If you haven’t searched for something on Google today you are in for a fun little treat…
A wordless retelling of Little Red Riding Hood to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, a collection of European folk tales first published in 1812 by German brothers Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm and Wilhelm Carl Grimm.
The other weekend was my first weekend free from work in over a year. You see, I had to give up my little children’s books and gift shop at a local weekend market in order to better focus on other ventures.
At the same time I was invited join another mom and her family at the Make-A-Wish foundation walk-a-thon. She lost her baby, James, to medical errors 11 years ago. She and her family memorialize baby James by supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my first obligation-free weekend.
The walk was held at the Morris Arboretum and as an added bonus [to me anyway] the arboretum was hosting a scarecrow design contest. One of the themes was Children’s Stories!
Here are some photos I snapped during our walk:
Download the app for free and the first five ebook downloads are free!
Storia®, the free, fun, interactive and educational reading app from Scholastic, is designed with kids in mind – featuring learning activities, read-to-me books, a developing dictionary, and private parent settings.
Storia includes:
Learning activities-to enhance growth with helpful games
Read-to-me books-to create interactive experience
A dictionary-to comprehend the content
Highlighter and note-takers-to pinpoint the important information
Personalized Book Shelves- to organize each child’s reading levels
Private parent settings-to ensure your child is progressing with reading
The free app and the five free ebook downloads are the perfect supplement tools to enhance your child’s learning experience. Storia® also offers more than 2,000 titles for kids from toddlers through teens, about 350 of which are enriched with vocabulary, comprehension, and video activities.
The Storia® app can be downloaded FREE to PC, iPad or Android tablets (with more platforms to come later this fall) to start a digital library for home or classroom use, and comes with five FREE ebooks – including a special Clifford the Big Red Dog® ebook in honor of his Big Red 50th birthday this year.
Additional Storia® ebooks can be purchased through The Scholastic Store online or Scholastic Book Clubs.
Today, I had the pleasure of hosting a craft at a local marketplace. We made replicas of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games medals.
The craft is simple but fun and a great conversation/lesson starter. The main supplies you will need are glue, purple ribbon, gold (or silver) glitter, crayons or other crafty supplies to embellish your medals, and a printer. I printed mine in black and white on a pale yellow paper. You could print on card stock to make your medals sturdier but regular weight paper worked just fine. A link to the FREE printable of the 2012 medal is included at the bottom of this post.
If you’re up for detail work, grab some white paint and add rings, London 2012, and lines like you see on the real ribbons.
We also learned some interesting facts about the Olympics and the medals.
- In ancient times, athletes were awarded olive wreaths to crown their heads instead of medals.
- The 2012 Gold Medal is made up of 92.5% SILVER and only 1.34% GOLD. The rest is COPPER.
- Despite gold making up a tiny percent of the gold medals, they are worth about $650 in precious metals due the current high price of gold.
- The front of Summer Olympic medals always show the Greek Goddess of Victory, Nike. The Host City designs the back of the medal.
- The color of the ribbon also changes. This year, the ribbons are a deep purple.
- The Summer Olympics are held every 4 years in a different city. This year the games are hosted by London, United Kingdom and in four years Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will host the 2016 games.
- An Olympiad is a period time measuring 4 years. The London 2012 Games are officially called the Games of the XXX Olympiad. XXX is the Roman numeral for 30 and we are now within the 30th Olympiad since the start of modern Olympic games.
- Modern Olympics Games were started in 1896 but the games have roots dating back to 776 B.C. That’s almost 2800 years ago! Wow!
-Summer Sports include: Aquatics, Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoe/Kayaking, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Modern pentathlon, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling.
- WORD PLAY: Don’t meddle with an Olympic athlete’s medal which is made of precious metals for he or she has shown great mettle during the games.
-205 different countries (and a few territories) are competing in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Learn more about the many countries competing this year with highly acclaimed The Barefoot Books World Atlas by Nick Crane for children. The World Atlas was released less than a year ago and is already in it’s 4th printing due popularity.
“This fresh and informative atlas offers engaging, fact-filled overviews of Earth’s oceans and continents….With its emphasis on sustainability, interconnectedness, and diversity, the book offers young armchair travelers and globe-trotters much to discover” — Publishers Weekly
Ideas: Watch a few games and then find the winner’s home country in your Atlas and learn fun facts about the surrounding region.
Hang up the included pull-out world map next to your TV. When a game starts look for each competing country on the map. Isn’t it amazing that people who live so far apart, speak different languages, and who come from completely different backgrounds can share a common passion for their chosen sport?
You can make your own medals by downloading the FREE PRINTABLE (PDF) 2012 OLYMPIC MEDAL CRAFT here.
Last week a fun new book landed on my doorstep, Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney Saltzberg.
