Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 62

What Would You Do For The Right To Learn? Malala Yousafzai’s Story

It’s nearly time, yes ….it’s nearly time for Multicultural Children’s Book Day on January 27th!

We’ll be having a huge and ginormous celebration which I’ll tell you a little more about later. We wouldn’t be able to share in the joy of diverse and multicultural books and publishing if it weren’t for our generous sponsors. I have the extreme pleasure of introducing Capstone Young Readers with you who is one of our Silver Sponsors this year.

There has been a young woman who has greatly inspired me over the past few years. Her name is Malala. Though much has been written about her over the past several years, it has usually been for the young adult to adult audiences given the nature and violence of her story.

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

For the Right to Learn tells the story to young readers in a non-violent way that engages them into constructive conversations and inspires them to take action.

Malala lived in the Swat Valley in Pakistan which is right on the border of Afghanistan. One day the Taliban moved into the Swat Valley and her little city and forced their ideas on the people living there.

As time progressed the Taliban became more severe. They grew stronger every day using violence and intimidation. As their strength grew they announced that girls could not go to school. Malala loved school . Her father was a principle of a school and Malala loved to learn more than anything else. This was devastating news for her. The Taliban said that girls who attended school actually brought shame to their families.

Malala and her father became very vocal against the Taliban and their rules. They were brave and not frightened. In December 2008 came the news that All girls schools would be closed and starting January 15th no girls would be allowed in any schools. Then the Taliban started raining bombs down on the villages and cities destroying all schools within sight.

But bombs could not silence Malala. The British Broadcasting Corporation wanted to know what life was like for a girl in Pakistan in the Swat Valley. Malala took a pen name, Gul Makai and would read her blog post to the BBC reporter over the phone over the following two months. It first appeared in Urdu and then was translated into English. Her blog became very popular as she and her family continued to speak out against the Taliban. They created such an uprising that the Taliban agreed to let girls 10 years old and younger go to school. Malala was 11. So older girls wore the clothes of younger girls, hid their books under their shawls and snuck their way to school. Anyone caught would be killed on sight.

After much fighting, a stint in a refugee camp, Malala and her family returned home thinking the Taliban were gone. Malala had become very famous at this point and even the Bishop Desmond Tutu had nominated her for a Nobel Peace Prize. Malala returned to school and soon discovered that the Taliban were not gone. One day while riding a school bus, the Taliban entered and shot Malala in the head and two of her friends. All of them survived but Malala had a very long road to recovery.

Nearly on the verge of dying, Malala was flown out of Pakistan to Birmingham England where she has recovered fully from her attack and lives to this day with her family.

Malala however, has taken her attack by the Taliban and has come thru it and continued it forward to start a global movement for girl’s education. She and her father continue to speak about education. She has started a fund called the Malala Fund which gives money to fund education in Pakistan and other third world countries.

She is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and is a role model for all of us regardless of age that one voice with action can make all the difference in the world. She promises to continue to work toward “peace in every home” and “education for every boy and every girl in the world.”

For the Right to Learn is a story which inspires us all to be brave. I firmly believe that along with the best stories written our bookshelves need to be filled with the real life stories of those who are remarkable and extraordinary. This book qualifies as such.

Something To Do

31 million primary school aged girls are not going to school currently in the world. 32 million more girls are missing out on secondary education. In total more than 60 million girls world wide are out of school today.

When we educate a woman she ends up helping 5 or more people in her family. When we educate girls they grow into the matriarchs who not only raise a family but support a community and a region. Education for girls is one of the more important task for our planet currently along with food and clean water.

Writing Your Name:

Certain things we take for granted such as our names. Can you imagine if you didn’t know what your name looked like written down or not even be able to write your name ? How do you prove you exist if you can’t read or write your name ?

I remember growing up one of those red letter moments was when I learned to write my name. I shared in that memory and joy once again which each one of my children in turn learned to write their names.

Taking beautiful colors, and paper, maybe even some glitter, write your name beautifully and celebrate the fact that you can. 

If you should happen to sponsor a child from another country, make a beautiful poster or picture of just their name and send it to them.

The Malala Fund

Inspired by co-founders Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai, Malala Fund’s goal is to enable girls to complete 12 years of safe, quality education so that they can achieve their potential and be positive change-makers in their families and communities. We work with partners all over the world helping to empower girls and amplify their voices; we invest in local education leaders and programmes; and we advocate for more resources for education and safe schools for every child.

Discussion Questions:

Who is Malala and Where is she from ?
What was Malala fighting for the right to do ?
Her desire to go to school nearly cost Malala her life. Why do you think she took the risk ?
Should everyone have the right to go to school ?
Do you think children should be protected ?
What right and protections do you think children everywhere should have ? Make a list.
Discover and discuss in what ways children around the world are sometimes denied those rights.
Would you be able to do what Malala did ?
What can we do about it. Look at Malala’s example. Just one young girl, one voice, and a pen has changed the world. What are you willing to do ? What small thing can you contribute something to change the world. What will you say with your one voice?

10 Lessons to be Learned from Malala

This is an excerpt of an article from the Canadian Huffington Post

1. Never hesitate to raise your voice.

This message rings out loud and clear from the 16 year old humanitarian. If you don’t raise your voice, it is unlikely that anyone will hear you. And I bet you have something (or many things) to say. Share your thoughts, ideas and passions with the world.

