Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Recommended Reading- Ducks Don't Wear Socks
We found Ducks Don't Wear Socks on a list of great read alouds at our library. Emily is a very serious girl but finds her silly side after several really silly encounters with a duck that wears socks, ties, and hats. I love reading this one and my kids love hearing it. Very sweet story. This one was a fast favorite and I've given it to several kids as gifts.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Eye'll Be Seeing You
Charlie scratched his cornea last week. It was awful. He’s never been so upset. He absolutely refused to open his eyes, but I did get him to giggle a little when I told him this story in the doctor's office. He made me tell it several times.
Once there was a little boy named Charlie. He was a good little boy and and liked to have lots of fun. One day though he wasn’t having any fun because he hurt his eye. His eye hurt really, really bad and he couldn’t even open it. He wouldn’t even open his eyes for ice cream or to watch Power Rangers. His eye hurt too bad. Finally, Charlie decided he had enough and said, “I’m tired of this hurting eye. I’m going to go get a new one.”
Monday, October 15, 2012
Frogs
Catherine was very excited to be assigned to help take care of the pet frogs in her class the very first week at school. She wears glasses and so I thought about what might happen if the class pets benefitted from glasses too!
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Catherine. She was very excited to be in first grade. She knew she would learn a lot in first grade. She liked her new teacher very much and was especially excited about the pet frogs in her class. Catherine was even assigned to care for the pet frogs the very first week.
One day when she was feeding the frogs, she heard a tiny voice. “Hey, down here. I have a question for you.” Catherine looked around and much to her surprise realized it was one of the frogs talking to her!
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Catherine. She was very excited to be in first grade. She knew she would learn a lot in first grade. She liked her new teacher very much and was especially excited about the pet frogs in her class. Catherine was even assigned to care for the pet frogs the very first week.
One day when she was feeding the frogs, she heard a tiny voice. “Hey, down here. I have a question for you.” Catherine looked around and much to her surprise realized it was one of the frogs talking to her!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Mess Monsters
Now that Charlie is three, he’s more interested in stories. His reactions are reminding me of Catherine’s initial joyful reactions to hearing stories made for her, except he wants his stories repeated immediately. He is really into fighting off pretend monsters so this was something I knew would work for him. Here’s hoping that I’ll get a cleaner house out of this story too!
Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Charlie. He lived with his mommy and daddy and his big sister Catherine. Charlie liked to play with Catherine. They had lots of fun together, but they made messes. They made a lot of messes. They tried to clean up, but it seemed that no matter how hard they tried, there were always lots of messes. This frustrated their mom who really liked to keep the house clean.
One day Charlie and Catherine were cleaning up when they noticed a tiny green critter run through the playroom. “Did you see that, Catherine?” Charlie asked.
Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Charlie. He lived with his mommy and daddy and his big sister Catherine. Charlie liked to play with Catherine. They had lots of fun together, but they made messes. They made a lot of messes. They tried to clean up, but it seemed that no matter how hard they tried, there were always lots of messes. This frustrated their mom who really liked to keep the house clean.
One day Charlie and Catherine were cleaning up when they noticed a tiny green critter run through the playroom. “Did you see that, Catherine?” Charlie asked.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Treasure Trading
We saw a rainbow in the sky one evening and so we had some leprechaun lore for bedtime!
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Catherine. She loved to play in the rain. She liked to splash in the puddles and taste the raindrops with her tongue. She also liked to look up in the sky to see if she could find a rainbow. One evening after the rain stopped and the rainbow came out, she noticed that the end of the rainbow was just one street over. Excitedly she ran to see if she could find the leprechaun and his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Much to her surprise she found the pot of gold!
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Catherine. She loved to play in the rain. She liked to splash in the puddles and taste the raindrops with her tongue. She also liked to look up in the sky to see if she could find a rainbow. One evening after the rain stopped and the rainbow came out, she noticed that the end of the rainbow was just one street over. Excitedly she ran to see if she could find the leprechaun and his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Much to her surprise she found the pot of gold!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Recommended Reading- Classic Tales
I started some of the “classics” with my children around age two. I love them and so do they. Kids who know classic fairy tales and other stories have a basic level of knowledge that at the very least makes watching Shrek a lot more fun! Your library might have a whole section devoted to these or if you would like to own some, here are some worth considering.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Monkey Business
My kids would love a dog. My sister-in-law likes to spoil the kids. The immediate unexpected answer to the request for a dog creates an interesting start. There are a lot of different scenarios that could unfold when a monkey arrives. This is how mine unfolded.
