New From Cottage Door Press

My theory on gift giving has always been to give something I would want for myself, whether it is a simple gift card or a baby outfit. When I give books as gifts, I contemplate the age of my friend’s children, the themes in stories and obviously, would my kids want/ already own their own copy. I have had the opportunity many times to preview books before they hit the shelves and those are often books I end up loving and buying for others as baby and holiday gifts.

I would like to say thank you to the team at Cottage Door Press for the thoughtful baby gift and the chance to preview of some of their newest titles. I firmly believe a child is never too young to be read to and with these interactive board books babies and toddlers are sure to be thoroughly entertained.

Little Yellow Bee – Garden Lift the Flap

This series has the sturdiest flaps for the most heavy-handed child (there is no way this "lift-the-flap" is a "rip-the-flap"). Learn your colors and way around the garden with these colorful animals and flowers. You will definitely want to collect all the titles in this collection if your toddler is in the heart of their “peek-a-boo” phase!

Sweet Little Monkey – Early Bird Sound Books

Little Monkey is on a mission to find his mommy the perfect banana. On each page there is a picture of the monkey to signal pushing the sound button. Babies will love the noise (parents maybe not so much), but reading together and chanting “Eee and Ooo” can definitely be tons of fun!

 

Under the Sea – Turn and Learn

I absolutely love this series and I have never seen anything like this before. There are three wooden pieces with two pictures each that spin around and each page has questions on the top of the piece and the toddler has to turn the piece to the correct answer. It is such an innovative way to introduce sea creatures to little ones and they will have a blast spinning the pieces round and round!

Will You Be My Sunshine

This is an adorable story of a love between a mother and her child. Every child needs the security that someone loves them whether they are together or far apart and this is the perfect tale to remind your baby that you love them.

Going to Grandma’s House – An I Can Do It book

A child’s first sleepover can sometimes seem overwhelming but this brightly illustrated book is sure to get anyone excited about a sleepover at Grandma’s! A definite gift for Mother’s Day or Grandma’s birthday (pair it with Grandma Wishes). I love every book in this series. Whether it is walking a child through a nighttime routine or an introduction to potty training, this series is essential for teaching life lessons to toddlers.

For more reviews on other Cottage Door Press books, click here.

Summer Is Here!

    

The season of pools, camp, sunscreen, ices, ice cream and fresh fruit, (particularly berries and melons) and barbecue has arrived! Maybe it’s just me, but I often find myself doing a little more snacking and a little less proper meal eating in the summer. A salad with a protein in it and a fruit for dessert just hits the spot on those hot and humid days and while my kids love to be in the kitchen with me to assist with meal prep, I try to limit the amount of stove use because I personally could do without the added heat, so we opt for room temp noodle dishes and deli sandwiches when the kids allow.

So what are reading these days to celebrate the summer?

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli of course! Have you ever swallowed a seed? This little crocodile does and this story sends my children into giggle fits until the problem is solved. Caution: it may make your children cautious of eating fruits with seeds!

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana  Medina is masterfully illustrated, taking real vegetables and making them look like animals. Complete with a dressing recipe in the back, mix each of these ingredients from 1-10 together and make fun memories with your children at meal time!

Poor Little Guy by Elanna Allen is such a fun read (especially since there are more illustrations than text) about a little fish in a big pond. Since we tend to eat more fish in the summer (coincidentally), this is the perfect summer bedtime story or camp read-aloud. (This can also tie in nicely to the summer of Finding Dory!)

Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson – we try to make Sundays as fun as possible for our kids and nothing is more exciting than a beach day and searching for treasures in the sand. While this book is more about forest exploring, the theme is the same and topic of conversation can be made about team work and adventure!

    

And some summer snack and dinner ideas:

Classic Macaroni Salad

Deli Salad Recipes

Fruit Salad Ideas

Frozen Treats

I hope you all enjoy a happy and healthy summer filled with frozen desserts, healthy eating and adventures that make amazing memories for your family!

