Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green! A Family Guide To A Sustainable Lifestyle

     Right from the beginning when I first laid eyes on Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green!  A Family Guide To A Sustainable Lifestyle recently, I was immediately taken back on a trip to my childhood.  Let me explain.  One fall day back in the early 1980s, my mother purchased a series of hardcover books called Disney's Wonderful World of Knowledge.

Two of our families treasured, rare Disney's Wonderful World of Knowledge series originally published during the early 1970s.

 Originally published in the early 1970s by Grolier Enterprises, Inc, out of Danbury, Connecticut, each edition specialized in a specific topic, for example, nature, science, etc..  To this day, these treasured, yet very rare books remain in our family, happily taking space in my son's bookshelf, and frequently are used as reference for school projects.

      

     Resembling these childhood books both in design and tone, Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green!  A Family Guide to a Sustainable Lifestyle (published by Edda Publishing, USA), is the first in a new series written by Asthildur Bjorg Jonsdottir, Ellen Gunnarsdottir and Gunndis Yr Finnbogadottir, and illustrated by Magnus B. Oskarsson.  The book invites all to come along on an adventurous and informative journey with Mickey Mouse and his best girl, Minnie Mouse, as they show families and educators new ideas on how we can all benefit from "Going Green".  Featuring simple ways that families and teachers can implement and help in their own way to take care of our environment abound in this well-written book.  Focal points include teaching little ones the concept of sustainability and responsibility are composed in simple to understand terms, with numerous examples, tips and helpful "Did You Know?" tips included throughout this 94 paged hardcover book.  Some of our families favorite chapters included those that highlighted the importance of taking care of our soil  and organic and sustainable farming (we grown a vegetable and fresh herb garden every year), and the educator in me greatly appreciated the chapter on the importance of making good choices (which is perfect timing, as a new school year has already begun for my students).  Easy to create crafts utilizing household items are also featured throughout.  

     Families and students everywhere will be able to learn the importance of achieving not only a healthier lifestyle, but they will see first hand how incorporating some of the actions found throughout this book will help them to try to protect our planet and future, simply from little and big hands working together.  I am looking forward to reading the upcoming installments in this engaging series.

Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green!  A Family Guide To A Sustainable Lifestyle

Written by Asthildur Bjorg Jonsdottir, Ellen Gunnarsdottir and Gunndis Yr Finnbogadottir & Illustrated by Magnus B. Oskarsson

Publisher:  Edda Publishing USA, LLC (2014)

Website:  www.eddausa.com

ISBN: 978-1-94078-700-8

For ages 8 and up

Retails for $12.99 (Hardcover)

My Very First I Can Read! Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends!

     The I Can Read! book program was created specifically to help children learn to read back in 1957.  Now, nearly 57 years later, the books in this program have won numerous prestigious literary prizes, including the Newbery and Caldecott Honor awards.  Additionally, with over 400 titles to choose from, the I Can Read! series has been a go-to source for interesting and enjoyable stories to read together with your children (my son was very partial to the Thomas the Tank Engine tales... I mean, let's face it, little boys just love those trains!), and as they develop their skills, will start to read on their own.
     Recently, inspired in part by some of the latest early literacy research studies of the practice of guided reading (which gives emergent readers the opportunity to take on more responsibility and initiative), Dr. Julie M. Wood, Director of the Jeanne Challl Reading Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has created a new, comprehensive reading program that will assist and provide support to both families and educators to build upon a child's confidence as they start on their journey to becoming an independent reader.
     Utilizing the strategies of guided reading (which develop reading comprehension skills; identifies weaknesses as well as fosters strength in specific skills; builds a child's fluency and enlarges their vocabulary), the My Very First I Can Read! Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends! series adeptly introduces these techniques and principles.  Through the introduction of new words, and fosters the development of early comprehension, phonemic and reading skills in this engaging three box set, your little ones will be entertained while at the same time, will build these extremely important skills.
      My Very First I Can Read! Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends! series takes on a level-by-level approach that will take your beginning readers through a variety of steps to achieve and build their strength to start to read on their own.

The

1. Box Set One (GRL A-C):  This is the beginning set, where the eleven stories in the box are easy to comprehend, highlighted by the use of rhyme and patterns throughout.
2. Box Set Two (GRL C-E):   While the stories remain simple, the characters are now using dialogue throughout the text.  The stories also feature decodable and sight words.  These tales are slightly more advanced in skill than those in the A and B level stories in Box Set One.
3. Box Set Three (GRL E-G):  Vocabulary words in this set can be used either in a group and/or individual setting, by pointing to each word during read aloud.  The story line becomes a little more intricate in this set.

