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 Back to Basics

Reading and cooking with kids

August: The Sunday of Summer

7/30/2020

1 Comment

 
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     As summer winds down and another school year looms in sight, we parents wonder if we have done all we could for our children to prepare them for the year ahead, especially in this time of uncertainty with the question of in-person vs. virtual schooling at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Not to worry. Real life, hands-on experiences enrich a child’s life and help to shape their future, as well as aid in building background knowledge. So, don’t stress and simply enjoy this last month of summer; fill it with outdoor activities and favorite summertime foods as you celebrate days such as National Watermelon Day, National Root Beer Float Day, National Lemonade Day, National S‘mores Day and National Toasted Marshmallow Day. National Farmers Market Week is also celebrated in August and is a wonderful time to continue to support your local farmers and to teach your children about where their food comes from. Search for recipes that utilize fresh produce from your local farmers (or your own garden) and perhaps include a reading of My Dinosaur is Scared of Vegetables by Lily Lexington.
“We would load up the yellow Cutlass Supreme station wagon and pick blackberries during blackberry season or spring onions during spring onion season.
For us, food was a part of the fabric of our day.”

Mario Batali

- - -
August
National Peach & Sandwich Month
National Peach Month
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James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
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The Last Peach by Gus Gordon
National Sandwich Month
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The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
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Carla's Sandwich by Debbie Herman
1st Full Week: National Farmers Market Week
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Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson
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On the Farm, At the Market by G. Brian Karas
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A Farmer's Life for Me by Jan Dobbins
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The Farm that Feeds Us by Nancy Castaldo
1st Saturday: National Mustard Day
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Nobody Loves Mustard by Jeremy Ross
2nd: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
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Ice Cream: The Full Scoop by Gail Gibbons
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Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star by Kevin Henkes
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Curious George and the Ice Cream Surprise by Margret & H. A. Rey
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Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop by Margret & H. A. Rey
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Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
3rd: National Watermelon Day
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The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
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Watermelon Party by Jasmine Cabanaw
4th: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
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The Best Mouse Cookie by Laura Numeroff
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The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat
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The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems
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The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
6th: National Root Beer Float Day
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How Is Root Beer Made? by Grace Hansen
8th: National Zucchini Day
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Zora's Zucchini by Katherine Pryor
10th: National S'mores Day
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S is for S'mores: A Camping Alphabet by Helen Foster James
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So Much S'more to Do by Becky Rasmussen
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S'mores Indoors by Eric Robertson and Lynda Sing
18th: National Fajitas Day
     While there isn't a book about fajitas specifically (at least that we know of), Jorge Argueta has a delicious series of bilingual books that highlight various Latino foods.
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Salsa
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Guacamole
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Sopa de frijoles/Bean Soup
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Arroz con leche/Rice Pudding
19th: National Honey Bee Day
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Bee: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup
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Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton
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Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha
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The Beeman by Laurie Krebs
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UnBEElievables: Honeybee Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian
Bee Books From Usborne Books & More
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Lift-the-Flap First Questions and Answers: Why Do We Need Bees?
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Peek Inside a Beehive
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That's Not My Bee (Usborne touchy feely books)
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Bee Makes Tea (Usborne Phonics Readers)
20th: National Lemonade Day
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Maisy Makes Lemonade by Lucy Cousins
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Froggy's Lemonade Stand by Jonathan London
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Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins
This title deserves a moment in the spotlight for the way author Emily Jenkins seamlessly weaves a lesson in money values and counting into this story of a brother and sister setting up a lemonade stand in the middle of winter. A fantastic choice for a fun read aloud, as well as a simple math lesson.

24th: National Waffle Day
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Woodpecker Wants a Waffle by Steve Breen
30th: National Toasted Marshmallow Day
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The Marshmallow Incident by Judi Barrett
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Owen's Marshmallow Chick by Kevin Henkes
31st: National Trail Mix Day
- - -
“Summer is leaving silently.
Much like a traveler approaching the end of an
amazing journey.”

Darnell Lamont Walker
Happy reading and cooking!

-Kate @ BTBL

Author

We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 2 and 8 months) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.

1 Comment

July = Flags, Fireworks & Food!

6/27/2020

0 Comments

 
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.

"Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

     July, the month we celebrate our Nation’s Independence along with the national celebration month for Blueberries, Grilling, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Picnics, Pickles, Watermelon and Culinary Arts. Celebrate Independence Day with good food, family and friends and enjoy the celebrated days of the month with the food of that day and a story book. Consider making your own ice cream with your children in celebration of National Ice Cream Day. Choose a simple ice cream in a bag recipe that your children can help make and then choose a story from our list to read aloud. Visit your local farmer’s market and get some cucumbers to make homemade pickles with your kids to enjoy on burgers cooked on the grill. Culinary Arts Month promotes awareness of professional cooks and chefs, so be sure to offer opportunities to explore in the kitchen for your budding chef.
     Summer is the best time to be outdoors exploring nature, basking in the sun and just playing. Though we are literacy and reading advocates, we encourage both parents and children to spend a portion of each day outdoors, enjoying an unplugged summer. Richard Louv, in his book Last Child in the Woods, coined the term 'Nature Deficit Disorder' in which he believes that many behavioral problems are a result of children spending less time outdoors. Whether you agree with his views or not, research shows that children in the United States spend an average of 44 hours a week with electronic media and obesity continues to be a problem. Allow time for free play outdoors as well as time for unrestricted reading. Read to your child daily, allow them to participate in hands-on learning opportunities and take excursions and outings that will not only build background knowledge, but also encourage creativity and problem solving, skills which will in turn build self-confidence and self-esteem.
     So, this July, spend time outdoors relaxing on a blanket, enjoying picnic fare that you and your child have made together and bring along your favorite story book. Take time to unplug, reconnect and just be.
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July
National Blueberry, Culinary Arts, Grilling, Hot Dog, Ice Cream, Pickle, Picnic & Watermelon Month
National Blueberry Month
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Blueberry Mouse by Alice Low
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Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
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More Blueberries! by Susan Musgrave
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One Little Blueberry by Tammi Salzano
National Culinary Arts Month
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Start to Cook by Abigail Wheatley
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Children's World Cookbook by Fiona Watt
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Stir, Crack, Whisk, Bake by Maddie Frost
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The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs by America's Test Kitchen Kids
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The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs by America's Test Kitchen Kids
National Hot Dog Month
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The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! by Mo Willems
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Hello, Hot Dog! by Lily Murray
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Stan the Hot Dog Man by Ethel and Leonard Kessler
National Ice Cream Month
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Ice Cream: The Full Scoop by Gail Gibbons
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Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star by Kevin Henkes
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Curious George and the Ice Cream Surprise by Margret & H. A. Rey
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Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop by Margret & H. A. Rey
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Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
Did you know you can make your very own ice cream at home in a bag?
National Watermelon Month
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The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
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Mouse's First Summer by Lauren Thompson
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Watermelon Party by Jasmine Cabanaw
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One Watermelon Seed by Celia Lottridge
National Picnic Month
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The Teddy Bears' Picnic by Jimmy Kennedy
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One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J. Pinczes
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     Need help planning a picnic? Take a look at The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket by Marnie Hanel, Andrea Slonecker, and Jen Stevenson. While intended for adults, this title is beautiful, witty and full of grand ideas for having the most splendid picnic imaginable.

7th: National Chocolate Day
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Lily's Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes
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If You Give a Mouse a Brownie by Laura Numeroff
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Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory by Margret & H. A. Rey
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No Monkeys, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart and Allen Young
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Chocolate: The Consuming Passion
by Sandra Boynton
While this title is intended for adults, it is filled with the kind of witty text and comical illustrations expected of the incomparable Sandra Boynton and is sure to bring delight to the chocolate enthusiasts of every age!

9th: National Sugar Cookie Day
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Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar? by George Shannon
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Mo Willems‘ Elephant & Piggie Love Reading!: The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat
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The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems
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The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
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May I Please Have a Cookie? by Jennifer Morris
11th: National Blueberry Muffin Day
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If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
3rd Sunday: National Ice Cream Day
     -See the list above under National Ice Cream Month.
15th: National Gummi Worm Day
     -Celebrate by reading your favorite book and munching on some delicious bookworms (the gummi variety, of course).
Happy reading!

-Kate @ BTBL

Author

We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 2 and 8 months) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.

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Combat the Summer Slide with the ABCs!