2. Dare to dream, and let your dreams drive your actions.

Never think for a moment that any dream is too large, or too unrealistic. My friend Adam Braun says “the single most powerful element of youth is our inability to know what’s impossible.” I couldn’t agree more. Here’s my challenge to youth: don’t lose that admirable quality as you transition into adulthood.

3. Don’t hate or seek revenge.

Malala was shot on her way home from school. The Taliban gunmen attempted to kill her, and revenge is the last thing on Malala’s mind. Since I was a little kid, my mom has always said that hating is just a waste of energy. It doesn’t benefit anyone and it’s a waste of time.

4. Never give up.

For the love of all that’s good in this world, please never give up. If you care about something, or someone, no matter what happens, refuse to quit! Never give up, and seek motivation to fuel your drive. If anyone can do it, you can. Surround yourself with people and messaging that keep you going, and encourage you to never give up or lose hope.

5. Be compassionate.

If hating is the worst way to exert your energy, love is the best way to use your energy. The more you give, the more you get. Be compassionate. Tell those you love that you love them.

6. Be humble.

July 12 was declared Malala Day by the United Nations. This past summer, Malala spoke at the UN headquarters and opened with this: “Malala Day is not my day. Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights. There are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers who are not only speaking for human rights, but who are struggling to achieve their goals of education, peace and equality. Thousands of people have been killed by the terrorists and millions have been injured. I am just one of them.”

7. Always be thankful.

Don’t take anything for granted. Your life. Your family. Your home. Your pencil. There’s a lot to be thankful for. Try your best not to complain about the things you may not have, and instead be thankful for all that you have, and all that you are.

8. Strive to help others.

I have a secret for you. The more good deeds you do, the better you will feel yourself. So in fact, helping others may turn into quite a selfish activity if you do it right. Before you know it, you will be stuck in a cycle of helping others, and feeling good, and helping others more, and feeling even better… Don’t believe me? Try it. I dare you.

9. Replace weakness with strength, and fear with courage.

This may appear to be one of those things that is easier said than done, but sometimes it’s just a matter of perspective. Don’t let negativity shut you down. Strive to be the strongest, best, most positive person you can be. The things you can accomplish are mind boggling!

10. Never doubt your ability to impact the world.

We live in a world of over 7-billion individuals. Each person is different. Each person on earth has something unique to offer the world. What’s your gift? What wonderful things do you have to offer? Don’t ever doubt for a second the power you have to make a difference.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Malala won the Nobel Peace Prize for what she endured and how she made that tragedy into a movement to help others.

Investigate and discover about the Nobel Peace Prize and past winners and then have a look at an excerpt of Malala’s acceptance speech.

A Great Video to Watch

There is a wonderful documentary called He Called Me Malala. It is beautifully done and tells the story with out alarming and disturbing video. It is a great resource to use along with For the Right To Learn. You can find it on Netflix and Amazon.

What do you admire most about Malala?

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The post What Would You Do For The Right To Learn? Malala Yousafzai’s Story appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Amazing Multicultural Books-A Wisdom Tales Press Booklist

For the past couple of years I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing some incredibly well thought out and beautifully produced books. Multicultural in nature with a window to the world of global wisdom, Wisdom Tales Press sends an invitation to us all to explore and discover our world.

From its inception, Wisdom Tales Press jumped on board the Multi-cultural Children’s Book Day celebration by not only being our first platinum sponsor, but continuing to support and celebrate with us the beauty and diversity on this planet by being a platinum sponsor every single year.

Today we celebrate Wisdom Tales Press and all the beauty and wisdom they bring to us through their engaging stories, beautifully designed books and awe inspiring illustrations. They have opened a window to our world, introducing us to heroes we may have never heard of before. Ultimately, via their extensive library of wisdom, they are inspiring us to be the best people we can be by embracing our planets cultures and practicing respect of other faiths and traditions. As poet laureate Maya Angelo said, “When we know better, we do better. “

Thank you Wisdom Tales Press for all your inspirations!

Here’s a round-up of Jump Into a Books past Wisdom Tales book reviews and with complimenting book extension activities.

 A multicultural picture book about the Pueblo Indians-Whispers of the Wolf

Whispers of the Wolf is a beautifully illustrated story for children ages 5 and older.  Set among the Pueblo Indians before their contact with Europeans, it tells the story of a young Pueblo boy named Two Birds, coming to know himself through the friendship he has with a small wolf pup that he found while out hunting and gathering herbs with his grandfather. Two Birds who before the wolf pup entered his life was very much a loner. The wolf pup however became an ice breaker and helped Two Birds interact with his peers. During their time together, Two Birds becomes an impeccable story-teller using his wolf as the vehicle to do this. In time, the wolf hears the cries of his fellow wolves in the wild and longs to be with them. Two Birds loved the wolf and understood is desire and let him go.

The Compassionate Warrior: Abd el-Kader of Algeria by Elsa Marston(Wisdom Tales Press 2013).

This poignant biography for teens shares Abd el Kader’s efforts to prevent the French colonization of Algeria but what he is truly known for his deep respect and acceptance for friend and foe alike and an in-depth interest in people of all political and religious backgrounds. I can share with you that my own teen couldn’t put this book down and felt greatly inspired by the ideas of Abd el-Kader and his ways of building harmony and peace between people, ideas, and political agendas.