Learning To Lose

   

In a world where every child gets a trophy for showing up at the game, it is very difficult to teach losing. Whenever a team lost color war in camp, the losing team would always chant “It just doesn’t matter!” over the winning teams victory cheers. I figured that was the attitude to have when my husband and I started to play board games with our four year old a few months ago. At first, we would make sure he understood the rules and won the first game or two, but then if either of us won, in came the waterworks and the throwing of pieces and things got a little out of hand. I thought the best approach was to teach the concept of “it’s just a game, it doesn’t matter who wins and who loses”. But the truth is, EVERYTHING matters when you are four years old. (It also backfired a bit when he would not get dressed for school and would say “it doesn’t matter if I get dressed!” Yes little one, it matters, you cannot go to school in pajamas!) So we needed to learn how to approach losing with her son and still teach him to be a true team player.

For those who are curious which games we are playing these days, we have a very nice rotation of UNO, Go Fish, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Busytown Eye Found It, Zingo, Connect 4 and Guess Who. Our first challenge was to teach my son he cannot cheat his way across the board (or ask to be dealt three draw fours and a WILD card). You can’t spin the spinner until you get the highest ladder, or the Rainbow Trail and you cannot hide the tiles to prevent others from finishing their Zingo boards. After a few weeks of “I am not playing this game anymore” (which we gladly said we would take a break whenever he needed) he ultimately came around and agreed “you get what you get and you don’t get upset”. For games that are pure chance, like Candyland or Chutes and Ladders, my son learned it really is just the luck of the card or the spin. When it comes to card games, sometimes I have the urge to just let him win but I force myself to not do that too often, because he really does understand that when there are two player games, one person wins and one loses and the same person cannot win every time.

As a person who loves to use books to help my children understand concepts in life, I had a hard time finding a book called “Max Loves Losing”. (To be honest, I didn’t even look for that book.) The books we did use to deal with learning to lose were actually not books about playing games at all, but ones that focused on character’s that have meltdowns. The Pigeon series by Mo Willems and Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli really helped my son see how silly it is to “go crazy” over something so primitive. The Pigeon is famous for his epic breakdowns because he can’t do what he wants which was completely relatable to my son and we created an excellent dialogue about how crying and screaming doesn’t get the Pigeon to drive the bus, just like throwing Connect 4 pieces doesn’t help you win the game. Good Night Owl, which has become our #1 bedtime story for the past few weeks is about an Owl who hears a noise and destroys his house trying to find the sound that’s keeping him awake and in the end the Owl is SO CALM despite sleeping without a roof or walls. Owl threw things and made a mess of his house just to learn that what upset him is something he likes, which is similar to the four year old and the board game. In the moment it is sad when you lose, but ultimately you still get enjoyment from playing, a profound idea my son and I were also able to discuss.

No parent likes to see their child upset over anything and I wish I could be that mom that lets her kids win every time they play but I honestly feel that would be doing a disservice to my kids. My children will lose when they play “bigger games” in life. I just hope that as they get older, they will take losing with stride and not be sore winners either, as we also make my son shake hands and say “Good Game” whether he wins or loses. 

  

New and Noteworthy From Disney Press

 

When I was a library school student, many of my classmates commuted by car from Suffolk County to Queens College. These were often the classmates that contributed the most to the “love of books on CD” discussions since many of them listened to narrated stories to and from school. Since I walked to school and my job (perks of working where you live!) I never got on the “book on CD” train. There have always been audio books for kids, you may find them in these plastic bags that have hangers on top in a small section of your public library with a book and tape together. While I still don’t listen to books in the car, I have found a new use for the book on CD – to assist with bedtime story time with one child when another needs tending to. Disney has recently launched a new Read-Along Storybooks and CDs series with characters/stories every child loves: Star Wars, Captain America, Ironman, Aladdin, Frozen, Inside Out and Finding Dory and more. With pictures of scenes straight from the movies and the voice talents of the actors and actresses in the films (Ellen DeGeneres as Dory, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Chris Evans as Captain America/Steve Rogers and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark to name a few), your children will be able to follow along and be entertained if they are too lazy to read the book themselves (or are starting to sight read and can’t quite read on your own yet). And if audiobooks are your thing, now you can include your child in the daily ritual of listening to books on the road.

