Blog Name: Playing by the book
Blog URL: http://www.playingbythebook.net/
Twitter Name: @playbythebook
Goodreads: Playing by the book

When did you start your blog and why? Give us a little info about your blog too.

I started Playing by the book in July 2009. I wanted to find a way to both read and play more with my children, and to be in contact with more adults who were also interested in creativity and children’s literature. It seemed like a blog might give me the structure I needed to achieve these goals. I don’t keep a diary but I did want to find a way to treasure the good times – I’ve a terrible memory and didn’t want to forget all the funny moments or sparks of imagination that fill my kids’ days – and my blog has also helped with this. Playing by the book is now a place where I review the kids’ books we’re reading as a family and share the crazy, fun stuff those books inspire us to get up to!

Tell us a little about yourself outside of your interest in books.

My favourite space in our house is my spice cupboard – I love to cook and opening the spice cupboard doors is always an invitation to travel the world!

If I could live anywhere at any time I would love to travel back to the very early 1900s in Budapest – I happen to speak Hungarian and Budapest is a beautiful city, full of amazing architecture and coffee houses to linger in. If I couldn’t make it to Hungary, then I’d accept time traveling to Skara Brae 5000 years ago instead.

I was once offered a job which would have involved traveling the world and learning how to shoot to kill (if only I were making this up…). On days when being stuck at home with two poorly children in a rather uninspiring part of the world I ponder how differently my life could have turned out. But in the end I always know I made the right choice.

Your favorite book from your youth and the story behind it.

I was born in Zambia and we didn’t have access to many books at all until we moved to the UK. However, one of my favourite books from my early childhood there was Tiger Flower by Robert Vavra with wonderful paintings of tigers and butterflies by Fleur Cowles. I have vivid memories of losing track of time reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books in the playground at primary school – and when my second daughter was born I kept myself awake during night feeds by re-reading her books – it was such a treat! Later I couldn’t get enough of The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper and now I can’t wait to read these with my own daughters.

“I adore Zoe’s site! She is always involved in sharing her love of reading with her own children in such creative ways and in that way, getting them ‘hooked’ on books. It’s hard not to find something in every post she writes to use in your own home, from activities to new books, it’s wonderful!

“She’s also hosting a great giveaway right now for a signed copy of Wake Up! by Katie Cleminson! It’s also an international giveaway, so there’s no reason to miss out on this fabulous book. The giveaway closes at 6am UK time on the 3rd of August, so don’t miss out! And make sure to subscribe to her blog while you’re there, you won’t want to miss a post for sure!

“Thank you again to Zoe and her site Playing by the Book for participating in When I Was Young!”

Interested in participating in the When I Was Young feature? Read about it here.

Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with Amazon.com.

Not too long ago two of my favorite book bloggers and Children’s Literacy advocates, Susan from The Book Chook and Tif from Tif Talks Books, sent out a call for submissions to contribute to a “Literacy Cook Book“. When I heard about it I knew I had to submit something. Obviously The Baker (my hubby) loves to bake pretty much anything and The Turkeybird can’t help but want to help out in the kitchen. They always have a blast and I thought, what better than to include one of his favorite books with the recipe?

If You Give A Pig A Pancake by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond is a Turkeybird favorite and not just because the story is so cute. It’s all about a pig and his desire to have more pancakes, one of the Turkeybird’s favorite meals to make and to eat. Based on the favorite books, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, except this time it’s all about a Pig who starts off with a pancake, then syrup, then a bath, then a duck…and I think you get the picture. Eventually he ends up right back at the pancake, which my sweet Turkeybird just loves!

Because of the Turkeybird’s love of “The Pig pancake” book, his love of actual pancakes and The Baker’s love of making them from scratch I thought this was the perfect combo for The Book Chook Cook Book. So, one afternoon while getting ready for dinner we took some very fun pictures, compiled the recipe and sent it all off that evening. Yesterday, The Book Chook Cook Book was revealed and much to our surprise, The Turkeybird made the cover!