The Conference of the Birds by Alexis York Lumbard

The Conference of the Birds re-tales the 800 year old Sufi Persian poem written by Farid ud-Din Attar. In the poem the birds of the world gather to decide who is to be their new king, as they don’t have one at the moment.

Horse Raid: The Making of a Warrior by Paul Goble

This book is not only beautiful to look at but is well researched, giving a lot of information on a topic I had no knowledge. Giving us a front row seat of a horse raid from the view point of the main character Lone Bull, we learn of his first horse raid when he was fourteen years old. Horse Raiding was a time honored tradition and a right of passage for every young boy. Lone Bull’s father was the chief of the Lakota tribe.

Angels by Alexis York Lumbard

Angels, angels fill the air, c oming down from way up there.

Award-winning author Alexis York Lumbard along with world- renowned artist Flavia, transport the reader on a journey to see how angels work behind the scenes weaving their graces throughout the world in this non-denominational picture book aptly called Angels.

Custer’s Last Battle by Paul Goble

Custer’s Last Battle by Paul Goble

Paul Goble created a book which allows its readers to rediscover the retelling of the Battle of Little Big Horn from a Native American perspective.”Custer’s Last Battle” by acclaimed author/illustrator Paul Goble is this new edition of his first published book out by Wisdom Tales Press. This week “Custer’s Last Battle” was the winner of  the Silver Medal for Children’s Non-Fiction in the MIPA Awards Ceremony ( Midwest Independent Publisher’s Association). Gorgeously illustrated and fabulous story-telling.

How Do We Change Mine into Ours? The Olive Tree by Elsa Marston

Today we are venturing to the land and country of Lebanon and reading a most enduring and powerful story about sharing and restoration called The Olive Tree by Elsa Marston and Illustrated by Claire Ewart.

The Otter, the Spotted Frog and the Great Flood by Gerald Hausman and beautifully illustrated by Ramon Shiloh.

Spotted frog announces to the world that a great flood is coming which will destroy all of their homes. All of the animals ignore spotted frog’s warning, except an otter named Listener.

Ridiculed by all the other animals, Listener heeds spotted Frog’s warnings and begins to build a raft to try and survive the coming flood.

Tipi: Home of the Nomadic Buffalo Hunters by Paul Goble is creative and sacred journey into the world of the Native Americans of the Plains and the art and craft of constructing tipis. For the Plains Indian tribes, building tipis were more than just building a home but an expression of their religious beliefs as well.

The Hunter’s Promise: An Abenaki Tale told by long time story-teller and author Joseph Bruchac and beautifully illustrated by Bill Farnsworth is a beautiful re-telling of an old story from the Abenaki Indians of Vermont and Canada.

The Wisdom Tales website has wonderful tipi patterns for book extension activities. See what happened when we downloaded them and created a village!

The Fantastic Adventures of Krishna by Demi

In this elegant read, we ventured into the world and land of India, the God Krishna, and Hinduism in the book The Fantastic Adventures of Krishna by author/illustrator Demi.

The Thunder Egg by Tim J. Myers

Stand-By-Herself lived with her grandmother amongst her people in the tall grasses and endless skies of the Plains.She was very shy an liked to go off alone. Often times the other children would make fun of her. Stand-By Herself was good at finding thing. She could find sage-grouse chicks in the tall waving grass. She found autumn by watching the ducks flying South. One day she found a odd gray stone. She was sure she had found a thunder egg.

Has your family had the pleasure of reading a Wisdom Tales book? If so, which was your favorite and why?

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Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Reading Challenge-
Get a FREE Diversity Book for Your Classroom Library!

Teachers! We want to help you build your classroom library with diverse, inclusive and multicultural books! Here’s how to get a free book through Multicultural Children’s Book Day on January 27th. You can also win a Skype author visit with a children’s book author! We will draw a winner from the teachers who signed up. This year the Skype author visit is with (to be announced).

LATEST EXCITING UPDATE! Junior Library Guild has agreed to sponsor this portion of the MCCBD 2016 event and donate up to 200 books for classrooms and teachers!



Go HERE for more details or to sign up your classroom and earn a FREE handcover multicultural children’s book!

The post Amazing Multicultural Books-A Wisdom Tales Press Booklist appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Weekend Links: Multicultural Links, Awards and Updates

Such an exciting week this week with great awards, reviews and victories! As you can imagine, much of my focus has been on the upcoming Multicultural Children’s Book Day Event (1/27) and all the excitement surrounding this national event. Bloggers are frantically reading books and publishing their reviews and activities. Here an example:

Great review on multicultural children’s books from Lil’ Libros at @espanolita #ReadYourWorld!

All Sorts of awards and victories this week too! Here are a few notable ones:

2016 Newbery and Caldecott Winners  via @imaginationsoup

MCCBD now has it’s official poster thanks to the huge talents of Robert Liu-Trujillo! Sqqquueeeee! LOVE this poster!

FREE Downloadable Multicultural Children’s Book Day!

I was the first Featured Expert for 2016 on KidLit TV!

Booklists To Investigate

11 Inspiring Multicultural Biographies For Kids from I’m Not The Nanny

The Ultimate List of 2016 Children’s Picture & Board Books! at Here We Read.

Fond Memories of Katie Woo & 3 Book #giveaway via @PragmaticMom

Diverse Winter Books for Children-via @Multicultural Kids

A Snowy Kidlit Booklist at Jump Into A Book

Sadly, the book world lost a very bright star recently Godspeed Andrea Cheng Read the interview we did with her last year and also Lee and Low’s wonderful tribute post as well Remembering Children’s Author Andrea Cheng.