6/6/2020

1 Comment

 
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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     Now is approximately the time of year when most schools would be releasing students for summer break, but this year, many students have been home since about March, which may make this year’s “summer slide” a bit more slippery. Not that we feel that parents can’t be good teachers, in fact the opposite is true, and that is why we want to remind you that instead of stressing, keep it simple this summer by playing with letters and reading alphabet books. With the plethora of alphabet books available, keeping literacy at the forefront is a breeze while also encouraging reading for both the youngest child as well as the middle schooler.
     The alphabet book is an excellent teaching tool starting with the youngest child on up through the middle school aged child. In an alphabet book, the 26 letters are addressed in a manner created by the author and illustrator. The simplest ones use common symbols to match each letter with an object, such as A is for Apple, B is for Ball etc. Objects are selected to match the true sound of the letter making not only a visual connection to the word but also the beginning sound that letter makes, building phonemic awareness. Other alphabet books go a step further exploring various topics and themes often with a rhyming verse, rich language, unique vocabulary and some with a humorous bent. These books are excellent for the budding reader and can reach a level of sophistication that even the middle school child will appreciate.
     As children get older, alphabet books can still be appreciated though on a different level and interest. Instead of the basic, look for those that encourage higher level thinking, challenging children to think about letters differently. Check out your local library or YouTube for a copy of Tomorrow’s Alphabet by George Shannon where “A is for seed, tomorrow’s apple and B is for eggs, tomorrow’s birds.” You might even try placing a blank sheet of paper over the right side of the book before revealing what the letter stands for, giving children an opportunity to work on making inferences, an important skill for reading comprehension. You might even work with older children to make their own similar alphabet book challenging them to put on their thinking caps and think outside the box, using imagination and creativity. 
     Another way to utilize alphabet books is through your child’s own interests, using them as a first resource for research. Many alphabet books provide a wealth of information in a focused and easily digestible way for early learners yet don’t talk down to the middle grade child, working well for multiple age children. If you are reading aloud to a child, much of it might depend on your own willingness to ask and answer questions and engage in a discussion, offering a richer learning experience. Remember that you don’t have to have all the answers. That’s what Google is for! Also, encourage your child to engage in further research either through books specific to that subject or online. Excellent interest-based alphabet books to consider might include C is for Caboose: Riding the Rails from A to Z by Traci N. Todd, A is for Aviation: The ABC’s of airplanes, spaceships, rockets and more! by J. Heitsch and don’t forget to include one of the 22 titles by Jerry Pallotta and be sure to check out some of the 75 alphabet books from Sleeping Bear Press that grow with a child as each book contains illustrations, a poem to represent each letter for the young reader and an informative sidebar for the older reader. The Sleeping Bear Press website helpfully offers teacher’s guides and activities for their books. For the child that loves to do research, offer a Venn Diagram where they can compare and contrast information or ideas. This will be an invaluable future skill for school.
     Don’t forget to feed the creative genius that might lurk within and include art as a theme offering Museum ABC by The NY Metropolitan Museum of Art,ABC’s of Art by Sabrina Hahn and for fun The Steampunk Alphabet by Nathanael Iwafa.
Consult our Alphabet Books list for additional titles to explore!
     As you read alphabet books, be sure to include time to play with letters in fun and creative ways. Ideas might include:
  • Use letter shaped cookie cutters with playdough or real cookie dough.
  • Have a letter scavenger hunt. Some ideas might include:
    • Take cut-out letters or foam letters and hide them around the house or outside. Take it a step further and have them find something that starts with the letter they found or tell you something that starts with that letter.
    • Use sticky notes with letters on them and have kids place them on objects that start with each letter.  Use simple site words as well.
    • Look for letter shapes in nature as you take a walk.
    • Give your child an index card with the alphabet and then take a nature walk and see how many letters they can match up with items found on your walk.
    • Look for letters and/or words in environmental print when in the car.
    • Look for specific letters or words in the pantry or while at the grocery store.
  • Play games that involve letters such as Bananagrams, Scrabble Junior (and traditional Scrabble), Alphabet Bingo, Alphabet Go Fish or Alphabet Match-It memory game. Also, look for different alphabet puzzles.
  • Offer toys such as those from Learning Resources where a child learns their letters through play.
  • Create a letter or word wall. Magnetic letters on the fridge or white board, letters or words from food packaging, magazines, newspapers, junk mail etc. on poster board, including pictures. Play with words and letters and be creative.
  • Make a “My Favorite Things” ABC book or use one of their interests. For older children you can even have them think of ABC careers, getting them to think of their future and what they might do.
  • Create a sticker ABC book. We used large, colored index cards secured on a ring. My daughter and I sat down together one afternoon and went through her collection of stickers, searching for things that begin with each letter.
  • For older children, offer anagrams, word searches or crossword puzzles or play hangman. Even younger children like guessing letters.
     Knowing the names of the letters of the alphabet, recognizing individual sounds or phonemes,
learning how books work and the relationship between text and illustrations, and understanding the stories that are read aloud are all building blocks of early literacy leading to phonemic awareness, fluency and reading comprehension. Manipulating letters through games and puzzles, hearing stories read aloud and looking at and/or reading books this summer will aid in literacy acquisition or further the development of already existing skills. Letters and words are all around us. Find unique and creative ways to use them.

