3 More Summer Activity Sites

This week’s Fun Friday has more projects and activities to try out. Have fun!

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Tinker Lab School-age Activities

http://tinkerlab.com/category/school-age-children/

The kids in the photos are quite young, but I think these projects would appeal to lots of older kids. I love the rock candy project!

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Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head Craft

http://www.freekidscrafts.com/mr_and_mrs_potato_head-e1348.html

This one is straight from my childhood. I remember spending  countless hours playing with the original Mr. Potato Head. Show this to your grandparents – they’ll remember!

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Artists Helping Children

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/

Make your own slip-n-slide, and more!

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Write one fun thing you did this week in the Comments box!

Gail

Looking at Dyslexia, Part 2

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What does the dyslexic person feel?

As discussed in Looking at Dyslexia, Part 1 dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Or to put it more simply, it means a difficulty learning to read. Because school is so reading-heavy, being a struggling reader means, almost certainly, that most of school is a struggle. Today’s post talks about what feelings a struggling reader may be dealing with. Although the bulk of this information comes from the International Dyslexia Association website http://www.interdys.org), I’ve edited the information to shorten it. Please visit their site for more information.

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Anxiety

Dyslexics often become fearful because of their constant frustration and confusion in school. Anticipating failure, entering new situations can be scary for them. Anxiety causes people to avoid whatever frightens them. The dyslexic is no exception.

Many teachers and parents misinterpret this avoidance behavior as laziness. In fact, the dyslexic’s hesitancy to participate in school activities such as homework is related more to anxiety and confusion than to apathy.

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Anger

Many of the negative feelings and behavior problems with struggling readers occur out of frustration with school or social situations. The obvious target of their anger would be schools and teachers. However, it’s common for them to vent their anger on their parents. Often, they will sit on their anger during school to the point of being extremely passive. However, once they’re in the safe environment of home, these very powerful feelings erupt and are often directed toward one or both of their parents. This becomes very frustrating and confusing to the parents who are desperately trying to help.

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Self Image

The struggling  reader’s self-image can be extremely vulnerable to frustration and anxiety. If  children succeed in school, they will develop positive feelings about  themselves and believe that they can succeed in life. If children meet failure  and frustration, they learn that their effort makes very little difference.  Instead of feeling powerful and productive, they feel powerless and incompetent.

Researchers have learned that when typical learners succeed, they credit their own efforts for their success. And when they fail, they tell themselves to try harder. However, when struggling readers succeed, they’re likely to attribute their success to luck. And when they fail, they simply see themselves as stupid.

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Depression

Depression is also a frequent complication in struggling readers. Although most are not depressed, they are at higher risk for intense feelings of sorrow and pain. They are unlikely to be lethargic or to talk about feeling sad. Instead they may become more  active or misbehave to cover up the painful feelings.

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Family Problems

Like any handicapping condition, dyslexia has a tremendous impact on the child’s family. However, because dyslexia is an invisible handicap, these effects are often overlooked. Dyslexia affects the family in a variety of ways. One of the most obvious is sibling rivalry. Nondyslexic children often feel jealous of the dyslexic child, who gets the majority of the parents’ attention, time, and money. Ironically, the dyslexic child does not want this attention. This increases the chances that he or she will act negatively against the achieving children in the family.

Specific developmental dyslexia tends to run in families. This means that one or both of the child’s parents may have had similar school problems. When faced with a child who is having school problems, dyslexic parents may react in one of two ways. They may deny the existence of dyslexia and believe if the child would just buckle down, he or she could succeed. Or, the parents may relive their failures and frustrations through their child’s school experience. This brings back powerful emotions, which can interfere with the adult’s parenting skills.

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How can parents and teachers help?

Some struggling readers have learned to deal successfully with their learning problems, while others  have not. Three of the things that affect their chances for success are:

• Early in the child’s life, someone has been extremely supportive and encouraging.
• The young dyslexic has found an area in which he or she could succeed.
• Successful dyslexics appear to have developed a commitment to helping others.

Both teachers and parents need to offer consistent, ongoing encouragement and support. However, one rarely hears about this very important way to help youngsters.Successful encouragement involves at least four elements.