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The Snowed In Winter Book Festival-A Snowy Kidlit Booklist

Welcome to the Snowed-In Winter Book Festival!

One of the things I love most about winter is SNOW and being “snowed in” seems to happen frequently (whether officially…or “by choice”). To finish I thought I’d share a few of our all time favorite books about snow. Hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves and have had a romping good snow filled time.

1. Blizzard by John Rocco

2. Snow by Uri Shulevitz

3. Story of the Snow Children

4. The Story of Snow by Mark Cassino

5. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

6. The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An up-close look at the Art and Science of Snowflakes.

7. The Jacket I wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel

8. White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt

9. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

10. Snow by Cynthia Rylant

11. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

12. The Big Snow by Berta Hader

What books would you add to this list?

**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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Are you a multicultural children’s book author looking for a unique and effective way to get your work in front of parents, bloggers, teachers and librarians? Our Author Sponsorship for the upcoming Multicultural Children’s Book Day (1-27-16) is a very affordable way for authors to gain visibility before and after this growing event and also get their books into the hands of review bloggers.

To learn more about why this is a valuable opportunity for diverse book authors, and to see how easy it is to get involved, go HERE for the full scoop on Author Sponsorships and other levels of Sponsorship as well. Want to see the other authors who have already joined the party? Go here. Your book, illustrator and author could be listed here as well!

The post The Snowed In Winter Book Festival-A Snowy Kidlit Booklist appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

The Snowed In Winter Book Festival- Snowflake Bentley

Welcome to the Snowed-In Winter Book Festival!

One of the things I love most about winter is SNOW and being “snowed in” seems to happen frequently (whether officially…or “by choice”). So I’ve decided to dedicate an entire week of posts to our favorite snow books and the things we can do with them. Our book choice for this wonderful week of snow is Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin.

There once was a boy who loved snow more than anything else in the whole wide world. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, celebrates Wilson Bentley’s lifelong love and passion of snow and the snowflake specifically.

Wilson Bentley had been fascinated by snow for as long as he could remember. Snow in Vermont is as common as dirt.

Supporting their son’s enthusiasm for snow, they saved up money and bought him a camera and microscope. To this day, the thousands of photos that Wilson Bentley took are still used in snow and crystals research studies.

Along with telling the biography of Wilson Bentley, author Jacqueline Briggs Martin has nice “how he did it” information boxes in the sidebars.

I have to mention the woodcut illustrations of Mary Azarian. I have long been a fan of her art. The wood-cuttings in Snowflake Bentley bring depth to the text and an invitation to the reader to come and know a little bit more about Wilson Bentley. Her art in Snowflake Bentley was awarded the Caldecott medal and right so. This book has sat as a favorite on the “snow book” shelf since it first came out in 1998. It’s a classic and greatly loved here. Grab your copy of Snowflake Bentley HERE.

**some of these links are affiliate links.

Something To Do

Are you ready to dive into the world of Snowflake Bentley? Let’s start with a visit to Wilson Bentley himself.

How To Take A Photo of a Snowflake

Wilson Bentley wrote about his process and shared his “how-to” in this article.

Creating our Own Snowflake Exhibit

Inspired by Wilson Bentley’s snowflake photos and slides, we decided to create our own snowflake exhibit on our windows. This is a fun arts and craft activity that gives the same feeling as Bentley’s snow slides.

What you’ll need:

Waxed Paper
Puffy Paint in a variety of colors
Photos of Wilson Bentley’s snowflake photos found on his website listed above.

Tear off a piece of waxed paper as large as your individual window pane. Choosing one color of paint , draw a snowflake design to your liking.

Taking another paint color, create another snowflake on the waxed paper. Keep doing this until your piece of waxed paper is filled with beautiful colored snowflakes.

Let it dry thoroughly.

When dry, take the entire sheet of waxed paper. Turning the snowflake painted side to the glass, just gently press it onto the glass. It will stick there and give a nice frosty, snowflake glow.

 

 

Snow Crystals is a very comprehensive website with all kinds of information on snowflakes for all ages. It includes a snowflake primer, collections of photographs, in-depth scientific information and answers to questions such as “Is it really true no two snowflakes are alike?”

Here’s a really great short video on Wilson Bentley. I find it really well done and engaging.

**some of these links are affiliate links

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Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2016 is COMING (1/27/16) and we have many things to be grateful for here at MCCBD headquarters. There are a ton of exciting things in the works right now!

Need to get a multicultural children’s book in front of readers? Participate in this national event as an Author Sponsor and get enjoy many unique ways to gain visibility for your books. Those who lock in their Author Sponsorship before October 31st will get a bonus; 2 guest posts on MCCBD blog, banner ad on the Author Sponsor Page, social media shares and book review opportunities by book bloggers. A great value for only $65. Go HERE for more details.

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A Colorful Freebie for Multicultural Children’s Book Day

Please meet Multicultural Children’s Book Day illustrator Robert Liu-Trujillo!! He designed our FREE downloadable poster: Multicultural Children’s Book Day FREE Downloadable Poster.

Download this free poster via Dropbox here.

Robert Liu-Trujillo was born in Oakland, California and raised all across the Bay Area. He’s a visual artist and came to us because his mission is the same. He wants his son to see himself in books. He also does hand painted commissioned children’s portraits like this one:

If you want to inspire your child to read, he also have this lovely poster for $20.

