Spring Fling!: Animal Stories that Invite Springtime Wonder

Spring is a time of rebirth and a breath of fresh air from the winter doldrums. Armies of candy-hued blossoms stretch as far as the eye can see, glorious warm sunshine-infused days begin to dot our weather forecasts and dreams of long strolls and perfect picnics are a welcome occurrence.

Spring also means pale pastels and the increase of dazzling electric shades such as the increasingly popular cobalt blue and rich greens which are some of the seasons hottest shades to don.

On the book front seasoned authors and young ingenues celebrate the joys of spring in several tales that will put a spring in your step, a perky bunny hop, and will definitely be something to peep about to your students, parents and juvenile readers from here to Timbuktu.

Chickens

Chicks Run Wild by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Published: 2011

These chicks embrace the splendor of childhood in this rollicking story about a mother hen whose "feathers get ruffled" by her rambuncious, spirited baby chicks zany bedtime antics. After numerous attempts to get her little fowl to sleep soundly in their beds, Mama hen unexpectedly joins her golden-feathered crew in a bedtime scheme to tire her chirpy brood. Will her plan help her rule the roost or will these chicks clucking antics get the best out of this frustrated fowl?

Bunnies

Scuba Bunnies by Christine Loomis
Published: 2004

Never underestimate the power of scuba goggles and fins to entrance some bodacious bunnies winsome  fantasies. Their imaginations hop off the page as they pretend to  scuba dive into the depths of the azure oceans to view enormous whales, schools of florescent fish and reams of other majestic marine life that will leave preschoolers ready to create their own seaworthy adventure. Stunning ocean-tastic images depicting the beasts of the deep invite inquiry and countless conversations for parent and child interaction.

Ducks

Lucky Ducklings by Eva Moore
Published: 2013

Being a Long Island native, this story drew me in faster than a Coney Island hot dog or a piece of New York-style cheesecake. Mix in some darling ducklings, heroic firefighters (sigh....) and a loving mother duck and you had me hooked from page one of this quackingly refreshing true story of a 2000 Long Island duck rescue. By adding Nancy Carpenter's, glossy, old school illustrations, the story was given a tender touch which engages knee-high readers to adults with its vintage charm. This story is definitely one good egg that will crack those with even the hardest shells.

National Chocolate Day is Today!

Break out the chocolate and whip up a cake, make chocolate chip cookies or brownies that will leave you and your family smiling because it's National Chocolate Day!

Get in the "bittersweet" spirit by getting in a chocolaty mood by reading one of these chocolate inspired stories, coloring a coloring sheet or learning more about this creamy and oh-so-delicious holiday!


Fiction 
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Ronald Dahl

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling

Non-Fiction 
Chocolate by Hershey: A Story About Milton S. Hershey by Betty Burford
The Story of Chocolate by Caryn J. Polin

Color a super-sweet coloring page dedicated to this day at Lil-Fingers.com (Scroll down page to view July 7th National Chocolate Day) 
http://www.lil-fingers.com/coloring/specialdays.php

Learn a little more about National Chocolate Day at this HolidayInsights.com page 
http://holidayinsights.com/other/chocolateday.htm

Get a deeper insight into everything chocolate by stopping by the National Confectioner's Association Chocolate Council site: http://www.thestoryofchocolate.com/ to learn what ingredients make this yummy treat, the many types of chocolate, and even where it comes from! A marvelously fact-filled site for the chocolate connoisseur in you!

Go on a chocolate factory tour! See the following website for some of the top chocolate factory tours in the U.S.: http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/28/5-best-chocolate-factory-tours-around-the-u-s/

How Puzzling?: Puzzles and Reading are the Perfect Fit! African Dream by Alan Hicks Produced by Suns Out Puzzle Company

Some may find it rather puzzling that I am quite the puzzle aficionado. There is something special about opening up a puzzle knowing that the thousands of uneven, oddly-shaped pieces create a marvelous work of art which uses both the process of elimination and creativity to assemble.

