FREE Gift! Free 180 Multicultural Book Ideas ebook to inspired fun Summer Reading!

School is out and our youngsters are settling into a new summer routine of sleeping in and hopefully doing some exploring and discovering. With the hectic days of summer just beginning, oftentimes one of the first habit to go by the wayside is the habit of daily reading.
Reading is always an important part of our children’s lives no matter what time of year it is so I decided to wrap my knowledge of fun kidlit books and activities up with my experience as one of the co-founders of the very successful Multicultural Children’s Book Day and create a unique resource for parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. Reading is important, but so is helping our young readers learn about other cultures, religions and traditions through the pages of these books. Here are some great booklists and resources that I have created over the years at Jump Into a Book that will not only give parents and readers great ideas on diverse kids’ books, but fun activities related to books that will bring stories to life!

Sign up below for quick and free access to 180 Multicultural Book Ideas: World Travel through Kidlit Summer Reading!

The post The Mountains of Tibet by Mordicai Gerstein Book Review appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

      

      

•        The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
•        Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles
•        I Am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer
•        Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
•        Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood
•        The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles
•        Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O’Roark Dowell
•        One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
•        A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson
•        Joelito’s Big Decision

**some of these links are affiliate links

FREE Gift! Free 180 Multicultural Book Ideas ebook to inspired fun Summer Reading!

School is out and our youngsters are settling into a new summer routine of sleeping in and hopefully doing some exploring and discovering. With the hectic days of summer just beginning, oftentimes one of the first habit to go by the wayside is the habit of daily reading.
Reading is always an important part of our children’s lives no matter what time of year it is so I decided to wrap my knowledge of fun kidlit books and activities up with my experience as one of the co-founders of the very successful Multicultural Children’s Book Day and create a unique resource for parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. Reading is important, but so is helping our young readers learn about other cultures, religions and traditions through the pages of these books. Here are some great booklists and resources that I have created over the years at Jump Into a Book that will not only give parents and readers great ideas on diverse kids’ books, but fun activities related to books that will bring stories to life!

Sign up below for quick and free access to 180 Multicultural Book Ideas: World Travel through Kidlit Summer Reading!

The post She Stood for Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Is summer flying by or WHAT?! Goodness, before we know it we will be reading about “first day of school” booklists!

I’ve been having so much fun with my Notable Women series these last few weeks. I kicked things off American Revolution hero Sybil Ludington, then moved on to favorite author Pam Muñoz Ryan. This week I want to focus on the wonderful works of author Linda Sue Park.

Linda Sue Park is the author of the Newbery Medal book A Single Shard, many other novels, several picture books, and most recently a book of poetry: Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems). She lives in Rochester, New York, with her family, and is now a devoted fan of the New York Mets. For more infromation visit www.lspark.com

Here are a few of my favorite Linda Sue Park books for kids:

A Long Walk To Water

The New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.

A Single Shard

In this Newbery Medal-winning book set in 12th century Korea, Tree-ear, a 13-year-old orphan, lives under a bridge in Ch’ulp’o, a potters’ village famed for delicate celadon ware. He has become fascinated with the potter’s craft; he wants nothing more than to watch master potter Min at work, and he dreams of making a pot of his own someday. When Min takes Tree-ear on as his helper, Tree-ear is elated — until he finds obstacles in his path: the backbreaking labor of digging and hauling clay, Min’s irascible temper, and his own ignorance. But Tree-ear is determined to prove himself — even if it means taking a long, solitary journey on foot to present Min’s work in the hope of a royal commission . . . even if it means arriving at the royal court with nothing to show but a single celadon shard.

When My Name was Keoko

Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, live in Korea with their parents. Because Korea is under Japanese occupation, the children study Japanese and speak it at school. Their own language, their flag, the folktales Uncle tells them—even their names—are all part of the Korean culture that is now forbidden. When World War II comes to Korea, Sun-hee is surprised that the Japanese expect their Korean subjects to fight on their side. But the greatest shock of all comes when Tae-yul enlists in the Japanese army in an attempt to protect Uncle, who is suspected of aiding the Korean resistance. Sun-hee stays behind, entrusted with the life-and-death secrets of a family at war.

The Kite Fighters

In a riveting narrative set in fifteenth-century Korea, two brothers discover a shared passion for kites. Kee-sup can craft a kite unequaled in strength and beauty, but his younger brother, Young-sup, can fly a kite as if he controlled the wind itself. Their combined skills attract the notice of Korea’s young king, who chooses Young-sup to fly the royal kite in the New Year kite-flying competition–an honor that is also an awesome responsibility. Although tradition decrees, and the boys’ father insists, that the older brother represent the family, both brothers know that this time the family’s honor is best left in Young-sup’s hands. This touching and suspenseful story, filled with the authentic detail and flavor of traditional Korean kite fighting, brings a remarkable setting vividly to life. AUTHOR’S NOTE.

Project Mulberry

Julia Song and her friend Patrick want to team up to win a blue ribbon at the state fair, but they can’t agree on the perfect project. Then Julia’s mother suggests they raise silkworms as she did years ago in Korea. The optimistic twosome quickly realizes that raising silkworms is a lot tougher than they thought. And Julia never suspected that she’d be discussing the fate of her and Patrick’s project with Ms. Park, the author of this book!

**some of these links are affiliate links

Something To Do

In honor of the amazing Linda Sue Park book Project Mulberry, here are some fun ways to bring this book to life.
As we stood under our mulberry tree remembering this great story, we decided right then and there that we had to grow our own silkworms. I must admit to you that we are at the beginning of this process and are waiting for our little silkworm eggs to arrive. We promise to keep you updated on our progress.

Would you like to join us in growing silk worms? Just leave a comment below and let us know if you will share this experience with us.

Here’s where you can order the silkworms:

The Carolina Company has a silkworm farm kit.

They also offer silkworm eggs and food.

A few weeks ago I saw the most interesting TED talk about what they are now using silk for. It’s amazing and is being used in ways one could not even imagine. It is taking science and technology to a new level. This is a great video for kids probably age 8 and older.

Happy Reading!

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

Looking for more ways to not only get your youngsters reading, but get them OUTSIDE as well? Enjoy more month-by-month activities based on 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 Notable Women: Author Linda Sue Park appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

**some of these links are affiliate links

Something to Do Minecraft-Inspired Activities:

 

 

HANNAH RIALS: A Maryville native and current college student at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Hannah began writing her first novel at age twelve. Eight years later, the result is her new YA novel Ascension; a modern day teenage romance filled with “double-blooded” vampires and revenge-seeking witches (to be released in August of 2016). When not spending time with her family and playing with her beloved Corgis, Buddy and Noel, Hannah leads a creative group, crafts and cultivates her writing skills. Connect with Hannah on Facebook, Twitter and via her website.

Breaking News! Proof that Dragons are indeed REAL!

My newest book, Dragons are Real is available and the excitement is almost blowing the roof off at Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press headquarters!

SO…what if I told you that all of the fairy tales, myths and legends that have been told about dragons over the years are WRONG. What if I told you that Dragons are indeed Real and that they are different than you’ve ever imagined?
This fairly true story is based on the author’s childhood friendship with a REAL live Dragon; a very special Dragon that she and her brother spent two magical summers with.

As readers turn the pages and learn the truth about Dragons, they will see that the fiercest beasts in known history can actually be the best of friends. It’s a lesson in finding companionship in the most unusual of places. Dragons are Real is a magical book filled with stunning illustrations and hints that dragon are indeed all around us

Dragons are Real is now available for purchase on both Amazon and Gumroad! We are also offering a special free bonus gift of a Dragons Are Real Inspiration Activity Guide when you purchase your copy of this enchanting picture book.

The post Minecraft Lab for Kids by John Miller and Chris Fornell Scott appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Multicultural Children’s Book Day is nearly here!

MCCBD2016 Sponsor and multicultural publisher Lee and Low, since it’s inception, has been committed to multicultural and diverse literature for children. We are honored to have them as a Silver Sponsor of this year Multicultural Children’s Book Day

What if the objects we love most in our lives i.e. blankets, stuffed animals, dolls, toys etc could be creatively used, recycled, and treasured so that they’d never leave us?

Maya’s Blanket by Monica Brown and illustrated by Caldecott winning artist David Diaz is such a tale.

This is a bilingual book. The left hand page is in English with some key Spanish words, and the right hand page is in Spanish. David Diaz does a magnificent job in portraying the story in his artwork of vibrant colors and wonderful character drawings.