We truly are so excited to even be included in the final book! The entire concept is brilliant and both Susan & Tif did an amazing job putting everything together. Make sure to take a look! The Cook Book is free to anyone who like it and there are some fantastic recipes that I know we will be trying out very very soon. Thank you again to both Susan and Tif for a fabulous idea and for putting it together for everyone!

Didn’t make this issue or do you already have a post you’d like to mention, run over to Tif’s site Tif Talks Books for a link-up and more information!

This book was purchased for our home library.
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with IndieBound.

So, we’ve all been there. You’re in a book store, online or in the library and there it is…the most beautiful, colorful and wonderful children’s book ever! It even has one of those bright and shiny stickers on the front. You’re thinking, “They thought it was great, why wouldn’t my son (or daughter)? I mean I LOVE it!” You take it home and that night you sit down, eager to read it to your little one for their newest bedtime treat! You’re both excited, and then…page after page, the book falls flat with your little one. Instead, they push it aside abruptly only to pick up that same old book about the car with the mouse driving it (let’s not even mention you’ve already read it every night for the last three months).

What’s a parent to do? How do you handle the disappointment when your son or daughter just doesn’t seem to appreciate the “finer” things in life? Do you hide it away and hope for another day? Or do you secretly stash it for your own personal enjoyment?

This topic came up with a friend of mine the other day. We were discussing how difficult it can be to find books that match both our little one’s tastes and our own. It can get cumbersome to read the same book night in and night out, especially when it’s one you are completely sick of and never really loved to begin with. For me, it’s a fine line, you need to keep the kiddo interested or they may never learn to love reading, but it’s also important to expose them the wonderful options out there. If we continue to allow the same book to be read every night they may never learn to love another and one that may be one they love even more.

So, tell me, are there any books that you just love that your son or daughter (old or young, I think it applies to all ages) still hasn’t learned to appreciate? And what do you do to encourage your children to try other books?

Here are a few I’m IN LOVE with that I’m really hoping Littlebug or the Turkeybird “grow” into (I know, some of you will be appalled, but that’s just how it goes!):

Toy Boat by Randall de Seve illustrated by Loren Long

Published by Philomel Books (A division of Penguin Books)

Pages: 40

Ages: 4-8

Publishers Summary: A little boy has a toy boat. He made it out of a can, a cork, a yellow pencil, and some white cloth. The boy and his boat are inseparable, until one day when the wind pushes the toy boat out into the wide lake. Alone now, the little boat must face fierce waves, a grumpy ferry, a sassy schooner, and a growling speed boat. How the little boat misses the boy! But if he is going to survive, he must figure a way to do it on his own.

Charley Harper 123s by Charley Harper

Published by AMMO Books

Pages: 20

Ages: 4-8

Publishers Summary: Charley Harper 123’s, is a board book companion to the skinny version of the ABC’s. In this book, counting from 1 to 10, is demonstrated through a colorful and playful range of creatures. From 1 Ladybug Lounging, to 2 Birds Nesting, to 3 Chimpanzees Playing, all of the animals featured are active, delightful, and easy to count.

Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton

Published by Little Simon (A division of Simon and Schuster)

Pages: 14

Ages: Baby-Preschool

Publishers Summary: It’s BIG fun from Sandra Boynton in this big, big size of this favorite title. Great for laps and sharing, this oversized edition on thick, sturdy board material is perfect for oversized fun for children of all ages. This raucous story about the sounds animals make — including three pigs who say la la la! – is just right for reading aloud.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 40

Ages: 4-8

Publishers Summary: One boy’s quest for a greener world… one garden at a time.
While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world.

These books were purchased for our home library.
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with Amazon.com.

