Kane/Miller Kidlit: holidays

Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Happy Holidays!

by Jen Kulman

Do you have fun annual traditions for this time of the year? Like buying fresh new pajamas for everyone to rip into on Christmas Eve? Or using themes for each night of Hanukkah gifts?

My husband usually builds us a roaring fire for Christmas Eve, while our son careens about giddy with anticipation. This year, I put together a special S'mores kit for him. In addition to the boxed supplies, it also comes with an expandable metal stick for marshmallow roasting (hopefully not pug poking). We still in need fresh wood for our fire this year. For some reason, the wood fetcher is reluctant to face the opossum who recently claimed our woodpile as his den. No kidding.

Kane/Miller offers the perfect books for this time of year! It's Christmas by Tina Burke is a wonderful choice, featuring the sweetest illustrations. I like that the text is somewhat spare, which prompts children to give their own interpretations of what each photo represents. This is a wonderfully simple book that is a joy to read many times over.

Happy Holidays from all of us at Kane/Miller!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Cookies!

by Jen Kulman

There is nothing quite like baking to get you in the holiday spirit! We have an annual Grandma Cookie Day where both our mothers come out to bake with the boy. The first year I spent two hours making him the perfect little apron for the event. He lost interest after fifteen minutes and buried himself in the couch. Subsequent years have been more successful, and we always make a point of trying a new recipe.

This year's cookie comes from Bunny's Warm Oven, a blog from a passionate baker. Her site is absolutely fabulous and boasts all sorts of lovely dishes, including some knockout cookies. These are an ideal choice because kids can get involved and the colorful sprinkles are guaranteed to grab their attention. Also grab your broom, because these darn sprinkles will bounce into every nook and cranny in your kitchen.

Of course, we have the perfect book to get you and your offspring into the kitchen! The Story of Cherry the Pig by Utako Yamada is about a baker pig who lives for eating. Every day she rifles though her recipes, searching for just the right dish. She bakes and devours (spoils to the cook!) one enormous dessert after another. Cherry enters the the Harvest Festival bake-off and discovers how good it feels to share her baked goods with others. Food always tastes better when you share with a friend, doesn't it?

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Are you Thrifty or Creative?

by Jen Kulman

Thriftiness is especially important for many families who are feeling the financial pinch this holiday season. Instead of enjoying time spent with family, they are concerned about paying the bills. If you have the patience, a great way to save money and get into the holiday spirit is to make your own gifts.

Some of the gifts I remember most clearly from my childhood are the ones my mom made for us. This year I sewed small pillows with appliqued wool felt animals for my son and nephew. Hmm, I swear these are much cuter in person!

Yes, I realize pillows are the marshmallow of the craft world. 'm constantly looking for bigger and better ideas online and was delighted to see that YouCanMakeThis.com is running a challenge for people to make as many presents as they can for under $50, titled Thrifty Under 50. The participants post their projects here as completed, so we can all be inspired.

One book that does a great job of using found object to make art is Half of an Elephant by Gusti. This is a humorous tale of animals losing half their bodies after an earthquake that splits the world in two. Each animal travels about, determined to either find or replace their lost half.

The illustrations are absolutely fabulous! Animals and scenery are created out all sorts of cast off items that would usually end up in the garbage can. "My idea," said Gusti, "is to show children that creativity helps us to live a better life." This story will delight and inspire the creative person in all of us!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

It's Officially December!

by Jen Kulman

We live in Michigan, where the snow flies thick and often. People here scramble to put up their exterior holiday decorations just as soon as the turkey carcass has been discarded. We spent the weekend doing just that. Tree in, lights up, snowflakes secured in the windows. Can you see the Christmas spirit and brotherly love here?

After all our hard work, we gathered an armload of books and plopped down in front of our cozy fire. One of our selections was Selma, by Jutta Bauer. This is a simple book about a sheep who is perfectly happy with her lot in life. Even if she had more time or a million dollars, Selma would still choose to play with her children in the afternoon and chat with her neighbors in the evenings. Reading this is a good reminder to take stock of your life and be grateful for what you have. So we did.

