Our mission is to share resources that introduce families to products and services to help strengthen, support, and challenge children academically and bring the family unit closer together. SFC Publishing brings not only children on an adventure into the World of Ink; you’ll also find parents, teachers, authors, illustrators, schools, grandparents, publishers, editors, libraries, and readers around the globe logging on to our Families Matter blog.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Book Review: Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Writing Mama: Interview Friday with SFC Education Writer Alice K...
Book Review : I Love You, Be Careful
I Love You, Be Careful
Judy Snider and Joan Dickow
Xlibris, 2010
978-1-4535-6115-7
$7.95
Ages 3 to 8
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Irene S. Roth
Synopsis: This is a very heartwarming and enchanting book about how we must be careful in our lives. Our parents are always telling us that there is so much out there that we should be careful of. As the reader is reading the book, (s)he will be moved by the truth of what the author is saying. Children have to be careful when they are playing in the backyard, riding their bikes for the first time, holding a baby sibling and going off to school for the first time. Overall thoughts: I absolutely love this book. The illustrations are as beautiful as the message and they capture some of the poignant memories during a child's life. The book portrays the love and care of parents from babyhood through adulthood. There are different layers and complexities of love during the various stages of a child's life. But there is still a very concerned, unconditional love by a parent towards a child at all stages. What a wonderful message for readers, young and older. There is also a page at the beginning of the book to personalize it as a gift for children as well as adults. I just can't say enough nice things about this book! What a treasure it truly is!
For more books and products for kids, please visit Irene’s inspiring books and products website just in time for the holidays at http://rothsinspiringbooksandproducts.wordpress.com/ and http://irenesbookreviewsmyblog.wordpress.com/. Also, to read about self-esteem and self-confidence for adolescents, please visit Irene’s adolescent website at: http://adolescentgirlsblog.wordpress.com/.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Book Review: Adventures at Walnut Grove: A Lesson About Teasing
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Book Review: I Can Do It
I Can Do It
5 stars
Monday, April 25, 2011
Book Review: What is That Thing?
What is That Thing?
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61633-142-9; 1616331429
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Book Review: The Weaver
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Children and Picture Books: What Parents Might be Missing
Alice Knisley Matthias
Education Writer
Friday, April 22, 2011
Book Review: Review and Giveaway-The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill
Case # 2: Mineral Mischief
Author: Renee Hand
Illustrated By: jake Karwoski
ISBN 978-0-87839-415-9
Pages: 74
Publisher: North Star Press
Author Bio:
Renee Hand writes because it is a passion in her heart. She is a homeschooling parent and likes to create books that educate and inspire the children of today. She was born in Michigan and still lives there with her husband and two children. She has a degree in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry. Renee is the author of the amazing mystery series known as the Crypto-Capers Series that encourages children to read by incorporating several topics of interest. The reader participates into the story by solving cryptograms and puzzles to solve the case. She is also the author of the Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Series, which focuses on animal detectives. This series is a great way to teach children about animals in a fun and interesting way that captures the reader's attention and yet fills them with knowledge they will be learning about in school. All books are great to use in a classroom setting to supplement various topics or to just enjoy. Renee is an award-winning author, receiving awards such as a Best Book Award, a National Literary Award and a Preferred Choice award for her children's series and adult books. She has just recently won a Seal of Excellence award in Storytelling for her Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Series. She has been writing for over twenty years and when she is not spending time with her family or participating in author events, she is coaching and playing tennis, as well as doing research for her books and many other things that keep her busy. Not quite sure what a cryptogram is and want to learn more? Visit the author's website at http://www.reneeahand.com/ to learn about cryptograms and how to solve the ones that are in the books.
Joe-Joe Nut 2 : Summary
In the midst of having her friends visit her rock collection, Maple Moo’s rare mineral goes missing from underneath her large cow nose. She instantly turns to Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill, the most famous detectives in Acorn Valley, to find it. They didn’t know the task was going to be an impossible one. The suspects were hard to figure out. Was it Candy Cardinal, who committed the crime? She collects various gemstones to make jewelry. Brutus and Betty Blue Beaver also collect minerals and have a fancy quartz collection. Liam the Llama looks suspicious with his igneous rocks and exploding volcano, or was it Huckleberry Moose with his sedimentary rock collection? Joe-Joe and Biscuit find themselves at a loss until some bullies roar into town. Will the detectives be able to find the missing mineral? Or, will this be a case they won’t be able to close? Find out in case #2 in the Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Series-Mineral Mischief. Look for the various activities in the back of the book concerning rocks and minerals for added learning. Bubbling rocks, anyone?
