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Today is Friday…my day to review a picture book and link it to Susannah Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday. 

Before I get to the review of Spaghetti Eddie, I wanted to share with you an amazing resource for authors.  Whether you have published many books already or are just thinking about writing a book, Sandra Beckwith’s Building Book Buzz workshop is a must!  You know, it’s very rewarding to write a book…even more rewarding to see it in print.  But once your book is published, you don’t want the books to sit in their shipping cartons…you want them in the hands of your target market.  So how does that happen?  How do you write a press release about your book?  What social media should you use…Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+?  As the cartoon personality Cathy would say…AAACCKKKK!

If you are planning to self-publish, then taking this course is, without a doubt, the best $199 you will have ever spent.  (Sandy has some discounts available)  But even for those who are published by major houses or have many published books under their belt, it is still usually up to the author to do the lion’s share of marketing and promotion….unless, of course, you are a famous celebrity or politician.  In those instances, the publishing house may ante-up with bigger dollars for advertising and publicity to insure a return of the big advance they probably paid.  Sandy has a blog and she just did a post on how to get free publicity that may make a big difference in how your book is perceived.  She is always providing free tips in the articles she writes.

I hope that anyone who is thinking about getting a book out there will take a look at Sandy’s online workshop…the information will help you know what you have to do…before, during and after the publishing process…and will give you more confidence in your own marketing ability…and her personal attention and expertise are priceless.

And now…on to the review of Spaghetti Eddie.

 Spaghetti Eddie

Written by Ryan SanAngelo

Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic

Publishers: Boyds Mills Press

Ages 2 – 7+

Themes:

Valuing one’s own strengths and qualities, creative problem-solving, helping others.

Opening:

“This is Eddie.  He eats spaghetti every day except Sundays.  On Sundays, he eats ravioli.”

Synopsis:

When Eddie’s mom sends him to the store to buy frosting for his father’s birthday cake, Eddie takes his ever-present bowl of spaghetti and meatballs along.   As he walks to the store, Eddie meets several neighbors and he suggests ingenious spaghetti-solutions to their problems.  For example, one friend has a broken shoelace and Eddie offers a strand of spaghetti to replace it.  As Eddie approaches the grocery store, a robber runs out, holding a bag of stolen money.  Will Eddie be able to do something to save the day?  (Hint: you will stand up and cheer for Eddie when you find out)

Why do I like this book:

What a hilarious story!  I loved this book because I was a very picky eater when I was little (unfortunately, I LOVE EVERYTHING now) and I was able to identify with Eddie, who loved spaghetti so much that he had it every day.  Young children will also appreciate Eddie’s peculiar eating habits… many children have stages where they love or hate a certain food.  Eddie’s ingenious use of his bowl of spaghetti and meatballs will encourage kids to open their creative minds and see new possibilities in the commonplace.  The book is just plain funny…and the illustrations truly capture the spirit and voice of the story.

Related Activities:

Pasta-Covered Treasure Box

Most children have a stash of small keepsakes…a special pebble, a shiny coin, a super-friend’s ring.  Here is a perfect container to keep those items in.  This project also makes a lovely gift for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.

You will need: 1 clean container with lid (a one-pound margarine or cottage cheese container works well), white glue (glue stick won’t work), dry pasta (spaghetti, macaroni and/or other interesting shapes), markers.  Depending on the age of the child, you may want to cover the outside of the container with craft or construction paper and decorate the lid with pasta.  Older children may have the patience and dexterity to put pasta on the outside of the container.

1.      Spread white glue on the top of the lid and press pasta shapes in desired design.

2.      Spread white glue on the outside of the container and cover with paper or pasta.

3.      When the glue is dry, you can use marker to color some of the pasta.  Optional: the pasta can be painted with non-toxic tempera paints.

This post is part of a series for parents and teachers.  Perfect Picture Book Fridays is hosted by Susannah Leonard Hill.  Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities.

Have you seen the February issue of Parenting Magazine?

Splashed on the cover is a picture of a young boy, with glasses, and a thoughtful yet mischievous expression on his face.  I guess you might say he is the “stereotype” of an “intelligent” child.  The lead article in this issue is entitled, “Raise the Next Steve Jobs…or at least a really, really bright kid”.  (Click on the link and it will take you to the entire article on CNN.com) 

Parenting’s senior editor, Christina Vercelletto, did a masterful job of pulling together the opinions of experts along with a mountain of research and contributions from colleagues Lois Barrett, Stephanie Eckelkamp, Beth Weinhouse and Stephanie Wood, as she focused on revealing “what makes a child grow into a brilliant adult”.

The feature recounts how Steve Jobs dropped out of college, but went on to change the world with his Apple computer.  The article examines topics like “genius defined”, “the lowdown on testing” and “the power of a parent”.