     The My Very First I Can Read!  Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends!  three box set, containing 11 stories, a helpful parent guide, plus reward stickers can be purchased separately for $12.99 each.  For further information on the series, please visit HarperCollins Children's website.

Beneath the Sun by Melissa Stewart

     Having lived in a southern climate for well-over a decade, my family and I have learned how to adapt to the regularly hot and humid weather.  But, when my son was a little, he couldn't quite grasp the concept of why the backyard squirrels would drop their acorns and run away every time he would play with the backyard hose while cooling off in his small, ocean-themed plastic pool.  "But mommy, don't they want to feel cool, too?" he would ask, always with a hint of forlorn.

     Little ones, just like my son, often wonder how the animals and insects who live among us, are able to adapt to sweltering temperatures.  After all, just as award-winning author Melissa Stewart states in her latest book, Beneath the Sun, while it's so easy for us to, "... put on sunscreen and spend your afternoons zigzagging under a sprinkler and sipping lemonade," this is hardly the case for the animals and insects around us, as, "..many animals struggle to survive beneath the burning sun."

     The clearness and sweet simplicity of Stewart's text affords children with a down-to-earth introduction of how a woodchuck (who makes sure to eat all they can in the early morning, because they will head underground to escape the heat), a family of adorable wide-eyed ringtails (who snooze the day away inside a cool underground den) earthworms (who manage to loop their tail into a ball under the dirt)  and the majestic eagle (who, "..soars through the cool air high above the desert.  Its thick feathers shield its skin from the sun's hot rays.")  to name a few, manage to adapt to their surroundings.  Artist Constance R. Gergum's watercolor illustrations provide a realistic balance to Stewart's tale which takes children on a journey through many different types of ecosystems and the animals who call them home.
     I look forward to introducing my reading intervention students to Beneath the Sun, during our upcoming school year!

Beneath the Sun
Written by Melissa Stewart & Illustrated by Constance R. Bergum
Publisher:  Peachtree Publishers (2014)
Website:   www.peachtree-online.com
For ages 4 to 8
ISBN: 978-1-56145-733-5
Retails for $16.95

***Momma's Tip:  Please check out author Melissa Stewart's informative science website, Melissa Stewart's Science Clubhouse for many interesting educational activities and insights.

Kids in the City

   

     Planning a trip this summer to the New York City area with your little ones, here are some great reads from NYC The Official Guide's website to help give your kids a taste of the big apple!
http://www.nycgo.com/slideshows/kid-lit-city/1/

Keeping Young Minds and Tummy's Nourished All Summer Long!

   

     Kudos to First Book and Share Our Strength who are making sure this summer that little tummy's and minds stay nourished!
http://blog.firstbook.org/2014/07/18/no_kid_hungry/

Congratulations to the first winner of the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity

     Congratulations to Laurence Copel, the recipient of the very first Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity. To read more about Ms. Copel and her efforts in New Orleans, please click on the link below.

http://www.cbcbooks.org/first-lemony-snicket-prize-awarded-to-lower-9th-ward-librarian/#.U9bZ4G9X-uZ

Summer Reading Programs to Help Keep Your Little Ones Glued to a Book!

     Numerous research studies conducted throughout the years have concluded that the amount of reading a child is able to accomplish outside of the classroom setting is consistently correlated to their reading achievements once school is back in session.   Now is the perfect time to consider enrolling your child into a summer reading program.    Summer reading programs can provide your children with a multitude of educational and enjoyable opportunities to continue to advance their reading skills.  With so many local and national programs, such as the ones featured below, you're bound to find the right program for your little one.
Happy Reading!