My review: I found this book fun with a sense of true mystery. It will keep kids reading because of the story but it also has some teaching principles threaded throughout the story which provides science learning without being boring. The experiments at the end of the story and the extra activities offer fun ways for parents and teachers to enhance the learning standards while providing a fun environment. I think Ms Hand has done an amazing job of capturing characters that kids will love. She entertains and teaches in a way that kids will be hooked on. Kids will return again and again to get the next book in the series.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Book Review: ON The Wings of Self-Esteem
On The Wings of Self- Esteem
Dr. Louise Hart with Kristen Caven
Uplift Press- 2011
ISBN 9780962283444
Pages 126
From the back of the book: At birth we begin life as truthful, open, and creative beings. As we grow older, however our wings may get clipped by dysfunctional family and social systems. Building layer upon layer of self-protection in order to negotiate such social systems, we learn to cut ourselves off from that original expansiveness. In essence, many of us go through a type of reverse metamorphosis: we start out as beautiful butterflies and turn into caterpillars. It is Louise Hart's goal to help us become butterflies again.
My general view of the book: This is a great book to help the reader understand self esteem and to improve on it. The book is insightful, truthful, and simple. It offers the reader inspiration and encouragement along with self discovery. There are down to earth tips to help restore self esteem and to nurture our inner being in a way that is not selfish yet is good to self.
Ms. Hart uses the butterfly to help the reader to explore the truths about self and exercise to transform back to the beautiful inner person each of us was born to be. Nature is a great example throughout the book to bring us back to the center of who we are. The book is inspirational and transforming if your read it and follow the tips to self care and discovery. You come away with something positive no matter what your self esteem was before you began the book. It is an easy read and worth your time and attention to self.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Writing Mama with hosts VS Grenier Marsha Casper Cook 04/22 by WorldOfInkNetwork | Blog Talk Radio
Our show guest is Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen never thought she’d grow up to be a writer. As a child, she thought of being a doctor (but she’s afraid of blood), a lawyer (but she doesn’t like losing arguments), a carpenter (but she’s too clumsy), a model (but she likes eating too much), a presidential candidate (but she had a dissolute youth), a UN ambassador (the argument losing thing again)… almost everything but a writer.
In fact, in 2001, Sudipta was well on her way to not being a writer. She had graduated from the California Institute of Technology in 1998 with a BS in Biology, spent a year in Boston, and then had returned to Caltech as a PhD candidate in developmental biology. Even the birth of her first child, Isabella, didn’t change Sudipta’s plans – she thought she’d take a long maternity leave then return to graduate school. Then, her daughter Brooklyn came along.
With two small children, Sudipta found herself less interested in biology as she was in parenting. After a half-dozen rejections, in 2003, Sudipta sold her first story to a children’s magazine, Highlights for Children.
Using her science background as a springboard, Sudipta began writing nonfiction for children. She has now written 18 nonfiction books for kids, ranging from science to history to biography. Her first love, however, was always picture books, so using a facility with word play and a love for animals (especially pigs), Sudipta worked on a number of manuscripts. Sudipta visits schools to share her stories and experience, and teaches writing to children and adults. She lives in New Jersey with her family and an imaginary pony named Penny.
http://www.sudipta.com
This is going to be one fun show and full of information on writing and being a mom. We'll be live 2pm PST-3pm MST-4pm CST-5pm EST.
Keeping Kids Active and Hydrated by expert Jane Low
As you probably already know, exercise is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle, but when your kids are running around, it's just as important for them to stay hydrated! Make sure you know these tips and tricks for encouraging kids stay hydrated.
Keeping Active Kids Hydrated
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jane_Low]Jane Low
As you probably already know, exercise is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle, but when your kids are running around, it's just as important for them to stay hydrated!
Did you know that your body is approximately 60 percent water? In fact, water is arguably one of the most valuable resources on Earth. Everything from cacti to kittens need it to live and your kiddos are no exception. When exercising, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests school-aged children should drink 4 to 8 ounces of water every 15 minutes.
However, when kids are on the go, it's sometimes hard to get them to stop, even long enough to get a drink. The best way to keep kids hydrated is to remind them to keep drinking water. Here four tips and tricks for encouraging kids stay hydrated:
1. Make A Water Bottle Part of Your Workout Gear
You wouldn't go to hockey practice without a stick or a football game without pads, why would you leave the house without a bottle of water? Teach kids to think of a plastic water bottle as part of their essential sports gear.
2. Count It Out!
Have kids count to eight while taking eight big gulps of water. For small children eight big gulps ends up being somewhere between 4 and 8 ounces of water!
3. Make it Sweet
Would your kids rather drink something sugary? Try naturally sweetening water with a squeeze of lemon or lime or a piece of frozen fruit.
4. Chow Down!
Fruit like watermelon, peaches and grapes are great playtime snacks. They're not only water-packed (many contain 70 - 95 percent water), but they're a naturally sweet treat!
Remind your kids: Active play is fun, but being dehydrated isn't. Dehydration can make you feel fatigued, give you a headache and cause you to have rapid heart rate. Severe enough dehydration could even land you in the hospital!
