Crafty Moms Share

Remembering Black History

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

It is hard to believe today is the last day of February. Today end this year's black history month. Have you ever wondered why black history month is important? It is important for people to know their own history and relate to the people they are learning about. It is also important for us to study history so we learn from the mistakes and don't repeat them. Unfortunately, I think our society is struggling with this. As I read The Silence of Our Friends by Mark Long and Jim Demonakos and illustrated by Nate Powell, I thought about how our society seems to be repeating itself with the current news and this semi-autobiographical story from the 1967.

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

It is hard to believe that February is ending this week. I know something I really enjoy in February is learning more Black History. I love all the new books out as well as my friend's posts on Facebook about various black people in history. (He is a vice principal now but was a history teacher and is black.) This year we have already shared with you many new books including ones on Frederick Douglass, the Underground Railroad, black heroes, Harriet Tubman, as well as about the black women of NASA. Today we are sharing two books. The first is a wonderful introduction book to black history. It is A Child's Introduction to African American History by Jabari Asim and illustrated by Lynn Gaines.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links where I will receive a small percentage of any purchases made through them at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

This past week was school vacation week here and Steve took the week off as well. We spent a long weekend with my parents and had some family time including a trip to the American Girl Store. My parents gave Hazel the retired American Girl Doll, Kirsten, for Christmas and gave her Kirsten's bed (well a homemade version my mother found on-line) for her birthday. My mother told her she would make a quilt for the bed with Hazel. My mother and I picked out a set of farm style precut fabrics for Kirsten's quilt. Her bed is blue with a heart cut out off the ends and berries and leaves painted on it. Her story is from the 1850's and she was an immigrant from Sweden and her family moved to the prairie. Her quilt was a patchwork quilt. (Something like this charm pack would also work.) Hazel has been making 9-square quilts for awhile, so she was excited to make a patchwork quilt for Kirsten. My mother took the big precut squares and cut them into quarters. Then Hazel and Kirsten began to arrange them on batting.

It is time again for Sharing Saturday! This is a link party to share all of your child-oriented crafts, crafts made for kids, activities and lessons as well as your parenting and/or teaching posts. So glad you joined us!!

On Sunday night we also host Crafty Weekends for all your crafts (done by any age), patterns, and craft product reviews! It is the perfect place to share your creative side!! And for all your diverse/cultural posts be sure to share them at Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop.

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

Do you have a child who craves adventure in books? Perhaps with a bit of the scary supernatural stuff as well? Well have I got a great new middle grade novel for you. It is Legends of the Lost Causes by Brad McLelland and Louis Sylvester.

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

As we continue our way through Black History Month, I keep finding more and more wonderful books to share with you. Today's is about a famous name, Frederick Douglass. How much do you know about Frederick Douglass? I knew his name and knew he was an escaped slave and abolitionist, but not a whole lot more. The book is Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass, a Monumental American Man by Tonya Bolden.

Disclosure: **I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

It is hard to believe I am thinking about Easter already. Valentine's Day was just this past week. Yet so was Ash Wednesday, which means Lent has begun. The countdown is on. Today I am going to share some simple Easter crafts with supplies from Dollar Tree. Both of the crafts are easy and great for kids. Plus they are very open ended so there is lots of room for creativity!!

Disclosure: Tuttle Publishing sent me these products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I get to share with you two fun Origami products!! The first is Nick Robinson's Beginning Origami Kit. The first product is a kit. It comes with a book, DVD and paper for the projects.

Disclosure: Judy Dodge Cummings sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Can you believe we are at the half way point of February? Where is time going? Since February is Black History Month, I have been trying to feature some great resources for you to use. Today I am really excited to share an amazing book by Judy Dodge Cummings and illustrated by Tom Casteel called The Underground Railroad: Navigate the Journey from Slavery to Freedom. The reason I am so excited is this book is similar to a workbook and has 20 interesting projects in it to go with the different chapters.

