October, the color of Autumn

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     Autumn is in full swing and though most of us welcome the vibrant colors of the season, some find this time of change difficult. Consider sharing the story Fall is Not Easy by Marty Kelley with your child but also take the time to get outdoors and enjoy the changes taking place, perhaps even sitting among the trees and reading a story or perhaps try some storytelling. Children always love a made-up story and you can never get it wrong. Stories began with the oral tradition and were then passed down through the generations. Telling your children stories allows you to pass on your values while also increasing focus and attention as you both maintain eye contact with no pages to turn or illustrations to peruse. Children must engage their senses to make the story come to life. Engaging children in storytelling is also a way to help support oral language and vocabulary development as well as listening skills while also increasing imagination and strengthening confidence as they use elements from their life to tell their story. Just remember there is no right or wrong so have fun with it even if the story gets crazy and doesn’t make any sense. To add some fun to the idea, read The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears by Alastair Chisholm.

     Speaking of storytelling...one day when walking the trails at a local park, we came across a fire pit surrounded by log seating. My daughter asked my mother and I to sit and she proceeded to tell us a story. She walked around the fire pit and told a spooky story and even acted out some of it by stomping along like a big monster. Of course, once she had told her story, my mother and I each had to get up and tell our own. It became a fun time that we won’t soon forget.

“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble.”
William Shakespeare

The end of the month brings my daughter’s favorite holiday, Halloween, but it seems to be more the thought of it than the actual day spent trick or treating. It’s reading the stories and watching the movies and specials. It’s running through the pumpkin patch searching for that perfect pumpkin, wandering a corn maze or visiting a haunted house and of course, dressing up. So, celebrate Halloween by dressing up and reading some Halloween stories together and finish it off with a craft. This is a great time to bond and build memories.

October happenings...

5th: Author David Shannon’s Birthday - Celebrate by choosing one of Shannon’s David series books. A fun read with the holidays fast approaching is Too Many Toys.

12th: Columbus Day - For young ones, you can take your own exploration outdoors and make new discoveries. For older children, you can choose a biography from the “Who Was” series or read You Wouldn’t Want to Sail with Christopher Columbus! by Fiona MacDonald.

31st: Halloween - Observed in many countries and in many ways, Halloween in the United States has become known for costumes and trick-or-treating. There are many great picture books in honor of the holiday including Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds (have children make their own creepy carrot), Boris and Bella by Carolyn Crimi and Monster Mash by David Catrow (to add to the fun, play the song Monster Mash by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers.)

For even more Halloween titles, take a look at our previous blog: 31 Days of Halloween Reads! and peruse our Holiday Books list!

Art and Halloween…an artsy book lovers dream!

There are many ways to combine books with a fun art project. Above we mentioned making your own creepy carrots after reading Aaron Reynolds's Creepy Carrots. Another fun book and activity pairing is Monster Needs a Costume by Paul Czajak and/or I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll and then making origami monster bookmarks. These adorable little bookmarks look like they are gnawing on the corner of the book while keeping your place!

Happy reading and creating!

-Kate @ BTBL

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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.