Bird and Little Bird

On Friday Morning: Some Sparkle (and a Sale).

Oh, Friday! I am happy to see you.

Before I get distracted by rambling about boxes and packing tape and what to do with rainboots that don't fit anymore, I should mention that I have a fun post up on the Sparkle Stories blog this week. It is a really easy project created with Mother's Day in mind, and I think that if you are fans of Alphabet Glue at all, you will really like it. You can find it here. It is also the first in a series of weekly posts that I will be doing to accompany various Sparkle Stories, and I'll be sure to keep you all posted when the next project is up and ready to go. I'm so happy to be joining David and Lisabeth in their wonderful work over there!

 

In other news, we have obviously known for days and weeks and even months that our big move would be coming in no time at all. But, I still feel like it has snuck up on me just a bit. I don't know if it is because the weather has warmed and we would all rather be outside playing in the grass, throwing the frisbee, and blowing bubbles than packing, but somethng has shifted in the last few days and I think that we are all feeling like our time here in Vermont is running pretty short. Indeed, there is now talk of taking a first load of stuff down to the new house in Massachusetts as early as the middle of this month.  Which, if my calendar is to be believed, is not very many days away from now. Ack!

This is all to say that it is very much time to start hauling boxes up from the basement and filling them with books and muffin tins and the quilts off the couch. And the sorting through of small people clothes that may no longer fit is probably also going to need to happen. Mariam is wildly uncooperative in this department, so that ought to be good fun. The girl is not a fan of getting rid of anything that has potential to be useful; this much is true. I guess the upside of this personality quirk is that she can also construct pretty much anything out of cardboard if given enough tape. 

I have decided that having an Alphabet Glue sale is probably an excellent way to create a false sense of downsizing for the big move. Granted, the magazine files are digital, so I'm not really getting rid of anything at all. But I will feel like I am, and that will be awesome. So I think we should go for it. And, I think we should make it kind of a big sale. So, 25% off all issues of Glue through May 15th by entering "may25" at checkout.

There. I feel better already.

Thoughts on Plan B (and a Free Activity from Volume Twelve).

So. Not a lot is happening at our house this afternoon. Mariam is at school. The pets are napping in their usual preferred locations. We have all kind of gone quiet while we check the news and try to make decisions about what to do next. The idea was to drive down to Cambridge to look for a house this weekend. We were planning to be there by this evening. That plan obviously doesn't make a whole lot of sense right now. So, Plan B. Not sure what that is yet, just working on letting go of my anxiousness around the fact that it is even necessary. What a world this one is sometimes.

In happier news, there is an activity from Volume Twelve of Alphabet Glue available as a free download on Ginny's blog right now. It is the "wave in a bottle" activity, and it is easy kid science at its best. Try it. You'll like it. Oh, and it comes with a sea-centric book recommendation list, which is pretty fun as well. So this weekend you can go get a stack of books about pirates and sailboats and ocean waves and remember that the world is actually vast, beautiful, and facsinating. And really, pretty wonderful too.

Hey there, Friday!

People! Friday is here, and that means one very imporant thing: this week has been nearly survived. Insert loud exhaling noise here.

Between the stuffy noses and the crying because teething is miserable and the househunting from afar and the tax refund check that is maybe lost in the mail? Well. What is that saying about just keeping your thoughts to your very own self unless they are nice ones? Right. But I did feel that I should explain myself if I was going to post a picture of my kid digging wax out of a candle holder with a coffee spoon. Which I found that I had to do because, basically, it was the only photo I took all week long. And really, it is kind of his favorite thing to do. If we are being honest.

But there are other bits of news worth sharing, too. I've been working behind the scenes on a handful of little projects and posts for other people's internet homes, and coincidentally, they all seemed to appear in their finished form around the same time this week. Here they are, in the event that you want to take a peek.

 

- I am pleased to announce that the first Sparkle Stories ebook has made its way into the world, and that I have teamed up with the ever wonderful David and Lisabeth to provide easy, practical (and yes, fun!) games and crafts to include in their books as they release them. This first book is full of some of our family's favorite Sparkle: a collection of stories from the Junkyard Tales series. You can find the book on Amazon here.

