Raising Itty-Bitty Bookworms

Little Cooks with Books

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:48:00 +0000

Little Cooks with Books:
Apple Picking Time and the Yummiest Apple Cake Ever!

Making the Most of Homeschooling: A Guest Post

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:33:00 +0000

Making the Most of the Homeschool Experience:
Four Time and Lesson Management Tips

For about three years, my two siblings and I were schooled at home by my mother. I'm convinced that the experience was a positive one, as we received nurturing attention from the one woman who was best equipped to teach us lessons in both academics, life, and love--our mother.

It was not, however, always easy. When you homeschool your kids, it's easy to let other things get in the way of daily lessons, since there isn't the rigid structure of a traditional school with attendance policies, class periods, etc. Here are a few tips so that you can make the most of your homeschooling experience.

1. Prepare your lesson plans well in advance.

Although you may have a lesson plan manual with everything you need, you still need to go through every lesson yourself and prepare. Read through each lesson at least a day in advance and make notes. Consider what you can do to make lessons come alive. Whatever you do, don't read through the teacher's manual when teaching. Children need as much stimulation and engagement as possible, and this can be accomplished only by modifying and adding to lesson plans that are fairly static in their manual form.

2. Set a routine, and stick to it.

While this is easier said than done, make sure that you begin and end at the same time each and every day. Always remember that tasks take longer than you think they will, so allow for extra time when planning a school schedule. Set up regular break periods, including a morning break, a lunch break, and a short afternoon break, too.

3. When teaching multiple children of different grade levels, be sure to set aside time for each child.

If you are homeschooling several children, chances are they are of different ages and different grade levels. In this situation, it's more important to dedicate private teaching time for each child. While you are working with one child, make sure the others are occupied with a task that doesn't need your individual attention.

4. Make "after school" activities correspond with lessons learned in school.

This was my favorite part of being home schooled. Unlike traditional schools, learning doesn't stop once the school days end. My mother made it a point to take us on outings that complemented our lessons. For example, when we were studying astronomy concepts, she took us to the local science museum that had a planetarium. When we were studying Greek civilization, she read us Greek myths at night before bed. In this way, we my mother made our lessons come alive, which sparked a love of learning when I began attending regular school, at a time when most of my peers were bored and unmotivated.

These are just a few ways to make the most of the inimitable experience that is home schooling. It's always a challenge placing your children's education in your own hands, but in the end it's a rewarding one. I wouldn't have traded my home school experience for the world.

This guest post is contributed by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alisagilbert599@gmail.com.

Little Cooks with Books: Apples, Apples, Everywhere!

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:16:00 +0000

Apples, Apples, Everywhere!

Bushel Full of Apple Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:26:00 +0000

Apples For Teachers - No Time for Flash Cards

Paper Plate Apple -Ramblings of a Crazy Woman

"No Bake" Apple Pie - Chasing the Goose

Apple ABC Letter Match - Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers

Packed with Apple Ideas - Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers

Apple Play-Doh - Pink and Green Mama

A is for Apple vs. B is for Ball - Preschool Daze

Lots of apple links - Bo the Bookworm Resources

Apple Picking Time Ideas - Dr. Jean

The Star (an apple story) - Dr. Jean

The Itty-Bitty Bookworm has a "Ten Apples Up On Top" unit as part of their curriculum for October (Year 1). They also have a "Apples and Pumpkins" unit as part of their curriculum for October (Year 3).

A Few More Fall Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:05:00 +0000

fI have created a few more free Fall Printables using clipart from Lettering Delights.

Here is a booklet of Fall vocabulary words.

Here is a set of Fall word cards and
Printing Practice activity sheet.

Ideas for using these:

Display the word cards in a pocket chart. Give the child the Printing Practice sheet on a clipboard. Have the child use the word cards to locate the correct word for each picture on the printing practice sheet, and print the words beside the corresponding pictures.
Use the word cards as labels.
Older children can complete the Printing Practice sheet using inventive spelling (without using the word cards).
Laminate the word cards. Allow the child to trace the words with a dry erase marker.
For older children - Display the word cards and challenge them to write a Fall-themed story in which they incorporate all of the words.

