Back to Basics Literacy
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Back to Basics
    • Contact Us
  • Reading Aloud
    • Research
    • Book Lists >
      • Ballet Books
      • Board Books
      • Alphabet Books
      • Number Books
      • Interactive & Sensory Books
      • Manners & Etiquette Books
      • Stories about Books, Reading & Libraries
      • Fables, Folktales & Fairy Tales
      • Nursery Rhymes & Poetry
      • Holiday Books
      • Graduation Books
      • Baking & Cooking Books
      • Gardening & Farm Books
      • Nature Books
      • Thankfulness & Gratitude Books
      • Pirate Books
      • Books Discussed in Our Handbook
    • Workshops
    • Literacy Events & Attractions
  • Bookworm Bakers
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • Toy Recommendations

 Back to Basics

Reading and cooking with kids

September: The Beauty of Change is Upon Us

8/27/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     Fall, with its beautiful colors and crisp apples is also known as the time for back to school and packed lunches. This year the back to school season may be looking a little different than we are all used to. Whether attending in-person, virtually or embarking on a homeschool journey, books can help make the experience one to remember and to learn and grow from!
     Now, this time of year is also of great significance to the farmers as it signals the beginning of harvest season. National Farm Safety & Health Week this month celebrates the contributions of farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers who work tirelessly to feed our nation. Frequent your local farmers market to include fresh produce in your child‘s lunch, as well as for snacks and meals at home. Celebrate National Johnny Appleseed Day with a visit to an apple orchard. Pick an apple and enjoy it under the tree and read Johnny Appleseed by Jane Yolen, Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindbergh or another title about American John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Make some applesauce with your child(ren) or an apple pie and pair the kitchen adventure with How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman or The Apple Pie that Papa Baked by Lauren Thompson. You might also consider making some blackberry jam in honor of National Blackberry Day.
     The uncertainty that plagued us earlier this year still remains strong in our thoughts and these uncertain times often come with unpredictable changes and children are most affected by these changes, especially to the school year. Don’t forget to reassure them and keep things as normal as possible. Keep routines or start new ones such as reading to them each night before bed and spend family time together with game nights, nature walks and time spent in the kitchen using fresh farm fruit and veggies.
Picture
September
National Biscuit, Chicken, Food Safety, Hazelnut, Honey, Mushroom, Potato & Rice Month
National Chicken Month
Picture
Chicks & Chickens by Gail Gibbons
Picture
Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski
Picture
My Life as a Chicken by Ellen A. Kelley
Picture
Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wahl
Picture
Tillie Lay An Egg by Terry Golson
National Hazelnut Month
Picture
Who Stole the Hazelnuts? by Marcus Pfister
National Honey Month
Picture
Hands Off My Honey! by Jane Chapman
Picture
If You Love Honey by Martha Sullivan
Picture
Please Please the Bees by Gerald Kelley
National Rice Month
Picture
Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley
Picture
One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi
1st Full Week: National Waffle Week
Picture
Woodpecker Wants a Waffle by Steve Breen
3rd Week: National Farm Safety & Health Week
Picture
On the Farm, At the Market by G. Brian Karas
Picture
Right This Very Minute: A table-to-farm book about food and farming by Lisl H. Detlefsen
Picture
Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson
Picture
The Farm That Feeds Us: A year in the life of an organic farm by Nancy Castaldo
Picture
Farmers Market Create-And-Play Activity Book by Deanna F. Cook
Picture
Dinosaur Farm by Frann Preston-Gannon
     This story follows a farmer as he goes about his daily routine of caring for the animals and plants in his charge, but there is something a little bit different about this particular farm. Instead of the typical barnyard livestock of cows, pigs and chickens, readers will find the illustrations brimming with prehistoric creatures! You won't want to miss any of the laugh-out-loud fun as you read this one, so be sure to take your time looking over the illustrations.

