The Great Race

I love our relaxing moments after the day is finally done.  Some nights can be chaotic, so when things run smooth it's noticed and appreciated.

One such evening, with our Barefoot stash conveniently located near our bedside table, I eagerly reached over to choose a few new titles.

We were playing with shapes earlier, and my son noticed there was a star, but no moon.  So, a story about the lunar calendar could not have been a better choice (although I didn't plan it that way.) 

And, he quickly forgot we were missing a crescent shaped anything, when I began reading all about the animals competing in The Great Race, The Story of the Chinese Zodiac.  We also found new inspiration for a future craft project, coloring and/or painting session!  And of course, in typical Barefoot fashion, it was a cultural lesson for us too.

For early learning in general, these stories have been instrumental in teaching us both about things that may not have come up in every day conversation.  Packed with information, these books continually aid me in educating my child before he's even begun school and it's empowering.

We referred to the end notes to learn which animals landed on our year.  Then, we started to look up what they are for other members of the family and that was lots of fun!  Do you know which animal ruled when you were born?

At the end of every reading, I like to come up with at least three questions to get a sense of what he may have retained from the story, such as:

1.  We learned that every year represents a different animal, which one did not make the cut?
a) Dog
b) Cat
c) Rat
d) Snake

2.  The Chinese New Year is also known as:
a) The Festival of Lights
b) The Spring Festival
c) The Harvest Festival
d) None of the above.

3.  Which animal in the story is also a mythical creature?
a) Ox
b) Snake
c) Dragon
d) Tiger

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FEE FI FO FUM

In the endless quest for new activities when we're stuck in doors, I suggested my son play with his toy kitchen while I focused on actual meal prep in our real one. 

I replaced the usual bag of rice we recycle for him to experiment with his fake pots and pans with some dry beans instead.  He never worked with them before so I knew it would be exciting for him.  (It's fun observing how random things are so fascinating this way.)  
 

As predicted, he eagerly began scooping them up with his measuring cups and relocating them and then served up what I guess we'll refer to as Bean Tea and it was sweet to me.

Then, I remembered we had a copy of Jack and the Beanstalk handy.  We hadn't gotten around to it yet, so later that evening would be the perfect intro for storytime.  I knew it well, but it's been ages since I revisited the old tale and I love how motherhood gives us the opportunity to share what we loved most about our childhood, such as, reading wonderful stories together.

Don't think these are just ordinary beans. Oh no!  These are magic beans. 

 

I was amused.  It was also interesting to watch him on the edge of his seat through the corner of my eye as I read certain parts with special emphasis.  I hoped my tone added to the suspense: 

"He saw strange shadows in the moonlit window...There, bending and swaying in the moonlight, was the most enormous beanstalk he had ever seen."

We also did a little math.  How many beans was he given by the way?  After the story we placed a few beans in a cup of water so eventually he could see it sprout.  Yet, another lesson and again, I knew it would be fascinating to him.  Even though of course, they won't necessarily, touch the sky. 

Check out the Spanish version Juan y los frijoles magicos too!

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ABCs & 123

One Saturday afternoon, when my son's ever-competing tablet ran out of power, I redirected his attention toward a book.  I heard him chanting numbers to himself, so I felt it was the right moment to take a break from the task I was focused on and grab Cleo's Counting Book.  Afterwards, he said he wanted to count to twenty next and I was able to easily accommodate his request with another. 

Before a great selection of books were conveniently within reach, I'd pick them up while out shopping.  I'd search the shelves in the kid's section at Marshalls or Burlington Coat Factory, to make sure I didn't miss something special.  

It's hard to take a photograph!

On one such occasion, I began reading to my son right then and there as we sat on the floor.  I suppose this impromptu behavior wouldn't bat an eye at Barnes & Noble, but it probably raised an eyebrow or two at other stores.  Nonetheless, whenever I could, I purchased extra ones to have on hand-- and not just for birthday parties.  I like to give them as gifts at baby showers too.  I received children's books at my own and it was nice to have them available when I was ready (since reading to an infant was not my first concern as a new mother.)

But, there was actually no need to wait.  The American Academy of Pediatrics states that it's never too early to begin reading to a child.  In their 5Rs of Early Education, they make the following recommendation: 

Choose colorful and sturdy books.  As babies get older, they will reach out to hold a book and then put it into their mouths to explore it.

It happened just like this for us in the beginning too.  So, I was relieved they withstood my son's attempts to tear and rip into them as well, as he'd done with some of our paperbacks, unfortunately!

At the time, I didn't know I was buying the best format when I was selecting board books.  I just viewed them as basic for babies, and that's exactly who they're for. They're vivid, as they respond to high contrast colors and shapes, full of rhyme and repetition intended for learning.

Eventually, I discovered Barefoot Books also carries a wide variety and if budget is a concern, they're comparably priced.  During special sales and discount offers, they're quite economical.

