Teach Me: Fun Books for Kids with the Purpose of Learning – Kids
Teach Me: Fun Books for Kids with the Purpose of Learning
Jennifer LB Leese
Learning is a wonderful thing. My mother always told me that children are like spongesyou can teach them just about anything, and they usually remember it. Here are a few books your children can absorb.
THE ABCS OF FOOD: A Study of Food as History, Story, Tradition and Nutrition by Louise Ulmer and Richard S. Calhoun published by eBooks on the Net http://www.ebooksonthe.net is a delightful book where readers can search from A to Z for all kinds of foods and spices. This book is a dictionary/encyclopedia/guide, and it is fabulous. Readers can also find out how to pronounce, collect information on, and make specific foods. This book will keep you busy for days, weeks, even months. Teri Sloats FROM ONE TO ONE HUNDRED published by Scott Foresman Publishers is a wonderful book, designed to help children count to 100. There are more than 2,500 eye-appealing objects arranged so each page drips with fun characters and brilliant color.
More wonderful books my children and I have recently read include ON BEYOND A MILLION: An Amazing Math Journey by David M. Schwartz. Children will be proud of themselves when they realize just how high they learn to count. This book was designed almost as a comic strip stylebook because of the text set in balloons. Readers can easily learn the English number system taught to them by multiples of tenpublished by Random House: Dragonfly Books. MY SPIRITUAL ALPHABET BOOK by Holly Bea and published by HJ Kramer: Starseed Press was a treat to read. The bubbly illustrations and vivid text will fill kids with laughter. Not only will the children reading this story, learn the alphabetthey will also learn the changing of the seasons and the importance of Gods gifts.
For a fun book your children will just love. Try FROM LETTER TO LETTER by Teri Sloat. Each page is a different letter of the alphabet. Children will enjoy searching the pages for items that begin with a specific letter. Along the bottom of the page, Teri Sloat includes the whole word, giving the reader an extra method of learning that specific letter. Those interested can find this book at your local bookstore or through Puffin Unicorn Books or online at Sloats webpage http://www.terisloat.com.
As an adult, I know that my mother was right, and I, too, tell my children the same exact thing. In Illumination Arts April release, INSIDE OUT, a little girl named Karly learns the same thing from a spirit who comes in the form of an invisible friend. This book with dazzling illustrations by Roberta Collier-Morales was a pleasure to read. Get your copy from Illumination Arts.com.
In case you didnt knowpaper format isnt the only way to find high-quality books from talented authors. Books on CD, as download or on diskette, known as eBooks or electronic books, are a growing popular form of book readingespecially for childrens books. Why Because publishers are now able to add movement animation and sound clips to their books. Children dont only read eBooksthey interact with them.
Remember, just because some books are electronic e-book books, doesnt mean they arent fantastic! Open up an electronic book today and get to know some talented new authors.
Off the Top of my Headtalented childrens authors to check out:
Daisy Dexter Dobbs, http://daisydexdobbs.home.attbi.com
Moses Cramden, http://beam.to/2084
Dorothy Thompson, http://www.thewriterslife.homestead.com/theworksofdorothythompson.html
JV Harlee, http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/jvharlee.html
Valerie Hardin, http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/4266
About The Author
Jennifer LB Leese is a 34-year-old mother of three from Maryland. She is a published author of several childrens fiction books, one young adult fantasy book, and a paranormal romance novel. Leese also freelances childrens non-fiction books for book distribution and packaging companies.
She reviews childrens books for several online magazines, including her own Its Only Ink! Childrens Book Reviews, as well as for Fiction Forum, Preschool Entertainment, Gotta Write Network, The Best Reviews, and Midwest Book Review. Jennifer is also a freelance copyeditor for Writers Exchange E-Publishing, as well as for individual authors and publishers. Leeses experience comes from the above as well as from her published books and articles, and from her professional book reviews and columns.
As half of JV Harlee, Leese writes gothic, fantasy novels for teenagers with published author Valerie Hardin. Their first book is "Gargoyle Tears".
