Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 98

Read Around The Continents: 24 Children’s Books About Western Europe

Welcome back for our fifth installment of our series Read Around the Continents! So far we’ve read our way through Eastern Europe, Africa, South America and North America.

This month we are exploring the reading, books and culture of Western Europe!

Western Europe is the region comprising the westerly countries of Europe. While the term has a geographic context, another main definition developed during the Cold War (approx. 1945-1991) to describe the countries associated with the Western European Union (1954–2011; now part of the European Union (EU)), a defensive alliance drafted in 1948 among non-communist European nations during the Cold War, as opposed to the countries of the Eastern Bloc (or Warsaw Pact). Countries culturally and geographically associated with other European regions that steered clear of Soviet influence during the Cold War are usually included, while western members of the former Eastern Bloc (with the exception of Eastern Germany) are excluded.-Wikipedia

The Cat Who Walked Across France by Kate Banks & George Hallensleben. The cat and the old woman have lived happily together for many years in the stone house by the sea. But when the old woman dies, the cat is packed up with her belongings and sent north to the village where she was born. Soon he is forgotten. He walks the streets aimlessly until, spurred by memories and a longing to return to the place he knows and loves, the cat embarks on a journey to find the home he was taken away from.

Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus-Fourteen-year-old Espen and his friends are swept up in the resistance movement in Nazi occupied Norway. He gets his start delivering illegal newspapers, then graduates to the role of courier, and finally becomes a spy, dodging the Gestapo along the way. During five years of the Nazi regime, he gains–and loses–friends, falls in love, and makes one small mistake that threatens to catch up with him as he sets out to escape over the mountains to Sweden.

Atlas of Europe by Karen Foster: Explore Europe! Take a look at the continent’s countries, people, cities, plants, animals, farming and industry, transportation, and leisure activities.

Energy Island by Allan Drummond (Denmark): Hold onto your hats! It’s windy on the Danish island of Samso. Meet the environmentally friendly people who now proudly call their home Energy Island.

I Wonder Why Venetians Walk on Water by Philip Steele: This colorful globe-trotting book is packed with fascinating facts about countries, people, and places, providing readers with answers to questions as intriguing as “Where do elephants glow in the dark?” and “Which country has more sheep than people?”

Oh, Vienna! A Kids Guide to Vienna by Penelope Dyan: Vienna, the largest city in Austria, is its capitol. It is known as the city of music because of its musical roots, and it is also known as the city of dreams because it was home to the world’s first psycho-analyst, Sigmund Freud. The roots of the city lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that created a Medieval, Baroque city. Photographer John D. Weigand and award-winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan visited Vienna just before Christmas and saw many things that would delight a child. Dyan believes the key to traveling well with a child, especially a young one, is to not put them into overload.

Tales from a Finnish Tupa by James Cloyd Bowman, Margery Williams Blanco: First published in 1936, this book presents tales of magic like “The Mouse Bride” and “Antti and the Wizard’s Prophecy,” droll stories such as “The Pig-Headed Wife,” and fables from the collections of Eero Salmelainen and Iivo Härkönen, sharing Finnish wisdom on topics from the end of the world to how the Rabbit earned his self-respect. Featuring hand-rendered illustrations in full color, Tales from a Finnish Tupa is a folklore gem for all ages

Little Philippe of Belgium by Madeline Brandeis: This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Germany ABCs: A Book about the People and Places of Germany by Sarah Heiman: An alphabetical exploration of the people, geography, animals, plants, history, and culture of Germany.

Greece by Madeline Donaldson:Pack your bags! We’re headed to Greece. On this whirlwind tour, you’ll learn all about the country’s landscape, culture, people, and more. We’ll explore Greece’s bustling cities and scenic islands, visit an amazing temple called the Parthenon, and snack on stuffed grape leaves and a pastry made from honey. A special section introduces Greece’s capital, language, population, and flag. Hop on board and take a fun-filled look at your world.

Foods of Iceland by KidHaven Press (not just about food): Studying world cultures has never tasted so good! A delectable blend of geography, history, health, daily life, celebrations and customs. A Taste of Culture offers a rich array of culinary and cultural elements. Specifically prepared for upper-elementary and lower-middle school students, each volume in this series introduces a country and its culture by way of its foods, cooking traditions, recipes, customs, eating habits and food sources.