 

- There is a new post up at Playful Learning today. I think that it will be of particular interest to any of you fellow bird nerds out there because I made you some printable birder's notecards. So go print them already!

- There is an Alphabet Glue giveaway going on over at The Crafty Crow through Saturday evening. You can enter to win copies of the two newest issues of Glue, and there is a 20% discount code there, too- enter "crafty" at checkout through Sunday evening.

- I know that I mentiond it earlier in the week, but the red paper canoes tutorial on The Crafty Crow can be found here.

 

- And lastly, there are just a couple of days left to purchase the Learning Through Play ebook bundle. The kids' gardening resources that are included are fantastic, and are worth the price of the bundle just on their own. Also, it is about 28 degrees here today, so reading through those ideas on gardening with the small people is basically like getting a really cheap therapy session. Totally recommend it.

Learning Through Play: Super Book Bundle for Spring!

So, as of right about now, the incredibly fantastic "Learning Through Play" spring book bundle is officially available. Organized by Melitsa of Raising Playful Tots and Cathy of NurtureStore, the bundle is available between now and April 14th. Melitsa and Cathy have put together a package of e-books and resources worth more than $130, from sixteen different authors. It is all based around the theme of "learning through play," which is kind of the perfect idea as we head into warmer weather and longer days.  The bundle includes books, resources, and an online course, and covers sensory play, outdoor play, art and crafts, positive parenting, learning to read and write, math and lots more. There is tons of great inspiration to keep busy and get creative with your kiddos all spring and summer long.

How to buy and download the bundle

The book bundle has officially gone on its way. But not to worry! The individual authors of the books included in the bundle all have their very own webpages and blogs where you can find their contributions. To track down any of the included ebooks that you were particularly hopeful about getting your hands on, simply click through to the author's site below.

The Garden Classroom by Cathy James of NurtureStore:

The Garden Classroom brings you fifty-two creative and playful outdoor activities, giving you a whole year’s worth of garden-based projects to enjoy with your children. Value $9.99  

ScienceArts by MaryAnn Kohl of Process Art & Treasures of Childhood:

ScienceArts inspires children to explore the world of science through art with open-ended experiments. 141 pages of art experiments amaze & delight children as they discover the magic of crystals, light, constellations, plants and more. All scientific reactions and concepts explained. Value $9.99

The Playful Family by Shawn Fink of Awesomely Awake:

The Playful Family encourages and challenges busy parents to slow down and spend quality time together with their children, regardless of their age. With nearly 100 ways to connect, engage and play together this easy-to-read e-book is a must-have resource for any parent interested in becoming more playful and happy while raising children. Value $4.99  

Connecting Family through Creative Play e-Workshop by Gina Kimmel of Connecting Family & Seoul and Katherine Lockett of Creative Playhouse:

Connecting Family through Creative Play is a 30 day e-Workshop designed for families who wish to connect with their children on a daily basis through simple, creative play. These ideas are perfect for parents looking to find a balance between the everyday responsibilities and connecting with your child in meaningful ways that fit into your family’s daily rhythm. You will receive daily messages from us in your inbox with inspirations to play, ideas for connection, and resources to help spark your imagination, including access to a private Facebook community. {Please note this course is running April 29th 2013 to May 28th 2013 only and you must register on the course before May 15th 2013} Value $25  

Alphabet Glue: Volumes Nine through Eleven by Annie Riechmann of Bird and Little Bird (Hey! I know her!):

Alphabet Glue is a downloadable e-magazine for families who love books, and aims to help more families to incorporate creativity, imagination and all things literary into their everyday routines. Each issue contains leveled book recommendations organized by theme, bookmaking tutorials, story-building activities, and hands-on projects that complement favorite titles in children's literature or teach basic elements of science. Value $11  

Alphabet Summer Learning Pack by Erin Wing of Small Types:

The Alphabet Summer Learning Pack is a collection of flexible summer learning ideas organized around an "A to Z" theme. Use these resources to prevent the dreaded "summer slide" and build fun learning routines into your summer plans. Ideas are simple and flexible, so families can pick and choose the activities that work for their particular child and schedule. They provide opportunities to practice key literacy and math skills, and they leave plenty of time for lemonade stands and sand castles. Value $7  

