And, hey!
Hay is for horses.
Shout Out
Have you checked out The Children's Corner? I first discovered them through a mention at ruffling feathers, and I'm hooked on their great tips, fashion showcases, and family stories. Today, they let Christina tell the story of her baby's fight to survive. Christina is the mom in the ambassador family for Utah County March for Babies (March of Dimes). I'll be walking with her on April 30th in Provo Canyon for March for Babies. Support babies and families like hers, and all the babies in your life, by donating any amount.
And, hey!
Hay is for horses.
And, hey!
Hay is for horses.
Online Storytime
Have you ever tried online storytime? I'm not sure how I feel about it. In some of my high school and university classes, we listened to authors reading their own works, or narrators reading them; that's a great way to shake up the introduction of literature and get across how the tone and the rhythm of the piece could be interpreted. I suppose I think audio books are better for school-aged kids. Libraries may go more and more this way, to stay fresh in an ever-digitizing world. (We'll talk about e-books one of these days.)
Apparently, online story time is cool, because Rachel Ray reads Green Eggs and Ham. I don't know about you, but I've never thought, If only there were more celebrities who departed from their routines and read books to my child via web videos. Thanks to The Screen Actors Guild Foundation, Tia and Tamera read No Mirrors in My Nana's House and Betty White reads Harry the Dirty Dog. The site features activity ideas with each reading--I like that.
Story Place's digital library features (if you're patient enough to wait for it to load) animated stories, activities, and suggested reading lists, divided by reading level.
And, of course, YouTube has a plethora of storytimes, including Mercer Meyer reading his own There's An Alligator Under My Bed.
But, see, the problem that all of these storytimes have, is that none of them can ever be better than Reading Rainbow. Am I right?
TGIF
Well, what do you know? It's Friday again. Even though Fridays hold no significance to a mom like me who works from home, I still get the same TGIF butterflies in my stomach about it. It's like my waking up on a Friday thoughts have evolved from:
"It's the last day this week I have to get up early for school, and tonight I get to eat pizza and watch Boy Meets World (and Full House and Step By Step and Saved by the Bell)!"
to:
"Yes! Tonight, I can make out until three a.m. and sleep in tomorrow!"
to:
"It's Friday, right? Because yesterday was vacuuming day, so yeah, Friday today. Tonight we can hit up a not-too-fancy/family-friendly/but-not-fast-food restaurant!"
Is anyone still with me? Forgive the crazy. It's snowing. And I hate snow. I loathe snow, actually, when it comes in the springtime. So, I'm practicing escapism in my springtime picture books. And Baby A is practicing page-turning and pointing with her "baby dictionaries":
Pienen oma sanakirja Kirjalito (2009) (originally Mon Premier Dictionnaire, translated into Finnish by Mari Koski)
My Little Word Book Roger Priddy priddy books for St. Martin's Press (2004)
P.S. The Scarlet Pimpernel is so witty.
post-colonial turn-of-the-twentieth-century satirical historical fiction about the French Revolution = horrifyingly hilarious
P.P.S. Happy seventeenth birthday, little bro!
They're Called Books
But, I do wish, for the sakes of:
developing a longer attention span,
reawakening an appreciation of the literary arts,
setting an example for my daughter, and
you know, to seem smarter---
I wish I read more books.
Specifically, I wish I finished the books I started. Novels. Collections of short fiction. Maybe some non-fiction, too, if I want to go wild in my academic pursuits. If I read as many book pages as magazine pages each month (2,500+!), I'd probably get through 6 books each year. And so, 2011, I will finish 6 books before you end. So far, I've read the rather recent Cecilia Ahern's If You Could See Me Now, and I've started an old favorite, The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy. (YA counts!)
Things to do and places to be...
HAPPY SPRING! My baby girl is 10 months old today! I can't believe how fast she grows and how much she learns every day. Yesterday, she started saying "Good. Good. Good." I don't think she's saying it with meaning, but she probably picked it up from her dad's constant praise of her efforts, achievements, and patience. (I praise her, too, but in Finnish.)
COMING UP NEXT MONTH:
If you're a writer for any kind of young reader in Utah, be sure to enter the First Line Contest by April 2nd. The prizes are good, plus, it's fun! When you check it out, you'll see the awwwwwwwesome Writing and Illustrating for Young Reader's Conference is coming up June 13th-17th!
And if you're in Utah in April, come walk with me! I'm on team babyalexandra for the Utah County March for Babies (March of Dimes). The walk is Saturday, April 30th, and it's going to be so fun! Whether or not you can walk with me, you can donate any amount. "Funds raised in March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And they will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care."
