What Shapes Do You See?

One of the cool things about visiting Santa Barbara is discovering exciting ocean liners and sailboats!

"All aboard! Come along with me! Let's see what shapes we can find on the sea."

I have four charming grandsons and they love to look out on the water and talk about the movement out at sea. Oh, how we love our beautiful Pacific Ocean! Our boys are mesmerized by the size and shapes of the vessels that ride upon the sea!

At Oceanside Harbor, we have the opportunity to walk around the jetty, admire all the boats and then head to the playground for some fun!

As I reflected on some of the photos, I was reminded of a cool book called Ship Shapes for children, ages 1-4. This exciting book is available in paperback and sturdy board book. The author Stella Blackstone has written many other books as well.

About The Book

Spot the shapes atop rolling waves and on sandy shores. This sea-based early learning selection features rhyme and repetition, as well as a full-page summarizing the shapes for reinforced learning.

My Thoughts

One particular grandson, our Riley who is 4-years-old, loves to engage in the learning activity of identifying triangles and rectangles. He gets excited when he points to the boats and counts aloud how many there are. The best part of the book is the colorful illustrations. Plus, you will see a sea monster's tail, a green submarine, and beautiful island treasure. This is a fun book for preschool.

Order Ship Shapes, here.

Happy Summer!

-- LadyD

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2017– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Do You Recognize The Moose in These Books?

 Have you been watching the weather report and hearing about all the snow on the East Coast? Friends and family have sent photos of their homes, along with their cars covered in all that winter land! I'm sure they have had quite enough of "old man winter" and yet, I sit here on the West Coast in 70 degree weather and can't imagine the situation they're experiencing back there.

So, I got to thinking about how I longed to see a moose when I was in Maine and did not see one until I went to Utah. Well, that furthered my memory as to all the books that I've read  about that famous animal, the Moose.

1. "Elusive Moose" by Joan Gannij
2. “Ernest the Moose Who Doesn’t Fit” by Catherine Rayner 
3. “If You Give A Moose a Muffin” by Laura Numeroff 
4. “Chocolate Mousse” by Maggie Kneen 
5. “Moose on the Loose” by Kathi-Jo Wargin 
6. “Thidwick The Big-Hearted Moose” by Dr. Seuss

Elusive Moose

Search for the elusive moose in the snowy north, and meet lots of other northland animals on the journey. Hardcover and Paperback editions include endnotes about all the creatures, a guessing game of animal footprints, and a page of informative facts about the moose.

Ages 1 to 4 years
Written By: Joan Gannij
Illustrated By: Clare Beaton

Paperback and Board Book $6.99. Hardcover on sale for $11.99 Visit http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn't Fit 

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages

  "Ernest tries his darnedest to fit on the pages of this book. With the help of his chipmunk friend, he attempts to “shimmy, shift, and shuffle in forward” and “squidge, squodge, and squeeze in backward.” Nothing works; all of him just won't fit. Then chipmunk has an idea; fetching masking tape and paper, she and Ernest cobble together a gatefold for the last page. Now, the moose “fits in perfectly.” The graph-paper pattern on heavy stock is the perfect background against which loose, textured line drawings humorously depict the predicament of the gangly Ernest and his furry friend. The amusing extension, cleverly constructed from a hodgepodge of gaily patterned “paper” stuck together with much tape, makes for a delightful resolution. The simple plot marries perfectly with the large-scale, highly tactile drawings and oversize font to create a winning book that children will beg to see and hear again and again, whether lap-sitting or in a group. Brilliant!"

Editorial review credit: Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (February 28, 1994)

"This humorous book has to be one of the most imaginative ever written and illustrated!
The premise starts with a child spotting a moose out the window in the back yard. The child beckons to the moose, gives the moose a muffin, opens the kitchen door, and lets the moose in. Holding the muffin in his teeth, the moose obviously seems to need some jam. The child opens the refrigerator and gets out the mother's homemade blackberry jam. The moose quickly starts eating the muffin, now that it has jam on it. Then another, and another . . . and another until they are all gone. He seems to want you to make some more." Review credit: Professor Donald Mitchell

Product Description

Chocolate Moose loves chocolate almost as much as he loves to help. When this BIG moose starts helping in Mrs. Mouse's LITTLE kitchen, the only thing he cooks up is a huge chocolate mess! But Mrs. Mouse's four little mice don't mind at allÑcould this messy baker make the perfect babysitter?