I was honored to be a contributor to that article.  Asked what I thought about the validity of IQ and standardized tests and whether they should be used to determine a child’s potential for success in school and later in life, I responded that I believe there are many factors that can affect the score of these tests.  “What if the child didn’t get a good night’s sleep or is getting over a cold?  Maybe the room is too hot or the kid next to him is fidgeting and distracting him.” 

The Parenting Magazine article emphasizes several things that parents can do to encourage school success and greater enthusiasm for learning.  These echo the suggestions that are found in my Show Me How book, where I provide activities and concrete examples for parents of young children.

1.      TALK, TALK, TALK…about anything and everything.  Engage your child in conversation at the breakfast table, while shopping, in the car, on a walk.  Ask open-ended questions like the one given as an example in the article, “What would happen if we stopped for ice cream on the way to the beach?” And don’t talk down or baby-talk to your children…your children will learn whatever you teach them.

2.      READ, READ, READ…anything and everything.  Picture books, comic books, travel guides, atlases, cookbooks…children have more of a chance to succeed in school when they have access to books and someone who reads to them. 

3.      PRAISE RESULTS…mastering tasks and skills motivates children to seek new challenges.  Chapter One in my book, I Can Do It Myself, encourages parents to allow children to try to do things on their own, even if they fail in the beginning.  Give praise for problem-solving and good effort as opposed to blanket praise.  True self-esteem is built on a basis of self-worth.  We feel good about ourselves when we accomplish our goals.   We all need a cheering committee…and parents are a child’s most important fans!

4.      CELEBRATE CURIOSITY…very young children are almost always curious.  But something often happens as they get a little older…they stop asking questions and begin to operate within the confines of what is considered the “norm”.  Parents need to encourage their children by sharing their passions…art, music, sports, carpentry.  And they also need to observe what special talents or strengths their children have and show an interest in those…even if it is watching an anthill or making intricate mud-pies.

5.      SEIZE TEACHABLE MOMENTS…encourage observation of detail and build vocabulary, math and money skills while shopping, driving or doing just about anything with your child.  Parents can engage young children in conversation about the shapes and colors of fruits and vegetables….and older children can discuss where the foods come from and how they are grown.  And that advice brings us back to number 1: TALK, TALK, and TALK.

I don’t know if you want your child to be the next Steve Jobs.  But I do know that every parent wants their child to have a positive self-image and thrive and be happy and succeed in life and in school.  Look back over the five points above…they are simple steps you can take that have big results: Talk with your children; read with your children (join my reading challenge…you might be the lucky winner of a picture book for your child); praise your children; celebrate your children’s curiosity and seize teachable moments.

Related articles

• Since when did obedience become the epitome of good parenting? (antiworldnews.wordpress.com)
• Chores | Information Center | Education.com (education.com)
• I’m About To Drop Some Knowledge On You (mrmomman.wordpress.com)
• Parenting Do’s and Don’t – - Parenting Styles (Part 9) (scaredmom.wordpress.com)

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In only a few weeks it will be Valentine’s Day.

I’ve been asked to write a special letter to my children about how I met their father.  It will appear in Bob Brody’s Letters to My Kids.  I’ll post it here after Bob publishes it.

Bob has appeared on the CBS Early Morning Show and his mission to encourage parents to write letters to their children to pass along the family history has been written up in the New York Times and other respected newspapers and magazines.

He has put together a fun survey that includes questions like: have you told your kids how you met your spouse?   Bob has asked me to spread the word to parents.  The survey takes just a couple of minutes.  He is looking to get at least 100 responses…why not give it a try.  I did!

You can click on the links above or follow this link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W6QRZ52

I know Bob will appreciate your response to the survey. 

Related articles

• 10 awesome Valentine’s day ideas (amomwithalessonplan.com)
• 4 Sweet Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Kids (celebritybabies.people.com)
• Simple Expressions Of Love (thismansjourney.net)
• Printable Valentine Cards From Hello!Lucky (craftzine.com)
• Julianne Moore Debuts Valentine’s Day Cards for Charity (celebritybabies.people.com)

In 2003, 13-year old surfer, Bethany Hamilton, lost her arm to a shark attack.

Soul Surfer tells the story of her miraculous recovery and re-entry into the world of competitive surfing.

The movie was released in 2011 and stars AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt and features singer Carrie Underwood in her first film role.

This is not a movie for young children, but it is definitely a must-see for parents.  Bethany’s parents support and embrace her in every direction she takes.  The love and the positive affirmation she receives from her family are major contributing factors in Bethany’s acceptance of herself.  When Bethany joins a Christian mission in tsunami and earthquake-ravaged Thailand, she discovers that while she may have lost her arm, others have lost everything.  This experience helps Bethany put her situation in the proper perspective and she is able to encourage and motivate others to have the courage to live.