Spring Picks & Pics
I don't usually commit to a favorite, but I will tell you my favorite springtime book is
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969). Brilliant and bright illustrations squeeze science, consequences, food, sunshine, humor, and beauty into one classic book. No wonder it's always on the list for teachers, librarians, and parents!
And if you like that, you'd like
Aand if you like that, you'd like
Aaand if you like that, you'd like
Rain Brings Frogs: A Little Book of Hope by Maryann Cocca-Leffler (2011).
Nate is always choosing positivity, and you know, it's charming. Spring isn't just for frogs and flowers, but for fresh starts, too. Read the few lines about Nate's sunny-side take on life, and maybe it will be infectious---in a good way.
Aaaand: we've got a winner!
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| http://www.kidsource.com/books/images/0061074292.l.gif |
Check out a day in the amazing life of Katriina:
She baked her mother's recipe, crafted, gave a thoughtful gift, re-read a favorite book, and internetted all in one day! Thanks for the peek, Katriina, and thanks for reading.
P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day! For some book reviews and activity ideas, this site is not bad.
She baked her mother's recipe, crafted, gave a thoughtful gift, re-read a favorite book, and internetted all in one day! Thanks for the peek, Katriina, and thanks for reading.
P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day! For some book reviews and activity ideas, this site is not bad.
Last Week of Winter and a List About Trees
We've thought about the past and connected it to the present. We've chronicled the present. And now, as spring approaches, we look to the future. To close out winter with hope for the future and fresh beginnings, let's:
Make a wish and tie it to a tree.
I wrote my wish on a piece of paper.
I attached strings and bits of paper to my wish.
I used one attached string to fasten it loosely to a tree branch in my yard.
I check every day to see if my wish has been carried away by fairies, or, maybe, birds.
Why attach a wish to a tree? I will give you three reasons:
1. Birds will use your wish in their nest, and that's just nice. In fourth grade, I read about it in Sara, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (1985) when an outdoor haircut contributed to a soft nest for baby birds (read it!).
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| http://www.lookingglassreview.com/html/the_sarah_plain_and_tall_books.html |
2. Trees are magical. Proof:
a. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (1964)
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| http://www.bookapex.com/The-Giving-Tree-reviews-B000NY2R40_1.htm |
b. Charlie Brown's Christmas tree & The Christmas tree that grew from a magic pine cone in my backyard every year (a story for another day)
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| http://sometimesyouneedthat.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/o-christmas-tree-charlie-brown-christmas-tree/ |
3. Lots of nice things are said about trees, such as:
- I think that I shall never see
- A poem as lovely as a tree.
- A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
- Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
- A tree that looks at God all day,
- And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
- A tree that may in Summer wear
- A nest of robins in her hair;
- Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
- Who intimately lives with rain.
- Poems are made by fools like me,
- But only God can make a tree.
- "Trees" was originally published in Trees and Other Poems. Joyce Kilmer. New York: George H. Doran Company, 1914. http://www.poetry-archive.com/k/trees.html
- Let me know what happens with your wish!
- Coming next time: a review of books about spring.
My Present Day
9:16 a.m.
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| working... |
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| ...while Baby A takes her morning snooze |
12:00 p.m.
 |
| running FORTY minutes late... |
 |
| ...but Baby A isn't stressed |
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| a calmer noonday |
3:02 p.m.
 |
| at the playground |
6:06 p.m.
 |
| a rare family dinner |
8:50 p.m.
 |
| time to sing the good night song (Nukkumatti) |
So, what've you been up to?
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| grumpy girl (Sunday was the first day her hair clip stayed in--she's getting so big!) |
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| new boots! |
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| led mushroom nightlight from Target |
What have you been up to?
Remember how you can win a prize? Quick, send me your photos! (You don't have to have all the times, just your favorite will do. And leave a comment. Tuesday night is the deadline.)
Parking on a Friday
Funny, I really thought of saying parking before I realized it was a joke. Parking on a Friday has a whole new meaning after a hub and babe come along. (cue: laughter)
And don't forget to send me your pictures.
I guess I should go grocery shop like a grown-up.
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| bemoaning being forced into jeans and a hoodie, after a gargantuan struggle |
 |
| but she loves the spotlight |
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| 12:17 |
First Giveaway and Stardom!
Let's just say Happy Fat Tuesday, first. These spring-themed Oreos will help me get fat on a Tuesday, so I'm set.
I'm SUPER-psyched for the goal of this week (Week 2 of the 3-Week Countdown to spring). Keep your camera handy! Snap a picture of what you’re up to at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m. (either throughout one day or patched together throughout the next few days.) It will be like you're famous, except only pictures you approve of are published. (!) Then, just for the heck of it, and to be entered to win a SURPRISE PRIZE, either:
-post your pictures on facebook with a link back here and then leave a comment here, and/or
-post your pictures on your own blog with a link back here and then leave a comment here, and/or
-e-mail me your pics [anna.culpATgmail] and leave a comment here.