The Story of Ireland by Richard Brassey: Comic, colorful, and succinct, with short text-bytes, lots of pictures, and jokey captions, this is a brilliant introduction to the story of Ireland. From its pictorial endpaper maps to the panels of “Irish Icons” ranging from Brian Boru to the Abbey Theatre, it is packed with useful and fascinating information. A story that is often complicated and turbulent is told with sensitivity and clarity, from the first legends right up to the present day.

Luxembourg by Ann Heinrichs

Fair Monaco by Brock Cole:When Maggie, Kate, and little Nora go to stay with their grandmother in the city, they beg her to let them play outside, but she’s too afraid. Her back is bad, her feet are bad, and her head is full of worries. That night when the girls find their way into their grandmother’s dreams, they realize they can do something to make the worries go away.

Norway in Pictures by Eric Braun

Christmas in Norway by Jack Manning

The Miracle Dogs of Portugal by Tracy Aiello: Miracle Dogs of Portugal is the almost-true story of historical figure Henry the Navigator and the dog that saved his life – Milagro the Portuguese Water Dog. Set against a backdrop of actual historical events, the story is sure to remind kids of all ages to love their friends, summon their courage and follow their dreams.

Welcome to Spain by Mary Berends: Explore Spain and learn about its history, geography, food, special celebrations and pastimes. Includes full-color photographs, table of contents, sidebars, map, native-language word list, glossary, research sources and index.

Isabel Saves the Prince by Joan Holub: Young Isabel loves her peaceful life. But when the king summons her and her brother, Alfonso, to live with him, Isabel knows they have no choice but to go. She is worried because the king’s way of life is very different — what if she and her brother don’t fit in? Then the king’s men accuse Alfonso of treason, and Isabel knows she must step up and do what’s right — for her brother and for Spain.

Kidnapped in Sweden (Screech Owl Series) by Roy MacGregor: The Screech Owls are off to Stockholm to take part in the first-ever International Goodwill Peewee Tournament, featuring teams from Finland, Norway, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Russia, as well as from all over Sweden.

Sweden by Charles Phillips: Step inside Sweden, land of contradictions. Discover the secrets of one of the world’s most equitable economies. Meet King Carl XVI Gustaf, Sweden’s head of state. Meet the rugged Nordic race who inhabit this land of ice, snow, and midnight sun. Let Sweden’s starkly beautiful lake and forest landscapes fill you with serenity.

Switzerland by Lyn Larson: Pack your bags! We’re headed to Switzerland. On this whirlwind tour, you’ll learn all about the country’s landscape, culture, people, and more. We’ll explore Switzerland’s snow-capped mountains and famous rivers, see horned ibex and chamois, watch bears playing at an outdoor park, and sample delicious cheese and chocolate.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri: What happens when a little orphan girl is forced to live with her cold and frightening grandfather? The heartwarming answer has engaged children for more than a century, both on the page and on the screen. Johanna Spyri’s beloved story offers youngsters an endearing and intelligent heroine, a cast of unique and memorable characters, and a fascinating portrait of a small Alpine village.

The Secret Garden by Frances H. Burnett: When spoiled child Mary Lennox loses her family to a cholera outbreak, she moves to her uncle’s manor surrounded by a massive garden. Within, Mary discovers a whole new outlook on life thanks to a supportive household and the garden’s power of healing.

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Published on November 05, 2013 04:03

Weekend Links: Books and Fun

It’s time for Weekend Links! This is my chance to share with my readers all the wonderful and inspiring things that I have come across in the course of my weekly Internet travels. With cold weather and shorter days looming, thoughts are turning to family friendly activities that can promote learning through play. Here’s some that caught my eye this week:

Library Adventures invited me to come in and guest post and the result was a very fun post filled with book love and activities: Having Fun With the Penderwicks.

I also feel like I hit the motherload of book activities at No Time For Flashcards delightful post 23 Fall Books with Crafts To Match

JIAB FlashBack: I dug into the archives and found this great activity from a few years ago. The Unfinished Angel By Sharon Creech Book Review and Activity http://wp.me/p1MmQB-1D

I was also delighted to see BookBoard’s Book Shelf of-the-week is offering books that inspire readers to use their imagination.