For more information about the movie, you can visit Soul Surfer on Wikipedia.

Home movie night is just one way for families to cut down on expenses.  I got the DVD of Soul Surfer from our local library for free. 

Do you and your children have a library card?  Do you make good use of this amazing community resource?   If you haven’t already done so, please check out your library…many libraries have amazing programs for children and adults of all ages.  The librarian can assist you in finding wonderful picture books that you can share with us in the 2012 PPP Challenge to read every day with your children.

No Rules…Just Read!

Written and illustrated by Barney Saltzman

Publishers: Candlewick Press

Ages 2 – 7

Themes:

Mastering tasks and skills, bedtime routines and father­-son relationships.

Opening:

“Cornelius P. Mud, do you know what time it is?”

Synopsis:

It’s bedtime at the Mud household.  Cornelius’ father asks if he is ready for bed.  Cornelius answers “yes” to each of his father’s questions.  Did you put your pajamas on?  Did you feed your fish?  Did you brush your teeth? The hilarious illustrations reveal  that Cornelius and his father have different ideas about what constitutes getting ready for bed.  Should he really be feeding his fish chocolate chip cookies?  And wait till you see what he puts on his toothbrush.  (Hint: it’s NOT toothpaste)  But the most important thing Cornelius needs to remember is that his father truly loves him.

Why do I like this book:

This is a story that every parent and child can relate to.  Many parents have trouble establishing bedtime routines.  And most young children LOVE to procrastinate and put off going to bed.  During my Show Me How Story-time programs, the kindergarten children can’t wait to talk about what is wrong with Cornelius’ pajama choice.  They love counting the pile of books that Cornelius has chosen for his father to read…nineteen!  And they gasp with horror as they watch Cornelius put chocolate chip cookies in the fish bowl.  The book is funny and a joy to read and listen to…but it also encourages children to think about what activities they need to perform as they get ready for their own bedtimes while sending a beautiful message about a father’s love for his son.

Related Activities:

No Tick-Tock Clock (From Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking)

Telling time is an important skill that young children need to learn…even in these days of digital clocks.  Here is a simple clock with movable hands that a young child can make and set to a special time…lunchtime, playdate time or bedtime. 

You will need: 1 dark piece of construction paper, 1 circle cut from light construction paper (about 6 inches in diameter), 1 metal paper fastener, 2 “hands” cut from dark construction paper, marker or crayon, glue stick.

1.      Poke a hole in the center of the construction paper circle.

2.      Write the numbers in the correct order around the inside edge of the circle…draw the 12, 3, 6 and 9 first…then fill in the other numbers.  If the children are doing the numbers themselves, this will help them leave enough space for the rest of the numbers.

3.      Glue the circle onto the center of the larger piece of construction paper.

4.      Poke through the center hole and also the two “hands” and attach the hands with the metal paper fastener.  The hands should be able to turn.

This post is part of a series for parents and teachers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays hosted by Susannah Leonard Hill.  Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities.

This is a picture of my three-year old grandson, getting a haircut.  He’s so grown-up…but the memory of walking up and down the hospital corridor with my daughter on the day he was born is as fresh in my mind as if it had happened yesterday.

Time passes so quickly.  Please don’t waste it regretting the past or pinning your hopes on the future. 

Today is here.  Use it to the best of your ability.  Do something you’ve been meaning to do for yourself.  Reach out and help someone else.  Pass along a smile.  And, if you can, read to a child. 

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It’s still January 17^th here in Colorado, so even though WordPress considers it the 18^th, I’m posting this at 10:20pm on Tuesday night.

I’m really trying to do the “one post every day” that is part of the challenge…but believe me, it is not easy.

However, since I’m encouraging parents to read EVERY DAY with their kids, I can do no less than try to write EVERY DAY and post some type of tip, tactic or tool to help with the difficult job of parenting.

I got a lovely surprise today…Sharon from DoinTheGratefulDance received the Versatile Blogger Award and she passed it on to me.  Thank you, Sharon!  One of my presentations to moms and dads is called: WE ALL NEED A CHEERING COMMITTEE AND PARENTS ARE A CHILD’S MOST IMPORTANT FANS!

In the same way, bloggers need a cheering committee, and receiving the Versatile Blogger Award lets us know that others appreciate our efforts.

So here are seven things about me that you might not know:

1.      I used to stay up till 2 or 3am, reading romance novels.

2.      I exercise to a Kathy Smith DVD every morning before I go to work.

3.      I used to smoke :(  but gave it up over 35 years ago when I was pregnant.

4.      I signed up for Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Challenge and will be trying to write a picture book draft every month this year.

