Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards-shortlist!

Click HERE to vote for me

Delighted to share that I've been shortlisted in the Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards 2016. Whoop!  My blog has been listed in two categories- 'Books & Literature', 'Arts & Culture'.

I would be delighted if you could vote for me-20% of votes come from the public and the remaining 80% is down to the judges.

In order to ensure that votes are genuine, there's a sign up page. I appreciate you taking the time to do this. Voting closes on Tues 23rd.Please vote in 'Books & Literature' and if you're feeling generous, cast a second vote in 'Arts & Culture'

Thanks & Happy Reading!

Missus B

Vote for me by clicking this LINK

Read Aloud 15 Minutes

Twitter recently introduced me to the Read Aloud 15 Minutes Campaign.While it's a U.S. initiative, it has a universal message worth sharing. Basically it highlights how 15 minutes of reading aloud is one of the most important activities a parent or carer can undertake with a child. Given that a whopping 85% of brain development happens before the age of five*, exposure to books can certainly have a significant, life-long impact. 

Now, my little moomin recently turned two and we would be doing VERY well to get 15 minutes on the trot, but as the image above reassuringly shows, your 15 minutes could be spread out and need not always involve 'reading' per se. Pointing ,talking about pictures, counting,singing or simply gazing at the images and turning the pages are all important building blocks to reading.

The process of early literacy development involves exploration, interaction, repetition and some of the below skills:

Book Handling Behaviours- picking up, chewing, handling, manipulating, learning to turn pages.

Looking and Recognizing Behaviours -gazing at pictures, connecting with images, pointing or laughing at familiar things.

Picture and Story Comprehension Behaviours-showing an understanding of pictures and events e.g. imitating sounds & actions or talking about an event in the story.

Story-Reading Behaviours-imitating reading (babbling or making up their own words), pointing at  words and making a connection between text and the story itself. 

So, no matter how young your child is, every positive interaction shared at story time can help lay the foundations for language, reading and writing development. 

So make those 15 minutes a part of your daily routine and consider it to be a long-term investment :) 

Check out some more tips here, from the Literacy Association of Ireland

Happy Reading,
Missus B

Related links:
*The Science of Early Childhood Development, Harvard University
Early Literacy Newsletter article from Maine State Library 
www.zerotothree.org/brain wonders 'Early Literacy'

Using Props at Story Time

Goldilocks & the Three Bears Mask Set
This post includes affiliate links. See my policy here

Using props and puppets is a wonderful way of adding a new dimension to story time. I have vivid memories of my teacher using felt boards- somehow this visual element seemed to make her stories come alive. A simple tool but mesmerizing all the same!

For the child who needs that little bit of extra encouragement to listen,visual aids can be an appealing and simple way of drawing them in. 
The Very Hungry Caterpillar [Board Book]is a classic favourite and one of those 'read it again' stories. To add a multi-sensory element, sometimes I use a basket of fruit, passing around pieces during the read-a-loud.This makes for an enriching and engaging story time, giving opportunities for seeing, touching, smelling and tasting. It naturally leads to reflection and discussion- how long might it take a caterpillar to eat through a strawberry in comparison to an apple?!

Puppets, or using toys in a puppet-like manner can help a child relate to a story and it's characters. Sometimes simply holding a related character helps listeners to feel more connected. 

Bringing some drama to Goldilocks and the Three Bears...the story comes to life and children have a concrete experience of small, medium and large.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Ladybird First Favourite Tales

Some props are simple to make and depending on the age of your child, they may enjoy making or gathering their own. My laminated DIY 'Feelings Puppets' frequently come out at story time. When we talk about the characters or feelings within a story, they offer a visual tool for children who need extra support in understanding & recognising feelings. 

How are you feeling today? 
See my review of this book here

When children have access to story time props or puppets,  it supports many aspects of development e.g. fine motor skills, socialisation, memory/retelling skills, sensory learning, self confidence, role-play and of course language. 

Children will enjoy being involved in the making of 'Story Boxes' or 'Story Bags'.... figurines, musical instruments, clothing, puppets,household items, nature objects- if it's connected to a story it can be added to the collection. 