We are really loving the endless choices from the book subscription service for kids called BookBoard. If you are looking for a fun fresh way to keep your little readers engaged and reading-BookBoard is a perfect solution.

Bookboard’s goal is to create motivated readers, and we do this by re-imagining story time for today’s digital age. As kids read, they’re rewarded by unlocking new books to add to their collections. This will encourage your kids will keep coming back to unlock the next story again and again.

Read on!

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Published on November 03, 2013 04:23

Otto & the Grand Prix Bees-Kip Noschese Bookjump and Review

Kip Noschese’s beautifully illustrated story introduces readers to a funny friendship, a wicked race car and an important lesson.

The reality is, we all have our fears. Personally, I’m petrified of sharks even though I live no where near the ocean. However, I don’t think I’ll ever befriend a shark, no matter the situation. In this delight children’s tale, Otto is stuck in a sticky situation when he wrecks his car during an important race.

Lost and without a clue of what to do, a swarm of bees approaches Otto. Otto is terrified of bees, but quickly realizes these are no ordinary bees. They dream of racing like him and speed runs through their wings. The bees want to help Otto fix his race car and for the sake of his race dream, Otto bravely overcomes his fear as they work side by side to fix the car for the Grand Prix.

Will the sacrifice be worth it? Can Otto work with the bees to win his race? Well, hop in, and let’s find out!

Kip Noschese:
New to the writing world, Kip Noschese is known for his work as an animator for several large production companies such as Warner Bros., Fox Television, and Klasky Csupo Animation working on Family Guy, The Wild Thornberries, As Told By Ginger, and The Rugrats as their background designer. Mr. Noschese’s illustrations in Otto shows his great talent for writing AND illustrating with beautiful images that make you feel like your right beside Otto in the passenger seat, watching the world zoom by.

Something To Do

Otto and the Grand Prix Bees had us wanting to race a bee car of our very own. We went to Hobby Lobby and bought a car kit. Looking at the illustrations from the book we painted our car “exactly” like the one in the book. My Boy Wonder has had countless hours of fun racing his car around the house.

Interest in more “bee-related” Crafts, Activities and Recipes? Check out my past post here that includes all of the above including this yummy recipe:

Let’s Get Cooking With Honey

Honey Cinnamon Rolls

2 packages yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup HONEY
2 tsp salt
1 pint milk
2 eggs
6 cups flour
1/2 cup margarine
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon mixed

Dissolve yeast with warm water in a small bowl. Set aside. In a large pan, melt shortening and add HONEY, salt and milk, and allow it to cool. Beat eggs and add to yeast mixture. Then, beat in flour. Turnout dough on floured surface and knead until smooth. Place dough in bowl and let it rise until it’s double in bulk.

Prepare two 9 X 12 pans with 1/4 cup margarine each and sprinkle with brown sugar. Add nuts and dab teaspoons of ice cream over the entire pan. When dough has risen, punch down and place half on floured surface and roll out to 9×12 size with floured rolling pin. Spread with butter or margarine,then brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up like a jelly roll then cut off about 1 1/2” slices and place on prepared 9 X 13 pan. You should get about 16 cinnamon rolls per pan. Let these rise until double in bulk. Bake in 350°oven for about 30 minutes. When brown on top turn upside down on waxed paper to cool.

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Published on October 31, 2013 04:57

Help Us Spread the Word: Book or Treat (A Book-ish Twist on Halloween)

Last year I started a revolution…..well…something I hope will be a revolution anyway

It started when I was driving and saw a box of children’s books someone had put out for Curb Day. I stopped and asked the homeowner if I could take them.

On the way home I was thinking of what to do with these books. Who or what organization could I give them to? That’s when I saw the huge pumpkin sitting on my neighbors porch, and that got me thinking about Halloween.

“Too bad they don’t give out books instead of candy,” I thought to myself.

And that’s when it hit me. We could do both!! We could give out books and candy!

Hence the birth of what is now known as Book-or-Treat.

Book-or-Treat in Three Easy Steps:

Book-or-Treat is a time to clean out your bookshelves.

Place all the children’s books you don’t want into a box or basket.

When Halloween night arrives, let the trick-or-treaters pick out a book and some candy. Please take a few minutes and watch this very special Book or Treat video.