2nd: International Bacon Day
Picture
Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly DiPucchio
7th: National Acorn Squash Day
Picture
Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller
Picture
Sophie's Squash Go to School by Pat Zietlow Miller
11th: National Hot Cross Buns Day
Picture
Hot Cross Buns and Other Old Street Cries by John Langstaff
12th: National Blackberry Day
Picture
The Blackberry Mouse by Matthew Grimsdale
Picture
The Very Berry Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta
Picture
Mr. McGee and the Blackberry Jam by Pamela Allen
13th: National Chocolate Day
Picture
No Monkeys, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart and Allen Young
Picture
Margret & H. A. Rey's Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory
Picture
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
Picture
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Picture
This Book Is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch
Picture

Chocolate: The Consuming Passion by Sandra Boynton
     While this title is actually 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 chocolate enthusiasts of every age!

13th: National Peanut Day
Picture
The Life and Times of the Peanut by Charles Micucci
Picture
Peanut Butter and Jelly: A Play Rhyme by Nadine Bernard Wescott
Picture
Peanut Butter & Brains: A Zombie Culinary Tale by Joe McGee
18th: National Cheeseburger Day
Picture
Spiders Don't Eat Cheeseburgers by Kat Brancato
22nd: National White Chocolate Day
23rd: National Pot Pie Day
26th: National Johnny Appleseed Day
     *Additional titles referenced toward the beginning of this post.
Picture
Johnny Appleseed: The Story of a Legend by Will Moses
26th: National Dumpling Day
Picture
Dumpling Soup by Jama Kim Rattigan
Picture
The Ugly Dumpling by Stephanie Campisi
26th: National Pancake Day
Picture
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
Picture
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tome dePaola
Picture
Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk
Picture
Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle
Picture
Pancakes with Grandma by Kathryn Smith
27th: National Chocolate Milk Day
Picture
Chocolate Milk by Alexandra Rizik
Picture
Chocolate Milk, Por Favor by Maria Dismondy
One last thing...September is also Library Card Sign-up Month, so visit your local library (if they are open), get a card and check out some of the titles we have mentioned in this post!

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 5) for Kate, and two sons (now 2 and 10 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.

0 Comments

Good-bye Summer, Hello Fall!

9/3/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
     Life is a series of changes but with the advent of fall comes the change that we at BTBL love most of all. The visual changes as the bloom of flowers leave us and the trees display their magnificent colors before dropping their leaves. This time also offers great outdoor experiences for children. A wonderful way to experience the changes of fall might be to read the story My Autumn Book by Wong Herbert Yee and then enjoy the wonders of nature with your child and collect the treasures the season has to offer and create your own Autumn Book.
Picture
     Change at this time of year can also involve starting school or moving to a new grade. A wonderful story about the challenge of accepting change and letting go in order to grow up is Little Tree by Loren Long. With so many changes that occur in a young child’s life, it is vitally important that some routines and traditions remain, such as snuggling and sharing a story. Children are often confronted with daily changes and most of these changes are beyond a child’s control, which can lead to stress and anxiety. It is the established routines that can give a child a sense of control for they know what to expect. Routines give children a sense of consistency and security in an ever changing, unpredictable world. A routine of reading with your child will make them feel safe and secure and create an everlasting bond. Choose stories that help your child see that though life presents challenges, not all is lost such as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst.
Picture
Picture

Do you have a library card? If not, it's time to get one!

     Don’t forget to continue to utilize your local library. September is Library Card Sign-up Month so take your child to the library and let them get a card (if they are old enough) and teach them how to find books that interest them. For infants and preschoolers, check for story times and other scheduled activities.
Picture

What is happening in September?