Pink and Green Mama Crafts: Backyard FUN by MaryLea Harris of Pink and Green Mama:

Backyard FUN brings you 13 Art Lessons and Craftivities to create your own Backyard Fun Camp at home or in your classroom with step-by-step instructions, supply lists, and full color photos. The supplies for these fun and easy projects will come from your own art and craft stash, garage, hardware store, and recycling bin! Value $10  

Alphabet Crafts by Allison McDonald of No Time For Flash Cards:

Alphabet Crafts lets you create the alphabet from A-Z with fun crafts that promote more than just letter recognition. Kids will love making their own alphabet and forget that they are learning in the process. With 5 exclusive crafts never published on No Time For Flash Cards. Value $8  

Alphabet Games by Malia Hollowell of Playdough to Plato:

The Alphabet Mega Pack includes 12 hands-on games that teach children to recognize the names and sounds of letters - skills that are important for learning how to read. Each activity includes easy to follow parent instructions and helpful photos. The games are addictively fun for kids AND their families! Value $6

Raising a Creative Kid: Simple Strategies for Igniting and Nurturing that Creative Spark by Jillian Riley of A Mom with a Lesson Plan:

Raising a Creative Kid will help you raise a creative thinker by simply setting up a creative environment, using intentional language, and nurturing mistakes. This easy read is full tips and tricks that will help you transform your environment into a creativity growth center. Value $7.99

5 minute reading tricks for raising rockstar readers by Amy Mascott of teach mama:

Fifteen 5-minute reading tricks that cover everything from teaching names to what parents should say during read-alouds, from learning sight words to reading fluently. It’s about rolling out the red carpet for our rockstar readers. Now. Whomever you are, wherever you are, no matter how busy you are. Value $10  

Parenting with Positive Guidance: Building Discipline from the Inside Out by Amanda Morgan of Not Just Cute:

Parenting with Positive Guidance gives you the tools for understanding your child’s behavior and effectively teaching and guiding your child toward increased self-control while fostering a healthy parent-child relationship. 100+ pages of information you can start using today! Value $9  

Treasure Basket Play by Melitsa Avila of Raising Playful Tots:

Treasure Basket Play lets you learn step by step how to make your own natural sensory baby play activity with a Treasure Basket. Includes case studies and interview with a sensory play expert on using Treasure Baskets. Value $8.95  

Play Grow Learn Issue 2 by Christie Burnett of Childhood 101:

Issue 2 of Play Grow Learn is packed full of playful fun with 55 pages and over 100 activity ideas. Includes ideas for creating family stories with internationally acclaimed author Hazel Edwards, an exclusive full colour, printable sea themed bingo game, 12 pages of active and outdoor play ideas, recipes, art, literacy, creativity, construction, imaginative play, books and more! Value $4  

Spring Literacy and Math Activities and Games by Christine Lanyon of Scribble Doodle and Draw:

Spring Literacy and Math Activities and Games includes 15 fun learning center ideas. Skills worked on include, addition to 8, patterns, counting to 20, measurement, number sequencing, abc order, writing 3 letter words, rhyming, syllables, compound words and more. Value $8

Kind of a ridiculous amount of good stuff, eh? Click on the magic button below and it will all be in your inbox pretty much immediately. Oh, and tell a friend!

Sneak Peek: Learning Through Play Spring Book Bundle!

Some of you might remember the ebook sale organized by Melitsa of Raising Playful Tots and Cathy of NurtureStore last fall. It was incredibly fun to be a small part of the whole affair; I had a chance to meet other writers, and to be a part of a really cool and innovative group of creative teachers, authors and parents. Cathy and Melitsa have now organized an even bigger book bundle for the spring season, and it will be availabe through the blogs of the individual participants beginning this coming Monday morning. The Spring Learning Through Play book bundle will be available April 8th to April 14th only, so you'll definitely want to pop back in next week and download your copy. I'm just having a chance to look through everything that is included myself, and I'm amazed at the amount of  great stuff inside. The interwebs are full of awesome folks if you just know where to find them!

