Today happens to be International Happiness Day as well as the First Day of Spring which means there’s two reasons to celebrate! What makes you happy? Time with Thomas makes me happy (I love his spaghetti face): Spring make me happy – I love long days when I can take long […]
Books
5 Multicultural Cybils Chapter Book Nominees
As a first round Cybils judge, I have had the opportunity to read some of the best books published this past year for young readers. It is important to note that many of the books included diverse characters. Children need to see others like themselves in the pages of the books they read. Today I […]
Good News – 6 Chapter Books for Multicultural Kids a MCBD Review
There is nothing as exciting as watching children catch the reading bug. Usually this happens a a child progresses from easy readers to chapter books. Very often the books they fall in love with have relatable characters that the young reader can relate to. The best way to keep the enthusiasm growing is with […]
Multicultural Children’s Book Day Picture Book Reviews
Hooray! It’s Multicultural Children’s Book Day! Four years ago, bloggers Mia Wenjen and Vickie Budayer became concerned about the lack of diversity represented in children’s books. They decided to do something and began Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Kid lit book lovers will be sharing children’s books featuring diverse characters all over social media. There is more […]
For the Right to Learn – Malala Yousafzai #readyourworld
Multicultural Children’s Book Day is a day set aside to celebrate the importance of diversity in the books written and shared with children. For many years, books with characters from different cultures, ethnic groups, and religions have been difficult to find. That is changing, however, as authors, publishers, librarian, and teachers seek out books that […]
Knitting + Picture Books = Love… six books to keep you warm
Hello there! I’m so glad you stopped by. I haven’t been posting much lately because I have been traveling about and reading lots and lots of books. I am sitting in my nice cozy chair listening to the rain and watching the Kings River flow past our home. Today would be a good day to […]
Field Trip Friday – book review and a visit to the jail
I normally read and review kid lit but at least once a month I enjoy reading and sharing an adult book with my book club. Carmen, my November co-hostess, and I decided to include a field trip with our selection: Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2015) Based on a […]
Field Trip – Feeling Fallish
It doesn’t seem possible that October is over. I have been traveling most of the month and I am happy to announce that I experienced my first real fall. Fall in Southern California is marked by high temperatures and hot winds known as the Santa Anas. This increases the risk of fire so we pray […]
The Heart of the Library
Many of us take libraries for granted. So much so, that we forget the important role of libraries and the librarians who provide resources to everyone. But, not everyone has access to the treasures libraries have to offer. In September, I attended the first meeting of the Fresno area chapter of REFORMA, the National Association […]
Ten Important Lessons I Learned from Roald Dahl
Reading James and the Giant Peach was one of the highlights of my childhood. I was hooked from page one. Many of the most important lessons I learned in life came from books written by the brilliant Roald Dahl. And, in honor of his 100th birthday, I’m sharing some of his wise words. […]
Understanding Asperger’s Syndrome
Today I am linking up with the great bloggers who share Diverse Children’s Books. The current theme is Diverse Books Featuring a Character with a Disability. This is a subject which is close to my heart. What is Asperger’s Syndrome and how do you explain it to young children? As a teacher and a mom to […]
A Reading Field Trip- Destination: Brazil
One of the main purposes of A Field Trip Life blog is to highlight children’s books set in locations around the world. One of the best ways to learn and understand other cultures is by traveling. The other is by reading diverse books. Although the Rio Olympics are over, I continue to think about Brazil. The suggested […]
Notes from the Field – The Olympic Edition
I admit it. I am an Olympic junkie. As a child, our family gathered around the television every four years and binge watched the Olympics. I rarely watch television these days but always make an exception for the Olympics. Now that the 2016 games in Rio are over, I’ve decided to revisit and share some […]
Beatrix Potter is 150 – It’s Time for a Party!
When people see my collection of Beatrix Potter’s little books beginning with The Tale of Peter Rabbit, they say “I remember these books,” “These were my favorite childhood books,” or “I loved ____________.” (fill in with Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddleduck, or another favorite character.) This year marks the 150th birthday of this beloved […]
Field Trip Notes: Staycation Edition
Looking back over my calendar I realized that I didn’t travel at all during the month of June. I am always going somewhere so this seemed really odd. I guess you could call it a stay-cation. First of all, the Kings River water was released from the dam. Since we have been in a drought […]