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (January 20, 2011)

Product Description

What would you do with a moose on the loose? Would you chase him, or race him, or stand up to face him? What would you do with a moose on the loose? What would you do with a moose in your yard? Or in your house? How about in your room? Or in your tub? Would you give him two boats? Would you see if he floats? What would you do?
Colorful, comic artwork highlights the hilarity that ensues when wildlife wanders indoors. Can boy best beast? By story’s end, young readers will know exactly what to do when a moose goes on the loose!

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press (September 2, 2009)

• Reading level: Baby-Preschool
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; Early Printing edition (September 12, 1948)

"Dr. Seuss ignites a child's imagination with his mischievious characters and zany verses." The Express

"This classic Seuss title stars a happy-looking quadruped from the shores of Lake Winna-Bango who has the most amazing antlers and the kindest disposition. Alas! Everyone, but everyone, takes advantage of his generosity, and before long he has three-quarters of the animal kingdom nesting in the convenient perches atop his head. ("They asked in a fox, who jumped in from the trees, / They asked in some mice and they asked in some fleas.") You might think someone would take pity, but nobody seems to like an oddball, and all Thidwick gets for his trouble is complaints and contempt. Unable to cross the lake when winter threatens, he looks all set to starve--and then things get even worse. He is saved from certain death just in time, swims the lake, and joins the herd again. One reason this Seuss is so good: it has a moral, but the moral isn't pressed too far and the exuberant linguistic fun isn't subservient to it. " (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr 

Then there's Morris the Moose (I can Read Book 1). O.K., have you thought of others to add to the list?

My favorite Barefoot Book about the moose would be The Elusive Moose! What about you?

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Related articles

• Teaching Ideas for" If You Give a Moose a Muffin" (brighthub.com)

Teaching Math with Music

"Education should not be filling a pail, but the lighting of fire."

            -- William Butler Yeats

I was reading an article by Karen Sawyers and Janet Hutson-Brandhagen who provide some practical suggestions for teachers on how to improve children's math skills through music. Introducing this idea they observe...

"As research reacquaints us with the many benefits of music, we need to be careful not to take music instruction too far with preschoolers. As early childhood educators we know how important it is to meet the children where they are and support them through age-appropriate learning experiences. We should avoid teaching children the fundamentals of music in an overly formal way. Instead, we should provide opportunities for children to explore the world of music in their own way and in their own time. It's important to keep this principle in mind as we set up our classrooms and plan for music activities in the daily routine."

"To set the stage for music learning, each classroom needs a music area where there are rhythm instruments such as tambourines, jingle bells, step bells, and xylophones. Children need opportunities to use these instruments during times of day when they initiate their own activities (such as work time, choice time, or play time) as well as during teacher-planned small-and large-group times. As we work with children throughout the day there are many music activities that we can provide to develop the music-math connection in very natural ways."

The Animal Boogie Song







Barefoot Books offers quality children's books with sing-along CDs starting at $9.99

Here's a list of some of my favorites:

1. Creepy Crawly Calypso
2. Driving My Tractor
3. Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
4. If You're Happy and You Know It 
5. Knick Knack Paddy Whack
6. Mrs. Moon
7. Playtime Rhymes for Little People8. Port Side Pirates
9. The Animal Boogie
10. The Farmyard Jamboree
11. The Journey Home from Grandpa's
12. Up, Up, Up!
13. We all Go Traveling By

To view these wonderful books that are available for purchase, visit:
http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Wishing you a wonderful school year filled with  happy times of music and rhythm!

Happy Reading,
-- LadyD



“If you can fill the unforgiving minute 
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, 
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it” -- Rudyard Kipling (make a lasting difference.)