In general, families who'd like to spare themselves a shopping trip can conveniently order great children's books online or with the help of their local ambassador.  

As an arts and crafts lover, their pages have also become an endless source of inspiration for us.  Many of them contain the sort of things I'd love to paint on a child's bedroom wall or reading corner, if I had such a talent.  (Any book illustrated by Clare Beaton contains the applique 3D images and One Moose, Twenty Mice, happens to fall in this category.) 

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You can read more information on the 5Rs shared above here.  

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By the light of the Moona

When our starter kit first arrived, I just continued sorting laundry. My son noticed something was delivered but I ignored it.  That's because like any small child, I knew he’d get too excited about the box and it was business-related.

Then I heard him shout, “Barefoot Books!”

But, how could he know?  Then, I saw him pointing to the logo and as it turns out, he recognized the footprints and knew exactly what it was.  My plan was to wait until he fell asleep to go through it because it would be hard for him to grasp that some items were for others to enjoy.



But, some books we just had to keep for ourselves from the start, such as I Took the Moon for a Walk .

Toward the end there's an informative section and I must confess that as a grown adult, I knew there was a half moon, a full moon and a crescent moon, but only through this reading did I learn about a gibbous moon!  

Oh, and regarding the moon in general.  Every day, as the sun would set, we had a routine of looking for it in the night's sky.  It was one of my son's first words but he called it something a little bit different. Somehow, he had confused it with the Spanish translation, “luna” and thus the two had become one.  (A Spanish version is also available entitled Llevé a la Luna a pasear.)

Well, they say we must pick our battles and therefore, the moona it is.

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Lanterns @ Storytime

We were busy counting numbers while Granny Went to Market and then our focus shifted toward lanterns, specifically.

That's because China just happens to be one of the countries where Granny visits and she's on a global shopping trip after all.   

The flying carpet seemed to know exactly where to take her; 

They went to China next, to buy four lanterns made of paper."

I was inspired to look up pictures for more lanterns to view online and then thought I should buy at least four of them, just like Granny had done.

But, it might be something else entirely that will jump off the page for you. 

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FTC Required Disclosure: I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador. This post contains affiliate links.  If a purchase is made by clicking through to the affiliate links, I receive a small portion to support this website, at no cost to you. Thanks for your support.

Blue Eggs?

“She’s such a good mother; She’s happy to care for her own eggs and others.”

This applies to one of Millie’s Chickens.  She keeps three types and named them Rhodie, Leggy and Silkie.  They represent actual breeds.   

Can you guess what they are?  One of them even lays blue eggs!  Another kind has an extra toe.

I thought about reading this book for the first time while preparing our eggs.  Perfectly, Millie and her mother were depicted in one of the pages enjoying the same with hot toast and butter.   

Once we were done reading this story, it felt as satisfying as the scrambled eggs we just ate for breakfast!

Did you know that chickens are fully grown by their first birthday?

We learned all about what it takes to raise chickens and a ton of other facts.

For example, combs are not just something we use to straighten out our hair.  It’s also the word used to describe a distinguishable part right above each of their heads.  

You can ask these follow up questions about what you've learned in this book that comes "packed with STEM-friendly science info."

• Who lays eggs, chicks or hens?

• Why are grits important in a chicken’s diet?

• What is the purpose of a coop or an ark?

• When is a chick also known as a pullet?

• While birds like to sing loudly first thing in the morning, what does a rooster like to do?

• How many days does it take for a chick to hatch?

• What kind of test will show when an egg is rotten?

• Eggs are rich in protein and what essential Vitamin?

• Are eggs that come from free range chickens better and tastier than those by chickens that were raised indoors?

Some multiple choice options:

Which of these can be found in a chicken’s anatomy twice?

a)Beaks    b)Livers    c) Stomach

Which color listed below is not one you’ll find in a laid egg?

a)White    b) brown   c) cream    d)blue    e)pale green    f)yellow

A chicken’s diet consists of which of the following?

a)seeds    b) grain   c)insects    d)all of these

Some final notes about this book: 
Millie’s Chickens includes advice on raising chickens and cooking eggs.  It is also a companion to The Beeman (separate blog post review can be found here.)

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¿Flamingo?

"Clementina pinta muy bien. El otro dia pintó un gato tan perfecto que hasta se lamió la patita cuando ella terminó de pintarlo."

Well, that's hard to compete with and Lola sure is having a hard time living up to her big sister, Clementina!

Eventually, she discovers an old box with a pair of shoes that belong to her mother and asks about them...

Mami, ¿por qué no te pones nunca estos zapatos?

Pon esos donde lo encontraste, Lola – dice Mami – Esos zapatos son para bailar, no para caminar, Lola.

¿Para bailar? ¿Bailar qué? – pregunta Lola.

Para bailar Flamenco – dice Mami.

¿Flamingo? 

Flamenco. Se baila en España.