We are getting ready to celebrate Valentine's Day here in America. It is a day where lovers exchange cards and gifts--often flowers and candy. Families often exchange cards as well and kids exchange cards at school. But how is Valentine's Day celebrated in other countries? Here are a few different traditions.

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

The lunar new year begins on Friday this year. Many countries celebrate the lunar new year but in America it is often referred to as the Chinese New Year. We already shared a few resources for the year of the dog (this new year), but I wanted to share a few more with you. The first is a book that gives a new version of the old fairy tale, The Emperor's New Clothes. The book is The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes by Ying Chang Compestine and illustrated by David Roberts.

Disclosure: Oriental Trading sent me these products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Having the right school really means so much to a child. I am glad we have finally found the right fit for Hazel. One of the things she loved at her previous school was the Father Daughter Snow Ball. Her new school did not usually have one, but this year we started that tradition!! Her old school called it a Snow Ball but decorated for Valentine's Day. Our planning committee decided to decorate like a winter wonderland and I turned to Oriental Trading to help us do this. With white Christmas lights that I bought after Christmas when they were on clearance and decorations from Oriental Trading as well as few borrowed from people's Christmas supplies we transformed the school into a winter wonderland. As the girls and their fathers walked in they were greeted with "falling" snowflakes.

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

Can you believe Valentine's Day is next Wednesday? Are you ready? We are. While Hazel was home sick this week we put together her fairy Valentines from a kit from Paper Source. We have a little magic trick to go with them from Oriental Trading, but we will share about that next week.

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

Do you ever have an idea for a business? Well the sixth graders on Poplar Lane have gone beyond the lemonade stand ideas to more. Of course there is much more to business than just the idea of what to sell. In Payback on Poplar Lane by Margaret Mincks, Peter is trying to make money for several things--private school, his parent's mortgage, and to have a great business.

Disclosure: Blue Slip Media sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

February is Black History Month! The thing I love about Black History Month is reading a friend's posts on Facebook. He is black and now a vice principal but was a high school history teacher. He shares with his friends a bit about some not so well known Black Americans. I love reading them each year and learning about some amazing people I haven't heard about previously. Today's book shares about the lives of four Black Americans who have made history. These are four well known people, but this book is perfect for an library, classroom or home. It adds so much about these four heroes as well as giving more information about Black History in America. The book is from the Editors of Time for Kids and it is called Heroes of Black History: Biographies of Four Great Americans.

Disclosure: C&T Publishing sent me this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own! I will receive a small stipend for purchases made through the links in this post. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

It has been a very long time since I have shared a Relaxing Friday Review or for that matter a coloring book. Today I am sharing with you a fun one!! I was interested in this book especially when we were trying to put together the post card exchange, but since we did not get enough participants we get to just enjoy this fun book. It is Travel Across America Color By Number by Debra Gabel.

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

What do you know about Ancient Rome? I am sure you have heard of Julius Caesar and the Colosseum, but if you are like me you may not know too many details. Today's books will help kids learn about the great empire in fun and humorous ways. The first book is The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome: A Handbook for Time Travelers by Jonathan W. Stokes and illustrated by David Sossella.

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

Today I am going to share some new picture books with you. These books are mostly aimed towards preschool and lower. Each is fun and have good lessons in them. I hope you will read my reviews and check them all out!!

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

It is hard to believe the lunar new year is approaching. This year it is February 16, 2018. This coming year will be the year of the dog in the Chinese horoscope. I always love when it is the year of the dog since that is the sign I was born under. Now this year we had a New Year's Eve themed birthday party for Hazel and one of the things I tried to do was have some different cultures represented so we had a table set up for the Chinese New Year with items from Oriental Trading.