• Listening to their struggling reader’s feelings. Anxiety, anger and depression can be daily companions for dyslexics. However, their language problems often make it difficult for them to express their feelings. Therefore, adults must help them learn to talk about their feelings.
• Teachers and parents must reward effort, not just the product. For the dyslexic student, grades should be less important than progress.
• When confronting unacceptable behavior, adults must not inadvertently discourage the dyslexic child. Words such as “lazy” or “incorrigible” can seriously damage the child’s self-image.
• Help students set realistic goals for themselves. Most dyslexic students set perfectionistic and unattainable goals.  By helping the child set an attainable goal, teachers and parents can change the cycle of failure.
• The child needs to recognize and rejoice in his or her successes. To do so, he or she needs to achieve success in some area of life. Parents and teachers need to find ways to relate the  child’s interests to the demands of real life.
• Many opportunities exist in our schools, homes and churches to help others. One important area is peer tutoring. If dyslexic students do well in math or science, they can be asked to tutor a classmate who is struggling. Tutoring younger children can be a positive experience for everyone involved.

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The original article was written by

Dr. Michael Ryan is a psychologist with a private practice in Grand Rapids, MI. He specializes in working with people with learning disabilities. A dyslexic himself, Dr. Ryan is a past president of the Michigan Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and a former national vice president of IDA.

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I hope you have found this information to be helpful. Do you have comments or questions? Please add them to the Comments box.

Gail

Dodsworth Rocks!

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Hooray! The latest Dodsworth book, Dodsworth in Rome, is out. In celebration, I'm reviewing all 4 of the Dodsworth books, plus 2 of Tim Egan's earlier books. I've listed them in the order they were published.

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Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe

Hodges' Cafe is a busy place. Everyone enjoys the desserts that the cafe is famous for. One Friday night 3 big, hungry tigers come in, ignoring the No Tigers sign on the door. Things get pretty tense until Hodges' crazy duck saves the day. This is just the first appearance of the duck ...

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The Pink Refrigerator

One morning, on his daily trip to the junkyard, Dodsworth discovers a pink refrigerator. Stuck to the front is a note telling him to "Paint pictures," so he does. This starts him exploring all sorts of new things. But these explorations are just the beginning. Read on...

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Dodsworth in New York

In his new-found spirit of adventure, Dodsworth sets out for New York. When he gets there, he finds a stowaway in his suitcase - the crazy duck from Hodges' Cafe! The duck leads Dodworth through a fantastic chase through New York. A traveling duo is created...

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Dodsworth in Paris

As you can probably guess, Dodsworth and the crazy duck are in Paris this time. Ever hear of the Tour de France bike race? Well, they're in it...

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Dodsworth in London

This time Dodsworth and the duck (poor thing needs a name) tour London. They survive a dart-throwing incident and a case of mistaken identity. Don't miss their visit to Buckingham Palace ...

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Dodsworth in Rome

This is the newest Dodsworth adventure. Ever heard of the Sistine Chapel and it's magnificent ceiling? I won't give away the story but when the duck notices there's no duck in the entire painting, he does get an idea ...

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I hope you'll give these books a try. They have great pictures, are easy reads and are quite hilarious. I wish I knew about them when I was still teaching. My third, fourth and fifth graders would have LOVED them!

Do you have any ideas where Dodsworth should visit next? Write them in the Comment box!

Gail

Magic Trick Sites to Amaze Family and Friends

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Last week’s Fun Friday post had links to card trick sites 3 Sites for Cool Card Tricks. This week we have regular magic tricks. Have fun!

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Easy Magic Tricks That You Can Learn and Perform for Your Friends

http://magic.about.com/od/libraryofsimpletricks/ig/Easy-Magic-Tricks/

There are 28 tricks here, each shown step-by-step. To choose a trick, click on the picture and then click on the blue link in the description. Be amazing!

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PBS Kids

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/magictricks.html

There are 2 tricks here. They seem a bit tricky, but well worth it once you master them.

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Did you have any luck tricking your family and friends? Write about it in the Comments box!

Gail

Looking at Dyslexia, Part 1

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No doubt, you’ve heard the word dyslexia many times. It’s possible you have a clear understanding of what dyslexia means and how it affects  reading. It’s more likely, though, that you are not clear at all. In today’s post I want to start talking about dyslexia and give you some resources.

As I’ve said in previous Parent Posts, I’m a big fan of the Reading Rockets website (www.readingrockets.org). It’s a huge site that’s filled with lots of information about reading. Today I’ll use information from both Reading Rockets and the International Dyslexia Association (http://www.interdys.org). Please visit both sites for more information.

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What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Dyslexia refers to a cluster of symptoms, which result in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading. Students with dyslexia may also experience difficulties with spelling, writing, and pronouncing words.

Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their lives. However, its impact can change at different stages in a person's life. It's considered a learning disability because dyslexia can make it very difficult for a student to succeed in the typical classrom. In its more severe forms, it will qualify a student for special education, special accommodations, or extra support services.

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What causes dyslexia?

The exact causes of dyslexia are still not completely clear, but studies show differences in the way a dyslexic person's brain develops and functions. Most people with dyslexia have problems with identifying the separate speech sounds within a word and/or learning how letters represent those sounds. These are key skills in learning to read.

Dyslexia is not due to either lack of intelligence or desire to learn; with appropriate teaching methods, dyslexics can learn successfully.

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Who has dyslexia?

Dyslexia occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels. People who are very bright can be dyslexic. They are often capable or even gifted in areas that do not require strong language skills - skills such as art, computer science, design, drama, electronics, math, mechanics, music, physics, sales, and sports.

In addition, dyslexia runs in families; dyslexic parents are more likely to have children who are dyslexic. Some people are identified as dyslexic early in their lives, but for others, their dyslexia goes unidentified until they get older.

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Reading and the Brain

I found a wonderful video, Reading and the Brain (http://bcove.me/zwxgeo0w), hosted by Henry Winkler, the actor and kids’ author. It gives some outstanding information about dyslexia research. It’s presented in short segments, covering:

Rewiring the brain At the University of Texas-Houston, Dr. Papanicolau uses technology to show eight-year-old Peter Oathout how his difficulties with reading are rooted in his brain.

Biomapping the brain In Evanston, Illinois Dr. Nina Kraus thinks that Jenna's reading problems may be related to the way her brain processes sound. To find out, Dr. Kraus uses some well-known technology in a new way.

Baby's first reading skills Drs. Victoria and Dennis Molfese are studying speech perception in day old babies like Santana Hamond — something that may be a key factor in determining a child's later reading skills.

The poet and the painter In Harlem, writer Nikki Giovanni and illustrator Bryan Collier discuss their award-winning book, Rosa, and what it took to write about the influential Rosa Parks.

From emotion to comprehension In Toronto, six-year-old Arik is reading through his books with lightning speed — but is he understanding it all? Using a technique developed for children with autism like Arik, Drs. Greenspan and Shanker believe that they can help Arik's comprehension by expanding his emotional connection to the words.

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I'll offer more information on dyslexia over the next few weeks. Do you have specific questions that you'd like me to find answers to? Please write them in the Comments box.

Gail

Summer Books, Part 3

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This is the last Summer Books post, I promise! But since I found so many summer books, I just had to pass them on.

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FICTION

Heat Wave by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Remember a summer when day after day was hot? And each day was hotter than the day before?  Set in a time before everyone had air conditioning, this book captures such a heat wave perfectly.

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Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

If you liked Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by this team, you'll like this one. too. This time the animals are entering a talent contest. The farmer is suspicious but is helpless to stop them, as usual.

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Danitra Brown Leaves Town by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

If you've ever had a friend or sibling leave you to go away to camp, you'll understand Zuri's feelings in this book. Her story is written in a series of poems, with beautiful illustrations.

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Summer: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur, illustrated by Leslie Evans

I love ABC books. My favorite way to read them is to cover up the words on a page and try to guess what is in the illustration that depicts the letter. This book has great pictures to guess from, plus each page has an acrostic poem of the thing depicted. For example T is for tide: Tumbling waves Inch up the beach Depositing seaweed and shells, then Ebb slowly away.

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Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman, illustrated by Jacky Davis

Last Monday, I wrote about the first Ladybug Girl book. In this book, Lulu fights her fear of the high beach waves. But as soon as she realizes her beach pail needs rescuing, she becomes Ladybug Girl, saves the pail and goes on to have an afternoon of water fun.

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NONFICTION

Let's Look at Seasons: Summertime by Ann Scheninger [JP 574.543 Sch]

This book is full of summer information: flowers, butterflies, the heat, gardens and more. The illustrations have wonderful details to explore.

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Odd Ball: Hilarious, Unusual, & Bizarre Baseball Moments by Timothy Tocher, illustrated by Stacy Curtis [J 796.357 Toc]

This is a perfect book for baseball nuts. It has lots of baseball stories and facts, told in paragraphs and cartoons.

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Famous Seaweed Soup by Antoinette Truglio Martin, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott [JP 551 Mar]

Sara and her family visit the seashore. While her family does typical beach stuff, Sara gathers water, seaweed, snails, and smelly stuff to make her famous seaweed soup.

