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The Power of Un by Nancy Etchemendy Book Summary and Review
Nancy Etchemendy writes a compelling drama about the power of sibling love that is realized only in the face of deep tragedy. Only Gib is given an amazing gift--the ability to set straight his youthful failure to take responsibility and undo the biggest mistake of his life. This science fiction...
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Brain Tumor: Diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma (part 1)
Our world was turned upside down when my husband learned that his MRI showed he had a golf-ball sized brain tumor behind his left ear, resting on his brain stem. This brain tumor, commonly known as an acoustic neuroma, turned his life upside down. This is our story of brain surgery and recovery.
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Preschool Books: Mothers and Mother's Day Theme
My selection of children's picture books about mothers and Mother's Day. Plenty of hugs and kisses in these selections!
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Best Children's Picture Books About Trees for Arbor Day and Earth Day
Arbor Day and Earth Day are two holidays in April with a focus on trees, conservation, and caring for the Earth. This list of recommended fiction and nonfiction children's picture books will help supplement your library story hour or preschool circle time with a STEAM focus for the spring.
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Fisher Price Imaginext Sky Racers Airplane Toy Review
Fisher Price Imaginext Sky Racers toys are an durable, well-designed, and don't forget imagination-provoking toy that won't bust the budget. In this review I share my experience purchasing this toy.
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Patchwork History Quilt Tells Family Stories
Heirloom family history quilts are part of my family's tradition. Some suggestions for you to get started on a family history quilt and some show and tell from my family's collection.
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Pumpkin-Themed Preschool Books With Activity Ideas
Pumpkin-themed reading list for your preschool circle time, library storytime, or anytime! Reading lists include pumpkin-themed fantasy fiction and realistic fiction, including a few titles that are also Halloween selections.
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The Ladybug Game: Preschool Board Game Review
The Ladybug Game by Zobmondo is an excellent choice for preschool girls and boys. The game is easy and fun, and even educational. This is my favorite birthday gift to keep in stock for preschoolers.
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Investing and Kids: Kid-Friendly Companies to Study in a Mock Stock Market Portfolio
Teaching kids about the stock market can be enjoyable and relevant when you follow kid-friendly companies that sell well-known consumer goods and products during a stock market simulation experiment.
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31 Funniest White Elephant Gift Ideas Ever
31 humorous, wacky, surprising, and just plain silly gift ideas to bring to your next white elephant gift exchange.
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The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Picture Book for All Ages
Jewel-toned illustrations make this children's picture book adaptation of Henry Van Dyke's story a good selection for Christmas reading.
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The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires: Southwest Inspired Gingerbread Man Story
Janet Squires and Holly Berry put a bit of southwest spice into the traditional story of the gingerbread man. Their southwestern take will spice up preschool and story time reading.
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STEM Education for the Very Young: It's Pumpkin Time by Zoe Hall Children's Book Review and Activities
It's Pumpkin Time! and everything that goes with it, from growing in the garden to harvest celebrations, and even a little bit of Halloween. Read this book as part of an October story hour or preschool circle time, then try some of the pumpkin-themed activities on your own.
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Children's Books About Quilts and Quilting
Children's picture books featuring quilts capture the essence of home, heritage, family, and community. There is nothing quite like the heart-warming story featuring a quilter who lovingly passes the tradition to a younger generation. The children's books recommended in this article feature stories...
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An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco Children's Book Review
An Orange For Frankie by Patricia Polacco is a children's Christmas story inspired by Polacco's family history. Read my review and recommended companion stories.
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3 House Hunting Strategies When Moving to a New City
The fateful day has finally arrived! After a search that seemed to take forever, you've got a written, signed, and dated job offer from your new employer. Now you need to plan the move, rent or buy a home, and choose a school!
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Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis Children's Book Review
Mimi is Ladybug Girl, and with her favorite ladybug costume and a large dose of curiosity, she explores the world of her back yard when her older brother won't play with her. This book gives us a glimpse of a child on a journey of discovery. Read my review to discover why this is a children's...
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A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams Children's Book Review
A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams is the story of a young girl named Rosa, her hard-working mother, and their grandmother.