Leese lives in Maryland with her three children, Nicholas, Cameron, and Jordan. She volunteers regularly at her childrens school where she heads the Bester Elementary PTA as Vice President. Married fourteen years to the love of her life, Jennifer knew she would marry Thom the moment she laid eyes on him.
jenniferlbleese@msn.com
Real Friends – Kids
Real Friends
Skye Thomas
About a year ago, I was talking to a friend of mine on the telephone. He had just experienced a big success in his career and wanted to brag. We had a great time cheering and laughing over his big moment. Then as we were wrapping up our phone call, he apologized for gloating to me. I blew it off telling him, "Dont apologize! Real friends are people that you can cry with during the bad times and gloat with during the good times. Everyone else expects you to be politically correct in your behaviors." Whats the point of having friends if you cant be yourself around them
A friend is someone to cry with during the bad times. Everyone knows how great it is to have a friend during your time of need to cry on their shoulder. In reality, people dont like it if you cry on their shoulder for very long. So the sign of a real friend is that you can cry on their shoulder until youre done crying. And if youre crying too long, your friend will make you snap out of it. They help you to pull yourself back together rather than just give a superficial "There there dearie" and then going on about their lives. Youll be able to tell real quick who your real friends are during the crisis and uglier times of your life. Theyre the only ones still hanging around.
A friend is some to gloat with during the good times. Were all raised that its distasteful to brag and to come across as egotistical. The result is that most of us are afraid to say much of anything positive about ourselves. Youre allowed to celebrate a job promotion, a marriage, or the birth of a child, but its supposed to be done with class and style. A real friend is someone that you can call up and spend twenty minutes telling them what an awesome job you just did on a project at work and how you feel so incredibly proud of yourself and they are going to be happy for you. They are not going to chastise you for being arrogant. When you have some serious politics going on at work and you pull of a brilliant career move, your friend is going to cheer with you and laugh along with you as you succeed.
A friend is someone to rage with when life is really unfair. Thats not to say theyre going to help you plot your exs murder or anything like that, but when youre really ticked off and need to vent, theyll be there for you. You can safely tell your real friends just how angry you are and theyll help you find ways to dissipate the anger and to eventually let it go. Humor is a wonderful way that friends have of helping us to let go of our anger. Rather then help you plot the murder, they can throw out a few wonderfully witty comments about your ex and get you laughing again. Know matter what it is that youre upset about, your real friends will be there for you.
A friend is someone to dream with while plotting your goals. Real friends make awesome cheerleaders. They believe in you and in your ability to achieve your goals. Everyone else may be politely disinterested in what youre planning to do with your life, but your real friends will be thrilled to hear about what youre doing. Theyll help you to brainstorm ideas and will pitch in to help you make your dreams come true whenever possible.
A friend is someone to pray with for support. Weve all seen the research and the studies show that the power of prayer is magical no matter who or what it is that you think youre praying to. The studies also show that whenever two or more people get together to pray, that they power becomes increasingly strong. From my own experience I would like to point out that when you have a real friend pray with you instead of a well meaning acquaintance, that the increased power is so much greater. Yes the stranger helps, but nothing beats the power of a friends prayers.
A friend is someone that you can laugh with until you make that funny snorting sound. Only with my dearest friends have I laughed so hard that tears poured down my face. I have shared funny stories with my friends that Id never share with coworkers and such. Part of it is because with real friends there is a trust level and you know that you have similar views about whats humor and whats not. So, you can share jokes that otherwise might not be appropriate to tell the church ladies after service. Real friends laugh together.
My daughter wanted me to add this last one. A friend is someone to burp and fart with because they dont care if you are a real person. She has determined that the reason her best friend has trouble getting along with the other girls at school is because her friend doesnt realize that you cant do that sort of thing in front of people that are only polite superficial surface level friends. My daughter says that because theyre best friends its okay if one of them burps or farts in the presence of the other, but they cant do it in front of anyone else. I suppose she makes a valid point.