His books include:

Furqan’s First Flat Top by Robert Liu-Trujillo

Furqan Moreno wakes up and decides that today he wants his hair cut for the first time. His dad has just the style: a flat top fade! He wants his new haircut to be cool but when they get to the barbershop, he’s a bit nervous about his decision. He begins to worry that his hair will look funny, imagining all the flat objects in his day to day life. Before he knows it, his haircut is done and he realizes that his dad was right — Furqan’s first flat top is the freshest!

I Am Sausal Creek by Melissa Reyes, illustrated byRobert Liu-Trujillo

I Am Sausal Creek is a bilingual Spanish and English picture book about the environmental and cultural history of Oakland told through the voice of a local waterway. It is being published under the Little Nomad children’s book imprint of Nomadic Press.

On the first page of the book, the creek introduces herself and invites the reader to sit and listen to her story. As she winds through memories of watching the Ohlone move freely around her shores, the arrival of people in search of gold, streets being paved, and more, she reminds us that through all of this, her water still flows.

A Bean and Cheese Taco Birthday / Un Cumpleanos Con Tacos de Frijoles Con Queso by Diane Gonzales Bertrand,Robert Liu-Trujillo, Gabriela Baeza Ventura

On Ariel’s birthday, the boys are happy to go to the park rather than their usual after-school program. The day is full of surprises, from Ariel’s birthday present—a remote-control sailboat they enjoy playing with at the pond—to an empty playground and even a kind park ranger who offers a tour in his Jeep. Who would have thought an afternoon at the park with family and bean and cheese tacos could be so much fun?

To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

NOTE: I am an Amazon affiliate which means if you buy anything through my blog, I get a very small kickback at no cost to you. I use this money to pay for postage and handling for my giveaways.

 

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Review Bloggers! We Need YOU! MCCBD 2016 Review Blogger Sign-up is OPEN

It’s not too late to sign up as a review blogger for Multicultural Children’s Book Day! We have a plethora of simply amazing diversity children’s authors who are offering up a free book to bloggers who would like to do a review in honor of this January 27, 2016 online event!

We’ve extended the deadline for sign up to January 9th and we still have a few spots left. This is great way for bloggers to get involved in an important national initiative and gain new visitors to their site! All participating bloggers will be invited to add their book review to a Huge Linky on 1/27/16 that will ultimately become a valued resource for parents, teachers and librarians. Sign up ASAP!

The post A Colorful Freebie for Multicultural Children’s Book Day appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

The Snowed-In Winter Book Festival- The Story of the Snow Children

Welcome to the Snowed-In Winter Book Festival!

One of the things I love most about winter is SNOW and being “snowed in” seems to happen frequently (whether officially…or “by choice”). So I’ve decided to dedicate an entire week of posts to our favorite snow books and the things we can do with them. Our book choice for this wonderful week of snow is Story of the Snow Children.

I can’t think of a better way to continue our Snow Festival week than with The Story of the Snow Children by Sibylle von Olfers. Who couldn’t love Poppy in her little red hat going to a winter’s feast? I was trying to remember the first time I heard this story and I can’t remember. It seems like its been a constant throughout my life.

As Poppy is gazing out of the window she notices the soft gently blowing snowflakes have little faces and are actually snow children. As they dance and swirl in the garden they soon take Poppy away to the snow kingdom of the Snow Queen. There, Poppy is welcomed to the grand festival by the Queen and her princess. Amidst the sparkling snow kingdom is dancing, feasting, and exciting games. At the end of all this play, Poppy sleepily returns home to recount her tales of the snow children to her listening mother.

To grab your copy of this book, go HERE.

To set the stage for the wonderful and exciting snow festival we need to be dressed appropriately. There is nothing better than a message crown to make one feel like wintry royalty.

Something To Do: A Message Crown

Materials:

An assortment of 81/2 x 10 paper

An assortment of 12 x 12 paper

White card stock or blank index cards

Scissors

Picking shears

Small fasteners

Glue dots or glue

Tape

Heart Pattern

Large Circle pattern

Small circle pattern

Large triangle pattern

Small triangle pattern

To make a message crown you will need the following:

1 woven heart

2 large circles

2 small circles

2 large triangles

2 small triangles

2 -12 inch paper strips, 2 inches wide

How to make the woven heart

Fold a 81/2 x 11 ½ sheet of paper in half

Place the bottom of the heart pattern on the fold

Trace pattern twice onto the paper, each one placed on the fold.

Cut the two center lines on each heart piece.

Weaving Your Heart

Weaving a heart is a little different than weaving. We aren’t going under and over but in and through. The left hand side of the heart I’ve marked ABC. The right hand side of the heart I’ve marked 123. Let’s try this step by step. Look at the photos for help.

Step 1: Place C (left side piece) inside 1 (right hand piece).

Step 2: Place 2 (right hand piece) inside C (left hand piece).

Step 3: Place C (left hand piece) inside 1 (right hand piece).

Step 4: Place 1 (right hand piece) inside B (left hand piece).

Step 5: Place B(left hand piece) inside 2 (right hand piece).

Step 6: Place 1 (right hand piece) inside B ( left hand piece).

Step 7: Place C (left side piece) inside 1 (right hand piece).

Step 8: Place 2 (right hand piece) inside C (left hand piece).

Step 9: Place C (left hand piece) inside 1 (right hand piece).

