tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42317921576303490802024-03-13T17:15:02.959-07:00Literacy Matters!Did you know that 15 of every 100 people in Alabama reach adulthood without ever learning how to read? Illiteracy is widespread, a problem in every community,not limited to race, religion or socioeconomic class. Encouraging our youth to become better Readers and Writers is my passion, and with this blog I hope to give parents and educators ideas on how to help their children become efficient in literacy.Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-14435308555065727492012-01-16T20:32:00.000-08:002012-01-16T20:32:39.644-08:00It's Been a Long Time Coming...<span style="color: #073763;">A long time ago I decided that I was a card-carrying, glasses-wearing reader and writer. My first trip to the Principal's office was due to "excessive reading during math class." (Hence- my awful math skills. 2+2=?) But lately I have been so busy with all of the new things in life that I haven't been able to keep up with my reading! So as a belated New Year's Resolution, I am going to try to read more, and post a blog about what I find at least a few times per month. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Funny thing- I thought I was "so busy" in college, yet I was able to blog constantly and go to the gym two hours a day? Oh, and go to school...when necessary. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">So here we go. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">I recently read the Hunger Games Trilogy...in three consecutive days. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4ovBul07ks/TxT20bExRSI/AAAAAAAACfk/kL0Dx4AYid0/s1600/HungerGamesTrilogyStacked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K4ovBul07ks/TxT20bExRSI/AAAAAAAACfk/kL0Dx4AYid0/s1600/HungerGamesTrilogyStacked.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">I admit, I jumped on the band wagon. But I am so glad that I did! This book series is intended for young adults, but I would suggest anyone- regardless of age- read them. The emotions are palpable, the writing is thrilling and keeps you up until three a.m. on a work night. The only thing that would have made this book series better would be if it came with a small tube of Smashbox concealer. That way we all could have something to cover the puffy dark eye circles produced from crying and staying up too late reading these book. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">As I was reading this I thought, this book series would be such a great tool for parents of teenagers to use to connect with their teens. Teens love it, parents will love it. I also strongly believe that if parents want to connect with their kids, they need to get to know what their kids are into. Plus, the movie is coming out soon. Parent-teenager outing? Possibly. The bottom line? READ with your kids, encourage them to read what they are interested in, and they will go far with their literacy aptitude and comprehension. </span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">Here is the official movie trailer for The Hunger Games, book number one of the series.</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/p-5ANq4sAL0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-72283662244237298112011-07-24T22:29:00.000-07:002011-07-24T22:29:47.518-07:00Have You Read all of the top 100?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNNCVJB02KE/Tiz79wborRI/AAAAAAAACfM/JIvi64bjMUs/s1600/600-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNNCVJB02KE/Tiz79wborRI/AAAAAAAACfM/JIvi64bjMUs/s200/600-1.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I've said before, summer is a great time to relax with a good book. I can remember setting goals for myself every summer to read at least 50, 100, then 200 books by the time school started. My life is a little bit busier nowadays but I still try to balance in some quality reading time. (Possibly is lieu of T.V. time) My goal this summer is to read books that can help me grow. As a person, a reporter, a first-time finance handler. For personal growth, I've read my Bible and some great bible studies that have helped me through this transition of life I'm going through. I've read biographies of many of my favorite female reporters and anchors, trying to learn from their experiences. As for the finance handling, my Nanie bought me Suze Orman's book, "The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke." That will seriously come in handy!<br />
<br />
I also have decided to look up the 100 best books that the National Education Association and try my hand at finishing the list. I hope that you can try too! Here is the list, with pictures next to my favorites:<br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezbG_hbJaPg/Tiz8mIRc0sI/AAAAAAAACfQ/dwi6E-AJpbc/s1600/Little_women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ezbG_hbJaPg/Tiz8mIRc0sI/AAAAAAAACfQ/dwi6E-AJpbc/s200/Little_women.jpg" width="147" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Books for All Ages</strong></div><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Giving Tree</em> by Shel Silverstein<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Where the Sidewalk Ends: the Poems and Drawing of Shel Silverstein</em> by Shel Silverstein<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Little Women</em> by Louisa May Alcott<br />
<a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/tchr-keyword.cfm?keyword=wizard%20of%20oz&lower=1&upper=12" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wizard of Oz</em></a> by L. Frank Baum<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Heidi</em> by Johanna Spyri</div></blockquote><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Books for Preschoolers</strong> - <a href="http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/open/psreading.cfm" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.teachersfirst.com/images/new_window_icon.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 16px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Opens in new tab/window">More Preschool Titles from TeachersFirst / TeachersAndFamilies</a></div><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9MOaG5hNKrY/Tiz9HQmtHqI/AAAAAAAACfU/AQjeTSH62Qo/s1600/guess-how-much-i-love-you-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9MOaG5hNKrY/Tiz9HQmtHqI/AAAAAAAACfU/AQjeTSH62Qo/s200/guess-how-much-i-love-you-main.jpg" width="182" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Very Hungry Caterpillar</em> by <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/tchr-keyword.cfm?keyword=eric%20carle&lower=1&upper=12&Submit4=Search%2Bby%2Bkeyword" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eric Carle</a><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodnight Moon</em> by Margaret Wise Brown<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?</em> by Bill Martin, Jr.<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Rainbow Fish</em> by Marcus Pfister<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Corduroy</em> by Don Freeman<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Snowy Day</em> by Ezra Jack Keats<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Runaway Bunny</em> by Margaret Wise<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Guess How Much I Love You</em> by Sam McBratney </div></blockquote><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Books for Children Ages 4-8</strong> - <a href="http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/open/prireading.cfm" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.teachersfirst.com/images/new_window_icon.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 16px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Opens in new tab/window">More Primary Reading from TeachersFirst / TeachersAndFamilies</a></div><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yamXJnhw0Pk/Tiz-KQytsuI/AAAAAAAACfY/YOvevhmTo0g/s1600/curious-george.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yamXJnhw0Pk/Tiz-KQytsuI/AAAAAAAACfY/YOvevhmTo0g/s200/curious-george.jpg" width="200" /></a><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Polar Express</em> by Chris Van Allsburg<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Green Eggs and Ham</em> by Dr. Seuss<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Cat in the Hat</em> by Dr. Seuss<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Where the Wild Things Are </em>by Maurice Sendak<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Love You Forever</em> by Robert N. Munsch<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day</em> by Judith Viorst<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Mitten</em> by Jan Brett<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stellaluna</em> by Janell Cannon<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oh, The Places You'll Go</em> by Dr. Seuss<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Strega Nona</em> by Tomie De Paola<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Velveteen Rabbit</em> by Margery Williams<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How the Grinch Stole Christmas</em> by Dr. Seuss<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The True Story of the Three Little Pigs</em> by Jon Scieszka<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chicka Chicka Boom Boom</em> by John Archambault<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh</em> by A. A. Milne<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If You Give a Mouse a Cookie</em> by Laura Joffe Numeroff<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Lorax</em> by Dr. Seuss<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amazing Grace</em> by Mary Hoffman<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jumanji</em> by Chris Van Allsburg<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Math Curse</em> by Jon Scieszka<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are You My Mother?</em> by Philip D. Eastman<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Napping House</em> by Audrey Wood<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sylvester and the Magic Pebble</em> by William Steig<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Tale of Peter Rabbit</em> by Beatrix Potter<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Horton Hatches the Egg</em> by Dr. Seuss<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Basil of Baker Street</em> by Eve Titus<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Little Engine That Could</em> by Watty Piper<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Curious George</em> by Hans Augusto Rey<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge</em> by Mem Fox<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Arthur</em> series by Marc Tolon Brown<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse </em>by Kevin Henkes<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Little House</em> by Virginia Lee Burton<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amelia Bedelia</em> by Peggy Parish<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Art Lesson</em> by Tomie De Paola<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Caps for Sale</em> by Esphyr Slobodkina<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Clifford, the Big Red Dog</em> by Norman Bridwell<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Paper Bag Princess</em> by Robert N. Munsch</div></blockquote><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Books for Children Ages 9-12</strong> - <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/read-sel.cfm" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">More Books by Grade Level from TeachersFirst</a></div><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6sKyhJRVXo/Tiz-lN_RBtI/AAAAAAAACfc/TWTgBxgNIr0/s1600/%257BB20F8274-BC46-409F-9CB3-9DBC15DB8573%257DImg100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6sKyhJRVXo/Tiz-lN_RBtI/AAAAAAAACfc/TWTgBxgNIr0/s200/%257BB20F8274-BC46-409F-9CB3-9DBC15DB8573%257DImg100.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Charlotte's Web</em> by E. B. White<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hatchet</em> by <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/tchr-keyword.cfm?keyword=paulsen&lower=1&upper=12&Submit4=Search%2Bby%2Bkeyword" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gary Paulsen</a><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</em> by C. S. Lewis<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Bridge to Terabithia</em> by <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/tchr-keyword.cfm?keyword=paterson&lower=1&upper=12&Submit4=Search%2Bby%2Bkeyword" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Katherine Paterson</a><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</em> by Roald Dahl<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A Wrinkle in Time</em> by Madeleine L'Engle<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shiloh</em> by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Little House on the Prairie</em> by <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/tchr-keyword.cfm?keyword=wilder&lower=1&upper=12&Submit4=Search%2Bby%2Bkeyword" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura Ingalls Wilder </a><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Secret Garden</em> by Frances Hodgson Burnett<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Boxcar Children</em> by Gertrude Chandler Warner<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sarah, Plain and Tall</em> by Patricia MacLachlan<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Indian in the Cupboard</em> by Lynne Reid Banks<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Island of the Blue Dolphins</em> by Scott O'Dell<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Maniac Magee</em> by Jerry Spinelli<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The BFG</em> by Roald Dahl<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Giver</em> by <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/tchr-keyword.cfm?keyword=lowry&lower=1&upper=12&Submit4=Search%2Bby%2Bkeyword" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lois Lowry</a><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">James and the Giant Peach: A Children's Story</em> by Roald Dahl<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Little House in the Big Woods</em> by <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/tchr-keyword.cfm?keyword=wilder&lower=1&upper=12&Submit4=Search%2Bby%2Bkeyword" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura Ingalls Wilder</a><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry</em> by Mildred D. Taylor<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stone Fox</em> by John Reynolds Gardiner<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Number the Stars</em> by Lois Lowry<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh</em> by Robert C. O'Brien<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Best Christmas Pageant Ever</em> by Barbara Robinson<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Matilda</em> by Roald Dahl<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing</em> by Judy Blume<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ramona Quimby, Age 8</em> by Beverly Cleary<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Trumpet of the Swan </em>by E. B. White<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Chronicles of Narnia</em> by C. S. Lewis<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Phantom Tollbooth</em> by Norton Juster<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tuck Everlasting</em> by Natalie Babbitt<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anne of Green Gables</em> by Lucy Maud Montgomery<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Great Gilly Hopkins</em> by Katherine Paterson<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Little House books</em> by <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/tchr-keyword.cfm?keyword=wilder&lower=1&upper=12&Submit4=Search%2Bby%2Bkeyword" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura Ingalls Wilder</a>- <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/winners/wilder.cfm" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura Ingalls Wilder Webquest</a><br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sideways Stories from Wayside School</em> by Louis Sachar<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harriet the Spy</em> by Louise Fitzhugh<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A Light in the Attic</em> by Shel Silverstein<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr. Popper's Penguins</em> by Richard Atwater<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My Father's Dragon</em> by Ruth Stiles Gannett<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stuart Little</em> by E. B. White<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Walk Two Moons</em> by Sharon Creech<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Witch of Blackbird Pond</em> by Elizabeth George Speare<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963</em> by Christopher Paul Curtis </div></blockquote><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Books for Young Adults</strong> - <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/read-sel.cfm" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #551a8b; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">More Books by Grade Level from TeachersFirst</a></div><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z3mJoGapFc/Tiz-4ASrYdI/AAAAAAAACfg/_XKiUhJlgKc/s1600/51QWK0WB8KL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z3mJoGapFc/Tiz-4ASrYdI/AAAAAAAACfg/_XKiUhJlgKc/s200/51QWK0WB8KL._SS500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 8px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Where the Red Fern Grows</em> by Wilson Rawls<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Hobbit</em> by J. R. R. Tolkien<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Summer of the Monkeys</em> by Wilson Rawls<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Cay</em> by Theodore Taylor<br />