If you have any other ideas for using these printables, please share via a comment.

Fall Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:15:00 +0000

We have just uploaded a set of Free Printable Calendars for the 2010-11 school year. They are perfect for homeschool and classroom use. Be sure to check them out.

We also have an amazing Fall and Farm Supplemental Packet designed by Karen from Prekinders.com for sale. It includes printable name tags, stationary, games, activities and much more. It can be purchased on CD or as a download. Here is a sneak peek.

Don't forget to bookmark our Free Printables page as a helpful planning resource for the fall months.

B is for Bob Books

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:10:00 +0000

Being a fan of Bob Books, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to host a Q&A with Bob Books brand manager, Lynn Maslen Kertell, the daughter of Bob Books creator Bobby Lynn Maslen.

Tell me a bit about how the Bob Books series came to be.

The Bob Books started when my Mom, Bobby Lynn Maslen, was a teacher of three-, four-, and five-year-olds in Portland, Oregon. Bobby introduced very beginning reading to her students by sitting at a table with a child, and writing a story with him or her. The tale was very simple, the two of them sounded out the words together, and Bobby made drawings for the student to copy or color. Often, other young students gathered around to watch. When the child had finished reading this hand-made book, he could bring it home to share.

After several years of hand writing many little books, Bobby developed them into the first set of Bob Books and enlisted award winning artist and husband (and my Dad), John, to illustrate them.

Right from the start, the books were a big success. Word of mouth spread the news, and soon my parents had many customers and a demand for more books. Bobby soon wrote two sets of books, then two more, until the series had grown to five sets.

The two newest sets of books - Bob Books Sight Words – are written by me, their daughter Lynn Maslen Kertell, and are available this month.

What makes this early reading series different from others?
Bob Books were the first books-in-a-box reading program, developed over 35 years ago. There are several real differences from other beginning reading systems:
The books are real stories with a plot, humor, empathy and warmth. Children learn to read, and they have pleasure of reading a story they enjoy.
The books are written with consistent letter-sounds, so all words can be sounded out, except the sight words. Children don’t have the unhappy surprise of long words or complicated spellings they are not ready to read.
They progress gradually, so children feel success with each book.

To what do you attribute the success of Bob Books?

They work! Bob Books have grown by Moms telling Moms, teachers telling parents, librarians passing on the word, and of course bloggers writing about their experience with their own children.

The magic of Bob Books is when a child can excitedly exclaim, “I read the whole book!”® It is that simple.

What are some signs that a child is ready to begin with the Bob Books series?

Every child is different, so there is no specific age when your child will be ready to begin reading. Instead, look for signals that he or she is ready.

Can she or he recognize and name most letters?
Does your child know which sounds go with which letters (which sound does a letter “make”)?
Can your child recognize words on everyday objects such as STOP and Open signs?
Can your child spell his or her own name?
Is your child interested in books and reading, and excited to sit down with you to read?

If you answer ‘yes’ to most of these questions, your child is ready for Bob Books-Set 1 and Bob Books Sight Words-Kindergarten.

How can parents determine with which set they should start their children?
We always recommend that children start with Bob Books-Set 1. To read the first book, children only need to know the letters M, A, T and S. With the early success of reading a whole book themselves, children are excited and confident to try more.

Every child is different. Some children move directly from Bob Books-Set 1 to Bob Books Sight Words-Kindergarten. Others benefit from a more moderate pace by reading Bob Books-Set 2 before tackling Sight Words.

Bob Books Sight Words-First Grade continues with simple, phonetic spelling and but more complicated sight words. Then you should continue to Bob Books Set 3, which introduces longer stories and words, Set 4 that presents multi-syllable words, and Set 5 which focuses on long vowels.