Other versions of Book-or-Treat are:

Have a costume book swap party. Have everyone come in costume with a bunch of books they’ve read and no longer want. Place them on the dining-room table. Let the kids wander around the table and pick a book and then out through the kitchen to pick up a treat bag.
Have a neighborhood version of Book-or-Treat. Please feel free to use our Book or Treat 8.5×10 print (details below). Tape the posters to the outside of the mailboxes. Kids know that they will be able to pick a book and get some treats. Many parents pull wagons behind them to carry all the books.

At the end of the evening, any books we do have left over from our Book or Treat are donated to the Friends of the Library Book Sale.

I would LOVE it if you joined us in this movement to give your previously loved books to hopeful little goblins and princesses on Halloween. Join is in promoting some reading fun by giving away a book along with some sweet treats. Sign up below for access to your own Book or Treat Poster and Community Guide!

FREE Book-or-Treat Community Kit
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Published on October 29, 2013 04:30

Weekend Links: Great Books, Spooky Sales and Cool Events

It’s time for Weekend Links! This is my chance to share with my readers all the wonderful and inspiring things that I have come across in the course of my weekly Internet travels.

As everyone knows I am passionate about diversity in children’s literature. This week several very good blog posts came to my attention and I’d like to share them:

Erica at What Do We Do All Day offered up a wonderful post 15 Multicultural Books for Babies and Toddlers

Caroline By Line also had some great links and discussions on Cultural Diversity in Children’s Literature.

This week, I am feeling like a bit of a world traveler. Not only am I just getting back from my own person overseas trip, we’ve been sharing all sort of “worldly travel” booklists and information right here on JIAB! Here’s a recap:

Read Around the Continents: Eastern Europe. This month we celebrated our FOURTH installment of this fun series with some Eastern Europe book suggestions for kids. IN the past we have also visited Africa, South America and North America,

Little Passports is the perfect way to keep your kids learning and having fun at home, on the road, over the weekend or even on a plane! From October 22nd – 31st, Little Passports has a sale that will save you $20 on a new 1 year subscription when you use the code OCT20 at checkout. The packages take your children on new adventures around the US or the world, depending on what option you choose… but take a look at the subscriptions yourself and decide what you want here: Early Bird Sale at Little Passports from Oct 22nd-31st!

Halloween might be only a few short days off, but it’s not too late to create your own Book or Treat event!

Book or Treat is something I dreamed up last year as a creative way to combine the act of Trick-or-Treating and the giving of books to kids. Read how it all began HERE and please help us spread the word to encourage other families and communities to implement their own Book-or-Treat campaign!

FREE Book-or-Treat Community Kit
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First Name

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Published on October 27, 2013 04:40

Read Around The Continents: Eastern Europe

Welcome back for our fourth installment of our series Read Around the Continents! So far we’ve read our way through Africa, South America and North America.

This month we are exploring the reading, books and culture of Eastern Europe!

The Multilingual Thesaurus of the European Union[20] defines the following countries as Eastern Europe: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.-Wikipedia

Ukrainian Folk Tales by Irina Zheleznova

Russia the Land by Greg Nickles

Czech Republic by Charlotte Guillain

P is for Poland by Agnieszka Mrowczynska and Prodeepta Das

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Hungary-Countries Around the World: Hungary by Charlotte Guillain

Andy’s Cherry Tree by Miranda Haxhia and Zaur Deisadze

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Croatia Cultures of the World by Robert Cooper

Lithuania by Melanie Waldron

Looking at Lithuania by Jan Willen Bultje

Slovenia by Danica Veceric

Slovakia in Pictures by Francesca Di Piazza

Slovakia: The Heart of Europe by Olga Drobna

Bulgaria by Kristin Van Cleaf

The Black Stallion and the Lost City by Steve Farley

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The Mittens by Jan Brett

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Ukraine by Kristin Van Cleaf

Serbia: Enchantment of the World by Joann Milivojevic

Drita by Renee Ritsi (Albania)

See any favorites here? Have any titles you’d like to add to our list? Don’ be shy! I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Side Note: Speaking of world travel…Little Passports is having a SALE!

Little Passports is the perfect way to keep your kids learning and having fun at home, on the road, over the weekend or even on a plane! From October 22nd – 31st, Little Passports has a sale that will save you $20 on a new 1 year subscription when you use the code OCT20 at checkout. The packages take your children on new adventures around the US or the world, depending on what option you choose… but take a look at the subscriptions yourself and decide what you want here: Early Bird Sale at Little Passports from Oct 22nd-31st!

