Any child who has ever been playfully tossed into the air, flying higher than the clouds, knows their  daddy is a giant. Any child who has been scooped up into their daddy’s arms in order to avoid something scary knows their daddy is a giant.  Any child who has been lulled to sleep as they listen to his strong heartbeat and deep voice knows their daddy is a  giant. My Daddy is a Giant is a wonderful story about all of the reasons a Daddy is so special to his kids.

Father’s Day is coming and what Dad doesn’t love getting a tie on his special day? Make this one extra unique. Create an oragami tie with your kids. Make it crazy! Make it fun! Personalize it and make it just for him. Have them write a short message on the back just for Dad. It will be a tie he’ll treasure (but never have to wear). After the kids give their tie, let them snuggle up with Dad and read My Daddy is a Giant. It will be a Father’s Day to remember for years to come. (more…)

Every year a crew of actors and artisans revive a themed village on the outskirts of Phoenix, and The Arizona Renaissance Festival comes to life. With jousting tournaments, comedy acts, street performers, artisans, food, games, rides, and more, the Festival is literally a full day of fun for the whole family. It’s a particularly memorable place for me because I watched my brother propose to his wife at the Festival (in front of a huge crowd and at the request of the king, no less).

The Festival can help your child envision what life may have been like for the characters in one of our favorite books, Princess Academy. Though the book isn’t necessarily set in the Renaissance period, the descriptions of life on the slopes of Mount Eskel seem to hearken back to a Medieval Era. The villagers go through their own form of awakening and enlightenment that felt to us like a localized version of the Renaissance. Besides the lack of technology, your little reader will find other similarities between the Festival and events in the book, including the singing, dancing, craftsmanship, and (of course) the life of royalty!

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New Year’s Resolution:  Teach the family to open a book and have a blast!

Steps:

1. Sign up to receive Book|Blasts by email.
2. Get a library card (if yours has expired).
3. Reacquaint yourselves with the children’s section of the library.
4. Actively participate in the OnceUponAGoodTime.com community – leave comments, tell your friends about us, and enjoy the Book|Blasts!

If your kids need a little extra persuasion, make your next visit to the library be to the Scottsdale Civic Center Library. Their children’s section is one of the coolest around. Prime the pump a little by reading Library Lion . . . you’ll be sure to have a roaring good time.

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Ahhh . . . a new year. Time for some fresh goals and resolutions. And time for reflection on the events of the last 365 days. Why should children be immune to this annual ritual? Kids can certainly benefit from considering some new habits to enrich their lives, and we have a great recommendation that we think your kids will enjoy. Help them start a journal! (Or instill in them a renewed enthusiasm for continuing a previously abandoned journal.) This simple activity, if continued through the years, will enable your kids to reflect on their growth, recognize their achievements, and learn to express their emotions.

To help them catch the journal-writing bug, grab a copy of Diary of a Worm. Follow a worm as he chronicles the ups and downs of being a worm through words and pictures. Your younger kids will love the visuals, while your older kids will crack up at the buggy humor.

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