 

Other New and Noteworthy Books From the masterminds at Disney Press:

For Finding Dory Fans:

Fish Talk – Suzanne Francis – This book is written in dialogue form (think a play or movie script with alternating colors and clear distinctions as to who is speaking and tells the story of the movie. Perfect for 2^nd-4^th grade readers who can follow along the style. I think it is a fun way to bring the movie home and a great introduction to learning how to read in different formats.

 

Three Little Words – Amy Novesky – Dory’s mantra “Just Keep Swimming” is what gets her through the toughest times and has become one of the most quotable quotes from a Disney Pixar movie. This book is a reminder that sometimes things don’t always go your way but if you remember these three little words you can get through all your rough times. The bright watercolor illustrations make you feel like you are floating through the ocean with Dory and her friends.

 

For Percy Jackson Fans:

Demigods & Magicians – Rick Riordan

If you’ve read the Percy Jackson series and The Kane Chronicles you are ready for this exciting new adventure where Percy and Annabeth meet the Kane kids and work together to destroy the evil walking around the streets of New York for the first time. If you haven’t read those series yet – (I am talking to you every 5^th grader in the world), it is time to get reading!!

 

For The “Elephant and Piggie” Fans:

The Thank You Book – Mo Willems

It’s the end of an era!! Elephant and Piggie have one last story to share with us (as easy readers) and they send personal thank yous to everyone who has ever appeared in their books. We are all blessed to continue seeing these 25 books on our shelves, and hope Elephant and Piggie will be back with more adventures for us in the future (in the form of early chapter books)!

   

New Board Books:

My First Words – Jerrod Maruyama

Broken down by categories familiar to little ones, this brightly illustrated board books combines real life pictures with Disney characters to help young ones learn to sight read and recognize typical shapes, colors, animals and objects all around them.

Marvel Mighty Numbers and Marvel Mighty Colors

Brighten your young super hero’s day with these sturdy books that depict the famous super heroes and the colors they wear (or are) and count them as they fill each page!

It's Passover Time!

Hello Friends,

I know it's crunch time and everyone is cleaning out those pockets and vacuuming for those final crumbs, but let's all remember this is also a time to celebrate so to get you in the mood - here are some fun songs for you to hum and get in the spirit of the holiday! (And as always, some activities to entertain your little ones while you are in the kitchen!)

Enjoy and have a happy and healthy Passover!

The Order Of The Seder

Kadesh, Urchatz, 

Karpas, Yachatz, 

Maggid, Rachtzah,

Motzie, Matzah, 

Maror, Korech, 

Shulchan Orech, 

Tzafun, Beirach, 

Hallel, Nirtzah

The Seder Plate (tune: this old man)

Parsley green number one... that’s cause springtime has begun.

Chorus: For it’s Pesach now, how do we celebrate, see what’s on our Seder plate.

Charoset is number two... Sweet like freedom, good for you. (Chorus)

Maror is number three... bitter herbs for slavery... (Chorus)

Shank bone is number four... lamb’s blood marking on the door. (Chorus)

Hardboiled egg number five... it’s so good to be alive! (Chorus)

Ma Nishtana?

Mah nishtanah halaylah hazeh mikol halaylot?

1) She-bechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa’am echat, halaylah hazeh shtei pe’amim?

2) She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim chametz o matzah, halaylah hazeh kulo matzah?

3) She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim she’ar yerakot, halaylah hazeh maror?

4) She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim bain yoshvin u-vain mesubin, halaylah hazeh kulanu mesubin?

The Ten Plagues

Dam, Tzefardea

Kinim, Arov

Dever, Sh’chin 

Barad, Arbeh

Choshech, Makat Bechorot.

These are the ten plagues!

The Frog Song

One morning when Pharoah woke in his bed

There were frogs on his head, and frogs in his bed

Frogs on his nose and frogs on his toes

Frogs – here! Frogs – there!

Frogs were jumping everywhere!

