Carmela Dutra's Blog, page 16
May 24, 2014
summer time reading
Summer is just around the corner! I cannot believe it! Where has the year gone !? What comes to mind when you think about summer with your children? Swimming? Barbecues? Family Vacation? This year, why not make sharing books part of your family’s summer fun?
I know what you're thinking: "summer is a time for play, imagination, rest and relaxing. I'm not going to make my kids read when they are supposed to be on vacation enjoying themselves." Most of that is true! Summer is a time to jump and skip about.
There is a commercial that I have seen many times for a learning center, in the commercial there is a boy who has just gone swimming and starts shaking water out of his ear. Well more than just water comes out! You see visual images of everything he’s learned falling out of his ear from mathematics, to social studies. While this is a little farfetched to believe that what your child learned in school will fall out of his or her ears after swimming, the point remains the same. When you don’t practice what you learned, you lose it! So, how can you keep your child from forgetting what they have read or learned throughout this past school year?
Studies have proven that that children of all ages need to be read to or to read by themselves and to talk about books over the summer. When you read or talk to your young child about books, they develop important language skills, understandings about books and print, and knowledge about how stories are constructed that will help them to become a strong reader and writer. Your school-aged child’s summer reading and book discussions will help them maintain their reading skills, improve their reading fluency, and learn new vocabulary and concepts. Reading will NOT keep your child from forgetting all they learned. BUT, it will help, A LOT! Most importantly, when parents and children enjoy summer reading together, children develop a love of books and reading that lasts a lifetime.
Again I know what you are thinking: “This is great! In theory! How can this accomplished? I work, they have summer activities, how or where can we find the time?” Here are three ways to do so:
Set aside a consistent time each day for reading. Depending on your family’s schedule, reading time might be in the morning, afternoon or before bed. Whatever time you choose, stick to it, but also remember that flexibility around trips and special family events is OK. Connect read-aloud choices to summer activities. When you read and discuss books about things your child has experienced, you help them extend their understanding of experiences. Take books along on outings. Pack books in your beach bag or picnic basket, and bring a stack on long car rides. You and your child can enjoy books together anywhere you go this summer.
Just as true with anything you do in life, where there’s a will, there’s a way! If you want your children to read this summer, it will happen! I wish you all the best summer yet!
Have an Adventurous summer!
Carmela Dutra
Author of: The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove
www.lorenzothebear.com
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear
@lorenzothebear
I know what you're thinking: "summer is a time for play, imagination, rest and relaxing. I'm not going to make my kids read when they are supposed to be on vacation enjoying themselves." Most of that is true! Summer is a time to jump and skip about.
There is a commercial that I have seen many times for a learning center, in the commercial there is a boy who has just gone swimming and starts shaking water out of his ear. Well more than just water comes out! You see visual images of everything he’s learned falling out of his ear from mathematics, to social studies. While this is a little farfetched to believe that what your child learned in school will fall out of his or her ears after swimming, the point remains the same. When you don’t practice what you learned, you lose it! So, how can you keep your child from forgetting what they have read or learned throughout this past school year?
Studies have proven that that children of all ages need to be read to or to read by themselves and to talk about books over the summer. When you read or talk to your young child about books, they develop important language skills, understandings about books and print, and knowledge about how stories are constructed that will help them to become a strong reader and writer. Your school-aged child’s summer reading and book discussions will help them maintain their reading skills, improve their reading fluency, and learn new vocabulary and concepts. Reading will NOT keep your child from forgetting all they learned. BUT, it will help, A LOT! Most importantly, when parents and children enjoy summer reading together, children develop a love of books and reading that lasts a lifetime.
Again I know what you are thinking: “This is great! In theory! How can this accomplished? I work, they have summer activities, how or where can we find the time?” Here are three ways to do so:
Set aside a consistent time each day for reading. Depending on your family’s schedule, reading time might be in the morning, afternoon or before bed. Whatever time you choose, stick to it, but also remember that flexibility around trips and special family events is OK. Connect read-aloud choices to summer activities. When you read and discuss books about things your child has experienced, you help them extend their understanding of experiences. Take books along on outings. Pack books in your beach bag or picnic basket, and bring a stack on long car rides. You and your child can enjoy books together anywhere you go this summer.