Keeping it simple though, sometimes just one prop or visual tool can be a valuable vehicle for enhancing the play, imagination and story experience for your child. Think about any book...there's bound to be something you can use as a prop! 

If you'd prefer to use some ready made story time props, check out the affiliate links below.

Happy Reading,

Missus B

         

Who's Hiding?

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Concept & Illustration by Agnese Baruzzi
Templar Publishing 2015
Reviewed copy from my personal library.

Back of Book:

It's time for a game of hide and seek!

Try to guess who is hiding, then fold back the page to find out!

Just as Mother Nature manages to captivate us with her camouflage, so too does Agnese Baruzzi in this beautifully illustrated book. 

Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards 2016: Hello Longlist-thanks for having me

I've been longlisted in : 'Books & Literature Blog' & 'Arts & Culture Blog'

The Long & Short of it......
Apparently I'm not too bad at this bloggy business. The nice folks on the judging team have granted me bragging rights and permission to post the above happy green image.

Am delighted to have been longlisted in the Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards 2016. Here's hoping I make the shortie list, but if not, I'm happy & honoured to be grouped amongst a bunch of busy, wonderful and interesting Irish bloggers. 

Good luck to all (and me in particular :p)

Happy Reading,

Missus B xx

Tree: Seasons come, Seasons Go

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Text by Patricia Hegarty
Illustrations by Britta Teckentrup

Little Tiger Kids 2015

Reviewed copy from my personal library.

Back of book:
A timeless tale of new beginnings...
Peek through the holes in the tree to find a busy world of nature at work through rain and shine, wind and snow. Each season of the year is brought to life by Britta Teckentrup's beautiful artwork.


Oh this book is a delicious peek-a-boo feast. When I spotted it in the book shop, I immediately knew it wouldn't be staying on the shelf. The hardback cover has a cut out piece with a wide-eyed Owl peeping out from a tree. My toddler son was immediately drawn to this, and couldn't resist introducing himself to the Owl by poking his finger into the 'tree hole' on the cover.

Mr Owl peeps out from every page within the book

Art Parts : A Child's Introduction to the Elements of Art

This review includes affiliate links
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Author: Kim Bogren Owen  
Illustrations by: T.J. Matteo, Maddie Oatman, Abigail Whiteing, Stephanie Hausladen Hamilton, Darin Grassman, Timothy Wigington, Kaila Spencer, Kay Kron and Zachari Owen

Words Reflected 2016

Reviewed copy kindly sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

'Art Parts' introduces children to the elements of art - lines, shapes, colour, texture, space and feelings. The book is  a mix of drawings by children, samples to demonstrate art elements and blank pages which invite children to express their own artistic ideas.

Hello Roara!

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Please read my disclosure

Story by Tamara Forge
Created by Josh & Marley Dechant
Josh Dechant 2015
Reviewed copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Hello Roara!
is the rhyming story  of a big, friendly dinosaur who's confused as to why the other creatures flee when she smiles and wags her tail. Roara doesn't realise that her carnivore teeth, boulder-breaking tail wags and booming voice are, just a tad, intimidating. Thankfully, a brave little shrew has a word in her ear and Roara then realizes that, a gentle voice and a better mannered tail are the keys to success.

Introducing Roara, the tyrannosaurus rex 

temporarily closed to new review requests

At the moment, I am closed to new review requests.

Over the Summer months I am am catching up on a little pile of books I have agreed to work on/would like to share.

Thanks for visiting & please do contact me after the summer period with your review request.

Best wishes, Missus B.

 

Peter & Lisa: A Mental Illness Children's Story

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affiliate links. Please read my 
disclosure

Authors: Charles Katz, Linda Baron Katz.
Illustrator:  Mitchi Suico
PAGE PUBLISHING, INC. New York, NY

Page Publishing, Inc. 2014

Reviewed copy: PDF version emailed by L. Katz in exchange  for an honest review. Paperback version also available.


Peter and Lisa: A Mental Illness Children's Story
is about two adults who are affected by mental illness. In the introduction page mental illness is described in  a simple, child-friendly way. The clear and matter of fact language is easy for young children to grasp and the introduction importantly points out that  'Children will not only love the story but will learn from a topic that should be taught by everyone.'  

See below for more from Missus B....