ALSO: Halloween is almost upon us and Jump Into a Book has found a creative way to put a fun and “Book-ish” twist on this spooky holiday!

For more details on how you can create your own Book-or-Treat event, grab our free Community Kit that includes how to enjoy “Book-or-Treat” at your house, ideas on spreading the word in your community and even a FREE download of our bright and colorful Book or Treat poster! Sign up below and bring the joy of book-giving to your Halloween festivities!

FREE Book-or-Treat Community Kit
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Published on October 24, 2013 04:22

Little Miss History Goes to the Statue of Liberty Bookjump and Review

**Today’s blog post was created by Jump into a Book intern, Hannah Rials. Hannah is a senior in high school and is working Fall semester with me on a variety of projects.

Little Miss History Travels to the Statue of Liberty by Barbara Ann Mojica is extremely special. Barbara is a good friend to this website and I’m so honored and thrilled to share her latest release here. I learned so many things about the Statue of Liberty that I didn’t know before. Let’s journey into the pages of this really fun read.

Even as a student who has gone through a year of Advanced Placement American History I learned all sort of interesting factoids while reading this book. For instance, I did not know that the rays on her headband represented the seven continents. I thought that only Laboulaye worked on the Statue, not three other Frenchmen AND an American. What I’m wondering is how they took the statue apart?

That seems like a miraculous deed. This fun story provides interesting facts that delve deeper into the history of our Lady Liberty. Not only are the illustrations beautiful and creative, but they also incorporate actual images of the places discussed. She even includes Anna Lazarus’s poem displayed at the base of the Statue of Liberty.

Extra Facts:

The French made two smaller replicas of the statue; one in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris and the other on an island in the Seine river. They look toward the Atlantic Ocean, towards their big sister. There is a third replica in the hometown of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Colmar as well.

Something to Do

Headband and Torch Craft from Buggy and Buddy:

Visit the Torch Cam: Live Streaming from the Torch

Stamps and Coins from StatueofLiberty.org

The American Immigrant Wall of Honor at Ellis Island, the largest Wall of names in the world, pays tribute to America’s rich cultural heritage, celebrating American immigration from its earliest beginnings right up to present day.

photo source

Learn about the Peopling of America at EllisIsland.org

Lady Liberty Cupcake from Spoonful:

Great Activities from TheStatueofLiberty.com Website:

Brainpop on the Declaration of Independence:

Do you have a favorite Lady Liberty or Ellis Island memory you’d like to share?

The post Little Miss History Goes to the Statue of Liberty Bookjump and Review appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

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Published on October 22, 2013 04:39

Weekend Links: Halloween Prep Time

It’s time for Weekend Links! This is my chance to share all the fun, inspiring and amazing kid-friendly links I have discovered in my Internet travels. As you would suspect, this week has been filled with discovering all sorts Halloween-related ideas, reads and activities. Here are a few of my favs:

Love nature and want to incorporate that into your Halloween? The World Wildlife Fund has FREE stencils to help make your pumpkin wildlife-themed this year! http://wwf.to/19qLdU2

I always have a soft spot for ANY sort of Halloween treat making and I found these adorable idea from HGTV. Top 25 easy recipes for your #Halloween celebration>> http://oak.ctx.ly/r/eqpx

I also adore these Graveyard Pudding Cups because they remind me so much of the Dig Your Own Hole treat activity. This activity was part of our Holes by Louis Sachar bookjump that JIAB intern Hannah Rials created.

Six Sister’s Stuff (say THAT 10 times fast) assures that your kids will love these Halloween Graveyard Pudding Cups!

We are also happily celebrating the impending Halloween holiday with KiteReader Author Donna Davies and All Hallow’s Eve Press Review & Giveaway.

Donna’ is kindly offering one lucky winner the chance to win her brand new book ByeBye Boogieman for some bedtime Halloween-ish reading. The giveaway ends 10/22 so scoot over here ASAP to enter to win. I’ve included some more ghoulish fun ideas on this post as well. AND if you visit author Donna Davis’ blog, she has tons of fun crafts to go along with her books!