Just as true with anything you do in life, where there’s a will, there’s a way! If you want your children to read this summer, it will happen! I wish you all the best summer yet!
Have an Adventurous summer!
Carmela Dutra
Author of: The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove
www.lorenzothebear.com
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear
@lorenzothebear
May 19, 2014
A Beary Special Thanks!
Good evening everyone!
This past week was The Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop 2014, and we had an amazing response! It was so thrilling to see how many people entered for their chance to win a signed copy of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove. I want to personally thank everyone who entered; all of you are “Beary special!” This has been a fantastic week, and I want to thank you all for your support. I am very much looking forward to bringing you future adventures for Lorenzo to take.
I wish everyone could have won a personal copy! I will be having more promotions soon, so stay tuned!
Have a Beary Special evening!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove
www.lorenzothebear.com
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear
@lorenzothebear
This past week was The Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop 2014, and we had an amazing response! It was so thrilling to see how many people entered for their chance to win a signed copy of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove. I want to personally thank everyone who entered; all of you are “Beary special!” This has been a fantastic week, and I want to thank you all for your support. I am very much looking forward to bringing you future adventures for Lorenzo to take.
I wish everyone could have won a personal copy! I will be having more promotions soon, so stay tuned!
Have a Beary Special evening!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove
www.lorenzothebear.com
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear
@lorenzothebear
May 18, 2014
Last day of Children's Book Week
Today is the LAST DAY of the 2014 Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop! Which means, today is also your last chance to enter for a signed copy of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove. Don't miss out! Hop on over and check it out! Don't forget to enter, today will be over before you know it!
Visit http://www.lorenzothebear.com/book-gi... for details on how to enter.
Sail away in an Adventure today!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove
www.lorenzothebear.com
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear
Visit http://www.lorenzothebear.com/book-gi... for details on how to enter.
Sail away in an Adventure today!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove
www.lorenzothebear.com
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear
May 16, 2014
99cent Book Sale!
It's finally here!! You can download a copy of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove to you kindle or tablet for just 99cents! Normally it costs $3.99 If you are an Amazon Prime member then it's free!
If want a cute chubby brown bear full of moxie, then Lorenzo is the bear for you. So hop on over and check it out! goo.gl/5blofh
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
Faceboo.com/LorenzotheBear (like me!)
Twitter.com/LorenzotheBear @LorenzotheBear
If want a cute chubby brown bear full of moxie, then Lorenzo is the bear for you. So hop on over and check it out! goo.gl/5blofh
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
Faceboo.com/LorenzotheBear (like me!)
Twitter.com/LorenzotheBear @LorenzotheBear
Friendship
I want to take the time today to talk about friendship. You can find friendship in many ways, from individuals you grew up with; to new people you meet along the way in life. You never know where that friendship will take you, the doors it will open, or the possibilities it will create. Friendship is something vital to one’s life, we we’re all created with this need to be around people, to associate, to love. Sometimes you do not know always know your true potential, sometimes it’s revealed through friendship. The bonds that have been created, and sadly sometimes even bonds that have been broken. Friendship can help you to grow, experience things in a new way, new understandings. Friendship isn’t limited to people you’ve known your entire life. Nor is bound by age, race, and creed; friendship is founded upon diversity, or at least it should be.
It’s interesting; people often say “I have X-amount of friends on Twitter, FaceBook, and let’s not forget Instagram!” How many of these “friends” are ones that you would truly call “MY FRIENDS!” Chances are just a handful at best. I can honestly say I have such friends that I have met on Twitter, and have on FaceBook too. A friendship built on diversity, a friendship that has even crossed the Pond! A friendship that shares a common goal, interest and desire! A friendship that I am most grateful for! A friendship that believes in supporting, helping, and encouraging one another; we started off as individuals with one goal, promote children’s literacy. Through this shared goal we came together, united in our purpose, in one purpose. If even one child, just ONE CHILD picks a book and enjoys it, and wants to keep reading, then we’ve accomplished what it is that we set out to do.