 

To Make the Message Crown you will Need the Following:

Two large circles

Two small circles

Two large triangles

Two small triangles

Make the Crown band

Take 2 12 x 12 inch pieces of paper. Place them wrong sides together.

Tape an inch on both the bottom left and right hand sides. This will hold your crown sides together.

Measure 2 inches from the bottom, fold, and cut along folded line. This is your crown band.

Crown Assembling

Take a folded heart and turn it over. On the reverse side, place a couple of glue dots down towards the bottom of the heart. Taking your crown band with the taped sides lying horizontally, place the heart in the center of the crown band.

Take one large circle and one small circle. Place small circle on top of the large circle and fasten with a small fastener. Make two of theses. Once together turn both pieces over and place a couple of glue dots on the circle and then place one circle to the right of the heart, and the other to the left of the heart.

Take one large triangle and one small triangle. Place a small triangle on top of the large triangle. Hold them together with a small fastener. Make two of these. Turn the triangles over and place a couple of glue dots on each triangle. Place the triangles to the left of the circles.

Adjusting your crown

Place the crown on the head holding it center on the forehead. In the back of the head, grab the crown band, gathering up the excess. Fold it over and tape it to fit.

Messages

The heart on the center of the crown is actually a little basket. It’s a perfect place for friends to leave messages for each other. To make your messages take the card stock and cut it into 8 rectangles. You can also use index cards as well. Cut those into quarters. Use your pinking shears to go around the edges. Write a heartfelt message. During the snow festival go around delivering your messages to your friends.

**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!

–

Kids and nature go hand-and-hand and enjoying the bounty that the great outdoors brings is not just a “summer thing.” The newest book from children’s book authors Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters teaches families everywhere to enjoy not only the great outdoors with month-by-month activities, but to jump deeper into the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! A Year in the Secret Garden is a delightful children’s book with over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together. Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE!

The post The Snowed-In Winter Book Festival- The Story of the Snow Children appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

The Snowed-In Winter Book Festival-Snow by Uri Shulevitz

Welcome to the Snowed-In Winter Book Festival! One of the things I love most about winter is SNOW and being “snowed in” seems to happen frequently (whether officially…or “by choice”). So I’ve decided to dedicate an entire week of posts to our favorite snow books and the things we can do with them. Our book choice for this wonderful week of snow is Snow by Uri Shulevitz!

Snow by Uri Shulevitz has stood the test of time in our house. In winter it is never far from reach and is always the very first book to come off the shelf during the very first snow storm of the season.

“It’s snowing, said boy with dog.

“It’s only a snowflake,” said grandfather with beard.

No one thinks one or two snowflakes will amount to anything. Not the man with the hat or the lady with the umbrella. Not even the television or the radio forecasters. But one boy and his dog have faith that the snow will amount to something spectacular, and when flakes start to swirl down on the city, they are also the only ones who know how to truly enjoy it. This playful depiction of a snowy day and the transformation of a city is perfectly captured in simple, poetic text and lively watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations.

The story is a perfect balance between words and illustrations. It isn’t cluttered with too many words. It allows both the reader and the read -to, to use their own imagination, and to wonder what is really happening or what is really going to happen. Each time we pick up this classic read, we can always spy something new which could be happening.

Something To Do: Homemade Snow Cream!

When one is hoping for a giant snowstorm and then one appears, the next thing one should be thinking is, SNOWCREAM. Did you know you can make ice cream out of snow? If by chance today you are in a place where it is snowing you can make yourself a little bowl of magic right now. For the rest of us, we will just have something to look forward to.

8 cups of snow
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup of evaporated milk
1/2 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Mix milk, vanilla, and sugar until dissolved. Add snow, stir until consistency is thick and creamy. Serve immediately. Might I suggest that it tastes great with chocolate chips or little goodies (small candy) too.

What kind of snow fun can you create?

****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!

–

Here’s another idea for great “snowed-in” reading! The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an Enhanced Digital eBook for Kids that is an entertaining and educational children’s book enhanced with animations, games, recipes, videos, and more providing hours of fun for kids and parents alike.

Based on the beloved story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this interactive children’s ebook is filled with action and adventure. With over 20 crafts and activities (including creating Gobstopper Gum and Chocolate Rivers, golden tickets, handmade Willy Wonka hats, etc.), this beautifully illustrated ebook re-lives the wonder and amazement through Willy Wonka’s world of magic. Grab your copy of Charlie at iTunes ASAP!

Don’t have an Apple device, but still want to experience the thrill, activities and magic of The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? This entertaining and educational children’s book based on the beloved story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is available in PDF form! With over 20 crafts and activities (including creating Gobstopper Gum and Chocolate Rivers, golden tickets, handmade Willy Wonka hats, etc.), this beautifully illustrated PDF re-lives the wonder and amazement through Willy Wonka’s world of magic.

 

The post The Snowed-In Winter Book Festival-Snow by Uri Shulevitz appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

The Snowed In Winter Book Festival-The Story of Snow

Welcome to the Snowed-In Winter Book Festival!

One of the things I love most about winter is SNOW and being “snowed in” seems to happen frequently (whether officially…or “by choice”). So I’ve decided to dedicate an entire week of posts to our favorite snow books and the things we can do with them. Our book choice for this wonderful week of snow is The Story of Snow.

