Well-Know Worriers of Children's Literature Who Overcame Their Fears

 

   Chances are, we all know and can relate to a child who might be prone to worrying.  Sometimes, we can feel at a loss to be able to help them overcome their fears.  In this insightful read from The Guardian, there are several tales of some very famous characters who, like your little ones, felt nervous but learned to overcome their fears.
      http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jan/17/top-10-worriers-in-childrens-literature

Goodnight Already!

      "Children who were exposed to more books and home reading showed significantly more activity in the areas of the brain that process visual association... When kids are hearing stories, they're imagining in their mind's eye when they hear the story," states Dr. John S. Hutton, lead author of a study published in the August 2015 edition of the medical journal Pediatrics.
     Perhaps, in the case of our spotlighted tale, Goodnight Already! by authors Jory John & Benji Davies, your little ones can imagine and relate to a little yet, very inquisitive duck who wants to stay up all night long with his friend, a very sleepy bear (sound familiar... moms and dads!)

     As our tale begins, poor, exhausted bear is completely ready for bed, exclaiming, "I've never been so tired.  I could sleep for weeks.  Months, even!"  As bear settles down into the comfy sheets of his warm bed, with his trusty stuffed animal at his side, his heavy lidden eyes begin to close as he begins his well-deserved sleep, bear quickly gets disturbed by a wide-awake Duck, who just wants to be with his friend (even though it's way past both Bear's and Duck's bedtime).  Bears exasperated expressions throughout Duck's wild ideas and pleas ("Watch a movie?".... "Make Smoothies?"  to waking Bear up once again to collect the ingredients to bake cookies) will elicit lots of smiles and laughter from both you and your little ones during a read aloud.
     And, when Duck comes back for yet another attempt to wake up Bear, this time, Bear has had his fill of Duck interrupting his precious slumber.  Will Bear finally be able to rid himself of Duck to catch those precious "zzz's"?

Goodnight Already!
Written by Jory John & Benji Davies
Publisher:  Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Retails for $17.99 (Hardcover)
Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 978-0-06-228620-8
For Ages 4 thru 8
Accelerated Reader Book Level: 1.1
Accelerated Reader Points:  0.5

New Story-Themed Activities for Your Little Ones and Students

     Looking for new, inspiring and entertaining story-themed activities for your little ones?  Take a minute to check out some of these fun ideas: http://buggyandbuddy.com/activities-based-childrens-books/

Inspiration for the Future

   

     "It is an ancient need to be told stories.  But, the story needs a great storyteller."--- Thank you, to the late, beloved actor Alan Rickman, for helping to inspire me once again.  I look forward to sharing more tales for your little ones (as well as debut my very first children's story) this year.  It is my hope to be one of those great storytellers in the new year to come.

Paddington in the Garden

     There is nothing quite like the joy that I receive from working in a garden. Putting on my gloves and getting my hands deep into the dirt to create something beautiful and hopefully, long lasting, is quite literally the perfect antidote to anything that is bothering my inner self. For your little ones, the benefits of learning how to create their own garden are plentiful-- from working cooperatively in a group or just alongside mom or dad to gaining knowledge about science, nature and nutrition.  Stories, like author Michael Bonds's Paddington in the Garden (combining two of my favorite things--bears and gardens!) that are inspired by the joys of planting and nurturing flowers and vegetables are an excellent way to introduce the simply enchanting wonder that a garden can bring to your little ones.

       As our story begins, the beloved bear from the darkest Peru, is living a happy, serene life with the Brown's.  One day, the family decides to give Paddington his very own section in the garden.  Paddington, thrilled at the idea of creating and growing his very own patch, sets off on an journey to scourer the neighborhood searching for treasures and ideas.  An adventure that turns out, in typical Paddington fashion, is filled with mishaps.  Will a mistake involving Paddington's favorite orange marmalade and cement turn out to be a simply unique success?
        Yet another sweetly colorful, engaging story in the latest reissue of the classic tales of the lovable brown bear will not disappoint.

Paddington in the Garden
Written by Michael Bond and Illustrated by R. W. Alley
Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 978-0-06-231844-2
For ages 4 thru 8
Retails for $17.99 (Hardcover)

Chasing Freedom -The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman & Susan B. Anthony

   
Chasing Freedom--The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman & Susan B. Anthony Inspired by Historical Facts
   