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Sign of the Beaver</em> by Elizabeth George Speare</div></blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope everyone's summer is going well! Please feel free to message me for tips on what to read, fun activities to do, or just to say "hi!"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-5353355622540651182011-06-29T08:35:00.000-07:002011-06-30T07:47:09.476-07:00Taking a Leap of Faith<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week's literacy post is going to be based off of something that I am currently dealing with. On May 26, 2011, I walked across a stage and received a piece of paper that culminated my time at Troy University. With that piece of paper came a strong sense of pride and joy, then a crash of WHAT NOW??</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-46Q6ANU33Cw/TgipSjZR7pI/AAAAAAAACfA/Umx-SkLbmxg/s1600/moms+miss+al+pics+1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-46Q6ANU33Cw/TgipSjZR7pI/AAAAAAAACfA/Umx-SkLbmxg/s200/moms+miss+al+pics+1532.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've got this Degree- Now What??</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So many people go through this is life, be it graduation, like me, or a job layoff, or even a relocation to another area. As I write this I am reminded of the last time I felt the "what now." The summer of my sophomore year of high school, my best friend told me that she would be moving to another state for a while. Prior to this news, we were </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">inseparable, so obviously I was crushed. What I did then, and what I am doing now as I go out in search for a job is taking a leap of faith. </span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As difficult as it is to take this leap of faith, this verse offers me comfort. Tomorrow I take an incredible leap of faith, as I am interviewing for a job! I am excited, and I want to make a good impression. When was the last time you had to take a leap of faith? Ask your child about this, it could be a great conversation starter. I even found some books that discuss life's little unplanned moments, and how we can react to them! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8NrBQF1K9T0/Tgiv5YqJfVI/AAAAAAAACfE/brbT6ZSwRlM/s1600/263599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8NrBQF1K9T0/Tgiv5YqJfVI/AAAAAAAACfE/brbT6ZSwRlM/s320/263599.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="317" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day</span></span></span></h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: Jan Berenstain, Stan Berenstain</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Summary: This is the story of how the Berenstain Bears moved into their tree-house in Bear Country. Brother Bear is nervous about the move. How will it turn out?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvREn3h2JL4/TgjRjWWVw4I/AAAAAAAACfI/_DxHmeojIZk/s1600/wings-change-franklin-hill-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvREn3h2JL4/TgjRjWWVw4I/AAAAAAAACfI/_DxHmeojIZk/s1600/wings-change-franklin-hill-hardcover-cover-art.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Wings of Change</span></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">by: Franklin Hill</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Summary<i>: Wings of Change</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> is the story of Anew, a contented little caterpillar who is afraid to become a butterfly. After experiencing some puzzling dreams, he turns to Faith, a wise old snail, for advice. She gently explains, "As the world turns, so do you. When you change for the good, you change the world too."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">update: I didn't get to post this on its intended date, but I do get to post it with some good news! The "leap of faith" was rewarded and the interview went well! Now I just have to wear out my praying knees and see what my next move is. </span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><div><br />
</div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-64869113112033182612011-06-22T17:20:00.000-07:002011-06-22T17:20:24.837-07:00It's...SUMMERTIME!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi there! It's been a while since I have been able to post. Here is a quick re-cap of what has been going on. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GI6lXaDmWls/TgKGCLdYowI/AAAAAAAACe4/FZVpQIQVaPo/s1600/miss+al+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GI6lXaDmWls/TgKGCLdYowI/AAAAAAAACe4/FZVpQIQVaPo/s200/miss+al+019.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rkSlIc5fz_o/TgKGnqYRO2I/AAAAAAAACe8/l_lZo0vR8TY/s1600/247123_10150226106849057_805849056_7027714_2881473_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rkSlIc5fz_o/TgKGnqYRO2I/AAAAAAAACe8/l_lZo0vR8TY/s320/247123_10150226106849057_805849056_7027714_2881473_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miss Alabama 2011- If you take Church camp, a Job Interview, a Service Opportunity, a Talent Showcase, and a Sleepover for girls- then you toss in glitter, feather boas, and four-inch heels; you will get a wonderful week that is called Miss Alabama. I had the most incredible time! The women I met and got to know over the course of a week are inspiring, and I am so glad to have been blessed with their friendship! I also cannot wait to go back, my preliminary competitions to win a title in order to compete again start soon!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started my job hunt to become a news reporter. Due to some luck and great networking, I have a bright outlook at what is ahead.</span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I read the most interesting article, "11<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do.<b>" Find that article here: </b></span></span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gever-tulley/dangerous-things_b_881559.html?ref=fb&src=sp#s295926&title=Topic_43_Whittle">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gever-tulley/dangerous-things_b_881559.html?ref=fb&src=sp#s295926&title=Topic_43_Whittle</a><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aTbIWl2rpRs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While reading this article, I was intrigued! Who knew what I thought was simple summer fun could be considered dangerous? :) I would never recommend that you endanger your child, but I will give you some (SAFE) things to do to help the summer months pass smoothly. My favorite activity? READING!<br />
<br />
This year's Summer Reading program is called "One World, So Many Stories!" Check out the music video here ----><br />
<br />
<br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is also a Teen/Tween program, called "You Are Here!" Teens' Summer Reading Lists can be found at most Alabama Library websites!<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYJEr22fYQ0/TgKApIld_RI/AAAAAAAACek/7eQoLDAC0zc/s1600/teens+tweens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VYJEr22fYQ0/TgKApIld_RI/AAAAAAAACek/7eQoLDAC0zc/s200/teens+tweens.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some of my favorite stories for summertime! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GNYP4CfrmjM/TgKCkHNHbiI/AAAAAAAACes/ty_AyawHB34/s1600/blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GNYP4CfrmjM/TgKCkHNHbiI/AAAAAAAACes/ty_AyawHB34/s320/blue.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Blueberries for Sal</span></span></h1><div><span id="btAsinTitle" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">by: Robert McCloskey<br />
Summary: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">A story about a mix-up that occurs one day while Little Sal and her mother and Little Bear and his mother are picking blueberries on Blueberry Hill. Ages 3+</span></span> </span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5VcQ9sSGUVQ/TgKCz88SO3I/AAAAAAAACew/nLd6fZhdklE/s1600/blueberry_girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5VcQ9sSGUVQ/TgKCz88SO3I/AAAAAAAACew/nLd6fZhdklE/s1600/blueberry_girl.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember reading this book as a child, and it has been around since 1948, so you might have read it as a child too! Pass on the tradition-and while you're at it, eat some blueberries! Don't eat too many- you might end up like this! Hehe...</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hw_tkPjS_GA/TgKFWVAYWzI/AAAAAAAACe0/odZr4AUmePc/s1600/How_I_spent_my_summer_vacation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hw_tkPjS_GA/TgKFWVAYWzI/AAAAAAAACe0/odZr4AUmePc/s320/How_I_spent_my_summer_vacation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">How I Spent My Summer Vacation</span></span></h1><div><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: Mark Teague<br />
Summary: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her spectacles perched on her nose and her hair coiffed in a Father Knows Best pompadour, Wallace Bleff's teacher looks on as the boy delivers an oral report on that classic topic, How I Spent My Summer Vacation. The classroom setting gives way to an expanse of Western plains, across which a locomotive train rumbles, bringing Wallace to visit his aunt. His parents have sent him there for a reason: "'Your imagination,' they said, 'is getting too wild./ It will do you some good to relax for a while.'" It won't take kids long to realize that Wallace's imagination is as fertile as ever, as he tells of being captured by cowboys, who outfit him in spiffy Western garb and teach him all their "cowboy tricks." When "Kid Bleff" finally calls his aunt (from a phone booth comically plunked down in the middle of nowhere), she invites him to bring his pals to her house for a barbecue-Teague's (The Field Beyond the Outfield) boy buckaroo, however, still has a few tricks up his sleeve.<br />
<br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remember that assignment on the first day of class about what you did over summer vacation?Try writing your summer vacation story- this time, before it happens!</span></div></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here is a great article about Summer Reading, with some good tips and activities! </span></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></div><div><div class="clearfix" id="contentArea" style="clear: both; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 14px;"><div id="dnn_Right_2Col_Main" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 541px;"><div class="SkinContainer" style="margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="Content DNNAlignleft" id="dnn_ctr1282_contentPane" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div id="dnn_ctr1282_ModuleContent" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="libraryContentDetail" style="border-right-color: rgb(196, 196, 196); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"><div id="dnn_ctr1282_Detail_pnlContentDetail" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="content" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="titles" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h1 style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 6px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Keep Your Child Reading Popular and Classic Children's Books This Summer</h1><div id="dnn_ctr1282_Detail_pnlByLine" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h4 style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">by Lynn Dean</h4></div><div class="contentTopics" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h4 style="display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Topics: </h4><a href="http://old.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/LibraryContent/tabid/377/topic/1/Books-and-Reading.aspx" style="color: #00529b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Books and Reading</a>, <a href="http://old.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/LibraryContent/tabid/377/topic/27/Summer-Learning-and-Camps.aspx" style="color: #00529b; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Summer Learning and Camps</a></div></div><div class="contentBody" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It's the start of summer vacation. Children already are moping around whining about nothing to do.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Parents are scrambling to fill the void left by closed classroom doors. Of course, closed doors don't necessarily mean closed books. With a little ingenuity and a library reading program, parents can not only banish summertime boredom, but can actually help children keep up their reading skills -- both under the guise of having fun.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Here are 10 ways to keep your child reading this summer:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. Create cozy spots for reading</strong>. Take a look at the different areas in and around your home. Are there little nooks or corners that would make good reading spots? All you need is good lighting, a few pillows, maybe some stuffed friends and, of course, something to read. Consider a secluded corner in the family room, that awkward spot under the stairs, or even the playhouse in the backyard.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. </strong><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Provide interesting reading materials.</strong> In order for reading to be fun, children must enjoy what they are reading. While we would all like our third grader to sit down and read classic children's books like "Tom Sawyer" or "Huck Finn<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">,"</em> little Jimmy may be more interested in popular children's books such as "Box Car Children<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">.