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Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? by Vera Vullo Capogna [J 595.75 Cap]

This book has lots of information about things kids (and adults) wonder about. Why do bees buzz? What's the difference between moths and butterflies? How do toads croak? There is also a beach book in this series.

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I hope you summer is full of adventure and fun reading. Please recommend some more summer books! Write them in the Comments box!

Gail

3 Sites for Cool Card Tricks

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Ever wanted to amaze your family and friends with a card trick? Great! Here are 3 sites to get you started!

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Buzzle Easy Card Tricks

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/easy-card-tricks.html.

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Amazing Kids Magic: Free Card Magic Tricks That Are Simply Amazing

http://www.amazingkidsmagic.com/free-card-magic-tricks.html

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Easy Card Tricks for Kids of All Ages

http://www.layhands.com/CardTricks/

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Have fun and be sure to report your success in the Comments box!

Gail

Motivation for Reluctant Readers, Part 2

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Last week I wrote about motivation in Motivation for Reluctant Readers Part 1. I suggested

If your child absolutely doesn't want to read, even 

if you've tried all sorts of fun
enticement, consider forgetting the reading. Yes, forgetting it, 

at least for now. Try finding out your child's passions 

and/or sparking some new ones.

This week, I want to suggest that you use this summer to work on skills that will lead to good work habits. Habits that I hope will carry  into  fall when the homework woes begin. These skills are easy to learn and always get results.

As with last week’s post, I’m not talking about reading. Reading is a joy, at least once we start seeing the possibilities it offers. I’m talking about building in a sense of power and accomplishment around tasks other than reading.

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I need to make a confession before I go any further. The skills I  am about to present are ones I learned the hard way. Are you familiar with  Marla Cilley, better known as the Fly  Lady? She offers hope and tools for those of up living in CHAOS (Can’t Have  Anyone Over Syndrome). I was definitely living in CHAOS.

Fly Lady taught me some skills that changed my life. Although I don’t use her skills all the time, I do often enough to stay out of CHAOS for  large chunks of time. (Still not crazy about drop-in guests, though.

Anyway, the Fly Lady taught me a lot. Here are just 3 of her skills  that can get you through all kinds of tasks. IMPORTANT: These will work for you. They’ll also work for your child. However, they’ll only work if your child wants to use them.

I suggest you model using them  yourself. Choose something you have been putting off/hate/stink at. Your success will be the best way to make these skills look attractive. You can do anything for 15 minutes.

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BabySteps

• Choose one thing you can do every day that doesn’t take very long but makes you feel good just because you’ve done it. Examples: make your bed, draw a picture, clean a closet. Choose something that you don’t already do every day, but wish you did. Or something you wish were already done but haven't gotten around to yet.
• That’s it!
• Lots of times, though, one BabyStep leads to another. A made bed might make you also want a clean floor. But just the BabyStep is good.

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15 Minutes

• This is my Fly Lady favorite. Get a timer. Set it for 15 minutes. Do something that needs doing. Do it until the timer dings.
• Stop.
• That’s it! Do something else as a reward for your 15 minutes.
• Do another 15 minutes if the spirit moves you.

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Jump in where you are

• Think you're so far behind, nothing will help? Not so! Just start and whatever you get done is good.
• Messed up on your BabyStep? No problem, just start in again.
• Have a job that will take way more than 15 minutes? No problem. If you only do 15 minutes, you’re still in better shape than you were before you started. If you decide to do another 15 minutes – great! That’s good too!

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NOTE: I’ve taken a lot of liberty with my presentation of Fly Lady’s ideas. Please check out her website, www.flylady.net and her
book, Sink Reflections. You’ll be glad you did.

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I really want to hear about your 15 minutes. Please write about them in the Comments box. 15 minutes Rule!

Gail

Summer Books, Part 2

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Here's the next batch of books just right for summer reading.Read them alone, read them together, make them a read aloud - whatever works for you!

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FICTION

Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis

Lulu is bored but this doesn't last long. Once she rescues a bunch of ants, she goes on to other super-girl adventures.

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Where's Walrus by Stephen Savage

This isn't really a summer book but it's such fun, I have to include it. Completely wordless, it follows a persistent zookeeper as he searches for an adventurous walrus. Completely silly and I love it!

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Central Park Serenade by Laura Godwin and Barry Root

People unfamiliar with Central Park in New York City may be surprised by what a lush and lovely park it is. Written in verse and gorgeous pictures, this book captures the wonder of New York City's jewel.

