Flashlight by Lizi Boyd

Summertime is here and lots of families are getting excited about going camping.  Some families will camp in tents.  Some will camp in RVs.  And... some brave families will camp under the stars.  Fun times for all!  

Flashlight by Lizi Boyd is a wordless book about a child who goes camping, wanders around in the dark, and gets lost.  Oh no!  How will the child get back to the tent?  Keep reading to find out what happens to the child, to learn more about Flashlight and the importance of wordless books, and to find the directions for a fun, book-inspired art activity!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

10 Children's Books About Residential Schools

Conversations have been happening in homes and classrooms across Canada and the United States since the remains of 215 Indigenous children buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School were found.  At the time of this post, nearly 1,000 bodies have been found and that number is expected to rise as the grounds of more residential schools in Canada and the United States get searched.  Parents and teachers are finding themselves fielding some hard questions from their children...  Why were these children taken from their homes?  Why were they forced to go to these schools?  Why were they treated so badly there?  Why didn't they all get to go home?

Explaining that Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families and put into residential schools where they were abused and prohibited from speaking their languages or expressing their culture requires both delicacy and honesty, according to experts.

Listed below are 10 children's books and Youtube videos written specifically to help children answer some of these difficult questions.  Many of these books are written by residential school survivors or their descendants.  All of these books were written before 2021... long before the remains of the original 215 children were found.

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

Learning About Dyslexia: The Hoopstar by Chavon D. White

I usually write about books and activities for early childhood and early elementary students, but every once in a while I find a book for the upper elementary grades that teachers and parents should know about.  The Hoopstar by Chavon D. White is one of them.  The Hoopstar is a realistic fiction children's book inspired by real life.  It is about a 12-year-old girl named Brylane who loves to play basketball.  On the basketball court, she is confident and fearless... a true champion!  But on the inside, there is something making Brylane feel less confident, something most of the people around her don't know about...  she has dyslexia.  What is dyslexia?  How does it affect Brylane's life?  How does Brylane overcome having dyslexia to achieve her dreams?  Keep reading to learn about dyslexia and to learn more about The Hoopstar!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

 

How Soap Works: Pepper and Soap STEM Experiment

Are you looking for an activity to show children why it's important to use soap when they wash their hands?  This pepper + soap STEM experiment is a favorite among early childhood and elementary school teachers and shows children exactly why they need to use soap.  It requires very few materials and... chances are... you already have them in your kitchen.  Keep reading to learn more!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

Fun Facts About Sled Dogs

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about Run Like a Sled Dog and Black Bear Goes to Washington by Denise Lawson.  (Run Like a Sled Dog and Black Bear Goes to Washington are two children's books inspired by a retired sled dog that Denise Lawson adopted.)  That particular post generated some interest in my readers to learn more about the lives of sled dogs.  What are sled dogs like?  What do sled dogs eat?  How do sled dogs manage in the Arctic cold?  Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and to learn more about these magnificent creatures!

The Brave Butterfly Gratitude Journal Product Review

Several months ago, I wrote a blog post about Abby Cadet... the young author who wrote and published Living in Two Homes Is Tough when she was 9 years old. Since then, she has written a second children's book and has released a series of gratitude journals for children. (Pretty amazing, yes?)  Today's blog post is a product review of one of Abby Cadet's gratitude journals that can be used at home or at school.  Keep reading to learn more!

This is an unpaid review of a Brave Butterfly Gratitude Journal. I was given a promotional journal in exchange for my HONEST review.  To learn more about product reviews, please visit the Authors, Publishers, and Sponsors page.  Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

Painting the Fourth of July Fireworks

Five little firecrackers getting ready to zoom...

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

... BOOM!

The Fourth of July... also known as Independence Day... is only a few weeks away.  On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, separating the 13 colonies from England.  Since then, the Fourth of July has been considered 'America's birthday' and people all over the United States continue to celebrate America's birthday with parades, picnics, and... everybody's favorite... fireworks!  Are you looking for a simple craft to help with your Fourth of July celebrations?  Try this simple painting activity with your children at home or school.  Enjoy!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

10+ Children's Books About Juneteenth

Juneteenth will be here in a couple of weeks!  What is Juneteenth?  Juneteenth is an important day in American history and for Black Americans across the country.  On June 19, 1865... two years, five months, and 18 days after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued... slaves in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free.  Since then, Juneteenth... named for June + 19th... has been celebrated with festivals, cookouts, picnics, family reunions, fireworks, church gatherings, etc.  There is no one way to celebrate Juneteenth.  Anywhere people gather together to commemorate Juneteenth is a celebration.

Listed below are 10+ fiction and nonfiction children's books about Juneteenth, the Emancipation Proclamation, and Opal Lee... the Grandmother of Juneteenth.  Keep reading to learn about these books.  If you know of a children's book that should be added to the list, tell me in the comments below.  If it's a good fit for this list, I'll add it for you!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

How to Make a Picture Frame Craft Out of Pebbles and Rocks

Has anyone ever told you, "You Rock?"  If so, they were paying you a compliment!  They were being sincere in telling you how awesome they think you are.  Do you know someone who rocks?  Do you want to make a unique gift for them?  Keep reading to learn how to make these pretty picture frames with your students!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

All People Are Beautiful by Vincent Kelly

Last month, Vincent Kelly released his children's book called All People Are Beautiful.  All People Are Beautiful is a cheerful, delightful story that will put a smile on your face and make you feel good inside.  It has bright illustrations and features children from all over the world.  Keep reading to learn more about All People Are Beautiful and how you can use it in your classroom.

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.