Disclosure: C&T Publishing sent me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Purchasing items from some of these links provides Crafty Moms Share a small percentage at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Have you been crafting this week? Most of my crafts this week were restricted to crafts to use in Sunday School. I was home with a sick child and Steve was sick as well. It was not a pleasant time, but everyone is feeling better now!! As a result I don't have any crafts to share, but am going to review Me and My Sewing Machine by Kate Haxell.

Multicultural Children's Book Day is Here!! Link Party #ReadYourWorld

Share at Sharing Saturday This Week!!

It is here!! Today is Multicultural Children's Book Day 2018!! As a co-host I get to provide the link party right here, so be sure to check out all the amazing reviews of these multicultural books. There is something for everyone!! Be sure to check out my reviews this year (and past years) as well: Orthodox Christian Holidays, a mystery chapter book about a Chinese American in Australia, Harriet Tubman, STEM book on water cycle, the African-American women computers, engineers, and more of NASA, and a Japanese fairy tale and a picture book about an African-American photographer.

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

Ready for a vacation? In this new series the year is 2164 and Time Corp. has found a way to travel in time and offers various vacation packages to witness history first hand. In today's book we are traveling to colonial times as the American Revolution is beginning. The book is titled The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution: A Handbook for Time Travelers by Jonathan W. Stokes and illustrated by David Sossella.

Disclosure: Lee and Low sent me these books in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Today I get to share my final two reviews for Multicultural Children's Book Day 2018. I am sharing two very different books with you from different cultures. The first book is a classic Japanese fairy tale. It is The Crane Girl by Curtis Manley and illustrated by Lin Wang.

MCBD Twitter Party is Saturday!!

Twitter Party! Great conversations, fun prizes and the chance to #ReadYourWorld (1/27/18)

Please join us for our Multicultural Children's Book Day Twitter Party

Join us on Jan 27th, 9pm EST for 5th annual Multicultural Children's Book Day Twitter Party! We promise it will be a fun and fast-paced hour of great book conversations, sharing of diverse book ideas and lots of prizes. Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation and to also win one of 12-5 book bundles and one Grand Prize Book Bundle (12 books) that will be given away at the party!

We will be giving away Book Bundles every 6 minutes!

Twitter Party Details:

When: Saturday, January 27th

Time: 9 pm to 10 pm EST

Where: On Twitter!

Hashtag: #ReadYourWorld

Sponsored By: Scholastic Reading Clubs

Go HERE to see a sneak preview of the Twitter Party questions, topics, and PRIZES~

Disclosure: Capstone Publishing sent me this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Have you seen Hidden Figures? It is in Hazel's top three favorite movies of all times. Our family went to see it on Martin Luther King Day last year. Last year I wrote about the real women in the story for Black History Month. And before the movie I had done a post about Katherine Johnson for a previous Black History Month. Needless to say this is a topic near and dear to us. I jumped at the chance to review a new book called Hidden Women: The African-American Mathematicians of NASA Who Helped Win the Space Race by Rebecca Rissman.

Disclosure: Miranda Paul sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

It is hard to believe Multicultural Children's Book Day is less than a week away!! I still have several books to review for it, so keep looking this week!! Today I get to share with you a beautiful book with a STEM focus. I love when picture books have lessons in them and this one does. It is Water Is Water by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Jason Chin.

Disclosure: Oriental Trading sent me these products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This winter we have had unbelievable cold weather and lately several snow storms. It has been a bit of a winter wonderland. Once we got rid of the first snow, it snowed again.

It is time again for Sharing Saturday! This time it will be two weeks long since next Saturday is Multicultural Children's Book Day and I am a co-host!

This is a link party to share all of your child-oriented crafts, crafts made for kids, activities and lessons as well as your parenting and/or teaching posts. So glad you joined us!!

On Sunday night we also host Crafty Weekends for all your crafts (done by any age), patterns, and craft product reviews! It is the perfect place to share your creative side!! This Sunday the Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop will start up again, so stop by to share all your diverse/cultural posts.