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Lemonade Sun and Other Summer Poems by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist [JP 811.54 Dot]

If it wouldn't make this post too long, I'd like to copy out several of these summer-perfect poems. The illustrations are great, too.

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Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz

Fans of the Froggy series will enjoy this tale of Froogy's trip to summer camp. At first, Froggy is dismayed when he sees that his school principal is the camp director. No problem - Froggy finds ways to make the week memorable. His principal will remember it too!

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Around the Pond: Who's Been Here? by Lindsey Barrett George

This book is especially suited for reading together. Two kids set out to pick blueberries and as they walk, they encounter things they wonder about. A clue is given, such as a tiny footprint, and the question is asked, "Who's been here?." Readers can guess before they turn the page.

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Canoe Days by Gary Paulsen, illustrated by Ruth Wright Paulsen

I'm a big fan of Gary Paulsen's books (Hatchet, Woodsong...), and was delighted to find this picture book. This book wonderfully captures the peace and joy of being out on the water.

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NONFICTION

Sun Up, Sun Down: The Story of Night and Day by Jacqui Bailey and Matthew Lilly [J 525.35 Bai]

This book follows the sun from dawn to dusk, explaining how light rays travel, how shadows are formed, why the earth's spinning doesn't make us dizzy and more. It's just chock full of interesting information.

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Summer Fun! 60 Activities for a Kid-Perfect Summer by Susan Williamson [ J 790.1 Wil]

This book has activities for every interest. There's directions for making stilts and boomerangs. Recipes for fortune cookies and easy strawberry jam. Using Morse Code. Redesigning your bedroom. It's making me wish I were a kid again!

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Camp Granada: Sing-Along Camp Songs by Frané Lessac [J 782.42 Cam]

Kids beware! Your parents may go quite crazy with this book. But come to think of it, you'll need them to help you with the tunes for many of them. Besides, every kid needs to know the summer classics, such as, Do Your Ears Hang Low?, Camp Granada, Found a Peanut and Taps. Better yet, show this book to your grandparents - they'll know even more of the songs!

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So that's Part 2 of Summer Books. Stay tuned for Part 3! So what good books are you reading this summer? Write them in the Comments box!

Gail

MATH Websites for Kids

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This week’s Friday Fun features Math Games. Be sure to get your parents to play – they are sure to be a little challenged :)!

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IXL

http://www.ixl.com/

This site has a ton of math games for preschoolers all the way to 8th grade. Check them out – be sure to try some below and above your grade.

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Hooda Math

http://hoodamath.com/

This definitely has possibilities for family fun. I like how many of the games lets you start at an easy level and that some let up to four players play at one time.

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Math Playground

http://www.mathplayground.com/index.html

For BIG MATH FANS only! There are some very challenging math games here.

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What did you think of these games? Write it in the Comments box!

Gail

Motivation for Reluctant Readers Part 1

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I've been thinking a lot about motivation lately. Why do we do the things we do? Why do we persist when things get difficult? Why do we give up when we know we should continue? I know for me, I'll seldom do something just because it's good for me, if that's the only reason. It has to fit into something else: tastes good, feels good, makes me look good :), helps my family, helps my friends...

So how does this work for kids and reading? I did some research this week and found some wonderful resources. I'll pass on some of what I've learned and then continue in a later post.

Consider this. If your child absolutely doesn't want to read, even if you've tried all sorts of fun enticement [see previous Parent Posts for ideas], consider forgetting the reading. Yes, forgetting it, at least for now. Try finding out your child's passions and/or sparking some new ones.

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A quick story: My friend's son, Brendan, was a struggling reader and pretty sad about his life. When it was time for his 9th birthday, my friend asked for birthday present suggestions. I suggested lessons of some sort. Brendon chose horseback riding. It changed his life. Brendan took to riding immediately, even though he was quite klutzy in most things. Riding became his passion and he became happier about life. Did he suddenly become a better reader? No,but his happiness helped him become more persistent in all parts of his life.

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This brings me to the number one point of this blog:

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Motivation comes from passion.

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Ronit Baras, a Parenting Guru and Happiness Coach, says this on her website http://www.ronitbaras.com/emotional-intelligence/personal-development-c/motivating-kids-1/:

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If you want to motivate your kids, the first thing you need to do is know what your kids want. The only way to know that is to ask. Many parents think they know what their kids want, but never ask. Some say they are too young, some say they do not know what they want and some are afraid their kids are too influenced by others, but the truth is your kids' desires are a key ingredient in their success in life, whether or not they are young, confused or highly influenced.