Arlo Needs Glasses (Workman, July 2012) is the latest book from Saltzberg, the bestselling author of Beautiful Oops!, Peekaboo Kisses, and Good Egg.
Arlo Needs Glasses was inspired by Barney’s own four-legged-friend. Just like his character, the real-life Arlo is not very good at playing catch either.
“He just couldn’t get the ball to land in his mouth,” says Saltzberg. “We tried over and over and I honestly had never seen anything like it.” Thus, the idea for Arlo Needs Glasses was born.
At first I was underwhelmed at the thought of yet another children’s book inspired by someone’s pet. But as soon as I opened the book and we started reading it I knew we were in for a treat.
Saltzberg’s brush and pencil strokes are full of whimsy in this brightly illustrated mixed media book. The book is taken to another level with carefully thought out and crafted pop-out and interactive features. On one page you’ll find a whirling ball, on another a giant pull-out phoropter (the machine eye-doctors commonly use to check vision), and even pull out glasses for Arlo or you and your child to try on.
If your child needs glasses or knows someone who does – for my little guy that’s his Daddy, Pop-pop and cousin – the text and illustrations of this book simply and clearly explain WHY they needed glasses and why glasses are so cool.
Check out the book trailer below to get a better feel for what to expect.
To celebrate the release of this new book, Workman is hosting a fun doggy photo contest. It’s so easy to enter and 5 winners will receive an autographed copy of Arlo Needs Glasses.
“MY DOG NEEDS GLASSES!” PHOTO CONTEST
What has four eyes and four legs? Your dog in glasses! Share funny photo of your dog wearing glasses for a chance to win a signed copy of Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney Saltzberg. Be silly, but promise to not put your pup through too much embarrassment.Enter by posting your photo on your Pinterest board with the hashtag #ArloNeedsGlasses. Then follow Workman’s board: www.pinterest.com/workmanpub. Workman will repin the photos to the “My Dog Needs Glasses!” board.
Five photos with the most likes and re-pins by July 31st will win an autographed copy of Arlo Needs Glasses. Entrants must be U.S. residents.
Here’s my entry:
My doggy-nephew, Brady, looking too cool in shades.
P.S. If you get your hands on this book, and I definitely recommend it, don’t forget to look for the hidden poem included within the eye chart!
Is your family looking for some new reading material this summer? Check out these seasonally appropriate books. These selections come highly recommended by other readers and are sure to delight your children as well.
Author: Roger Priddy
Price: $4.95
Reader review: 3 out of 5 stars
Board Book: 12 pages
Publisher: Priddy Books (May 10, 2011)
Babies will love the visual stimulation of the cold ice cream, the hot sun, and sandy beaches. Accompanied by touch-and-feel textures, this book will quickly become a favorite.
Author: Gerda Muller
Price: $10
Reader review: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Board Book: 10 pages
Publisher: Floris Books (August 1, 2004)
This wordless book, filled with exquisitely detailed illustrations, will inspire creativity and imagination. Once summer is over, grab author Gerda Muller’s Autumn, Winter, and Spring.
Summer Days and NightsAuthor: Wong Herbert Yee
Price: $12.08
Reader review: 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (April 10, 2012)
A little girl spends her summer day catching a butterfly, sipping lemonade, jumping in a pool and going on a picnic. At night, the rustling leaves eventually lull her to sleep. This beautiful book is perfect for story hour or a bedtime tale.
SummerAuthor: Alice Low
Illustrator: Roy McKie
Price: $8.99
Reader review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (May 22, 2001)
Other formats: Kindle Edition, Paperback, Board Book
A boy, a girl and a dog will make perfect summer companions for your beginning reader. Your youngster will delight as the characters share their summer adventures – swimming, fishing, gardening, watching fireworks, and toasting marshmallows.
How I Spent My Summer VacationAuthor: Mark Teaque
Price: $6.99
Reader review: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Dragonfly Books (July 8, 1997)
This rootin’ tootin’ tall-tale is perfect for young readers. Follow along as Wallace Bleff shares his oral report titled, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” Apparently, Wallace’s trip to visit his aunt turned into quite the wild-west adventure! The rollicking rhymed verse and laughter-inducing illustrations will be a crowd pleaser.
One Crazy SummerAuthor: Rita Williams-Garcia
Price: $6.99
Reader review: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Amistad (December 27, 2011)
Other formats: Kindle Edition and Hardcover
Awards received: Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Newberry Honor Book, National Book Award Finalist, and Coretta Scott King Book Award
Rita Williams-Garcia, distinguished author of books for children and teens, delivers an emotionally challenging and beautifully written story. This heart breaking yet funny story follows three girls as they travel to Oakland, California. The year, 1968, is one of the most tumultuous years in recent American history. As such, this powerful tale is sure to be a memorable one.