2nd: Labor Day - To honor the contributions workers have made to this country help your child explore careers. Some books to consider are When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic, Lola Dutch When I Grow Up by Kenneth Wright and the The Berenstain Bears Jobs Around Town by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
Picture
Picture
Picture
8th: Poet Jack Prelutsky’s Birthday - With his innovative word play, Prelutsky’s poems are a must read for every child. Consider Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young and The New Kid on the Block.
Picture
Picture
       Author Jon Scieszka’s Birthday - Nationally recognized reading advocate and the founder of the literacy program for boys GUYS READ. Share one of his picture books with your young one or for the older set a title from his Time Warp Trio chapter book series.
Picture
Picture
Picture
         International Literacy Day - Helps to raise awareness for those who cannot read or write. Help your child understand how important reading is to life by reading Oh, How I wished I Could Read! by John Gile.
Picture
11th: 9/11 Remembrance Day - Honor those who were taken from us in your own special way.
Picture
Picture
13th: Author Roald Dahl’s Birthday - Who didn’t grow up with Dahl’s classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach? Share one of his timeless stories with your child.
Picture
Picture
14th: Curiosity Day – Each year, around the birthday of H.A. Rey, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) hosts an event called Curiosity Day. This is a day set aside to celebrate the magic of learning and discovery through reading, particularly the stories of everyone’s favorite curious monkey, George. You can find more information about this day and ways to celebrate on HMH’s official Curious George web page.
Picture
Picture
Picture
16th: Author H.A. Rey’s Birthday - Rey, with wife Margret, brought the delightful exploits of a mischievous and beloved little monkey to life, Curious George. Read about their remarkable journey to escape the Nazi invasion of Paris in The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden.
Picture
17th: Constitution Day – A day to celebrate our Nation’s Constitution. Consider reading We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States by David Catrow.
Picture
25th: Poet Shel Silverstein’s Birthday - Silverstein has delighted children with his poems and drawings for years. Among his notable works are The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends.
Picture
Picture
The Last Week is Banned Books Week – Celebrate the freedom to read by choosing your favorite book. For a list of frequently challenged/banned books, visit the American Library Association's website.

"No two persons ever read the same book."
-Edmund Wilson-

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 3) for Kate, a son (now 1) and another little boy expected this year 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.

0 Comments

Back to school means...

8/15/2019

0 Comments

 
     Memories? Hectic schedules? A moment to yourself? All of those things? For some that first day of school or that first day back to school can be bittersweet. While we want to see our children move forward in independence, we also lament the loss of the sweet smell of infancy. What we as parents need to remember though is that we are not handing our children over to teachers to raise but instead increasing the circle of caring individuals that will contribute their knowledge and experience towards a well-rounded child with potential to conquer the world. While we tell children to dream big, we need to give them experiences that let them see the possibilities and when first hand experiences aren’t possible, we feel that the next best thing is reading and books. Books can reveal new worlds and different cultures and expose children to the potential that exists in the world.  

“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.”
C.S. Lewis

Picture
*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
Picture
The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing
Picture
The 12 Days of Preschool by Jenna Lettice
Picture
Preschool, Here I Come! by David J. Steinberg
Picture
Pete the Kitty's First Day of Preschool by Kimberly & James Dean
Picture
The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
Picture
The 12 Days of Kindergarten by Jenna Lettice
Picture
Kindergarten, Here I Come! by David J. Steinberg
Picture
Curious George's First Day of School by H. A. Rey
Picture
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems
Picture
We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
Picture
If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
Refer back to our previous blog September: Back to School & Library Card Sign-up Month for a list of additional picture books with a back to school theme!
     Because children will need to read throughout their educational careers and beyond, it is important to create a positive association with books and reading. With the beginning of school and its focus on testing, we like to see children get excited about filling their lives with new knowledge from books and learning to read. Reading a variety of books will help build background knowledge and the act of sitting and listening to a story will increase focus and attention which will assist them as they prepare for the classroom. If you don’t have a large library in your home, visit your public library, local bookstore or used book sales for your child to find what interests them. Let them continue to explore because what appealed last year may not appeal any longer or they may be looking to branch out to something new. There is no finite number of interests. Don’t hold them back or try to lead them to what you, your spouse or their siblings have an interest in. Remember that each child is their own person with a unique personality and interests. Also know that the best learning sometimes comes from just talking. Take the time to discuss your child’s day, what they learned, what they are reading etc. Ask open-ended questions and allow your child to run with it, even if it heads off on a totally different tangent. Sometimes the best discussions and learning opportunities come from just such moments and creates a lasting bond and memories.

