My son, AJ, is still learning his letters and and a great way to do this is to have him do a scavenger hunt when we are out driving around during the day.
Before you head out, make up a long list of various things your children are likely to see from the car (or bus or train) window. For example: a license plate beginning with the letter C, an old tire, a tow truck, an overpass, a city that is named after a woman, a McDonalds restaurant, a silo, and so on.
Give the children the long list to …read more

Spring is a time for new beginnings, birth, a rising from the dark so to speak. So, what better time to debut some of the best books of the year? In fact, it is my belief that most publishing companies are counting on the next few months or so to pull them out of a slump. Spring Break read anyone?
Just like we want a great Spring Break read, our kids need and want them too. Need a great airplane read? Check out this fabulous list below.
1. Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle’s RUles for Girls) by Meg Cabot
2. Fancy …read more

Supplementing reading at home is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. Here are 6 tips to help you supplement reading with your child.

Have your child read aloud every night.
When you are finished reading point out how to spell and sound out words and patterns.
Stop often while reading and ask your child to retell you what they read in their own words.
You can also ask your child to predict what will happen next.
Pause and ask questions to check for understanding.
If your child misses a word pause and help him or her through sounding it out.

The New York Times has named Carin Berger’s collaged picture book, the Best Illustrated Book of 2008.
The New York Times says “Like any good children’s allegory, this book invites a variety of interpretations. Whatever ending you envision, do not go gently into that good fall. Rage, rage, against the dying of the leaf.”

As our favorite readers know, we often get some very cool products to giveaway. This week we have been contacted by the entertainment company of the brand new Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! A Little Help From My Friends DVD that arrives in stores February 3.
The new DVD features over 90 minutes of Wubbzy, Widget, and Walden.
“This new release follows the hugely successful launch of Anchor Bay ’s first Wubbzy DVD collection, “A Tale of Tails”, as well as the second season of “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” on Nick Jr. …”
The DVD features:
DVD extras on “A Little Help From My Friends” …read more

The estate of A.A. Milne has authorized a sequel to the original Winnie the Pooh books, and will publish “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood” on October 5. This is the first authorized sequal to the 1926 book, Winnie the Pooh and will be written by novelist David Benedictus and illustrated by Mark Burgess.
Benedictus and Burgess have captured the “spirit and quality of those original books,” stated Michael Brown, the trustee of the estate.
Look for the book in early October from Penguin Young Readers. As Jeffrey A Trachtenberg of the Wall Street Journal said today, even Eeyore might smile about …read more

Today my husband and I are flying south to be reacquainted with our second son after one long year. We were in Guatemala City at this time last year signing our papers to officially adopt him.
Now, after a year of paperwork, DNA tests, and waiting, we are on the airplane to bring him home. Ironically, as I was looking through my emails and media information a few days ago I came across this new book that is said to have gorgeous artwork and a “message that sparkles with hope”.
Wish: Wishing Around the World by Roseanne Thong begins with Guatemalan children …read more

Award winning Bryan Collier is back again with a musical collaboration with the equally talented award winning author Roni Schotter in Doo Wop Pop.
When several shy students take up with the Doo Wop janitor of their school they find they have talents and friendships they never knew they had.
As African American History Month approaches, why not include a book like this in all classrooms, especially music classes? Even though it is fictional it is based on real events, real people, and people like this did exist.

To me, snow stirs up excitement, anticipation, memories. I love snow. And, obviously so does Cynthia Rylant.
She writes eloquently about snowfall, how enticing it is to see, to anticipate more, to experience all their is about the touch, the sight, the feel of snow.
It’s not just about snow but about emotion and feeling.

I have been a big fan of Kate DiCamillo since I began reading her novels way back when…Because of Winn Dixie (which makes me cry).
The Tale of Despereaux tells a magical story about a mouse in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea (reminds me of a friend who played the Princess in the play). It is ALSO the story of a rat who lives in darkness. It is ALSO the story of Miggery Sow, a serving girl who wants one wish granted.

And, in true fantasy, Camillo tells us, the readers, that it is “our destiny to find …read more