What are some extension activities that you suggest?
There are many great games you can play to prepare children for reading:

Beginning Readers

Play sound games: Ask your child to think of a word that begins with M. Mmmmmm. Mop, map, man, moose. Now try a different beginning sound.
Word families: Use magnetic alphabet letters or blocks to spell words for your child. Show that changing the first letter changes the whole word. Map, tap, lap. It works with ending or middle letters, too! Lap, lad, lid. Make up nonsense words.
Draw giant letters with sidewalk chalk. Follow them with feet or fingers.
Make letters in sand, with clay, or cut them from sand paper.

For Sight Words

Go on a sight word “hunt.” Give your child one or two flash cards (included in Bob Books-Sight Words). How many times can she circle the sight words on a page of an old magazine?
Using cut-out pictures from magazines and flash cards, make up sentences or stories.
Have flash card races – how many flash cards can your child read in 5 seconds? 15 seconds?

And of course, read to your child often.

Enter to win a Bob Books Back to School Pack, which includes a Bob Books lunch box, Bob Books Sight Words Set for Kindergarten, and Bob Books Sight Words Set for First Grade.

Beginning Readers, Bob Books, and a Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 22:15:00 +0000

This giveaway is closed.

When Sam was in pre-k I bought her Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers. This set of little readers came in a cute little box, and she loved it. Selecting a book from the box, reading it, and putting it back inside made her feel like a "big girl". It also made her a reader.

I like this particular set, as well. It is absolutely perfect for children who recognize the letters of the alphabet and and are beginning to pick up on some letter sounds. The first story consists of only four letters, which makes it super simple for beginning readers to read the entire first book all by themselves. Throughout the set, new sounds are gradually added, until young readers have read books with all of the letters of the alphabet.

Bob Books has recently released two new sets of readers which focus on learning and practicing sight words. Sight words are words that are recognized by sight rather than sounded out, in order to achieve reading fluency. They are the most frequently used words in the English language, and are often unable to be read phonetically. Bob Books Sight Words features the top sight words in two sets - one for kindergarten and one for first grade. This allows parents and children to read, learn, and practice easily and enjoyably.

Each Sight Words box includes 10 original books, 30 flashcards, and a parent guide. Soon your child will be saying, "I read the whole book!'

The fun part ~ Scholastic Books is offering TWO lucky readers a Bob Books Back to School Pack, which includes a Bob Books lunchbox, Bob Books Sight Words Set for Kindergarten, and Bob Books Sight Words Set for First Grade. The giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only.

To enter ~ Leave me a comment telling me something your remember about how you were taught to read.

The two winners will be randomly selected on August 28 and contacted by email. They will have 3 days to respond with their mailing info.

Good Luck!

Mommy Blogger Day at the Philadelphia Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:12:00 +0000

On Tuesday the Philadelphia Zoo hosted a Mommy Blogger Event, and the kids and I were invited. We love the zoo and haven't been for a while, so we were very excited.

We got to the zoo as it was opening. Immediately upon entering, there was a table set up where we were able to check-in. We were given free admission to the zoo, a fun back pack filled with lots of zoo info, tickets for the children to ride a draft horse, and stuffed animal key chains for each child. So nice!

The zoo's latest attraction, the Creatures of Habitat, was one of our favorites. The zoo website describes the attraction ~ By bringing endangered animals and their vanishing habitats to life, CREATURES OF HABITAT inspires explorers of all ages to protect the amazing planet we all call home. A combination of birds and beasts, each intricately fashioned from thousands of LEGO® bricks, this experience will surely remind us how our world fits together and how we connect with it.

A fun day begins!

Part of the Creatures of Habitat Attraction

The rainforest being destroyed.

Lego display of a mother orangutan and baby

Lego display of mother gorilla and baby

Wes's favorite animal ~ the crocodile!

That is rain that you see. It "rains" in their environment.

The kids ride a beautiful draft horse.

Too bad I didn't get a good picture of the horse.

Wes rides a big, red traffic.
He wished it was green (Jason Aldean song),
but had fun on it anyway.

Yummy ending to a great day!

Thanks super nice Philadelphia Zoo people!

The Penguins of Madagascar ~ A Fun Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:28:00 +0000

The giveaway is closed.

