Yup we are back here again in Hong Kong. What to do with the kids is top of mind, but one thing’s for sure: aside from the early hikes and beach visits, there’s only so much Lego and board games we can do in a day! 

I try to have the kids read as much as possible (a book series to binge on helps!), but also wanted to share some online resources I’ve found useful. If you are like me and are racking your brains over this sudden lock down, read on. I’ve never been a fan of screen time for young kids, but as it turns out, after the last few months, I do think that a few minutes here and there can help break things up! 

Well, here’s the list:

1.     Join an author reading online. Lots became available since global lockdown and we particularly love this one “Two Songs and two stories” from Barney Saltzberg, author of over 30 kids books. Who doesn’t enjoy a spot of singing with their reading?

2.     Watch Our Planet on Netflix. Teaching young kids about climate change is never easy, but seeing how it impacts animals on screen brings it home. It teaches ME a thing or two too! Full episodes on youtube even if you don’t subscribe.

3.     Watch bits (or all!) of the musical Hamilton on Disney Plus. It was filmed beautifully and I heard that the film adds to the experience of seeing it in the theatre (I only saw it home for the first time a couple weeks back). You can subscribe to Disney Plus, watch it every night for a month, and then cancel your subscription. Of course there are plenty of Marvel and Disney titles all included in that subscription too!

4.     Get them moving at home! There’s a whole range of free videos online ranging from yoga to Marvel exercises that we do, but download the Les Mills app to get some freebie dance and exercise videos for the kids (and yourself) too! 

5.     Printouts. Running out of new exercise and coloring books? Print some for the day! I found this list by Brightly quite useful and fun and Booktrust has a ton of resources ranging from printouts to readings.

6.     Listen to a story. Rest the eyes and relax. Especially useful when they refuse to nap! Calm Kids provides short meditations and stories that we love. Get a free 30 day guest pass here or just tap into free resources here.

Do let me know what you think of the above and please share with me other resources that you’ve found useful- I need the help too! 

Jane

p.s. Our favourite board games at the moment are Candy Land, Bingo, and Ludo- how about you?

Check out our books for today:

1. Captain Green and the Plastic Scene by Evelyn Bookless and Danny Deeptown

Anything superhero is a hit in my household! A perfect book to introduce kids to the 3 Rs of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and looking after our ocean.

2.     Touch the Earth by Julian Lennon, Bart Davis and Smiljana Coh

An interactive book is a great tool to keep kids engaged about the subject of conservation. Part of the sales proceeds goes to the White Feather Foundation, founded by Lennon, which promotes education, health, conservation and the protection of indigenous culture. (Part of a trilogy)

3.     Penguins Don’t Wear Sweaters! By Marikka Tamura and Daniel Rieley

A simple story about an oil spill affecting happy penguins. Humans that wanted to help knitted sweaters- look out for details of the true story at the back. But the morale of the story of course is that penguins don’t wear them… 

4.     10 things I can do to help my world by Melanie Walsh

Fun flappy book with practical things kids can actually do to help. Don’t be surprised when you get called out after reading this book together!

5.     The Earth Book by Todd Parr

Signature bold colours and simple messages makes this great for kids of all ages.

Enjoy the books and Happy Earth Day! Do you have any books on the subject to recommend? I’d love to hear from you!

Jane

Research shows that laughing makes you feel better by producing endorphins in the brain, just like exercise. Experts actually include laughter therapy alongside other traditional ones to improve mental health and the immune system in depression treatments. As you know, laughter is highly contagious, and the endorphin response can easily spread through groups that laugh together. Perfect way to spend time with the kids right?

Let’s dive right in. Ready to laugh out loud with your clan to the top 5 funny picture books we read so far this year?

1. You Do by Kes Gray and Nick Sharratt

Kids love books that they can relate to and this is definitely one- calling us adults out!

The cover itself is pretty telling- Daisy is picking her nose...

Highly recommend reading with the kids so you can guide them to avoid these behaviors after having a good laugh!

2.     I Yam a Donkey by Cece Bell

A great read aloud book about a conversation between a donkey and a yam, with a twist at the end.

Both kids liked it, but particularly funny for my 5 year old who gets the grammar jokes.

3.     Creepy Pair of Underwear! By Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown

Which kid isn’t obsessed with underwear and glow in the dark? Well, this book brings both in the form of creepy underwear!