Happy reading!

-Kate @ BTBL

Author

We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 1 and a newborn) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.

1 Comment

Welcome June & Hello Summer!

5/30/2020

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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     The start of summer is the time to think about planting your garden and with June being National Fresh Fruit & Vegetable month, why not try out some new fruits and vegetables offered in your area? Before planting your garden, read The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and for the little ones consider reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle or Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert. National Dairy Month has been celebrated since 1939 and with all the health benefits of consuming dairy, be sure to include it in your baking and cooking. Support your local dairy farm during these trying times with a visit and for a fun read, include The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson. Spend the day outdoors with dad on Father‘s Day complete with cheeseburgers, grilled vegetables, strawberry shortcake and a book.
     June is also generally the month when children are released from school to begin enjoying the pleasures of summer but unfortunately, June 2020 has been thrown into a bit of turmoil. Not to worry. Summer is an excellent time for natural learning from gardening, to exploring on nature walks to visiting farms, zoos and aquariums to canning, cooking and baking. All of these activities incorporate reading, math and science naturally and the experiences build background knowledge. Be sure to include plenty of fiction and nonfiction books for children to explore on their own and for read alouds
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June
National Candy, Dairy, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Iced Tea & Mango Month
National Dairy Month
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Duke the Dairy Dog: Adventures on the Farm by Kara Susan DeGroot
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Chuck's Ice Cream Wish (Tales of the Dairy Godmother) by Viola Butler
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Hairy MacLary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd
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Clarabelle: Making Milk and So Much More by Cris Peterson
National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month
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Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
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The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons
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The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons
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Go, Go, Grapes!: A Fruit Chant by April Pulley Sayre
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Rah, Rah, Radishes!: A Vegetable Chant by April Pulley Sayre
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The Vegetable Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta
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The Very Berry Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta
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Mrs. Peanuckle's Fruit Alphabet
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Mrs. Peanuckle's Vegetable Alphabet
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Fruit Bowl by Mark Hoffmann
National Mango Month
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A Mango in the Hand: A Story Told Through Proverbs by Antonio Sacre
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Too Many Mangos by Tammy Paikai
National Iced Tea Month
     Sit back on a blanket out in nature, sip a glass of iced tea and share your favorite storybook.
2nd: National Donut Day
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The Hole Story of the Doughnut by Pat Miller
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If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff
First Full Week: National Garden Week
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Jack's Garden by Henry Cole
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Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
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From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
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The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
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We Are The Gardeners by Joanna Gaines
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Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
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Secrets of the Vegetable Garden (A Shine-a-Light Book) by Carron Brown
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Usborne Peek Inside the Garden
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Usborne Little Lift and Look Garden
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Usborne Wipe-clean Garden Activities
For additional titles, take a look at our previous blog: Why get kids in the garden?.
11th: National Corn on the Cob Day
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Bob & Rob & Corn on the Cob by Todd McQueen
13th: National Weed Your Garden Day
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Weeds Find a Way by Cindy Jenson-Elliott
14th: National Strawberry Shortcake Day
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Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! by Janet Stevens
21st: Father's Day
     Research shows that boys are increasingly viewing reading as something for girls, which tends to result in lower reading scores. The best way to combat this attitude is for children to see the males in their life read. This Father’s Day, have dad or grandpa share their favorite story from childhood.
Happy reading!