Here is what Cathy has to say about the special:

Learning Through Play Spring Book Bundle

This special bundle of books is available for you to buy only between April 8th and April 14th. I’ve read the books (and written one of them!) and I’m so happy to recommend this offer to you. These ladies really know their stuff and the books and resources are packed full of fantastic creative and practical ideas that you can use with your children. There are sixteen different authors joining in, bringing you over $130 worth of resources. And, guess what – you can buy the lot for just $9.99! Read on to see all the items included in the spring special offer – and start looking forward to getting your copies!

The Garden Classroom by Cathy James of NurtureStore:

The Garden Classroom brings you fifty-two creative and playful outdoor activities, giving you a whole year’s worth of garden-based projects to enjoy with your children. Value $9.99

ScienceArts by MaryAnn Kohl of Process Art & Treasures of Childhood:

ScienceArts inspires children to explore the world of science through art with open-ended experiments. 141 pages of art experiments amaze & delight children as they discover the magic of crystals, light, constellations, plants and more. All scientific reactions and concepts explained. Value $9.99

The Playful Family by Shawn Fink of Awesomely Awake:

The Playful Family encourages and challenges busy parents to slow down and spend quality time together with their children, regardless of their age. With nearly 100 ways to connect, engage and play together this easy-to-read e-book is a must-have resource for any parent interested in becoming more playful and happy while raising children. Value $4.99

Connecting Family through Creative Play e-Workshop by Gina Kimmel of Connecting Family & Seoul and Katherine Lockett of Creative Playhouse:

Connecting Family through Creative Play is a 30 day e-Workshop designed for families who wish to connect with their children on a daily basis through simple, creative play. These ideas are perfect for parents looking to find a balance between the everyday responsibilities and connecting with your child in meaningful ways that fit into your family’s daily rhythm. You will receive daily messages from us in your inbox with inspirations to play, ideas for connection, and resources to help spark your imagination, including access to a private Facebook community. {Please note this course is running April 29th 2013 to May 28th 2013 only and you must register on the course before May 15th 2013} Value $25

Alphabet Glue: Volumes Nine through Eleven by Annie Riechmann of Bird and Little Bird:

Alphabet Glue is a downloadable e-magazine for families who love books, and aims to help more families to incorporate creativity, imagination and all things literary into their everyday routines. Each issue contains leveled book recommendations organized by theme, bookmaking tutorials, story-building activities, and hands-on projects that complement favorite titles in children's literature or teach basic elements of science. Value $11

Alphabet Summer Learning Pack by Erin Wing of Small Types:

The Alphabet Summer Learning Pack is a collection of flexible summer learning ideas organized around an "A to Z" theme. Use these resources to prevent the dreaded "summer slide" and build fun learning routines into your summer plans. Ideas are simple and flexible, so families can pick and choose the activities that work for their particular child and schedule. They provide opportunities to practice key literacy and math skills, and they leave plenty of time for lemonade stands and sand castles. Value $7

Pink and Green Mama Crafts: Backyard FUN by MaryLea Harris of Pink and Green Mama:

Backyard FUN brings you 13 Art Lessons and Craftivities to create your own Backyard Fun Camp at home or in your classroom with step-by-step instructions, supply lists, and full color photos. The supplies for these fun and easy projects will come from your own art and craft stash, garage, hardware store, and recycling bin! Value $10

Alphabet Crafts by Allison McDonald of No Time For Flash Cards:

Alphabet Crafts lets you create the alphabet from A-Z with fun crafts that promote more than just letter recognition. Kids will love making their own alphabet and forget that they are learning in the process. With 5 exclusive crafts never published on No Time For Flash Cards. Value $8

Alphabet Games by Malia Hollowell of Playdough to Plato:

The Alphabet Mega Pack includes 12 hands-on games that teach children to recognize the names and sounds of letters - skills that are important for learning how to read. Each activity includes easy to follow parent instructions and helpful photos. The games are addictively fun for kids AND their families! Value $6

