Monday, July 25, 2011

Sew some Fairies on National Thread the Needle Day

Did you know there was a National Thread the Needle Day? Not just sewing day, but actually thread the needle day! We celebrate this day every year on July 25th. Who knew?

I was a pretty lucky kid. My mom was a fantastic seamstress and made a lot of my clothes. They didn't look handmade, they looked like they came from fancy boutiques. So, of course, my mom taught me to sew. I can't quite sew like she did back then, but I can thread a needle! And I can do it fast!

To celebrate the fun task of threading needles I thought I'd share this fun Usborne book of "Fairy Things to Stitch and Sew". If you would like some fun, easy sewing projects to do with your girl, a group of girls, or as a home school project, this book has a bunch for you to do! Each sewing activity comes with simple steps and teaches simple sewing stitches. It's such a perfect book to get your little girl interested in sewing. And what little girl doesn't want to make some fairies?

Recommended for ages 6 and up, and for only $6.99 you can't go wrong! If you need a birthday gift, and some thread, needles, scissors, pinky and purply material, beads and sequins along with Fairy Things to Stitch and Sew and it'll make a wonderful gift!


Happy Sewing!
Kristie

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The Moon Landing Got Kids Interested in Studying Space - One of the Best Books for Kids to Study Space is Usborne's First Encyclopedia of Space!


Forty two years ago today my dad sat me down in front of our black and white TV and said "I want you to watch this. Pay attention so you remember it." I'm glad he told me that. I made sure I paid attention, and I do remember watching Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon for the first time in man's history. Since then kids have been entranced with learning about the moon and space - my own son included!

If my son grows up to be an astronomer or astrophysicist I won't be surprised. He loves everything about space. He studies everything he can find on the subject. I'm not sure where that all started with him, but I do know that his first space book was Usborne's First Encyclopedia of Space. It's geared towards kids 8 and up, but he LOVED to have
me read it to him when he was 3. Clearly his love for space started before then,
as I bought the book out of his preschool book fair flyer cause I knew he'd love it. Little did I know that 3 years later, it would be that very book that would get me started in my Usborne Books business!

The First Encyclopedia of Space takes kids through everything they need to learn at a young age on space. It covers all the planets, the moon, stars, the sun. It's put together in classic Usborne fashion with cutout images and small snipets of information on each page. No wonder my son wanted me to read that all them time to him! It's such a fun and engaging book.

And! It's internet linked so after you go over a page with your child, or he/she reads the page themselves, they can go online to usborne-quicklinks.com to explore more on the subject of space. Almost every page in the book has internet links to it. For example on the Satellites page, the quicklink is Build Your Own Satellite online. This provides even more fun activity for the kids on space. There's even online games connected to many pages based on the subject.

If you have your own space buff, or are teaching children about space you can purchase the book here. Purchase

If you'd like to be kept up to date on specials, literacy tips, fun activities for your kids, and Usborne book giveaways, join us on Facebook.

Happy Reading!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Grief Counseling for Harry Potter?


I just came across an article on grief counseling for muggles as the last Harry Potter movie has just been released. I read the comments to the article, and I'm not so sure the people commenting "got it". And I'm not so sure the article really touched on why people will be grieving over the end to Harry Potter.

Granted, I only read the first two chapters of the first Harry Potter book. I think I may have seen the first three movies, at home on video or dvd. But my son grew up with Harry Potter. He LOVES Harry Potter. He has read all the books, seen all the movies I don't know how many times, has all the toys - even every Harry Potter LEGO set, and had a Harry Potter 7th birthday party. I didn't know it was his 7th birthday party, til he just came and told me it was his 7th. He even just ran to get the cake topper (Harry on his Quiddich broom) he has saved for 7 years. Harry Potter encompasses his childhood, as does Harry with so many other children under the age of 15. It also encompasses peoples lives of many ages.

My son went with his best friend to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 today. I never really cared what was in the books, but I asked him if he would tell me how it ended. He told me, and I actually started tearing up. Why? Harry has been a part of this household for a very long time. He has been a part of our lives. It's sad to know that there won't be anymore new Harry's to pick up off the floor. No new stories, and we don't get to watch his adulthood - which may be what J K Rowling wanted. She may have wanted to keep him young. And she definitely made him the hero of good and evil. And boy, if we ever needed that, we need it NOW!


Saturday, July 2, 2011

Have a Blast With Your Kids Making These Easy Craft-Friendly Fireworks!

Here's a simple 4th of July, or Indepence Day as we call it, craft for your kids to make. These firecrackers light up your 4th of July party with some sparkle and pizzaz. No! There's nothing that is seriously going to blast off with these. Simply made with paper, foil and some dabs of glue. Enjoy!

This craft and many other crafts can be found in Big Book of Playtime Activities . Awesome book that walks you through step-by-step to create fun projects with your kids. Even mom will become an artist with this book!

Have a very wonderful Independence Day with your family!