How and why would we want to incorporate activity and sticker books into our family reading rituals? Activity and sticker books are often used by parents as “babysitters”, but when used appropriately they may help a beginning reader make connections between visual images and words on a page with reality. In fact, these valuable resources can be an excellent teaching tool when used in conjunction with reading daily, especially for children who may struggle with some form of a learning disability.

Turkeybird’s Struggle
Our sweet Turkeybird was an early reader, but a late talker. He was diagnosed with a form of Autism called “Hyperlexia” at just around 20 months of age. It basically boils down to him reading by the time he was just older than a year old, but not being able to communicate verbally or interact socially until he was a bit older. I know you’re thinking, “he couldn’t talk, but he could read???” Yes, he would literally read words off of pages but hardly say hello when greeted by another family member or friend.

We sought the aid of a speech therapist and children’s counselor not knowing how else to help him. They used evaluations and problem solving games to help him express visually the words he was struggling to connect verbally. This continued for a few months and shortly thereafter our sweet Littlebug was born. For some reason, maybe a lack of attention, triggered in him a greater desire to communicate with us, but he still struggled to connect the “truck” on the page with the truck in his bedroom.

Soon, we moved across country and no longer had the aid of outside therapists and counselors. I decided there had to be something else that I could do as a parent to help him make those little connections. While looking through some “teaching” books and materials on the internet one day I came across some sticker books. The Turkeybird has always been a huge fan of sticker and activity books. What kid doesn’t love a sticker as a reward for a trip to the doctor or for a job well done? This was it, I thought! I ordered some and the work began.

Work Together!!!
Working with The Turkeybird was the key to progression. Children learn the most when they are read to or when they are taught directly.* Starting with the above pictured Sticker Activity book and moving on to many others, we worked together.Every day, while Littlebug slept, we sat down together at the table and went through the pages of the books one at a time. The first book focused on numbers, but also used “real” life objects to illustrate the numerals. Even from the beginning I tried to allow him to place the stickers in the appropriate places and verbally tell me what each was. After this we would go on excursions, be them around the house or to different venues (the park, petting zoo, etc.), and we would point out the different things he found in his activity books. Soon, he began to connect the dots.

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
To this day we still use the sticker books on a daily basis. We read on a daily basis. And we play together on a daily basis. It’s important to create routines in all children’s lives, but especially in those that struggle with some form of learning disability. Even as adults we benefit from a daily routine and continued persistence with a difficult task. Why would it be different with a child?

Everyday the Turkeybird looks forward to our “mini-school” sessions and asks for the next task. This shows me that he is making connections and learning more everyday. He loves to learn and I can tell when I see his face light up at the mention of crayons, stickers and books.

The End Result
The Turkeybird is talking more now, carrying on long conversations with non-family members and can now connect the words on the pages in his books to real life objects.  His social skills have progressed far beyond what was originally thought he would be capable of at this age. He continues to love reading and learning and his mom continues to love to read to and teach him.

I’m not saying that sticker and activity books will solve all your learning/teaching dilemmas, but if done right they can’t hurt. I’m not a professional, just a mom, and I make no presumptions about how effective these activity books may be in your own child’s life. Make sure to use them with your son, daughter or student; this is where you will find the best result. Children love to be taught, they love attention and exultation when they’ve accomplished something they’d never been able to do before. Interact and show you care about the outcome. And then, do it all over again.

This post was presented as part of the Share A Story Shape A Future Day Two. Make sure to stop by The Book Chook’s site for more posts pertaining to Literacy My Way/Literacy Your Way!

Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with Amazon.com.

*Referenced & paraphrased from: On the Road to Reading: A Guide for Community Partners – December 1997

As part of the Share a Story 2010 event I’m honored to be hosting The Itty Bitty Bookworm giveaway!

Can you imagine enrolling your child in a pre-school where the curriculum is based on great children’s books? Every week they center their learning around a book such as Five Little Moneys Jumping on the Bed. Each child would make paper plate monkeys, act out different parts of the book, have a “pretend” pajama party, decorate their very own pillowcase and much much more. Now think of a school where the funding has been cut (or was never there to begin with) and there is no opportunity for children to learn using these valuable tools. This is where The Itty-Bitty Bookworm comes in.