The puzzle I recently completed happens to be quite appropriate for this book-based blog. It is titled African Dream and exhibits the ingenious artwork of Alan Hicks. I feel there is nothing more beautiful than the scene depicted within this puzzle.

The tenderness of a mother and child reading never fails to pull at my heart strings. The beautiful backdrop of an African fairytale theme absolutely took my breath away with its resilience and fantastical aura.

African fairytales will excite children of all ages with their use of imagery and wordplay. Below you will find some wonderful African fairytales that your children may enjoy.

Anansai Does the Impossible! : An Ashanti Tale by Verna Aardema
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears : A West African Tale by Verna Aardema
Pretty Salma : A Little Red Riding Hood Story from Africa by Niki Daly
Mabela the Clever Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald

The Bathroom Chronicles: Potty Training Resources for Busy Parents

June is National Potty Training Awareness Month. In order to signify the importance of potty training for both toddlers and preschooler I have written the post below. 


Potty training is a major milestone in a child's life. It is associated with greater self-care independence and acknowledgement of ones physical needs. While many parents find potty training more challenging then other developmental milestones, please understand that children are not being difficult if they do not wish to use the toilet at a particular time.


Many times children fear the unknown (even) when it comes down to something we perceive as simple as using the toilet on ones own. Other times, children diets can cause constipation and they associate pain with using the potty. In this case, a change in your child's diet may resolve this issue. Another cause of bathroom issues may be that your child is too preoccupied with a fascinating activity, such as playing with a favorite toy, and may ignore the urge to use the restroom. 


Some of the steps you can use to make potty training easier are simple songs which help children realize the necessities of using the restroom, potty training DVDs with cuddly cartoon characters or children that help establish the normalcy of going potty, creating potty training sticker charts as a form of positive reinforcement each time they successfully complete their potty training, and simple books that can be read numerous times to establish the routine. 


The following are wonderful resources that make potty training easier for both parents and children: 


Websites
http://www.pull-ups.com/na/activities.aspx?phase=0
Items in this section include an iGo Potty App for your iPhone, a wet or dry game, and a personality quiz which cues you in on you child’s potty training style. 

http://www.pull-ups.com/na/article_viewall.aspx?phase=4

These pertinent and informative articles with topics such as overnight toilet training, make potty training a breeze. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsHultPr-wA

Parents TV host Juli Auclair and guests discuss innovative bathroom tips and gadgets which help your child achieve potty training success. 

Parent's Resources
Stress-free Potty Training : A Common Sense Guide to Finding the Right Approach For Your Child by Sara Au 
The Playskool Guide to Potty Training : the Best Strategies, Essential Information, and Practical Advice For Your Toddler's Potty Success by Karen Deerwester 
Potty Training Girls the Easy Way: A Stress-free Guide to Helping Your Daughter Learn Quickly by Caroline Fertlemann 
Potty Training Boys the Easy Way : Helping Your Son Learn Quickly -- Even If He's a Late Starter by Caroline Fertlemann 

DVDs

Go Potty Go! Potty Training for Tiny Toddlers. Produced by Mazzarella Media 

Potty Adventures Potty Training in Easy to Follow Steps for Boys and Girls Produced by Soaring Star Productions  
Sesame Street Elmo’s Potty Time 

Books

My Potty and I: A friend in Need by The Bernstains

Your New Potty by Joanna Cole 

P.J. and the Puppy by Cathryn Falwell 

No More Diapers for Ducky by Bernadette G. Ford 

Once Upon a Potty by Alona Frankel (Boys and Girls editions available)

Potty by Mylo Freeman 

The Princess and the Potty by Wendy Cheyette Lewison 

Sam’s Potty by Barbo Lindgren 

Uh Oh! Gotta Go: Potty Tales From Toddlers by Bob McGrath 

On Your Potty by Virginia Miller 

Going to the Potty by Fred Rogers 

Dinosaur vs. the Potty by Bob Shea 

Potty Time by Guido Van Genechten

Happy Birthday Helen Oxenbury!

