Saturday, March 29, 2014

Children's Easter Books - a great list filled with bunnies, eggs and the Resurrection

Here's a good list of children's Easter books about the Easter bunny and such, all non-Christian books, (except for #3), but adorable.

Easter books for kids 2014 - Links to The Book Depository            
 
For a Christian version of Easter, which of course it is, here are some others:
 
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This one is sold at Deseret Book and is a board book!
 
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This is also sold at Deseret Book and looks like a lot of fun for younger aged kids and don't forget to watch Easter Dream: 

 
Now for an exhaustive list, Linda Ann Nickerson has put together the following:
 

Top 5 Christian Easter Books for Kids

Reading Up with Children on the Resurrection of Christ

Many wonderful story books, filled with amazing artwork, have arisen to teach children the triumphant truth of Easter, the highest holiday in the Christian calendar, celebrating the Lord's resurrection over sin and death.
Which Christian Easter books rank highest for children? Here are a handful of our favorites. (A supplemental list of Christian Easter books appears at the end of this article as well.)
Our top five Christian Easter book choices for kids are listed alphabetically (by title):
Benjamin's Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs, by Melody Carlson (Illustrated by Jack Stockman)
Benjamin's Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs tells the story of a young boy living in Bible times. Benjamin follows Jesus through Jerusalem, during the Lord's last days. Along the way, the boy picks up mementos and places them in a box. Each item corresponds to the traditional Christian resurrection egg collection. (Find instructions here for making your own resurrection eggs for Easter.)
Published by Zonderkidz in 2008 and available in a 40-page clothbound (hardcover) edition, Benjamin's Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs is priced at $7.99.
Melody Carlson's other published books for children include Baby's First Book of Prayers, The Most Beautiful Tree, The Greatest Gift, King of the Stable,My Happy Heart and 'Twas the Night: The Nativity Story.
The Legend of the Easter Egg, by Lori Walburg (Illustrated by James Bernardin)
What is the meaning behind the traditional Easter Egg? The Legend of the Easter Egg reveals the secret. Young readers follow siblings Thomas and Lucy, as they gather eggs at their farm. Later, Thomas visits a local candy store owner and his wife and learns about Easter, Easter eggs and the promise of new life.
Published in 1999 by Zonderkidz, The Legend of the Easter Egg is available ina 32-page clothbound (hardcover) edition for $15.00, as well as Kindle and board book versions.
The Legend of the Sand Dollar: An Inspirational Story of Hope for Easter, by Chris Auer (Illustrated by Rick Johnson)
What does a simple sand dollar have to do with Easter? The Legend of the Sand Dollar: An Inspirational Story of Hope for Easter explains the connection. Kerry, an eight-year-old girl, finds a sand dollar on the beach and learns how the markings on this nature find reveal the truth of the hope of new life, revealed in the resurrection of the Lord Christ at Easter.
Published by Zonderkidz in 2005, The Legend of the Sand Dollar is available in a 32-page clothbound (hardcover) edition for $16.99.
The Parable of the Lily, by Liz Curtis Higgs (Illustrated by Nancy Munger)
Christians love to send and receive stunning white Easter lilies to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. What is the meaning behind this flowery tradition?
In the Parable of the Lily, young readers may discover the key. Young Maggie is surprised to receive a strange gift, a clump of soil containing what seems to be a dead flower bulb. After tossing it into the dirt, Maggie later finds that the bulb has sprouted into a gorgeous white Easter lily. What once was dead has brought forth a beautiful new creation.
The Parable of the Lily is part of Liz Curtis Higgs' popular series of Christian picture books for children. Other books in the series include The Pine Tree Parable, The Pumpkin Patch Parable and The Sunflower Parable.
This perennial favorite 32-page Easter story book, published by Thomas Nelson, is now available as a 10th Anniversary Edition (priced at $8.99).
The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale, by Angela Elwell Hunt (Illustrated by Tim Jonke)
Adults reading The Tale of Three Trees aloud with children may find themselves weeping at this imaginative story. This lovely story reveals three trees growing on a mountain. Each tree dreams of what it may one day become. One tree longs to be crafted into a treasure chest. Another tree desires to become a sturdy boat. The third tree would like to be a sign, pointing to God. Each tree's desire is fulfilled in an unexpected way through the life and death of Christ.
Published in 1989 by David C. Cook, The Tale of Three Trees is available in a 25-page clothbound (hardcover) edition, priced at $14.99. The Tale of Three Trees has also been published as a board book (priced at $8.99) for younger children.
Sharing Easter storybooks with children is one way to build fond memories, while building faith and teaching youngsters about Easter, the Lord's Gospel and the promise of new life in Christ. What could be more meaningful, particularly for Resurrection celebrations?

