books

Okay, I know I normally write about really big time celebrities, but I think the Fug Girls count because A) they are pretty well known in and of themselves now (Have you ever visited Go Fug Yourself? You need to! After you finish reading this! It’s a great site dishing the dirt on horrible celebrity fashion.), and B) they write about A-listers, so I think those two things together add up to work for Chatterbox.

Plus, they’re stumping for something really great — the Dewey Donation System. The Dewey Donation System works to “help books find libraries,” and that’s not all. Through donations of books and money, they “helped a library system rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, sent a village of children back to school after a Tsunami, helped restock shelves after wildfires ravaged San Diego’s public library system, and brought library assistance to the attention of communities and government.”

Why is this such a big deal? Well, you’re reading this now. Imagine having a childhood where books are not easily available. Imagine never having read The Babysitters Club, or Green Eggs and Ham, or The Berenstain Bears as a kid. Think about your kids not being able to get their mitts on Harry Potter or Amelia Bedelia. Devastating, right?

You can help put a book in a child’s hands, but you have to do it soon. The 2008 book drive ends March 12, BUT if you make a donation TODAY (March 7), you will be eligible to win a copy of The Fug Girls‘ new book (pictured above, right). Find out more about making a donation here, and be sure to leave a comment at Chatterbox letting everyone know what you gave. If you’re unable to donate, you can still leave a comment telling us your favorite children’s book!

Picture of book courtesy of gofugyourself.com. Picture of Dewey courtesy of deweydonationsystem.com

We are living in a time where most students, as young as kindergarten, have homework every night, so what is a parent to do? I often have parents ask me about homework tips. Here are some simple guidelines:

1. Reading should be the MOST important “homework” a child does every evening. Depending on age, children should read a minimum of 20 minutes per evening up to 30 minutes (or more). If your child is a struggling reader, this time can include mom or dad reading a page aloud and the child reading a page. The goal is to instill a love for learning, so seek out books that are interesting and not overwhelming.

2. Keep homework stress free by establishing consistency. Have your child complete his/her homework in the same designated spot each day. Having a good work space stocked with necessary supplies helps children stay focused while working.

3. Establish a consistent time for homework. After a short snack/play break, homework should be the first thing completed at home. If homework is left until after dinner or right before bedtime, it can be a struggle due to fatigue and lack of interest. Many children have sports or other activities right after school, which can make the evening a little more difficult, so plan ahead to get larger assignments out of the way, and start homework right when you get home.

4. If your child is struggling with a particular assignment that seems to be taking too long, or is causing tears/stress, write a note to the teacher at the top of the page and have your child arrive to class a few minutes early to explain the problem and ask for help. Teachers don’t want children working on assignments until all hours of the night, and want to know if a particular problem/assignment was too difficult.

Stay calm while you help your child complete homework and allow your child to do the work. Don’t allow homework to create tension at home, and if it does, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Desk available at Pottery Barn Kids.

Having a great wardrobe involves more than just whipping out a credit card and bringing home more clothes; you need to be a smart shopper, one who only buys clothes that are right for your figure and your life. But how do you KNOW what’s right?

You can ask the experts! Or at least read their books. Here are my three favorite style books, the ones I turn to when I am getting dressed and when I am advising others about what to wear.

Tim Gunn’s A Guide To Quality, Taste, and Style is a book that is both a valuable resource AND just plain good reading. Gunn is witty and erudite and just plain right about so many things. He offers sensible guidance about how to shop, what to shop for, and when to stop shopping.

Clinton Kelly and Stacy London, Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style that’s Right for Your Body. I know there is a wee part of you that wishes someone would nominate you for What Not to Wear, just so you could shop with Clinton and Stacy. Instead, you can tote this book with you and use it to make good choices about what will flatter your figure.

The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece, by Andrea Linett and Kim France. The brilliant minds behind Lucky Magazine have assembled a comprehensive guide to building a wardrobe that will work for you. Chock full of great advice about proportion and fit, this book is one you will want to toss in your bag when you head for the mall.

There has been a ton of controversy lately about some books written to get your kids to eat a more well-rounded diet. I have some very definite opinions about the theories in these books (hint: I don’t like them), but that’s for another post. Today, I’d like to share with you the books that I recommend for encouraging a love of food in your child. These aren’t cookbooks; rather, they are story and picture books that are all about food.