From the loving hands of her grandmother, Maya receives a magical blanket that keeps bad dreams away. As she loves and uses her blanket, it becomes frayed so Maya and her grandmother transform the blanket into a dress which she ends up spilling red juice on. From here Maya’s blanket is progresses through a series of other items such as a skirt, shawl, scarf, hair ribbon, and finally a bookmark. When at last even the magical bookmark is lost, all that is left are her memories of her magical blanket and all of it repurposed glory. So Maya wrote a book to capture and hold her treasures in.

Maya’s Blanket is a Junior Library Guild Selection. We’re honored to have the Junior Library Guild sponsor this year’s Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Challenge. Teachers, we’re giving away a beautiful FREE hard-covered book to your classroom. Have a look here to find out how you can bring a Junior Library Guild Selection to your classroom.

Something To Do

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:

1. Who is Malala and Where is she from ?
2. What was Malala fighting for the right to do ?
3. Her desire to go to school nearly cost Malala her life. Why do you think she took the risk ?
4. Should everyone have the right to go to school ?
5. Do you think children should be protected ?
6. What right and protections do you think children everywhere should have ? Make a list.
7. Discover and discuss in what ways children around the world are sometimes denied those rights.
8. Would you be able to do what Malala did ?
9. 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.

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

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.

The post The Snowed In Winter Book Festival- Snowflake Bentley appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

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.

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.

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

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

The holidays are over and with a combination of sadness and relief, our thoughts are now turning to the winter months. This can bring about a feeling of excitement for many parents, or a robust feeling of dread! As the temps dip and the days get shorter , families tend to move from an outdoor focus to more of an indoor one. The result is a LOT of “togetherness” and a LOT of time to fray mom and dad’s nerves!

But, no matter where you live,the colder seasons are perfect for reading old classic books and enjoying new ones. As much as we love reading at Jump Into a Book, we are also always looking for ways to turn reading from a solitary act to one the whole family can get involved in.

If you follow JIAB, you’ve heard me speak of the act of “bookjumping” often. Bookjumping is about pulling books off shelves and stories off of pages. Basically, bookjumping is a “Valarie-ism” that describes creating book extensions for virtually any children’s story as a way to bring the story to life, make reading more fun, teach new skills and bring families together.

So as the frost begins to form gorgeous patterns on the window of my study, and the fluffy whiteness of winter begins to flitter down from the sky, I think it’s time to share some Cold Weather Activities Wrapped Around Reading.

Get into the Kitchen:

Bread baking has always been a favorite in our family and the comfort and warmth of smelling bread baking in the oven is hard to beat. Recently we dusted off the rolling pin and whipped up a batch of Saffron Buns/Lussekattor (pronounced “Lucy cat-tor”) in honor of my Swedish heritage and the Swedish Christmas books that are family favorites.

Before that, reading Roald Dahl books inspired us to make some Fizzy Lifting Drinks and Wonkalicious Chocolate Covered Pretzels!

Mama Panya’s Pancakes makes for a fantastic read aloud. The text is written in little boxes making it easy for young readers to follow along or take a turn reading out loud themselves. Make a batch of Mama Panya’s Pancakes

Check out my recipe for Happy Sun Bread and Dragon Bread and the books they are based on.

Fall In Love With a New Series:

Booklists, Book-Jumps and Activities “Books Like Percy Jackson” Booklist. Like I mentioned in my recent Janet Allison Boys Alive interview, the Percy Jackson series is  God’s gift to all parents who have boy reluctant readers. If this series strikes a cord with your reluctant reader, check into some of these other “Percy-like” books series!

Create a Craft that Knocks Their Socks off!

The Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series: A Day with Pippi Longstocking is a great way to read a classic tale and create a simple and fun moment in time creating your very own “long stockings.”

Word Games & Brain Teasers:

The brain is a muscle and it needs work out too. Create time to play fun word games, try trivia, practice your story re-telling skills and enjoy good, clean jokes for kids.

Play with Paper

My good friend Marilyn Scott-Waters has some simply delightful paper toys to help readers create their own Horse adventure around their favorite horse-themed books. What better way to stimulate young minds than with some pretend play. Marilyn has some wonderful downloadable paper toys on The Toymaker and a few suggestions to create your own stable of pretty ponies:

How about some paper crafts in step with the winter season? Paper craft lovers will love this 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.

Learn About our History: Despite what some young readers might think, history is not dry and boring. Family-friendly reenactments of moments in our history make for excellent learning experiences while keeping the cold weather boredom monster at bay. Great JIAB posts that are rich in history would include this one about the Good Ol US of A, life during the “buffalo days” , celebrating our 4th of July traditions, and exploring the lives of inspiring people like Helen Keller.

Play with Nature: Even when the weather is cold, nature still can be a great teacher. Reading books based on nature helps to bring the outside IN and keep young mind stimulated. No matter what time of year it is, there are always stars in the sky. Practice learning and studying the night’s sky or bring the outside in with some fun fort building activities.

Engage in some Pretend Play:

Books and pretend play seem to go hand-in-hand for readers of all ages. Who wouldn’t want to read a few pirate books and then spend the day delving into all sort of pirate activities?!

To the Moon! The anniversary of the first Moon-Walk doesn’t occur until July, but that’s no reason to not have your young readers “blast off” with The Moon Landing Book List and some great book extensions!

Kids and mysteries go hand-in-hand and what better way to pass the time on a dreary day than with your home-grown version of a “whodunit!” Lucky for parents, there are so many wonderful kidlit mystery books out there. Discover the mysteries of Camp Green Lake in the book Holes, enjoy some intrigued from The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and delve into some super sleuthing of K.C. Corcoran and her pal, Marshall Li in Ron Roy’s Capital Mystery series.

**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!

Would you like to create a afternoon of sleuthing, mysteries and mysterious adventures? Grab a copy of our FREE Secret Codes, Mysteries and Adventure downloadable PDF Activity Guide! This guide is19 pages of fun including activities like Creating and Deciphering Invisible Messages, baking “I Spy” Cookies and learn more about the US President who was a master decoder! Click the image below to get your free copy!

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This beautiful book about the Swedish holiday Sankta Lucia has become a read-a-loud favorite in this house.

This beautiful book has become a read-a-loud favorite in this house. Ewa Rydåker and illustrator Carina Ståhlberg have truly captured the spirit of “living” the Lucia tradition each year. The book tells the old story of Sankta Lucia through the eyes of three children living in this time period. Set in Sweden, the story follows the adventures of Sofie, Louise, and Carl as they prepare for Lucia Day on December 13th.

On that day, many Swedish people celebrate the legacy of Lucia and the coming of the light with coffee, saffron buns, ginger snaps, and wonderful singing. In addition to the story of the Svensson children, the book also includes the Lucia Song, recipes for ginger snaps and saffron buns, a short story of the Lucia legend, plus two patterns for the Lucia gown and star boy outfit.

This story focuses on one family preparing for the holiday. The two girls and the boy help make pepparkakor cookies and the Lussekat buns the night before. They next morning they celebrate with their immediate family.

I love the illustrations, they are wintry and festive looking!

Author Ewa Rydåker is happy to announce that the book is now available for iPad! (Or download it to read on your computer or iPhone). Find it in the iTunes Store.

Something to Do

Recipes for Lucia Buns and Ginger Cookies

Glögg

Glögg is a hot spicy drink which is drank throughout the whole holiday season but a huge pot of it is always brewing on my stove top for Lucia.

Glögg instructions:

• · 4 cups of apple or grape juice
• · ¼ cup of sugar
• · 18 whole cloves
• · 8 whole cardamom pods
• · 1 cinnamon stick
• · 1 piece of fresh ginger 1 inch long
• · Serve with raisins and almonds

In a cooking pot pour your juice of choice and add all of the spices. Turn the heat onto medium and cook until the sugar has melted. Cover and leave it standing for an hour. Strain off the spices. Right before serving reheat and place in a thermos, glögg pot or slow cooker to keep it warm. For serving place into a cup or mug and top with raisins and almonds.

If you would like more information about the Santa Lucia holiday traditions, Santa Lucia inspired crafts and even more Swedish treat idea, grab my FREE pdf download HERE. Even though the official Santa Lucia holiday is passed (December 13th) there’s no better time than the present to share these ideas, traditions and treats with your family. Consider it my gift to you this holiday season. Thank you and ENJOY.