Lola becomes inspired to learn this dance she never heard of, but without her mother or Clementina's knowledge.

Her father agrees to give her lessons, but only if she takes it seriously.

Through dedication and practice, Lola not only learns the art of Flamenco, she also performs for the first time at a party.

We should all learn a new dance!

Spanish language version also available entitled El Fandango de Lola. 

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FTC Required Disclosure: I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador. This post contains affiliate links.  If a purchase is made by clicking through to the affiliate links, I receive a small portion to support this website, at no cost to you. Thanks for your support.

A Clever Princess named Dara

Fairy tales are full of princesses and they’re usually waiting for a Prince to come to the rescue.

Then there is Dara’s Clever Trap which can be found in the Princess Stories series of Barefoot Books.

Dara hails from Cambodia and this strong female character is smart and quite talented.
She’s not just waiting in the wings and sitting pretty just because she’s an heir to the throne.

Instead, she keeps herself very busy working as an architect and engineer.

Then, in the midst of all the planning for building a new palace, Dara gets married with a man who shares the same interests.


It is a relationship that began as a true partnership!

So, they continue to work alongside each other on a special project that will ultimately be a surprise gift for her father, the King.

But, as you'll soon discover while reading this chapter book, something interferes with their collaboration.

When Dara figures out what's really going in, she immediately puts a plan in place that will set the record straight.

Following this reading, you can keep the story going and keep your child's interest in learning (even when school is out) by discussing a foreign region.

Look up interesting facts about Cambodia or print a map of the world that you can review.

In addition to this activity, below are my “after reading” questions to help form an interactive lesson in the process, such as:

• Dara certainly is clever, but what other qualities also apply to the Princess?
• Dara likes to create palaces and sketches them beforehand. Is this a field that interests you too?
• If so, what other common structures can be found in our modern society that architects and engineers also help to create?
• If not, what other types of careers would you be interested in learning more about?
• What other things could Princess Dara have done to let the King know what really happened?

If you signed up for our Summer Reading Program you'll find this story under the STEM section for ages 6 and up.

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FTC Required Disclosure: I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador. This post contains affiliate links.  If a purchase is made by clicking through to the affiliate links, I receive a small portion to support this website, at no cost to you. Thanks for your support.

Reading with Thesaurus Rex!

It’s hard to believe that the film that started it all, Jurassic Park debuted 22 years ago.

And, if you're a fan like me, then you can’t wait to get your fix of the latest installation, Jurassic World next!

 
I have a toddler who's still too young to join us at the movies but, we're planning his first visit to the Museum of Natural History and their Dino Tour will introduce him to the real thing.  Well, as close as any one of us is ever going to get with fossils.

It was in the comfort of our own home however, that we began those early Dino discussions with I Dreamt I was a Dinosaur before bedtime (as the end notes list the various kinds.)

These items are also available as a set.

If you signed up to our Summer Reading Program you'll find Thesaurus Rex under the vocabulary section for ages 3 and up.

By the way, staying on theme should be easy with these fun stickers and/or toothy puppet to further enhance your storytime experience.

But, don’t leave the dragons out of it.  There is something to be said about these mythical creatures too.

There's Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon who is no meat-eater and this story comes as “a hilarious picture book that also offers young readers plenty of food for thought.”


Then at last, there's a Dragon on the Doorstep (a singalong) about all types of animals playing hide-and-seek.

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Simple Reading & Scooters!

If children are unique and learn everything when they're ready, then I’m not too sure if there’s such a thing as a late bloomer.

Nonetheless, my child has displayed a schedule that is not consistent with his peers for certain activities, such as running, jumping and climbing. He’s not as bold as the others and a bit cautious.

For example, we purchased a scooter for him early on and even though the other kids were speeding around him, he didn't show any interest in doing the same.  Most of the time we were carrying it around instead.

Here’s how books come to life.

While reading one of our favorites (from the board book options) in which modes of transportation are compared in terms of speed, we came across a picture of a child riding a scooter.
 
We really enjoyed this one and would choose it specifically for us to read.  He'd step on his foot stool and search the shelves and I adore his participation.

Then, on an average day as I was doing the dishes (yawn) he zoomed by on his scooter in the hallway (something he's been doing more often and getting better at in the process.)

But, on this particular occasion, he made sure to make eye contact with me while he shouted, “Faaaaaaaaaaast and slow.”

“Yes, baby!” was my reply.

I knew he made the connection and don't we as parents always looks forward to these moments?

A few notes regarding these titles:

Fast and Slow also comes in a set, along with another tale of opposites for Big and Small which is listed for ages 0+ under the category for Math and Basic Concepts of our Summer Reading Program list.

A Spanish language version of Fast and Slow is also available as Rapido y Lento.

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FTC Required Disclosure: I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador. This post contains affiliate links.  If a purchase is made by clicking through to the affiliate links, I receive a small portion to support this website, at no cost to you. Thanks for your support.