Homemade Book

Alright, alright the names are goofy. Luckily my audience of one assured me in all seriousness that it was not a silly book. That was good for my ego, and a smart move on his part if he wants any more homemade books!

My favorite page:His favorite page: Doesn't every children's book have a moral:

This thumb print method is really quite easy, especially for those of us who don't naturally draw too well. Just color your thumb with marker, stamp it on the pages, then fill in with some simple feet, hands, and facial expressions. Then add some personalized text.

Oh for the actual construction of the book I cut several pages of paper in half lengthwise then folded them in half. I poked three holes in the crease of the center page using a safety pin. Then with some bright embroidery thread I stitched it together. (Looking at the center page I stitched in the center hole, out the top, in the center, out the bottom. Repeated, then tied it off. If that is too confusing try going here for step by step directions.)
Outside: Inside Center:
This is the second book I've made for Mr. A here in Fiji and I think I'd like to make several more. I can personalize them to his interests, experiences, and reading level while investing less than an hour of my time. Plus it's another way to show him he is important to me.

Homemade Book

http://laugh-learn-love.blogspot.com/2008/05/homemade-book.html

Reading is Fun!

I love to read. If I could do whatever I wanted, 24 hours a day, I would read books and magazines and eat lots and lots of chocolate. So this topic of reading and storytelling, in and of itself, is an easy one for me. However, the creativity part is quite difficult for me. So combining the two was pretty interesting this week. What I did this whole week was follow my 5 year old's lead. Let me explain.

When we were driving in town a couple of days ago, E asked, "What does that blue sign with the "H" on it mean?" I explained that it meant a hospital was that direction. Then, he rode the city bus around town with his preschool class last week, and this week he was so excited to point out every single bus stop sign he saw every time we drove anywhere. So we created an activity where we drove around town pointing out all of the signs we drove by (no parking, right turn only, street names, etc.) and named them all. He was very excited to be reading and understanding what all of the signs meant.

The next thing I noticed was by pure luck, thanks to two magazine subscriptions my oldest's grandma just sent him as gifts. E received in the mail this week the Nick Jr. magazine and a Legos magazine. He pored over these magazines. We read them together. We cut out and did the activities. I remember loving the Highlights magazine when I was young. So here I think the goal is to find something your kids are interested in and cater to that interest. E also loved cutting up the magazine with scissors. Great small motor skill practice (and, of course, I made sure he understood that we don't cut up books like we did these magazines!).

The last thing was a gift from a friend. It is a book called "Learn to Read Treasure Hunts." The book has 50 treasure hunts that you can do around your house. The first clue reads something like, "What do we use to sweep the floor?" Then they go find the broom and there is another clue to find the next clue, and the last clue says something like, "Way to go! Come and get your sticker." And the book includes 50 stickers for the end of the treasure hunt. E loves this, and asks to do at least one treasure hunt every day. I highly suggest this for any child who is beginning to read.

As for storytelling, I just ask my kids about whatever they are playing with. For example, my youngest loves Thomas the Tank Engine. Emily is currently his favorite train. So I ask him where Emily is going when she is driving on the track, and I help him create a story based on that. My oldest -- well, my oldest loves to talk, so if you just ask him to make up a story about a superhero he will talk your ear off. But again, I just elaborate on things that they are currently obsessed with (garbage trucks, trains, superheros, etc.)

I hope this helps. Now go, and have fun!

Reading is Fun!

http://laugh-learn-love.blogspot.com/2008/05/reading-is-fun.html

Storytelling Cans

I came across a new idea for storytelling and couldn't wait to try it out: A Nesting Story. At Preschool Rainbow (half way down the page) Sandy G. calls it "Storytelling Cans". The idea is to take several cans in various sizes, put contact paper around the outside, and then use clip art or copies of flannel board stories to put around the outside of the can. I was particularly attracted to the statement, "This is an indestructible way for the children to be able to retell stories and songs on their own." Hmm, I doubt indestructible, but certainly sturdy enough to last a while. I changed a few details (plastic cylinders, stickers on construction paper, a backwards set-up) and successfully made my own set of Nemo Nesting Cans.










My Storyteller inspected the cans very closely and was all too happy to tell the story himself when Daddy came home. Hope the enjoyment doesn't wear off when it isn't new anymore. But when it does I'll just make different labels for the cans.

Storytelling Cans

http://laugh-learn-love.blogspot.com/2008/04/storytelling-cans.html

Theme of the Week Challenge

When coming to Fiji we could only take what fit into 6 suitcases and a couple carry-ons. Therefore, most of what we own is freezing in a Utah storage unit, including the majority of our children's books. I knew the separation from beloved and well-worn titles would be annoying, but I completely underestimated the boredom of reading the same dozen books every day. (Some of you may relate to this.)

Building the number and variety of books we had access to became a priority for me. Thanks to a few trips back to the states, and my mother's super-human ability to bargain at yard sales, we have been able to triple our meager Fiji library without worrying about filling luggage with heavy books on the final return trip. In addition I checked used and new book stores here, but I didn't particularly love the idea of dumping money into books we would use for mere months. So, I got creative. I took that beloved book everyone knows, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and quite easily adapted it to Fiji. We took our photos of animals and insects and turned it into a laminated book perfectly personalized for my Biologist in training. It wasn't professional by any means, but very well received!

In the months I've been here I realized how vital reading is in our daily family routines. I think most mothers and fathers agree that those precious minutes and hours spent huddled over a book supply us with the greatest moments of nurturing. Often we adults learn as much as they do as we look at the world through their eyes. And then there are the educational effects of daily reading with our children. Who dares doubt the enormous good it does. (If you doubt I will lecture you on the difference between my four year old and the four year olds here in Fiji who are not read to!!!)

So, our Theme of the Week Challenge today centers around Books and Storytelling. Do what you want with it. Make a book together. Share your insights about teaching a toddler to read (hint hint, I could really use some of these tips by the way!!). Take a field trip to the library. Tell us your favorite titles. (Please add to the list on Erin's post Reading with Children.) Make a goal to double your reading time. Play storytelling games as a family. Anything works, we'd love to hear how you are incorporating books into your parenting.

Theme of the Week Challenge

http://laugh-learn-love.blogspot.com/2008/04/theme-of-week-challenge_28.html