While it's not necessarily easy to get kids to drink water, it's pretty easy to spot dehydration in children. Crying without tears and dark circles under the eyes are two signs that a child might be dehydrated. If your kids seem sleepy and lethargic or irritable and fussy, that might also mean that they are dehydrated. In other words, not only is being dehydrated not fun for kids, but dealing with even a moderately dehydrated kid is no fun for parents either!
So stay hydrated; it's the best way to feel good while you play!
Staying physically active is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and encouraging kids to exercise is one of the best ways to help [http://geopalz.com/parents]combat childhood obesity. For more articles about how parents and communities can help encourage kids to get up and get active visit [http://geopalz.com]GeoPalz.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Keeping-Active-Kids-Hydrated&id=6179003] Keeping Active Kids Hydrated
Keywords: keeping kids hydrated,kids health,parenting,hydration,staying hydrated,prevening childhood obesity
http://ezinearticles.com/?Keeping-Active-Kids-Hydrated&id=6179003
Monday, April 18, 2011
Life Skills for Teens
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Teens need life skills and interests. |
Teens are some of the most lovable kids around although they often give off the impression that they know it all. Educational statistics prove otherwise. Basic life skills may not be taught in the high school and often kids may not get these lessons at home. Here are a few of the basic life skills that every teen needs to succeed in life as an adult. As parents, we can help our teens develop these needed skills.
1. Teens need to learn the value of money. Many teens may not be able to find a job or to work when involved in sports and school activities but that doesn’t mean they should not learn the value of money. Parent who provide for every whim their teen requests do not help to teach what money means, how hard it is to earn it, the value of saving for what you need or how to wait for what you want. Teens need to learn what taxes mean, how to save, how to balance a check book and how to budget. Earn, save, give, and spend. Those are the basics about money. A good way to teach the concept is the 10-10-80 rule. Earn the money, save 10 percent, give away to charity or church 10 percent, and budget on the remaining 80 percent. If teens learn that formula, they will be years ahead of most of their peers and have a cushion of cash in the bank too.
2. Teens need to learn to cook, clean, and do laundry. These skills will be valuable no matter where a teen lives, works, or goes to school. These skills are the basics of life. I know teens who know nothing about cooking other than ordering pizza. They think cleaning is throwing dirty clothes in the hamper for mom and the pizza box in the trash, and some don’t know how to turn on a washing machine let alone how much soap to use. These basic skills will make your teen a better adult and a more responsible partner in future relationships because they will understand sharing household tasks.
3. Teens need to know how to sew, at least to put a new button on or fix a hole in a seam. I am not suggesting that every teen needs to learn to make a quilt or an entire outfit. I am suggesting that they know how to do an emergency repair on a favorite shirt and that means boys and girls. Home economics is no longer part of many school curriculum's but I highly recommend teens learn this skill on their own after all it is not rocket science. It is a needle and thread.
4. Teens need to learn basic polite conversation without the slang. Please, thank you, how do you do, nice to meet you, and I’m sorry are the minimal basics that a teen should feel comfortable with. It is not old fashioned to expect a teenager to say hello and thank you when speaking with parents or adults. It is respect. These skills will be used for the rest of their lives during job interviews, school conferences, dealing with work place customers, and business dealings as an employee or as the boss. Teens that speak clearly and with polite conversation will walk away with a better chance at the job when being interviewed. Those teens uncomfortable speaking without slang may not fare as well against competition for the same position.
5. Teens need to learn and maintain personal hygiene. Clean hair, clean teeth, clean nails, and in general a clean appearance will increase self esteem, improve mental attitudes, and improve the overall state of health of a teen no matter what socio-economic background the teen comes from. Soap and water are one of the least expensive ways to take care of teen skin and prevent or treat acne. A clean appearance tells the world that a teen has pride in what he or she does and cares.
These are the basic skills that will help teens to transition into the adult work force and into the role of partner, parent, and employee. Learning these skills at a young age and continuing them through high school and college will increase the chances that each person will enjoy a positive and productive life.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Family Movie Night Returns
http://www.supportfamilymovienight.com/
After a long week of activities, make Saturday night family night. Here is a great family movie supported by Walmart and Moms4familyTV.
http://www.supportfamilymovienight.com/
Family Movie Night has another great movie scheduled on Fox on April 16th. That is this Saturday. Check out the link to the movie page. It looks like it is going to be a great one.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Book Review: Goldy's Baby Socks and Giveaway!
ISBN13: 978-1-5992-6453-0(Picture Book)
ISBN10:1-59926-454-4(Picture Book - HB)
ISBN13: 978-1-5992-6454-7(Picture Book - HB)
Picture Book - Soft Cover ($15.99)
Visit the author´s website at http://www.goldysbabysocks.com/
The book is delightful and when you visit the website there is a cute video of Ms. Snider talking about the book followed by a video of the author doing a song about the book. Very imaginative and fun. Children will love the story as well as visiting the site to view the videos.
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Picture from the book- delightful |
1 copy of "Goldy's Baby Socks"
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Ends 4/30/2011
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