The Story Behind The Itty-Bitty Bookworm
When Tara opened her preschool several years ago, she wanted to create a story-based curriculum. When she couldn’t find one, she created her own. The results of her passion are two programs, one for toddlers and one for preschoolers, both built around children’s books.

The magic of The Itty-Bitty Bookworm is in the simple, organized, teach-it-yourself curriculum. It’s a literature-based program on CD that does all the planning for you, so you can focus on what’s important ~ your children

The Giveaway
Tara is very graciously donating one full-year subscription for each of her programs for Share a Story Shape A Future 2010.

• Bailey Curriculum ~ for children 18 months -36 months. Here is a sample (pdf) of what the Bailey program includes.
• Bo Curriculum ~ for children 3 to 5 years old. Here is a sample (pdf) from the Bo Curriculum.

Eligible winners include: Government funded or subsidized preschools serving economically disadvantaged children; public schools (e.g., Bright Stars, Head Start); or a family services organization that has a literacy outreach. This is a community event, so we will create a ballot for people to vote as nominations are received.

You do not have to work at the school or have a child at the school, but you do need to give us the details about the school. Tara’s goal, like ours, is to improve access to books for readers in need.

**Important Note**: These licenses are for one teacher, one classroom. Any reproduction of the material is a copyright violation.

Please fill out the form below to place your nomination. Nominations will close Tuesday March 9th at midnight. Voting will open on Wednesday March 10th through the close of the Share A Story Shape a Future event, Friday March 12th at midnight. The winner will be announced on Saturday March 13th.

Please continue to check the Share A Story Shape A Future site for other wonderful posts and giveaways to help literacy where ever you may be, as well as Twitter for up to the minute news and details (Hashtag #SAS2010).

***Nominations are now Closed***

So much is happening in the Children’s Literacy world this week and next I thought I’d share a couple of upcoming events to get you ready.

Today, in honor of Dr.Suess’s birthday, is Read Across America Day. Each year on March 2nd thousands of participants gather to read and share a love of books through events happening all over the country. On the NEA website they have a list of the top ten ways to be involved with the event. Including hosting your own event and even asking the mayor or local legislator issue a proclamation. There are so many ways to be involved, all starting with picking up a book and reading to your nearest child. Check out the site for more details and get involved!

Next up is the much anticipated Literacy Lava issue 4!

I’ve been really looking forward to this best kept secret of mine. This is the 4th issue of Literacy Lava and I’ve been slowly devouring every page. It’s available for free via pdf on the Literacy Lava site. Susan Stephenson of The Book Chook, a fabulous site for book reviews and teaching tips for parents & teachers, has published Literacy Lava and made it available for anyone who is interested. This issue has some great topics including:

• Book Loving Boys
• Discovering Baskets of Hands-On Learning
• Simple Story Extensions: Like cooking or singing
• Links to “Online Extras”

I’m looking forward to continuing my reading of this gem and encourage anyone who’s looking to enhance their experience with the little ones in their lives to take a look! You won’t regret it!

Last is the Share A Story Shape A Future event happening all next week, March 8-14 2010. I’m eagerly looking forward to participating in this event and will have the opportunity of posting for a few different days.

This years theme is “It takes a village to raise a reader” and Susan Stephenson came up with the new logo in honor of the new theme. Every day will have a different topic ranging from: helping children to read through various relationships, being creative with literacy, exploring non-fiction genres, exploring old classics and new favorites, and how to read to the next generation when your interests don’t match.

There will be so much to learn from everyone participating. I hope you have a chance to read a few of the posts and learn something that will help you and the little ones in your life grow a love of reading. Make sure to check back next week when the event gets underway!

For the Comments: Who could you read to today and what would you read to them?