My children have LOTS of dvds, but they always seem to watch the same movies over and over again. Madagascar is one of these well received movies. They laugh hysterically each and every time they watch it. Now Nickelodeon has a cartoon called The Penguins of Madagascar. Wes is all about that one. When he recently had the opportunity to "review" the new Penguins of Madagascar movie, The Penguins of Madagascar Operation he was ready for the mission. The mission was a huge success; he loved the movie.

The dvd came in a prize pack which also contained Trix cereal and several Penguins of Madagascar launchers. Wes and Gracen were totally excited to begin a game of launching penguins at each other from across the room. Fun times! Perhaps it was all of the sugar from the "rabbit food" cereal that gave them the energy they needed to keep the game going. If you think your kiddos would enjoy launching penguins, pick up a couple of specially marked boxes of General Mills cereals and they can "commence operations" with one of five characters from The Penguins of Madagascar.

Good News ~ I am offering one lucky reader the same complete prize pack we received (Trix cereal, a Penguins of Madagascar launcher and the new Penguins of Madagascar movie, The Penguins of Madagascar Operation: DVD Premier) so you can launch into your own penguin fun!

To enter ~ Simply leave me a comment telling me about the best prize you ever found in a box of cereal or Cracker Jack. I will choose a winner on August 10 and notify the winner by email.

Disclosure: This product, prize pack, information, and giveaway have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark and Nickelodeon.

Despicable Me ~ A Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:22:00 +0000

This giveaway is closed.

When the kids and I went to see Shrek 3, we saw the trailer for Despicable Me. They thought the trailer was hilarious. Needless to say, they cannot wait to go and see the movie. The release date is July 9, so we are going to do our best to get to the theater this weekend.

When I first saw the trailer, I thought the movie looked funny, but I wasn't exactly sure what it was actually about. Just in case you are wondering, too, here is a brief synopsis:

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden deep beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by an army of tireless, little yellow minions, we discover Gru (Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal’s new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me.

Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

One of the world’s greatest super-villains has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

Sounds cute, doesn't it?

The Giveaway ~ Universal Studios and Big Honcho Media would like to offer one of my lucky readers a Despicable Me prize pack. The pack will include these 4 books, as well as a Despicable Me t-shirt and pencil.

To Enter ~ Leave me a comment about a favorite movie from your childhood. I will randomly select a winner
on Friday, July 16. I will contact the winner by email, and he or she will have three days to respond.

If you see the movie this weekend, let me know what you and your kiddos think!

Pick Your Own at Linvilla Farms

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:11:00 +0000

Yesterday I took the kids to Linvilla Orchards
to pick peaches and apricots. We had a great time.

We took a tractor ride out to the peach and apricot orchard.

Picking the best.

A hayride took us back.

So silly.

All worn out!

*photo credit*

But not too worn out to make this!
We used Tina's (Mommy's Kitchen) recipe.
Super Yummy!

Backyard Bash Printables

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:46:00 +0000

I found these adorable clipart sets from Lettering Delights and just had to create some preschool printables with them. I thought they would be fun to use for the Fourth of July.

Mini Book ~ A Backyard Bash

Cards ~ Backyard Fun

Enjoy!

Little Cooks with Books ~ Strawberry Jam

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:41:00 +0000

Strawberry Jam

Single Mom Tackles Grilling...And Wins!

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:08:00 +0000

Throughout our marriage, John and I divided the chores like many couples. I took care of most of the household cleaning and child-related stuff, and he did the lawn work, repair work (house and cars), and grilling. Now that we are separated, I have been determined to teach myself to do these things. Ok, so maybe not car repair, but definitely lawn work and grilling.

Photo credit: Pioneer Woman

I figured Memorial Day weekend was a great time to begin the grilling challenge, so this weekend I purchased a couple of beautiful steaks from the neighborhood butcher. Then I found this delicious steak salad recipe. I knew it would be wonderful because it is the Pioneer Woman's recipe, and all of her recipes are scrumptious. I Googled "How to Grill the Perfect Steak" and read a couple of different suggestions, and then set to work.

