Children's Books Blog Posts

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3 Picture Books that Teach History

by Katy Farber
February 03, 2011

When I was growing up, history lessons in school were anything but interesting.  Lots of text book reading, lots of lecture, lots of notes.  I want my girls to know that history is really just stories-- true stories that matter.  These books are a great way to spark an interest in history and build background knowledge. 

 

Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter 

 

Meet Imogene.  She's ready to take on the city, town, state and nation (not to mention Mayor Butz).  Imogene will not let the the town of Liddleville, New Hampshire, destroy the crumbling Liddleville Historical Society to build a dreaded shoelace factory.  Imogene envokes the spirit of great historical figures as she fights to save her loved society. The book includes short summaries of each person quoted shows how one little girl can change the world.

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I Cherish Planet Earth: Book and Memory Game

by Katy Farber
May 28, 2010

One thing that is critical for me is to teach my girls to love, respect, protect and honor the earth. We talk about all that we do to that helps the earth, but sometimes it seems so ephemeral, so hard for them to understand.

I Cherish Planet Earth is a great way to develop and continue the conversation about how to love, honor and protect the earth in a way kids can understand.

In it, you've got a beautifully illustrated book, written in a love letter format, to earth. Each page describes what we find, see and discover from earth, and shares an affirmation such as "I explore the magic" or "I pass things along" or "I conserve water." Simple and colorful illustrations show clearly what the affirmations mean, illustrating the concepts for young minds.  Read more...

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Children's Books without Toxic Stereotypes

by Katy Farber
February 26, 2010

In my view, there are many more "toxic" things in our world then chemicals. Sure, there are a whole host of toxic chemicals that are in our products, our air, and in our food that we need to learn more about, and protect our families from. But that is not what I am posting about today.

I recently read Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes, by Sharon Lamb and Lyn Mikel Brown. This book points out what you have to be blind to have missed-- how marketers decide what your children should be interested in, do and buy based on their gender. Just take a look at any Pottery Barn catalog or a sale flier from Toys R Us. The girls are encouraged to shop, observe, care lots about houses, food, and taking care of babies. Boys are encouraged to explore, build, construct, and play sports.  Read more...

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