This one is for the grownups.  Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever is written by Mem Fox, a best-selling children’s book author and literacy expert. The book illustrates how reading aloud to your kids can prepare and even teach them to read, improve their speaking skills, expand their vocabulary and (my favorite) strengthen the bond between parent and child. Mem Fox comments, “The time spent reading together provides clear evidence to a child of a parent’s love, care, and focused attention. And it gives the parent a chance to close off the rest of the world, relax, and connect with the child wonderfully.”

Summer is around the corner. Make reading together part of your summer plans. Schedule trips to the library or bookstore and browse our recommended books in our online bookstore. You can even email us for ideas and we will help you find books your kids will love! Work reading time into your plane trips, car ventures, and everyday activities.  We will provide fun, weekly activities to keep your summer moving  and your kids reading. Make a commitment to connect again with your kids this summer through books!

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Let’s face it, moms are the best! Celebrate this Mother’s Day with My Mommy is Magic, a wonderful tribute to all the ways a mom magically heals wounds, creates new worlds, and makes our very favorite things. Help your child make Mom feel special by assisting them in this free (or nearly, at least) art project for kids. They can create  their own bouquet of flowers to present to their mom on Mother’s Day. These flowers are beautiful and will never die nor fade, just like their love for their Mom.

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Children grow up too quickly, and I’m always looking for great ways to capture the magic of childhood. Enter Dr. Seuss’s My Book about Me! Pages of fill-in-the-blank questions extract both silly and useful information about your child, leading to the creation of a Seussical snapshot of your kid’s life. I was inspired to make another book devoted to my daughter and the fabulous person she is – an heirloom she would treasure (something I wish I had from my childhood). So, I tried my hand at something new. Scrapbooking!

Thanks to Scrapbook.com, my daughter and I had a fantastic time with our first foray into this fascinating world. An online superstore and community of scrapbookers, Scrapbook.com had everything we needed to make her “Book of Me.”  There is an amazing selection of products, tutorials, classes, and inspiring samples to get you and your little scrapbooker started. We decided on a small scrapbook in a very glittery Tinkerbell theme to reflect my daughter’s personality and nickname. We had a great time putting it together, and in my daughter’s words, “Scrapbooking is like an adventure for kids ‘cause you don’t know how it’s going to end up!” Using the Dr. Seuss book as a prompt, you will be amazed at the incredible art and story your child can create!

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Hippity Hoppity Easter’s on it way! Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a beautifully illustrated book with the entire beloved song as its text. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. My parents always made it memorable for us as children. Easter morning was filled with goodies and excitement.  There was always a beautiful new Easter Dress with gloves, a purse and a bonnet to wear to church, which we loved! And then, of course, there was the hunt! The Easter Bunny always hid both our baskets and the eggs.  The older we got the harder they were to find. The joy was evident on my father’s face as we searched and searched our house diligently seeking our prize. I cannot think of a new tradition or event that would be more fun.  Enjoy this Easter together as a family. Happy Easter!

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