</em>"</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">With your child, look at the books you already have in your home library, and select a few to equip the reading spots you have created. In our home, we use plastic dishpans as “book buckets.” They hold myriad reading materials and are portable from one reading spot to another.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. Visit the public library.</strong> Children love outings and the library is the perfect place to go and explore. If your library sponsors a summer reading program, sign your child up. Children can earn prizes by reading a certain number of books.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If your child is eligible, get her a library card. In this way, your child will develop a sense of ownership and will want to return to the library again.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ask your children's librarian for suggestions on reading material appropriate for your child's age, reading level and interests. Books on favorite subjects are good starting places. Guide your child's selections, but let him make the final choice, even if he chooses a book he already has at home. (There seems to be something more exciting about a library book).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. </strong><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Subscribe to children's magazines.</strong> Just like adults, children enjoy a variety of reading materials. There are many different magazines out there targeted to school-age children.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Children's Television Workshop publishes a variety of educational magazines including "Sesame Street Magazine," "Kid City" and "3-2-1 Contact." The National Wildlife Federation publishes "My Big Backyard" and "Ranger Rick." Others of interest include "American Girl" and "Highlights."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Before selecting a magazine for your child, be sure to take a peek at an issue or two. The library often has copies available for use there. You can also preview a copy at your local newsstand or in major bookstores. Look at the reading level, the types of articles included and the print advertisements.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If, at that point, you are still not sure whether your child will like the magazine, buy a test copy.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5</strong><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. Visit a bookstore.</strong> Give your child a few dollars and let him go on a “shopping spree.” Of course, you can always set a few guidelines to steer his purchases. Even when you have 1,000 different volumes at home, there's something about selecting and buying their own books that really motivates children.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Consider a used bookstore. Such stores sell used books for half-price or more. Often, you can trade books your child has outgrown for credit toward purchases. You can also find used children's books at thrift stores.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6. </strong><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Use your local newspaper.</strong> As you read the morning paper, look for articles that may interest your child. Perhaps she'd enjoy reading about the exploits of her favorite sports team. Or consider the story about the 10-year-old who saved his mother's life by calling 911. What about the story of the boy hit by a car while riding his bike? (No reason why you can't sneak in a moral lesson at the same time.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Don't forget the funny pages and puzzles often found there.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7. </strong><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Take a reading vacation.</strong> If you are planning on traveling this summer, write or call for materials about your destination. Travel brochures and attraction flyers will not only prepare your child for the adventure ahead, but will built his enthusiasm, as well.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Consider books set in the location you are planning to visit. Look into historical figures who may have lived there. For example, if your vacation will take you to southern Florida, plan on visiting Thomas Edison's summer home. Encourage your children to read a biography about Edison or study one of his inventions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If you are not planning to go away this summer, select a spot you would like to visit someday or learn more about a local landmark.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8. </strong><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Visit a local museum.</strong> Often we take our small, local museums for granted. There is a wealth of information hiding inside those four walls. In addition to reading the plaques and narratives describing the exhibits, your child can learn about the history of the area and the historical figures that influenced it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">9. </strong><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Write letters.</strong> Help your child write to friends and relatives who live in another part of the country. Cousin Sue and Grandma Peggy are sure to write back -- more writing, more reading and the cycle continues.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Grandma, Grandpa or Cousin can also recommend classics they enjoyed as a child. When Mom suggests a book, “it's too boring.” But when 8-year-old Samuel tells your child about the same great book he read, suddenly she's interested.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">10. </strong><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Read together.</strong> In the days before the advent of television, families would often sit down in the evenings and read a good book aloud. Consider reading a classic together -- perhaps one of the books you enjoyed as a child.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Children are often put off by thick books or those with small words, even when the vocabulary is on their level. By hearing great stories such as "Heidi," "Treasure Island" or "Little Women," your child may be encouraged to read others on his own.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In any event, he will learn to appreciate good literature. Abridged versions of these classics are now available in paperback at book and discount stores.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">These are only a few of the ways you can encourage reading this summer. Be on the lookout for others as they present themselves in your daily life.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-68776510262842494952011-05-28T16:14:00.000-07:002011-05-28T16:14:48.191-07:00It's Almost Here!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are exactly one week away from check-in day for Miss Alabama. I want to apologize for not posting books last week, with Graduating from Troy, watching Hunter Pickle Graduate from high school, finishing my Miss Alabama scrapbook, and being on a strict dance-eat-workout-news-eat-job hunt-eat schedule, my literacy blog has been something I have missed. But here I am! To make up for it, I will not only be posting some books, I will give you some insight to how I have been preparing for Miss Alabama. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First off, I have been devoting a lot of my time and efforts into creating a healthier lifestyle for myself. Eating more cleanly, working out daily, and finding what makes me happy has helped me feel strong, energized, and prepared to face the world. Bonus- It's a pop-up! Pop-ups make me happy!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTJmm1gauQw/TeFz1a6fmvI/AAAAAAAACeQ/1I-Kl7zQPjY/s1600/tomatopop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTJmm1gauQw/TeFz1a6fmvI/AAAAAAAACeQ/1I-Kl7zQPjY/s320/tomatopop.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Charlie and Lola's I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: Lauren Child</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lola is a very fussy eater. Carrots are for rabbits and peas are "too small and too green." One day, after rattling off her long list of despised foods, she ends with the vehement pronouncement, "And I absolutely will never not ever eat a tomato." Not convinced, Lola's older sister Charlie has an idea. She tells Lola that the orange things on the table are not carrots, but "orange twiglets from Jupiter" and peas are in fact "green drops from Greenland." Mashed potatoes, when pitched as "cloud fluff from the pointiest peak of Mount Fuji" suddenly seem appealing to Lola. And in the end, might she even eat a tomato? Ages 4-8</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have also been watching a lot of news programs, because as a contestant in the Miss America Organization, it is my job to be well-versed on current events, and to have an opinion on them. I am going to offer a magazine instead of an actual book for my next selection, because I have found that this magazine is perfect for children. It presents current events in a way that they can understand, and truthfully, I've used it to understand Health Care! It helped!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9iRcu3G-ktU/TeF2Ud97kdI/AAAAAAAACeU/9nKQvFBr7x4/s1600/time-for-kids_7724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9iRcu3G-ktU/TeF2Ud97kdI/AAAAAAAACeU/9nKQvFBr7x4/s320/time-for-kids_7724.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Time for Kids</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">News Magazine</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summary: This magazine offers a variety of topics from political issues to the Royal wedding, all in a writing style that is best suited for specific grades. Here is one online article on ten Powerful Women that TFK offered in its March 11, 2011 issue.<br />
<a href="http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers/wr/article/0,27972,2057513,00.html">http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/teachers/wr/article/0,27972,2057513,00.html</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am very excited about the Talent portion of the Miss Alabama pageant. I will be performing a jazz dance to "Cinema Italiano" and have been practicing my tail off. This dance really is a testament to the hard work I put into this process, because it is the single hardest dance I have ever performed. I enjoy every minute of that difficult 90 seconds though, let me tell you!<br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Ivy and Bean Doomed to Dance </span></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MTd79WMRHZc/TeF_rJUqOrI/AAAAAAAACeY/PxYIA_MCp5k/s1600/ivybean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MTd79WMRHZc/TeF_rJUqOrI/AAAAAAAACeY/PxYIA_MCp5k/s320/ivybean.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div><div><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: Sophie Blackall</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Summary: Part of a series of books, this book makes me feel like I am back in ballet...wishing I could be on stage instead of practicing pliés. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ivy and Bean return to their mischievous ways as they beg their parents for ballet lessons. They get what they want, but class isn't exactly what they expected. Instead of the "kicking" and sword they saw in a picture of the ballet <i>Giselle</i>, they are disappointed to be learning positions, pliés, and how to be butterflies. When they are cast as squids in their first recital, they come up with several ideas for how to get out of performing without breaking their promise not to drop out of class.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb53RuGzClE/TeGAEoU8X2I/AAAAAAAACec/ld0sFaGOj2g/s1600/firebird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb53RuGzClE/TeGAEoU8X2I/AAAAAAAACec/ld0sFaGOj2g/s320/firebird.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the way, my favorite ballet is The Firebird. When I was a little girl I was given a book full of famous ballets and of all of them, I loved The Firebird the most. The story was enchanting and the pictures of the beautiful dancer who portrayed to firebird made me want to be a dancer so badly. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, as I prepare for Miss Alabama, I remember the most important thing- that being Miss Alabama is a privilege, an honor, and an opportunity. It is also just one way to succeed in life. So to prepare myself mentally, I have constantly reminded myself that I am the only person who decides my ultimate successes. Believe in yourself and you really can do anything. Here is a book I found that can offer your child some guidance, leading them to accept that who they are is great.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Too Perfect</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNCgpLvoB-w/TeGBpOU6CWI/AAAAAAAACeg/u8CLMfxiTG0/s1600/tooPerfect-240x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNCgpLvoB-w/TeGBpOU6CWI/AAAAAAAACeg/u8CLMfxiTG0/s1600/tooPerfect-240x300.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: Trudy Ludwick</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maisie works hard in school, but no matter how hard she tries, she only gets B’s and C’s. Despite the fact that her mother constantly reassures her, “Maisie, you are perfect just the way you are,” Maisie really wishes that she could be like Kayla. Kayla always gets straight A’s, she’s a star on the soccer team, and her hair is perfect and straight (unlike Maisie’s, which is red and frizzy). However, when Maisie and Kayla have to work together as partners on a project, Maisie begins to realize that there are disadvantages to being “too perfect.” Ages 4-8</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hope to see you all at my send off party on Thursday June 2nd, at Chelsea High School at 7pm.</span></span></div></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-75057294067485337922011-05-11T21:48:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:23:42.230-07:00If Bieber Isn't Your Cup of Tea....Here's Heisman Trophy Winner Mark Ingram!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/h_mWWKhFzuc/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h_mWWKhFzuc&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h_mWWKhFzuc&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<div style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;">University of Alabama football players -- including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram -- are encouraging students to fight illiteracy in Alabama through a television public service announcement to be aired as a part of the 2010 Literacy is the Edge campaign.</div><div style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;">The public service announcements will run through 2011and are aimed at raising awareness of illiteracy while helping recruit tutors for adults and children in west Alabama, and assistants for English as a second language programs.</div><div style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;">"As students at the University of Alabama we are afforded the opportunity to get an amazing education," Alabama running back Mark Ingram said in a university news release. “The chance to become a tutor and help someone from our state learn to read is a great way to give back to a state that has done so much for me and my teammates."</div><div style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;">Also taking part in the literacy program are quarterback Greg McElroy and linebacker Dont’a Hightower.</div><div style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;">LITE's president, Lauren Musselman, said the program wanted to choose spokespersons with a strong impact. “Most people in West Alabama love UA football players, so what better way to reach out to the citizens of Tuscaloosa than through their home team, the Crimson Tide,” Musselman said.