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TinkerToy Jumbo 200 Wooden-Piece Set: How to Make It Fun & Educational
The new TinkerToy comes with classic wooden shapes and connectors with several fun new pieces as well, including wheels and hinges. Your kids don't have to be future engineers to reap their benefits. Buy these educational wooden toys online.
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Fun Educational Board Games That Teach Kids Math
Playing board games helps to build strong family memories and helps children learn math concepts like counting, sequencing, adding and subtracting, estimation, prediciton, and spatial awareness. Playing board games can help your kids learn math and have fun!
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Children's Picture Books and Story-Time Themes for Preschool Lesson Planning
This collection of themed reading lists for preschoolers includes children's picture books about New Year's Day and Chinese New Year, Quilts, Bears, and Soup. Use in story-time and preschool lesson planning.
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Kids and Money: Skittles Investment Risk Game to Teach Kids Risks Versus Rewards
Looking for a fun way to teach kids or teens about the concept of investment risk? This game teaches the correlation of risk to return using candies such as Skittles in an easy-to-learn dice game.
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Choosing a User Name and Profile on HubPages
Welcome to HubPages! If you are new to this wonderful online community of writers, you may want to read these suggestions before you set up your account. When you set up your account, you will need to choose a permanent profile name. This profile name is your window to the world, so choose it...
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Laughing Gas and The Dentist: A Horror Story
Getting her to go to the dentist was like pulling teeth. Our family has a way of finding bizarre ways living through the most mundane daily events, if you consider sedation by dental assistants to be mundane.
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Children's Picture Books for December Storytime Themes
These themes and book selections will make your December story hour planning a snap! Themes include snowmen, mittens, playing in the snow, and gingerbread.
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Best Clarinets for Beginners: What to Look for When Buying a New or Used Clarinet
This article offers advice for parents of beginning band students to find a great clarinet at the right price. What distinguishes a quality instrument from a beginner piece? Read on to find out.
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Abilene Cooper Texas High School Marching Band Memories
I was one of 460 kids in my West Texas high school marching band. Yep, you read that correctly. 460 kids. At Cooper High School in Abilene Texas, being a band nerd was not only acceptable, but popular.
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"Chrysanthemum" by Kevin Henkes, a Children's Book About Verbal Bullying
"Chrysanthemum" by Kevin Henkes is a timeless children's picture book about bullying. Chrysanthemum is a cute little mouse with a very big name and an even bigger problem: relentless teasing by the other kindergarten students because she has a long name!
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The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell, Christmas Story
The Littlest Angel ISBN 0824955757, by Author Charles Tazewell has been in publication continuously for over 60 years, making it one of the most well-known Christmas stories ever published. First published in 1946, it is the story of a young child who struggles to fit in...in heaven!
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Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe Using Compact Bosch Mixer
My family has been making homemade pizza for dinner about once a week for about five years using our stand mixer. This article details my pizza making technique with tips and tricks and recipes for pizza results even your foodie friends will envy!
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Christian Children's Books for Christmas: The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
The Crippled Lamb by popular by Max Lucado and Liz Bonham is one children's Christian book about the nativity. This story about a little lamb who feels sad because his birth defect prevents him from joining the flock is a lovely straight-forward Christmas story and an allegory for all of us. Be...
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Should the Children's Book Tikki Tikki Tembo Be Taught in Classrooms?
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel is a classic children's book that lends itself to reading aloud in a storytime setting. However, this story of a boy with a very long name is the subject of some controversy. This article offers recommendations for using in your classroom.
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Souperchicken by Mary Jane and Herm Auch: A Children's Book that Promotes Reading
Reading saves the day for some unwitting farm animals in this tale about a plucky chicken named Henrietta. Henrietta loved to read, and her reading abilities really do save the day when the chickens' vacation turns into a trip to the soup factory! Will Henrietta save the day before all of her...
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What is a Cowboy? Types of Cowboys
Cowboys come in many different varieties. The working cowboy and the urban cowboy are worlds apart, with many other flavors in between.
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An Introduction to Collecting Antique Saloon Tokens
An introduction to a fascinating hobby for American Western history enthusiasts or for specialty coin collectors. Saloon tokens, also known as good fors and trade tokens are popularly traded in token collecting and token societies.