 Barnes & Noble 

     Barnes & Noble's summer reading program has long been a favorite in our household.  When my son was seven years-old,  he was so thrilled when he won the contest that year.  Every completed journal that was handed in was entered into a raffle at the conclusion of that year's program,  and he received a personally autographed Magic Tree House book signed by the author herself, Mary Pope Osborne).  To this day, he still has this treasured book (specifically #38- Monday with a Mad Genius) kept safely tucked away in his very crowded bookshelf!
     Each year's program is themed, and this year's is called Imagination Destination.  The program is very simple---- when your little ones read and record eight (8) books on the journal sheet (which are often found right in the store's children's section featured in a display), as well as the reasons why they would recommend the book that they finished reading.  Bring the completed journal to any Barnes & Noble between now through September 2, 2014, and your little one can choose a free book from the grade appropriate list placed on the back of the journal.  To print out the reading journal sheet, or for further information, please visit the following:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570/

Pizza Hut's Book It! Summer Reading Challenge
     Inspired by a former Pizza Hut CEO's child's struggles with reading, Book It! helps to motivate children to read by rewarding their success through praise and the opportunity to get their very own free pan pizza!  Now in it's 29th year, Pizza Hut's Book It! is currently being used in over 38,000 elementary school classrooms nationwide.  Now, the program's benefits to children can continue all summer long with the Pizza Hut's Book It! Summer Reading Challenge.  For children in grades K thru 6th, the challenge program is made up of an interesting mix of book recommendations, recipes for readers, printables, games and activity calendars.  Visit online to complete the entry form, or download a printable version at: http://www.bookitprogram.com/

Scholastic's Summer Challenge 

   Kids, schools and teachers can register on Scholastic's website to participate in this free, worldwide reading program that works to help motivate children to continue to keep reading during their summer breaks.  Once they have registered, children and schools will be able to log in their reading minutes, and this gives them the opportunity to earn rewards. This year's challenge is to beat last year's record setting 176,438, 473 reading minutes to set a new world record!  The twenty (20) schools registered with the most minutes will be featured in Scholastic's Book of World Records.  Teacher's, schools and families can register their children in grades K thru 8th starting today through September 5th, 2014 at: scholastic.com/summer

Sylvan's Book Adventure
      Launched in April of 1999, Sylvan's Book Adventure assists children in grades K through 8 with finding books, offers quizzes on what they have read and enables them to be able to earn prizes along the way for their reading successes.  Families will create an account by selecting a user name and password, and can follow along with the prompts to register.  Once registered, children will be able to search for books in the "Book Finder" section, and can go back online to take a quiz.  Families as well as educators alike can track their child's/student's progress through the "Reports" section.   I appreciated the fact that Sylvan's Book Adventure's website includes special sections for children, parents and teachers that provide tips on creating your own personal reading challenges as well as video tutorials about the program.  For further information, please visit: www.bookadventure.com

Random House Kids Step Into Reading Summer Reading Challenge 

     The Step Into Reading book series has inspired Random House's Summer Reading Challenge.  When children read three or more of the series of grade/reading level appropriate books, and when they register the titles on the downloadable form and send it in, they will receive free specialized lunch bags.  Please visit the following link for the downloadable registration form, as well as for exploring fun activities including word searches and scrambles at: http://www.stepintoreading.com/uploads/assets/activities/66bcde7c49ac91b0499146c1b84c3bf9e2432e08.pdf

Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge
     When children between the ages of 10 and younger read eight (8) books between now and July 31st, 2014 from the Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge Book List, and return the sheet to your local participating Pottery Barn Kids store, they will be able to receive a free book.  Please click on the following link to check out the list of well-suitable and enjoyable tales for your little ones to choose from:  http://www.potterybarnkids.com/customer-service/store-events.html?cm_ven=SocialMedia&cm
_cat=Blog&cm_ite=PBSKidsEvent





TD Bank Summer Reading 

     In an effort to help continue to keep children's literacy development skills growing during the summer months, as well as a way to introduce the importance of starting their very own savings account, TD Bank has initiated their own Summer Reading program.  Children in Kindergarten thru 5th grade must read ten (10) books, and register their books on the downloadable Summer Reading form.  Once the book form has been completed, take the form to your local TD Bank branch to receive $10.00 in a new or existing Young Saver Account.  To find a local TD Bank branch, please visit: http://www.tdbank.com and to print out a downloadable form, please visit: http://www.tdbank.com/summerreading/

Showcase Cinemas
      At participating Showcase Cinemas nationwide, every Wednesday at 10 a.m. from now until August 13th have been designated as "Bookworm Wednesday".  When children bring a completed book report with them on a book that they have read, they will be able to select the special "Bookworm Wednesday" movie and attend for free!  Please visit the following link for further information:  http://www.showcasecinemas.com/programs/kids-and-families/bookwormwed