</div><div style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;">McElroy said it's his goal to help make illiteracy irrelevant in the state of Alabama. “One person who can’t read is one too many. Every student at the University of Alabama should do what they can to help eliminate illiteracy in Alabama," McElroy said.</div><div style="color: #444e5c; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.55em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;">One in every 4 Alabamians is functionally illiterate — more than 1 million people. LITE officials say illiteracy can contribute to poverty, crime, unemployment, high school dropout rates and teen pregnancy.</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-90083958405040522412011-05-11T21:23:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:23:42.315-07:00Bieber Loves to Read, You Should Too!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/8jV_VaKW4Tw/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8jV_VaKW4Tw&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8jV_VaKW4Tw&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems like everyone has Bieber-fever lately, and to satiate all of your needs, both literary and Bieber-rific, here is a "Bedtime" story read by the one and only, Justin Bieber.This is provided by the National Education Association. ENJOY!</span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-71575572986464596682011-05-03T12:12:00.000-07:002011-05-03T12:12:22.097-07:00Graduation, Moving On!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Friday I will take my first steps as a College Graduate. I am very excited about this part of my life, and am eager to know what will happen next. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the great opportunity to speak at Chelsea High School's Senior Luncheon this past week, and to all of you that I met, Congratulations! I really enjoyed my time with you. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some of the best words spoken to me about this time in my life come from a book, one of the oldest books in print, The Bible!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</b> -Jeremiah 29:11</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">These words offer me great comfort and relief about what my next move will be. I am very fortunate to have many opportunities available to me after graduation. Whether I am chosen to be Miss Alabama, if I choose to enter the workforce as a news journalist, or if I return to school to further my education, I can know that God's plan is the ultimate plan, and I will find solace. I wanted to offer all of you some literature that can help you with your next step, be it graduation, or a continuation of your everyday life; we all deserve a spiritual lift now and then. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">The Bible</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 15px;"><b>Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.-</b> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Deuteronomy 31:6</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><span class="contentdescription"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." Take Courage.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">-</span></b></span><span class="sectiontableentry2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Peter 3:14</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><span class="sectiontableentry2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><span class="sectiontableentry2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b>The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. -</b></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 28:7-9</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Only One You</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2-d5OMXiMU/TcBQhWP1uYI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/IlEONaC0OlM/s1600/only+one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--2-d5OMXiMU/TcBQhWP1uYI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/IlEONaC0OlM/s320/only+one.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by: Linda Kranz</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summary</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">There's only one you in this great big world. Make it a better place. Adri's mama and papa share some of the wisdom they have gained through the years with their eager son. Their words, simple and powerful, are meant to comf</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">o</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rt and guide him as he goes about exploring the world. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9p_H6jCMTE/TcBRj2RrckI/AAAAAAAAAaA/pPH-y7Hi2N0/s1600/i-knew-could.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9p_H6jCMTE/TcBRj2RrckI/AAAAAAAAAaA/pPH-y7Hi2N0/s320/i-knew-could.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I Knew You Could!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: Craig Dorfman</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summary</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Knew You Could!: A Book For All The Stops In Your Life by Craig Dorfman is an enthusiastically recommended picture book based on the beloved classic children's story "The Little Engine That Could." Singsong rhyming verse combined with inviting illustrations by Cristina Ong of a happy and plucky blue engine encourage readers of all ages about the importance of believing in oneself.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personal Note: In reading this book, though it is for "Children" I teared up! The message is incredible, and I greatly recommend it to all of you who know a graduate. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WqzhHRZjfFM/TcBSrTb0jfI/AAAAAAAAAaE/AHi1CxbWloM/s1600/curious-george-curious-you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WqzhHRZjfFM/TcBSrTb0jfI/AAAAAAAAAaE/AHi1CxbWloM/s320/curious-george-curious-you.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Curious George Curious You: You're On Your Way!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: H.A.Rey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">N</span>o matter your age, you just can't help but love Curious George! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With CURIOUS YOU: ON YOUR WAY!, author H. A. Rey takes the life and times of Curious George and applies it to the very important event of graduation. Whether it's graduating from preschool to a elementary school, from high school to college, or possibly even a graduation from childhood into adulthood, this is one book that you'll always be able to take along with you. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we learn along with Curious George, there will always be new things to see and do, new heights to reach, new dreams to aspire to. Sometimes things might seem scary, and sometimes we won't know which direction to take. Whatever we do, though, and wherever we go, our family and friends will always be there to cheer us on. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the perfect gift for everyone in your life -- toddler, teen, or adult. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Good Luck to everyone in their future endeavors! I applaud you all for your hard work.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-35878419342242318392011-04-27T15:10:00.000-07:002011-04-27T15:10:21.412-07:00April is Poem Month!<div style="text-align: center;">I love candy, sometimes too much. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I love shoes, shoe shopping is my crutch. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I seriously dislike final exams, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but they are the only thing in between me and my future plans. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I also love to read, all of this is true. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And since April is Poem Month,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I'm the opposite of blue. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Join me this week celebrating the occasion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you share your poems, you just might be a sensation!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> This week is Exam week for me. My thoughts are so full of Mass Media Law notes and Public Relations techniques I can't seem to fit any other reading into them. What a wonderful time for me to celebrate a shorter reading, like a poem! Now not all poems are short, of course, but here are a few of my favorite short poems. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">First off, one of my personal favorite Poets: Shel Silverstein.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw1amxgI6d4/TbiQrGKwkeI/AAAAAAAAAZs/WOtR572Uvok/s1600/falling+up+shel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jw1amxgI6d4/TbiQrGKwkeI/AAAAAAAAAZs/WOtR572Uvok/s1600/falling+up+shel.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Falling Up</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>by: Shel Silverstein</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Summary: A collection of fun and silly poems, a must read. Ages 3-8</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Here are some of the poems in this great book:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jICy4ruOUWI/TbiQrphG65I/AAAAAAAAAZw/3zpop9CE0DA/s1600/hug_o_war_by_shel_silverstein-large-msg-116201123022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jICy4ruOUWI/TbiQrphG65I/AAAAAAAAAZw/3zpop9CE0DA/s320/hug_o_war_by_shel_silverstein-large-msg-116201123022.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hz0WQyFPfMw/TbiQr4MTkDI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/rJM8JSHDAD8/s1600/shelsilver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hz0WQyFPfMw/TbiQr4MTkDI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/rJM8JSHDAD8/s320/shelsilver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uhcp3JXBcPQ/TbiSHOWPTnI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/0M-VLkzRau0/s1600/ThePoetsTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uhcp3JXBcPQ/TbiSHOWPTnI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/0M-VLkzRau0/s320/ThePoetsTree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apples4theteacher.com/images/mother-goose-nursery-rhymes/46-jack-sprat-nursery-rhyme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Jack Sprat - Mother Goose" border="0" height="203" src="http://www.apples4theteacher.com/images/mother-goose-nursery-rhymes/46-jack-sprat-nursery-rhyme.jpg" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></div><h1 class="mothergoose" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Jack Sprat</span></b></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">by: Mother Goose</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066; font-size: 18px;">Jack Sprat Could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean;<br />
And so, Betwixt them both,They licked the platter clean.</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066; font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000066; font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>For more fun with the classic poems of Mother Goose, visit this website: </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://www.mothergoose.com/">http://www.mothergoose.com/</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It has great games based off of the greatest nursery rhymes. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Also, if you would like to take on the poetry writing yourself and need some help, visit Reading is Fundamental's website.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet/gamestation/poetrysplatter.htm">http://www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet/gamestation/poetrysplatter.htm</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-9194712726883735032011-04-19T20:15:00.000-07:002011-04-19T20:15:12.896-07:00Behind Every Strong Woman is an Even Stronger One<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone once said that behind every strong woman is a stronger one. I don't know if you would exactly call me a "strong woman" but I am definitely head-strong! :) One thing that is certain is that my Mom IS a strong woman. Tomorrow is her Birthday, and to celebrate I decided to dedicate this week's blog post to here. And, In order to keep my life, I won't disclose the number. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was little, and Dad would go hunting on the weekends, I got to spend the nights with Mom. We would do our nails and watch movies, cook, and finally cuddle up in Mom and Dad's huge bed to sleep. Before bed I would always beg her to tell me stories about when she was a little girl. I still to this day remember begging her for "just one more story!" until I fell asleep, usually with her still talking. Her stories have stuck with me to this day, but more so her love has made me the woman I am today. Love you Mom!! Happy Birthday! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some great Mom books for you to read with your children, or even with your own Mom. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">This classic book has been read to me so many times I can almost recite it. Its message so poignant and true in every parent/child relationship, if you haven't read this book to your child, you should!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_MDnMUM6ki8/Ta5L9WEr0lI/AAAAAAAAAZc/2yDKqeQo98s/s1600/Love+You+Forever+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_MDnMUM6ki8/Ta5L9WEr0lI/AAAAAAAAAZc/2yDKqeQo98s/s1600/Love+You+Forever+book.jpg" /></a></span></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Love You Forever</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1.7em;"> </span></span></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 1.7em;">by: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Robert N. Munsch</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summary: The mother sings to her sleeping baby: "I'll love you forever / I'll love you for always / As long as I'm living / My baby you'll be." She still sings the same song when her baby has turned into a fractious 2-year-old, a slovenly 9-year-old, and then a raucous teen. So far so ordinary--but this is one persistent lady. When her son grows up and leaves home, she takes to driving across town with a ladder on the car roof, climbing through her grown son's window, and rocking the sleeping man in the same way. Then, inevitably, the day comes when she's too old and sick to hold him, and the roles are at last reversed. Ages 4-8</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Are You My Mother?</span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">by:P.D. Eastman</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gMh8Mkl94k/Ta5MxxaYzhI/AAAAAAAAAZg/SHLXNlaUoUs/s1600/are-you-my-mother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gMh8Mkl94k/Ta5MxxaYzhI/AAAAAAAAAZg/SHLXNlaUoUs/s400/are-you-my-mother.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>Summary:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A baby bird is hatched while his mother is away. Fallen from his nest, he sets out to look for her and asks everyone he meets -- including a dog, a cow, and a plane -- "Are you my mother?" In the end he is happily reunited with his maternal parent in a glorious moment of recognition.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ages 0-8</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Before I Was Your Mother</strong> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTguHIazYYc/Ta5NUkzHzvI/AAAAAAAAAZk/U2wLS3S2sWA/s1600/before-i-was-your-mother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTguHIazYYc/Ta5NUkzHzvI/AAAAAAAAAZk/U2wLS3S2sWA/s400/before-i-was-your-mother.