Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  What exactly is this holiday?  It is a celebration, primarily celebrated in the United States, that celebrates a specific military victory.  It isn't celebrated in Mexico.  It has come to signify a celebration of Mexican heritage.

Check out this great book, Off We Go to Mexico!  It's a great way to introduce your child to Mexico history, holidays and simple Spanish vocabulary.  You'll both love the beautiful pictures, and they'll appreciate the rhyming text.  It's great for kids ages 3 - 9!

Click here to see more!

Author Introduction - Zarle Williams

I had the pleasure of meeting a fantastic author over the weekend while I was exhibiting at the North Texas Book Festival.  This author, Zarle Williams, has written a large number of books.  But what surprised me is how her books cross many different age levels.

Her award winning books span from the pre-reader to young adult, and I found all of them quite engaging.  I really enjoyed her young adult historical fiction.  Take a look at her publishing house and her books.  You won't regret it!

Zarle Williams is published by Petite Plume Press.

The Benefits of Reading to Children

Whether as a parent or teacher, you are the key to a child's success in learning to read. When you read, talk or play with a child, you are stimulating the growth of the brain and constructing the connections that will become the building blocks for reading. Brain development research shows that reading aloud to your child every day increases his brain's capacity for language and literacy skills and is the most important thing you can do to prepare him for learning to read.

Reading to Children Helps Them Prepare to Read Themselves

Aside from preparing the child’s overall readiness for their formal reading lessons in school, there are also a number of other benefits that reading to children brings about. Children who hear adults read aloud learn the inflections, phrasing and expressions that they will also need to practice in order to effectively communicate their thoughts and ideas with others.

Reading to Children Helps Their Attention Span

When stories are read to children their listening and focusing skills are improved. If a child is able to focus and listen to a story then learning in other arenas like a lecture in class will be less taxing and more information can be absorbed and processed.

Reading to Children Helps Inspire Their Imagination

Another benefit of reading to a child is that his or her imagination is developed. Improved imagination and visualization will not only facilitate learning in language and communication but mathematics, science, problem solving and other facets of learning are advanced.

Reading to Children Helps to Motivate and Challenge Them

Reading books to children can also serve as motivators. If you choose a book that is just a bit higher in reading level than the child, it can encourage him or her to exert more effort on their reading so they will be able to read the book themselves. One should be careful however to choose a book that is not too hard to read and that its reading level is achievable to the child. Choosing a very difficult book to read may frustrate the child and in so doing discourage him from reading.

Reading to Children Helps Them Learn to Communicate

Finally, reading to a child can generate constructive discussions that helps a child progress in his prediction and character analysis skills to name a few.

Read to your children. Not only will you both enjoy it, but your child will get immense benefits from the activity.

Great Read Aloud Books: 

Babies and Toddlers : Who's in the Garden and Hidden Hippo

Preschoolers: The Story Tree and Storytime 
Kindergarten and Early Elementary: The Barefoot Books of Fairy Tales, Emily's Tiger and The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories

What's This? A Great Book for Spring!

What's This? A Seed's Story - Paperback
Ages 3 - 7

What's This? A Seed's Story is a fantastic book to teach your young child about the growth cycle of a plant.  The cute drawings accentuate the plot.  When I read it to my little girl, she immediately wanted to go outside to plant seeds.  While this book is great all year long, spring is the perfect time to introduce this story to your little one.
ON SALE! Buy Now

The Animal Boogie - Paperback with CD

The Animal Boogie - with Singalong CD


Ages 3  - 7


Can you boogie? Down in the Indian jungle, the children and animals are learning about actions like leaping, stomping, shaking and flapping while meeting different jungle creatures.  Kids love this award winning book!

Off We Go to Mexico

Don't forget to enter our GIVEAWAY or take advantage of the WINTER SALE

Off We Go to Mexico!

Ages 4 - 10 

Travel to Mexico and discover its many wonders, from the amazing monarch butterflies in the Highlands to a mariachi show in the village square. The rhyme and lyricism of the text is complemented by endnotes about the history of the country, national fiestas, and a glossary of simple Spanish vocabulary.  Also comes in Spanish!

Paperback or Hardcover

Giveaway : "If You're Happy and You Know It!" Hardcover Book and Music CD

Win a hardcover copy of "If You're Happy and You Know It!" and it's sing-along CD.  This book and CD is a great choice for kids 3 - 7!

Here's the publisher's writeup:

Clap your hands and sing along to this fresh take on a traditional singalong. The multicultural children in this colorful early learner encourage action and imagination, and two full spreads at the end teach "hello" in thirty-six languages, and the names of the children and their countries of origin. Book with CD edition includes song sung by Susan Reed.

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Only open to US addresses.  Giveaway ends 2/1/2010 at 8:00 pm Central.

The Big Book of Princesses - Storybook and CD

The Barefoot Book of Princesses

Ages 4 - 9
Is there a girl in your life that loves everything related to princesses?  This book will give her everything she needs, while giving her strong and valuable lessons.  This story collection will introduce your girl to seven princess from around the world.  The stories show each princess triumphing over adversity through bravery, hard work, empathy and compassion.
Comes in Hardcover and Paperback - with CD.

Secret Seahorse

Secret Seahorse

Ages 1 - 7
Travel with your child into the coral reef!  This rhyming book is about a seahorse who is playing hide and seek while meeting up with all sorts of different fish and other ocean animals.
Available in Hardcover and Board Book.