Dayeinu

Il-u ho-tzi, Ho-tzi-a-nu Ho-tzi-a-nu mi-mitz-ra-yim Ho-tzi-a-nu mi-mitz-ra-yim Da-yei-nu

Refrain: Da, da-yei-nu

Work, Work, Work

Bang, bang, bang, hold your hammer low

Bang, bang, bang, give a heavy blow.

For it’s work, work, work, every day and every night

For it’s work, work, work, when it’s dark and when it’s light.

Dig, dig, dig, get your shovel deep

Dig, dig, dig, there’s no time to sleep.

For it’s work, work, work, every day and every night

For it’s work, work, work, when it’s dark and when it’s light.

Who Knows One?

1 - who knows 1
1 - I know 1
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.

2 who knows 2
2 I know 2
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.

3 who knows 3
3 I know 3
3 are the fathers
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.

4 who knows 4
4 I know 4
4 are the mothers,
3 are the fathers
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.

5 who knows 5
5 I know 5
5 are the books of the Torah,
4 are the mothers,
3 are the fathers
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.

Bake A Matzah

Bake a matzah, pat, pat, pat

Do not make it fat, fat, fat

Bake a matzah, pat, pat, pat

Bake a matzah just like that.

Make charoset, chop, chop, chop

Apples, nuts and cinnamon

Add some wine, its lots of fun

Make charoset chop, chop, chop.

Eliyahu HaNavi

Eliyahu Hanavi,

Eliyahu Hatishbi,

Elyahu Hagiladi,

Bimherah Biyameinu

Yavo Eleinu

Im Mashiach Ben David

Chad Gadya (One Little Goat)

One little goat my father bought for two zuzim - chad gadya

Then came the cat that ate the kid…

Then came the dog and bit the cat that ate the kid my father bought for two zuzim - chad gadya

Then came the stick and beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the kid my father bought for two zuzim - chad gadya

Then came the fire And burned the stick that beat the dog that bit the cat that ate the kid my father bought for two zuzim, chad gadya!

PAT-A-CAKE

Pat a cake Pat a cake Matzah man,

Bake me an afikomen as fast as you can

The afikomen is the piece that Daddy 

 So I can find it and get a prize!

Activities:

Coloring Book: 

http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/270608/jewish/Passover-Coloring-Book.htm

Mazes:

http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/361602/jewish/Mazes.htm

Paper Crafts:

http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/jewish/passover.htm

Seder Plate:

https://www.teachervision.com/passover/printable/37354.html

Other Ideas:

http://www.whattoexpect.com/family-fun/passover-activities-for-kids.aspx

Purim Is Coming!

I do not know a single child that does not love the holiday of Purim. Free candy? Check. Dress up as your favorite character? Check. No School? Check. Sometimes it can be daunting as an adult to prep for this holiday. Should my mishloach manos have a theme? Do I REALLY need to make hamentashen and am I the worst if I don’t? I personally am not one to judge, I am just a huge fan of free food that comes to my door that I can snack on from now until Pesach. Just in case you are looking for something fun to put you in the holiday spirit, here are some songs and activities to remind yourself that we are celebrating the fact our people were not obliterated, a woman saved the day and we are can eat all the cake and candy we want because it is a mitzvah.

Have a very happy Purim!!

Songs:

Chag Purim:

Chag Purim, Chag Purim, Chag Gadol Hu La’Yehudim, Masechot Ra’ashanim, Shirim v’Rikudim
Chorus: Hava Narisha, Rash, Rash, Rash! Barashanim.

Shoshanat Yakov:

Shoshanat Yaakov, tzahala v’samecha birotam yachad tchelet Mordechai.

T’shuatam hayita lanetzach vetikvatam b’chol dor vador, lehodia shekol kovecha lo yevoshu v’lo yikalmu lanetzach kol hachosim bach.

Arur Haman asher bikesh l’abdi, baruch Mordechai haYehudi. Arura Zeresh, eshet mafchidi, beruchah Eshter ba’adi. Arurim kol hareshaim, beruchim kol hatzadikim. Vegam Charvonah zachur latov.

V’Nahaphoch Hu:

 V’Nahapoch Hu Asher Yishletu Hayehudim Hemah Besonehem

LaYehudim Hayesa Orah:

LaYehudim hayesa orah, v'simcha, v'sasson vi'ykar.