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">by Kathryn Lask</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Summary: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To Katie, it seems as if her mother has always been her mother, with her grocery lists, her purse full of bills to pay, and her boring, sensible shoes. But when her mother reveals that she once was a girl who bossed her little brother, wore firefighter boots to bed, and dreamed grand ballerina dreams, Katie realizes that she and her mother might be alike after all. Ages 4-8</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrjhxywJ750/Ta5ON2zs7mI/AAAAAAAAAZo/JPZ7f7j_Wz4/s1600/moms+cam+1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrjhxywJ750/Ta5ON2zs7mI/AAAAAAAAAZo/JPZ7f7j_Wz4/s320/moms+cam+1163.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Mom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></span></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-318085574360176252011-04-11T19:58:00.000-07:002011-04-11T19:58:34.729-07:00When the Daffodils Bloom<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">I am absolutely in love with this time of year. The flowers </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">blooming</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">, the birds </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8;">chirping</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">...the allergies... Just kidding on the last one! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Spring</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"> is the time when I like to think that the earth is rejoicing after a long rest during winter. Another great reason why I love spring? Because this is the time of year that I celebrate three of the people that I love the most in the world. My Mom, my Brother, and my Boyfriend. All three of them have birthdays in April, and today I am going to focus on one in particular. 18 years ago, God gave me the best present a girl could ask for, a little brother. I was four years old, and as the only girl in my family in over 64 years, pretty happy as the "Pickle Princess." When my Mom first let me know that my rule was about to be over, I was very nervous, but excited. I wanted to know just how long it would take for my little brother to get here. In true Elementary school teacher form, my Nanie came up with the perfect way for me to know when Hunter would be here.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She wrote a book about it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book was called "After the Daffodils Bloom" and it was the perfect way for me to understand how long it would take before my Little Brother could be here. It started out with the beginning, me, finding out about Hunter, and asking the question, "BUT WHEN??"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Thanksgiving, when all of the turkey is gone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT WHEN? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Halloween, and all of its goodies are enjoyed. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT WHEN?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Christmas, and all of the presents are opened.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT WHEN?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After your Fifth birthday, it is coming soon!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But...when??</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After Valentines day, once you are reminded that everyone loves you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In March, the flowers will begin to bloom, but there is a certain flower that must bloom before your little brother gets here. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Daffodils! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the daffodils bloomed, and the spring continued on, one day I was told, Today is the day!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hunter is here!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am paraphrasing the book of course, because it is safely tucked away at my house. The point to this post though is that reading isn't just about statistics. It's about relationships. It's about families coming together with a love of stories, of adventures, and books. What I want to challenge all of you to do this week is to find something that pertains to your family, and read about it. Then write about it. Most importantly, share it. Just like memories, books can be beautiful moments when we remember how precious our lives and the people in them truly are.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dedicated to my 18 year old ( sad face!) little brother, Hunter Pickle. I love you Bubba, I hope your birthday was wonderful. And, the daffodils this year were beautiful! :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CQi92g_Lo4w/TaO_yr4ZpVI/AAAAAAAAAZY/zmq5FiZ4mkE/s1600/63120018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CQi92g_Lo4w/TaO_yr4ZpVI/AAAAAAAAAZY/zmq5FiZ4mkE/s400/63120018.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-83993309552815837232011-04-06T19:04:00.000-07:002011-04-06T19:04:54.168-07:00Check Up!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/byLiq6TAjYo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So far, we are in week three of our "WondLa" adventure. I am loving this book!! Along with WondLa, I am also reading two other books, so hopefully I am not too far behind all of you. I am on Chapter 10, and am wanting to reach 15 before next Wednesday. If you are reading with me, just comment below on your progress, and what you think about the book. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you think Eva Nine will meet another human? </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abomRLwWibk/TZ0aoG18z4I/AAAAAAAAAZU/wzXZSYGCF7U/s1600/The_Search_For_Wondla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-abomRLwWibk/TZ0aoG18z4I/AAAAAAAAAZU/wzXZSYGCF7U/s320/The_Search_For_Wondla.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do you think WondLa is? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keep me updated on your progress! :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, here is a fun game to play based on WondLa:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mofunzone.com/online_games/the_search_for_wondla.shtml">http://www.mofunzone.com/online_games/the_search_for_wondla.shtml</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fun quiz for when you are finished:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/7298-the-search-for-wondla-quiz">http://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/7298-the-search-for-wondla-quiz</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a great interview with the author! (From Time for Kids)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"></span></span><br />
<h2 class="title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 2.2em; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none;"><div id="article" rel="bookmark"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Chat with Tony DiTerlizzi</span></div></h2><h3 class="subtitle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #666688; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.3em; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TFK catches up with the fantasy author at Books of Wonder in New York City</span></h3><div class="author" style="color: #666688; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">BY TFK KID REPORTER SAHIL ABBI</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Tony DiTerlizzi, author of the popular series <i>The Spiderwick Chronicles,</i> is bringing readers a new fantasy novel called <i>The Search for WondLa.</i> The book hit stores on September 21. In the story, 12-year-old Eva Nine lives in an underground world where she is raised by a robot named Muthr. She has never seen another living person. When an intruder destroys her underground home, she escapes to a strange new world above ground. There she begins a search to find someone like her. A single clue gives her hope—a crumbling picture of a girl, a robot, an adult and the word WondLa. TFK Kid Reporter Sahil Abbi spoke to DiTerlizzi about <i>WondLa</i> and the power of imagination.</div><table align="RIGHT" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 250px;"><tbody>
<tr><td width="10"><img border="0" height="1" src="http://img.timeinc.net/TFK/media/global/px.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="10" /></td><td><img alt="" border="0" height="180" src="http://img.timeinc.net/TFK/media/news/2010b/101001_tonyditerlizzi_horiz.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="240" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; text-align: right;">ANDREW H. WALKER—GETTY IMAGES</span></span><br clear="ALL" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="caption" style="color: #660099; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;">Kids gather at Books of Wonder in New York City on September 22 for the launch of Tony DiTerlizzi's latest book, <i>The Search for WondLa</i>.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Where did you get the idea for <i>The Search for WondLa</i>?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i>WondLa</i> was inspired by some of my favorite childhood heroines. I think back to stories that I loved as a kid and that I still love to this day, like <i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.</i>I loved Wendy Darling, the character who goes with Peter Pan to Neverland. I also love Dorothy Gale from <i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.</i> In all these stories, a lone person enters a magical place and gains knowledge before she returns home. In the end, these characters learn to cherish the power of home. I'm glad that kids still love these stories, but I make them a little more modern with lots of cool technology.</div><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What do you like about fantasy?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I love books with imagination. Imagination is why Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean to find America and it is why we went to the moon. I think that imagination is so important and it should be instilled in kids as early as possible.</div><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Did the books you read as a child influence <i>The Search for WondLa</i>?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A book that I kept thinking about while I worked on <i>The Search for WondLa</i> was <i>Charlotte's Web.</i> It highlights these unlikely friendships. There's the friendship between Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider. Then there's the friendship between Wilbur and a rat. That's not unlike my character Eva who is being taken care of by a robot, but is also friends with Rovender, an angry alien.</div><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How do you feel about <i>The Search for WondLa</i> being made into a movie?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I'm really excited. Paramount Pictures read an early version of<i>WondLa.</i> They totally loved the story and decided to make it into a movie. I'll probably act as an adviser, which was what my role was for <i>The Spiderwick Chronicles.</i> I helped with the stories and with the visuals. I'm kind of the go-to guy for the world of the story.</div><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your character Kenny, from the book <i>Kenny and the Dragon,</i>reminded me of myself. Did you base any of your characters on you or someone close to you?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">That's awesome! Kenny is kind of like me, too. I was very much a kid who was living in my own world. If I wasn't reading, I was drawing or outside catching bugs. I think that all the characters I've created have little fragments or pieces of me. It's like you take your personality and throw it at the ground and it breaks into pieces. Then you have to put the pieces together to create different characters, so they've always got a little piece of you in them. My characters also have elements of friends and people I know. I'm a lot like Eva [from <i>WondLa</i>]. Yes, she's a 12-year-old girl, but she's not really girly. She's just a kid who is trying to find her place in the world.</div><table align="LEFT" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 250px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt="" border="0" height="180" src="http://img.timeinc.net/TFK/media/news/2010b/101001_tonyditerlizzi_horiz2.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="240" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; text-align: right;">ANDREW H. WALKER—GETTY IMAGES</span></span><br clear="ALL" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="caption" style="color: #660099; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;">Tony Diterlizzi draws Eva Nine, the main character from <i>The Search for WondLa</i>.</span></span></td><td width="10"><img border="0" height="1" src="http://img.timeinc.net/TFK/media/global/px.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" width="10" /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Are any parts of your books based on your experiences?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When I make my books, I tap into a younger version of myself. I go back and think, "What would the 10-year-old version of Tony want to read that the 40-year-old version of Tony can create?" So I think back to the things that I liked. Even though my generation and your generation are different, there are some things that we have in common. For example, I loved videogames when I was your age.</div><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Is there a message that you want to send young readers through your books?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Yes, never abandon imagination. It's all about imagination.</div><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What did you read when you were younger?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I read all kinds of stuff as a kid. I loved books on astronomy, paleontology and insects. I love nature. I am kind of an armchair naturalist. I have field guides on birds and I enjoy copying the drawings.</div><span style="color: #d91600; font-size: small;">TFK:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What advice do you have for aspiring young authors?</div><span style="color: #51aafc; font-size: small;">DiTerlizzi:</span><div style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Keep writing, keep imagining and keep drawing. I am a product of two parents who saw that I was an imaginative kid. They encouraged me and so did my teachers. My advice for adults? If you see a youngster who is really good at making up stories, encourage him or her. We need more of that in the world.</div></span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-54230787423596883002011-03-29T09:37:00.000-07:002011-03-29T09:37:38.736-07:00Extra, Extra!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Just in case my books and tips aren't enough, Check out Reading Is Fundamental's monthly reading calendars. These are a great resource to use when daily participating in your child's literacy adventure. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Here is the link! It is a PDF file.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.rif.org/documents/us/Mar11_LtR_calendar.pdf">http://www.rif.org/documents/us/Mar11_LtR_calendar.pdf</a></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-56552039988811712802011-03-28T18:49:00.000-07:002011-03-28T18:49:53.075-07:00Reading and Learning Math at the Same Time!