Raising a Creative Kid: Simple Strategies for Igniting and Nurturing that Creative Spark by Jillian Riley of A Mom with a Lesson Plan:

Raising a Creative Kid will help you raise a creative thinker by simply setting up a creative environment, using intentional language, and nurturing mistakes. This easy read is full tips and tricks that will help you transform your environment into a creativity growth center. Value $7.99

5 minute reading tricks for raising rockstar readers by Amy Mascott of teach mama:

Fifteen 5-minute reading tricks that cover everything from teaching names to what parents should say during read-alouds, from learning sight words to reading fluently. It’s about rolling out the red carpet for our rockstar readers. Now. Whomever you are, wherever you are, no matter how busy you are. Value $10

Parenting with Positive Guidance: Building Discipline from the Inside Out by Amanda Morgan of Not Just Cute:

Parenting with Positive Guidance gives you the tools for understanding your child’s behavior and effectively teaching and guiding your child toward increased self-control while fostering a healthy parent-child relationship. 100+ pages of information you can start using today! Value $9

Treasure Basket Play by Melitsa Avila of Raising Playful Tots:

Treasure Basket Play lets you learn step by step how to make your own natural sensory baby play activity with a Treasure Basket. Includes case studies and interview with a sensory play expert on using Treasure Baskets. Value $8.95

Play Grow Learn Issue 2 by Christie Burnett of Childhood 101:

Issue 2 of Play Grow Learn is packed full of playful fun with 55 pages and over 100 activity ideas. Includes ideas for creating family stories with internationally acclaimed author Hazel Edwards, an exclusive full colour, printable sea themed bingo game, 12 pages of active and outdoor play ideas, recipes, art, literacy, creativity, construction, imaginative play, books and more! Value $4

Spring Literacy and Math Activities and Games by Christine Lanyon of Scribble Doodle and Draw:

Spring Literacy and Math Activities and Games includes 15 fun learning center ideas. Skills worked on include, addition to 8, patterns, counting to 20, measurement, number sequencing, abc order, writing 3 letter words, rhyming, syllables, compound words and more. Value $8

Alphabet Glue: Say Hello to Volume Twelve!

Hey! Guess what? Volume Twelve of Alphabet Glue is officially here. I didn't do my usual preview post this time around because our little household has been thrown way off the proverbial track by the big kid finding herself in posession of a wicked case of strep throat. She has been sick enough over the last couple of days that I wasn't at all sure if I actually would be able to finish this issue of the magazine anywhere near on time. But naptime is magic, and by the end of Monday, it turned out to be ready afterall. Oh, and did I mention that it is filled with spectacularly fun stuff? Because it is.

 

Hop on over to the brand new and oh-so-shiny Volume Twelve page on the Alphabet Glue website, and before long you will be in on all of the pertinent details about the new issue. There are whales and waves, weird inflatable eggs, and entire books folded out of single sheets of paper. There are instructions for making music with rubberbands, and of course, pages and pages of brand new recommendations for great reads on interesting topics.

 

And, as my way of saying a vociferous thanks for all of your wonderful support for the magazine, especially over the month of March, I have a little launch day surprise for you all. I've assembled a handful of great books from one of my very favorite authors, Cynthia Rylant. Perhaps I've mentioned her a time or twelve here on the blog? Anyway, to enter to win a five book bundle of Rylant titles, leave a comment on this post sharing your own favorite author with the rest of us. I'll pick a winner via random number generator, or baby pulling numbers from a hat, on Friday.

Alphabet Glue Turns Two!

Two years ago this week, I first launched an experimental little project called Alphabet Glue. The first issue was a goofy kind of labor of love. A collection of whimsical ideas and projects that my then six year old and I had been tinkering around with and thought we might share. I wrote much of that issue under a nest of blankets in Mariam's bunk bed while she dug through picture books and occasionally chimed in with titles that I should include in those very first booklists.

Two years later, there are eleven issues of Alphabet Glue (twelve if you include the Summer Science Special). I have built a website from scratch, working late into the evenings after my kids were tucked into bed. I have assembled hundreds of pages of science projects, book recommendations, quirky printable pages, and hands-on activities. I have dropped them into your virtual laps every other month, hoping that you will like them.