Little Pea This is an adorable book targeted to three- and four-year olds. Little Pea has a great life with his Pea family, but hates eating dinner! Every night, he must eat five pieces of yucky candy in order to get a giant bowl of his favorite dessert; spinach!!My daughter loved this book when she was that age (she is now six) - it made her laugh everytime we read it, and it’s a fun way to get across the message that it’s important to eat healthy foods.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! If you haven’t experienced the brilliance that is Mo Willems, you are going to love me. His writing is hysterical, and little kids (two- and three-year olds especially) totally take a shine to his prose and characters. In this book, Pigeon finds a hot dog on the street and is subsequently accosted by a very curious (and hungry) little duckling.

My Food / Mi Comida You don’t get much simpler than this little board book, but sometimes simple is all that a little kid needs. This book covers colors, foods, English and Spanish. My daughter loved it when she was two, and now my son is totally digging it. The best page according to both of them? The one with a beautiful chocolate ice cream cone!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar This classic favorite by Eric Carle is a great way to get even the littlest book lovers excited about food. I love the way Carle combines the healthy (plums! apples!) with the decadent (chocolate cake and pickles!)

Two Old Potatoes and Me A girl finds two old potatoes in her kitchen and she and her dad cut them up and plant them in the garden. The book (with great prose and charming illustrations) takes the reader through the entire planting and growing process and finishes with a mashed potato recipe. I love that this is a story about a daughter and her father (there aren’t many out there). It’s also a nice book for kids with divorced parents, as it does a good job of addressing the issues that are faced by kids with two homes.

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato Fans of the Disney Channel will recognize this Charlie and Lola title. Older brother Charlie helps ease his picky little sister Lola into adventurous eating by weaving fantastical tales about all of the food in their refrigerator.

Do YOU have any favorite children’s books about food? Please share them in the comments!

Okay, I am back in the “mommy during the holidays” mode, which means, that although I would like to sip hot chocolate on the couch while reading a book with my children, for today, I need to get some Christmas shopping done!!! The mad dash is clearly in full force. So, if you don’t have leisure time to peruse the children’s section looking for good books, here are three favorites.

The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman. Great rhyming story that keeps children entertained. I like to have my three year old guess the words at the end of each rhyme. This one is sure to please.

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson. This book appeals to me as a principal, teacher and mom. The illustrations are adorable, and the story is fantastic- I read this one to all my students at school. This simple story shows how to get rid of enemies for good. First graders through sixth graders will enjoy.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. This is the hottest book around. My 10 year-old daughter devoured this book in a matter of hours. Funny and engaging, it is also a quick read. I think even the most reluctant reader will enjoy this one.

What are YOUR favorite children’s books?

Happiness is encouraging your child to “experience the joy” of reading . . .

Hot chocolate, a warm blanket, fluffy socks, pj’s and some steaming cups of hot cocoa… perfect!!! The only thing that would make it better is adding your children and some good books. Slowing down with our children during the holidays is one way to make the season memorable. Although children are on a break from school, keeping up with reading everyday is SO important. Need some ideas on how to engage your child in reading during the holidays? Here are a few:

• Make a basket of holiday related books. Each year you can bring out the basket just like you do your ornaments and other decorations. As your collection grows each year, it is fun for children and parents alike to revisit old favorites. Opening the basket of books can be a much anticipated event that easily becomes a family tradition.
• It is extra special if you add a new book to the basket each year, allowing each child to sign and date the book as a future keepsake for mom and dad.
• Visit the library and have your child apply for a library card. Be on the lookout for special family read aloud nights. While there, your child can select some books to “visit” your holiday book basket.
• Everyone in the family gets a new book to read during the holidays. Take turns sharing out key concepts like main characters, plot and setting.
• Be a good role model for your child. Let him/her see YOU read for pleasure. Children rarely see their parents read, and yet we tell them it is the most important thing they can learn to do!! Try to plan some family reading time, just like you would plan a trip to the movies. Spread a big blanket out on the floor, pop some popcorn and have each family member bring a few good books. Set a time limit before you start (15 minutes is PLENTY at first!) You want the time to be meaningful, not overwhelming. For younger children, use this time as read aloud time.

You will be surprised how easy it is to establish family traditions that involve reading.

Happiness is reading with your child . . .