To my surprise grilling was actually easy. I seared both sides of the steaks to get the grill marks, and then just let them cook for a while, flipping them half way through. I wasn't sure exactly how long I should cook them, so I watched them closely. They turned out perfectly. Juicy and just a tad pink in the middle. Exactly how I like my steak.

When I took them off of the grill I let them rest for a few minutes. Then I sliced them into thin pieces and put them atop mixed greens. As I expected, Pioneer Woman's marinade and dressing were delish. I will definitely be making this again!

My first grilling experience was such a success that I tried it again on Memorial Day. I grilled hotdogs for the kids. They must have been good because they gobbled them up, and Sam and Gracen ate two. Score one for, Mom!

The best part of grilling...I can cook while my kids are having fun doing this:

Shrektacular Savings ~ And a Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Sat, 29 May 2010 23:22:00 +0000

This giveaway is closed.

My kids and I have enjoyed all of the Shrek movies and were eagerly awaiting the release of Shrek Forever After. Therefore, when My Blog Spark approached me about reviewing a "Shrek-tacular Savings” prize pack, I jumped at the chance.

My kids love getting packages in the mail, but were especially excited about this one. It was filled with two large boxes of General Mills cereals, Fruit Roll-Ups Minis snacks, Betty Crocker Brownie Mix, a $10 Shrek-tacular Savings coupon book with fun Shrek trivia, a Shrek water squirter, a Shrek highlighter and a $25 gift card to use to purchase tickets to see the new Shrek Forever After film. I do not usually buy Fruit Roll-Ups or Brownie Mix, so my kids were overjoyed to have those sugary treats. Wes loved the Shrek water squirters and still plays with them in the bath tub.

Last weekend we used the gift card to go see the movie. I am not a huge fan of sequel movies, but this one was a pleasant surprise. In this final Shrek movie, the famous ogre has a bit of a mid-life crisis. He longs for the days when he was feared by the local villagers. To get one day of his old life back, Shrek agrees to and signs a contract with Rumplestilskin. The result is much more than Shrek bargained for, but makes for a lively and creative tale.

A Giveaway ~ My Blog Spark and General Mills are offereing one of my lucky readers a Shrek-tacular Savings Prize Pack. To enter: Leave me a comment telling me which Shrek character is your favorite and why. I will randomoly select a winner on Friday, June 4. The winner will be contacted by email and will have three days to respond or an alternate name will be selected.

Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway were provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Children's Books ~ Separation and Divorce

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Thu, 27 May 2010 00:31:00 +0000

Trying to explain difficult life experiences (death, separation/divorce, serious illness, etc.) to your children can be intimidating and overwhelming. However, quality children's books can help. I remember when my mother died (I was nine years old) my Dad gave me You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye. That book truly helped me navigate through some of the feelings I was having. It also made me understand that I was not the only child who had experienced the death of her mother.

Naturally, when I realized it was time to explain to my children that my husband and I were separating I wanted to find the perfect books for each of them. After researching lots of different books, the following are the ones I chose.

For Samantha (9 years old)

A Smart Girl's Guide to Her Parents' Divorce: How to Land on Your Feet When Your World Turns Upside Down (American Girl)

Short chapters illustrated with bright cartoon drawings cover many important concerns and offer explanations of the divorce process. Topics range from how to deal with negative emotions, family changes, and new living arrangements, to tougher issues such as violence and financial troubles. The text has a compassionate tone, and sprinkled throughout are answers to questions that readers might have as well as snippets of advice from girls who have found what works for them. A few write-in quizzes are included. This book promises to be a helpful guide. School Library Journal

Samantha has read and enjoyed many of the American Girl "Smart Girl" guide books. This one was no exception. She read it cover to cover in one weekend. The advice and insight this book offers is worded and explained in terms that adolescent girls can easily understand. It is also a great resource for girls to keep so that when future situations or problems arise they can use the book to help them navigate. I highly recommend this book to girls ages 9-12 and parents, as well. I think it is valuable tool for parents because it is a reminder of what separation and divorce look like from their daughter's perspective.