This hilarious book ends in a final double spread that my kids just loved. Be prepared to flip back and forth for favorite spreads after reading!

4.     The Book that Never Ends by Matt Stanton and Beck Stanton

The 5th book in the Books that Drive Kids Crazy series- enough said right? We were in stiches trying to find the end- it’s a ‘pick your path’ type of book that even a 2 year old can get into! 

5.     Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang

Jim Panzee is grumpy and his friend tries to cheer him up- in the process pointing out what makes him look so mad and what Jim can try to feel better. Lots of mock facial expression play from my kids, inspired by the great drawings, but also a book with a more subtle message that sometimes it’s OK to feel how you feel.

“A Day without Laughter is a Day Wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin

Enjoy the books- do you have any funny books to recommend? I’d love to hear from you!

Jane

I’ve been asked this question A LOT recently and I answered simply 3-8 years old, the standard industry range that seemed to fit my book the best. But it got me thinking about picture books as a genre: at what age do children stop reading picture books? Do they move onto chapter books as soon as they can read more words? 

Contrary to popular belief, I believe that picture books can be enjoyed by children that are a lot older than 8, and even by adults (haven’t you yourself enjoyed plenty along the way whilst reading with the kids?). 

Picture books are misunderstood and here are the reasons why:

1.     Just because a picture book has lots of pictures that doesn’t make it simple. Picture books can explore complex subjects (diversity, bereavement, the environment, identity etc) and often there can be multiple layers of meaning. In fact, there are many that are written for older children rather than toddlers. Some great examples include: Kobi Yamada’s What do you do with a chance?, The Lorax by Dr Seuss, and Penguins Don’t Wear Sweaters! By Marikka Tamura, which was a true story. 

2.     Children can take away different things from picture books at different stages of their lives. Something that was taken at face value at a younger age can be explored further and have a deeper interpretation later on. My baby daughter loves Todd Parr’s bright colours while her brother gets that it’s okay to be different! Very cool.

3.     We are exposing visual art to children with picture books- why would you take that away from them as they reach a certain age? My children often pause to take in the drawings before they start to read/listen to the words on the page and it has truly taught them art literacy. Stories of newly independent readers being turned off reading due to the the lack of pictures in chapter books should be something to keep in mind. A series of chapter books with pictures my son has particularly enjoyed of late is Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snyder.

4.     Visual learners may absorb and understand things better with picture books. Every child is different and pictures can often relay messages and emotions words are not able to.

5.     Children are naturally drawn to stories and picture books and often learn many concepts through them, without it seeming like hard work! My kids have been learning Maths, Science, the environment and many other things through picture books- in fact I’m planning on writing a separate blog about this as there are just so many great books I want to share with you!

6.     Picture books can lead to a different kind of engagement with children. This quote sums up what I REALLY love about them:

Key takeaway: picture books are essential for older kids.

Send me a quick email to share your own experiences of reading picture books, reading them with older siblings, transitioning to chapter books and graphic novels etc. and I would love any book recommendations you have!

Jane

We look forward to meeting everyone at our book launch:

Saturday November 9 3pm@Bookazine Exchange Square!

So without further ado- let’s get right to our chat with Natalie!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself- I know you grew up in Canada and came back to Hong Kong a few years ago. 

Yes, I have only spent short amounts of time in Hong Kong throughout my childhood, but the highly dense and lively urban atmosphere had a lasting impression on me. When the opportunity arose after graduation to try living here, I was curious to explore the city further. 

How did you learn how to draw? Have you always wanted to be a professional illustrator?

I have always loved drawing and attended a high school specialized in the arts. However, I would say my current style and method was developed through self exploration post years of traditional arts education. I actually studied architecture in university! I never envisioned myself to be a professional illustrator but stars aligned and I find great affirmation in my current career path.

Can you tell us about your methods of drawing- you used watercolours for Emi Takes Hong Kong, do you use other forms?

I mainly work traditionally with pen and watercolours on paper because I love the tactile process and natural textures. To allow for more flexibility at times, I do also incorporate digital methods and use a graphics tablet!

Can you tell us a little bit about your work outside of picture books? I know you are very passionate about your social projects. 