-Follow this blog (or, if you already do, leave a comment with some advice for me)
If you fancy, do all of them for quadruple the entry! The deadline is Tuesday, March 8th, and the winner will be announced the following day. I can’t wait to get a peek into your lives! Is that creepy, or nice?
Here's a little peek for you:
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| They say: Happy Spring, Share the Warmth, Buzzz, and Leap [Frog]. |
I'm SUPER-psyched for the goal of this week (Week 2 of the 3-Week Countdown to spring). Keep your camera handy! Snap a picture of what you’re up to at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m. (either throughout one day or patched together throughout the next few days.) It will be like you're famous, except only pictures you approve of are published. (!) Then, just for the heck of it, and to be entered to win a SURPRISE PRIZE, either:
-post your pictures on facebook with a link back here and then leave a comment here, and/or
-post your pictures on your own blog with a link back here and then leave a comment here, and/or
-e-mail me your pics [anna.culpATgmail] and leave a comment here.
-Follow this blog (or, if you already do, leave a comment with some advice for me)
If you fancy, do all of them for quadruple the entry! The deadline is Tuesday, March 8th, and the winner will be announced the following day. I can’t wait to get a peek into your lives! Is that creepy, or nice?
Here's a little peek for you:
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| kisses, in case you were wondering, caught in the mirror on the floor |
Week 1 + Vintage Love
The goal of last week (Week 1 of the 3-Week Countdown) was to connect the past and the present by reading one of your childhood favorites to a child.
Tell me what you read, and who you read with!
Do you agree? What do you love vintage, and why?
Tell me what you read, and who you read with!
I attempted to read The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Inga Moore, as a family a little bit at a time, starting this week.
Baby A's interest is in the camera, not the book. Her attention span is about 16 words lately. No more long cuddles for me. I'm sure I'll have a comeback in a few months, though. But look how good she is at standing! She's a cruiser. And my calf is squished weird, don't judge.
So, speaking of connecting past and present, isn't it funny that we throw out more new stuff than really old stuff? I think vintage is so hot right now because in our generation of easy-to-make, easy-to-acquire, easy-to-replace stuff, we want a story. We want to remind ourselves that some things are hard to make, some things are hard to come by, and some things are worth keeping. And we want to feel connected to someone else--as if at any moment a secret will be whispered to us, or some leftover good luck will float around. Does a throw pillow here and a ceramic owl there achieve all that? Maybe, baby. Plus, look how pretty:
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| Stories Divinations on esty |
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| glasspanic on etsy |
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| ande monster on etsy |
Oh, The Places I'm Going
So, I read some Dr. Seuss, on account of his birthday and, you know, for fun. I started with Oh, the Places You'll Go!, during which Baby A climbed out of my lap and to the coffee table to yesterday's take-out cup of Dr. Pepper...you see where this is going? No, she didn't drink it, thank goodness. But my carpet did--just as I read, "But on you will go / though the weather be foul."
You all already knew story time was not always magical giggle-snuggle-learning time with unicorns and dinosaurs and clever puppies?
But do you know what the inside front cover of Oh, The Places You'll Go Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Summary says? I do: "Advice in rhyme for proceeding in life; weathering fear, loneliness, and confusion; and being in charge of your actions."
I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.
On and on you will hike.
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!
Bedtime Fears
I am afraid of the dark.
I could tell you the origin of this fear. But I know, in my head, that it is ridiculous. Or, at least, running from my living room to the safety of under-my-covers is ridiculous.
Even more, I fear I will pass fear on to my daughter.
I hope she is brave and finds ways to defeat all of her fears. Dealing with fear is a part of life that begins so young. In response to a comment from my friend and reader Szilivia, I've tried to tap the picture book market for bedtime fear-fighting strategies. She asked, "Is there any book you could recommend for a little girl who is afraid of going to bed at night and has night terrors?"
First, a note on night terrors vs. nightmares. As far as I can understand, night terrors occur in very deep sleep, and the sleeper should be monitored against accidental injury (if they are flailing or sleepwalking) but no intervention should take place, as this could agitate them further. Supposedly, people who have night terrors do not remember them when they wake up in the morning. Perhaps a psychologist could help determine if there was a trauma that started them, and develop a treatment for them. Nightmares are more common, and occur in a lighter sleep. I'm not pretending to be an expert, I just thought that was interesting, and forgot to record the citation for the book that explained that. My former English professors would weep.
Surprisingly little is written about night terrors, and children's books deal lightly with bad dreams, and more likely focus on fear of the dark at bedtime.
