This picture book presents a bilingual overview of weather and seasons in Spanish and English for young readers. The publisher targets the audience as preschoolers but there are parts of the book that contain a lot of text on one page that might be difficult for a child that young to digest.
There are several things that I like about the book. On the pages where English and Spanish are placed side by side, it is easy to translate from one language to the other. Many pages contain pictures to explain the text within the sentence. Illustrations are AI generated but they do correlate well with the text. The author covers different types of weather common in various parts of the world. There is an interactive component which encourages readers to search and find for certain images which keeps the child engaged in the story.
I do believe the book is a valuable tool for bilingual Spanish/English children and especially for ESL students. However, I feel it most effective for children in elementary grades.
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What a creative way to introduce math operations, place value, and the concept of zero in a funny, engaging graphic novel.
Illustrated with funny graphic space creatures and real photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope. The space creatures transport readers on an adventure into space where they meet and explain the mathematical symbols, zero, and place value while traveling through space.
This book might be used with children of different ages. Younger children learn the basics, while older children will better understand the more complex interrelationships presented in the adventure. Space enthusiasts will love the story line.
Highly recommended for parents and teachers of children ages seven and older.
A beautifully crafted, multicultural picture book with a message of unconditional love for a child.
The author and illustrator have put together this message that expresses the unconditional love of a parent for a child who is also a child of God. This book also illustrates the life cycle and contains quotes from the Bible. As such, it conveys the message from a Christian viewpoint.
This book is a beautiful gift for a prospective parent or the perfect read aloud for a family expecting a new member. Recommended for readers from toddler to elementary school age.
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Publisher’s Book Summary: This is the story of Webster the beagle and his adventures at the Rappahannock River, whose tale of hope will inspire you to never give up on your dreams. Sometimes, we think we’re lost when, really, we’re just hoping to be found.
Frank Payne’s energy and enthusiasm are contagious, so dog breeds such as beagles and Labradors are a perfect fit for him. He is an avid hunter, tennis player, and fan of all things James Madison University. Frank is also active in his community and enjoys exploring new ventures—from owning racehorses to oyster farming.
Frank is vice president and a minority owner of PD Brooks Company Inc., a traffic control company in Richmond, Virginia. He lives in Richmond with his wife, Caren, and their two dogs: Billy, the beagle, and River, the black Labrador retriever. On July 1, 2022, Frank adopted Billy the beagle from Richmond Animal Care Control (RACC). Billy was one of over four thousand beagles rescued from Envigo and adopted across the country. RACC was instrumental in protecting and fostering many of the beagles in Virginia.
Webster the Beagle and His Adventures at the River
Written by Frank Payne
Illustrated by Romney Vasquez
This picture book adventure features a beagle named Webster who narrates his adventures from season to season along the Rappahannock River in Virginia.
Webster is a lovable beagle who especially enjoys meeting the creatures who inhabit the river. In the spring, he meets the ospreys who return to make their nests and raise their young. Summer finds him accompanying his master to go crabbing. In the fall, they harvest oysters from the river. Winter finds them bundling up to fish for rockfish. When not cruising down the river, Webster enjoys life at home with his friendly neighbors and his brother and family member, River, a black labrador retriever.
The illustrator presents vivid multicultural images that portray the emotions and mood of the tale. Payne introduces the young reader to a plethora of information about each of the creatures that inhabit the river. This book is a good jumping off point to encourage a child to explore them in greater detail. Also, the author donates part of his sales from the book to charity, which provides a good example to his primary grade reading audience.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a free signed copy of Webster the Beagle and Webster the Beagle and His Adventures at the River.
Good Evening, Good Evening: Mindfulness and Affirmations for Babies and Kids.
Written by Kaarjal Agnani
Illustrated by Ekta Makhijani
This is a sweet rhyming picture book for toddlers and preschoolers. It contains short affirmations connected to evening that will calm them down and prepare them for bed, while reminding them of the many beautiful images associated with winding down at the end of the day.
Recommended for children ages two through five to be read aloud as a bedtime lullaby.
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Navigating the Middle School Transition: A Parent’s Guide
IS YOUR CHILD ANXIOUS ABOUT ENTERING MIDDLE SCHOOL?
Saying Goodbye to Elementary School
Transitioning from the familiar environment of elementary school can be challenging for some children. Kathy Glass, a former middle school teacher and author specializing in curriculum and instruction, notes, “Children often spend several years at their elementary school, making it feel like home. When multiple elementary schools merge into a single middle school, it can be socially overwhelming, potentially straining old friendships and fostering new ones.”