Helen Oxenbury was born on June 2, 1938. She is considered by many to be the essential baby storytime author and illustrator! 


The books which she has lovingly illustrated and authored are portraits of sentimentality and the quiet simplicity of infancy. The inspiration for her board books lay in the sleepless nights spent with her daughter who was suffering from infantile eczema. 


Below you will find an interview with the consummate illustrator/author who has made the beauty of pictures speak to even the youngest children. 

Book Review: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Physiotherapist Poppy Wyatt is walking on air! She has a comfortable job and is all abuzz over her upcoming nuptials to the brilliant and dashing college professor, Magnus Tavish. To Poppy life can get no better... that is until a dastardly fire drill during an elegant champagne tea changes everything. 


Her stunning family heirloom engagement ring which Magnus had given her is lost during the dizzying mayhem of the fire drill. Frantic Poppy grabs her cell and starts contacting all of her friends who had been trying on the ring during the tea. After searching the hotel premises with no luck and questioning cleaning crews and staff she feels absolutely hopeless. When she doesn't think things could get any worse, trouble comes a knocking! Her cell phone is burgled by a passer-by. 


As a catastrophic feeling of dread begins to settle in Poppy's heart, she spots a cell phone in a trash can at the hotel. The only problem is that the cell belongs to Sam Roxton of White Globe Consulting's  PA (personal assistant), Violet, who hurriedly quit her job and dashed off to a modeling gig. Poppy then proceeds to use her "borrowed" phone's number as a main contact number for the hotel and police in case they find her engagement ring. 


Long story short: Poppy somehow manages to convince hard-as-nails and blunt businessman Sam Roxton to let her use his former PA's phone and send him all of the texts and messages that she receives that are addressed to him. 


This happy-go-lucky story continues in an upbeat manner which is the cornerstone of all Sophie Kinsella novels. While the novel is improbable and ditsy at times (ex. What businessman would let a total stranger use a company phone? and why is a well-rounded, efficient, reliable and intelligent woman so terrified of her over-educated future in-laws?)


Even though Ms. Kinsella's formulaic writing style has become slightly stale the nuances and fast paced dialogue boost its readability. Suave additions such as a bribery scheme at White Globe Consulting and juicy confessions of Mangus's past dalliances make up for any lackluster qualities. All and all an enjoyable and light story that is a perfect beach read! 

May 25th Is National Missing Children's Day

The thought of not being able to locate your child strikes fear into every parent. A million thoughts swirl through your head as you frantically search for your child and speak to every passerby who meets your eye about your child's whereabouts and physical description. 


Sadly, across America, thousands of parents understand and cope with this chilling predicament on a daily basis. 


On May 25th a somber event occurs called National Missing Children's Day. This yearly event was put into effect in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan. 


This day also happens to be the day that Etan Patz disappeared in 1979. This New York born six-year old's story gripped a nation and left an indelible mark which catapulted childhood abduction into the spotlight. 


In recent years the AMBER Alert system has also revolutionized the rescue of missing kids. Through the use of the media such as t.v. crawls and radio announcements many children have been safely located by the public. Learn about the AMBER Alert system by clicking on the following link:  http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2813


 Thankfully organizations have committed themselves to locating and comforting families of those who are assumed as missing. 


Below you will find links to some of these tremendous and worthy organizations fighting to keep our kids safe and improve the lives of those searching for their lost children. 


Take 25 (Developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) 
http://www.take25.org/page.asp?page=47 
Please also see "Activity Ideas" from Take 25 to help children understand the importance and seriousness of safety precautions: http://www.take25.org/page.asp?page=68


Please also see the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Homepage where you can search for missing children, find information about how to report a missing child, and learn about ways to protect your children. 
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PublicHomeServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&


Child Find of America's Facts and Statistics about Missing Children 
http://www.childfindofamerica.org/information.htm


Book and DVD About Child Abduction 
Missing and Exploited Children: How to Protect Your Child by Margaret C. Jasper 
Kidz n' Power: Abduction Prevention Pack (DVD)