Picture
Happy reading as you get back to school!

-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 3) for Kate, a son (now 1) and another little boy expected this year 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.

0 Comments

September: Back to School & Library Card Sign-up Month!

8/31/2018

0 Comments

 
     September is the first month of fall and the official start of the harvest season, as well as getting back to school time and Library Card Sign-up Month. It’s also a great time to visit your local farmers market, apple orchards and cider mills or just to take a walk in nature to appreciate the changes taking place. To look at how other cultures celebrate the harvest season you might consider reading We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season by Wendy Pfeffer or to get information about gathering crops try Fall Harvests: Bringing in Food by Martha E H Rustad.
Picture
Picture
     When we think of seasons we always look to nature for indications of change, but any person who goes shopping realizes that August and September are the beginning of the Back to School season with specials, sales and offers of all kinds on anything and everything school related. While you’re busy getting all the requisite supplies, don’t forget the most important supply: books! Not the notebooks, though you will need those, but the storybooks to keep the fun and the whimsy alive when homework begins to bog the kids down.
Picture
Some titles to consider with a back to school theme are:

  • We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
  • School Days by B. G. Hennessy
  • My New Teacher and Me by Al Yankovic
  • The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
  • Choose a title from Natasha Wing for your child’s age such as...
    • The Night Before Preschool
    • The Night Before Kindergarten
    • The Night Before First Grade
  • A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School by Davide Cali
  • This School Year Will Be The Best! by Kay Winters
  • Click, Clack, Quack to School! by Doreen Cronin
  • Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London
  • It’s Back to School We Go!: First Day Stories from Around the World by Ellen Jackson
  • Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
  • Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
  • The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen
  • Monsters Love School by Mike Austin
  • If You Take A Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
  • Little Critter: First Day of School by Mercer Mayer
  • Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
  • How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
  • Emily's First 100 Days of School by Rosemary Wells
  • Timothy Goes to School by Rosemary Wells
  • How To Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Reagan
  • Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
     Many of these titles are geared for the younger set just entering school but don’t let the older ones fool you into thinking that they don’t enjoy these too. There are many titles out there for older children as well that are just plain fun or that help with anxiety and stress or help to teach a valuable lesson. Check with your local librarian or local book shop for ideas.
And speaking of your local library, this month is Library Card Sign-Up Month so get the family together and head out to your library and get everyone a card and then peruse the books and check out some titles that interest. Perhaps even find a title that can be read aloud as a whole family such as The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, Little Women or Little Men by Louisa May Alcott, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, or A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. Start a family tradition of a chapter a night after dinner or before bedtime.
Picture
     Though children head off to school and schedules become hectic, don’t forget the importance of reading aloud, even to older children. Many schools don’t fund libraries and teachers don’t always have the time to read aloud so keep reading alive in your house through daily read alouds.

Remember that reading aloud to your child helps:
  • build background knowledge
  • build vocabulary
  • build concentration and focus
  • build imagination
  • build strong bonds
Picture

What's happening in September?

7th: Labor Day - To honor the contributions workers have made to this country help your child explore careers. Some books to consider are When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic and the Barenstain Bears’ On the Job and Jobs Around Town.

8th: Poet Jack Prelutsky’s Birthday - With his innovative word play, Prelutsky’s poems are a must read for every child. Consider Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young and The New Kid on the Block.
Author Jon Scieszka’s Birthday - Nationally recognized reading advocate and the founder of the literacy program for boys GUYS READ. Share one of his picture books with your young one or for the older set a title from his Time Warp Trio chapter book series.
International Literacy Day - Helps to raise awareness for those who cannot read or write. Help your child understand how important reading is to life by reading Oh, How I wished I Could Read! by John Gile.

11th: 9/11 Remembrance Day - Honor those who were taken from us in your own special way.