The post Santa Lucia Morning in Sweden Book Review (and some Glögg) appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

The world is a place to be explored, and in Finn’s Rocket, Finn and his little Sister Gabriella go beyond the bounds of earth into the little-explored realm of space. But this was not exactly in the plans for these two siblings.
Both Gabi and Finn are very intelligent, which wins them both spots at a space camp at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Gabi gets to learn all about being an astronaut, while Finn gets to play with rocket fuel and explore the mechanics of space travel.

However, neither of them are able to see the evil plot that the camp’s commander, Commander Morton, has been planning, and unfortunately, Gabi fits all of the qualifications for this deranged woman’s experiment. After running a series of tests on the young girl, Commander Morton deems her fit for space travel, unknown to Gabi. In the middle of the night, Gabi is brought to Morton; her sleeping area is cleared out, and a story is created about some serious illness that caused Gabi to leave camp early. Except while Commander Morton has been developing this elaborate plan, she failed to double check that all evidence of Gabi was gone—a young girl would never leave her favorite stuffed penguin or her cell phone. So when Gabi’s new friend Wendy finds them, she realizes that something fishy is going on at the space center.

After news of Gabi’s disappearance leaks, one of the camp counselors shares her theory about Commander Morton’s plot with a terrified Finn. Even with video evidence no one, not even his parents, believes that Morton would send a young, unprepared girl into space without any intention of bringing her home. So Finn has no choice. He has to go to the International Space Station and save his sister on his own. So with his two best friends, Axel and Burrito, Finn travels across the world to Sweden where he is lucky enough to convince an entrepreneur to give him a ride on the first ever tourist space shuttle.

Will Finn rescue Gabi? Will Commander Morton get away with her evil plot? You’ll just have to read to find out!
This was such an exciting book! It has sports, nature, treachery, deranged-wanna-be astronauts, and a couple of awesome, empowering kids! What more could a book need? Finn’s Rocket touches on the power of sibling bonds, the hearing impaired, and the exciting yet terrifying idea of space exploration. Definitely a good read, and I would definitely continue following Finn’s story with Finn’s Ship and Finn’s car. Grab your copy of Finn’s Rocket here.

Author Serena Schreiber has a whole series of Finn books if you liked this one and she writes adult fiction as well. Be sure to visit her site to see all of her offerings and don’t forget her blog. It’s a lot of fun and packed with adventure.

Something To Do:
1. Eating like an astronaut:
It’s very simple really. All you do is put anything that can be consumed through a straw, zip it up in a plastic bag with a straw, an slurp slurp! You’re eating like an astronaut!

2. Build your own soda rocket (from Lemon Lime Adventures)

3. Sign language basics (so you can communicate with Gabi in space)

4. Fun Facts about Space Travel:

• ~It takes 3 to 5 days for a spacecraft to reach the moon.
• ~A space suit can weigh between 50 and 350 pounds—on Earth, that is.
• ~There is no sound in space because of the lack of air.
• ~Recent technology allows the use of phones in space.
• ~Since 2000, permanent crews have been living and working in space at the International Space Station.
• ~You become taller in Space.
• ~In space, the skin on your feet peels off!
• ~The word astronaut comes from the Greek word “Astron” which means star and “nautes” which means sailor.
• The Russian cosmonaut has a similar meaning from ‘kosmos’ meaning universe and again “nautes” sailor.

5. This fun activity will teach you a little bit about rockets. It is from one of NASA‘s educational websites and the great rocket template you’ll find below is provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. LOVE all the resources on Kitchen Pantry Scientist!

LAST DAY!!!!As the holiday season approaches, consider adding the gift of books to your shopping list. There are many wonderful booklists available for parents looking to give their child the gift of reading and adventure. A book makes a great gift because they are meaningful, beautiful, portable, appealing, and inexpensive and it’s a gift that can be opened again and again. Books are the perfect gift for any age and a gift that doesn’t require batteries or sizing instruction!

If you would like to get started on your family reading adventure, or would just like to add to your family bookshelf, Audrey Press has some special deals on their catalog of books to get readers and gift-givers on their merry way. From November 30^th to December 15^th, give the gift of reading, adventure and education at extra-special (and extended) Black Friday prices! Go here for the full scoop on the Holiday Book Love Sale!

The post Exploring the realm of space: Finn’s Rocket Book Review appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Every town has their ghost stories and tales of the past that remains mysteries to this day. That’s why The Headmaster’s Cave book review with matching activities was an intriguing journey!

The Headmaster’s Cave Book Review

In D.S. Allen’s book The Headmaster’s Cave, the town of Ballymagee is tainted by a horrible past: the murder of seven students by their headmaster. Descendants of the victims still mourn their families, but they all accept the mystery at face value—that the crazy headmaster kidnapped the kids and murdered them in a cave by the coast.
When friends George, Katie, and Dougie receive a mysterious email asking them to come to Headmaster’s Cave (a dangerous journey), they are both intrigued and frightened. They all three want answers, especially Dougie and George, both descendants of victims, however, George and Katie both recognize the danger of the journey and agree to go on a different, less lethal, adventure. But this isn’t good enough for Dougie. When George and Katie, along with George’s best four-legged friend Flanagan, realize that Dougie has decided to meet the sender of the mysterious emails, they have no choice but to go after their friend and help him.

After encountering many trials along the way—bullies, The Magic Forest, Old Maggie and her pack of bloodthirsty dogs, and bullies again—they are saved by a gentle giant by the name of Leonard who seems to appear out of nowhere. He explains that he can lead them to Dougie, who is already waiting for them at the cave. Little do the friends know (well, maybe Flanagan knew; dogs are intuitive after all), that they are walking right into a trap!
Will they solve the mystery of The Headmaster’s Cave? And most importantly, will they survive to tell the tale?

This is an intense, action-packed adventure, great for both guy and girl readers! The two main characters, George and Katie, are a great pair, both powerful and intelligent in their own ways. I love how important George’s dog, Flan, was to the story mainly because I think that dogs are awesome! This was definitely a riveting story.

DISCLAIMER. This book has some intense material and scenes. This book should be reserved for intermediate – middle school aged kids (Age Level: 8 – 12, Grade Level: 3 – 6). They’ll love the action, mystery, and adventure! Get ready for a couple good ghost stories.

Thanks to the author D.S. Allen and Renee from Mother/Daughter Book Club for providing a review copy.

The Headmaster’s Cave Activities-Something To Do

1. George’s dog Flanagan is very crucial to this story. He’s basically a main character. Are you thinking about getting a four-legged friend? Then here’s a quiz to help you find the perfect, loyal dog breed for you!

2. George prided himself on the fact that he knew how to make a fire, however, he accepted Katie’s help when he realized he might not know as much as he thought. Here’s two fire tutorials: one real and one a nice decoration for the holidays:


3. Interested in learning chess like George and Dougie? Here’s a chess 101 lesson from Enchanted Yankee:

**some of the above links are affiliate links. I was gifted a copy of Headmaster’s Cave and the opinions expressed are purely my own.

Note from Valarie: As the holiday season approaches, consider adding the gift of books to your shopping list. There are many wonderful booklists available for parents looking to give their child the gift of reading and adventure. A book makes a great gift because they are meaningful, beautiful, portable, appealing, and inexpensive and it’s a gift that can be opened again and again. Books are the perfect gift for any age and a gift that doesn’t require batteries or sizing instruction!

If you would like to get started on your family reading adventure, or would just like to add to your family bookshelf, Audrey Press has some special deals on their catalog of books to get readers and gift-givers on their merry way. From November 30^th to December 15^th, give the gift of reading, adventure and education at extra-special (and extended) Black Friday prices! Go here for the full scoop on the Holiday Book Love Sale!

The post Every town has ghost stories: The Headmaster’s Cave appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

No certainly this can’t be true? Has it really been 30 years since that magical Christmas tale of a train pulling up into a young boys front yard and hurling him over hill and dale until he reaches the North Pole? Oh, with hot chocolate of course.

To my astonishment, it’s true. Thirty years later, The Polar Express has become a holiday Caldecott Medal-winning classic leaving children all over the world laying quietly in their beds on Christmas Eve, hoping to catch a ride on that magical train.

For 30 years author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg has inspired us to “believe.”

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has released a 30th anniversary edition complete with a new jacket design, expanded interior layout meaning we get to see and experience more goodness, a letter from Chris Van Allsburg, a downloadable recording of the story read by none other than renowned actor Liam Neeson and a gorgeous golden keepsake ornament.