My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Tips on Reading with Your Child

 One of my daughter's taught in elementary school many years ago and now has her own, almost four year old son, who she enjoys reading to. Having her own book business, volunteering with story time at the library, and tutoring as well, my daughter has discovered some tips that make reading time fun!
The following was provided from the Barefoot Books website:

Here are some tips on making the most of reading with your child.

1. Choose a time and a place where you can be quiet and give your child lots of attention. Make the occasion a special one.
2. Turn off any distractions such as the TV, music or the computer.
3. When you are reading aloud, show your child that you are having fun!
4. Involve your child. Let yourself be interrupted with questions; talk about what you think of the story and the pictures.
5. When your child has started learning to read, follow the text and encourage him or her to point to the words as you go along.
6. Establish a routine. Try to devote some time every day to reading.
7. Take your child to your local library and involve him or her in choosing books.
8. Notice what kinds of stories your child enjoys and look out for ones with similar themes.
9. When you are reading aloud, praise your child for listening well and sitting still. When your child is learning to read to you, give praise and encouragement too, but be sure to gently correct your child when he or she makes mistakes.
10. Help build your child's vocabulary and memory skills by supplementing reading sessions with audio books on car journeys and after meals or at bedtime. Audio books are especially helpful in building memory skills and supporting the learning of dyslexic and autistic children.

Sharing your child's journey into reading can be one of the most rewarding experiences of parenthood. You owe it to your child, and to yourself, to make it a priority in your daily life.


Take off your shoes and go barefoot!
LadyD

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• Reading: Why We Should and Why We Don't (kevineikenberry.com)
• Have Your Kids Used the Reading Pen? (blisstree.com)

Barefoot Books: Cleo the Cat - Book Review

I have had my indoor Siamese cat, Jasmine for quite sometime. She is the princess and enjoys hearing me play the piano and also cuddling up on my lap to hear a good book read aloud. Alas, many times you'll find Jazz taking a cat nap as most cats sleep a lot during the day. Do you find that to be so? I'd love to hear about your pet. What's the matter... cat got your tongue? ( no pun intended ) Anyways, I wanted to share this delightful series of board books by Barefoot Books about Cleo the Cat.

* Come Here, Cleo!
Follow Cleo when she sets out to explore the garden one morning, and finds that it is full of surprises. Cleo's adventures introduce her to some fascinating new friends - and can she catch the butterfly?

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone

Illustrated By: Caroline Mockford

Come Here, Cleo is the telling of a day in the life of a playful orange cat. The bright colors, fun rhyming, and easy read make this a great book for very young children. I have sold many copies of this delightful book that is easy to read, filled with bright, colorful illustrations and well written.

* Cleo's Counting Book
Join Cleo as she counts from one to ten, then back down to one again. Two double-page spreads of number reinforcement help the mastering of counting skills, while the rhyming text and the familiar items to count add to the appeal. Hardcover edition includes Cleo height chart.

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone

Illustrated By: Caroline Mockford

Will help preschool-aged children while they are learning to count, and the bright colors and fun objects Cleo counts will keep them engaged in learning. What makes this counting book so delightful is that it is filled with adventure in counting outdoor animals like dogs, frogs, birds and trees. What fun to count to ten and then back again!

* Cleo the Cat
Frolic along with an inquisitive kitten who is in search of a friend— and a home. This simple rhyming text follows Cleo as she finds her way to a young boy who offers her a bowl of milk and a warm lap.

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone

Illustrated By: Caroline Mockford


This book is so cute and easy to follow. Cleo the cat is a great book for pre-school aged children as it offers fun, colorful illustrations, an easy-to-follow story line, and an adorable animal as the main character. This will definitely engage young children and make them want to read.

* Cleo and Caspar
Meet Cleo the Cat's new housemate Caspar. When Cleo finds out that another animal has joined the household, she isn't happy, but she soon discovers that new playmates can be fun. The simple, rhyming text is full of action.

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone

Illustrated By: Caroline Mockford

You will find gentle lessons beautifully written in this delightful board book. Cleo and Caspar conveys a simple but touching message even to the youngest child. We get anxious when someone different comes into our world but with time we come to appreciate their presence. The simple and colorful pictures convey the message in a way that delights all ages.


