"All children areartists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. " - PabloPicasso. 

    Truth be told, I am a prolific artist myself, so Imainly teach our children art through example. Almost all the art that ourchildren do is completely self-directed, and happens in either their free timeor during story time.  Their hands are always busy withsomething - drawing, cutting, molding, etc. We have a crafty table (formerlyour dinning room table) and many shelves next to it full of supplies - crayons,markers, scissors, tape, many different kinds of paper, paint, beeswax, sculptyclay, sewing kits and supplies, and many more odds and ends.  Our refridgerator is pretty much always covered intheir artwork.

   This week the girls were most excited to hear the book Gooney Bird is So Absurd, the 4th book in the series, published in 2009. We all enjoyed this book, whose theme this time was writing poems. There is a really sad part where (plot spoiler ahead!) the Room Mother - the teacher's mother - dies. All the kids are so sad when their teacher isn't there that day and they find out why.... but then they create this beatiful group poem and video tape it for her. It brought tears to my eyes, what a great way to honor someone's passing! Laurel said it wasn't as good as the first few books, but I disagree. 

Weekly Reading Highlights (May 11th 2009)

  The book the girls were most interested in hearing this week was TheRunaway Dolls, by Ann M Martin, the 3rd book in a series about dolls that come alive and have amusing adventures. We are listening to the audio version of this book and the girls are loving it. I think it's pretty good too.
  Both girls were really excited to see the book Franklin's ClassicTreasury by Paulette Bourgeois. These books are really sweet and I would have thought that Laurel (9) was way too old for them, but she wanted to hear every single story twice.
  Ella was particularily happy to see that we got The Sneeches andother stories from the library and I read those stories for her over andover.

  The book the girls were most excited to hear this week was The Meanest Doll in the World, the 2nd in a series by Ann M Martin. Thegirls give it 5 stars, I think it was pretty good.

Weekly Reading Highlights (April 27th2009) 

  Thebook that the girls were most excited to hear this week was Gooney the Fabulous, the 3rd book in this series by Lois Lowry. These books are really funny! 

   Ms.Frizzel's Adventures in Ancient Egypt ties for 2nd as the book our girls were most excited to hear this week. We just love all the detail in these books by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degan. It amazes me just how much information you can fit into a picture book about the fascinating topic of Ancient Egypt.

  The Sneetches and other stories byDr. Seuss has been read innumerable times in our home, and Ella was especially glad to hear these stories again. 

5 stars: A literary gem, on of the best books we've ever read.

4 1/2 stars: A really exccellent book. 

4 stars: A great book.

3 1/2 stars: A pretty good book.

3 stars: We enjoyed this book and would read it again. 

Less than 3 stars: No comment! 

  A few years back I found My Fairy Princess Palace at a bookstore and that was the first time I'd ever seen a book like this. There were just a couple pages of story, a couple pages of paper dolls ready to be popped out, and then the book folded back and tied to make a 360 degree dollhouse. I brought it home and our girls (then 4 an 7) loved it. It stored so easily and when we opened it they could play for long periods of time. Unfortunately the little paper faries were lost over time, but it holds such fond memories.

 So I found two more like it, Alice's Pop-Up Wonderland and another fairy book called Fairy Winter  Wonderland. Here is a photo of Ella playing with the winter one. The girls just love these types of "books".

1. Only books that I, SarahKate, have read.
2. Only books worth reading (in my opinion).
3. I value books that are wholesome, with characters that are good role models.
4. I value humorous books that stretch the imagination.
5. I value books that promote a close-knit family.

  Ever since we read the book Scrambled States of America, Laurel (then 7 or 8) became interested in US Geography. We checked out the book a number of times from the library, and then I noticed that Gamewright www.gamewright.com carried a game by the same name so we bought it to check it out. Laurel loved the game too. It was fun and easy, and soon she was playing without a map! We get the game out now and then and play it, it's fun.   

  We also got and play the game Take Off, which is great for learning World Geography. It was so fun to play that after we played the first time, we sent the kids to bed and just my husband and I plalyed together.