The added benefit is that HMH has generously given Jump into a Book a copy to give away! See below for Rafflecopter Giveaway details.

Along with this good news are oodles of things to do.

Somethings To Do

Want to Ride the Polar Express

This season there are more than 50 Polar Express train rides around the United States. Riders will enjoy listening to author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg reading the book, while they drink hot chocolate, eat nougat as they travel north to meet Santa Claus. Of course there will be a jingle bell to help each traveler to “believe” in the magic of December 24th.

Now here’s the big news……The Polar Express is having a sweepstakes where one lucky family of 4 will get to journey north on the Polar Express from Durango Colorado. The Sweepstake runs from October 15-December 31st 2015. To learn more about how you can enter please visit www.polarexpress.com

One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive:

• Four tickets to ride THE POLAR EXPRESSTM Train Ride in gorgeous Durango, Colorado*
• Four round-trip airfare tickets
• Two nights in a hotel
• Four free ski lift tickets to Purgatory Resort
• A free signed copy of The Polar Express: 30th Anniversary Edition

What inspired author/Ilustrator Chris Van Allsburg to write the Polar Express?

This great interview on Story monsters will give you a up close and behind the scenes look at what inspired Chris Van Allsburg to write this classic holiday tale.

Tasty Treats From the North Pole Kitchen

You know that you get to eat everything you’re not suppose to on the Polar Express and one never gets a belly ache. Here are some favorite recipes from that magical train ride. How could we ever refuse Snowball cakes, cozy hot chocolate, or reindeer chocolate mint cookies ? Well we can’t and it’s as simple as that.

Interactive Count-down Calendar

Starting December 1st, you and your family, classroom, or community, can experience an innovative way the count down to Christmas. Each day holds a ew delight for families, such as Polar Chocolate Nougat Caramel squares, reindeer crafts, online games, mazes, and more. Be sure to go each day to find a little moment of goodness. You can find it right here.

The Ultimate Polar Express Party Kit

All Aboard !!!! Why not host a Polar Express Pajama Party? This kit has everything you’ll need to have hours of fun. Not only are there round trip tickets, but amazing games, crafts, invites, name tags, ideas about how to present the story, more amazing recipes, music, print outs and much much much more. Loads of fun.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

ONE winner will receive a copy of The Polar Express 30th Anniversary book. Giveaway begins November 19, 2015

• Prizing & samples  courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  
• Giveaway open to US addresses only
• ONE lucky winner will win one copy of each of the above books.
• Residents of USA only please.
• Must be 18 years or older to enter
• One entry per household.
• Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
• Grand Prize winner has 48 hours to claim prize
• Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on 12/31/15

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition Book Review & Giveaway appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

I’ve been excited for this day to come for a really long time. Two long time blogging friends, Amy Mascott from the blog Teach Mama and Allison McDonald from the blog No Time for Flashcards are releasing their new book today Raising a Rock-Star Reader: 75 Tips to Help Your Child Develop a Lifelong Love of Reading.

Both Amy and Allison are incredible resources in creating fun and interactive learning. I show up each time they post and share their postings often. Now I can share that their book continues to share that inventive learning style with Raising a Rock-Star Reader.

Through many years and hundreds of tried and true tactics for raising life long readers and learners, Amy and Allison share 75 of their very best tips.

Here are some tips you’ll find inside:

Tip # 8 Create a book nook. That magical place one goes to read books.

Book Nooks are magical places that separate us from the world and leave us to our books and their imaginary stories and places. There are some great recommendations on how to easily change any corner of your home into a cozy book nook.

Tip #11 Do. Not. Correct. Your. Child’s. Speech. 

Correcting a child’s speech while they’re learning to talk is stressful and hurtful. The more they hear adults speak in regular speaking patterns your child will pick up those patterns as their language skills progress.

Tip # 27 Play Grid Games

Grid games are great for helping your child no the concepts of print and moving deliberately from left to right.

“Children learn how books work long before they learn how to read.”

Tip #52 Read the Print All Around You

There is print everywhere we look and pointing this out to your child to show them how important reading is. We do it all day long, everywhere. Point out street signs, menus in restaurants, reading signs at the doctor’s office, at day-care, places of worship and other places you frequent. These are just a few suggestions. There are many more in the book Raising a Reader.

Tip #45 Play Spray It Say It

With sidewalk chalk and a water bottle, learning letter sounds has never been more fun.

Raising a Rock-Star Reader: 75 Quick Tips to Help Your Child Develop a Lifelong Love of Reading is stuff and loaded with way more than 75 tips and is the ultimate guide to help you raise lifelong readers from the help of creative and educational experts. This is a book I will go to time and again for continual resources to keep my family engaged.  Not all tips work for all people, this book has something for everyone.

Two of my favorite all time education bloggers are sharing their best ideas with us. This will make the perfect gift this holiday season or any time of year. If you know people who will soon be parents or friends or family with little ones at home, this is the guide-book they’ve always been looking for.

What’s been the best advice you’ve been given while helping your children to read ? Mine came from Nancy Caroline Connell when my youngest child didn’t feel like reading, he liked listening to us read to him instead. She told me “Just keep reading to him, and when you do ask him for help because you’re having trouble with this word.” He was such a helpful type child that he wouldn’t leave his mother in distress. It worked like a gem. I’m happy to say that he is an avid reader now.

Places to grab your copy of Raise a Rock Star Reader:

• Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, Scholastic Store and Target

The post Raising A Rock-Star Reader appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

I first saw this book when it was in galley form and it was breathtaking then. Actually holding the book in my hands is an experience I’m very happy with.

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.

Joseph Bruchac himself is from Abenaki descent and a known scholar of Native American stories.

The foundation of the story is to remember our promises but a greater and more important underlying message of the story is our relationship with nature and mother earth. This mythical story is about a young and lonely hunter who wishes for a partner to come and help him as he winters away up in his hunting camp. A beautiful woman appears from the forest to cook his meals, clean his tent, and live with him as his wife during the winter months. Before he leaves for the summer camp and returns to his family, the woman whispers to him, “Promise to remember me. ”

When the young hunter returns the following Autumn to hunt in his winter camp, the young woman is there to greet him but this time she has a son with him. His son has some supernatural qualities, for one he becomes a full adult male in the course of a week but that just brings magic to the story. Again the hunter brings in more game and skins than the winter before. As he prepares to leave for his summer village to be reunited with his family, the woman from the forest reminds him,”Promise not to forget us.”

When he arrives in the summer village this time, the chief wants the hunter to marry his daughter. He respectfully declines remembering his promise to his forest wife from the winter village. The chief’s daughter who always got her way cast a spell on him which made him forget his vows to his winter wife.

When he travels north to the  hunting village he takes his wife with him and it’s only when he sees his winter wife with two sons alongside her that he realizes he has broken his promise and betrayed his winter wife. The winter wife and her children walk back into the forest but that’s not the end of the tale. A magical ending awaits you so please get a copy of this book to find out what happens. This book is intended for 6 and up. It will be a story you read time and again.

Bill Farnsworth has illustrated more than 50 children’s books including Kaya for the American Girl series. Working in deep and beautiful toned oils, his illustrations are an invitation to journey into a magical world, the place where nature meets humans.

Wisdom Tales Press is the publisher of fine children’s literature focusing on multicultural and spiritual wisdom. They were very kind to send me a copy of this book and they are a platinum sponsor in Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Get your copy of A Hunter’s Promise HERE.

Have you read the  interview with Joseph Bruchac on the Multicultural Children’s Book day blog? Be sure and check out here. Joseph shared some great insights and fun facts about his books.

Something To Do

Who are the Abenaki ?

The Abenaki tribe, together with the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Mi’kmaq, and Penobscot Indians, were members of the old Wabanaki Confederacy, adversaries of the Iroquois. These allies from the eastern seaboard spoke related languages, and Abenaki and Wabanaki have the same Algonquian root, meaning “people from the east.” Today 2000 Abenakis live on two reserves in Quebec, and another 10,000 Abenaki descendants are scattered throughout New England. Only the Canadian Abenaki tribe is officially recognized, but there are at least three Abenaki bands in the United States: the Sokoki and Mazipskwik Abenakis of Vermont and the Cowasucks of Massachusetts.

For further information about the Abenaki Tribe please have a look here. 