* Cleo's Color Book
Come along with Cleo as she discovers colors in the world around her. Rhyme and repetition drive the learning layers, while two double-page spreads at the end reinforce the color recognition and even teach simple color mixing.

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone

Illustrated By: Caroline Mockford

This is a wonderful book! Colorful, lovely rhyming text with simple everyday objects. Great fun for using with language development and teaching simple signs as well as colors! What makes it a winning board book is that children can relate to a red bike, a black kitty, a blue submarine and a brown teddy bear. Towards the back of the book, you will find a colorful picture chart of the objects with the name associated with their color that reinforces language development for preschool education. Step into the beautiful world of color in reading Cleo's Color Book!

* Cleo's Alphabet Book
Help Cleo guess which word goes with each letter of the alphabet. The rhyming text of this guessing game encourages learning, while the two-page spread of all the items at the end allows more alphabet practice. Hardcover edition includes a Cleo alphabet wall poster.

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone

Illustrated By: Caroline Mockford

Beautiful and intriguing artwork. You and your child will remember Cleo the Cat long after you have finished the book. This wonderful book can help children learn their alphabet in an exciting and playful way. The unique and intriguing illustrations of Cleo exploring the alphabet leads the reader on a journey to solve 26 one page mysteries. This book is colorful and easy to read, and keeps kids guessing by not revealing the name of the object being featured for each letter of the alphabet.

Each book costs $6.99 plus tax and you can order the books here:




http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Bear About Town by Stella Blackstone - Book Review

Image by paige_eliz via Flickr

Over the summer, I continue to read board books to my 15 month old Grandson. He has discovered that grabbing the sturdy pages of board books is a delightful experience because he can turn pages over and over by himself... what fun!

This Friday I will be returning to the Farmer's Market to sell my organic haas avocados and this sweet, delightful family of bears will be coming along for the ride to the market... which brings to my mind another Barefoot Book that's an easy read called Bear About Town by Stella Blackstone and illustrated by Debbie Harter.

The book starts off with "Bear goes to town every day" and on the very first page Debbie illustrates in bright colors bear leaving his house. To be specific, it's bears honey house with potted tulips, a sunflower and busy bees all around.
"On Monday, he goes to the bakery." Now, it's not just any bakery, but bear chooses Grandma's Bakery with wonderful sights of cupcakes, plates of delicious looking cookies and many loaves of bread and bread sticks... yummy!
Bear About Town
Walk down to town with Bear and discover all the different businesses and settings. The rhyming text teaches days of the week, and is complemented by a full-spread map of the town at the end.

Ages 1 to 4 years

Written By: Stella Blackstone

Illustrated By: Debbie Harter

5+ stars

What I like most is that this colorful and easy-to-follow book teaches preschool-aged children days of the week while simultaneously introducing new buildings and places around town. With only a few words on each page, the book is made up largely of illustrations which keeps kids interested. Plus the map of the town covers two full pages. It's fun to start from Bee Lane, past the Clock Tower Roundabout, through High Street, over to Bear Square, a quick right to Wriggly Road and you've landed yourself at Splash Alley!

Happy summer reading!

http://ladyd.barefootbooks.com

Ship Shapes - Board Book Review

Image via Wikipedia

In this new board book version, see how many everyday shapes you can spot while sailing the open sea in search of jewels and treasure! Children will ride the waves to a faraway island in this lively, shape-filled ocean adventure, with appealing fabric art from Siobhan Bell.

"Children will enjoy searching the briny depths for the little fish and sea creatures hidden there."—School Library Journal
My first impression of this delightful board book is its simplicity in rhyme and quilt artwork. I love the blue colors of this book and the wonderful story line. Who wouldn't want to sail the open seas with Stella Blackstone and Siobhan Bell?!


What shape is this green submarine?