Illustrating for children is my main focus: aside from picture books, I am also creating educational materials and artwork for school curriculums. I have worked with organizations such as Caritas, Po Leung Kuk, RTHK and Kiehls on social advocacy campaigns to raise awareness on wide ranging issues including autism, at risk youth, disadvantaged neighbourhoods and care of the elderly. It is very rewarding to know my contribution helps spread the message.   

Any favourite artists or sources of inspiration?

Richard Scarry and Jimmy Liao 幾米 were my first sources of inspiration. More recently, I’ve become a huge fan of Yoshitake Shinsuke - a Japanese picture book illustrator whom I admire for his simple yet hilarious style of storytelling! 

Where would we have seen some of your work? 

My first book, Hong Kong Travelogue, is a compilation of 2 years of illustrations and written observations that documents my exploration around the city. I am currently working on a second travel book documenting my trips around Japan, which will focus on old 60-80s storefronts that I’m fascinated with.

Find out more about Natalie at https://www.natalieillustration.com. She is also on Instagram @chikatetsu_n.
 

So here’s the really cool part: what can you do in 5 minutes to find a sense of Zen? 

1.    Meditate. All you need is a smartphone, headphones and a chair. I picked up this routine when my leg was broken and I was stuck on the sofa. I was stunned by how easy and accessible it was and you can really feel the difference after a 5 or 10 minute session! Check out the app Calm (Apple store App of the year in 2017)- guided sessions ranging from minutes to longer catering for all levels!

2.    Rest. Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT vege-ing out in front of the TV for 5 minutes! The right type of rest can be more restorative to our brains and enhance productivity. What we need is “active rest”- engaging in an activity that challenges and takes your mind off things, such as drawing, exercise, playing a piece of music etc.  Check out Dr Alex Pang’s work if you are interested to find out more here.

3.    Read- don’t underestimate the power of a quote or a poem to inspire. A quote may only take a minute to read and a few minutes more to reflect upon. I also love reading quotes and talking about the famous people behind them to my son. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, be sure to check out my booklet of quotes for children here.

4. Connect with a friend or loved one- connectivity defines our society these days, but what does it mean to really connect? To me- it’s more than just giving a “like” on social media, it’s reaching out to send a personal email, to call, or best of all- physical contact like giving a hug, which has been scientifically proven to change moods for the better. 

5. Relive one happy moment of your day. Check it out: research shows that talking or thinking about a positive experience enables the brain to relive and reinforce the positivity. I also picked up a great daily habit up from a parent friend you might like to try- talk about your children’s highlights of the day with them, my kids’ little faces light up without fail when it’s their turns at dinner to share!

6. Look outside the window- we are so used to staring at screens that we forget to take our eyes off for hours at a time. Looking at things further away is a stretching exercise for your eyes that helps refocus.

These are just a few tips that I’ve found helpful. Email me with any others that work for you- I’ll need as much help as I can coming back to reality, with lots to do ahead of my picture book launch in November!

Jane

And of course the ultimate one that I want the answer to too- when will it all be over?

If you’re struggling with some of these questions- read on.

As Hong Kong goes through this unchartered period, there are many questions that our naturally curious children will ask. Personal political views aside, protests are a fact of modern life and there is no getting away from news flow in this day and age. The daily lives of our children may also be affected, whether it is just a route change or seeing army trucks rolling past, leading to more questions.

Whilst a part of me wants to protect my son from the harsh reality, I feel that it is important to answer his questions head on. And let me be clear about something: it’s hard! But I want to bring my kids up to be socially aware and compassionate and I can use this opportunity to introduce new concepts to them. I speak from my heart and answer my son’s questions one by one, to the best of my ability. 

Some topics we have been talking about in our household: dialogue, non-violence, peace, everyone being the same, forgiveness, keeping an open mind and starting small in your own actions- all big concepts that I find hard to define and explain.

Now here comes the good part- some help! Picture books are great at introducing some of these ideas. Stories and colorful pictures drive discussions and often positive messages. Reading is also part of the daily routine for us that provides stability in contrast to what is happening in the city.

“Peace is a joining, not a pulling apart. It’s the courage to bear a wounded heart.”

-      Peace is an offering, by Annette LeBox

Here are a few books that I’ve found relevant and useful, let me know what you think or any additions you may have to the list.

1.    The Peace Book by Todd Parr- Bold colors and simple words make this a good option for young children- especially those that love pizza! (Peace is having enough pizza in the world for everyone…)

2.    Peace is an Offering by Annette LeBox- a sweet poem about finding peace within your own community. 

3.    Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss- a classic that is more abstract, but a fun story to explore why people (or turtles!) may be unhappy.