Promise Stars

We all have great intentions of keeping our word and promises but sometimes we forget. In this activity we’re creating promise stars out of popsicle sticks. This simple craft becomes a keepsake that help kids remember the promises they want to keep.

Have each child take four popsicle sticks. I’ve used colored sticks here but you can use plain ones or decorate the sticks yourself.  I use glue dots to hold the sticks together. First take two sticks and make a cross and then make and X on top of the cross so that you have made a star. I place one glue dot in the center of each stick and glue them together. It’s not such a mess as regular glue. If using regular glue be sure to let your star dry before writing on it. On the top stick write I Promise.

On the ends of the sticks write things you’re promising to do or write whole phrases on the sticks.

Some ideas are:

• I promise to brush my teeth.
• I promise to say thank you.
• I promise to read every day.
• I promise to tell the truth.
• I promise to be kind.

If you’re in a classroom setting have the children share their promises either in pairs or to the whole group. If it’s parents and children, this is a perfect time to use the Promise Stars to talk about your values as a family, your culture, and even your religion.

The Joseph Bruchac Abenaki BookList

A great way to learn more about the Abenaki tribe and confederation is from Joseph Bruchac himself who is a descendant of this fine nation.

Code Talkers

The Winter People

Arrow over the Door

The Heart of a Chief

Eagle Song

**some of these links are affiliate links whic means I get a small commission on any books purchases from this site. My affiliate sales money is put towards mailing costs when I ship books to readers or giveaway winners.

Three Sister’s Soup

Many times Native American tribes plant corns, beans, and squash together. They are known as the Three Sisters.  Here’s an Abenaki recipe celebrating the Three Sisters as a wonderful soup. Enjoy. The recipe advises to eat it with bannock bread but it’s really good with cornbread too.

Ingredients
2 cans White Hominy Corn (undrained)
1 large can Red Kidney Beans (undrained)
1 pkg. frozen cut Squash
1 yellow Onion (cut up)
2 cloves garlic (coarse chopped)
1 lb. Bacon
Allspice
Black Pepper

Directions
Best done in cast iron pot, dutch oven. Fry up bacon until medium crispy, remove and drain off most of the fat. In hot fat, brown up onion. When onion is golden brown, add garlic, cook for about a minute. Drain off remaining fat, then add Corn and Beans (juice and all), and the bacon, cut up. Add cut up squash, add enough water to cover everything by about two inches. Simmer together, adding Allspice and Black pepper to taste. Salt should be unnecessary, due to salt in bacon. We didn’t really use salt much until after the Invasion. Ham or smoked shoulder can be substituted, if desired. Cook together until everything is just this side of mush.

Note: Modern variation on the old communal cookpot (M8wigisoak)that always simmered to feed Winter visitors in our longhouses. Should be served with Banik (Bannock), oven baked flat bread that has shortening in it.

Bannock Bread

Here’s the recipe for bannock bread for those of you who’d like it.

Ingredients
1/2 cup lard
1/2 tsp of salt
6 tsp of baking powder
4 cups flour
1 tsp of sugar or corn syrup
2 cups of water or milk

Directions
Mix all dry ingriedents into a bowl.
Then slowly mix in your lard until it looks like small coarse oatmeal.
Then make a small hole in the center of the bowl, pour the milk or water mixture into the bowl gradually.
Mix the ingridents toghter. Knead for about 3 minutes.
Success in bannock making is the kneading, which is required to make it firm.
Pat out with hands to 3/4 inch thickness and prick with fork.
It can be made oblong or round and baked in an oven @ 350 Degrees.
Cool for about five minutes and enjoy.

Note: Bannock was something very special and sacred and eaten only on Sundays. It was made into small bannocks and each member of the family had a taste of this special bread.

This holiday season, give your children the gift that will nurture a lifetime of positive habits; give the gift of a book.

As parents, we want/need quality books with extension activities to help our young ones unplug and create memories. Pulling books from shelves, and stories from pages, is also an important act that will aid in them being life-long readers. Quality books with companion book extension activities are not only work to create special family time, it allows kids to solve the world’s problems without major consequences.
A Year in the Secret Garden is just such a book. This delightful children’s book from authors Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters offers unique and original month-by-month activities that allow readers to delve deeper into the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! 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.
This book will make a great gift and be the catalyst of many hours of family growth, learning and FUN! Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE!

The post Native American Heritage Month: The Hunter’s Promise appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

I have to say RUN, as fast as you can to your nearest bookstore and get this book. My word, what an incredible read! This book is a masterfully told thriller with loads of mystery, intrigue, setting, spookiness. It is storytelling at it’s finest.

We are celebrating Halloween this year by jumping into the fine pages of Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty of Asheville North Carolina. Please read this book at anytime of year, we have chosen it as the Halloween Special but it’s a fine read the other 364 days of the year as well.

This spooky tale is about Seraphina, an odd girl who lives in the basement of the Biltmore Estate, in 1899. Serafina and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, live in the basement of the great estate. No one knows they live there. Serafina’s pa has forbidden her to do a couple of things. First she must never be seen by anyone. Second she must never ever venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore Estate and into the forest. There are very dangerous and spooky things that live there. Third she must never venture upstairs where all the rich folk live.  Along with not being seen, no one even knows Serafina exists.  But not being seen or heard doesn’t mean Serafina doesn’t venture out. She has learned to prowl through the darkened corridors at night, to sneak and hide, using the mansion’s hidden doors and secret passageways.

One night Serafina hears noises she’s never heard at night before. She discovers mysterious foul play at hand. Children at the estate start disappearing but only Serafina knows the clues and passageways to follow. There’s a terrifying man in a black cloak stalking about the corridors at night at the Biltmore Estate.  Risking everything, Serafina joins forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, young orphaned nephew of Vanderbilt’s owner. Serafina and Braeden must uncover who the man in the black cloak is before all of the children on the estate disappear. The hunt takes them to the forest which Serafina has been taught to fear. There, she discovers a legacy of magic not known before. To save the children Serafina must face her fiercest and darkest enemy. To do so she must first discover the strange mystery around her own identity.

I have to confess that we have a great connection to the Biltmore Estate the setting for this story. We live just a couple of hours away in the Knoxville TN area and have a family membership. The woods Robert Beatty talks about we’ve walked through and had our own conversations of how anyone could be hiding there. Add to that the mystery of the Blue Ridge mountains where it is very well-known by the folklore in that region that non human beings and spirits live in the forests there. You always have to enter the forest with protection. Knowing that, can you imagine how exciting this book is for us? It’s like myth and legend have sprung to life.

photo credit by Robert Beatty

Rarely do I make predictions where books are concerned but I feel safe to say that this book will become a classic in children’s literature. I haven’t seen a book of this finesse come around for a while. We loved it’s spookiness. It’s a very manageable level of spookiness. It keeps those pages turning. The very good news is that the publisher Hyperion Disney Books is going to make this into a book series. Oh how happy are we. We can hardly wait but wait we shall !!!

Something To Do

There are so many things to do as book extensions for this fabulous book!

Chapter One Excerpt

First why not have a read of the first chapter yourself. You’ll be hooked, and then please take my advice and get this book pronto.

Get to Know The Vanderbilt Estate

The Biltmore Estate is a gorgeous turn of the century mansion built in 1895 by George Vanderbilt.It is officially the largest home in America. This very large home hosts more than 250 rooms and around 175,00 square feet.

Set in the Blue Ridge mountains in Asheville, North Carolina it is a wonderful place to visit. I’m not sure how many rooms are open to the public but there are a lot of them. You’ll get to tour the two upstairs floors that Serafina isn’t suppose to go on. You’ll also get to go in the two basements but the slimy sub basement wasn’t on the tour the last time we went. That might be changing now with Serafina and the Black Cloak. Also something to consider are the grounds. The terraces and gardens are exquisite and are themed to bloom throughout the year. Each season is a blooming treasure to behold. Also on the estate are several places to hike and enjoy the forest which if you stay on the path isn’t scary at all BUT if you go off the path I can’t guarantee anything. You might meet a man in a black cloak and other non human type creatures. So stay on the path. We love to rent bikes and ride the bike trails. One of our favorite things to do. There are also many great places to eat through the entire estate.

Interior lobby of the Providence Biltmore Hotel.

Biltmore is truly a family home in opulent style.  The nice thing is they let us experience it as. Be sure to check out their events especially the various musical concerts going on throughout the year, the gardens and special exhibits at the house.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that maybe one day the Biltmore Estate will have a Serafina Tour. How cool would that be ?