Im not saying you should be a completely trashy mess of bad manners and selfishness around your friends, but at least know that with real friends you can be yourself and they arent going to turn their back on you. If you have to walk on eggshells, be on your best manners, or monitor your every word and action, then youre probably not with a real friend. A real friend is one of lifes greatest blessings, dont forget to give thanks.
Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrows Edge
About The Author
Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrows Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith. She became a writer in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, soulmates, and parenting. Her books, articles, and astrological forecasts have inspired people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of happiness. To read more of her articles and to sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter, go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net. To download free previews of her books, go to www.SkyeThomas.com.
Skye@TomorrowsEdge.net
The Rep – Kids
The Rep
Keith D Commiskey
As a young girl, while growing up in Junior High, if you show that you are too eager to be with boys, or even a certain boy, you will, sooner or later, be seen as "desperate". Come High School, reputation becomes more important to girls than looks. Imagine if you have a bad hair day, your next day you can still shine. But if you get a bad rep one day, your entire year can suffer. At least thats the case in High School in Junior High your bad rep is forgotten the moment someone else becomes news.
Boys, by their very nature, are, and will always be, desperate creatures. This is a given. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the girl to make sure that this evolutionary process is maintained. That is, they cannot let show that they are "eager" to be with this boy, then that boy. And if a boy is able to come between to girl friends, theyve turned the tables. This is not good for either girl. Only the most charming boys can pull this off, but it can be done. And these are the guys that youll want to be with the most! Be very careful girls, because this can be the "life or death" of your reputation in High School and yes, it begins in Junior High.
So, girls, in keeping with the tradition, and for the future of all girls, never let a guy see your eagerness to be with him. "Hard To Get" works like a charm, and is the single biggest advantage of girls over boys and even women over men. Never let a guy come between you and your friends. Never, ever, let a guy feel as though they have the control over you; or, as sure as the sun came up this morning, they will take that control, and never give it back. Keep them guessing. Keep them eager to want you. Keep "them" desperate!
The way to accomplish this is by never letting a guy get the "Hard To Get" advantage over you. You must make him feel like youre self-sufficient and that you can live without him, while at the same time showing little signs here and there that you are interested. A boyfriend/girlfriend relationship will last much longer if you dont blurt out, "YES!" when he asks you to the next dance and yes, he must ask "you" or asks if he can sit with you during lunch. Think about it for a second, and then calmly reply, "Sure. That sounds good." There are thousands of proven ways to make them want to be with you even more.
Remember, if youd like to guarantee yourself a great reputation in High School, you have to show restraint in Junior High. Never let them see you sweat : And never, ever let them see your desperation, no matter how desperate you really are! The girls that the important boys want most in High School are the girls that have restraint and dignity. Boys do not. These are the girls the geeks stay away from because they think, "Shed never like me." Theyre the girls the jocks say, Ill take her, and her, and her ... Theyre the girls that the intelligent, good looking boy knows, to get with her, he must also spend time with, and like to be with, her one or two not-so-good-looking friends.
The most important thing to remember, above all, is that a great looking guy wont necessarily take out the trash, show respect for you by opening the door for you, or get up in the middle of the night to feed the baby. So while youre gawking at that "Ashton Kutcher" look-alike, take a step back and see if hes also got some "Mekhi Phifer" in him. Great looks are second to reputation in High School. And while immaturity will show your age, itll end up leaving you with only the geeks to choose from. Being mature makes for an awesome and long-lasting reputation with the guy who will take the time to make it past the "Hard To Get" routine. Itll get you that guy of your dreams!
About The Author
Keith D Commiskey is the husband to a great wife, and step-dad to one great daughter turning teen. Keith does graphics and web design by day; and is a father, husband and entrepreneur by night. He established himself as a web and database developer beginning in 1995, and has layered those talents on top of his graphics and computer animation experience which he began 1991. Hi is the sole creator and owner of two sites with creative thoughts that just wont stop: http://www.giftsforyou.biz and http://www.kdcinfo.com