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Does your child love books?

How often does your child see the adults in your home reading?

Do you read to your child every day?

Just 15 minutes a day is all it takes to read a picture book story to your child.

IMPORTANT TIP: those might be the most important 15 minutes of your day.

Reading to children accomplishes amazing things:

• Builds self-esteem!
• Develops pre-literacy skills!
• Engages your child in the story between the pages!
• Encourages your child to relate what happens in the story to his or her own life!
• Provides an opportunity for you to discuss sensitive topics with your child that may be difficult for you to talk about!
• Creates a life-long parent-child bond!

Here’s a wonderful story that helps us (and our children) realize that we are all special and have unique qualities and talents to share with others.

ZARA’S HATS written and illustrated by Paul Meisel

            Zara is a young girl who helps her parents decorate hats in the family hat shop.  Disaster strikes when their supply of feathers is depleted and they cannot obtain any more.  Zara’s father goes abroad to buy more feathers and, while he is away, Zara begins to decorate the untrimmed hats with fabric flowers and paper mache animals and fruits.  Her hats are an immediate success!  When her father returns without any feathers, the hat shop continues to feature Zara’s amazing hat creations.

Positive Parental Participation Note:

            What lessons can we learn from this story that can be implemented with our own children to help them develop a positive self-image?  Zara and her parents participated in many activities together.  They allowed her to help in the shop.  In addition, they encouraged her creativity and gave her positive feedback when she tried new ways of decorating the hats.

            Of course, we don’t need to open a hat shop in order to build our children’s self-confidence.  By focusing on their special gifts and talents, we can make our children feel special at home every day!

Do you want to choose the right books to read to your child?  Pick up a copy of Show Me How!  Story summaries of 100 of the best picture books every young child should hear are provided…along with an easy craft activity and a simple recipe for each book.  Go to my websiteto take advantage of the 50% off sale!

Summer is coming…don’t get caught with nothing to do with your little ones.  You can check out one of the latest reviews of Show Me How at The Mom Writes.  You’ll see why every family with young children really needs a copy of this great resource.

Don’t have little ones of your own?  Grab a copy for a friend or relative who does…they will be forever grateful.