Serafina Riddle Contest

Maybe you don’t have to wait for the Serafina Tour, maybe you could win one right now. The choice of prizes are a computer system or an all expense paid trip to Asheville and the Biltmore Estate plus you get to meet Robert Beatty and take a Serafina Tour with him. As you can tell I’m prone to take the travel and tour as to the computer. But it’s a free world and if you win choose what makes you happy.

First you have to answer about 12 riddles. You can find out all the details and such about the contest here.

Pumpkin Carving

It is Halloween after all, io designs have created two templates to go along with Serafina and the Black Cloak for all your jack-o-lantern needs.

Template 1

Template 2

This holiday season, give your children the gift that will nurture a lifetime of positive habits; give the gift of a book.

As parents, we want/need quality books with extension activities to help our young ones unplug and create memories. Pulling books from shelves, and stories from pages, is also an important act that will aid in them being life-long readers. Quality books with companion book extension activities are not only work to create special family time, it allows kids to solve the world’s problems without major consequences.

A Year in the Secret Garden is just such a book. This delightful children’s book from authors Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters offers unique and original month-by-month activities that allow readers to delve deeper into the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! 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.

This book will make a great gift and be the catalyst of many hours of family growth, learning and FUN! Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE!

The post Serafina and the Black Cloak Book Review and Extension Activities appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

In the mood for some frightfully fun and spooky reads?

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

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.

Sleepy Hollow and the Road You’d Better Not Follow

Halloween Night at the Mad Monster Museum

A fantasy come true from two monster-crazed kids who find themselves locked in a monster museum on Halloween night. Truly a monstrous celebration for all. An amusing introduction in the famous Universal Monsters of our time with an appearance by a special guest.

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

Halloween author, Donna Davies has created an exciting Halloween mystery that will have your kids sitting on the edge of theirs seats. An action-packed tale of a Halloween Queen named Calliope who lost her scream right before Halloween. Meet an amazing cast of Halloween monsters from witches to zombies as they go on an adventure to help their Queen and save Halloween. Filled will stunning colorful Halloween illustrations by the talented Rob Peters. This delightfully fun book has become a family tradition.

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

Love this hand-print vampire craft from Crafty Morning. Even adults can have fun with this one!

Get the rest of this great craft instruction HERE.

This holiday season, give your children the gift that will nurture a lifetime of positive habits; give the gift of a book.

As parents, we want/need quality books with extension activities to help our young ones unplug and create memories. Pulling books from shelves, and stories from pages, is also an important act  that will aid in them being life-long readers. Quality books with companion book extension activities are not only work to create special family time, it allows kids to solve the world’s problems without major consequences.

A Year in the Secret Garden is just such a book. This delightful children’s book from authors Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters offers unique and original month-by-month activities that allow readers to delve deeper into the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! 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.

This book will make a great gift and be the catalyst of many hours of family growth, learning and FUN! Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE!

The post All Hallow’s Eve Press Review by Donna Davis appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

We need to take a little pause in celebration today for one of my all time favorite Classic Children’s Book, Caps for Sale. It was one of the first books I learned to read on my own. I loved those pesky monkeys and all the mischief they got into in Caps for Sale.

Even more interesting is the story behind Caps for Sale is the story of Author/Illustrator Esphyr Slobodkina. In 1940 she was a young abstract artist on the rise to fame in New York City. Born in 1908 in a Siberian town called Chelyabinsk, Slobodkina grew up in Manchuria China and studied art there as well as Russia before immigrating to the U.S. in 1928.

She studied at the National Academy of Design in New York City and became a founding member of the American Abstract Artists group, which was formed in 1938 to promote an understanding of abstract and non-objective art.

So how does an abstract artist end up writing and illustrating on of the most famous books of all time? Slobodkina met Margaret Wise Brown who is famous in her own right for penning Goodnight Moon. At the time Margaret Wise Brown worked as a publisher for W.R. Scott. After seeing Slobodkina’s avant-garde portfolio which included her picture book Mary and the Poodies, Brown offered Slobodkina a publishing contract to publish Mary and the Poodies plus illustrate a book that Brown had authored called The Little Fireman.

With the encouragement of Margaret Wise Brown, Slobodkina went onto write and illustrate her own books. Caps for Sale was published in 1940 by W.R. Scott. It was Slobodkina’s third book published. In 1947 Harper & Brothers reissued Caps for Sale where it has been a constant title on most people’s books shelves selling millions of copies in the U.S. alone and translated into 6 languages as well as winning many awards.

In all, Esphyr Slobodkina authored and illustrated 22 books. Her book Caps for Sale is a vivid memory from my childhood and still sits on the shelf with all of the other I Can Read books that my grandmother purchased for me. Now 75 years later we are still reading and laughing over the funny man with all the hats and the silly monkeys who tortured him with their antics.

Happy Birthday Caps for Sale! Wishing you many readers to turn your pages.

Something To Do

The wonderful thing about Caps for Sale is that it lends itself to many fun adventures and activities. Here are a few for you to enjoy.

One of my all time favorite play moments with Caps for Sale came from my friends over at WeeFolkArt. You and the kids will have hours of fun with this peg characters, felt hats, and Tree. It will bring this book to life over and over again. Just love this. You can find all the inspirational moments right here.

Have a look at the Caps for Sale Pinterest Page. This page is designed for First and Second Grade

Here are some adorable printables to play and learn with.

To learn more about author/illustrator Esphyr Slobodkina head over to the Slobodkina Foundation. I know you’ll have a very wonderful and enchanted time visiting her studio, her artworks, and her very diverse style of art and writing. She was an amazing woman and I hope you’ll be inspired to get to know her work a little bit better.

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.

Would you rather review a new multicultural children’s book on your blog or website? Our Book Review Blogger Sign-Up for MCCBD 2016 just started as well! We’ll give you a FREE multicultural children’s book so you can post on your blog on January 27th and then join our huge Linky Party as well.

Connect with us!

– Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MulticulturalChildrensBookDay

– Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay

-Reminder: The hashtag for this event is #ReadYourWorld

The post Classic Children’s Book “Caps for Sale” Turns 75 Years Old! appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Over the years my family has enjoyed reading a variety of “great flood” tales from our local Blount County Library. This month found us enjoying the Creek Indian version called, The Otter, the Spotted Frog and the Great Flood by Gerald Hausman and beautifully illustrated by Ramon Shiloh.

In this version, 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.

As the story progresses and Listener survives the flood, he learns via a mosquito and a fish about his future wife who becomes “First Woman”.

Listener the Otter, and First Woman the mosquito turned fish, both become the first two-legged beings to walk on earth.

From that time on, the earth was good to them and they always listened to Spotted Frog, who everyone knew was the frog who saved the world by singing.

Our family and friends alike have greatly loved this book. First because the story is told brilliantly by Gerald Hausman. It uses simple and concise language while sharing the story in a simple manner. Also part of this storytelling adventure are the exquisite paintings and illustrations of Ramon Shiloh. There is a nice even flow between story and text forming a single cohesive unit of storytelling magic.

This beautiful book is one we will come to again and again.

Something To Do

Discover the Creek Indians

Knowing very little about the Creek Indians we decided to spend some time on the internet to learn more about them. The Creek Indian Nation is named after the Ocmulgee Creek in Georgia. They originally called themselves Isti or Istichata, but began to identify themselves as Muskogee soon after Europeans arrived.

The Creeks live in the Georgia, Alabama and Florida and are part of the Seminole people. To learn more about them and their culture have a look at these websites.

Native American Facts for Kids

Want to know more Creek Stories and Myths have a look here.

Just like Otter we thought building a raft was a really good idea. We got our inspiration here.

We are VERY proud to announce that, for the 3rd year, Wisdom Tales Press is a Platinum Sponsor for the upcoming Multicultural Children’s Book Day!! We are incredibly honored to have them (and our other sponsors-more details to come!) on board to help us spread the word on the importance of getting multicultural books into the hands of young readers. More details on MCCBD 2016 sponsorship can be found HERE.

***Some of these links are affiliate links. I was given a copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed are purely my own.

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Do your young readers love nature and all of nature’s critters? Experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher, Valarie Budayr. The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden offers an enthusiastically educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together.

From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into the private lives of Momma Rennie and her babies. Come watch as they navigate this wildly dangerous but still wonderful world. Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning both individually and as a family unit. It is a perfect book for story time or family sharing. Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book that includes lots of facts and even a few “fox movies” that you can enjoy with your family. Grab your copy of this beautiful and inspiring book HERE.