The Story of Snow by Mark Cassino celebrates the magic of snow through science, math, language arts, music, and visual art activities. The Story of Snow uses a brilliant balance of incorporating photographs of crystals, pen & ink drawings, text for 3 different reading levels, and uncovering the mystery of snow. It serves equally as both a fascinating non-fiction journey and an inspiring nature art book. For those who love snow, The Story of Snow opens the door of awe and wonder of the magnificent wet stuff and takes us on a personal journey.

Something To Do

Paper Snowflakes

When I think of snowflakes, I think of being a small child and cutting my very own out of paper. As a family we’ve spent countless hours doing the very same thing.

A Resource of snowflake patterns:

For small children who are learning how to use scissors or have just learned how to use scissors go to the snowflake creator here.

Here are eight simple snowflake patterns for ages 7 and up.

Here are 5 snowflake patterns good for ages 8 and up.

Here are 10 complex snowflake patterns for ages 9 and up.

Affirmation Snowflakes:: Letters from the Sky

 

The Story of Snow ends with a quote from Japanese scientist Ukichiro Nakaya: “A snow crystal is a letter from the sky.”

Scientifically this is a true statement. Each snowflake will tell you what the temperature was when it was formed. How much moisture is there, and how it grew as it froze etc. All of the these great details are in The Story of Snow.

The ides of messages or letters from the sky got us thinking,wouldn’t it be great if we could catch snowflakes and save them for later ?

If we could, what would our messengers from the sky tell us?

Cut a few snowflakes from the instructions and templates above. Open up each snowflake and write a little message on it. I’ve given you some ideas below. Next fold them back up and put them in a jar. Each day pull out a snowflake and read it’s special message. You can also do this in reverse. Each day cut a snowflake and write a message then put it in the jar to pull it out again one day.

Affirmation Ideas:

I am awesome
I am very intelligent.
Learning is fun and exciting.
I have many gifts and talents.
I am unique and special.
My family, friends, and teachers love me for who I am.

Telling Time With Snow

12 x 12 white or off white scrap book paper or a paper plate.
Pencil and Ruler
Puffy Paint


If using the scrap book paper, trace a dinner sized plate onto the paper.
Starting with the number 12 and then moving onto 1, draw the numbers like a clock in the circle.
To make a 6 sided snowflake we need to draw 6 guide lines. Draw one line from 12 to 6, another from 10 to 4, and the last line from 8 to 2.
Using puffy paint in the color of your choice. Draw over the guide lines. Cover the ends of the lines in the center by making a little circle of puffy paint. Make a triangle at the top of each one and then some snowflake like designs working towards just under the triangle.
Let dry.
Hang on the wall, bulletin board, or fridge. Now we can honestly say it’s snow time.

Catch Your Own Snow Crystals

“Once a snow crystal lands, it starts to wither away. Snow crystals can’t keep growing after they fall from the clouds and soon breaks down. This means if you want to see a snow crystal, you need to catch it in the air,….”

You will Need:

A piece of dark cardboard of foam board. It should be about 8 x 10 inches. Make sure the cardboard is stiff enough to stay flat when held by one edge.
A magnifying glass so you can see the snow crystals better.

During the Snow Crystal Catching

Put the cardboard or foam outside for at least ten minutes before catching snow. The board needs to be cold or else the snow will melt the second it hits the board. Make sure the board stays cold and dry.
Gripping the board by one edge, hold the board out flat and watch as snow lands on it. If it’s snowing hard stand under a porch or patio so less snow falls on the board.
Look at the smaller pieces of snow that land on the board. This is where you’ll find individual snow crystals. Use your magnifying glass to look at them closely.
Once you’ve looked at them, shake off the board and try again.

Snow Storm in a Jar

What happens when you get a lot of snowflakes? A snow storm. Doing all of these snowflake activities had a wishing for a very large snow storm. Since one isn’t in the neighborhood, we decided to make one in the kitchen instead.

What you’ll need:

A tall or fat glass jar or something similar
Baby oil
White paint
Water
Iridescent glitter
Alka Seltzer

Fill the jar 3/4 of the way with baby oil. In a bowl mix together very warm water and white paint to make white water. In a bowl place enough warm water that will almost fill the top of the jar. Add white paint to the warm water and stir well. Once mixed pour the white water into the jar. Sprinkle in the glitter. Then wait for the glitter and water to settle at the bottom of the jar.

Once the water is settled it is time to make a snow storm! This is our favorite part !!! Take an Alka Seltzer tablet and break it into pieces. Have the kids drop the pieces into the jar and watch what happens

**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!

***************************

Kids and nature go hand-and-hand and enjoying the bounty that the great outdoors brings is not just a “summer thing.” The newest book from children’s book authors Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters teaches families everywhere to enjoy not only the great outdoors with month-by-month activities, but to jump deeper into the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! A Year in the Secret Garden is a delightful children’s book with over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together. Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE!

The post The Snowed In Winter Book Festival-The Story of Snow appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

The Snowed-In Winter Book Festival- The Blizzard by John Rocco

Welcome to the Snowed-In Winter Book Festival!

One of the things I love most about winter is SNOW and being “snowed in” seems to happen frequently (whether officially…or “by choice”). So I’ve decided to dedicate an entire week of posts to our favorite snow books and the things we can do with them. Our first book choice for this wonderful week of snow is “Blizzard” by John Rocco.

How many times have we been released from school early because it started snowing ? I remember those days and see my own children’s excitement when that happens. Blizzard is a true life account of one such day and what followed to author John Rocco.

