Kids need more exposure to science. We’ve all heard the news reports. And, while some of us have fond memories of looking at boogers under our first microscopes, I know some of you groan under the remembered weight of textbooks full of big words. How can you make science fun for your children? Check out the National Science Teachers Association’s recently published list of Outstanding Science Books for K-12 Students for 2013.
How do books make the cut? Continue reading
Douglas the bear needs something special to kick start his day. Instead of coffee, he heads out in search of a hug. Through a series of comical trials and errors, Douglas finds his perfect hug partner, his mother. Be sure to turn the last page for a pictorial demonstration of hugging positions (e.g. the sandwich hug, the group hug and the unrequited hug). These silly illustrations may lead your family to create a hugging combo all your own.
After sharing this read-aloud nominee with your preschooler, try these fun activities: Continue reading
When my son was a preschooler, he wore a dashing pair of boots with a cowhide print. They were ankle-high, with zippers, and nothing could surpass their awesomeness. So I understand the central character of Greg Gormley’s “Dog in Boots,” a well-read, boot-loving pup, inspired by a pair of truly fantastic boots worn by the cat in his favorite story. After a quick trip to the shoe store, Dog’s new boots don’t work out so well, so he makes several return trips to find the perfect footwear to meet all of his doggie needs, like digging and swimming and scratching and running. Luckily the shoe salesman has a pure heart and helps Dog discover that the perfect thing has been right under his nose all along.
This adorably illustrated book can initiate conversations with children about canine behavior. (What can dogs do? Can you do that, too?) It’s also fun to for kids to predict what will happen with each new pair of shoes. Continue reading
Hand small children a book, and you never know what they will do with it; they may wear it as a hat, try to eat it, or even (gasp) open it up and enjoy the thrills inside. Exploring the many ways to handle books is an important step in the process of growing to love reading, although it can be difficult for adults who want to protect the beloved treasures. I suggest you put that copy of “Pippi Longstocking” that your dad read to you each night on a high shelf, grab some nearly indestructible board books, and then act out Leonid Gore’s “The Wonderful Book.”
The tale begins when a rabbit finds a mysterious red object in the forest. The forest animals use this object in a variety of humorous ways Continue reading
April Sayre’s “If You’re Hoppy” is in the running for this year’s Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award. This twist on the traditional song “If You’re Happy and You Know It” has readers singing along and guessing what animals come next. If you’re hoppy and you know it, you’re…
“a frog.
Or a bunny.
Or a cricket!”
Unexpected asides about growling tummies and pterodactyls will keep readers on their toes and guessing creatively. The comical illustrations will inspire your crew to act out the book. Who wouldn’t want to be a growly dog? Continue reading