The post The Otter, the Spotted Frog and the Great Flood Book Review & Extension Activity appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

We’ve spent a lot of time lately at the Blount County Library in Maryville, Tennessee. When asked which book I should review, all of the kids gave a resounding answer; The Penderwicks.

The Penderwicks: A summer Tale of Four Sisters,Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall is filled with adventure, mystery, suspense, friendships, and villains–all of these ingredients mixed together make the best summer ever for the Penderwick sisters Rosalind, Jane, Skye, and Batty. Rosalind, the oldest, assumes the responsibility of taking care of her younger sisters. Jane just wants to have fun and enjoy the outdoors. Skye wants to finish her novel. And Batty…wants to be a butterfly. When they arrive at Arundel Hall for the summer with their Botanist father and their dog, Hound, the girls had no clue what was awaiting them behind the high walls of the Arundel house.

During their stay at Arundel, they make lasting friendships that make the summer worthwhile. When Mrs. Tifton’s son Jeffrey gets pulled into the Penderwick family, problems run rampant. To Mrs. Tifton, the Penderwick’s just aren’t the right kind of people. When they learn that Jeffrey’s mother is planning to ship him off to military school, the summer takes a turn for the worse. Now they have to save Jeffrey from this most undesirable fate and still manage to enjoy their summer.

Can the Penderwick’s save Jeffrey? Will Batty ever have the courage to stand up to Mrs. Tifton? And will Skye finish her novel? Join the Penderwick sisters, learn the family oath, and save Jeffrey during this wonderful, adventurous summer!

We absolutely adored this story. It has a good old fashion storytelling feel  to it. There is such solidarity in their family life.

We especially liked the way the sisters formed different configurations to have secret meetings, complete with oath taking.The girls have MOPS (Meeting of Penderwick Sisters) and MOOPS (Meeting of Older Penderwick Sisters). I love how Ms. Birdsall made each of the girls so realistic for their age. They are all very relatable for all age groups.

Another aspect we liked in the book is the idea of family honor. Penderwick Family Honor! Whenever a situation arises in which the girls have to make a judgement call – and plenty do – they always revert back to Penderwick Family Honor. I love this because honor is clearly a value that’s been stressed as an integral part of the identity of this family. This is a family that values bravery, loyalty, integrity, imagination, learning, all things I’ve instilled in my own children. Mr. Penderwick has his hands full with his four creatively active daughters. He has taught his daughters values and trusts them to live accordingly. The Penderwick Family Honor is the code they live by.

The one thing you have to know about this great read is that it’s just lovely–mystery, adventure, and fun all wrapped into one. Mr. Dupree is the best villain and Churchie the best cook. I don’t see how you can’t fall in love with the Penderwicks and their new friends.

I just shared this last bit of news with my children, it’s a series! There’s so much more fun to be had with the Penderwicks and we’re so happy about that.

Add Something To Make

Mr Harry’s Tomatoes

Mr. Harry plays a fun role in the story. I asked the kids, “What are all the things we can do with Harry’s Tomatoes ?” After thinking of everything from tomato sauce, to eating tomatoes raw, the kids wanted to know if it’s possible to make ketchup or do we “have” to buy it in a bottle ? So there it was, we made a batch of homemade ketchup and I think this is the way we’re going to eat ketchup from now on.

Ketchup Recipe

This turned out so well and was so easy to make. We found it on Allrecipes.

 INGREDIENTS:

• 2 (28 ounce) cans peeled ground tomatoes
• 1/2 cup water, divided
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/8 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/8 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
• 1 whole clove

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pour ground tomatoes into slow cooker. Swirl 1/4 cup water in each emptied can and pour into slow cooker. Add sugar, vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, celery salt, mustard powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and whole clove; whisk to combine.

2. Cook on high, uncovered, until mixture is reduced by half and very thick, 10 to 12 hours. Stir every hour or so.

3. Smooth the texture of the ketchup using an immersion blender, about 20 seconds.

4. Ladle the ketchup into a fine strainer and press mixture with the back of a ladle to strain out any skins and seeds.

5. Transfer the strained ketchup to a bowl. Cool completely before tasting to adjust salt, black pepper, or cayenne pepper.

Take a Quick Quiz

Which Penderwick Sister are You ? Or are you one at all ?

Each sister in the story is distinctly different. Each with their own personality, likes and dislikes, plus they had a variety of adventures.

Which Penderwick sister are you ? Or are you Jeffery ?

Here’s a quick review:

Rosalind is the oldest and very sensible. She is also very responsible and takes care of her younger sisters very well.

Skye is the beautiful blonde of the family who also happens to be a tomboy. She is very logical and adventurous.

Jane is a writer and very outspoken. She is a good athlete and very caring when she is saying something she shouldn’t be.

Batty is the youngest and very shy. She loves animals and considers them to be her best friends.

Jeffery is the son of a rich woman who lives in upper crust society. Jeffery loves having the Penderwick sisters as friends. He loves to play soccer and is a very good pianist.

Let’s Solve a Puzzle

Civil War Word Search

Cagney the teenage gardener loves anything having to do with the Civil War. Test your wits and see how many of these Civil War words you can find.

Now Answer This!

Family Oath

The Penderwick family has a family oath which defends their family honor. What values are important to your family? What would your Family Oath Be? Create a family oath and then come back and share it here.

**Some of these links are affiliate links. I was give a copy of this book for review. Opinions expressed are purely my own.

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The post A Day of Fun and Reading With the Penderwicks appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

I have to say that several generations of this family have been greatly inspired by Albert Einstein. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky is a brilliant work of art and incredible simple, clean and concise storytelling leaving the reader inspired and ready to embrace their own questions to discover the awe and wonder that lay behind them.

{click to tweet} “Suddenly he knew there were mysteries in the world-hidden and silent, unknown and unseen.”

From the very beginning Albert was unique. He couldn’t talk until he was 4 years old. When he did start talking he couldn’t stop asking questions. His father gave him a magnet and he wondered why and how it always pointed north. He became fascinated with light and sound, heat, gravity, but most of all numbers. Albert loved number. They were like a secret language for him.

He asked tons of questions and even with all of those questions he kept wondering, so he kept reading and learning to find answers to those questions.

After Albert graduated from college he wanted to teach all of the subjects that fascinated him.  But he couldn’t find a job as a teacher so he worked in a government office instead. Still even as an adult, Albert kept asking questions. Whether watching a lump of sugar dissolving into tea or smoke from his pipe swirl and disappear. Albert kept asking “how does that happen?”

As he continued to think and ask, Albert thought about the idea that every single thing is made of teeny, tiny bits of stuff called atoms.

He continued to think about atoms which led to him thinking about motion and the idea that everything is always moving. All of these thoughts about movement led him to incredible ideas and thought about time and space.

Albert sent his new found ideas to magazines which would publish and print anything Albert wrote. Soon he was asked to teach. Now, finally everyone thought Albert was a genius. He could spend his days imagining, wondering, figuring, and thinking.

He loved to think in his sailboat. He loved to play violin. He said it helped him think even better.

Did you know that Albert even chose his clothes for thinking ? He even word his shoes without socks. He said now that he was a grown up, no one could tell him he had to wear socks. He loved to walk and wander around, often times while eating an ice cream cone.

While doing all the things he loved, he tried to figure out the secrets of the universe and that beam of light he rode on a long time ago as a child.

Albert figured out that NOTHING could move faster than a beam of light.

Until his very last breath “Albert asked questions never asked before. Found answers never found before. And dreamed up ideas never dreamt before.”

His wondering, thinking and imagining helped us understand our universe like no one else has.

This book is a must have for the family library. It’s an incredible biography told in a very artistic and captivating way.

Something to Do

Magnets: Make your own Compass

To always keep yourself pointing north, make your very own compass. Here’s a great one from Steve Spangler.

Nearly everything you wanted to know about Magnets

Here are some really fun and entertaining activities to do with magnets, as well as an overview into the world of magnets.

Scavenger Hunt

Don’t forget to do a magnet scavenger hunt around the house. Give your children a magnet and have them search all over the house for things the magnet sticks to. Have write or bring those things back to “home base” to see what magnetic items are laying around your house.

Light and Sound

Enjoy learning about light and sound on this incredible experiment page. This will create hours of fun for you and your family.