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Jerome Arizona Ruins: Tuzigoot National Monument
Tuzigoot National Monument is one of several ruins of the Sinaguan Indian culture in North Central Arizona south of the Grand Canyon.
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How to Make Medieval Chain Mail at Home
My husband's hobby is inspired by his love of medieval arms and armor: his quest? To make a hauberk, or chain mail suit, entirely from coat hangers. It is the ultimate in extreme knitting, and a great use for all of those metal coat hangers.
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Construction Toys and Building Blocks for Toddlers and Preschoolers
If play is the work of children, construction toys are unparalleled for their play value. You might call them the ultimate educational toy. Construction toys are available for just about every age level too. Read on to learn more about the different types of construction toys available for...
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The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone Children's Book Review
This traditional telling of the classic gingerbread man fairy tale is a great place to start a themed unit for story time or preschool.
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ImagiNext Spike the UltraDinosaur Toy Review
The designers of the Fisher Price ImagiNext line of toys has pulled out all the stops with Spike the Ultradinosaur, a unique robotic toy designed for preschoolers and their jealous older siblings.
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Using Music Effectively in Your Toddler or Preschool Story Hour
Music is a useful component when working with toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten students, with proven benefits. This article offers some tips and advice for integrating music and simple preschool-friendly musical instruments into your teaching and library story hour.
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Preschool Lesson Plan for Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a children's picture book about a child's day playing in the snow. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 1963 with its groundbreaking illustrations of Peter's explorations of the snow. This article includes a story summary and recommendations for use in a...
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Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White Summary and Preschool Lesson Ideas
Many Pumpkins by Linda White is a delightful children's picture book that deals with realistic themes in a fairy-tale like fashion. Rebecca Estelle doesn't like pumpkins but some are growing in her garden against her will.
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Bosch 400-Watt Compact Mixer Product Review
The Bosch Compact Kitchen Mixer MUM 4420 is a powerful, compact, and versatile stand mixer for small kitchens. I feel it is the best little stand mixer on the market, and it does a lot more than whip and mix.
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Planning a Fabulous, Fun, and Inexpensive Birthday Party for Your 2–4 Year Old
The key to a successful birthday party at any child's age is to remember that the goal is to make that child feel special while helping guests to have a good time, too. As simple as this assertion is, making it happen requires that you set up the right conditions. This party helps you to create a...
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22 Ways to Enjoy Animals When You Can't Keep a Pet
Not everyone can have a pet in their home, but that doesn't mean that you can't spend quality time with animals. Here are 22 fun ways to enjoy pets.
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Getting Labor Started, Naturally (Kids, Don't Try This At Home)
You may find yourself trying some unconventional methods to help labor along out of a state of desperation. Eating rye bread? Not too scary. Chased by a rottweiler? Maybe you should pass on that one.
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Why We Should Stand When the American Flag Passes By
Standing up and placing a hand on one's heart when Old Glory passes is a tradition that respects America and her possibilities, and honors service men and women. A reflective essay...
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Censorship: A Parent's Thoughts on The Golden Compass and Other Banned Books
What is the balance between censorship and family standards? Should we encourage children to read books that don't agree with our views on religion, politics, ethics, or public policy? Where does a parent's role begin and end in the media selection process? This article was first published in 2008.
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Famous American Western Artists: Remington, Russell, Catlin, Bierstadt, and Moran
Art of the American West has become an increasingly popular genre during the last century. Here I discuss a selection of some of the most well-known artists of the 19th century American frontier.
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Turn a Breech Baby Naturally (Moms, Don't Try This at Home)
What does a heated cigar, a bag of freezer-burned vegetables, and diving in a pool of water have in common? Turning a breech baby naturally, without medical intervention. This is a humor piece, not medical advice.
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Till We Have Faces a Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis Review and Summary
To those familiar with the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis' novel Till We Have Faces A Myth Retold may come as a pleasant or even shocking surprise. This novel written for adults explores the dark side of love and fidelity.
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A Day in the Life - Sonoran Desert Small Town Living
Life in the Sonoran Desert is ruled by the weather. See what a day is like for a young mom in the hot summer temperatures of Arizona.