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of you may know this, but I come from two generations of Elementary school teachers. Both my Mom and my Nanie are teachers. This is part of the reason why literacy and education are so special to me, because as I was growing up, I would leave school to come home to more education. I think that education shouldn't end when a child leaves school grounds. The best opportunities to learn can come at the dinner table, before bed, even during commercial breaks while watching television. My mom is constantly offering great advice on literacy techniques and books to use, and this week's books are directly from her. The great thing about these books is that they are all math-based, and classroom tested. So while your child is reading a funny story on ants, he or she also learns valuable multiplication skills. Enjoy!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">One Hundred Hungry Ants </span></span></h1><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">by: Elinor J. Pinczes</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ngz57mamMK0/TZE5Ay5GuoI/AAAAAAAAAZI/roqqEO3aY6s/s1600/one-hundred-hungry-ants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ngz57mamMK0/TZE5Ay5GuoI/AAAAAAAAAZI/roqqEO3aY6s/s400/one-hundred-hungry-ants.jpg" width="400" /></a><span id="btAsinTitle">Summary: </span>A rhyming text describes the progress of one hundred ants marching toward a picnic. To travel faster, one ant suggests dividing into two lines of fifty, then four lines of twenty-five, and finally ten lines of ten. Their frantic reorganization takes so long that the picnic is gone by the time they arrive. Ages 4-8</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.7em; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Grandfather Tang's Story</span></h1><div><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by: Ann Tompert</span></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mn-i12wAe5I/TZE5nVhmVpI/AAAAAAAAAZM/95Qzmxt2E0E/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mn-i12wAe5I/TZE5nVhmVpI/AAAAAAAAAZM/95Qzmxt2E0E/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Summary: </span>Here's a folktale with a twist: Tompert uses tangrams, a traditional "visual aid" employed by Chinese storytellers, to spin a tale about two shape-changing fox fairies. Seven "tans" (standard-sized pieces of a square) are arranged and rearranged to represent various characters in the story. The fox fairies vie to outdo each other--the first one becomes a rabbit, the other a dog who chases him, and so on--but when the two chase each other right into danger, they finally have to set their competition aside and pull together. Parker's graceful, impressionistic illustrations have a gentle Oriental flavor, and the constantly changing tangram configurations add a novel touch. A traceable tangram is provided at the end for do-it-yourselfers. Ages 3-7</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufwONXX6KcI/TZE50pCWi-I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/PPNlqXgAhlQ/s1600/goose1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufwONXX6KcI/TZE50pCWi-I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/PPNlqXgAhlQ/s320/goose1.gif" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here is one of the tangrams used in the book</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Also, if you are still reading "The Search for Wondla" with me, let me know how it is going! I will post my thoughts on it soon!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-52458989848620686382011-03-19T19:24:00.000-07:002011-03-19T19:27:02.299-07:00Challenge!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This week, instead of choosing a few books to read, I am going to try something different. I recently heard about the book, "The Search for Wondla" and it intrigued me. So, tomorrow I am going to go to my local library and check it out! What I want to do is implore you to also read the book with me. I am really excited about this book because I watched an interview with the author/illustrator on the Today Show and he compared the writing style to that of the early Wizard of Oz books. (I love those books!!) Also, if your child enjoyed "The Spiderwick Chronicles" then they will more than likely enjoy this book, it is written by the same author. Here is the information about the book: Typically this book is read by ages 9-12.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hIaRNSi5cP4/TYVk76v6ZsI/AAAAAAAAAY8/FsqVRW5u5Ao/s1600/the+search+for+wondla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hIaRNSi5cP4/TYVk76v6ZsI/AAAAAAAAAY8/FsqVRW5u5Ao/s400/the+search+for+wondla.jpg" width="257" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>The Search for WondLa</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By: Tony DiTerlizzi</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summary: When a marauder destroys the underground sanctuary that Eva Nine was raised in by the robot Muthr, the twelve-year-year-old girl is forced to flee aboveground. Eva Nine is searching for anyone else like her, for she knows that other humans exist, because of an item she treasures—a scrap of cardboard on which is depicted a young girl, an adult, and a robot, with the strange word, "WondLa." Tony DiTerlizzi honors traditional children's literature in this totally original space age adventure: one that is as complex as an alien planet, but as simple as a child's wish for a place to belong. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, check out the website for the book, </span><a href="http://wondla.com/">http://wondla.com/</a></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-29973877277785441422011-03-17T18:46:00.000-07:002011-03-17T18:46:44.755-07:00My Crazyy Spring Break<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UmFCgPcvUjw/TYJl9T98DnI/AAAAAAAAAYY/xGRwbIVHTTY/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UmFCgPcvUjw/TYJl9T98DnI/AAAAAAAAAYY/xGRwbIVHTTY/s320/spring+break+and+rotary+632.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the students of Wylam Elementary</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iksveLsYUig/TYJkaP9rF2I/AAAAAAAAAXE/wabKzqsJFJk/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iksveLsYUig/TYJkaP9rF2I/AAAAAAAAAXE/wabKzqsJFJk/s320/spring+break+and+rotary+611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing Literacy Basketball at Chelsea High School</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These two weeks of spring send college students across the nation into a frenzy. Beaches, Bathing suits, and a break from school is the usual prescription used to relieve the stress of the school year. My Senior spring break was a little different than some of my friends. I left school to spend a week in Shelby County, and had a blast. I visited the incredible kids at Wilsonville Elementary, Wylam Elementary, Snow Rogers Elementary, the fun group of students at Chelsea High School as well as a very special little girl's birthday party. We read together, played literacy fast facts games, and even had a Bieber-fever moment. Right, Snow Rogers? I hope you all are having a great week! :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some of the pictures of my Crazy, wonderful spring break. Have I said it before that I love being Miss Shelby County??</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AIVdaqJlmKs/TYJkJcsfWDI/AAAAAAAAAW4/fpfkwVXBnLU/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AIVdaqJlmKs/TYJkJcsfWDI/AAAAAAAAAW4/fpfkwVXBnLU/s320/spring+break+and+rotary+608.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GOAL!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O08WMgm7Zz8/TYJmhc72RsI/AAAAAAAAAY4/PWJ7TeFnICY/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O08WMgm7Zz8/TYJmhc72RsI/AAAAAAAAAY4/PWJ7TeFnICY/s320/spring+break+and+rotary+640.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow Roger's best students! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VJxhRIe8nyQ/TYJjN1p-1PI/AAAAAAAAAWI/pSIEDs9ZLsw/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VJxhRIe8nyQ/TYJjN1p-1PI/AAAAAAAAAWI/pSIEDs9ZLsw/s200/spring+break+and+rotary+596.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Chelsea High School playing Literacy Basketball</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vJxx72eiC_U/TYJiqCuxA_I/AAAAAAAAAVs/JU5k9TBk6O4/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vJxx72eiC_U/TYJiqCuxA_I/AAAAAAAAAVs/JU5k9TBk6O4/s320/spring+break+and+rotary+589.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my new fourth grade friends at Wilsonville Elementary<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dZs1rAoN5Z4/TYJi0t9Zo6I/AAAAAAAAAV0/VZ3gJMwq0pc/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dZs1rAoN5Z4/TYJi0t9Zo6I/AAAAAAAAAV0/VZ3gJMwq0pc/s320/spring+break+and+rotary+591.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More great kids at Wilsonville</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zKsE48fQM7s/TYJivJbLr5I/AAAAAAAAAVw/8eftNUWljoo/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zKsE48fQM7s/TYJivJbLr5I/AAAAAAAAAVw/8eftNUWljoo/s200/spring+break+and+rotary+590.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We read the great book "One" and Wrote stories<br />
about our own experiences being "the one"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j4NOrZNjjG4/TYJi5gGH1cI/AAAAAAAAAV4/5eVBFoMvW0o/s1600/spring+break+and+rotary+592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j4NOrZNjjG4/TYJi5gGH1cI/AAAAAAAAAV4/5eVBFoMvW0o/s320/spring+break+and+rotary+592.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the Birthday Girl, Allie, and her friends at her party. I had the opportunity to teach these girls poise, the importance of self-confidence and had a blast rocking out to Hannah Montana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-36683751791371347412011-03-04T06:52:00.000-08:002011-03-04T06:52:41.861-08:00Read Across America Week<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i4EmktbInoE?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>I had the opportunity to visit Charles Henderson Elementary were I caught them doing...guess what?? READING! Check out my news package, aired on TrojanVision this week.</b></span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-63046325012052481362011-02-28T12:33:00.000-08:002011-02-28T12:33:23.452-08:00Happy Read Across America Week!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Saturday I was able to spend the morning celebrating the kick-off for Read Across America. Reading Dr. Seuss books at Target and helping The Literacy Council and Better Basics with their Birmingham Reads event at Books-A-Million. This week is the perfect reason to take a few moments out of our days to devote to reading with a child. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Did you know? According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">hirty-eight percent of all fourth graders in the United States can't read this simple poem:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play.<br />
So we sat in the house all that cold, cold, wet day.<br />
I sat there with Sally. We sat there, we two.<br />
And I said, "How I wish we had something to do!"<br />
-from The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss -</span></i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, arial; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By reading to a child, you will increase his or her chances at developing a love for reading and writing. Begin the week by pledging to be a part of this Nation-wide event! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><a href="http://readacrossamerica.org/index.php">http://readacrossamerica.org/index.php</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://readacrossamerica.org/index.php"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Try some of these books to get you Read Across America week started! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DGsoEXo2mQM/TWwDgO-5c5I/AAAAAAAAAVU/WbTydoL8-pw/s1600/yertle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DGsoEXo2mQM/TWwDgO-5c5I/AAAAAAAAAVU/WbTydoL8-pw/s320/yertle.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Yertle the Turtle</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by: Dr. Seuss</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet more wisdom cast down from high atop Mt. Seuss, this cheerful trio of tales teaches some valuable lessons in humility--thanks to a sharp-eyed worm, a bragging bear and rabbit, a fuzzy-tailed bird, and a couple hundred turtles led by their foolish King Yertle.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7a7a7a;">Y</span>ertle the turtle is the king of the pond and not satisfied with his kingdom as it is. So he piles his subjects one on top of another until he can see as far as he can see, convinced of his superiority and ignoring the throne of turtles piled under his four feet:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><blockquote style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 30px; padding-top: 10px; quotes: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your majesty, please…I don’t like to complain. But down here below, we are feeling great pain.</span></div></blockquote></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">His stands high on his perch until one subject, the unlucky turtle at the bottom who has been trying to negotiate with the king, sneezes and brings the hundreds-tall pile of turtles tumbling down. The king quickly learns his lesson. Dr. Seuss brilliantly shares impactful lessons through engaging, catchy stories that appeal to kids of all ages.</span> (Ages 4 to 8)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G-iJxvle2WQ/TWwFqcEMpNI/AAAAAAAAAVg/NZ9A5Bl5WUM/s1600/jenga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G-iJxvle2WQ/TWwFqcEMpNI/AAAAAAAAAVg/NZ9A5Bl5WUM/s320/jenga.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"> !!Fun Activity alert!!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Try to tie this book in with a rousing game of JENGA. That game is tons of fun without the book, think of the fun you can have with the idea of Yertle on top of the pile!</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fT9F59oLjp0/TWwEJD0E2wI/AAAAAAAAAVY/FG1WvXI-tz4/s1600/If-I-Ran-the-Zoo-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fT9F59oLjp0/TWwEJD0E2wI/AAAAAAAAAVY/FG1WvXI-tz4/s320/If-I-Ran-the-Zoo-cover.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">If I Ran the Zoo </span></span></h1><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">by: Dr. Seuss</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summary: </span>"It's a pretty good zoo," said young Gerald McGrew, "and the fellow who runs it seems proud of it, too." But if <i>Gerald</i> ran the zoo, the New Zoo, McGrew Zoo, he'd see to making a change or two: "So I'd open each cage. I'd unlock every pen, let the animals go, and start over again." And that's just what Gerald imagines, as he travels the world in this playfully illustrated Dr. Seuss classic (first published back in 1950), collecting all sorts of beasts "that you don't see every day." From the mountains of Zomba-ma-Tant to the blistering sands of the Desert of Zind, Gerald hunts down every animal imaginable ("I'll catch 'em in countries no one can spell, like the country of Motta-fa-Potta-fa-Pell"). Whether it's a scraggle-foot Mulligatawny or a wild-haired Iota (from "the far western part of south-east North Dakota"), Gerald amazes the world with his new and improved zoo: "This Zoo Keeper, New Keeper's simply astounding! He travels so far that you think he would drop! When <i>do</i> you suppose this young fellow will stop?"</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ironically, Seuss was trying here--in his wild, explosive, and sometimes careless manner--to celebrate the joys of unconventionality and the bliss of liberation! (Ages 4 to 8)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">!!Fun Activity alert!!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">Talk to your child about how they would run the zoo. What would YOU do?