Nosh Nosh A Hamentash:

Nosh Nosh a hamentash

Let’s make a hamentash now (2x)

Pat pat pat the dough with me,

Pat it flat and you will see.

Haman’s Hat was just like that.

Pat pat a hamentash now.

Nosh Nosh a hamentash

Let’s make a hamentash now (2x)

Squeeze and pinch the dough with me,

Squeeze and punch and you will see,

Haman’s hat was just like that.

Let’s squeeze a hamentash now.

Nosh Nosh a hamentash

Let’s make a hamentash now (2x)

Haman’s Hat:

My hat it has three corners, three corners has my hat and had it not three corners it would not be my hat. Use hand motions. My--point to yourself, Hat-touch head, three--put up three fingers, corners--touch elbow. Each time you sing the song leave out a word and just use the hand motion. First leave out my, then hat, then three, then corners. Finish by singing the complete song again.

Purim Song: (Tune: If You're Happy and You Know It)

If you hear the name of Haman stomp your feet. (stomp feet twice) repeat If you hear the name of Haman, if you hear the name of Haman, if you hear the name of Haman stomp your feet (stomp feet twice)

If you hear the name of Esther clap your hands......

If you hear the name of Achashverosh turn around.....

If you hear the name of Mordecai shout hooray...

Acitvities:

 

Hamentashen Recipes:

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1366/jewish/Traditional-Hamantaschen.htm

http://www.marthastewart.com/1055129/chocolate-hamantaschen

Coloring Pages:

http://media.aish.com/documents/Coloring%20Book%20-%20Purim%20(English).pdf

http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/purim/purcolr.htm

Mask Templates:

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/printable-masks

Latest and Greatest From Penguin!

(Me and Harlan Coben - check out his first picture book below!)

This past Thursday I had the opportunity to go to my son’s four year old nursery class and talk to the children about how books become books. From basic art and text to a folded and gathered copy and finally bound and ready for purchase, the children had a great time comparing a book in a flimsy state to a final hardcover copy. I showed them some up and coming picture books and easy readers and now I will share them with you too. Happy Reading!

New Board Books:

   

Corduroy’s Colors, Corduroy’s Numbers

I love that this series incorporates the concept being taught in a sentence. Whether Corduroy is playing in green grass or counting three pigs, it helps a child understand in context what they learning. There are so many objects on each page to help build vocabulary skills, from different flowers and fruits in the garden in Corduroy’s Colors to the many different farm animals in Corduroy’s Numbers.

New Non-Fiction:

 

Astrid Lindgren – Johanna Hurwitz

The newest addition to the Women of Our Time Series, Lindgren is most famous (to me) for being the author of the Pippi Longstocking series. I loved learning that the character started off as someone Lindgren made up in stories she told her daughter and after she was home bound after breaking her ankle she decided to write the stories down and send them to a publisher. What a fortuitous mishap for young children everywhere!

 

The Buzz on Insects – Gina Shaw

This Level 3 reader dives into the world of six legged, two antennae bugs that fill our world (for better or for worse). The photos of ants, caterpillars, ladybugs and others are vivid and beautiful (if also a little gross) and science terms are explained in the glossary on the last page.

 

The Moon – James Buckley Jr.

Ever wonder if the moon is really made of cheese or a man lives there? This Level 4 reader goes through the history of studying the moon from Galileo to Neil Armstrong and all the details discovered along the way.

 

Curious About Fossils – Kate Waters

Sometimes all you need is a picture of giant sloth poop to get kids excited about a science topic like fossils. In this book, you will learn about famous fossil collectors, dinosaurs, how fossils are handled and so much more. This book is perfect for dinosaur lovers who want to go beyond the types of dinosaurs that roamed the earth and a glossary in the back explains key concepts.  


Curious About Snow – Gina Shaw

Snowflakes have different shapes but they all have six sides. Billions of snowflakes fall in every snowstorm. An avalanche is a moving mass of snow that slides down a mountain. Want to learn more fun facts? Pick up a copy of this book, filled with amazing photos of snowflakes you did not know you needed to see.

