. Benedict, a man trying to stop something known as “The Thing to Come.” Mr. Benedict sends them to The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened (L.I.V.E.), where they meet Ledroptha Curtain, a man trying to take over the world using subliminal messages through “The Whisperer”, a machine of his own design.
The group finds out that they must obtain the high rank of messenger to get closer to Mr. Curtain. The children carefully spy on Mr. Curtain, finally getting close enough to destroy the machine, but Mr. Curtain escapes. The story ends…….
You didn’t think I was going to give that away, now did you? It’s a great and wonderful read.
About the Author
TRENTON LEE STEWART is author of the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Mysterious Benedict Society series; the New York Times bestselling novel The Secret Keepers, also for young readers; and the adult novel Flood Summer. He lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Something To Do
The kids communicate from L.I.V.E to Mr. Benedict via Morse code, use a walkie talkie, or flashlight. Be sure to have paper and pen handy to write down your message. We had so much fun with this using our walkie talkies across the lake from each other. We have also used flashlights from an upstairs window to communicate with the treehouse. 
In the mood for more mystery? My Secret Codes, Mysteries and Adventures Activity PDF for kids will keep young minds percolating for HOURS with this screen-free activity!
Inside young super detectives will discover:
*19 pages of sleuthing fun for your family to enjoy.
*Use Pilot Frixion Pens and craft paper to create Invisible Secret Notes!
*Make I Spy Cookies!
*Discover a President of the United States who was a Master Code Creator!
This free activity guide is a great way to encourage kids to pull books off of shelves, discover the power of imagination and build a new excitement and anticipation for reading. Fill out the info below and grab your FREE copy. Enjoy!
My free gift to YOU!
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The post The Mysterious Benedict Society #bookreview and activities for Kids appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
February 28, 2017
Celebrating Read Across America Day 2017
Happy March everyone and a very happy birthday to one of our favorite authors, Dr. Seuss! It’s time to grab your hat and read with the cat. Or the kids. Or both. Not only is it Dr. Seuss’s birthday, but it’s Read Across America Day. This special day reminds adults everywhere to share their love of reading with kids and teens around the country and around the world!
Remember, you’re never too old, too wacky too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.
You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild,
To pick up a book and read with a child.
You’re never too busy, too cool, or too hot,
To pick up a book and share what you’ve got.
In schools and communities,
Let’s gather around,
Let’s pick up a book,
Let’s pass it around.
There are kids all around you,
Kids who will need
Someone to hug,
Someone to read.
Come join us March 2nd
Your own special way
And make this America’s
Read to Kids Day.
Everyone is our family is a huge Dr. Seuss fan. Here’s a sampling of just a few favorites that graced our family bookshelf at one time:
Horton Hears A Who
Horton Hatches an Egg
Happy Birthday to You
The Sneetches and Other Stories
The Lorax
Yertle the Turtle
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Oh Say Can you Seed?
Hop on Pop
Green Eggs and Ham
Fox in Socks
The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish
As a child the first book I ever read by myself was Green Eggs and Ham. It wasn’t long before I had it memorized. Each one of my children have their absolute Dr. Seuss favorite and each book holds a precious memory. So many hours of wonderful moments of shared reading.
Blogger Emily Roach has a great way to create some Green Eggs and Ham without actually…you know…dying eggs GREEN.
Let’s make some of Dr. Seuss’ OOBLECK inspired by the book Bartholomew and the Oobleck
Clutter and Chaos has a wonderful sight word games inspired by Hop on Pop
Check out NEA’s 2017 Read Across America Activity Guide
What are some of your Dr. Seuss favorites?
****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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If you are in the mood for another and interactive story, check out the enhanced digital eBook for kids, The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and The Chocolate Factory!
The Ultimate Guide To Charlie And The Chocolate Factory is a step by step roadmap to this magical world. Just some of the fun includes:
A story filled with beautiful graphic illustrations including tantalizing Treasure Maps and vibrant tutorials.
Over 20 Crafts and activities that not only entertain, but educate.
You get to jump inside the book and enjoy creating the adventures yourself (Templates, maps, and more are included.)
Ever wonder where chocolate comes from? Or how gum is made? Wonder no more. Now you get to make your own.
Conduct activities in the areas of crafting, cooking, and game-playing as well as exploring many facets of candy production.
The option to take Charlie’s journey over the course of several days or take shorter journeys if you wish.
The creation of a new ritual of reading time with your family and the opportunity to experience the reading of this imaginative tale as a group activity, not a solitary event.