4.    The Forgiveness Garden by Lauren Thompson- more suitable for older children, but a relatable story about coming together and forgiveness versus revenge. 

Enjoy the books and please help me share this post and hopefully positive message! Please do share with me your own experiences and any tips on discussing these topics with children! 

Jane

See my other blog posts here

So let’s briefly cover them: why do we love wordless picture books? 

1.    They spark the children’s imagination because the kids are the story tellers alongside the illustrators. It is so exciting for them to be in the driving seat for a change!

2.    They are great for active reading- parents and kids can point things out together, make sounds, make believe conversations and even act out the plot!

3.    Children get to focus on the art and observe all the amazing details the illustrator has included. 

4.    They are great for new or reluctant readers- younger siblings who may not be able to read yet feel very much included as they can join in and participate fully with the story telling. For older reluctant readers, they can enjoy a book and build positive literary experiences without the stress of reading words. 

5.    There can be multiple interpretations of the story- it’s fun to go back to the book and come up with something new or different!

6.    As a bilingual family, we enjoy reading wordless picture books in different languages. I try to encourage my son- can you tell me the story in Mandarin this time?

7.    Wordless picture books can even work with your schedule- you decide how long or short to make the story! 

Here are 3 of our favorites:

(note all available for reservation from the HK library if you are based here)

1.    Journey by Aaron Becker- cheating a little bit here as it’s actually a trilogy, with the second and third books being Quest and Return. A magical journey through a portal- how cool!

Journey trilogy

2.    Draw by Raul Colon- a mini safari with lots of different animals

Draw

3.    Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell- a touching story of compassion that can lead to lots of Q&As from the kids!

Wolf in the snow

Let me know what you think if you get a chance to read these.

Enjoy and wishing you guys a great summer break!

Jane

This got me thinking- do we really need to plan everything out to a tee? 

As a full time working mum up to the end of last summer, I often booked camps and activities for my kids week to week outside of family trips. It was reassuring to see pictures of them running around supervised since I couldn’t be with them. But having spent more time at home in recent months, the answer to the question in the title hit me:

More Playtime.

Just as adults and business leaders practice meditation and mindfulness, kids’ version of being in the moment is simply playing! So why deprive them of that? Here’s why that’s important:

“Researchers believe that the dramatic drop in unstructured playtime is in part responsible for slowing kids’ cognitive and emotional development…In addition to helping kids learn to self-regulate, child-led, unstructured play (with or without adults) promoted intellectual, physical, social and emotional well-being. Unstructured play helps children learn how to work in groups, to share, negotiate, resolve conflicts, regulate their emotions and behavior, and speak up for themselves.”

-      Raising Happiness by Christine Carter, PH.D. (Link to book)

Amazing, isn’t it? Less is more.

As parents living in a city, we are surrounded by different class options (I’m getting multiple emails/day on these!) and I often hear concerns that kids need extra-curricular tuition to stay ahead and fears that kids get bored. It is not uncommon to hear of kids’ schedules that consist of: 2 kindergartens, eating lunches in the car, short naps during car shuttles between classes and jam packed hour by hour schedules. But think about applying such a schedule to an adult- a sure fire way to an unhappy and unhealthy lifestyle I hear you say!

I try to find a balance by signing up for some classes that my kids really enjoy but also actively budgeting down time, which I consider equally important. Down time to my kids consists of playing at home, going to the playground, going on an ad hoc playdate, baking, reading, going for a swim if it’s boiling hot- we find “spur-of-the-moment” things often the most memorable! One bonus is that my son gets to spend more time with his little sister now that we’ve cut back on some of his classes after school. And on top of that I save some $$$!

This summer, we’ll be joining some half day and short sports classes when we are in town. How will you be spending yours? Do you have any favorite activities that you would recommend for the holidays? Send me a note or leave a comment below!

Wishing you and yours a memorable summer break!

Jane

Link to all blog posts (please join my Readers’ Group at the bottom of the page to stay updated!)

Summer Slide refers to the decline in children's reading development that can occur during the summer holidays when they are not in school and not participating in formal literacy programmes (Allington & McGill-Franzen, 2003). 

