Raising Itty-Bitty Bookworms

In the Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 18:07:00 +0000

The other night Gracen began reading all of my old blog posts. I sat down with her and we read through all of them together. We had so much fun remembering all of the fun things we had done. As were laughing over all of the old pictures, Gracen remembered that she still had an old flip camera. She went and got it, and we began the mission of figuring how to upload them to my computer. We were able to find and download a program that helped us convert the flip camera files to Quicktime Player. For the next few hours, Gracen, Sam, and I converted all of the files, watched the videos, and laughed until we cried.

There were many tears of laughter that night, but mine were also tears of joy. I realized, in that moment, that what I was experiencing was a memory that I will always treasure. Both of my daughters and I laughing, talking, loving. My heart was so grateful.

Here is one of the videos we found. This is Gracen (3rd grade) practicing the morning school announcements. 😂

The New Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 13:25:00 +0000

When Samantha and Gracen were younger they LOVED the American Girl dolls. Each year for Christmas they would ask for a new doll or doll accessories. They also enjoyed reading the books and watching the movies. One year, while we were living in Philadelphia, I was able to take the girls to the American Girl store in NYC. It was a fantastic day. If you have a daughter or special girl in your life, I highly recommend the trip. You can read more about our experience here.

I always appreciated the the American Girl company because everything they release is age appropriate. The clothes for the girls (and dolls) are tasteful and the movies and books they release are family-friendly. The company promotes little girls being little girls.

American Girl has just released their 2019 Girl of the Year. Her name is Blaire. She is "an aspiring chef who enjoys bringing people together at her family's upstate New York farm and bed-and-breakfast". Blaire's story, which will touch on finding balance in the digital world, will unfold through a series of chapter books. Such a timely and important topic!

Here is the link to Blaire's page. It is all SO cute!

NOW

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 21:35:00 +0000

Have you ever thought, “I’ll be so happy when ____”?
I have. In fact, I find myself having that thought quite a lot lately.

I’ll be so happy when school is out for Christmas Break!

I’ll be so happy when I get my car paid off!

I’ll be so happy when I get into shape!

I’ll be so happy when we can go on a family vacation!

I thought about this as I was reading a friend’s FB post today. She wrote about how she is choosing to find joy in whatever each day may bring. As I thought more about this, I realized that If my current thinking is “I’ll be happy when …”, I am not finding joy in the present.

For 2019, I am choosing to be happy NOW.

So, that is my word for 2019. Now.

In the spirit of "Now", here is Gracen and I
walking the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge today.
We were enjoying "now-ness".

Is Early School Enrollment Dangerous?

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 13:45:00 +0000

Kerry McDonald, author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom, believes that "Parents should push back against this alarming trend by holding onto their kids longer or opting out of forced schooling altogether."

Unfortunately, this is not always an option for children with parents who work outside of the home.

Perhaps a better solution is to revamp the expectations and standards that are being established for Early Childhood Programs.

What are your thoughts?

Harvard Study Shows the Dangers of Early School Enrollment

https://fee.org/articles/harvard-study-shows-the-dangers-of-early-school-enrollment/?fbclid=IwAR3NRa9mIihjkW1le_rfuCK8jKphp4nvNN58T9T620UYr2H8ilUqu5IDkJg#0

M is for Mittens

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 14:30:00 +0000

This was an extra special Christmas because my oldest daughter, Samantha, turned 18 on Christmas Eve, AND she finished high school! Next semester she will be taking classes at our community college, so that she will be a little ahead when she heads to college in the Fall. As proud as I am of her, I am also a little sad. I plan to enjoy this last semester with her at home!

My children are spending the next few days with their Dad, so I am taking advantage of the quiet to get ahead on my planning for January. I love The Mitten by Jan Brett, and I normally do a unit on it. This January, though, I am going to use the Three Little Kittens as my focus book.

Here is the unit I wrote. It is currently for FREE, so go download it!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Literature-based-Units-Froggy-Gets-Dressed-The-Three-Little-Kittens--456808#show-price-update

Here is a cute felt story set that can be used for retelling. This download also has a cut and paste rhyming word activity sheet and some mittens that can be used for a matching game or a "lost and found" game.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/Felt-Story-Set-Three-Little-Kittens-559634

We have been working on number recognition, so I would like to do this as a small group (or center) activity.

http://www.stirthewonder.com/mitten-math-snowflake-counting-preschoolers/

Many of our students continue to have trouble with cutting, so I plan to do this activity and have the children cut out the mittens.

There are some great ideas for the sensory table here. I am not sure which I will do because I really like them all!

https://earlylearningideas.com/sensory-table-ideas-winter/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=2937562

Lots of great block ideas here!

https://www.prekinders.com/winter-block-center-play-ideas-preschool/

What are some fun activities that you plan to do in January?

G is for Gingerbread

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 19:45:00 +0000

Today we started our Gingerbread Unit. I always love this unit because the kids really have a lot of fun with it!

We began by reading the original Gingerbread Man story. The kiddos loved helping with the "Run, Run, As Fast As You Can" part.

We then learned this fun song.

Centers

In the Block Center, I added cotton balls, pom poms, and pipe cleaner candy canes. I also taped gingerbread men to the small blocks. I encouraged the kids to create their very own gingerbread houses.

In the Art Center, the children painted large gingerbread people. We will be adding eyes, noses, mouths, and icing details later in the week.

In the Dramatic Play Center, I added we added cookie sheets, laminated construction paper gingerbread men, rolling pins, aprons, mixing bowls, etc. The children had fun acting out the story.

In Small Groups the children had to identify the number on a cookie sheet (laminated pieces of aluminum foil), and then place the corresponding number of gingerbread men onto the sheet.

In the Play Dough Center, we added gingerbread cookie cutters and buttons. I wish I had through to get some brown play dough. We will be making gingerbread play dough on Friday, so I will have to set this out again!

Tomorrow we will be reading the Gingerbread Baby (one of my favorites). Check back for more fun ideas!

A "Reformed" Elf

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 23:30:00 +0000

Tomorrow Sparkle the Elf will make his grand entrance in my classroom. Most of my students do not have an Elf on the Shelf at their homes, so they are going to be especially excited. I can't wait!

Like some of his elf relatives, Sparkle used to enjoy participating in naughty antics. Not this year, though! Sparkle is a reformed Elf! This year he will teach the students about kindness. Each day Sparkle will leave a little note with an idea about how to spread kindness. All of the notes will be things that the students can easily do.

I am going to use these super cute notes that I found on the Passionate Penny Pincher website.

Does your classroom have an elf this year?

G is for Gingerbread

noreply@blogger.com (Tara Broman) — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 17:39:00 +0000

For the next 24 hours this monthly unit is FREE!

Go download it to make your planning a little easier during this busy month!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Holiday-Literature-based-Units-Gingerbread-Man-Little-Engine-That-Could-174740

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!

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!