http://www.playtacoma.org/blog/literacy-books/ en-us Fri, 18 May 2012 19:52:49 PDT Fri, 18 May 2012 19:52:49 PDT SiteCrafting.com GearBox 1.0.10 http://playtacoma.org/blog/stick-joins-cardboard-box-in/ The stick along with skateboard and baby doll were chosen for this year's entries into the Strong National Toy Hall of Fame. "It's very open ended, all natural, the perfect price -- there aren't any rules or instructions for it's use" said Christopher Bensch, the museum's curator of collections. The stick joins 2005 inductee, the cardboard box, as an open ended and accessible play thing. Celebrate the stick and the cardboard box with your little ones with two inspiring books that celebrate the power of imagination: Not a Stick and Not a Box by Antoinette Portis. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:02:00 PST http://playtacoma.org/blog/be-supporting-character-in-childs/ Children's Books Resources One of the most comprehensive sites on children's books, Planet Esme Book A Day, is authored by elementary teacher Esme Raji Cordell. Cordell calls herself a "readiologist", is very passionate about children's books and offers wonderful reviews. Her suggestions will suit a variety of interests and ages. Check out her Planet Esme Book A Day blog for more book reviews than most of us could ever hope to gather! Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:27:00 PST http://playtacoma.org/blog/happy-birthday-dr-seuss/ Today we celebrate Dr. Seuss' 105th birthday. It was March 2nd, 1904 that Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. While most commonly known for the more than 60 children's books he wrote, "Dr." Seuss also drew more than 400 political cartoons for a New York daily newspaper during World War II.  Eventually he designed and illustrated posters to support the war effort, and joined the U.S. Army where he was the leader of the animation department.However, it was his children's books, filled with rhyme and fanciful characters, that have helped beginning readers and have been enjoyed by families for generations.  What are you doing to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday? Do you have a favorite Dr. Seuss title? Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:18:00 PST http://playtacoma.org/blog/an-unexpected-snow-day/ It's March and the Spring Equinox is just 11 days away yet we woke this morning to snow on the ground. While I'm completely ready to move past the cold and wet of winter, the snow was a delight to my little one. A book to share on a snow day and one if you're ready to look forward to spring:White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt, first published in 1947 this book won a Caldecott award for the illustrations by Roger Duvoisin.Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert, features a family garden depicted through vibrant illustrations. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:45:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/celebrating-house-on-mango-street/ Last week, while getting ready for work I was distracted by the radio; Sandra Cisneros was reading from her novel "House on Mango Street". It was a treat to hear an excerpt of this timeless book read in the author's voice.Cisneros is one of my favorite writers. I've devoured everything she's written and have reread "House on Mango Street" more times than I can count. Years ago I discovered there was a children's book, "Hairs/Pelitos", created from the novel.In "Hairs/Pelitos", a colorfully illustrated bilingual story, the main character Esperanza  introduces us to her family by talking about the differences in their hair. When my son was a toddler he wondered (loudly and often) why our hair was so different. The book allowed me to show him that families don't always look alike. There was a bonus for me: I was able to share one of my favorite writers with my little guy!Click here to listen to "House on Mango Street" Celebrates 25 Years  on NPR. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:17:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/in-team-playhouse-list/ Looking for Good Boat Adventure Stories We want to include some good boating adventure books with our Playing Under the Stars playhouse. Some thoughts? Here's a list of some of our favorites. Others to add to the list?Owen (age: 4) - Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. MilneChapter 9: In Which Piglet Is Entirely Surrounded by WaterToy Boat, AuthorStewart Little, E.B. WhiteChapter 4: A Fair Breeze, Chapter 5: The Sailboat Race, Chapter 13: Ames' Crossing, Chapter 14: An Evening on the RiverJust a Tugboat, Mercer MayerJay (age: grandfather) - Paddle-to-the-Sea, Holling C. HollingThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark TwainKon Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft, Thor Heyerdahl Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:07:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/simple-literacy-skills/ These tips will help even the youngest children Children get ready to read years before they start school. Grown ups can prepare children for reading by helping them have fun with words and stories. Talking to children, asking them to share their stories in words or pictures, playing with books and singing rhyming songs creates the foundation for strong literacy skills. Six Simple Literacy SkillsPrint Motivation: Read books yourself. Ask, "Want to read a book with me?"Vocabulary: Repeat early attempts to identify objects. Add descriptors, "Yes, a humongous truck!"Narrative Skills: Talk about your day at bedtime. Ask your child to fill in the blanks, "Today we went on a walk, and a _____ followed us."Print Awareness: Let your child turn the pages of a book. Notice everyday print, "That sign says 'stop'."Letter Knowledge: Write out words together. Ask, "What letter does your name start with?"Phonological Awareness: Sing silly songs: change the vowels or replace a word. Ask, "What word rhymes with lame; ham or hat?"This article originally ran in the Summer 2009 issue of PLAY Times. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:49:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/slightly-spooky-fun/ All you need for Halloween fun right here: a craft, a book and even a quiz!"Summer is over, now it's fall; just the nicest time of all."  Check out award winning author and illustrator Lois Lenski's "Now It's Fall" from your local library. Reusable, make-it-yourself Flower Pot Pumpkins courtesy of Family Fun.Think you know it everything about Halloween? Test your Halloween Smarts with the always smart Martha Stewart.Or stop by the Museum during Halloween Week for Halloween Howls. Each day there will be a slightly spooky craft in Becka's Studio, Play Guides in creative costumes and treats. But there won't be any tricks, we promise! Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:42:00 PDT http://playtacoma.org/blog/elf-on-shelf/ This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Like most children through the ages, they wanted to know how Santa really knew who was naughty or who was nice. Their answer, as in my own childhood, came in the form of a small pixie-elf. The first time the elf arrived at our home, my children officially adopted him by giving him a name. Each year he would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch the children's behavior and report it to Santa each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the North Pole and was now resting in a new and different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position. Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him but talking to him was a different matter all together. My children shared many secrets with the elf, and while he was under strict orders not to talk to them, the elf was under no such orders where grown-ups were concerned. Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf is watching," for errant behavior to be modified. I never dreamed this simple tradition would lead to so many treasured Christmas memories for our entire family. It is my earnest desire that The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition will bring as much joy to your family as it has to mine. Enjoy this tradition, and MAKE IT YOUR OWN! Visit the official Elf on the Shelf website here. Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:15:00 PST http://playtacoma.org/blog/springtide-press-hosts-childrens-museum/ holiday cards the 19th century way! Last weekend, Jessica Spring hosted us in her beautiful studio to teach us how to print letterpress cards for the Children's Museum's annual holiday card project. Children spent the day hovering over drawers of typeface making sure to touch as many of the tiny metal alphabets as possible, arranging the blocks and setting the type with the skill of a surgeon and cranking out prints on a press from the 1880's. It was a long day of meticulous attention to detail and vision of a finished product. The kids had a blast and the folks from Springtide Press were fun, professional and great teachers. It was very sweet of them to donate their time and energy to pass along a tradition and skill which dates beyond the 1400's. Be sure to see Jessica's studio next month at Tacoma's Art at Work studio tours. Purchase 2010 holiday cards here. Cards produced in collaboration with Springtide Press available in 2011. Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:48:00 PDT