Kids sometimes need journal prompts to get started writing. Not all kids do. And not all kids need a prompt every time they write. It's important to be flexible. However, your child is struggling with what to write, try a prompt or a book like Journal Sparks. You can always, always, always suggest that your child write about his or her feelings at the moment or events that happened during … [Read more...]
Delightful New Picture Books for Summer
If you're looking for newly published picture books, summer 2017, keep these delightful choices in mind. Maybe even put some on hold at the library. Because there are lots of great books to read with kids. Delightful New Picture Books for Summer (2017) I'm Silly (My First Comics) by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm EMOTIONS Tizzy Tornado is feeling silly. But Tizzy's acted too silly and … [Read more...]
Lovely Fairy Tales and Myths to Enjoy With Children
Some of these newly published fairy tales and myth books are familiar while others are totally new. Read these stories with your children. Then see what wonderful discussions you might have as you explore the richness and meaning of the stories together. Fairy tales began as allegories to explain abstract concepts with themes of birth, death, love, jealousy, growing up, and … [Read more...]
New Chapter Books for Summer Reading 2017 (Ages 10 – 12)
If your kids are ages 10, 11, and 12 year olds, check out the best new chapter books for your 2017 summer reading choices! There are so many good ones. If you want more ideas, from other years, you'll want to see my favorite choices on these lists: Summer Book List for Age 10 Summer Book List for Age 11 Summer book List for Age 12 New Chapter Books for Summer … [Read more...]
If Your Kids Like Graphic Novels, Check Out These Spring 2017 Titles
If your kids like to read graphic novels, they'll want to check out this selection of spring 2017 titles. Of course, if you want even book ideas more, visit my best graphic novels for kids page. Check Out These Spring 2017 Graphic Novels Real Friends by Shannon Hale (ages 8 - 12) Kids will relate to the ups and downs of Shannon's friendship in elementary and … [Read more...]
Folktales for Kids
Do your kids know about folktales? These are stories from a culture's oral traditions meant to share values and / or explain something in the natural world or about human nature, often are about ordinary people, and can including talking animals like fables. Sometimes folktales contain a wise life lesson at the end just like a fable does. When researching about folktales, it is clear that there … [Read more...]
Anti-Smoking Resources & Contest from Right Decisions Right Now
Attn: hardworking, busy middle school teachers! Grades 5 - 9 are the age group at the highest risk of trying tobacco, as you probably know. Research shows that kids between ages 11 and 15 are most likely to try smoking for the first time. Yikes! BIG GIVEAWAY!!--> To say thank you for all your hard work, Right Decisions Right Now, my partner on this post, is giving 4 WINNERS a $500 Staples … [Read more...]
Hip-Hop Learning Videos on Flocabuary App
Parents, want a cool hack to keep your kids learning over the summer and avoiding the summer slide? Try the Flocabulary app. It's packed with over 800 hip-hop learning videos that engage kids in a unique way. Also, just a quick note about the summer slide --it's is when kids, on average, lose two months of reading and math skills over summer break. In good news, Oxford Learning says that just … [Read more...]
Don’t Forget to Read Nonfiction Books with Kids
Often, when we think of children's books, it's fiction. But, nonfiction matters, too! That's why I always try to regularly share with you the best recently published nonfiction books. Here are my latest favorites. Cheers! you might also like: Nonfiction Comprehension Strategies and Determining Importance in Nonfiction Don't Forget to Read Nonfiction Books with Kids My … [Read more...]
What’s a Good Book for a New Reader?
What is a good book for your new reader to read? How about 8!? These new easy readers just hit the shelves. I think you'll find them entertaining for your growing readers to read. Repeatedly. :) What's a Good Book for a New Reader? What Is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas Jan Thomas is one of my favorite authors because her stories are always hilarious kid-favorites and her illustrations … [Read more...]
6 Wonderful New Picture Book Biographies
We expand our children's worlds when we help know the stories of other people. These six new picture book biographies will deftly do just that. 6 Wonderful New Picture Book Biographies The Strongest Man in the World: The Legend of Louis Cyr by Lucie Papineau and Caroline Hamel Even at a young age, Cyprien-Noe of Canada, earned a reputation of Samson. When he learned that weight lifting … [Read more...]
The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo, Book 2) Is Here #TrialsofApollo
Get ready!! The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo, Book 2) by Rick Riordan is now at a bookstore near you!! A big thanks to Disney-Hyperion for providing a prize pack for my readers and a review copy of the book which they're sending today! :) Readers, scroll down to enter the #TrialsofApollo "God of Poetry" giveaway! In honor of the god of poetry's second book, I've written a haiku . . … [Read more...]