Additional Christian Easter Books for Children:
A Heart for Jesus, by Juanita Bynum
An Easter Gift for Me, by Crystal Bowman
Early Easter Morning, by Marti Beuschlein
Easter Bunny: Are You for Real? By Harold Myra
Easter, by Jan Pienkowski
Easter: With Words from the King James Bible, by Fiona French
God's Love at Easter, by Joy Morgan Davis
He Is Alive, by Helen Haidle
Jesus Rose on Easter Morn, by Gloria McQueen Stockstill
Journey, Easter Journey, by Dandi Daley Mackall
Little Blessings: Why Is There a Cross? By Kathleen Long Bostrom, Christopher Bostrum and Elena Kucharik
Love One Another: The Last Days of Jesus, by Lauren Thompson
My Bible Friends Board Book: Mary and the Empty Tomb, by Alice Joyce Davidson
My First Story of Easter, by Tim Dowley and Roger Langton
Peek-a-Bible: The Easter Story, by Tracy Harrast
Read and Share: The Story of Easter, by Gwen Ellis
The Best Thing About Easter, by Christine Harder Tangvald
The Easter Angels, by Bob Hartman
The Easter Story According to Matthew, by Donald Kueker
The Easter Story, by Brian Wildsmith
Peter's First Easter, by Walter Wangerin, Jr., Timothy Ladwig and Tim Ladwig
The Easter Story, by Patricia Pingry
The Easter Story: My First Message, by Eugene H. Peterson
The Easterville Miracle, by Melody Carlson
The First Easter, by Carol Heyer
The Lord Is My Shepherd, by Tasha Tudor
The Story of Easter, by Aileen Fisher
The Story of Easter, by Christopher Doyle 
The Story of Easter, by Patricia Pingry
The Story of the Resurrection Eggs in Rhyme & Song, by Jean Thomason
The Very First Easter, by Paul L. Maier and Frank Ordaz

Is your favorite Christian Easter book for children on the list? Do you have any special Easter kids' book titles to add?
 
 

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Lois Lowry is Coming to Utah - April 11th - YAY

lois lowry flyer 3

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

40 Fiction Books for Boys



by Milk and Cookies, a Blog about Joy.....

Sunday, March 23, 2014

"Maria Had a Little Llama, Maria Tenia una Llamita" by Angela Dominguez

My daughter traveled to Peru last summer.  This funny picture is a result of her grabbing a llama that was nearby and yanking his neck and head over to where she was standing in order to get the photo.  Ha Ha 
The first two books below have had lots of reviews, but the last one about Maria is newer, published in 2013.  In this bilingual version of the classic rhyme, Maria takes her llama to school one day.  Hmmmmmm,  I bet you know what happens.  The fun part is learning the rhyme in Spanish and also learning it by singing it.  (It's easier that way.)  The "sketchy style" artwork fits the culture, complete with traditional clothing, water colored mountain hillsides and un pueblito... (a small village).  If you want to,  teach your students the difference between llamas and vicunas.  You'll have to look that one up!!! :)
Amazon says:
Everyone knows about Mary and her little lamb. But do you know Maria?
      With gorgeous, Peruvian-inspired illustrations and English and Spanish retellings, Angela Dominguez gives a fresh new twist to the classic rhyme. Maria and her mischievous little llama will steal your heart.


This llama doesn't look too thrilled about being photographed.  What do you think?  Ever since her trip to Peru, I have been looking for books about the country and mostly about llamas.  I gave my daughter the first one for Christmas, which she loved.  It's one of my favorites.  So far I have come up with these three, plus a couple of other companion books to Llama, Llama Red Pajama.  Does anyone know of any others about Peru or Llamas???







Thursday, March 20, 2014

Finding Children's Books at Great (Cheap) Prices

Children love to own their own books, but children's books can be expensive. Find out what some of the sources are for new and used children's books at bargain prices. Your child will be delighted each time she gets a children's book of her own.
 

