New Year's Resolutions/Word of the Year for Tweens & Teens

 

Having a birthday around New Year's always makes for an interesting party. When Hazel was young we had a party on New Year's Day for all of our family and friends. Then we started having two parties, our New Year's Day for family and family friends as well as another one for her friends. Eventually we stopped the family and friend party. Themes for her friend parties have ranged from current favorites like Minnie Mouse, Harry Potter, and Frozen to generic themes like New Year's Eve. As she got older we started doing sleep over parties. That changed with Covid. Last year we did a social distant with a window open Paris themed party. We had multiple small tables for the girls to sit in pairs like a Paris Cafe. This year we are having a party on New Year's Day with a butterfly theme. I picked the theme. I chose butterfly since she is turning 13. I feel like 13 is a big birthday since she will become a teenager. Just like a caterpillar metamorphosizes into a butterfly Hazel will begin to metamorphosize into an adult. She likes the butterfly theme but does not like my explanation of it. 

Christmas during a World Pandemic

 

Merry Christmas to you and your family! This Christmas has been a strange one. It really hasn't felt like Christmas. We have had an unusually warm December. Then there is the threat of the new variant. I know people who traveled for the first time since December 2019 and others whose plans got completely ruined. This year seems even harder than last year when most of us were not vaccinated. Christmas 2020 we planned differently. We knew we needed to social distance and only have small gatherings. Our family split times with my parents. My sister who lives in Rhode Island, Hazel and I gathered at the Cape house and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my parents. My sister and nephew from North Carolina came after Christmas to celebrate with my parents so we could not cross contaminate each other. I have not seen my sister and nephew since July 2020 when we visited them at the Cape and only stayed outside with them. 

Help Mom Work from Home! -- a sweet new picture book

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Are you working from home with a small child at home? Does your child like to "help" you work? Today's book is for you! It is Help Mom Work from Home by Diana Murray and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Art Is Everywhere: A Book About Andy Warhol -- Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Last week we shared how math is everywhere. This week we are looking at a book called Art Is Everywhere: A Book about Andy Warhol by Jeff Mack. So today we are adventuring into the world of art and Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol was born as Andrew Warhola in Pennsylvania in 1928. His family moved to New York City shortly after. He became part of the Pop Art Movement. (Source) This book is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm -- Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I am working with The Children's Book Review and Lori Adams for this review. I was sent a digital copy of the book and will receive a small stipend. All opinions are my own.

Have a middle grade reader ready to step into a fantasy and/or perhaps a pirate ship? Today's book is for you! It is the first book in a series for middle grades readers and it brings the reader into the secret world of pirates filled with magic and more! The book is Avalina Jones and the Eye of the Storm by Lori Adams. 

Fun & Useful Math Books for Different Ages

 

Disclosure: I was sent these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today we get to talk about one of my favorite subjects! MATH!! As a former high school math teacher, I always love talking math. My life has been a bit busier because I have been volunteering and subbing at the high school end of Hazel's school. My volunteer work is helping kids with their math and sometimes even being in the classroom as an extra adult to help. I love it! It feels good to be back in the classroom and especially without all the grading and politics! Today I am going to share four books that involve math, and they range for ages 7 through adult. We will start with the origami book. Origami is a fun activity to bring into the math classroom and there are so many math applications involved. The book There's Math in My Origami! 35 Fun Projects for Hands-On Math Learning by Fumiaki Shingu, shows how math can be taught in the origami projects. It is recommended for ages 7+.

Learning Black History Prior to Slavery

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Have you seen the Facebook meme about learning about Black history before slavery? It discusses how Black people have the longest history of humans and how there is beautiful history well before slavery. Today's book will help you do just that. The book is African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History by Tracey Baptiste and illustrated by Hillary D. Wilson. It is recommended for ages 10+.

Fun Christmas Books for Little Ones

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am going to share two more Christmas books. These are for the younger kids. One is a board book and the other is a picture book. The board book is about the Christmas story and in particular the wise men. The picture book is entertaining and involves many storybook favorite characters. Let's start with the board book, The Story of the Wise Men by Patricia A. Pingry and illustrated by Alice Buckingham. It is recommended for ages 1 to 4.

Picture Books that Teach Lessons

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am going to share three picture books that teach different lessons. Some are more serious than others. The books touch on things like the waste and accumulation of plastic and more, depression and anxiety and words and their meanings when you add another word. We will start with a perfect one for Christmas. It is Toy Mountain by Stef Gemmill and Katharine Hall. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Black Lives Matter are three words that seem to stir up a lot of emotions and controversy. After the murder of George Floyd, #blacklivesmatter went viral and so did the conspiracy theories. My conservative husband told me that I didn't know the truth behind Black Lives Matter and that the organization had some bad plans and people. Others responded with "blue (police) lives matter" or "all lives matter." A few weeks ago I shared the meme below on the Crafty Moms Share Facebook page. I was shocked when I got a comment from a white woman sharing a gif of black people saying "This is bullsh*t." 

DIY Holiday Ornaments for Tweens, Teens & Adults -- Crafty Sundays

 

Today I'm going to share a few more ornament crafts. These crafts can be made by tweens and higher. The first was inspired by some ornaments I saw in a small local gift store. The ornaments I saw were glass balls with flower petals glued on all over it. I saw them and said we can make those with our pressed flowers. Every spring and summer I like to pick flowers from our yard and press them. I often use my dictionary but also have made a homemade flower press. I use the flowers in different projects from notecards to vases/pencil holders. This year we Mod Podged some onto glass balls.

The Gift Shop Bear -- new Christmas book review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is hard to believe December is already here. Last year, 2020, was a very tough year on the world. This year, 2021, had glimpses of normalcy but really wasn't much better. In fact for me personally it was even tougher than 2020. However, that is not what I want to focus on today. Today I get to share a sweet new Christmas picture book with you. It is The Gift Shop Bear by Phyllis Harris. It is recommended for ages 4 to 7.