13th: Author Roald Dahl’s Birthday - Who didn’t grow up with Dahl’s classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach? Share one of his many stories with your child.

16th: Author H.A. Rey’s Birthday - Rey, with wife Margret, brought the delightful exploits of a mischievous and beloved little monkey to life, Curious George. Read about their remarkable journey to escape the Nazi invasion of Paris in The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey by Louise Borden.

17th: Constitution Day – A day to celebrate our Nation’s Constitution. Consider reading We the People by David Catrow.

25th: Poet Shel Silverstein’s Birthday - Silverstein has delighted children with his poems and drawings for years. Among his notable works are The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends.

The Last Week is Banned Books Week - Celebrate the right to read by picking up your favorite book or a frequently challenged book. You can find challenged and banned book lists on the American Library Association's website.

Curiosity Day - Each year, sometime around the birthday of H.A. Rey, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) hosts an event called Curiosity Day. This is a day set aside to celebrate the magic of learning and discovery through reading, particularly the stories of everyone’s favorite curious monkey, George. You can find more information about this day and ways to celebrate on HMH’s official Curious George web page.
     So, even though schedules are about to get much crazier, don't forget to make time to share books with your children and enjoy all of the delights that the beginning of the fall season has to offer!

Happy reading!
0 Comments

    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.

    Archives

    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    ABC Books
    Alphabet Books
    Arbor Day
    Autumn/Fall
    Background Knowledge
    Back To School
    Ballet Books
    Banned Books Week
    Board Books
    Book Advent Calendar
    Book Finds
    Book Quotes
    Books
    Book Sales
    Bookworm Bakers
    Boredom
    BTBL Rocks
    Bugs/Insects
    Calendars
    Censorship
    Children's Book Week
    Christmas
    Coloring
    Cooking
    Creativity
    Dewey Decimal System
    Dr. Seuss
    Early Literacy
    Earth Day
    Easter
    Environmental Print
    Extended Activities
    Fairy Gardens
    Fairy Tales
    Family Literacy Month
    Farmers Markets
    Flowers
    Gardening
    Get Caught Reading Month
    Gratefulness
    Halloween
    Hands-On
    Hanukkah
    Holidays
    Homeschooling
    Imaginative Play
    Inspiration
    Intellectual Freedom
    Kids In The Kitchen
    Kindergarten
    Kindness
    Kindness Rocks Project
    Language
    Learning
    Libraries
    Library Card Sign-up Month
    Magnets
    Manners & Etiquette
    Math
    Natural Playgrounds
    Natural Reader
    Nature
    New Year Resolutions
    Number Books
    Nursery Rhymes
    Outdoor Play
    Picture Books
    Play
    Poetry
    Puzzles
    Read Across America
    Reading
    Reading Aloud
    Reading Comprehension
    Reading Month
    Repetition
    School Libraries
    Screen Free Week
    Spring
    STEM
    Storytelling
    Storytime
    Summer
    Summer Slide
    Teaching
    Tell A Fairy Tale Day
    Thanksgiving
    Toys
    Unplug
    Used Books
    Valentine's Day
    Vocabulary
    Winter
    Winter Books
    Words & Word Play
    World Read Aloud Day

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Back to Basics
    • Contact Us
  • Reading Aloud
    • Research
    • Book Lists >
      • Ballet Books
      • Board Books
      • Alphabet Books
      • Number Books
      • Interactive & Sensory Books
      • Manners & Etiquette Books
      • Stories about Books, Reading & Libraries
      • Fables, Folktales & Fairy Tales
      • Nursery Rhymes & Poetry
      • Holiday Books
      • Graduation Books
      • Baking & Cooking Books
      • Gardening & Farm Books
      • Nature Books
      • Thankfulness & Gratitude Books
      • Pirate Books
      • Books Discussed in Our Handbook
    • Workshops
    • Literacy Events & Attractions
  • Bookworm Bakers
  • Blog
  • Shop
    • Toy Recommendations