Here's How:

  1. Check out online bookstores for special sales.  Check out e-bay for books by subject at very reasonable prices.
  2. Always check the bargain books displays in the major bookstores, like Waterstones in the UK and Barnes & Noble in the US. If you take the time to look through the books, you can often find some books you want.
  3. Holiday books are usually marked down, then marked down again, during the six weeks after the holiday. Right after Christmas, markdowns begin. Early-January is usually a great time to buy Christmas books at both big bookstore chains and at independent bookstores.
  4. Check out used children's clothing stores. Often, they also carry children's books.
  5. Watch the newspaper for announcements of sales of used children's books at schools. The sales benefit the schools, and you can usually find some great stuff.
  6. Garage sales that advertise children's clothing often also have children's books for sale.
  7. Visit used bookstores to see their stock. At some of them, you can get credit towards "new" used children's books when you trade in some of your unwanted children's books.
  8. Many picture books come in paperback editions that are much cheaper than the hardbound version. However, only buy the paperback if you don't plan to hand the book down to your grandchildren.
  9. Some churches, daycare centers, and preschools have book exchanges. You might want to start one. It can be as informal as a labeled box, with a "Children's Books, Take One, Leave One" label or as formal as a book fair.
  10. Discount stores and clubs can also be excellent sources of bargain books, as can thrift shops.
  11. Some public libraries and literacy organizations operate used bookstores and/or have annual sales of used books they have collected from their supporters.
  12. Many elementary schools send home monthly grade level book order pamphlets from one or more book clubs, like Scholastic and Troll. The prices for the books listed are generally much, much less than you would have to pay in a bookstore.
  13. During the summer, most bookstores and many supermarket chains carry specially prices paperback versions of some award-winning children's books.
  14. Several times a year, through the Kohl's Cares philanthropic program, Kohl's Department Stores offer a select number of hardcover picture books and related plush toys at bargain prices. There are Kohl's stores in 29 states.

Tips:

  1. You don't have to be at a garage sale at 8 a.m. on the first day to get good books.
  2. The best source I ever found for used Golden Books was a children's used name brand clothing store.
  3. If you have relatives or friends who pass down children's clothes to you as their children outgrow them, ask them if they will also pass down children's books as their children outgrow them.
  4. Little Golden Books are still one of the best bargains you'll ever find for picture books for 3-6 year olds.
--Elizabeth Kennedy

 

Books All About Spring

Some of my favorites to read to children at story time about Spring are the following:

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HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!  Try this cute craft when done reading.

Monday, March 17, 2014

"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

OK, OK, OK, I'll read it already.  My 18 year old daughter has convinced me that I must read this book, so read it I will and I'll review it here as soon as she gets her copy back from her friend, which "better be soon".  :)

An Amazon reviewer wrote, "I've read a lot of books, but this is one of my all time favorites; that's not something I can say about very many books. I'll make it simple; I'm a fifteen year old teenage boy. When I usually read a book, I toss it aside and move on to the next one. And, like most teenage boys, I am not very emotional. At the end of this book, I cried. Not just a few tears either; I was full on bawling my eyes out. That's how good this book is. I promise you, unless you have a heart of stone, you will love this book."

My daughter bawled her eyes out as well.  PS:  The trailer for the movie, which comes out in June, looks enticing, I must say.

And.......Here are  some more great lesson plans from the trusted site TeachingBooks.net.                               

  Book Resources
 

Product Details

Friday, March 14, 2014

Library Sparks - the Best "darn" Library Magazine in the West

 

No, I'm not one of the "reps" for Library Sparks magazine.  I just love their magazine for teachers and librarians.  I used to think that this was really a magazine for librarians only, but "ah contraire".   It is chucked full of information for the month, author spotlights and interviews, tips from and for teachers, Common Core helps, Curriculum Connections, Discovering the Natural Sciences with book resources, Character Ed. pieces, Library Lessons, an activity calendar, Story time stories, Reader's Theater, Technology snippets, Fiction and Non-fiction books to investigate.  It even has Freebies, Doodads, and Helpful Hints for teachers.  It's a must for librarians, especially elementary school librarians.

Did you know that April is Math Awareness Month?  I didn't and here are some great ideas to keep your kids on their toes:

*Have an estimation jar or jars on your desk for students to practice their estimation skills (candy or trinkets in a jar, etc.)
*Have other daily or weekly math contests
*Post math riddles, puzzles and jokes.
*Highlight math books in your collection.
*Display picture books with math concepts (numbers, estimation, fractions, predictions, etc.)
*Hold story times with math themes.

April is also Poetry month! 

Go to www.librarysparks.com to get a subscription.  It's a worth every penny.

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