This is a new friendship we have, but it is a friendship that I treasure and never wish it to part. I want to thank all of my new friends for everything that they have done, in the ways that they have encouraged me. I hope that I have been able to give them just a fraction of what they have given me.
Furthermore, I hope everyone reading this takes away the importance or friendship, and seeks it out in their own life. Never forsaking the importance of friendship; never allowing diversity of any kind, to interfere in friendship. Each friendship is special and unique in its own way; I know ours is, and I wouldn’t trade it in! We are small but mighty group of Kid Lit Authors made up of Peeps, a Sleuthing almost eight year old detective, a lovable wolf pup name Lobo, a few gnomes to liven up the bunch. Some adorable owls a chubby brown bear full of moxie; along with so many other kinds of magic, mystery and adventure. So thank you Karen, Jamie, Kristen, C.L, Rhonda, Geena, Jill, Sue, Mrs D and Steve, MY FRIENDS!
Sail away in an adventure today, and
make some friends along the way!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
Faceboo.com/LorenzotheBear (like me!)
Twitter.com/LorenzotheBear @LorenzotheBear
www.kidliteratureauthors.com
https://twitter.com/PeachyEmmapeachye...
www.peepandfriends.com
www.lovablelobo.com
www.danipmystery.com
www..susannavas.com
www.geenabean.com
twitter.com/steveconoboy
https://twitter.com/CARLOTHEMOUSE
It’s interesting; people often say “I have X-amount of friends on Twitter, FaceBook, and let’s not forget Instagram!” How many of these “friends” are ones that you would truly call “MY FRIENDS!” Chances are just a handful at best. I can honestly say I have such friends that I have met on Twitter, and have on FaceBook too. A friendship built on diversity, a friendship that has even crossed the Pond! A friendship that shares a common goal, interest and desire! A friendship that I am most grateful for! A friendship that believes in supporting, helping, and encouraging one another; we started off as individuals with one goal, promote children’s literacy. Through this shared goal we came together, united in our purpose, in one purpose. If even one child, just ONE CHILD picks a book and enjoys it, and wants to keep reading, then we’ve accomplished what it is that we set out to do.
This is a new friendship we have, but it is a friendship that I treasure and never wish it to part. I want to thank all of my new friends for everything that they have done, in the ways that they have encouraged me. I hope that I have been able to give them just a fraction of what they have given me.
Furthermore, I hope everyone reading this takes away the importance or friendship, and seeks it out in their own life. Never forsaking the importance of friendship; never allowing diversity of any kind, to interfere in friendship. Each friendship is special and unique in its own way; I know ours is, and I wouldn’t trade it in! We are small but mighty group of Kid Lit Authors made up of Peeps, a Sleuthing almost eight year old detective, a lovable wolf pup name Lobo, a few gnomes to liven up the bunch. Some adorable owls a chubby brown bear full of moxie; along with so many other kinds of magic, mystery and adventure. So thank you Karen, Jamie, Kristen, C.L, Rhonda, Geena, Jill, Sue, Mrs D and Steve, MY FRIENDS!
Sail away in an adventure today, and
make some friends along the way!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
Faceboo.com/LorenzotheBear (like me!)
Twitter.com/LorenzotheBear @LorenzotheBear
www.kidliteratureauthors.com
https://twitter.com/PeachyEmmapeachye...
www.peepandfriends.com
www.lovablelobo.com
www.danipmystery.com
www..susannavas.com
www.geenabean.com
twitter.com/steveconoboy
https://twitter.com/CARLOTHEMOUSE
May 15, 2014
Book Sale $.99
Just want to remind everyone that starting tomorrow The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove will be on sale check it out. It will be on sale through Amazon.com the 16-22 and Friday-Sunday it will only be $.99!!
Sail away in an adventure today!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
http://www.amazon.com/Carmela-Dutra/e...
facebook.com/lorenzothebear(like me!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
www.lorenzothebear.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5jpA...
Sail away in an adventure today!
