Expressions from our Youngest

Expressions from our Youngest
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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Great Picture Books

Here are more great picture books I read with my five year old:

1)  A Weekend with Wendel by Kevin Henkes

This is a wonderful story about a mouse named Wendell who has not learned his manners yet.  He stays the weekend at a friends house and the family experiences some difficult and humerous encounters with Wendell.  Wendell learns a valuable lesson in the end and the family is releived that he has to return home.  It is a good story to introduce youngsters to choose civility in encountering any difficult peers.

2)  Sophie's Window by Holly Keller

A great story about a bird who learns to fly with some difficulty.  The bird miraculously meets a friendly dog who helps him return to safety until he learns to fly on his own.  They become great friends after the dog reaches out to help the bird.

3)  Little Rabbit Lost by Harry Horse

If you are ever worried about your little one getting lost in a crowd, this is a good story to help your child learn to stay near mom.  Little Rabbit wants to be grown up too fast and learns the hard way that he has to wait until he is a little bigger.

4)  One Fine Day by Nonny Hogrogian

The fox learns that he should not take things that do not belong to him by encountering some unwanted strenuous activity to have something returned to him.  A great lesson to reinforce the seventh commandment, "Thou shalt not steal."

5)  The Caterpillar and the Polliwog by Jack Kent

The caterpillar is very excited because she knows she will one day become something else and tells everyone she encounters.  The polliwog learns he will become something else too and is lead to believe that it is also a butterfly.  At the end of the story, the polliwog is delighted to learn that he becomes a frog.  This story introduces children to the concept of metamorphisis in a fun way.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Great Picture Book

I just wanted to tell everyone about a wonderful picture book I've been enjoying with my five year old this summer.  It is called Five-Minute Devotions for Children, Celebrating God's World as a Family by Pamela Kennedy.  There are 21 animals/insects your child will learn about along with a short biblical commentary and bible verse to go along with the animals behavior/character/situation.  We just read about spiders today learning how they spin their webs and kill and wait for their prey.  The bible commentary revealed that telling the truth is the best way to stay out of the web of lies and a reference to psalm 34:13.  Each page has a delightful picture with simple questions to keep them engaged and test their listening.  You can purchase this book from Amazon.

Eileen is Grateful



It is time to participate at Judy's blog in a Thankful Woman's Blessings to express our gratitude for the good things that have happened to us in our walk with the Lord during this past week.  Just click on Judy's name to participate.

 1)  I am so grateful that I was able to participate in our parish woman's group today for part of their meeting.  It is such a joy to come together with other Catholic women in prayer and fellowship.  I am also thankful that I will be able to participate in their meeting more often during the school year because our co-op is being held on a different day this year.  My daughter will also be able to help babysit for all the moms and make a little money.  She has expressed a desire to do this.

2)  I am thankful that my oldest daughter was able to teach four classes of swim lessons to little ones this week.  It is very good money and she enjoys working with most of the children.  There are a couple who do not listen well but it is a good learning experience for her.  My husband and I coach her on ways to approach any difficulties that come up and she seems to be doing a very good job.  This is another reason why I have been unable to blog much lately.  I thought all the driving for swim team would be over by now.  Now I drive for swim lessons.  Oh well - it is a beneficial sacrifice.  I do not like feeling like a taxi service.

3)  I am grateful that my two college sons returned from New York City safe and sound.  They took a trip to visit their good friend that goes to Fordham University and chose to stay and work there over the summer.

4)  I am thankful for such a kind Religious Ed. Director who is letting my seventh grade daughter continue to participate in the Confirmation program on a sporadic basis.  We will be doing most of the work together at home and she will occasionally attend the classes.

5)  I am thankful that my three youngest children and I were able to visit my mom in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia on Monday.  It is an hour and a half away and we have been so busy that we haven't seen her for a long while.  It was a joy to see her as I know we will get too busy again during the school year.  She does not like to drive much so cannot make it down our way often.