Taking a page from Selma's book, we slouched down in our chairs and just relaxed. I concentrated on enjoying our family instead of the list of chores that needed my attention. The laundry will wait for me, a four-year-old will not. It was wonderful to feel the fire toasty at our toes while the snow swirled wildly outside. Aaahh.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!

My mom is great at keeping me up to date with the parenting sites, blogs and articles that she comes across in her daily reads. This morning she sent a link to an article from the St. Paul Pioneer Press about daddy bloggers and the rise of stay-at-home dads and those who choose to write about their experiences and point of views of parenthood:

Collide and Converge
Dad Gone Mad
Tapirs Poop
Matt Logelin
Maya Reads
This Little Piggy Had Tofu
Team Trixie
Schuyler's Monster Blog
Jonathan Rundman
Looky Daddy

And don't forget to check out these great daddy blogs as well:

Dad's House
The Busy Dad Blog
Dorky Dad
Daddy in a Strange Land
From Here to Paternity
D is for Dad
Dad Thing
meta DAD
Discovering Dad
DIY Father
Try to Keep Up
Hey, Look What I Can Do
Makes Me Wanna Holler
A Man Among Mommies
I Have to Wipe His What?

These dads are all unique in their writing style and of course what they focus on. You'll find blogs written by single dads, stepfathers, new dads, stay-at-home dads, expectant fathers, dads who blog about raising their kids vegan or raising multi-racial children, from fathers who are also widows, and dads who blog about single life and dating. There's something here for everyone.

Happy Father's Day to all dad-types out there. Enjoy your special day.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Books to Share with Dad

With Father's Day nearly a week away, I wanted to share with our readers the great father figures found in some of our children's books:

I Lost My Dad!

The Key to My Heart

On My Way to Buy Eggs

My Father's Shop

You Be Me, I'll Be You

Happy Father's Day to all of our readers, whether you're a Dad, Grandpa, Father or Daddy-to-be, enjoy this special day!

Friday, May 30, 2008

To Fathers With Love

by Lisa Smith

In June of each year, we celebrate the wonderful Fathers and father figures in our lives! The modern celebration of Father’s Day has ancient roots, dating all the way back to the Babylonian period of history.

The earliest record of Father's Day was found in the ruins of ancient Babylon. A young boy named Elmesu carved a Father's Day message on a card made out of clay nearly 4,000 years ago. He wished his Babylonian father good health and a long life. The tradition was passed down from generation to generation and is currently celebrated in several countries throughout the world. In many countries, where the Catholic Church has had an important influence on the culture, Father's Day is celebrated on St. Joseph's Day (March 19) but in others, the date varies with the calendar year.

In the United States, we typically purchase greeting cards or small gifts for our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, etc. In other countries around the globe, they have unique and different ways to celebrate the Father’s Day tradition.

1. The UK and Australia: Breakfast meetings for fathers and families are held along with public games and activities that strengthen the father-family bond. These events include picnics with sports or games, fishing contests and hiking or running races.

2. Canada: Different colored roses are worn by families signifying the well-being of their fathers. A white Rose is worn if the father has passed away and a red Rose signifies father or grandfather in good health and vitality.

3. South Africa: Social and cultural societies host large community Father’s Day celebrations to stress the role of fathers in building a stronger society and in nurturing their children. They read stories and poems that have strong male characters.

4. Ireland: Families make donations in the name of their father or perform acts of community service that pay tribute to the important men in their lives.

This year in June, we can all look into some different ways to express thanks and gratitude for the fathers and father-figures in our lives. Whether we spend time strengthening our relationship by participating in an outdoor activity, performing some community service together or just sitting down to a meal together, we can all look to different cultures around the world to see that celebrating fathers is not just something we do here at home. It is an ancient and wonderful tradition that can be expanded upon to create some wonderful new memories and traditions of our own.

Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler clothing line featuring ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on her website http://www.regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues. You can contact Lisa directly at: lisa@regionzkidz.com

Monday, April 28, 2008

May is...