Disclosure: Penguin Random House sent me this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I am always looking for princess books that star a brave and strong princess. Princess Pulverizer is one such princess. She is not your typical princess. In fact she doesn't want to be a princess at all. She wants to be a knight. In the first book in this series, Grilled Cheese and Dragons by Nancy Krulik with art by Ben Balistreri, we meet Princess Serena, but don't call her that, she goes by Princess Pulverizer.

Disclosure: Holiday House sent me this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

January 27th is fast approaching!! Today I get to share with you another amazing book for Multicultural Children's Book Day. The book today is about someone I am sure you have heard of, Harriet Tubman. The book is Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome.

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

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday. I have been sharing many of my past posts about Dr. King on my Facebook page this weekend. Be sure to check them all out plus the review I wrote over at Multicultural Kid Blogs this month.

Disclosure: C&T Publishing gave me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The links are affiliate links where I will receive a small percentage of any purchases made through them at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

Today I am going to share a wonderful book to make 19 different little bags. It has everything from card (credit or business) holders to coin purses and more. The ideas are creative and unique. The book is Sew Small by Jennifer Heynen.

Disclosure: BookLook sent me these books in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

My main thoughts for 2018 is to take care of me. I want to find the time to exercise and to get myself healthy and fit as well as find time to connect with God each day. Today I am going to share some of our new endeavors and two great books to help me and Hazel with connecting with God. The other week I was at Hazel's school's chapel service and the principal shared one of the student's own ministries. She collects money to buy items homeless people would need. She packages them in a plastic bag and keeps them in her parents' cars so if they see someone begging on the street they can give them a bag. Hazel loved this idea and so did I. I always feel bad about not giving to them, but I also have heard not to because they buy drugs or some actually make more money then most of us just by begging. So Hazel and I went to Target and the Dollar Tree and bought some items and gallon bags.

Disclosure: Janelle Diller of Pack-n-Go Girls sent me this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is hard to believe the Multicultural Children's Book Day is coming quickly. It is on January 27th and I am a co-host so be sure to come back and check out all the reviews at the link up!!

Yesterday was Epiphany. In Hispanic countries it is known as el Dia de los Reyes (Three King's Day). This is the day when the three kings visit and bring presents to the children in these countries. In Sunday School this morning we told the Godly Play story of the Mystery of Christmas which goes through the story from Gabriel coming to Mary to the escape to Egypt and beyond. This year I have been finding crafts that tie into the story to give the kids' work time a bit more focus. I came up with a fun craft for the older students and wanted to share it with you. I also thought I would give some background.

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

Lady Winter seems to have hit the United States pretty hard this week. We are on our second snow day after Winter Storm Grayson hit. And of course to Hazel the worst thing is that the temperature have dropped to dangerously cold levels to be outside for long so there is no playing in it.

With the very cold temperatures which we have had on and off for a couple of weeks and all the snow we need things to keep us busy inside! Today I am sharing three books about winter and snow and one book as an idea of something to do on your snow day!! Our first book is Pigloo by Anne Marie Pace and illustrated by Lorna Hussey.

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

It is hard to believe another year has begun. Hazel turned nine this past weekend and we had two very fun parties to celebrate. It has been a busy time in our house. However now the festivities are over and I am beginning to think about what I want 2018 to be like for me and my family. Have you thought about your new year? I know I want to focus on me and my family this year. I want to take the time to grow in my relationship with God and get myself healthier and more fit. I also want to grow in my relationships with Steven and Hazel. And I want to help Hazel grow in her relationship with God. To this end I am sharing with you two great books to help her do just that. The first is Jesus Always: 365 Devotions for Kids by Sarah Young and adapted by Tama Fortner.

Please join us for our Multicultural Children's Book Day Twitter Party

We will be giving away Book Bundles every 6 minutes!

Twitter Party Details:

Go HERE to see a sneak preview of the Twitter Party questions, topics, and PRIZES~

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