But, in case it is helpful, I found:
The Berenstain Bears and the Bad Dream (1988) by Stan & Jan Berenstain
Sister Bear has a bad dream about Brother Bear's favorite trend in toys and theaters, "Space Grizzlies". Mama and Papa Bear explain that dreams are just our imagination putting together things we've seen or thought about. When Brother Bear also has a vivid "Space Grizzlies" nightmare, Sister Bear passes on the explanation. This book is a great tool for teaching children to understand dreams, and think through their fears. Ages 4 and up would be most likely to grasp the message. Anyone born before 2000 certainly already knows that the Berenstain Bears are always fun and realistic.
Scary Night Visitors: A Story for Children with Bedtime Fears (1993) by Irene Wineman Marcus and Paul Marcus, PhD.; illustrated by Susan Jeschke
The best part of this book is the "Introduction for Parents, Teachers, and Librarians", which explains the importance teaching children to validate their feelings and learn control over their fear. The black-and-white pencil illustrations are actually a bit frightening, and the story includes complex ideas crammed into an story not dynamic enough to demonstrate them. It is well-intentioned, with more information on resources for teaching children about nightmares, but I would not read it to a child.
There's A Nightmare in My Closet (1968) by Mercer Mayer.
My librarian suggested this "classic", in which a young boy confronts the monster in his closet and discovers that the monster fears him. The language is clever and cute, and while the red-white-green drawings are not as engaging as modern illustrations, they still capture action and emotion well. Its practicality in helping with nightmares seems unlikely. Also, I personally would not endorse a boy shooting a toy gun at a monster (as the narrator does), but that is a soap box for a different day.
Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep (1998) by Joyce Dunbar and Debi Gliori
Willa can't sleep, so her sweet brother Willoughby comforts her by pointing out all the things that are waiting for Willa tomorrow. The jumpsuit is "longing" to be worn by Willa, the basket of toys are "dreaming" of the games they will play, and so on. The end feels sweet and resolved. While this does not address bad dreams, specifically, I thought it suggested an excellent relaxation and security practice for toddlers at bedtime. Read this book at the bedside of children ages 18 months and up, as a platform for discussing their days.
P.S. There are a lot more books I love dealing with other fears, so I'll bring those up in the future.
Happy Birthday, Suessdorf!
Wouldn't it be awesome if your birthday prompted people to eat green eggs and read fun books? Way to go, Dr. Suess. Make some crafts and play the games on the Suessville site, and then check out the international non-profit for literacy and more, LitWorld. World Read Aloud Day is March 9th.
3-Week Countdown
What happened? I burrowed my head in my couch blanket and voosh! February is over. I haven't just been absent here on the blog; I've been a bit foggy-brained in general. But the windows are opened today and a walk has been scheduled for this afternoon, because, you know what? It's March. And March is all about fresh starts.
March 20th is one of my favorite days this year, being officially spring, it is the first day of my year, really. And I'd like to celebrate with a 3-week countdown that celebrates fresh starts. (It's actually 2 weeks, 5 days, but let me have it). I'll give you the sneak peek of what to do to join my countdown, but there's no need to get ahead of yourself:
March 1-7/Week 1: Connect the past, present, and future. Read a book you loved as a child to a child.
March 8-14/Week 2: Recognize the present. Take a picture of what you're doing at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m. (You can spread the photos through the week or pick one day to chronicle.) Post them on your own blog/facebook with a link to this post, or send them to me [anna.culpATgmail.com]. To make it really interesting, there's gonna be a prize involved.
March 15-20/Week 3: Look to the future. Read some springtime books (I'll let you know my picks next week). On March 21st, draw or print a picture of yourself, write a wish on the back, and attach it to a tree branch. More on this later!
But we're starting Week 1 today!
Read a book you loved as a child to a child. I'm planning on The Velveteen Rabbit, and maybe re-starting The Wind in The Willows as a family read (one of Hub's favorites). I'll be sure to report, but please tell me what you're doing!
Ready...go!
P.S. For a fail-proof spring de-clutter/brain de-fogging system, read this.
P.P.S.
| March 2011 | ||||||
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| | | 1 3-WEEK COUNTDOWN KICK-OFF | 2 READ ACROSS AMERICA/DR. SUESS’ B-DAY | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 WEEK 2 OF COUNTDOWN & FAT TUESDAY | 9 WORLD READ-ALOUD DAY | 10 | 11 UVU ENGAGED READING CONFERENCE | 12 CONF. CONTINUES |
| 13 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS | 14 | 15 WEEK 3 OF COUNTDOWN | 16 | 17 ST. PATTY’S DAY | 18 | 19 |
| 20 FIRST DAY OF SPRING | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | | |
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