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The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle Children's Book Review and Preschool Lesson Plan
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle first published in 1977 is a children's book classic. It's visual appeal and themes of telling time, bullying, and comparing sizes will entertain preschool and elementary age audiences. This thorough review includes a lesson plan for story time presenters and...
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Where the Wild Things Are Review and Preschool Lesson Ideas
Where the Wild Things Are, starring Max, the most wild thing of all, won the Caldecott medal in 1964 and is one of the best-loved children's picture books of all time. My in-depth review includes a sample lesson for your preschool or library story hour, craft ideas, and links to more lesson plans.
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Gregory the Terrible Eater Book Review
Gregory the Terrible Eater, by Mitchell Sharmat, teaches principles of good nutrition in a humorous way. This article contains a review of the book and related activities for kids.
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Snowballs by Lois Ehlert: A Children's Book Review With Preschool Lesson Plan
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert is a whimsical children's picture book containing a family of collage-art snowmen. Use the ideas in this article to augment your preschool curriculum.
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The King With Six Friends by Jay Williams Children's Book Review
The King With Six Friends, By Jay Williams 1968, Parents Magazine Press, an engaging fairy tale adventure of the out-of-work King Zar and the six friends he meets along the way, who help Zar find work as a king once again, while working together to help him win the hand of a beautiful princess.
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Devil's Elbow and Heceta Head Lighthouse: Oregon Coast PCH Vacation Destination
Devil's Elbow is a public beach north of Florence, Oregon on the Pacific Coast Highway. This a MUST stop on any Pacific Coast Highway vacation with a stay over in Newport, Florence or Yachats. With scenery, tranquility, wildlife, and history, this is the perfect spot to spend a day at the beach.
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Best Northern California Beach Campgrounds: Patrick's Point State Park Review
Nestled amid the temperate rain forest of Northern California on a triangular-shaped peninsula that juts into the ocean is Patrick's Point. This gorgeous California state park is a frugal, fun vacation destination.
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California Road Trip: Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood National Park
Lady Bird Johnson Grove, near Orick, California, is a great-one stop destination on your family's road trip through the old growth redwood region of northern Califonia, showcasing massive three hundred-foot trees with educational information along the way.
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How to Play Canasta: Rules of the Game, Scoring, and Terminology
Learn how to play canasta, a fun, fast-paced tournament-style card game with easy-to-master rules. Use the photos and tables in this article to quickly understand the differences between clean and dirty canastas, how to score bonus points, and easy tips for scoring that will make game play a breeze.
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Is It a Good Idea to Refinance to a 15-Year Mortgage?
Is a 15-year mortgage ever a good idea? This article explains how this financial move can help you build equity faster and pay off your home early.
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How to Get a Rattlesnake Out of Your Car's Engine
Real live encounters with snakes--slithering vertebrates of the herpetological sort.
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Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes Children's Book Review
Lilly adores her teacher, Mr. Slinger, but when her new purple purse becomes a distraction in class, drama ensues. A wonderful addition to the Kevin Henkes collection of situational fiction stories.
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Children's Book Review and Lesson Plan for Ian Falconer's Olivia
She is a fashion designer, dancer, architect, artist, and big sister, and she's quite precocious. Olivia by Ian Falconer is a must-have for your children's book collection.
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No, David! by David Shannon Review and Preschool Lesson Plan
No, David! is the first in a series of children's picture books starring the author's delightfully naughty alter ego. Included with the article is a sample preschool lesson for an informal preschool or library story hour.
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Preschool Library Storytime Ideas for Presenters
Here is the basic formula I use for our library's story hour. I use books, music, movement, and transitions to create the sense of routine that young children crave.
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Practical Tips for Starting a Preschool Story Time Program at Your Library
Some practical tips for organizing a children's story time program including finding a host organization, planning a calendar, and other common-sense logistical considerations.
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The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Philemon Sturges Children's Book Review
The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Philemon Sturges and Amy Walrod is a modernized retelling of the classic Little Red Hen folktale. This children's picture book takes Little Red Hen off the farm and into the city with some zany, beatnik buddies.