For Gracen (7 years old)

My Mom and Dad Don't Live Together Anymore: A Drawing Book for Children of Separated or Divorced Parents

Product Description ~ Some things are easier to say with pictures. When parents decide to separate or divorce, children need ways to sort through all the feelings, thoughts, and worries they are facing. This drawing book encourages kids to explore their inner world through both pictures and words, helping them to understand themselves and feel better during a difficult time of change.

Gracen loves to draw and color, so this book was the perfect choice for her. She decided to really take her time on all of the illustrations because she wants to keep the book forever. I like this book because discussing the pages, and what she should draw on each, helped Gracen open up and share her feelings with me. This book is a great choice for non-readers and for children who have difficulty putting words to their emotions.

For Wes (4 years old)

It's Not Your Fault, Koko Bear: A Read-Together Book for Parents and Young Children During Divorce

Amazon.com Review ~ How do you talk to your children about your divorce? How can you best handle their responses? Here's a children's book and parenting tool rolled into one. It's Not Your Fault, Koko Bear is a picture book designed to be read by parents to their children. At the bottom of each page, there are bullet points for parents that give information and advice about what the kids are going through, and the best way to handle each issue as it arises. (Ages 3 to 7 and parents)

I used this book when telling Wes that his Dad and I were separating. It made the extremely difficult task a lot easier for me. It also made a difficult-to-understand situation a little more understandable for Wes. Wes really identified with Koko the preschool-aged bear in the story. He asked lots of questions about Koko and his bear parents. Wes has asked me and his sisters to read this book to him several times over the past few weeks. I believe it is a comfort to him.

Little Cooks with Books ~ Blueberries for Sal

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:19:00 +0000

Hop on Over!

An Amazing Field Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:27:00 +0000

Last week I was lucky enough to get to go on field trip with Samantha's class to Ellis Island. We had a great time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the exhibit signs. I learned so much (and so did the kids, of course!). Here are just a few pics from the trip.

Class photo

The Main Hall

NYC Skyline

View of Statue of Liberty from Ferry

My sweet girl

May Day

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:36:00 +0000

Sam and Gracen participated in a May Day celebration at their school. Gracen and the rest of the first grade helped the senior class plant a tree. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a picture. The third grade classes did a May pole dance. They had a blast!

Gracen and her friends watch as the third graders perform the May pole dance.

Getting started

Skipping to the beat

The end product

ABC and 123

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Wed, 12 May 2010 10:50:00 +0000

I am thrilled to announce that I have joined ABC and 123 as a contributor. I will be posting "Little Cooks with Books" there bi-weekly on Wednesdays. Please stop by to learn about our yummy fun.

For more details, check out my intro post.

The Trike-a-thon

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Mon, 10 May 2010 04:01:00 +0000

Thank you to everyone who supported Wes in the Trike-a-thon. He raised over $100! All of the donations were sent to St. Jude Children's Hospital. Great fun for a great cause!

Mentally Preparing

Getting his ride on

Go, Wes!

The Hardest Words to Write

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:47:00 +0000

I have been struggling with the decision of whether or not I should write this post. However, after mentioning that I was having family issues on We Teach, I received heartfelt, supportive emails from many of my friends in the blogging community. This outpouring of love, made me cry tears of happiness and relief. It also proved to me that my blogging friends are truly my "FRIENDS". To nurture these special friendships, it is only natural to be honest and upfront about what is going on in my life. I also know that my life circumstances will affect the things about which I blog. With all that being said, here goes...

My husband and I have decided to separate. It was not a sudden decision, but it is still very difficult. We are not bitter and are getting along fairly well, considering. We both have our children's best interests at heart, so it makes it easier for us to make decisions and move forward.

At this point, I am focusing on taking one day at a time and being present for my children. I still intend to continue blogging, but I am not sure how much time I will have to devote. I want to thank, in advance, my friends and followers who will continue to read. I will definitely need companions as I embark on this new journey.