5.      I used to be so shy that I was afraid to speak up…I’m still shy, but I’ve learned to say what needs to be said.

6.      I went parasailing with my husband and skydiving with my son, even though I am afraid of heights.

7.      I used to bake bread with my children several times a week when they were young.

And now…the envelope please!  I’m supposed to pass the Versatile Blogger Award on to up to fifteen other bloggers.  I’ve connected many new blogs in the last few months and I’ll also have the opportunity to recognize some blogs that I’ve been following and enjoying this past year.  The wealth of talent and effort is unbelievable.  I’m sure some of these bloggers have received many awards, but, just like the Oscars, there’s always room for one more on the mantle.

Barbara at Spanish4Kiddos

Elyse at Fifty-four and a half

Aimee at Classified Mom

Julie Hedlund at Write Up My Life

Susannah Leonard Hill

Anita Silvey at The Children’s Book-A-Day Almanac

Ella at My Memorable Children’s Books

I know there are many others I should have included in this list.  If I missed you this time and last time, it’s just that my eyes are closing.

Goodnight!  I’ll be back tomorrow with some sweet photos of happy children involved in great activities.

Click to enter and comment: 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge

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Today is Martin Luther King Day.

Tributes are taking place across this country and all over the world.

Here’s an easy-to-make dessert from Chapter Two (I’m Special: Helping Your Child Value His Own Strengths and Qualities) of my book that will have your children dreaming sweet dreams.

DREAMY FRUIT SALAD

Children love to help in the kitchen.  They acquire skills as they measure and mix ingredients and “read” the recipe.  One of the basic components of developing true self-esteem is mastering tasks and skills.  So why not invite your child to assist you when you make this delicious and nutritious dessert.

You will need: 1 large package vanilla instant pudding, 1½ cups milk, 1 diced apple, 1 peeled navel orange (sectioned), 2 bananas (sliced), ½ cup sliced strawberries, ½ cup blueberries and a large bowl.

1.      Mix instant pudding and milk in a large bowl.  Chill for 10 minutes.

2.      Add diced apple, orange sections, bananas, strawberries and blueberries and mix together gently.

3.      Makes 4 – 6 servings.  Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

4.      Creative tip: use your imagination and substitute different fruits.

“I really want to have a baby!”

This is what a co-worker told me the other day.  She also told me that her husband is not excited about the idea and she feels he is not ready to be a father.  In addition, their relationship is, according to her, not in a very good place right now.  And, she complained that she had trouble sleeping at night and didn’t function well if her sleep was disturbed.

Hmmmm….sounds like a recipe for disaster, wouldn’t you agree?

Deciding to have a baby is not like deciding to order fries with your meal or deciding to buy a red dress for a party.  When the fries arrive, you can always throw them away if you’ve changed your mind or ask the waitress if you can have a baked potato instead.  If the red dress doesn’t look good when you get it home, you can always return it or exchange it for a different one.  

Becoming a parent is a forever decision…one not to be taken lightly.  The people involved need to understand the implications and agree that it is something they both wish to undertake.  Of course, sometimes pregnancies are unplanned and a surprise.

I’m always encouraging parents to read picture books with their children because part of my Positive Parental Participation program involves the utilization of the messages in picture books to help young children cope with many of the challenges they face in those early years.

One can say the same thing about movies.  And, many movies contain important messages for adults.

My husband and I watched 9 Months with Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore on Netflix last night.  If you are contemplating having a baby, this is the movie for you!  It’s a light-hearted look at a young successful couple who have been living together very happily for five years.  When Julianne discovers she is pregnant, Hugh is not happy about it, but she tells him that the baby won’t change their life.  Then she tells him he will have to sell his sports car and get rid of the cat he has had for thirteen years.  His disconnect causes her to leave him and she tells him, “You’re not ready to be a father!”

Will Hugh ultimately accept the situation?  At the end of the movie, is he ready to be a father?  Watch the film if you want a hilarious look at pregnancy, labor and delivery…with Robin Williams as the obstetrician, you are guaranteed to be rolling on the floor, laughing till it hurts.

But the movie has a serious side…it asks couples: are you ready to have a baby?  It will change your life.  It won’t make a weak marriage stronger.  It will test the limits of your patience. 

What are your thoughts?  Please share them with us.

Do you like music…Elizabeth provides us with some of the best. 

On Music: The Shorthand of Emotion….

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend.  I’ll be catching up on your comments for the reading challenge and for Perfect Picture Book Fridays. 

Have you joined the 2012 Positive Parental Participation Challenge?  Please take a few minutes and read with your child…it’s a small investment of time…with big rewards.