The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle, has to be on the “Must-Read-List” for every child. The story can be used to promote many child-focused learning activities. Here are a few ideas to use when planning for this story. I’ve found these work well – especially the art display. Continue reading →

As part of our focus on the body, we recently did some taste testing. The objective of this activity was to try and identify different foods by using the sense of taste only. The boys were blindfolded with a scarf … Continue reading →

Yuck! That’s Not A Monster! is a book we’ve read several times and laughed each time we’ve read it. It’s full of adorable monsters with a different perspective on life in which ugly is beautiful and being scary is good. Continue reading →

The Three Silly Billies, by Margie Palatini and illustrated by Barry Moser, is a rewrite of the traditional tale, “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”.

However, is far from the traditional tale as it has been ‘updated’ to the present day. For example, the three goats drive a car while the troll has converted his bridge into an income source by imposing a toll on all who would use it.
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Some of our favourite beginner reader books are found in the Monster and Frog series, written by Rose Impey and illustrated by Russell Ayto. The books are based on two characters. If you’re guessing one is a monster and the other is a frog, you’re right! The text and illustrations are designed to inspire children to read. Continue reading →

If you haven’t read any of the Winnie the Witch series of books, by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul, you’re in for a treat.

We came across one of the books in the library recently which we haven’t read and were thrilled to discover. In this book review for Happy Birthday, Winnie, we explain why we enjoyed “Happy Birthday Winnie” so much. Continue reading →

If you’re looking for a good book to help explain how the heart works, along with the lungs, then “My Heart and Lungs” by Sally Hewitt may just be what you are looking for. The books includes some great activity ideas to expand learning. Continue reading →

Here’s a terrific book which helps to explain to children how the body fights germs. The boys really enjoyed this book and requested it be re-read a number of times. The illustrations helped to explain the concepts in a way that our four year old enjoyed – especially when it came to fighting bacteria and viruses. I didn’t know that these two germs were fought in different ways, but I do now. Continue reading →

Here’s one of my all time favourite children’s books. In fact, I started reading this book to our boys when they were just a few months old. I confess, I could recite this book word for word. The story starts with a tiny bug going for a walk. He meets a cat and they stop to talk. As the walk continues, they meet more animals. Continue reading →