Embracing Independence and Organization
Middle school demands greater independence and organizational skills from students. “Unlike the single, self-contained classrooms of elementary school, middle school students rotate through different classes with various teachers, each with unique expectations. This can be daunting for some children,” explains Glass.
As a parent, you can offer support by listening, sympathizing, and guiding your child through this transition while clearly communicating the importance of focusing on schoolwork and succeeding academically.
SEVEN STRATEGIES TO KEEP YOUR CHILD ON TRACK
Provide Hands-On Guidance
Advocate for your child with teachers, counselors, and school staff.
Monitor homework, asking guiding questions like:
What information do you need for this assignment?
Where will you look for it?
What steps will you take next?
Assist with Organization
Help your child develop a system for managing important papers.
Use binders with folders for completed and returned work.
Ensure your child uses a planner to track assignments and deadlines.
Communicate with Teachers
Discuss any organizational challenges with your child’s teachers or school counselor.
Brainstorm solutions together.
Teach Time-Management Skills
Reinforce the habit of referring to a planner regularly.
Break down large assignments into manageable tasks.
Help your child estimate how long each task will take and create a realistic schedule.
Develop Note-Taking Skills
Encourage starting a new page for each class daily, using key words and abbreviations.
Review notes after class to ensure accuracy.
Teach your child to take notes from reading assignments by pre-reading to grasp main themes.
Hone Study Skills
Encourage active learning techniques such as highlighting, making study cards, and diagramming concepts.
Identify the best study times for your child and establish consistent study habits.
Use mnemonic devices to aid memorization.
Engage with Teachers
Address specific teacher-related challenges through communication.
Ensure your child understands each teacher’s expectations and homework policies.
Seeking Extra Help
If your child continues to struggle, consider hiring a tutor. Literacy coach Laura Hendrick advises, “Middle schoolers still need parental support, both academically and emotionally. Be firm and establish accountability measures.”
Reading Tips for Middle Schoolers
To become a successful reader, students should:
Maintain an organized home study space.
Practice reading daily.
Use textbook headings and questions to guide comprehension.
Advice for Parents
High school teacher Lance Balla suggests:
Understand your child’s learning style and provide a conducive study environment.
Stay engaged with teachers and monitor your child’s progress regularly.
Foster a college-going culture and model enjoyable reading habits.
Encourage your child to read newspapers and discuss their learning content, focusing on understanding rather than grades.
Best Practices for Designing a User-Friendly Website Navigation and Layout
Make your site easy to navigate and you’ll see more conversions, improved SEO, and stronger relationships with your audience. Here are some best practices you can implement today to create a website with user-friendly navigation and layout.
Keep It Simple
Prioritize and organize site elements by relevance
Minimize clutter and unnecessary design elements
Consistent Design
Maintain design consistency across all pages
Ensure uniformity in navigation elements
A Clear Hierarchy
Establish clear visual hierarchy for content and navigation
Use visual indicators and drop-down menus for primary options
Breadcrumb Navigation
Use breadcrumb navigation for user location tracking
Represents categories, subcategories, filters, tags, user path
Benun has managed to combine storytelling with an effective presentation of stem concepts, large mathematical numbers, and ecology in one easy-to digest- picture book.
This book encourages even the youngest child to stretch these skills. Pebbles, a butterfly with an insatiable curiosity, sets out to travel the world to find the largest number. Along the way, she travels through deserts, rainforests, oceans, and space. At every stop readers discover fun facts, scientific knowledge, and learn about the animals living in each habitat.
Children learn a ton of information without even realizing it. This book can be enjoyed over and over, revealing something new in each page.
I would highly recommend this book to homeschoolers, teachers, and parents of elementary and middle-school students. Warning! adults will be expanding their brains along with the young reader.
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463 Hard to Believe Facts: Better Explained Counterintuitive and Fun Trivia
Written by Nayden Kostov
For the person who loves trivia, or one who likes to appear as an expert in everything, this book is right up your alley. The first chapter in the book is organized in a question, answer format. First, posing a myth, and then answering whether the question is true or false and why.
Readers definitely will come away with new knowledge on a plethora of topics. This author covers sports, language, climate, human and animal sexuality, and countries around the globe. It is fun to have this book around as a conversation starter. One word of caution, the chapter on sexuality is one that parents may not want younger children to discover without prior parental consent or discussion.
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October 13, 2024
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