Gravity

There is something for everyone on Gravity Day. This page has overviews and activities for all age groups.

Numbers

Wanting to know more about numbers? Want to improve or learn some math? From the very beginning I have always been so impressed with Khan Academy. It started with Sal Khan sending his niece math tutoring  help over youtube videos. Then everyone started watching them and working their way towards math comprehension. Now Khan Academy is being used all over the world not only as math tutoring but math instruction. They have other courses as well in science and language. Little by little I’ve been bringing back my own math skills by following their learning map. It’s an incredible program and it’s absolutely FREE. Want to wonder about numbers just like Albert Einstein? Head on over to Khan Academy.

Don’t forget our ginormous Back to School Library Book Bundle Giveaway!

Right on time for back to school, KidLit TV is teaming up with Pragmatic Mom, Jump into a Book, Franticmommy and Multicultural Children’s Book Day to give parents, teachers, and librarians a chance to win a multicultural book bundle for their school library.

School libraries play an integral role in the life of students. Many students can cite their school library as a place where a love of reading and learning is fortified. Throughout the country, budgets for school programs are being slashed, school libraries have been heavily hit. Hours for library time are cut in some schools, and non-existent in others. Furthermore, the tight budget impacts a school librarian’s ability to secure funds to purchase new books.

GO HERE to enter to WIN!

The post On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

Pippi Longstocking is perhaps my first childhood book friend. Pippi is the ultimate kid’s kid and free spirit. She is able to lift strong policemen, climb tall houses and trees, rescue children from burning buildings and adults from their boring chatter.

Pippi lives all alone in a large yellow and pink house, her mother died when she was a baby and her father is lost at sea somewhere but expected to return. Pippi fills her days with pancakes, games, dancing, and many other antics. Her best friends are a monkey named Nilsson and a white horse she lets in the house and sleep in the living room. She supports herself with her suitcase full of gold coins. Clearly, she needs no one and is very capable of handling every detail of life on her own.

The neighbor children next door, Annika and Tommy, think Pippi’s the most amazing wonder. They weren’t the only ones, my children and their mother, think Pippi Longstocking is simply the best.

Pippi is our go to girl when the world seems dreary and boring. Through all of Pippi’s antics, which in our opinion makes her very endearing, are well placed “lessons” in life. As a mom, I think her messages of confident self-esteem and the knowledge that one has the power to do anything once you put your mind to it, are powerful lessons that I want my children to embrace.

When we check Pippi out from the Blount County Library it is always the “big purple” edition The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, which contains all of the Pippi Longstocking books. This book is perfect for ages 7 to 10 but younger children often times can easily sit through a reading.

Something To Do

Pippi Longstocking is such a fun book to jump into. There are so many daily events happening within the pages of this favorite read that we often times have difficulty deciding what exactly we should be doing. Some activities we’ve done in the past are walking backwards relay races, making pancakes, and of course a large batch of ginger cookies.

Today though we thought we’d share our love of making ‘long-stockings”. They are perfect for any occasion.

Necessities:

How-to:

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The post The Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series: A Day with Pippi Longstocking appeared first on Jump Into A Book.

“The pattern of this landscape is folded deep, deep within her memory. She rides the currents of air that curl like rapids over the mountains. Below, the lochs reflect the cloud and sunlight. They lie in the valleys like scattered fragments of fallen sky. The cold north wind carries the remembered scent of pine and heather. The ice-carved valleys guide her.”

She is coming?

So begins the beautiful and touching story of an Osprey, a boy named Callum and a girl with an adventuresome spirit named Iona McNair.  Wild Wings by Gill Lewis tells the griping story of Callum who lives in Scotland and a girl from West Africa who together save a migrating Osprey and saving each other as well.

Striving to protect the osprey nesting on his family’s farm in Scotland, 11-year-old Callum McGregor watches the bird throughout summer, uses a computer to follow her migration to Africa and sets in motion a remarkable chain of events. This rich, moving tale begins with a shared secret: It was classmate Fiona McNair who found the nest. When the bird is snagged in fishing line high in her pine, the circle expands to include Callum’s sheep-farming family and a ranger from a nearby preserve. When she migrates, Callum and friends Rob and Euan track her through the transmitter she carries on her back. When her signal disappears in a Gambian mangrove forest, 10-year-old Jeneba, hospitalized with broken legs, mobilizes the fishermen of her village and a visiting American doctor to rescue and rehabilitate her. Eventually—and entirely naturally—the bird’s story reaches around the world. The suspenseful story line is surrounded with precise details: the Scottish landscape, osprey behavior, the work of a sheepdog and the joy and pain of riding a trail bike. Short chapters, some with cliffhanging endings, will read aloud well. Callum’s first-person narrative is occasionally paralleled by the osprey’s own experience, as Callum imagines it. With universal themes of life and death, friendship and respect for the natural world, this is still quite particular, a powerfully memorable story of a boy’s grief and determination to keep a promise. Kirkus Reviews

This is a modern day story which flows easily and grabs the readers attention immediately. It is a captivating story which has us in the countries of Scotland and Gambia. Wild Wings is a perfect combination of fiction based narrative and actual nonfiction facts about Ospreys and their living environments and migration patterns. A perfect read for a child who loves nonfiction as well as enticing a reluctant reader. Wild Wings is also good for the deep thinker and has children reflecting on many deeper issues as hand such as decisions about friendships, not giving up, moving on after losses, and awareness of how we take things for granted in our relatively privileged society.

It is an engaging story of how every one of us makes a difference and working together as a community both near and far can solve what seemed an insurmountable problem. Grab your copy of this wonderful and compelling kidlit book here.

**some of these links are affiliate links

Something To Do

What would you think if I invited you on an Osprey’s incredible journey, just like the one Callum and his friends took? Flying high above mountain ranges, oceans, and expansive and huge deserts, the osprey travels thousands of miles to migrate to warmer weather. Using satellite tagging, scientists are able to learn more about the osprey’s migration routes and about where they breed and where they winter.

Author Gill Lewis in 2011 followed such a journey and has shared it with all of us. Start here for an amazing high flying adventure.

Osprey

The osprey also known as the fish eagle, sea hawk, river hawk, or fish hawk, is a fish eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 24 inches in length and 71 inches across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts.

The osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding visitor.

It’s known as a fish eagle and the osprey’s diet consists almost exclusively of fish.

The osprey weighs between 2 and 4 pounds. 

Osprey Habitat

After the peregrine falcon, the osprey is the second most widely spread raptor in the world. It can be found in mild and tropical climate. In North America it breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland and to the south in the Gulf Coast region as well as Florida. The osprey then winters in South America. In summer it is found throughout northern Europe, in Ireland, Scandinavia, Scotland, England, and Wales but not in Iceland. When in Europe the osprey winters in Africa.

In Australia the osprey doesn’t migrate at all but remains on the coast and then flying to Western Australia to breed.

Common Core Interdisciplinary Curriculum

To learn more about the Osprey here is a very in-depth interactive Curriculum from Friends of Blackwater Reservoir in Maryland called Project Osprey Curriculum  . This guide is very through and covers everything you need for Common Core. Matched with the book Wild Wings, it’s a perfect combination.

Great BBC Program on the Scottish Osprey Conservation Project

Part 1

Part 2

Watch Live

Audubon Society of New Hampshire, includes webcam at Lake Massabesic

Highland Foundation for Wildlife, osprey management in Scotland

Osprey camera at Blackwater Reservoir, Maryland

Osprey nest camera at Loch Garten, Scotland

Osprey nest monitoring,northern England

Learn More About Migration

Journey North, track the journeys of several migratory species

Learn and Conserve

The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota

Osprey Project at Rutland Water, United Kingdom

Lake District Osprey Project, Bassenthwaite Lake, England

Glaslyn Osprey Project, Porthmadog, North Wales

Loch of Lower, Dunked, Perthshire

Enjoy Birdwatching!

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Do your young readers love nature and all of nature’s critters? Experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher, Valarie Budayr. The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden offers an enthusiastically educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together.

From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into the private lives of Momma Rennie and her babies. Come watch as they navigate this wildly dangerous but still wonderful world. Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning both individually and as a family unit. It is a perfect book for story time or family sharing. Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book that includes lots of facts and even a few “fox movies” that you can enjoy with your family. Grab your copy of this beautiful and inspiring book HERE.

The post Wild Wings by Gill Lewis #BookReview and a Multicultural Story of Friendship appeared first on Jump Into A Book.