Picture Books

Hello to you on this fine Saturday morning! I am going to talk more about books! LOL Imagine that!
  In our home, we LOVE reading, as you already know. We have a plethora of books in our home library. I also have several baskets around the house with various picture books in them.
   I simply love picture books. When I first began homeschooling, I started using our library quite a bit. Using the libraries website, I can easily search for books about different topics I want to teach my children, and it will bring up tons of titles, with pictures and a description of that title to help me decide whether or not I want to place it on hold.
 Whilst doing this over the years, I have discovered that picture books have a wonderful way of teaching, that's different from other books. While I LOVE a good, thick, meaty book to read aloud, a big stack of picture books can be just as satisfying.
 When looking for good picture books, there ARE a few things to keep in mind.
   1. Make sure the book isn't watered down (twaddle as Charlotte Mason would put it).
       That the story is descriptive, exciting, and filled with rich vocabulary.
   2. Check out the illustrations in the book. Are they suitable? Are they thought provoking?
   3. Read up on the authors. You can learn a lot by reading an author's profile.
   4. Make sure the topics written in the book will interest your child. It's fine to introduce new ideas and topics, but do it with good, well written books so that your child/children don't get bored.
There are lots of things we've learned by reading pictures books, that we otherwise wouldn't have. For example, when studying the liberal arts, we have read many interesting picture books about famous artists with some of their paintings illustrated throughout the book. Just as we have read about many composers with illustrations of their homes, the dress of the period they lived in, and so on. This really gives you a lot of insight into their lives and you can actually see what it all looked like. (this is why it's important to research a bit on an author, making sure they have their facts right!)
 We have checked out, and bought, picture books about gardening, cooking, animals, trees, flowers, science, math, other countries and cultures, states, birds, habitats, seasons, houses, farms, holidays, etc...all with WONDERFUL illustrations!
 Some of our favorite authors are: Allen Say, Cynthia Rylant, Eric Carle, Ed Young, Patricia Polacco, Dr. Seuss, James Herriot, William Steig, Arnold Lobel, Barbara Cooney, Tasha Tudor, Beatrix Potter, Shirley Hughes, Anita Lobel, Audrey Wood, Chris Van Allsburg, Lauren Child, Helen Cooper, Lois Lowsky, Eileen Spinelli, Will Moses, Virginia Lee Burton, Roald Dahl, Lois Ehlert, Eve Bunting, Robert McCloskey, Don Freeman, Ezra Jack Keets, Allan Ahlberg, Marjorie Flack, Margaret Wise Brown, A.A. Milne, Tomie de Paola, Enid Blyton, Jim Arnosky, Lynne Cherry, and Mem Fox, just to name a FEW! LOL
  We LOVE picture books! Even though we have a whole houseful, we can't get enough. The librarians know us by name, and we have maxed out at least two to three libraries cards per visit! HA!
 So, what about you and yours? Do you love picture books? If so, what are some of your favorites?

 Let me know! Two great resources I have found for picking out exciting picture books too are called "Honey for a Child's Heart" and "The Read Aloud Handbook".
                      
 

What is your "House of Belonging"?

  Dear Reader,
    Today I am inspired to share with you my thoughts on what a "House of Belonging" is and what mine consists of. Then, I would love to hear all about yours. A "House of Belonging", simply put, is your dream home and everything that surrounds it, fills it up and where it's located. I recently discovered this title from a book I'm reading called "Moving On" by Sarah Ban Breathnach, though I have ALWAYS had a dream home in mind. I believe, as women especially, we all do. Thinking back even to when we were little girls, playing doll house, rearranging the furniture in each room just the way we liked it, or daydreaming about our "Fairy Tale" home and Prince Charming that would be ours once upon a time!
 Perhaps you already have found your "House of Belonging" and if so, GOOD FOR YOU! But, for the rest of us out there that haven't, well, let us drink our coffee and dream a little together! ^_^
 To begin, I will share with you some of my dreams....if you will..and I hope it inspires you to do the same. I love hearing from other people, and learning about other's desires and interests.
 My "House of Belonging" is actually two different homes. I have a Japanese style home that I will share with you first. This home is your traditional "Japanese" style home. Very simplistic, all organically made, with very little furniture. If you don't know what a traditional Japanese home looks like, here's a short video that will show you what I'm referring to. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVbbCGne7Nc&NR=1 In my garden, I would have lots of Japanese Cherry Blossoms, Japanese Red Maple, Plum, and other vegetation. Perhaps a Koi pond and a fountain or two. Benches to sit on in my garden to read and enjoy being out in nature.
 My second "Home of Belonging" is an English Cottage located in the rural countryside of England. Surrounding my home would be lots of beautiful roses and trees. A garden bench beside a bird table. Ivy and other climbing plants growing up the house. A fireplace nestled inside, with lots of cozy seating. Victorian style lamps and furniture in some rooms. Here's a picture to show you what I'm referring to. So what's your "House of Belonging" look like? Share your pictures and ideas. I started a little project with my girls called a "House of Belonging" folder. You simply get a folder, gather up lots of your favorite "Home" magazines, and start cutting away, pictures of homes, plants for your garden, furnishings for each room in your house, paintings you would like hanging in the halls or rooms, kitchen design, etc. It's a fun way to discover what everyone's folders include, and it is a fun way to spend time together. If you have no girls to share this time with, well, do one yourself. It's like journaling in a way, except you're exploring your inner self through the design of your home.
 Enjoy! Looking forward to reading your responses.

Avril Lavigne's 'Alice In Wonderland' Video Is 'Haunting,'

Family Read Aloud

Over the years, I have realized that reading is not only educational, but it is quite pleasurable. It's a way to travel to new places (for free!), meet new people, learn about new cultures, find new interests, find out new recipes, tips, etc. So, why not share this with your family. A lot of people say that kids/teens should just read independently, and while this is important, it is equally important to read aloud as a family! What better way to spend time together?! Learning, exploring, laughing, and taking turns reading a good book or two. Fiction or non-fiction, my family has enjoyed numerous titles in the comfort of our living room, my bedroom, curled up on the couch with blankets and favorite stuffed animals, or around the kitchen table. We've even packed up the van with a picnic basket and a bag of books and headed to our local park to enjoy the scenery on a nice Spring or Autumn day and read out in nature! 
 During these years of reading, we have obtained quite a collection of books in our home library, which, by the way, is essential in every family's home I believe. It's become a hobby for us to peruse the isles of book stores looking for books we love and have read already to buy, or find new ones that we think look neat! I also enjoy visiting our local libraries for many of the titles that are expensive, out of print, or just to check them out before buying.
 I have taught my children to read this way too. By listening to me read and watching my fingers scan the words on the page of a book, and seeing how my lips form and sound out these words, naturally, they pick up on this. It's an amazing way to teach. You see, each child is ready to read at different times. HE will let you know when, and you will know when he's ready too! All of my children have learned at different ages. I don't push it, because there's no better way to discourage the love of reading, but when they show an interest, it's then time to pull out a poem, or Mother Goose book, picture books of your choice, or even a novel, and let them begin to slowly form the words, keeping the lessons short and remaining patient and encouraging. Praising the child for what they are accomplishing! 

 My children love read aloud time. You create life long readers by starting this tradition in your home! So why not start today. It doesn't take that long, and before long, your kiddos will be begging "just one more book, pleeaassee!".