SANTA CLAUS THE WORLDS’S NUMBER ONE TOY EXPERT by Marla Frazee

This is now my favorite kid’s Santa book. It was only published a couple years ago by Harcourt, Inc. Actually, it’s one of my favorite books. Period. Marla Frazee’s illustrations make me laugh. There is a lot of colorful detail, but it’s not confusing. It’s easy to scan. This is why it’s perfect for anyone from one to one hundred. It’s not too wordy. The pictures do most of the talking. Your toddler will enjoy conversations about various illustrations that are pointed to.

Since the winter holidays are in the air, we’re thinking what presents would be good for our children. Most of us are now thinking about toys in a different way because of the lead paint in some Chinese-made toys. Also we know that some plastics are not good for children, because they get absorbed in the system and mimic hormones, potentially causing problems later on.

In the June issue of Parents Magazine, there was an article entitled, “Boost Your Childl’s IQ (IMAGINATION QUOTIENT). Recent research according to the article shows that IMAGINATION may a bigger factor in academic success than the traditional IQ intelligence. It’s important today that children can become original thinkers. That means thinking outside the box. The only trouble is, our schools are increasingly going the other way: encouraging all children to get the so- called right answers on tests. Yet creative children know there is often more than one answer, just as they know there is more than one way to solve math or any other problems. What’s a parent to do?

•Number one is to reduce time in front of TV.
•Encourage unstructured play – remember when you went outdoors to play and pretend by playing house or whatever?
•Provide your children with blocks that can be made into anything without any necessary direction. There is no right way. Children who played with blocks, according to a study, scored 15 percent higher on a language development test than kids who didn’t have blocks.
•Allow your child to spend time each day outdoors in unstructured play time. My grandkids and I used to have so much fun going on “treasure hunts.” We would take bags and pick up anything that seemed interesting (old nails, bottle caps, acorns, leaves, pieces of wood, or foil from wrappers, etc.) We’d bring the whole mess home, dump it out, and get some glue and make all kinds of images for a collage effect. I framed one of our efforts, and it’s a great memory of that particular time in my grandson’s life. He was about 3 1/2 or 4 at the time.
These treasure hunts provided far more interest, interaction, and creative thinking than any so-called “educational toys.”
•One of the most fun toys is a big box. Kids love to pretend they are a house, a garage, a fort.
•Get the book Unplugged Play that I recommend earlier. This has so many idea you can use. It will give you sources for where to get wooden toys made right here in the USA, free of toxins.

•Books. There are so many wonderful children’s books. Today I went into our local children’s book store, ADVENTURE FOR KIDS. I was spellbound by the treasure of beautiful books availale. Of course, I had to buy some, as I always do. I’ll be writing about what I bought later.

As our book BABY READ-ALOUD BASICS states so clearly, if you want your child to be happily and intelligently imaginative with great language skills, read, read, read to him and her every day.

Santa Claus The World’s Number One Toy Expert by Marla Frazee
Harcourt, Inc. 2005, hardcover

Bear on a Bike Written by Stella Blackstone Illustrated by Debbie Harter

Recommended for Stage 4: The Babbler (eight to twelve months) and beyond.

Bear on a Bike will be one of your baby’s favorites for many months. Here’s why. A quick glance through the book reveals simple illustrations with lots of color and design that clearly match the rhyming text. The bear and other cast of characters are appealing and fun to talk about and point to. There are lots of questions waiting to be asked.Where’s the boy or the spotted dog, for example?

The text offers some rich vocabulary. We discuss the importance of “rare” or unusual words in Baby Read-Aloud Basics. Children’s books have three times more vocabulary than spoken language between parent and child. For example, in Bear on a Bike, you’ll read the following less common words: marigold, raft, fearsome, prowl, snarl, dart, herons, groves, carriage. These are words you probably wouldn’t say to your baby or toddler in everyday conversation. Reading those sample words may even peak your interest. Something magical is happening is this book. Try reading it to your baby or toddler and observe his or her reactions. You’ll find your child eager for you to extend the book by talking about it. You’ll also be asked either verbally or nonverbally to “read it again.” Reading a book over and over is good for language development. This might be one book you won’t mind reading again and again. Enjoy!

Bear on a Bike
Written by Stella Blacksone, Illustrated by Debbie Harter
Board book
Barefoot Books, 22 pages, 2001

Book Review: Right Outside My Window by Mary Ann Hoberman, Illustrated by Nicholas Wilton

You never know where you’ll discover a wonderful children’s book full of enchanting illustrations. I love to dabble in painting and drawing, and like most children, I loved the arts from as early as I can remember. In August I took a week-long workshop with artist Nicholas Wilton. I had seen his work on the book cover of The Four Agreements and on a flyer for the Institute of Noetic Science. Helping with the workshop were Wilton’s wife, Jennifer Oppenheimer, and their two daughters. Now 13 and 11, the daughters had grown up with books, and were excellent students, love learning, reading, and writing. Growing up with the visual arts, they were already accomplished artists.

At the workshop, I learned that Nicholas Wilton had illustrated three children’s books: Feathers and Fools written by the famous Mem Fox (whose Time For Bed we reviewed in Baby Read-Aloud Basics), Where Do Butterflies Go When It Rains?, and Right Outside My Window. Where do Butterflies Go must be out of print, because I couldn’t get it. Feathers and Fools would be good for primary and up (the illustrations are sublime, and you may want to get the book just to be immersed in its beauty).

Right Outside My Window is perfect for eight to ten months and up. The illustrations are bold, simple, and colorful – the characteristics that appeal to babies. The words, a simple poem are so attuned to babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Mary Ann Hoberman masterfully relates her poetry to this age group as well as elementary children. Check out her other works such as A House is a House for Me.

In Right Outside My Window, parents can help their babies observe that there is beauty that can be found in every moment anywhere, especially Right Outside My Window. It’s the everyday ordilnary world that can feed our Souls. Parents can read the book to baby and then begin to look outside their windows every day to see what bird, insect, cloud, tree, leaf, raindrop awaits to be noticed. When I was a teacher, I had a Noticing Notebook in the classroom, and each day, first grade students wrote something they noticed in it. Then at the end of the day, we would read all the entries and talk about what we noticed.

Another important feature of this book, is the repetition of the phrase “right outside my window” on each page. Babies need and learn language from the repetition. When you start to look out your own windows you can say, “Look, what’s Right ouside our window!”

It’s also important to include as much poetry as possible right from the beginning, so children can grow into adulthood with the love and understanding of this beautiful language that can give so much pleasure throughout life.

As for the compelling illustrations, there will be so much to talk about beyond the scope of the subject of the written words: the birds, cat, leaves, flowers, clouds, butterflies, snowman. (Remember, as we state in our book, babies understand lots of language way before they can speak. When you read and talk to babies constantly they warehouse everything you say, and will use it when they begin to talk. This is how they learn to talk – by listening to you!)

This book is a coffee table book. It’s so beautiful. Enjoy.

Right Outside My Window
By Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrated by Nicholas Wilton
paperback
Mondo Publishing, 2002