* Product Details

Written by: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated by: Siobhan Bell
Read Alone: Ages 4-7
Read Together: Ages 0-4
Board Book; Full-color illustrations; 24pp;6.5 x 6.5 inches

Item No. 9781846861574

$6.99

* Stella Blackstone
On good days, Stella Blackstone lives east of the sun and west of the moon. On less good days, she lives at the bottom of a well. She finds ideas in all of these places and turns them into songs, poems and rhymes. She has read and written poetry for as long as she can remember, and her favorite books include Louis Untermeyer's A Child's Treasury of Poetry, which was a constant companion throughout her childhood, Paolo Coelho's The Alchemist, everything by T.S. Eliot, and William Buck's translation of The Ramayana. She lives in southwest England, and enjoys walking and working in her garden as well as doing nothing whenever she has the chance.

* Siobhan Bell
Siobhan grew up in Somerset and after leaving school, traveled for many years. She has lived in many different places all over the world including Ireland and Spain. Siobhan's previous jobs include making and selling jewelery and clothing, fire breathing, busking and waitressing. Siobhan returned to Somerset three years ago where she lives with her young son. She began selling her pictures and artwork five years ago and now works as a full time textile artist, selling through various galleries. Siobhan exhibits her art and also works on private commissions.

* Recent praise:
"Blackstone takes a welcome departure from rhyming in her latest, a look at shapes. A boy and girl go to sea on a raft to see how many different shapes they can find...Bell's artwork is a phenomenal display of needlework. The ocean is a patchwork quilt in shades and patterns of blues; bright colors abound and youngsters will especially enjoy the variety of sea creatures. An addition to the concepts shelf that stands out for its unique artwork." - Kirkus Reviews

"In this simple concept book, two youngsters and a Dalmatian set out on a raft, calling readers: "All aboard! Come along with me!/Let's see what shapes we can find on the sea." They come across many exotic scenes-including a pirate ship, a fantastic sea monster, and a green submarine-and invite children to search for nine basic shapes. The directions are consistently straightforward...children will enjoy searching the briny depths for the little fish and sea creatures hidden there. - School Library Journal

Order book at Dena's Book Nook

Happy Summer Reading!
~ LadyD

Preschool Book Review- I Dreamt I Was A Dinosaur

If you're looking for an adorable book for preschoolers, I found it for you! I have enjoyed reading I Dreamt I Was A Dinosaur to my 13 month old Grandson. This adorable book takes you on a journey to dinosaur land. Which one would you like to be? I was familiar with many types of dinosaurs except for a new one, Parasaurolophus.

Throughout the book, the illustrator, Clare Beaton, will delight you with her fabric creations. The volcano with the sequins for lava is especially creative.

Author, Stella Blackstone continues to impress me with her rhyme writing style. Toddlers and preschoolers will safely land in bed to find "it was only a dream!" What I especially love with this particular book is that there is a surprise cleverly woven throughout each page! You will find no evolution here!

I Dreamt I Was a Dinosaur by Stella Blackstone and Clare Beaton

If you could be a dinosaur, which would you be? Would you roar like the ferocious T-Rex? Or soar overhead like the pterodactyl? In this playful early-learning book, Stella Blackstone's lyrical, rhyming text takes readers on an unforgettable Jurassic journey, while fabric artist Clare Beaton recreates the prehistoric world of dinosaurs using a colorful array of felt, sequins, beads and buttons.




* Product Details

Written by: Stella Blackstone
Illustrated by: Clare Beaton
Read Alone: Ages 4-9
Read Together: Ages 0-4
Hardcover; Full-color illustrations; 32pp;
10.25 x 10 inches
Item No. 9781841482385

$15.99 Also in Board Book $4.99

I dreamt I was a dinosaur.
You should have seen me romp and roar!



Children will be introduced to many colorful illustrated dinosaurs such as:

* Sammy Stegosaurus

* Kay Camarasaurus

* Jess Triceratops

* Paolo Parasaurolophus

* Toby Pterodactyl



* Hilary Hadrosaur



* Rex the Wrecker

* What Others Say:
"This is easily one of the most adorable dinosaur books out there for the preschool- primary crowd."—School Library Journal

I highly recommend this book for the little ones and the price is right for a very cute, durable book... $4.99 To order book,

http://www.mybarefootbooks.com/LadyD