Carmela Dutra
Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
http://www.amazon.com/Carmela-Dutra/e...
facebook.com/lorenzothebear(like me!)
twitter.com/lorenzothebear @lorenzothebear
www.lorenzothebear.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5jpA...
3 days left for Children's Book Givewaway
Just a quick little post to remind everyone there are only 3 days left to enter the giveaways being offered during Children's Book Week. Don't miss out on your chance to win free children's books, gift cards etc. Check out all the giveaways being offered at
http://www.lorenzothebear.com/book-gi...
Have an Adventurous day!
Carmela Dutra Author of
The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
twitter.com/Lorenzothebear @Lorenzothebear
http://www.lorenzothebear.com/book-gi...
Have an Adventurous day!
Carmela Dutra Author of
The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
facebook.com/lorenzothebear (like me!)
twitter.com/Lorenzothebear @Lorenzothebear
May 13, 2014
My creation date!
Today is the creation date for Lorenzo the Bear! It was Four years ago today, that I watched an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. It was the one where Deborah writes a children's book. This was my muse so to speak.
My niece and nephew had been asking for me to write and draw them something, but I has been a little brain locked. After watching that episode the idea was sparked for a book about a bear I had as a child named Lorenzo. Four years later here I am a published book!
In those these four years I've taken a few other adventures, made some new friends, and foes. Keep your eyes open, my next adventure will be out soon...
*Hint* It has to do with Bees, and an Angry Hornet taking over the honey supply...
Have an Adventurous Day!
Carmela Dutra Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
Facebook.com/LorenzotheBear (Like me!)
https://twitter.com/LorenzotheBear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
http://www.amazon.com/Carmela-Dutra/e...
My niece and nephew had been asking for me to write and draw them something, but I has been a little brain locked. After watching that episode the idea was sparked for a book about a bear I had as a child named Lorenzo. Four years later here I am a published book!
In those these four years I've taken a few other adventures, made some new friends, and foes. Keep your eyes open, my next adventure will be out soon...
*Hint* It has to do with Bees, and an Angry Hornet taking over the honey supply...
Have an Adventurous Day!
Carmela Dutra Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
Facebook.com/LorenzotheBear (Like me!)
https://twitter.com/LorenzotheBear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
http://www.amazon.com/Carmela-Dutra/e...
Amazon countdown May 16-22
Amazon Countdown is underway!Only a few days left until The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove will be on sale through Amazon for the Kindle starting at just $0.99! So mark your calendars May 16-22 don't miss it!
Have an Adventurous day!
Carmela Dutra Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
Facebook.com/LorenzotheBear (Like me!)
https://twitter.com/LorenzotheBear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
http://www.amazon.com/Carmela-Dutra/e...
Have an Adventurous day!
Carmela Dutra Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
Facebook.com/LorenzotheBear (Like me!)
https://twitter.com/LorenzotheBear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
http://www.amazon.com/Carmela-Dutra/e...
Children's Book Week Giveaway
It's almost the end of day 2 of the Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop 2014, it is so encouraging to see the excitement already being shown! This is such a wonderful opportunity to be able to share in, finding new books, meeting new people and the prizes! Don't miss out on this special week, it only comes around once a year.
So don't be shy! Hop on over and check out all there is being given away. It's still early and there is plenty to sign up for, check it out! http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_l...
Be sure to enter for a chance to win a signed copy of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove! http://www.lorenzothebear.com/book-gi...
Have an Adventurous day!
Carmela Dutra Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
Facebook.com/LorenzotheBear (Like me!)
https://twitter.com/LorenzotheBear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
So don't be shy! Hop on over and check out all there is being given away. It's still early and there is plenty to sign up for, check it out! http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_l...
Be sure to enter for a chance to win a signed copy of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear Encounter at Jellyfish Cove! http://www.lorenzothebear.com/book-gi...
Have an Adventurous day!
Carmela Dutra Author of The Adventures of Lorenzo the Bear
Facebook.com/LorenzotheBear (Like me!)
https://twitter.com/LorenzotheBear
www.LorenzotheBear.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
