Now now something for the adults: Kids books that adults will love too

Early Lit Tip Tuesday Week One

For the next 42 weeks. I'm going to be showcasing a YouTube video featuring early literacy and/or early education tips. And lucky you, you get to start with week one! Enjoy!

Good Night Construction Site, Good Night Baby

Image Courtesy of bookmarkable.wordpress.com

Today I brought home a new kid's book for little man, he's been fascinated by cars, trucks, trains and all things that go, So I thought I would cater to his desire for things that go, and brought home Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site.

Let me tell you, I am in love with this book! As a kid, I loved the Snort in Are You My Mother, and Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel. GNGNCS just can't even compare. It goes above and beyond. The best way I can describe the book, is that it's Bob the Builder, meets the Snort and Mike Mulligan, meets Pixar's Cars. This book is not only brilliant, it's award worthy.

The story itself talks about each different personified construction site vehicle, what it does during the day, and how it gets ready for bed. The crane truck even sleeps with a teddy bear. It's adorable. Each segment of the story concludes with saying "Shhhh", and wishing the construction site vehicle goodnight. Little Man loved saying "Shhh" along with the story. And the best part is that he was tuckered and ready for bed by the conclusion. Thank you Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld for reviving my childhood through your fabulous book and for putting my son to sleep. 

Don't believe me that this is one of the cutest books ever?? Check out the book trailer!

Ready to pick up a copy? Check out your local library or purchase a copy on Amazon.

Goldfish Car Wash Commercial, Imagination and Early Literacy in the Media

I was so impressed when I first saw this commercial. If you don't know already, imagination is a MAJOR tool in encouraging early literacy, and this commercial is the epitome of how we should all be fueling our children's imagination.

But don't take my word for it! Watch!

Fingerplay Fridays-Autumn

Image Courtesy of WriteAWriting.com

Autumn
In autumn when the trees are brown 
(ASL sign for tree)
The little leaves come tumbling down 
(Make falling motion with your hands, like ASL snow)
They do not make the slightest sound 
(Make "shhhh" motion with index finger to lips)
But lie so quietly on the ground 
(Spread hands out to illustrate "ground", a flat surface)
Until the wind comes puffing by 
(Blow into cupped hands)
And blows them off towards the sky 
(Make explosive motion toward the sky)

Wordless Wednesday-Halloween 2011

2011 marks Lil' Man's second Halloween. Sadly, I think last year was more fun for him. Why? This year, I spent Halloween laid up with the worst sore throat that I've ever had in my LIFE, while Lil' Man had Halloween at Grandpa's...

The *HOT* new Elmo this holiday season-- Elmo Mows The Lawn :)

There was a greater interest in lawn mowing than in Trick-or-Treating

Even the dog wanted in on the action!

Examining his haul

This year Lil' Man's pumpkin was MUCH more simple, i.e. We couldn't find the carving kit, and I refused to buy a new one. :)

 **All Photos Are Copyright EarlyLiteracyMama.blogspot.com**

Wordless Wednesday Link-Up: 5 Minutes for Mom, The Paper Mama, Jenni from the blog, And then, she snapped, Live and Love Outloud

Dropping the ball, being sick, and Chicago Tourism.

Blair and I at "Cloud Gate"
Image copyright EarlyLiteracyMama.blogspot.com

So I kinda dropped the ball on the three days of Halloween finger plays. I ended up being incredibly sick by Halloween, so little man practically missed out. Thankfully, he has a wonderful Grandpa who made sure that he didn't miss out on the Trick or Treating fun. I will make it up to you though, I'm going to start posting "Finger play Fridays" so there will be a new one to enjoy each week.

During "sick-week", my friend from Australia came to visit. I haven't seen her in 9 years, so she got my undivided attention. Thankfully, I was able to get some antibiotics and join her on a girl's weekend away in Chicago. I had a blast, but it was hard to be away from little man for the first time.

So this week, I thought I'd focus on the excellent early literacy initiatives that I saw while I was in the city.

My foot compared to Apatosaurus
Image copyright
EarlyLiteracyMama.blogspot.com

One of our first stops was The Field Museum. Though we only saw the Dinosaurs and Native Americans (we had five different attractions to visit with our CityPass), the exhibits were nothing short of AMAZING. There were many hands on activities, one of my favorites was comparing your foot to an Apatosaurus. This particular activity provides and excellent opportunity to talk about big and small with your child, and or heavy and light. You could also spend time talking about the opposites between humans and dinosaurs. The possibilities are endless.

The next of our stops was The Shedd Aquarium. Shedd is by far my favorite attraction in the city. I went once four years ago, and this year I noticed some major revisions to the exhibits that focused on early literacy. That, or I just didn't pay that much attention the last time I was there. :)

Shedd Aquatic Show
Image Copyright EarlyLiteracyMama.blogspot.com

One of the best early literacy attractions at Shedd is located in the "basement" of the building, underneath the Aquatic show tank. When you descend underneath the aquatics tank, you see a whole new world with dolphins, belugas, and penguins. There is also a hands on exploration table about tide pool animals and organisms.  It is the perfect opportunity to talk about textures--what appears rough or smooth, and to to talk about sizes, what is big and small.

Kids will have the most fun in the interactive penguin exhibit where a they can climb around and act like penguins, they can even slide down a pretend ice slide on their bellies, just like penguins do.

One Book, One Chicago Initiative
Image Copyright EarlyLiteracyMama.blogspot.com

The one thing that I noticed about the city of Chicago itself is that they care about their libraries and literacy. Every where I went, I saw signs promoting reading. It intrigued me so much, that I just had to get a picture next to one. :)

When it comes to libraries and literacy, Chicago gets 5 out of 5 stars from me!