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Catherine and a little boy named Charlie. They really, really wanted a dog. Their mom said, “No, dogs are too messy.” Catherine and Charlie asked her their dad. He said, “A dog? No dogs! Dogs cost money.” So, Catherine and Charlie called their Aunt Theresa. Aunt Theresa thought a dog was a bad idea too. She said, “Your mom and dad are right about dogs. I’m sending you a monkey. Monkeys are a much better.”
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Catherine and a little boy named Charlie. They really, really wanted a dog. Their mom said, “No, dogs are too messy.” Catherine and Charlie asked her their dad. He said, “A dog? No dogs! Dogs cost money.” So, Catherine and Charlie called their Aunt Theresa. Aunt Theresa thought a dog was a bad idea too. She said, “Your mom and dad are right about dogs. I’m sending you a monkey. Monkeys are a much better.”
Monday, September 3, 2012
Light as a Feather
We had a balloon-themed birthday party this summer with friends. Here’s how it showed up in a bedtime story.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Catherine. She was very excited because she was going to celebrate her birthday with lots and lots of friends. Her mom and dad bought lots of balloons. Catherine’s dad handed her the balloons and all of a sudden, she floated high up into the air above the park.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Catherine. She was very excited because she was going to celebrate her birthday with lots and lots of friends. Her mom and dad bought lots of balloons. Catherine’s dad handed her the balloons and all of a sudden, she floated high up into the air above the park.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Sleeping Beauty and Prince Ralph
When I was teaching French using stories, warped fairy tales or familiar characters from fairy tales made for some fun lessons. I let the students be actors in the story. I had a small glass of water ready for this version of Sleeping Beauty. It was a huge hit every time. If you teach French and want a written version of this in French, leave me a comment and I will send it to you. This could easily be personalized to your child by making her the princess or making him a different prince that figures out a clever way to wake the princess.
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess. She lived far, far away in a grand castle. She wasn’t tired, but she slept all of the time. She had been sleeping for years. She slept so much because of a magic spell. The people of the kingdom called her Sleeping Beauty.
One day a prince was walking through the forest. This prince was handsome and strong, but unfortunately, he wasn’t very bright. In fact, he was pretty vain and stupid. When he saw the castle, he flung open the door to announce his presence. “Greetings, I am Prince Ralph. I have traveled from afar in search of a beautiful princess.” Nobody responded. The castle was silent.
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess. She lived far, far away in a grand castle. She wasn’t tired, but she slept all of the time. She had been sleeping for years. She slept so much because of a magic spell. The people of the kingdom called her Sleeping Beauty.
One day a prince was walking through the forest. This prince was handsome and strong, but unfortunately, he wasn’t very bright. In fact, he was pretty vain and stupid. When he saw the castle, he flung open the door to announce his presence. “Greetings, I am Prince Ralph. I have traveled from afar in search of a beautiful princess.” Nobody responded. The castle was silent.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Catherine's Dragon Tale
Like any kid, mine was hyper focused on her birthday. She got some great gifts, but nothing this cool!
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Catherine. She was very excited to celebrate her 6th birthday. She opened all of her presents. She got Barbie dolls, games, makeup, and art supplies. She thought she had opened up all of her gifts when she noticed a one shiny, tiny box left. She carefully opened the box and pulled out a necklace with a beautiful, red jewel. On the jewel were the words: disappear, fly, and speak.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Catherine. She was very excited to celebrate her 6th birthday. She opened all of her presents. She got Barbie dolls, games, makeup, and art supplies. She thought she had opened up all of her gifts when she noticed a one shiny, tiny box left. She carefully opened the box and pulled out a necklace with a beautiful, red jewel. On the jewel were the words: disappear, fly, and speak.
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