And you? You all have been beyond supportive and enthusiastic. You have sent kind emails, shared photos of your kids doing the projects, and left really nice comments on the blog to help keep me motivated (and on schedule). Blogger friends have written dozens of posts and shared like crazy on social media. The result is that the community of Alphabet Glue families feels like one big family in and of itself, and I am incredibly grateful. Because of your families, this is no longer just about me making a fantastic mess on our dining room table in pursuit of the perfect repurposing of an empty cardboard toilet paper roll. Instead, it is about all of us sharing a love of literature with our collective small folk, and about finding creative (if sometimes messy) moments for families to work together.

So thanks to each and every one of you for supporting my little magazine. As a way of saying thank you, I'm having a big sale on issues of Alphabet Glue. Between now and the 27th, you can enter "two" at checkout and receive 30% off.

Hello, Monday.

Well. I did have plans for a Library Monday post, but the baby has declined the nap that was offered to him, and I have what shall henceforth be referred to as The Cold of Doom. Complete with cough. I am not a cheerful cougher. So, no marginally thoughtful reflections on children's literature for you today. Instead, a few snapshots from the last few days, which went by very, very quickly, I must say.

Also, we got The Email this morning. The one that says that Dan has indeed matched into a residency program. The fine print? We don't find out which one until Friday afternoon. So, a few more days of waiting. Tick tock...

p.s. One of these photos is from the upcoming Volume Twelve of Alphabet Glue, which I'm working on right now. Well, not right now but you know, when the baby naps. Can you guess which one?

Rhythm of the Home for Spring.

The spring edition of the Rhythm of the Home online magazine has officially launched. You can find the new issue here.

There is a brief piece on Alphabet Glue included this time around; a reflection on why I think that bookmaking projects can be valuable tools for helping kids to see themselves as writers and artists from an early age. The piece is accompanied by a couple of projects from issues of Alphabet Glue that I thought went nicely with the ideas that I was trying to express.

You can find my piece by visiting here. But make sure to stay and take a look at some of the other great stuff in the spring edition of ROTH while you're over there! 

 

Alphabet Glue: Volume Eleven and a Super Giveaway!

Good Monday, friends! I am quite happy to announce to you all that Volume Eleven of Alphabet Glue is officially ready to take up residence in your virtual laps.  This news actually comes as a bit of a surprise to myself (and the people who live with me) because somehow, this particular issue of the magazine just came together so easily and so naturally and so very well, that the usual last minute panic about whether or not I could manage to get it done on time was suspiciously absent. Indeed, I finished days ahead of schedule. Apparently, wonders truly never do cease.

Volume Eleven has a little bit of each of the things that have made past issues of Glue such great bookish fun for families. Inside this newest installment you will find instructions for simple scientific experimentation, imaginative inspiration for young writers, and paper crafts that manage to toe the line between whimsical and practical.

I suspect that the reason this issue pulled itself together almost without my noticing is, simply put, because it is really a pretty good one. The projects complement one another nicely, and they are pretty much all of the easy, seat-of-your-pants variety.  You could decide to throw them together on a whim, using only materials readily available around your house and yard on a quiet Saturday afternoon.

 

To read up on the newest issue of Glue and to find out more about what you can expect to find tucked inside its bright and shiny pages, visit the brand new Volume Eleven page here.

 

And, in recognition of the continued enthusiasm that you all have shown for my beloved little publishing project, I thought we should get a little celebratory giveaway action going. Because I do like to say thank you. Volume Eleven has five new booklists inside, including a list of our family's very favorite books ever. For a chance to win a bundle of five books (a well loved title from each list in this issue), use the widget below to enter. I'll notify the winner on Friday afternoon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

That Time of Year.

Yarn Along (Here and There).

Thoughts About Very Little (and Giveaway Winners, too).

Library Monday: The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester.

Eleven Below.

Alphabet Glue Vol. 10 Now Available!

Alphabet Glue Guest Post: How To Make Comic Books or Graphic Novels!