-Kate @ BTBL

Author

We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 1 and a newborn) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.

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The Buggiest Bug Books!

5/24/2020

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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     Spring has sprung (although it's currently feeling more like summer) and the bugs have arrived. Most of us think of ways to get rid of the pests, but bugs can offer a summer full of reading, science and biology lessons. The natural curiosity of children makes this a fairly easy endeavor because most kids will find some bug fascinating. This is a great time for you as the parent to instruct your child how some bugs are beneficial and serve an ecological function and also offers a valuable opportunity to teach your child about the life, growth, death cycle. If you yourself are not well versed in insects, check out online sites such as National Geographic Kids or The Amateur Entomologists Society’s The Bug Club. You can begin in a fun way by watching the movie A Bug’s Life and then move on from there. Tailor learning to your child’s age, ability and interest. Start by reading stories about bugs. There are board books for the littlest ones, picture books for all ages and chapter books.
     Next, use your child’s natural curiosity to locate and observe bugs. Get a magnifying glass and a bug box or jar and let your child loose in the backyard. Include walks in the country, woods and parks and don’t forget to check out rivers and lakes. Teach them to observe, describe, document, research and then they will have added to their background knowledge. Some ideas might include:
  • Before heading out to look for bugs, with younger children, review the -ug word family with them: bug, dug, hug, jug, lug, mug, rug, slug, tug.
  • After observing their bug, have them draw or build their bug from clay, play dough or some other craft item.
  • Identify all the parts of their bug, and count the number of eyes, legs, wings etc.
  • Look up their bug in a field guide such as Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies (Take-Along Guides) by Mel Boring or a title  from National Geographic Kids.
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  • For older kids, have them write down their observations and after looking their bug up, have them write down some interesting facts they learned about their bug.
  • Encourage your children to create a journal to keep their information in and to add to, creating their own unique field guide.
     Remember that this isn’t a one-time activity but something that you can continue to revisit throughout the summer and beyond. Make bug crafts with your child (search the Internet for ideas,) play bug games such as Cootie or Mojo Education Bug-tastic Memory Match Game and look for events at local parks and nature centers that teach about insects. Learning about bugs will use those skills your child already has, building confidence and will further create new skills, to help further development, so go ahead and embrace the creepy crawlies this summer.
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     A quick Google search or browse through Amazon with the key words 'bug books for kids' will come back with a plethora of results, so we've put together a list of our favorite, buggiest bug books!
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Mrs. Peanuckle's Bug Alphabet
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Bugs A to Z by Caroline Lawton
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100 Bugs!: A Counting Book by Kate Narita
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One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J. Pinczes
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Some Bugs by Angela DiTrelizzi
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Bugs Galore by Peter Stein
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Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Bob Barner
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The Bug Book by Sue Fliess
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The Backyard Bug Book for Kids by Lauren Davidson
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The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer
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The Bugliest Bug by Carol Diggory Shields
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It's a Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
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Diary of a Fly by Doreen Cronin
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A Way with Wild Things by Larissa Theule
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     This particular title, How to Survive as a Firefly by Kirsten Foote, deserves a moment in the spotlight. Not only is this book witty and laugh-out-loud funny, it is also illuminating (see what I did there, ha) and highly engaging for all ages. Follow along as a stern, older firefly (reminiscent of a drill sergeant) is educating the new larvae on what it takes to become and survive as a firefly. There's tons of unique vocabulary, such as metamorphosis and bioluminescence, lots of interesting facts scattered throughout in various sidebars and diagrams, and follow-up pages after the story with additional information, as well as a glossary. Use your best commanding voice when reading this one aloud or turn it into a reader's theatre!

Usborne Books & More

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Bugs (Usborne Young Beginners)
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The Usborne Big Books of Bugs
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Little Lift and Look Bugs
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Lift-the-Flap Bugs & Butterflies
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Peek Inside Bug Homes
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Bug Hotel: A Lift-the-Flap Book of Discovery
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First Sticker Book Bugs
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100 Bugs to Fold & Fly
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1001 Bugs to Spot Sticker Book
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Pull-back Busy Bug Book
I am an Educational Services Representative, as well as Independent Consultant, with Usborne Books & More.
Happy bug hunting and reading!

-Kate @ BTBL

Author

We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 1 and a newborn) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.

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    Author

    We are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children.

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