It was the infamous blizzard of 1978. On Monday is started to snow and as the wind whipped up school was released early. By the time John and his sister had reached home the snow was already covering their boots. By morning they couldn’t even open the front door.

On Tuesday they climbed out the window and had themselves a real “snow day” and went sledding. Sitting by the fire they sat drinking hot chocolate.

On Wednesday they climbed out the same window and dug snow tunnels making secret rooms under the snow.

By Thursday the snow plows still hadn’t come and their food started to run out. Young John Rocco was sure they wouldn’t be able to survive much longer on hot cocoa made with water.

On Friday, John consults his Arctic Survival Guide and realizes that he can take action. He had memorized the survival guide and knew what equipment he needed to be able to get to the store and save his family. Snowshoes made of tennis rackets would do just the trick.

On Saturday he made a grocery list and prepared his sled to carry it all. Then he was off. A very fun pull out neighborhood map shows the route John took and the distractions he found along the way. From building a snowman with friends to climbing a lookout tree, making a snow angel, exploring an igloo, joining a snowball fight, to checking in with neighbors and even getting lost.

At last he reached the store. He was tired. He was hungry and chilled to the bone but he couldn’t think of himself at a time like this, he had to rescue his family and the neighborhood from the deep clutches of the blizzard of 78.

On his way home he dropped off the groceries to the various neighbors. All were so grateful for John’s help.

Over hot chocolate made with milk, John shared the tale of his perilous journey to the grocery store.

The next day Sunday, snow plows finally arrived and John and his family had survived the blizzard of 1978.

This book is on our favorite book of 2014 list. Not only is John an amazing storyteller, bringing simple everyday life activities to a hero’s journey of a storybook, but he is a brilliant artist and illustrated the book as well. The book is laid out very cleverly with a fold out map. His use of the days of the week written in different clever ways. He is creative in his approach to capturing the colors of snow. In all we felt a part of his blizzard and wished we could have been there right there with him. This is a must read !!! Don’t miss this one.

 

Somethings To Do:

Hot Chocolate

I have one of the best recipes for hot chocolate. It will have you wanting more and even willing to walk to the store in a blizzard to get the supplies.

Ingredients

2-1/2 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate
1/2 cup cold water
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
A gallon of milk, or enough for all participants

Step 1 : Making the Base

In a heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat, melt the chocolate in the water, stirring constantly until it is smooth.
Add the salt and sugar, continue to stir for 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove from heat. Let the chocolate mixture cool completely while you prepare the whipped cream. This chocolate base will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Step 2: Whipping the Cream

Place a metal bowl and the beaters of a hand mixer in the freezer for 15 minutes.
Remove from freezer and whip the cream together with the vanilla extract.
Gently stir in the cooled chocolate mixture.
Place the chocolate cream mixture in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight to chill thoroughly and allow the flavors to blend.

Step 3: How to Make the Hot Chocolate

To make the hot chocolate you will need a gallon of milk and the refrigerated chocolate cream.

In each cup place a large spoonful of the chocolate cream mixture.
Slowly heat the milk in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a whisk so it won’t scald.
Pour hot milk into each cup and stir well. Sprinkle with freshly grated cinnamon.

(This recipe comes from the book The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Valarie Budayr and Roscoe Welply)

Snow Angels

1. Pick a spot.

2. Fresh powder works best—make a snow angel right after a storm, when the snow is untouched.

3. Fall backward.

4. Move your arms and legs.

5. Press your head.

6. Get up.

How to Make Snow Shoes Out of Tennis Rackets

Take two tennis rackets. Using thin rope or webbing attach your shoe to the toe and heal using webbing or a sturdy thin rope.

Sledding Games

Have two distinct lines going down a snow hill. Starting off at the same time, see who gets to the bottom of the hill first.

Snowball Fight Rules

To make sure your snow ball fights are safe and fair be sure to establish a “safety word” which will stop the game if anyone should be hurt or have their feelings hurt. Snowballs can only be made with snow. Adding anything to a snowball is dangerous. Set boundaries as to where the snow ball fight can take place. Set a time limit and make sure everyone plays fair.

Have a fun throwing snowballs !!

Snow Forts

Need some ideas on how to build a snow fort ? Have a look here and here.

**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!

–

Here’s another idea for great “snowed-in” reading! The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an Enhanced Digital eBook for Kids that is an entertaining and educational children’s book enhanced with animations, games, recipes, videos, and more providing hours of fun for kids and parents alike.

Based on the beloved story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this interactive children’s ebook is filled with action and adventure. With over 20 crafts and activities (including creating Gobstopper Gum and Chocolate Rivers, golden tickets, handmade Willy Wonka hats, etc.), this beautifully illustrated ebook re-lives the wonder and amazement through Willy Wonka’s world of magic. Grab your copy of Charlie at iTunes ASAP!

Don’t have an Apple device, but still want to experience the thrill, activities and magic of The Ultimate Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? This entertaining and educational children’s book based on the beloved story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is available in PDF form! With over 20 crafts and activities (including creating Gobstopper Gum and Chocolate Rivers, golden tickets, handmade Willy Wonka hats, etc.), this beautifully illustrated PDF re-lives the wonder and amazement through Willy Wonka’s world of magic.

The post The Snowed-In Winter Book Festival- The Blizzard by John Rocco appeared first on Jump Into A Book.