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I hope you will check out her site. It has much to offer, including 19 posts just about motivation!

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Another site to look at is Teach Kids How http://www.teachkidshow.com/how-to-teach-your-child-about-motivation/

This site breaks down motivation by age groups and offers suggestions to consider. Some highlights:

• Preschool: Very young children often ask “Why?” Your explanations will help them understand the motivation behind actions and decisions.
• K-Grade 3: The need to please and be noticed- heard and seen- is strong at this age. Viewing behavior, both positive and negative from this perspective will help you and your child understand why they do what they do.
• Grades 4-6: Experiencing success is highly motivating. A child who learns in a natural environment, employing their creativity is learning to take risks and try new things. Dealing with failure and persisting until successful motivates further exploration.

The site also offers resources for motivating.

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So what motivates you? Pondering this question may help you understand where your child is coming from. Please write your thoughts about motivation in the Comments box!

Gail

Summer Books, Part 1

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Here is a collection of mostly picture books just right for summer reading fun. They are especially perfect for family read alouds. While researching these books, I found I couldn't stop at just 10 books. So ... stay tuned to Summer Books, Part 2!

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FICTION

Molly and Emmett’s Surprise Garden by Marylin Hafner

Molly and her cat, Emmett, are quite close. In fact, they can talk to each other. Together, they plant a garden. You'll find directions for planting your own garden at the end of the book.

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Out of the Ocean by Debra Frasier

Reading this book, I longed to get on the beach and start collecting treasures. At the end of the book, there are several pages of information on things you might find on the beach.

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Summersaults by Douglas Florian

This collection of summer poems capture summer perfectly. And the pictures are as good as the poems. Well done, Douglas Florian!

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Come On, Rain by Karen Hesse, illustrated by Jon J. Muth

I have enjoyed reading several of Karen Hesse's middle grade novels. This picture book is a gem. It made me want to dance in the rain with someone I love.

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Flip Flop Bop by Matt Navak

I can't help grinning each time I open this book - the pictures are that fun and happy and lively. And I had to read it aloud, even though I was home alone. There aren't a lot of words but each one begs to be read aloud.

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One Dark Night by Hazel Hutchins, illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung

This books makes you say, "Ahhhhh..." It's all about a mama kitten who brings her kittens inside during a stormy night.

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NONFICTION [with call numbers for finding them, and books like them, in the library]

Follow the Trail: A Young Person's Guide to the Great Outdoors by Jessica Loy [J796.54]

This book is chock full of information for enjoying the outdoors. Chapters include: Camping, Hiking, Animal Tracks, Weather, Games and lots more.

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The Nature and Science of Summer by Jane Burton and Kin Taylor [J 508.2]

This book is all about what makes summer, summer. Chapters include: The Meaning of Summer, Scents and Colors, Time for Feeding, Activities, Websites and more.

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Catch the Wind! All About Kites by Gail Gibbons [JP 629.133]

Gail Gibbons is an expert at giving information in ways that make you want to read on. In this book, she tells about kite history, types of kites, directions for making a kite and flying instructions. So ... go fly a kite!

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The Vacation Activity Book by Jane Bull [J790.1922]

This book has a ton of ideas for making vacation fun. There are toys to make, crafts to try out, nature activities and even some recipes for traveling food. I hope you can find this book - it's worth checking out.

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What books have you read this summer? Write them in the Comments box!

Gail

Jokes for a Summer Day

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I hope these make you laugh!

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Which letter is the coolest?

Iced t.

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What do frogs like to drink on a hot summer day?

Croak-o-cola.

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What do you call a cat at the beach?...

Sandy claws.

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What does the sun drink out of?

Sunglasses

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What is black and white and read (red) all over?

A newspaper

An embarrassed zebra.

A sunburned skunk.

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.How do you know if your clock is crazy?

It goes "cuckoo!"

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How do you fix a broken tomato?

With tomato paste!

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Why do birds fly south in the winter?

Because it's too far to walk.

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What do you get when you cross a parrot and a centipede?

A walkie-talkie!

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Resources used:

Best Family Advice

http://www.bestfamilyadvice.com/summer-jokes-for-kids.html

Net Glimpse

http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/summer/summer_jokes_and_summer_quotations.shtml

.Grandparents.com

http://www.grandparents.com/gp/content/activitiesandevents/everyday-activities/article/sneak-preview-jokes-for-kids.html?page=7

.

Add your jokes in the comments!

Gail