 

Baby Orca - Mary Batten and Chris Rallis

I first learned about Orcas from the Disney show Octonauts. Baby Orcas are also known as killer whales and are the top predators in the ocean - even sharks are scared of them! Orcas come to life in this easy to read book that takes one on a journey from baby Orca to mother with beautiful photos and illustrations.

Easy Reader Fiction:

 

Get a Hit Mo – David A. Adler

A baseball book for reluctant sports fans in early elementary school, this book teaches the importance of perseverance and never giving up. Trying your best can end in a home run! This is a level 2 reader, perfect for children starting to read on their own.

Picture Books:

 

The Huey’s in What’s the Opposite? – Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers is a master at making concept books exciting for adults to read to their children. Of course the opposite of up is down, but every parent wants to share that the opposite of half full is half empty (with the exact same glass of juice). The illustrations of the lovable Hueys make this a fun read for all, and there is no better way to entertain a child than through entertaining their adult. This book is also available in board book format.

 

The Magical Fantastical Fridge – Harlan Coben

Every good mom displays her children’s artwork on their fridge, right? What better way for a boy to get out of setting the table for dinner than to “fall” right into his own drawings on the fridge and then has to use his imagination to get himself out. This books is definitely a fresh interpretation on the age old adage, “There’s no place like home”. While the illustrations aren’t really my style, they are loud and fun for an older child (kindergarten – first grade) who can understand the concept. Adult fans of Coben will be excited to expose one of their favorite authors with their children and prep them for his YA novel Shelter.

 

Snappsy the Alligator (did not ask to be in this book) – Julie Falatko

There is something hilarious about a protagonist talking back to the narration in a book. Poor Snappsy feels he needs to defend his actions and decisions and is pressured to make his story “less boring” even though he does not want to be a part of a story, he just wants to have a regular day. This is definitely a story parents will not mind reading over and over with their children.

 

Ten Kisses for Sophie – Rosemary Wells

Sophie fans rejoice! Sophie is back, this time helping her mother make chocolate kisses for dessert for a party. Sophie gets nervous there will not be enough for everyone but she luckily has the best grandmother to come and save the day! Your youngest readers will understand Sophie’s angst about maybe not getting the dessert they have been awaiting for days and learn a great lesson giving to others.

 

A Recipe for Bedtime – Peter Bently

Does this sound like a familiar night routine to you? Undress baby -> bath time -> pajamas -> milk -> bed -> kiss goodnight -> leave room -> come back to room -> sing baby to sleep. If this resonates with you, this is your new bedtime story for your little one. You are sure to love the illustrations and the rhyming text and any parent of a baby or toddler can relate to this book.

 

The Importance of Being 3 – Lindsay Ward

My two and half year old is convinced this book was written just for her. After all, she is about to be three and she is learning to draw letter and shapes, play independently in the playground and make friends. Throwing tantrums and spills are still guaranteed in three year old life, but the new adventures for a growing toddler are exciting and endless and this is a sure to be appreciated gift for any child turning three.

Little Bitty Friends – Elizabeth McPike

Simple rhyming text connects little children with the little critters in nature. Ants, baby rabbits, baby turtles, caterpillars and more all interact with young ones on the pages. This adorable story is an easy way to instill an early love of the great outdoors to the young ones in your life.

 

Super Jumbo – Fred Koehler

Being a super hero is not always easy, but someone has to look out for the neighborhood! Even though he always means to do the right thing, sometimes Super Jumbo’s helping hands go a little awry. There is no better book to inspire children to be the most super version of themselves than this adorable tale of a baby elephant wanting to better the world. This is an absolutely delightful book to read and share with children at home, at story time and in school settings.  

Middle Grade Fiction:

 

Jack and Louisa (Book 2) – Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead

Theater nerds rejoice - Jack and Louisa are back! (If you missed their first book, it is a must read for any fan of Broadway.) Act 2 takes us on a trip to the Big Apple and on a new adventure in how serious school plays really are. This is such a fun, fast-paced read whether you are a guy or a doll you will love the next installment of these two friends’ theater adventure.