Many Hugs!

Our Recent Favorite Reads...and a Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:19:00 +0000

This giveaway is closed.

Wes's Pick

Funny Lunch (Max Spaniel)

David Catow's loveable spaniel is back!
Readers will dine with delight as Chef Max serves up one hysterical meal after another at his very own diner. New readers will laugh-out-load as Max's pizza pie special creates one wacky lunchtime.
Read more about MAX!

Wes thinks this book is a huge crack-up! He loves it.
He thinks the illustrations are hilarious and laughs out loud about Max's mistakes. His favorite part is when a little dog tries to order a hot dog (Wes's favorite) and Max brings her a dog that is hot and panting.

Gracen's Pick

Chizzy's Topsy Tale

In Chizzy's Topsy Tale, Donna J. Shepherd's whimsical rhymes speed Chizzy and Dotty into the jungle on a whirlwind search for tempting fruit. Kevin Scott Collier illustrates Chizzy's rollicking escapades with a deft and humorous touch. Solid values, like helping a friend in need and minding Momma, make Chizzy's Topsy Tale a wonderful read-aloud choice.

Gracen, my budding artist, truly appreciates the vivid, colorful illustrations in this book. In fact, she has even sketched and colored the characters in her own sketch pad.

Samantha's Pick

Pandas' Earthquake Escape

Pandas' Earthquake Escape is a fictional story based on a real-life event. In real life, XiXi, a giant panda did escape from the destroyed Wolong Panda Reserve when the 7.9 earthquake rocked Northern China on May 12, 2008. Author Phyllis Perry uses the adventures of a mother panda, LiLing, and her one-year old cub, Tengfei, to teach children about earthquakes, animal survival, and to reinforce a mother s instinct to protect her child.

Earlier in the school year, Samantha's class did a comprehensive study of China. They even went to The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. to see the panda exhibit. Needless to say, she fell in love with the pandas. Therefore, I knew she would appreciate this book. Boy, was I right! She has read it several times and comments on the adorable panda illustrations each time. Not only are the illustrations beautiful, but the story is heartfelt and endearing.

My Pick

Motherhood is Murder (A Maternal Instincts Mystery)

Nights out are hard to come by for new mommy Kate Connelly. So when Kate and her husband are invited to a dinner cruise hosted by her new mommy club, Roo & You, they jump at it. But when the president of the club takes a deadly spill, everyone becomes suspect-and Kate's on deck to solve the mystery.

Motherhood is Murder is the second novel in Diana Orgain's Maternal Instincts Mystery series. I read the first novel, Bundle of Joy, a while back and loved it. Therefore, I was excited to dive into this one. Motherhood is Murder did not disappoint.

Kate, the main character, learns a lot about herself as she continues to find her way as a new mother and private investigator. I easily identify with Kate on many levels. For example, I completely understand her deep desire to want to stay home with her new baby. I felt the exact same way when I had my children. Although Kate does not want to return to work full time, she knows that she has to have a source of income. Therefore, she throws herself into the world of private investigating. I love this facet of the story because it is exactly why and how I developed The Itty-Bitty Bookworm.

For this giveaway, I am offering two lucky readers a copy of Motherhood is Murder.
To enter please leave me a comment telling me
what you would choose to do if you could begin a new career.

For additional entries ~
Subscribe to my blog.
Follow Diana Orgain on Twitter.

Winners will be randomly selected on May 14, 2010.
They will have 48 hours to respond.
Contest for US addresses only.

A Few of My Favorite Things

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:01:00 +0000

Burger Chore Chart

Letter Soup

Mini Unit Studies for Mini Hands

Scholastic Facebook Fan Page
Scholastic will donate one book to a child in need through
Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) for every fan who joins
the Scholastic Facebook Fan Page.
Please join today!

Accessories Inspired

Gussy Laptop Bag

Vita Muffins

This post is linked to I'm Lovin' It Fridays at Tidy Mom and Finer Things Friday at The Finer Things in Life.