Halfway through the summer

Well, we're halfway through the summer.  It's been really hot lately, and it's very probable that most of you have been indoors with your kids, enjoying the air conditioning.  Are you getting tired of each other?  Are your kids tired of the same old toys?  Want to do something that doesn't involve turning on the TV?  Here's some great ideas for the hot, dog days of summer: (Click on the links for more information.)

• Make your own book
• Make a story with magnetic words
• Illustrate a famous book
• Host a magazine scavenger hunt
• Tell a story in a jar
• Play "Guess my Word" vocabulary game
• Bake Alphabet pretzels
• Play nursery rhyme madlibs
• Environmental print bingo 
• Play picture book charades
• Make green eggs and ham
• Practice story telling with fairy tale dice
• Go on an alphabet photo shoot
• Invent a secret code
• Practice reading with newspaper highlights

All of these activities show a fun side of learning, and will help progress your child's reading skills.  Have fun!

Stay local- read Wisconsin authors!

There's so much buzz out there lately about buying local products--but have you ever thought about reading books written by local authors? Here's a few to choose from:

Stephen E. Ambrose (1936 - 2002) A best-selling historian, Ambrose is known for his books about World War II, the American West, and for presidential biographies. (Raised in Whitewater.)

Robert Bloch (1917 - 1994) Best known for Psycho, the novel that formed the basis of Alfred Hitchcock's film classic, Block was an award-winning science fiction and mystery writer. (Raised in Milwaukee.)

Kevin Henkes (1960 - ) Best known for his children's books and illustrations, Kevin Henkes' fiction and picture books for young readers have been praised by many critics for their light-hearted, yet sensitive portrayal common occurrences in young children's lives. (Born in Racine, attended UW-Madison, lives in Madison.)

Jacquelyn Mitchard (1953 - ) Mitchard achieved fame when her first novel, "The Deep End of the Ocean", was the first selection of Oprah Winfrey's Book Club. (Lives in Madison.)

Sterling North (1906 - 1974) North's books for children and adults present a nostalgic view of rural life early in the twentieth century,as illustrated by his most famous children's book, "Rascal". (Born in Edgerton.)

Jane Hamilton (1957 - ) Hamilton is a novelist whose work expresses the difficulties of contemporary society as reflected by characters living in small, midwestern towns. (Lives in Rochester.)

Ellen Baker (1975- ) Author of Keeping the House and I Gave My Heart to Know This. Grew up in Wisconsin.

Lois Ehlert (1934- ) Author and illustrator Lois Ehlert has written and illustrated, or illustrated for other authors, over 30 books. (Born in Beaver Dam, now lives in Milwaukee.)

Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) This beloved children’s author was born in 1867 in Pepin, Wisconsin, which is the setting for her first novel, The Little House in the Big Woods. Most of her work attempts to capture the pioneer experience in America through her childhood experiences in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakota territories. (Born in Pepin.)

Thornton Wilder (1897 - 1975)  One of America's favorite playwrights, Wilder won the Pulitzer Prize for "Our Town" and again for "The Skin of Our Teeth." (Born in Madison.)

Enjoy a good book today, from one of our local Wisconsin authors!

Have you read a good movie lately?

When you think about books that have been made into movies, lately two books come to mind:  Harry Potter and Twilight.  But did you know there's so many more great movies out there that are based on books?  Here's some fun titles to choose from:

FOR THE GROWN-UPS:

(click on the links to reserve either book or movie via InfoSoup)

1. Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand (book/movie)
2. About a Boy, by Nick Hornby (book/movie)
3. What Dreams May Come, by Richard Matheson (book/movie)
4. The Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks (book/movie)
5. Forrest Gump, by Winston Groom (book/movie)

FOR YOUNG ADULTS:

1. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne (book/movie)
2. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman (book/movie)
3. Eragon, by Christopher Paolini (book/movie)
4. Holes, by Louis Sachar (book/movie)
5. Rocket Boys: A Memoir (October Sky), by Homer Hickman (book/movie)

FOR CHILDREN:

1. 101 Dalmations, by Dodie Smith (book/movie, animated/movie, live action)
2. How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Cowell (book/movie)
3. The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynne Reid Banks (book/movie)
4. Nanny McPhee, by Christianna Brand (book/movie)
5. Stuart Little, by E.B. White (book/movie)

It's always fun to read the book first, and then compare it to the movie.  Doing this with your kids improves their reading and critical thinking skills, which keeps their brains moving during lazy summer days.  

Have any of you read a good movie lately?

MO-OM, I'M BORED!

Summer has just started, but chances are most of your kids have already said this to you. For most kids, the fun of summer is already wearing off. Here's some great ideas to have some fun with your kids the rest of the summer:

• Have a movie night/afternoon. We turn off all the lights, get out the sleeping bags, lay on the floor with some popcorn and enjoy Nemo or Cars all over again. The kids love it--unintentional naps are always a bonus!
• Get out the hose and have a car wash. This could include your own car, or it could include matchbox cars, ride-on toys, bikes, etc. The wetter you get, the better!
• Fill up the sink with soapy water, pull up a stool, gather some cups, spoons, funnels, etc. and let your little one go to it. Strip them down so you don't have to worry about wet clothes.
• Go to the zoo. We always buy the yearly pass to our zoo so we can go as often as we want. That way with the pass if it gets hot/rainy/crabby we don't feel bad about cutting the trip short.
• Find a park you've never gone to before, or one that the kids always beg to go to and you never have time for. Pack a lunch and make a day out of it. Better yet, go park hopping. It tires them out fast!
• Gather some old magazines and some scissors. Let them cut away! Not only does this improve fine motor skills for preschoolers, but it really keeps them busy! When they're finished, they can have fun helping you clean up!
• Cook together. Find some kid friendly recipes at the library, and choose what you want to cook.  Remember to let the kids help!
• Fill a bucket with water, give the kids a paintbrush, and let them "paint" the house or sidewalk. Give them a bonus if they can paint their names!
• Is your table dirty or sticky from breakfast/lunch/supper? Break out your husband's shaving cream! The kids can fingerpaint with it, the table will get clean, and the kitchen will smell GREAT! Don't want to do it in the house? No problem--clean the picnic table outside! (The bathtub works great too!)
• Go for a nature scavenger walk. Make a list of things to find: sticks, rocks, flowers, leaves, feathers, etc., and don't go home until you've found them all.
• Go swimming. Another place we have a pass to is the community outdoor pool. It pays for itself in a jiffy, and always makes for a fun afternoon. No pool? Research your area, and find out if there's a lake or beach nearby. It's worth a trip!
• Have an all breakfast day. Every meal, have something that you would serve for breakfast. Add more fun to it and wear pajamas ALL DAY.
• Go to the library. The library is always free. (If you don't rake up late charges, that is. Not that I'd know about those...) Check out some new books, and read them together under the trees. Talk to your librarian and see if they have story/craft times. Look through the movies, too--the library does have new releases, and you won't have to pay a rental fee!
• Write a letter to a relative. I mean really write. Even if your child can't form letters yet, they can still draw a picture. Then put the letter in an envelope, address it, and go to the Post Office. Talk about how the letter will get to the relative, and have your child help buy the stamp and put the letter in the box. (Bonus if the relative writes back--starting a new pen pal opportunity!)

So there's some of my ideas that keep us from getting BO-RED in the summer. How about you? Have I missed any? Leave them in the comments, and we'll keep the fun going all summer long!