It all sounds rather ominous, but keeping the kids reading shouldn’t be a tough chore if we just incorporate it into part of our planning. What’s adding one item to a long list anyway!

Here are some reliable ways I get my children to read more:

1.    Make reading part of your routine- if bedtime reading falls through due to jet lag, overtired kids, irregular nap times etc., make it a morning reading after breakfast perhaps to change it up. Kids love routines: incorporate reading into your days no matter where you are. 

2.    Let the children pick the books THEY want to read- there are countless times when I’ve thought to myself “again?” when the kids dig out the same favorite books. (Peppa Pig, Topsy & Tim, Curious George anyone?) Whilst it may not be that award winning picture book we picked, the fact that they want to read is a win in itself. 

Repeated reading is a way that children’s brains process new information (source: Montessori) and we can support them by being progressively more interactive on subsequent reads once they know the stories well- try stopping to give short definitions of vocabulary terms or relating what’s happening in the books to their worlds.

3.    Spend time reading with the kids- nothing can replace reading time with a parent. Oftentimes once a child can read we spend more time with the younger ones who need assistance. I’ve found marking out clear reading time for each child and also reading time as a family altogether effective (so 3 slots for us with the 2 children!). Also show them that YOU read- show them what Mum and Dad are reading on the plane!

4.    Make use of the library- get a library card for each kid if they don’t already have one, at the minimum they would love to have another card with their name on it! My children love visiting the local library (Stanley for us) and are always SO happy to pick 8 books each to bring home. They even have their own library book bags and check the books out themselves (the beeping of the electronic check out machine is a bonus!).

Click here to find the closest public library to you in Hong Kong

https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/mobile/en/locations/libraries.html

We used to live quite far from a public library and subscribed to Bookswalas, a borrowing service that delivered to our door. It costs a bit more but worth it as our kids got into the habit and the books were always clean.

http://bws.bookswalas.com 

5.    Spice it up with electronic readers, audiobooks or eBooks- we received an electronic Me reader that reads 8 books aloud as a present and it’s terrific! The interactive sound effects draw in both kids even though my son can already read himself. For younger ones sound books are wonderful.

As someone who’s very conscious of screen time for my children, I’ve turned somewhat of a convert on eBooks for travelling. I’m by no means buying an iPad for my son yet, but it’s great to have some awesome picture books loaded up on mine for reading together on trips. I much prefer cutting the TV time on the plane with reading some eBooks than having no reading at all. I can always buy the print version too if they find a favorite!

6.    Buy some new books- if you are travelling, bring the kids to the local book store. They’ll be excited to explore local collections and to bring a book home with them- also a great way to introduce a new culture!

All that’s left for me to say is- happy reading and have an unforgettable summer!

Please get in touch with any favorite books that you’ve discovered, or if you have any other comments at all! 

Multiple fractures in the tibia. Dislocated ACL. Bone fragment pulled out by said ACL. EEECK. 

It was all a bit of a blur after that- surviving a rescue from 1,000m high, a visit to Kutchan Hospital (where only one person could speak English!) and fighting off rowdy tourists at the Sapporo airport from bumping into my leg. It wasn’t what we were expecting- but thanks to hubbie, good friends and my understanding 4 year-old son, I got back in one piece from Niseko! 

Now comes the hard part post-surgery. No weight bearing for 6 weeks and partial weight bearing for a couple weeks after that = no walking and hobbling around on one leg for 2 months plus. Due to the bruising (I didn’t know that the blood actually rushes all the way down your leg and blackens it from knee down!) it also means keeping the leg elevated and sitting on your sofa 24/7.

So I have a mild case of CABIN FEVER now to say the least. That plus the physio exercises I have to do multiple times a day bending my knee- ouch. 

Did I say silver lining you ask?

Well the fact that you are reading this blog now says it all! I never knew how much you could get done sitting on a sofa with 2 screens connected to the internet. Finishing the last round of edits on my picture book manuscript was a given, but I’m attending webinars, half way through an online course for Indie authors, teaching myself how to create a website, navigating MailChimp- things I never thought I would be able to do, let alone enjoy doing. So here begins my journey of self-publishing!

Oh and some other things I’ve discovered during this stint so far? Deliveroo Plus, PressReader, free daily news at the Guardian, BookBub…. 

Till the next time. Do let me know what you think of my website and blog post. First website, first blog…