Tag Archives: Books

Red Carpet Celebration: My Little Girl’s a Super Star Reader!

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The luxurious Escalade SUV limo was parked. The plush, red carpet was rolled out, and the “fans” patiently awaited their arrival. One person shouted, “I think I see them!” People positioned themselves with cameras and cell phones ready to take pictures and videos. Then the door opened, and they all came parading out wearing their finest clothes and accessories.

The cheers from the crowd would make you think they were all singers being recognized at the Grammy’s or actors and actresses being recognized at the Emmy’s. But they were all being celebrated for something even more notable: kindergarten through fourth graders who read 100 or more books in a little less than three months!

My little kindergartener was among this small group of children who accomplished this wonderful goal! She read well beyond the 100 book minimum, many on her own with little assistance from me. Fancy Nancy, Pinkalicious, Thelma the Unicorn, Princess Truly and If You Give a Mouse an iPhone were some of her favorites to read. I am so proud of my six year old’s accomplishment and happily cheered her name as she walked the red carpet with the other children and went into the limo.

Afterwards, all of the children were lead by the school librarians and paraded through the halls of the school, along with the parents, where the other children and teachers were all lined up in the hallways to give hi-fives and cheer on the kids for reading so many books. Ending in the library, they were all then celebrated with cake and sparkling apple raspberry cider. I thought it was a wonderful event and an awesome way to reward children for reading. Quinn, along with the other children, all looked and felt like superstars! She’s so excited to keep reading and can’t wait to do the challenge again when she’s in first grade.

All the best,

Tanya

Reading for Fun(draising): My Little Girl Supporting the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House

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My daughter has loved leafing through books since she was a baby and looks forward to her father or me reading stories to her before she goes to bed, regardless of how tired she may be. Now that she’s five, she enjoys trying to read on her own, especially books about art, creativity, unicorns and princesses! So when she came home with a packet from her school to raise money, for the Read for the House Program, a service-learning project that raises funds to support the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to not only raise money for a good cause but to encourage Quinn to read even more.

Throughout the entire month of February, Quinn eagerly read several books, many from the Fancy Nancy and Amelia Bedelia series. She’s only in kindergarten, but I am so amazed at how many words she can read by herself with little to no assistance from me or her dad. This was such a great experience for us both, and my sweet girl was able to exceed her fundraising goal with the generosity of family and friends. Even though the fundraising period is drawing to a close, the  fun times of reading together with my little girl will continue.

All the best,

Tanya

A Wonderful Shopping Trip: My Little Girl Leafing Through Books

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2016-06-04 15.21.30Yesterday, my husband, daughter and I stopped my BJ’s Wholesale to pick up some fruit. (They actually have a nice organic selection). While I headed to the fruit section, my husband and three year old cruised up and down the aisles just looking around. After waiting a few minutes in the fruit section and realizing that they weren’t coming, I started searching for them in locations where I thought they’d be, such as the toy and candy section. To my surprise and pleasure, I found them in the book section. Quinn didn’t even notice me for a minute or so as she leafed through pages and begged, “Daddy, can I get this book please!” So I snapped a quick picture of her then said, “There you are are! I was looking for you two.” I composed a couple of blog entries on her love of books and reading, so it truly does please me that even when I’m not present and suggesting that she look at books that she will insist on going to the book section (then of course toys too) on her own, as my husband informed me she did. Here’s to a continued love of books and reading. That’s one item I can’t see myself saying no to my daughter about even if it wasn’t on the original shopping list.

All the best,

Tanya

Little Girl, Little Girl, What Do You See? A Beginner Book Just for You!

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Brown BearThough my daughter is only two, I am so pleased that she loves reading and flipping through the pages of books. I get so excited when I come across children’s books that not only teach my little girl a skill but that she looks forward to reading. One of the books I have been reading to her since she was just a couple of days old is the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Slide and Find) by Bill Martin and illustrated by Eric Carle  which is a wonderful book that grows with the child. Initially, Quinn would just follow along with her eyes as I read to her and gradually began doing the slide and find to reveal what colorful animal is next to see. By the time she was a year and a half, she was able to identify all of the animals, and before her second birthday she started associating the color with the animal. (Observing her do this has been so rewarding because grasping the concept of colors is no easy task, as I stated in my previous post: 50 Shades: The Complexities of Learning Colors Toddler Style) I can appreciate that all of the animals are not typical colors, such as the purple cat and blue horse as this stimulates my daughter’s imagination. If you are looking for a book to teach your child about colors, animals, patterns and more, definitely consider picking this one off the shelf.

All the best,

Tanya

Let’s Read Baby!

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2014-08-27 11.59.49I’ve always enjoyed reading as a child and remember being so excited to select books at the library, local book store or just off of my personal bookshelf at home. It is my hope that my daughter will have the same level of excitement and have a strong affinity for reading. While my daughter was still growing inside of me, I would read to her and feel her kick every so often as though she was delighted with the story and wanted me to read more. Since she was born, my husband and I to read to her least three or more times a day.

2014-06-11 06.45.09What truly amazes me is for the past few months when my little girl Quinn wakes up, she immediately looks for one of her books as though it is the morning paper and casually yet intently leafs through the pages for about ten to fifteen minutes, sometimes even longer. We all think our children are geniuses or special, and Quinn is no exception. For some reason, Quinn has always known which way to hold a book. No matter how many times my husband and I intentionally giver her a book upside down, she will turn it right side up before she starts “reading.” Occasionally, she will read aloud in her special language eagerly pointing to the pictures and identifying the objects she sees when asked. I just love that my inquisitive little girl is so interested in books and will do all that I can to increase her fondness of them.