This year’s summer reading theme “Oceans of Possibilities” has us dreaming of undersea adventures. Who among us hasn’t wished for gills and a tail after a long day of water play? Support creativity and imaginative summer play with this easy and endlessly customizable merperson necklace. Magical seashells are certainly hard to come by in landlocked central Missouri, so recycling an egg carton will save you a trip to the beach — and help keep some trash out of our waterways while you’re at it! Continue reading “Make a Merperson Necklace”
Summer is a great time to interact with water! Rivers, creeks and oceans beckon when the temperatures get hot, and it’s important to drink a lot of clean water, too. Sometimes bodies of water are less than ideal places; they may be polluted or littered with garbage that humans have left behind. Check out these resources to see what you can do to help keep these vital waters clean and healthy for all of the creatures that live there. Continue reading “Virtual Activity Bundle: Keep Water Clean”
The ocean is a great place to visit in the summer. You can play on the beach, watch the waves roll up on the sand and swim in the water. The ocean is fascinating, full of interesting animals and plant life. If you can’t travel in person, dive into these online books, music, videos and activities instead. Continue reading “Virtual Activity Bundle: Visiting the Ocean”
“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth, when clearly it is Ocean.” – science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke
We may be landlocked here in Missouri, but did you know that over one-third of the world’s entire population lives near a coastline? As we dive into our summer reading program Oceans of Possibilities, I wanted to explore the the shores and seas so many people around the world call home. In compiling this list, I looked for picture books with a strong sense of place which showcase a variety of distinct cultures of those who live by the sea. From South Korea to Canada, let’s set sail! Continue reading “Ocean Tales From Around the World”
It’s June! Summer is just around the corner. In honor of Summer Reading, I’ve got some new releases for you that have absolutely nothing to do with our “Oceans of Possibilities” theme. I figure we have plenty of book lists already that can point you in that direction! So enjoy these new titles that are completely unrelated to oceans (except for one of the chapter books, but it’s not what you think).
Picture Books
“Don’t Worry, Murray” by David Ezra Stein
Murray is a little dog with a lot of fears. He worries about going outside in the rain, and meeting big dogs in the park, and fireworks, and falling asleep next to a picture of a cat hung by his bed. Through all his fears, Murray’s owner is always there to offer kind words and solutions. Murray gains confidence wearing his bright yellow raincoat, his owner reassures him that the big dog at the park is nice, and even stays right beside Murray as he’s falling asleep next to the scary cat picture. What I love about this book (other than the adorable art, obviously) is that it shows you don’t have to tackle your fears alone. Murray is supported and loved every step of the way, which provides a great model for dealing with fears and helping others. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: June Favorites 2022”
How do you know when you’ve found a best friend? Maybe when you’ve found someone who makes you laugh more than anyone else. Or someone who you can’t wait to tell when something really great or really terrible has happened. Or someone who you know will be loyal no matter what. However you define it, when you’ve found a best friend you will want to hold on to them and treasure every moment together. June 8 is National Best Friend Day, so, to celebrate, here are a handful of books for kids about the special bond of friendship.
The title characters of Olivier Dunrea’s “Gossie & Gertie” are two ducks, and best friends, who do everything together. Wherever Gossie, the bigger duck, goes, Gertie follows. But eventually, Gertie gets tired of following and starts to do her own thing. This makes Gossie annoyed at first, but then she decides that she’s okay with following Gertie for a while, and the two friends continue having fun together! Continue reading “Best Friends Books”
As May comes to a close, many children anxiously await the start of summer vacation. To keep track of all of the things I want to do this summer, I decided to create a bucket list! To create your own bucket list, you and your child can add some books and activities from this blog or come up with different ideas, like visiting Rock Bridge Memorial State Park or having a movie night.
Continue reading “Summer Bucket List”
What can make reading a book from your local library even more fun? Crafting your own bookmark to use in your library book! Read on to learn how to create your own bookworm bookmark to travel with you on your next reading adventure.
To create these cute critters, you’ll need a few supplies. Gather a thick sheet of white paper, a piece of colored paper (about 8.5″ by 4″) and a variety of patterned pieces of paper of any size. A piece of yarn or ribbon (under 1/4 inches wide) will be used for a tongue. You’ll also need scissors, glue and a hole punch.
Continue reading “Bookworm Bookmarks”
Want a super quick and easy craft to brighten your kiddo’s day? If so, work together to create some adorable butterfly chenille stem rings!
Not only are these little bug rings super cute, they only require three chenille stems to create. I love how little changes, such as different colored chenille stems, different lengths or a different way of bending the wings, enable crafters to create so many different species of fuzzy bugs.
Continue reading “Butterfly Rings”
In case you didn’t already know, Mother’s Day is May 8! Since 1908, when it was created by Anna Jarvis, this has been a day to celebrate the mothers in our lives and all that they have done for us (this could also include grandmothers, aunts, godmothers and any other mother figures). Here are some eBooks, songs, videos and an easy, fun craft to help commemorate this special day. Continue reading “Virtual Activity Bundle: Mother’s Day”