     A recent online poll conducted by Women on 20s of more than 600,000 people across the United States revealed that Harriet Tubman, the leading abolitionist who rescued hundreds of people from slavery, is at the forefront to replace President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.  In light of this recent news, I could not think of a more compelling reason to take a look back at this remarkable woman's life in a time period where the achievements of women who were compelled by an inner voice, or calling, as we learn from the beautifully compelling story Chasing Freedom-The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman & Susan B. Anthony Inspired by Historical Facts by the 2014 Coretta Scott King Honor winning author Nikki Grimes.
     Picture if you will, two of our nations most prolific voices and activists of social justice and change, Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, coming together on a cool autumn afternoon in November of 1904, for a conversation that revisits their influential roles in shaping the course of our nations history for the better.
      Both women, coming from two very distinctively different beginnings, where Anthony, while working as a teacher in upstate New York, great outraged by the unequal pay and treatment of women in her position.  Around this same time, hundreds of miles away in the farms of Maryland, Harriet, having endured years of beatings by her owners as a slave, decided to take her fate into her own hands, famously stating that, "there was one of two things I had a right to..liberty or death; if I could not have one I would have the other."  On September 17, 1849, Harriet and two of her brothers, escaped from slavery, and the woman who would go on to be named "Moses" received her "call" in Philadelphia, where, she explains to Susan over tea in a cozy sitting room, "the Lord told me to free my people," starting her journey to rescue and free many slaves as a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
     Chasing Freedom-The Life Journey's of Harriet Tubman & Susan B. Anthony Inspired by Historical Facts is filled with richly detailed illustrations by artist Michele Wood, is an extremely though provoking work of historical fiction.  Drawing young readers into the horrendous world of slavery, the struggle for women's rights and the danger that these brave women faced every time they spoke out in public on these subjects, Grimes story, is a tale that will encourage children (best for the 8 to 12 age group) to discover a time in our nation that was ripe with some of the most influential leaders like these two remarkable women, and the events that helped shape our country's history.  A truly must-read by your little 'bigger' ones!

Chasing Freedom-The Life Journey's of Harriet Tubman & Susan B. Anthony Inspired by Historical Facts
Written by Nikki Grimes & Illustrated by Michele Wood
Publisher:  Orchard Books/Scholastic (2015)
For ages 8 to 12
Retails for $18.99
ISBN: 978-0-439-79338-4

Peep..Clack...Peep..Peep....The Sweet Sounds that Herald the Start of Springtime!

   

     Peep...Clack...Peep... Peep... the sweet sounds of little baby duckies herald the arrival of springtime, and these two amusing and heartwarming tales will appeal to both your little ones growing imaginations and new found budding reading independence.

Peep!
     As our tale begins, a little boy is enjoying a walk on a warm, sunshine filled Spring day when he comes across a small egg with a crack across it's entire middle. Kneeling down and staring with wonder in his eyes at the sight, a little yellow beak pokes it's head out of the eggshell, then quickly, a teeny tiny baby duckling emerges, much to the little boy's delight. The little boy and the little duck enjoy a happy little dance to the sounds of the duckling's chirping sounds, but when the little boy tries to bid goodbye to his new friend, the little duck is determined not to leave the boy's side.  Soon, the pair becomes inseparable, playing soccer together, watching their favorite space show on television, to going to school together on "Show and Tell" day.  But, one day, as the little duckling has grown considerably since the day that the boy found him newly hatched, the boy and the duck watch a flock of ducks go "quacking" by in a field, the boy realizes that his friend must go back to return to live with his fellow ducks.  This charming, at times bittersweet, yet heart tugging tale by author/illustrator Kevin Luthardt, ends on a sweet note, as the little boy, having said goodbye to his duck, encounters yet another little friend that decides with a single, "Meow" that they'll become best friends forever.

Peep!
Written & Illustrated by Kevin Luthardt
Publisher:  Peachtree Publishers (2012)
Website:  www.peachtree-online.com
ISBN: 978-1-56145-682-6
Retails for $7.95 (Softcover)
For ages 4 to 8

   

Click, Clack, Peep!
     From the award-winning author and illustrator duo Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin of the popular Click, Clack, Moo series comes, Click, Clack, Peep!  the newest adventure featuring our familiar exasperated Farmer Brown, and his clever group of barnyard animals.
     As our tale begins, Farmer Brown has a new addition to the farm to take care of.  A bright shiny egg has been  loyally and eagerly watched over by all the farm animals.  Once the sweet little duckling finally arrives, all of the animals and Farmer Brown, exhausted from sleepless nights watching over the egg, are all ready to get some well deserved rest.  But, the duck is all excited, loudly peeping its excitement at all around him, much to the dismay of Farmer Brown and the rest of the farm animals.  Will the little duckling quiet it's peeping?  Will Farmer Brown and the farm animals ever catch some 'zzz's'?
     Filled with Cronin's trademark humorous text, complimented by Cronin's warm, whimsical illustrations, your little ones (and you!) will be giggling at all of the little ducklings adventures on the farm.

Click, Clack, Peep!
Written by Doreen Cronin & Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Publisher:  Antheneum Books for Young Readers (2014)
Website:
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2411-0
For ages 3 to 7
Retails for $16.99 (Hardcover)