Also on the JIAB blog this week is our Saturday Book Club Linky Party that has some VERY cute book/Halloween-related crafts, recipes and activities for kids. You can view the monthly Saturday Book Club Linky HERE.

This isn’t Halloween related, but I noticed this Berenstain Bears series on a BookBoard bookshelf this week. This series is among my favorites for great kids books with a great message.

And lastly….and this is sooooo important to the JIAB team-Book Or Treat.

Book or Treat is something I dreamed up last year as a creative way to combine the act of Trick-or-Treating and the giving of books to kids. Read how it all began HERE and please help us spread the word to encourage other families and communities to implement their own Book-or-Treat campaign!

For more details on how you can create your own Book-or-Treat event, grab our free Community Kit that includes how to enjoy “Book-or-Treat” at your house, ideas on spreading the word in your community and even a FREE download of our bright and colorful Book or Treat poster! Sign up below and bring the joy of book-giving to your Halloween festivities!

FREE Book-or-Treat Community Kit
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Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Email Format

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Published on October 20, 2013 04:43

KiteReader Author Donna Davies and All Hallow’s Eve Press Review & Giveaway

Donna Davies, the Halloween Queen, channels her love of this haunting holiday into her charming, comical children’s books. She has released six books, including a coloring book, that all center around the legends of All Hallow’s Eve.

Ms. Davies is a staunch supporter of local libraries and historical societies, she serves as President of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Historic Fund and curates the Hudson Valley Halloween Magazine as an “en-spook-lopedia” of all things grim and ghoulish in the area.

Night of the Candy Creepers:

It’s Halloween and you’re out for the night,

Not quite realizing you’re in for a fright.

The candy creepers have come to town,

And they will gobble your candy down.

The candy creepers are masters of disguise, but boy are they in for a big surprise.

A fun Halloween book sure to bring back fond childhood memories with a surprise ending!

Delightfully illustrated by Rob Peters.

Other Books By Donna Davies

Bye Bye Boogie Man (NEW)

A Mostly Ghostly Christmas

The Halloween Queen who Lost her Scream: An Evil Blue Fairy Tale

Sleepy Hollow and the Road You Better Not Follow

Halloween Book Coloring Pages

Something To Do

Paper Plate String Spider Web:

Save Green by Being Green has a wonderful tutorial and activity on creating your own String Spider Web

This Eyeball Topiary from Crafts-n-Coffee makes me GIGGLE!

Get the rest of this great craft instruction HERE.

Giveaway!

Donna was kind enough to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of her new children’s book Bye Bye BoogieMan!

Does your child fear the creatures of night? Well, here’s a little girl who is up for a boogeyman fight! This rip-roaring fun story will transform any child who is spooked by monsters in the closet or under the bed into rulers of their rooms. After taking a few lessons from little LeAnne, they will never fear that nasty boogeyman again.

Giveaway guidelines and Official Rules:

Contest runs from October 17 until October 22nd.
Must be 18 years or older to enter.
One entry per household.
Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
Prize winner has 48 hours to claim prize.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on October 23, 2013

How to Enter to Win ONE copy of Donna’s book Bye-Bye Boogieman

Mandatory: Like All Hallow’s Eve on Facebook

Mandatory: Like Jump Into A Book on Facebook

Extra Entries: Visit Donna’s Website and let us know which book you would like to read next.

Follow: Tweet about the Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looking for more Halloween fun? How about incorporating the fun of this spooky holiday and the love sharing books. Join the Book-or-Treat Campaign and create one in your neighborhood! Grab your own Book-or-Treat Community Kit here:

FREE Book-or-Treat Community Kit

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Published on October 17, 2013 04:03

Holes by Louis Sachar (And Some Fun “Holes-Inspired” Activities!)

We have someone very special guest blogging for us today! Hannah Rials is a senior at Maryville High School and as part of her “career” development she has been interning for me since the beginning of the school year. It is her dream to be an author, editor, and publisher. Already she has finished a full length YA novel and is in the works of creating a series of third -fifth graders. Soon she will be off to college to pursue her literary dreams but before that happens she’s sharing her very favorite book with us here. Welcome Hannah !!

I know Holes by Louis Sachar is a favorite here as well. Wait until you see what Hannah has come up with.