Let these books enhance your children’s summer entertainment!
Guest blogger and first-time dad Logan Clement works in graphic design (for this company). He has always appreciated beautifully illustrated picture books; now that he can enjoy sharing them with his daughter, they have become even more special!
The Dear America Series from Scholastic is a collection of historical fiction books for young girls. Written for middle readers in grades 5-8, the series was first published from 1996 to 2004 and included 36 titles. Every title is written in diary format with a different girl sharing their experiences and recording significant moments in American history. The topics cover a wide range of events, places, and issues in American history including, major wars, the great depression, women’s suffrage, slavery, immigration, and lesser-known events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
The series was much beloved and thanks to popular demand was relaunched in 2010. The first new title released in 2010 was The Fences Between Us by Kirby Larson, set during World War II. At the same time, A Journey to the New World Kathryn Lasky and The Winter of Red Snow by Kristiana Gregory were re-released.
You can learn more about the new series at Scholastic’s Dear America site. There is also an online educators guide loaded with additional resources for teachers and parents. Titles from the original series can often be discovered at school and public libraries.
Or better yet, enter below to win a set of FOUR Dear America books and read them yourselves!
This giveaway is being co-hosted with USA Love List. They love this series even more because the books are printed in the good ol’ USA.
Yesterday, I was thrilled to attend a sneak peek event in NYC to learn about the new Reading Rainbow App which was launched today. Everyone involved with the project was there to share and celebrate including LeVar Burton, host and producer of the original Reading Rainbow show.
LeVar Burton showing kids the Reading Rainbow App
“I come from a family teachers, and when I was offered the opportunity to host Reading Rainbow in 1983, I recognized immediately the value in using technology to inspire kids to read,” said Burton. “Reading will never go out of style, but the tools used for learning are changing. I am excited to bring Reading Rainbow back so that parents who watched the show can now share that same feel-good experience with their own children but on a platform that resonates with today’s digital kids.”
Designed for children 3-9 years of age, the App delivers a library of hundreds of curated books and all new videos presented in a world of adventure and discovery. Traveling to themed islands, such as Animal Kingdom, My Friends, My Family and Genius Academy, kids find a variety of books and videos customized to their age and interests. The App brings together books from numerous acclaimed children’s publishers. Launch partners include Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Holiday House, Charlesbridge Publishing, Kane Press, Sleeping Bear Press, Peachtree Publishers and Shenanigan Books.
Each book comes alive with audio storytelling by celebrity actors, including spoken word Grammy winner Burton himself, and features light animations and related activities to enhance the story.
Similar to the original series, children journey with Burton on exciting real-life adventures. These in-app video field trips connect the stories children read to the world they live in and use a combination of newly-produced video as well as classic segments from the TV show.
One of the App’s many features include a reward system in which children earn digital stickers to motivate a continued exploration of books and frequent reading. For parents, ReadingRainbow.com offers a companion website and dashboard to get updates regarding time their child spent reading, books read, and suggestions for new stories based on the child’s interests. Family Reading Time hints also provide opportunities to discuss themes and lessons explored in each book.
As of today’s launch-date, the App includes 150 books and 16 video field trips. New content will be added to the service on a regular and frequent basis.
“We’re excited to offer a safe experience designed just for kids,” said Asra Rasheed, RRKidz CEO. “We’ve created an easy-to-use subscription service for parents, allowing them to unlock the extensive Reading Rainbow library books and videos without the worry of approving and purchasing each item separately.”
The Reading Rainbow App is free for download on the iPad (an Android version is in the works!) and includes the ability to fully explore the App, the islands, videos and to select one book to read. The subscription price is $9.99 per month or $29.99 for six months at the App Store. That’s a decent value considering the price of just ONE quality children’s e-book.
The Reading Rainbow App is the inaugural project of RRKidz, Inc., a digital media company co-founded by Burton and entertainment veteran Mark Wolfe. “Throughout its more than two decades on television, Reading Rainbow enjoyed an exceptional reputation for children’s quality programming,” noted Wolfe. “That same focus – bringing together the best, most enriching, content for children, all in one place – is what the RRKidz is all about; now with the Reading Rainbow App and in the future with a wide array of new projects.”
Plans for 2012 include expanding the Reading Rainbow App library of content, launching it on new platforms and introducing new digital products to inspire children’s love of reading.
App screen shots:
I’m heading to NYC tomorrow to celebrate and learn about the relaunch of Reading Rainbow. In my pre-event excitement, I stumbled upon this little bit of awesomeness.
Jimmy Fallon impersonating Jim Morrison singing “Reading Rainbow”… can’t believe I hadn’t seen this before!
Summer
