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 work on together or divide up the list so that each child is looking for different items. Or let them make up lists for each other.

For children who can’t yet read, make a picture list by cutting out magazine pictures of signs and other common roadside attractions, like cows and pay telephones. Glue the cutouts on a piece of paper.

The children cross items of their lists or circle the pictured objects as they find them. If they wish, they can call out when they see something so the other players can corroborate. Let the winner of the backseat scavenger hunt be the first one out of the car when you stop to stretch your legs, or the one who gets to ride in the front seat for a while.

From: Reading is Fundamental

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Backseat Scavenger Hunt: Learn the Alphabet!

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 Nancy: The Dazzling Book Report (I Can Read Book 1) by Jane O’Connor

3. Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman

4. Necropolis (The Gatekeepers) by Anthony Horowitz

5. Seekers # 2: Great Bear Lake by Erin Hunter

6. A Child’s Good Morning Book by Margaret Wise Brown

7. I, Lorelei by Yeardley Smith

8. Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

9. Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers

10. Touch by Francine Prose

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New Books for Spring

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

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Homework Reading Tips

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.”

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The Little Yellow Leaf

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” include:

· 2 Bonus Episodes

· Bonus Music Video

· Kooky Kostume Game

· Coloring Pages

· Printable Activities

· Sneak Peeks

A $16.98 Value Prize

Contest ends on: January 23 at noon and a random winner will be announced the following day.

How To Play and Rules To Follow:

1) You can enter a second time by posting about the contest and writing why you would love the DVD. Just leave your link in the comments below.

2) Send a tweet on Twitter about the contest. Then leave your tweet URL in the comments below. Now you have 3 entries to win the DVD.

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Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD Giveaway

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 this one.

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Winnie the Pooh Returns to Print

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 flying giant kites to honor the dead and carry wishes up to the gods. Oh, how I would love to see this in person. How I would love to see the festivals and the colors, the people and the joyfulness they possess.

The rest of the book includes wishing traditions from countries like Russia (another country very close to my heart), Japan, China, Thailand, Iran, Israel, India, Australia, South Africa, Italy, Ireland, Brazil, Mexico, and the US. For adoptive families this is a wonderful book, as many adoptive countries are included.

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Wish: Wishing Around the World

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.

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Doo Wop POP

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.

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Snow by Cynthia Rylant

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 out”.

A bit Princess Bride, a tad Mouse and the Motorcycle, a lot Shrek-like (but with a whole lotta charm).

DiCamillo will life kids into a magical world, glitter them with wishes, and fill their hearts with laughter and love.

One movie NOT to miss if you have little ones.

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The Tale of Despereaux Opens…