Image via Wikipedia
It’s hard to believe that January is already behind us.
Thanks to everyone who participated last month and left comments and told us about the books they were reading with their children.
I’ve got to get ready for two school programs…in the morning, I’ll be at Freedom Elementary, reading Oliver Button is a Sissy. What a great story that encourages kids to be true to themselves!
In the afternoon, I’ll be at Buena Vista Montessori, reading one of my very own picture book stories, The Balloon Man. Life sometimes puts obstacles in our way and we need to be prepared with creative solutions…this is a story that helps children think outside the box.
I’ll be using Random.org to pick the winner of the picture book…to be announced in the Perfect Picture Book Friday post.
Anyone who wants to join in the Reading Challenge for February, please use this post leave your commnets and books read.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
Have a wonderful time reading and sharing. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Eliz,
It was GREAT! Just got back from the first presentation…have another in the afternoon at a Montessori school where the parents are supposed to be in attendance as well…should be fun!
LikeLike
I’ll have to read back through your blog posts to learn more about your Reading Challenge. My son is in Kindergarten, and we’ve been reading from the Magic Tree House and Dinosaur Cove series – along with picture books, of course! He enjoys the narrated stories, especially when he’s getting sleepy- especially anything with a hint of magic and dinosaurs!
LikeLike
So Glad to have you aboard the PPP Reading Challenge, AngelaMarie!
Isn’t it wonderful how involved children get in the books we read to them.
I just got back from reading – Oliver Button is a Sissy – to a kindergarten class filled with charming children who couldn’t wait to tell me what they do when someone teases them or hurts their feelings.
By the way, I read over your poem on your blog…it touched my heart. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, and knowing that touches mine!
I look forward to participating here. We’ve had a lot of “big” change in the past couple months, especially impacting my son. I’m really doing my best right now to try and support him with more structure and activities to help him with focus, organization, and self-esteem. Reading at night is one of our best and most treasured activities, along with writing our own stories! I hope to get back to regularly updating our blog soon (A Child’s HeART of Faith) – and might use some of our reading experiences to generate some art and/or stories for that. He’s a creative kid, and this seems to be such a wonderful thing for him.
Anyway, blessings to you and your work, & happy Friday!
p.s. Overcoming hurt feelings is actually a key challenge for us right now – so I’m going to look for Oliver Button is a Sissy!! 🙂
LikeLike
AngelaMarie, So so happy you are moving in a good direction with your son…and I’m thrilled you will participate here. Whenever you have the time, you can let us know what you are reading with him…and any activities you’d like to share. I’m a great believer in routines and structure in the day…I think it takes away a lot of the stress kids have when they don’t know what to expect. All the best, Vivian
LikeLike
We’re following a Berenstain Bears trend. We’ve been reading Touble with pets, tell the truth, the green-eyed monster, and many others. I like to see the wheels turn in my kids’ minds as they see what’s going on and how the problem gets fixed.
Some other books we’ve read are not so memorable but they’re early readers for my kindergartner and he’s doing great with them. I declared him an “official reader” at Christmas.
Oh, and Minnie and Moo’s The case of the missing jelly donut. Absolutely hilarious, especially the end, where the donut is finally found on the cow’s bottom as she sat on it the day before…
LikeLike
Hi Milka,
Glad you stopped by today to give us an update on what books are being read in your house! The Berenstain Bears series does touch on just about every issue that might confront a family with kids…they are fun books and always have a great lesson. 🙂
I’ll be sending your picture book out tomorrow morning!
LikeLike
I got your book in the mail tonight and the kids really enjoyed reading it! Thank you so much! And the illustrations are beautiful too. I hope you make a lot of other kids happy with your monthly contest.
LikeLike
Milka,
So glad you got the book. 🙂 And I’m happy your little ones are enjoying it.
How is your husband doing? How are you doing? 🙂
LikeLike
He’s doing better but he still has several weeks of rehab scheduled to work on the high-level skills he needs to go back to work. I can’t wait till he goes back because I’ve had enough driving around and doctor’s appointments for the whole year (and it’s only February).
LikeLike
I’m a little behind on posting what I’ve been reading with the kids this month, but here are some of the books we’ve read this past week.
We really love the Minnie & Moo series (well, at least my five year old better than my three year old). These cows are full of ideas!
LikeLike
Thank you so much for sharing your reading choices with us, Milka.
And I understand how difficult it is with a husband who is ill and you are the one who has to be coming and going for everything. 🙂 My husband had his first heart attack when he was 36 and we had three little ones. He’s had 3 subsequent heart attacks…and so there have been many trips to hospitals, docs, etc. over the years. 🙂 That’s why I think you are so amazing to continue doing all you do with your children!
LikeLike
I think you’re a lot stronger than me for going through all this. My husband’s accident could have been avoided (he was doing jumps and not just skiing, which he does have neither the body nor the skill for) while your husband’s heart attacks were hard to avoid. I think enough bad things can happen any day that it’s important for parents to make responsible choices to provide for their children. But I’m a woman and I think many men don’t think that way.
LikeLike
I read Little Toot with my 5-year old a couple of days ago and he liked the story. It was a nice way to address the subject of not wanting to take responsibility and using some problem solving.
You should check out Cock-a-doodle-hoooooooo! for an upcoming book review. Both kids liked it and it’s a really cute story about fitting in and finding your role in the henhouse.
Other books we’ve enjoyed recently are:
– Happy birthday, rotten Ralph (we really like this cat!)
– Marsha makes me sick
– The Cat in the Hat series, including why oh why are deserts dry?
– Bad bears in the big city (Irving and Muktuk’s hilarious adventures)
And the good news is, I have more new books to pick up at the library tomorrow!
LikeLike
You made my day, Milka! How fortunate your children are to have you for their mom!
I will check out the book you suggested. 😉
LikeLike
Some new books we’ve read this past week are part of my weekly update (http://perfectingmotherhood.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/www-wednesdays-february-22-2012/).
Tonight we read Chicken Big and it is HILARIOUS! From front cover to back.
LikeLike
Thanks, Milka! I’ll have to check out that book…I love funny picture books…and so do the kids I read to. 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: PPBF: Crow Boy and World Read Aloud Day « Positive Parental Participation
I have a WWW Wednesdays weekly update coming out tomorrow and I’ll list the link tomorrow so you can find out about some cool children’s books.
But I also wanted to say we’ve started reading some books in the Cat in the Hat learning series. So far, we’ve read about deserts, the north and the south pole and how to keep a healthy body. I can’t stand most of the Dr Seuss books (sorry) but these were written after he passed away, and mean to teach kids about different subjects, all in rhyme, but not obnoxious rhymes like some of the original books (sorry again). I think it’s a great series for kids 4 and up.
LikeLike
Hi Milka,
I’ll look forward to your Wednesday post. 🙂
And I know what you mean about the Dr. Seuss books…he is kind of an icon in kidlit, but we don’t have to love all of his books. 🙂 You are giving your children the most amazing childhood by reading so much to them…what a positive impact this will have for them!
Hope all is well.
LikeLike