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F14zsAQcss8/TWwE1Q1gz8I/AAAAAAAAAVc/OXunSRl_Wbg/s1600/scrambled-eggs-super.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F14zsAQcss8/TWwE1Q1gz8I/AAAAAAAAAVc/OXunSRl_Wbg/s1600/scrambled-eggs-super.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Scrambled Eggs Super</span></span></h1><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">by: Dr. Seuss</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summary: </span>Starring the same perky boy who captured Thing One and Thing Two in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/039480001X/$%7B0%7D" style="color: #003399; text-decoration: underline;">The Cat in the Hat</a></i>, this is a first-person tall tale about cooking. Peter T. Hooper is bored to bits by his mother's habit of always making scrambled eggs out of hen's eggs. "And so," he informs his friend Liz, "I decided that, just for a change, I'd scramble a new kind of egg on the range." We're off on an epic journey to parts (and birds) unknown, all told in classic head-over-heels Seussian style: "Then I went for some Ziffs. They're exactly like Zuffs. But the Ziffs live on cliffs and the Zuffs live on bluffs." Finally, after capturing a small mountain of different types of egg--from Moth-Watching Sneths, Long-Legger Kwongs, and others--it's back to the kitchen for a 99-pan scramble, with all sorts of bizarre ingredients added just for fun. To be precise, it's time for "Scrambled eggs Super-Dee-Dooper-Dee-Booper, Special deluxe a-la-Peter T. Hooper." Somehow, you get the impression that Liz doesn't believe a word of it. (Ages 4 to 8)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IhFSl9abBnI/TWwGAZITLBI/AAAAAAAAAVk/DnV1THybz8Q/s1600/P1050880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IhFSl9abBnI/TWwGAZITLBI/AAAAAAAAAVk/DnV1THybz8Q/s320/P1050880.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">!!Fun Activity alert!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><strong style="color: #ca2d92;">Consider having your child assist you in making your own super recipe with scrambled eggs. Set out a variety of adult-approved ingredients to add (probably not sardines or 55 cans of beans), and then let your child choose which ones to put in. Your child can help with the egg cracking, scrambling, pouring, and so on as appropriate. (Of course, adults are in charge of the stove.) Here I am making Teriyaki stir-fry eggs! Yum!</strong></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><br />
</span></span></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-15578757733724130242011-02-21T14:15:00.000-08:002011-02-21T14:15:14.661-08:00President's Day Celebration Books!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy P</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">r</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">d</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">s Day!! In honor of today's holiday, President's day, here are some fun books that showcase our Commanders in Chief. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Smart About the Presidents (Smart About History)</span></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LCAfOZj0LKE/TWLi3en_BoI/AAAAAAAAAUo/VSXn4nfXH18/s1600/pres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LCAfOZj0LKE/TWLi3en_BoI/AAAAAAAAAUo/VSXn4nfXH18/s320/pres.jpg" width="248" /></a></span></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">by: Jon Buller, </span>Sally Warner</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle" style="font-size: large;">Summary: </span>Gr. 4-7. From the Smart about History series, this book is similar to other recent titles that quickly delineate the presidents with cartoon-style illustrations and a few fast, fun facts. However, this also presents a paragraph or so of solid information along with the fluff. Students will learn, for example, that Jimmy Carter was humble, honest, and down-to-earth--just what the country needed after Watergate. They will also find out about the taking of the hostages in Iran and that Carter negotiated a treaty between the Egyptians and the Israelis. Each president also gets a few lines about his life before the presidency. All in all, there's a surprising amount of information offered in a kid-friendly style. The artwork is better than average, and although it's played for fun, it's not disrespectful. Different fonts and a peppy layout add appeal. A bibliography, a map showing where the presidents were born, and spreads on White House kids, First Ladies, and more are appended. An easy way to interest kids in the presidency.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--MWu0zCG_04/TWLjFFvtDjI/AAAAAAAAAUs/6yawNcPWanE/s1600/pres2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--MWu0zCG_04/TWLjFFvtDjI/AAAAAAAAAUs/6yawNcPWanE/s1600/pres2.jpg" /></a></span></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So You Want to be a President?</span></span></h1></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">by: Judith St. George</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Summary: </span></span>Tired of books about the presidency that present themselves as history books? Author Judith St. George--along with Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator David Small--has created a book about the presidency that's serious fun. The basic theme is that anyone can be president: a fat man (William Howard Taft) or a tiny man (James Madison), a relative youngster (Teddy Roosevelt at 42) or oldster (Ronald Reagan at 69). Presidential hobbies, sports, virtues, and vices all get a tongue-in-cheek airing, perfectly matched by Small's political-cartoon style of caricature painting. It's fun, but the underlying purpose is clearly serious: to remind kids that the American presidents have been a motley group of individuals, not a row of marble busts. Ironically, that message makes the presidency far more interesting (and appealing) than it seems in some of the more traditional books. There's a factual addendum at the back giving all the dates and names, with a one-line bio for each past-president. (Ages 8 and older<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-chFbY7_JHeg/TWLjztqfhcI/AAAAAAAAAUw/Z0iCw6jx_DY/s1600/pres3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-chFbY7_JHeg/TWLjztqfhcI/AAAAAAAAAUw/Z0iCw6jx_DY/s320/pres3.jpg" width="276" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Everything Kids' Presidents Book Puzzles Games and Trivia - for Hours of Presidential Fun </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;">by:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"> <span class="book_author">Brian Thornton</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Summary:</span><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;">Did George Washington really cut down his father's cherry tree? Who was the last president to have facial hair? Which U.S. president had a country's capital city named after him? Which president earned the nickname, "His Accidency"? With <i>The Everything Kids' Presidents Book</i>, you'll be at the head of your class after learning abou<span id="e_1298326339.95_content">t the lives, legacies, and impact that our country's 44 leaders had on the history of the United States. Filled with fun facts, trivia, and 30 puzzles, <i>The Everything Kids' Presidents Book</i> introduces you to everyone from our first president, George Washington, to the man currently residing in the White House, George W. Bush. Learning about the people who shaped the history of our country has never been so much fun!</span></span></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-76659840080743040402011-02-17T16:07:00.000-08:002011-02-17T16:07:25.089-08:00Parents, here is some reading for you! From Parenting Magazine.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Jamrul, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<div class="panel-pane pane-core-header article-toolbar" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="pane-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="signal-cached" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="" id="content-area-header" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: url(http://www.parenting.com/sites/all/themes/parenting_theme/images/border-dotted-horizontal.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="left" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 413px;"><h1 class="main-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Jamrul, sans-serif; font-size: 36px; line-height: 38px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5 Ways to Make Reading Fun</h1><div class="dek" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Help your child develop a love of reading with these easy tips</div></div><div class="author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By Barbara Rowley</div></div><div class="right" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 50px;"><div class="utility-links" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="email" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.parenting.com/forward?path=node%2F123596" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://www.parenting.com/sites/all/themes/parenting_theme/images/icon-article-toolbar.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #00598d; display: block; font-size: 11px; height: 11px; line-height: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">email</a></div><div class="print" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://www.parenting.com/sites/all/themes/parenting_theme/images/icon-article-toolbar.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% -20px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #00598d; display: block; font-size: 11px; height: 14px; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">print</a></div><div class="share" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://www.parenting.com/sites/all/themes/parenting_theme/images/icon-article-toolbar.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% -44px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #00598d; display: block; font-size: 11px; height: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">share</a></div></div><div class="ad-space ad-middle1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Jamrul, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><div class="clear" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="related-tags" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 365px;"><span class="label" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">related tags: </span><a href="http://www.parenting.com/child/development" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #00598d; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Development--Child</a>, <a href="http://www.parenting.com/toddler" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #00598d; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Toddler</a></div><div class="recommend" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 365px;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http://www.parenting.com/article/5-ways-to-make-reading-fun&layout=standard&show_faces=false&width=240&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=20" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; font-size: 14px; height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 240px;"></iframe></div><div class="comments-count" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: right; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -24px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 130px;"><a href="http://www.parenting.com/article/5-ways-to-make-reading-fun?cid=nea#comments" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #00aef0; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: white; display: block; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 110px;">comments (3)</a></div><div class="clear" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="panel-separator" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="panel-pane pane-node-content article-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="pane-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="signal-cached" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="node node-type-article" id="node-123596" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="node-inner" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Helvetica, Jamrul, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="photo-box template-right" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline-block; float: right; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;"><div class="image" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 0; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-article_image" height="350" src="http://www.parenting.com/sites/parenting.com/files/imagecache/article_image/parenting_port/ps/PSY0810_BOO_EagerReader_2_A.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="" width="300" /></div></div><div class="social-buttons" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: left; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 60px;"><div class="button-facebook" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parenting.com%2Farticle%2F5-ways-to-make-reading-fun&src=sp" name="fb_share" ref="share" share_url="http://www.parenting.com/article/5-ways-to-make-reading-fun" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #00598d; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" type="box_count"><span class="fb_share_size_Small fb_share_count_wrapper" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="FBConnectButton FBConnectButton_Small" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #29447e; background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/connect_sprite.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% -232px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 10px; line-height: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="FBConnectButton_Text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #5f78ab; background-image: url(http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/connect_sprite.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(26, 53, 110); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(135, 154, 192); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: white; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 17px; margin-right: 1px; margin-top: 1px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 2px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Share</span></span></span></a></div><div class="button-retweet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="61" scrolling="no" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/button.js?url=http%3A//www.parenting.com/article/5-ways-to-make-reading-fun&style=normal&o=http%3A//www.nea.org/readacross/&b=1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="50"></iframe></div></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Resurrect the read-aloud.</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reading out loud is not simply a stepping-stone to learning to read silently; it's also a way to build vocabulary, attention skills, and comprehension, as well as--perhaps most important--a love of reading. If you're already doing the one-on-one bedtime story, think about ways to switch up the sessions: Read over breakfast. Encourage siblings to read out loud to each other or to the family pet. Alternate pages or chapters with your child. Or gather the whole family together for a group read-aloud.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Take it on the road.</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Books are the ultimate portable entertainment--they're durable and impervious to a few drips of water (at least the non-electronic variety), and easy to read in the sunlight. Keep a chapter book in your bag to pull out while you're waiting at a restaurant, sitting poolside or on the beach, hanging out in a tree house, or while camping in a tent with a flashlight.