Get Caught Reading Month

Healthy Vision Month

Paul Needs Specs

National Bike Month

A Bicycle for Rosaura

Marta and the Bicycle

Marta y la bicicleta

Be Kind to Animals Week (May 4 - 10)

The Deliverance of Dancing Bears

Reading is Fun Week (May 4 - 10)

Tibili, the Little Boy Who Didn't Want to Go to School

Mother's Day (May 11)

When Mum Was Little

Selma

National Transportation Week (May 11 - 17)

Crazy Cars

On the Road

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK (May 12 - 18)

National Backyard Games Week (May 19 - 25)

Playing with Stuff

Slugs Return from Capistrano Day (May 28)

Sally and Dave, A Slug Story

Monday, March 31, 2008

International Children's Book Day

Even though all of our titles come from countries other than the U.S. it is a very special day when we can highlight our books that speak about or take place in a land that is somehow different than the ones we're used to seeing in a children's book.

Here are just a few of our books that take place in unique places in our world:

From France

My Father's Shop

From Taiwan

On My Way to Buy Eggs

From Japan

Girl from the Snow Country

From Australia

Are We There Yet?

From Australia

Ziba Came on a Boat

From the Netherlands

Little Fish

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Make Up Your Own Holiday

This Wednesday, March 26th is the official Make Up Your Own Holiday day. That's right. You can now celebrate whatever you would like!

Cat Tails (and Tales)

Cat

Figaro, The Cat Who Snored

My Cat Copies Me

Dog Days of Summer

Apollo

Benny

Lucky, A Dog's Best Friend

Samsara Dog

Happy Birthday Coco

Saving Sinbad!

The Costume Party

Monday, February 11, 2008

Love in Any Language

by Lisa Smith

We are all familiar with the US version of the Valentine’s Celebration – but how do other cultures celebrate the Holiday?

In the UK a character called 'Jack' Valentine knocks on the rear door of houses leaving sweets and presents for children.

In Wales many people celebrate St Dwynwen's Day on 25 January instead of, or as well as, St Valentine's Day. The day commemorates St Dwynwen, the patron saint of Welsh lovers.

In Finland, Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name says, this day is more about remembering your friends than your loved ones.

In Slovenia, a proverb says that "St Valentine brings the keys of roots," so on February 14, plants and flowers start to grow. Another proverb says "Valentin - prvi spomladin" ("Valentine — first saint of spring"), as in some places, Saint Valentine marks the beginning of spring.

To put a unique spin on Valentine’s Day try incorporating some of the other special traditions practiced by cultures around the world.

Leave a present for your child on the doorstep from Jack Valentine.

Spend time with your friends and encourage your children to do the same. Focus on fellowship more than the feelings of love.

Plant flowers, trees or bushes in celebration of the coming of Spring.

Valentine’s Day can be a fun and memorable day for children, families, parents and singles alike if we look at the Holiday through a different pair of eyes.

Lisa Smith has a BA in psychology, & is the Owner of Regionz Kidz http://www.regionzkidz.com a multi-cultural infant and toddler clothing line with ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on the Regionz Kidz website that features articles about cultural diversity and children & she is a guest blogger on several other websites and blogs relating to parenting and children’s issues. She is also a monthly contributor to Educated Mommy Magazine.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Australia Day

On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. After overcoming a period of hardship, the fledgling colony began to celebrate the anniversary of this date with great fanfare.

In 1818, January 26 became an official holiday, marking the 30th anniversary of British settlement in Australia. And, as Australia became a sovereign nation, it became the national holiday known as Australia Day.

We have over two dozen titles from Australia and are pleased to have been able to work with such amazing authors and illustrators, such as Robert Ingpen, Colin Thompson, Julie Vivas, Tina Burke, Alison Lester, Elizabeth Stanley, Margaret Wild, Ron Brooks, Mem Fox, and Beth Norling (to name just a few).

The following books from Kane/Miller were originally published in Australia, winning numerous awards and honors both in the U.S. and in their native country.