Go HERE to learn more and grab your copy from iBooks!
The post Celebrating Read Across America Day 2017 appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
February 26, 2017
Weekend Links: Gearing up for March into Literacy Month
With Dr. Seuss’ birthday falling on March 2 and the National Education Association (NEA) celebrating Read Across America Day on the same day, March is a great month to focus on literacy. There are also a boat load of other wonderful literacy-inspired recognitions on the way in the third month of 2017 including things like International Women’s Day, Johnny Appleseed Day and World Water Day.
I can’t wait to share my book-inspired posts that align with these holidays (and several more) in March!
In the meantime, here are some great activities to get everyone excited about this literacy-filled month. Enjoy
TeacherTalk 22 has a great read aloud list that fits in beautifully with March festivities.
YoungTeacherLove has a bunch of great ideas for the classroom including this fun book swap.
If you are looking for a fun activity for home, PreKPages.com suggesting Hosting a Family Literacy Night with a Reading.
While I always focus on reading when we talk about literacy, writing is just as important. As a children’s book publisher and author, reading and writing goes hand and hand and in order to be a good writer, no matter what age you are.
Here are five suggestions from Tech Savvy Mama that applies to kids of all ages (and parents too!).
SchoolTimeSnippets has a great classrooms game to inspire young minds and encourage reluctant readers/writers.
In honor of March being Literacy Month, take some time to focus on reading and writing in your home. Have fun and Happy Reading!
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FREE Gift! Free 180 Multicultural Book Ideas ebook to inspired fun 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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The post Weekend Links: Gearing up for March into Literacy Month appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
February 24, 2017
The Key To Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd (guest post from Hannah Rials)
Emma Pearl Casey has always known that she’s meant for something extraordinary. It’s her destiny, or rather in her destiny dream. All the women in her family have had one, and they have gone on to do great things to help all sorts of people in so many different ways.
In the meantime while Emma waits for her destiny dream to come to her, she is perfectly content helping to run her grandmother Blue’s Boneyard Cafe, adventure through her backyard, which is actually a graveyard, and give her daily tours.
However, no matter how much we wish for things to stay as they are, the world always has a way of making them change. When roses start falling from the sky, what the people of Blackbird Hollow call a Gypsy Rose summer, Emma’s home starts to change. She learns that her grandmother is being pressured to sell the café, aka her charmed home, she’s losing her connection to her deceased mother, and an old classmate rolls back into town without the power of speech. So much is changing, and the Big Empty is growing bigger.
That’s when Emma’s destiny dream comes, and it couldn’t be more confusing. So now, with the help of her loyal friends, her caring family, and the spirits of Blackbird Hollow, she has to figure out what her destiny is, what spectacular thing she is meant to do.
The Key to Extraordinary is one of the most charming books I’ve read in a while. It was witty, touching, funny, adorable, thought-provoking, and all around fantastic. I was immediately pulled into the charming town of Blackbird Hollow, it’s history, and the spiritual atmosphere of the whole place. Emma is such an enjoyable narrator, with her cute turns-of-phrase, loyal heart, and belief in the miraculous. This is an absolute MUST READ for anybody, but especially you’re favorite Middle Grade reader.
Something To Do Activities:
1. Boneyard Brew: In The Key to Extraordinary, the staple of the Boneyard Café is the Boneyard Brew, hot cocoa with a secret ingredient that only Grandma Blue and Emma’s brother Topher know.
Here’s an amazing hot chocolate recipe that you could make in a cauldron…or a crockpot. But even know I know the secret ingredient, I’m not telling you. You’ll just have to read the book to figure it out.
2. Preserving Flowers: Flowers are a huge part of Emma’s story and the history of her town. Her grandmother has tons of flower tattoos going up and down her arms that represent a special person in her heart. Here’s a fun way to preserve your favorite flowers:
3. Journaling: I always encourage journaling. My grandmother was the first person to give me a journal, and I’ve been pretty consistent in my duties. Emma’s ancestors recorded the amazing things that their destiny dreams led them to do. Maybe you should think about recording your amazing adventures, discoveries, and friends you make in your own incredible life. You could add a fun spin to journaling by creating Junk Journals that incorporate the physical mementoes of your adventures. Get the scoop on Junk Journals here>
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 Corgis, Buddy and Noel, Hannah leads a creative group, crafts and cultivates her writing skills. Connect with Hannah on Facebook, Twitter and via her website.
****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 The Key To Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd (guest post from Hannah Rials) appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