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Bring stories to life.</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read horse books before your child goes to horseback-riding camp, <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Little House on the Prairie</em> before you tour a pioneer village, a bio of a favorite baseball or football player before you visit a sports hall of fame.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Be a reading buddy.</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you see your child reading when you aren't, grab your own book and cozy up (well, as close as he'll let you) to read beside him. Prefer a scheduled approach? Try DEAR--Drop Everything and Read--sessions, in which the whole family reads at the same time.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Make books a basic.</strong></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Look at reading material like food and clothes: You wouldn't leave the refrigerator or the closet empty, so don't let the bookshelf go bare, either. Find a librarian or a teacher who keeps current with what's new and popular for kids, or play the cool card: Get a respected teen to tell your tween what books he enjoyed.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-76021203893065544882011-02-13T17:08:00.000-08:002011-02-13T17:08:23.761-08:00Celebrating Love!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow is a day that we celebrate our love for one another, and assorted chocolates. It's Valentine's Day! So in honor of this lovable holiday, here are some books that I ADORE!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UUeYK27dTcA/TVh29swq68I/AAAAAAAAAUg/gO3nPMg6xnA/s1600/n193028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UUeYK27dTcA/TVh29swq68I/AAAAAAAAAUg/gO3nPMg6xnA/s320/n193028.jpg" width="206" /></a></span></div><h1 style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine</span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By: Barbara Park</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary: It's a mushy gushy mystery!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hurray! February 14—Valentime's Day, as June B. calls it—is just around the corner. Junie B. can't wait to see all the "valentimes" she'll get. But she never expected a big, mushy card from a secret admirer! Who is this secret mystery guy, anyway? Junie B. is determined to find out!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm obsessed with anything Junie B. even though the writing isn't ideal for teaching proper grammar. Some argue that using the Junie B. series as a tool to encourage literacy can backfire because of the "baby talk" that is within the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px;"><span style="line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">dialogue</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, but I think that these books encourage fun reading, and fun reading can lead to learning nonetheless, so read up, Junie fans!</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><h1 style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ8rikZy2qM/TVh-ghzYHOI/AAAAAAAAAUk/4GZTqwrsFe4/s1600/lily.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QZ8rikZy2qM/TVh-ghzYHOI/AAAAAAAAAUk/4GZTqwrsFe4/s1600/lily.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Lilly's Chocolate Heart</span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">by: Kevin Henkes</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Lilly loves her chocolate heart.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Will she save it?<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Forever and ever?<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />What do you think?</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Decked in fuzzy green slippers and pink housecoat, a crown-wearing Lilly has one Valentine's Day chocolate heart and wants to keep it safe. Unfortunately, several locales aren't quite right: under the bed is dusty, inside the dresser is messy, and behind the radiator is warm. Where will she put it? Not to worry, for with a look of satisfied resolution, Lilly decides the best place is right in her tummy. (PreSchool-2nd Grade).</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day! </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-18971382518147083352011-02-02T10:21:00.000-08:002011-02-02T10:21:33.909-08:00Are You the ONE?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently received an email from a good friend who is in Elementary Education, and is student teaching. She finds great books to read to her students, and came across the book <u>One</u> by Kathryn Otoshi. She suggested I read this and feature it in my blog, so here it is. The premise behind this beautiful story is so simple, yet so important and so relevant to today's children. So, if you have an opportunity, please check out this book, as well as some other books on the same premise I found.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Special thanks to Lena!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUmevLPdPLI/AAAAAAAAAUY/0pNlrp16HKA/s1600/ok-reads-one.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUmevLPdPLI/AAAAAAAAAUY/0pNlrp16HKA/s320/ok-reads-one.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>One</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by: Kathryn Otoshi</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary: This is a deceptively simple color and counting book that turns into a lesson on bullying. Whenever they meet, Blue is picked on by Red: "Red is HOT. Blue is NOT." The other colors like Blue but are intimidated by the bluster so they say nothing, and soon Red is bossing everyone around. But then One comes. It is funny and brave and confronts Red: "If someone is mean and picks on me, I, for One, stand up and say, No." All the other colors follow One's lead and become numbers too. Yellow is two, Green, three, etc. Red begins to feel left out and tries to bully Blue, but Blue ignores him and changes to Six: "Red can be really HOT,' he says, but Blue can be super COOL.'" The rest of the numbers stick up for Blue, but offer Red the opportunity to join in the counting, and all ends well. The book is well designed with bright colored circles and numbers on stark white pages accompanied by black print. The text is very simple but meaningful, and the moral is subtly told. Red is not ostracized but included in the game, and the essential point of one person making a difference is emphasized by the ending: "Sometimes it just takes One."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUmfYUmUXKI/AAAAAAAAAUc/xNfgnK8ahTY/s1600/61YMX2jKxHL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUmfYUmUXKI/AAAAAAAAAUc/xNfgnK8ahTY/s320/61YMX2jKxHL._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are</span></span></h1><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">by: Maria Dismondy</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Summary: </span>How can Ralph be so mean? Lucy is one of a kind and Ralph loves to point that out. Lucy's defining moment comes when Ralph truly needs help. Because she knows what she stands for, Lucy has the courage to make a good choice. This charming story empowers children to always do the right thing and be proud of themselves, even when they are faced with someone as challenging as Ralph.</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out Maria Dismondy's Book Trailer on bullying and her books. Powerful stuff. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=371623830720&oid=184141503895&comments">http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=371623830720&oid=184141503895&comments</a></span> </span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-58247889704003755302011-01-27T12:00:00.000-08:002011-01-27T12:00:29.376-08:00Birthday Party!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This weekend I turn <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">22</u> </span>years old. It seems as though the years go by so much faster the older I get. One thing remains the same over the years, and that is my LOVE for Birthdays! On Jan. 29th, you will not find me in a mirror looking for my first wrinkle, nor will I be applying early for my AARP card. (I may, however, buy a pair of high-waisted jeans..haha) I believe that no matter the number, a birthday should always be regarded as special, and I want to celebrate mine with all of you! Here are some great birthday books to share with those you love on their birthdays. Even if it is not your birthday, have a non-birthday party! Or even better, find out whose birthday it is, learn about them, and celebrate!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUHMC7xNS5I/AAAAAAAAAUE/8MpdG7VOjJY/s1600/happy-birthday-to-you-by-dr-seuss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUHMC7xNS5I/AAAAAAAAAUE/8MpdG7VOjJY/s320/happy-birthday-to-you-by-dr-seuss.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Happy Birthday to You!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By: Dr. Seuss</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Great Birthday Bird guides us on a birthday trip. The multicolored excursion is a festive one.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Birthday Box</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By: Leslie Patricelli</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUHM9iA94jI/AAAAAAAAAUI/4UMoJIku1eI/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUHM9iA94jI/AAAAAAAAAUI/4UMoJIku1eI/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">A child wearing only a diaper and a striped party hat gets a present from Grandma. What is it? The toddler takes off the wrapping paper–bright red with blue polka-dots–and discovers A big brown box! A box is full of possibilities and this child lets imagination reign. The youngster can stand on it, hug it, and hide behind it (Shhh. Where am I? Boo! Here I am!). When the child finally opens the gift, there's a stuffed dog inside. Now the two of them can create adventures. The container becomes an airplane, a sailboat, and a sled. The new pals share a snack inside its protective walls before settling down for a cozy nap. (Pre-School)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUHN5sMQWTI/AAAAAAAAAUM/V7cvi8D7MBs/s1600/h2841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUHN5sMQWTI/AAAAAAAAAUM/V7cvi8D7MBs/s1600/h2841.jpg" /></a></span></div><h1 class="parseasinTitle" style="font-size: xx-large; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle">Happy Birthday, Moon</span></span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">By: Frank Asch</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span id="btAsinTitle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Summary: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When a bear discovers that the moon shares his birthday, he buys the moon a beautiful hat as a present.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sidenote- I am in love with the "Moon Bear" series of books. <u>Moon Cake</u> and <u>Moon Game</u> are also great books!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUHOwlFQ5vI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/5Xm3wc1Ua_4/s1600/Gatlinburg+21st+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TUHOwlFQ5vI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/5Xm3wc1Ua_4/s320/Gatlinburg+21st+067.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Enjoy the Birthdays!! </span></span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-26783232039290376182011-01-18T19:35:00.000-08:002011-01-18T19:35:15.556-08:00Happy Winnie the Pooh Day!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you ever get the opportunity to meet my family, you will notice that my Dad has nicknames for all of us. Mom is "Momma-cat" or "Suzie," Hunter, my brother, is "Buckeroo" or "Hunt-man," my Nanie has been coined "Shorty" and as for me? Well, Dad likes likes to call me "Pooh." With that in mind, I decided to find a book about the most famous "Pooh" and post it here for your enjoyment. Everyone loves and remembers the classic show Winnie the Pooh. Today is actually "Winnie the Pooh Day," so I thought this week's children's book of the week should be "The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh," by A.A. Milne. While you are celebrating this day, check out <a href="http://childrensbookalmanac.com/">http://childrensbookalmanac.com/</a> for more children's books on their designated celebratory days.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TTZao91kyQI/AAAAAAAAAUA/y6uWPRU8BFA/s1600/pooh4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TTZao91kyQI/AAAAAAAAAUA/y6uWPRU8BFA/s320/pooh4.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">by:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A.A. Milne</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seventy-five years ago, that most beloved of "silly old bears," Winnie-the-Pooh, came down the stairs, "bump, bump, bump," on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. And now, after generations of children have grown up on stories about Pooh's adventures with his forest friends, the four all-time children's classics from A.A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard have been collected in one hefty, handsome volume for another multitude of generations to enjoy. Gathered together are the poems and tales that celebrate heffalumps, Eeyore's birthday, the unbouncing of Tigger, Disobedience, Buckingham Palace, and sneezles. The stories about Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit's doorway, Piglet doing a "Very Grand Thing," and Eeyore losing a tail (and Pooh finding one) are timeless favorites for children--and grownups--of all ages.</span></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4231792157630349080.post-36127722466739017622011-01-12T14:22:00.000-08:002011-01-12T14:22:38.413-08:00Healthy Resolutions- And Wonderful Books!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With every new year there are new resolutions! One of the resolutions that everyone can have, regardless of age or situation is to become a healthier you. We all have our weak moments, (Dairy Queen Chocolate Explosion anyone?) but the key to living a healthy life is balancing our habits and having a healthy mindset. So in honor of our resolutions, I wanted to offer some fun children's books encouraging healthy decisions!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TS4l1ot-ehI/AAAAAAAAAT4/I3X1iBiKRFw/s1600/bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TS4l1ot-ehI/AAAAAAAAAT4/I3X1iBiKRFw/s400/bear.jpg" width="396" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Mama Bear notices her two cubs getting a little chubby, she decides to curtail their junk-food habits. An excellent job of covering basic nutrition principles, the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and the role exercise plays in good health. Preschool to age 8. I LOVE THIS BOOK! As well as every other Berenstain Bears book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TS4oXErT6GI/AAAAAAAAAT8/Xw74gFYmEv0/s1600/magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9nGS6iJVNMI/TS4oXErT6GI/AAAAAAAAAT8/Xw74gFYmEv0/s320/magic.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">by: Joanna Cole</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Summary: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Ms. Frizzle shepherds her reluctant students through the human body in a book that is as fancifully conceived as it is educational. Ages 6-9. If you haven't delved into the wonderful world of Ms. Frizzle's classroom and the adventures in her magic school bus, then hurry into the nearest library and introduce your family to them! They are fabulous!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Try to couple these great books with a play date, or even a healthy meal cooked with your child! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01919852811687916327noreply@blogger.com0