Holes by Louis Sachar

Holes is my favorite Louis Sachar book. The history of Kate Barlow and Stanley’s great-great grandfather woven into the story brings a new dimension to a children’s chapter book. He gives children the ability to make connections between history and Stanley Yelnat’s story. He pulls you into the harsh conditions of Camp Green Lake and keeps you captivated with the mystery surrounding it. None of the camps I ever went to had buried treasure. I read this with my mom when I was ill. It’s not just a story for kids, but for kids and parents to enjoy together.

We all have something or someone who we blame our bad luck on, whether it be that we didn’t get enough sleep or that the world is out to get us. But Stanley Yelnats believes that his bad luck comes from his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great grandfather Elya Yelnats. After Madame Zeroni cursed him for not carrying her up the mountain, bad luck has traveled down the family line to Stanley’s own unfortunate incident.

When a pair of famous sneakers, stolen from “Sweet Feet”, drops from the sky into Stanley’s life, the judge gives Stanley two choices: Camp Green Lake or jail. As Stanley had never been to camp before. But Camp Green Lake is not your average boys’ camp. Here, we dig holes to build character, and if you don’t dig a hole five feet deep and five feet wide, well you just aren’t building enough character. Free time is limited, and you get used to eating food out of a can. But there is a secret buried deep in the dirt of the dried up lake, and Stanley might just be the boy to dig it out.

Here in the harsh, scorching wasteland, Stanley (AKA Caveman) not only discovers himself but also the cure to his family’s perpetual bad luck. Join Stanley as he solves the mystery of Kissin’ Kate Barlow, discovers the cure to stinky feet, and comes close enough to a yellow-spotted lizard to actually see the yellow spots. Will Stanley survive to tell the tale to his great-grandchildren?

Grab your copy of Holes HERE.

Something To Do

Dig Your Own Hole:

What You’ll Need:

A tall glass
Oreos
Graham crackers
Treasures (I used York Peppermint Patties and Rollos still in the wrappers)
A spoon (shovel)

1. Split the Oreos and scrape off the icing. Put both the Oreo pieces and the graham crackers into the food processor until crumbled and well mixed—add more graham crackers depending on how light you want your dirt.

2. Add your treasures, making sure that they aren’t all clustered together.

3. Pour your “dirt” into a tall glass and pack firmly to give the feel of dry dirt. Let harden for a few hours.

4. Pick up your shovel (spoon) and dig! Afterwards, enjoy the tasty treasures that you find.

Cootie Catcher Nickname Generator

Step1

What You’ll Need:

Piece of paper
Scissors
Markers
You’re making a cootie catcher

Fold the bottom corner diagonally to make an equilateral triangle. Trim off the excess
Unfold triangle—you should have a square. Fold the other corner diagonally to make a center. Open it.
Fold each corner diagonally to the center
Turn the paper over so that the folded sides are against the table. Then fold all the corners to the center diagonally.
Write numbers 1-8 on the triangles.
Fold the square in half. Then fold it in half horizontally.
Write a noun on the inside of each triangle (i.e. buzzard, man, cave, etc.) and color each triangle a different color. Pull the triangles up and write an adjective (i.e. stinky, lone, kissin’, etc.).

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

How it works:

Pick a number between 1 and 8. That is how many times you move the cootie catcher.
4 colors/ words will be showing. Pick a color. Whatever word goes with that number is the first part of the nickname
Pick a number between 1 & 8. Then pick another color. Lift the triangle and the adjective is the second part of the name.
Arrange them in whatever order you choose.
Mine nickname is Silent Bird.

Madame Zeroni’s Song

As you well know, Madame Zeroni’s song has been passed down from one Yelnats generation to the next. Whenever they think about their ancestor lugging the growing pig up that mountain and singing the song, they seem to hear the song themselves.

You know the words, now let’s put music to them. I have given the basic notes of Madame Zeroni’s song. Learn to play it on the piano or on another instrument. If you have a musician in the family, see if they can make it into a grand symphony!

Final Note!

Don’t forget to link up your children’s book related crafts, recipes and activities on our Saturday Book Club Linky Party!

ALSO, looking to add a fun twist to Halloween and Trick-or-Treating?

Join the Jump Into a Book Book-or-Treat Community Project! JIAB has devised away to combine a much-loved holiday with the gift of book giving.