Yes, Let's

With this weekend being the "unofficial" end to summer I think it is only appropriate to share a book about a favorite summertime activity... hiking!  Summer and fall are the perfect times to get out into nature and do some hiking, just like the family does in the book, Yes, Let's.

Using a rhyming text, Yes, Let's tells the story of a family who wakes up early, loads up the station wagon and heads out of town, into the forest, to spend a day hiking.  What is great about the day is that they don't just hike, the swim, build dams, make boats and relax.  They are truly spending a day together as a family.  No phones or tablets, just family and nature.  I really like the pictures in this book.  Even though the words tell the story of a "perfect" family, who has a "perfect" time together in the woods, the pictures tell otherwise.  In the pictures you can see teenage daughter and mom arguing about wearing boots, mom is getting scared by a spider and brother is covered in mud.  The pictures tell the story of what really happens when you take your kids hiking.  But in the end the family enjoyed every minute of it, they don't want to leave and can't wait to go back.  This book perfectly sums up summer, long tired days, bug bites and scratches, getting annoyed by siblings but in the end you would do it all over again!

If you like to hike, or just want to make some memories with your family, Louisville has so many great places to check out:

The Parklands: Complete with a spray ground to cool off in after hiking.

Bernheim Forest: I especially like to walk through the fairy garden and edible garden.

Jefferson Memorial Forest: Offers programs for kids of all ages to help them explore nature.

Many area parks like Cherokee, Joe Creason, EP Tom Sawyer and Iroquois also have great hiking trails to explore.

Where is your favorite place to hike?

Happy Reading!
Laura

Hot Summer Days

On these hot summer days, when the humidity is about 100% and you begin to sweat as soon as you step outside, we will try anything to cool off.  I have a "cool" book recommendation for you to help ease the heat on these hot, hot days.

Nanook & Pryce Gone Fishing by Ned Crowley is the story of two boys who set out to go ice fishing.  Their chunk of ice breaks off and they set off on a journey around the globe.  The entire book is written in two-word, rhyming lines. When Nanook and Pryce come across a giant octopus the books reads, "Something rustles.  Something squirms.  Little tussle.  Out of worms.  The pictures shows a giant octopus under Nanook and Pryce's ice block that is stealing all of their fishing worms with one tentacle and snatching the dog with another.  The style that the book is written in is enjoyable to young children because it creates a great rhythm and cadence.  Also, the use of few words really allows children to gain meaning from pictures, which is how story telling and reading begins!

After cooling off by reading Nanook & Pryce Gone Fishing try having some fun with ice.  All you have to do is fill tupperware (I also used different shaped sand toys) with water and stick them in your freezer for a night.  I added small toys to the water for added fun.  When ready pop, the ice out of the containers and let your child go to town!  They can paint the ice, hold the ice, try to get the small toys out of the ice by using hot water or different tools.  No matter what they do with it they will stay cool,  have lots of fun and learn a thing or two about science!

What are some of your favorite things to do to stay cool?

Happy Reading!
Laura

Ice Cream.... YUM!

I don't know about you but when I think of summer, ice cream almost ALWAYS comes to mind.  There is something about that cool, sweet treat on a warm day that can make you forget all about how hot it is.

If you are an ice cream lover, like me, then you probably already knew that yesterday, July 20, was National Ice Cream Day!  If for some reason you missed it, don't worry Ronald Reagan designated the entire month of July National Ice Cream Month- so you still have 10 days to celebrate and enjoy.

I have a couple of suggestions of how to enjoy the last 10 days of National Ice Cream Month.  First, if you are in the Louisville Area, try out some of these local ice cream treats.  I am sure that they are all AMAZING!

Then, you need to have an ice cream themed read aloud.  Although there are several high quality books about ice cream for this occasion I am going to recommend Should I Share My Ice Cream?  by Mo Willems.

Should I Share My Ice Cream? is an Elephant and Piggie book, that will speak straight to any ice cream lovers' heart.  Gerald the elephant loves ice cream (what elephant doesn't right?) and is so excited when the ice cream man shows up that he buys a cone.  As he is preparing to devour his cone he remembers his best friend, Piggie and wonders if he should share his ice cream with her. Then the ever indecisive Gerald goes back and forth between sharing his ice cream and not sharing his ice cream until... his ice cream melts and drops on the floor.  He is beside himself with sadness.  Not only can he not share his ice cream with Piggie, but he can't even eat any ice cream.  In the words of Gerald he, "blew it." Piggie shows up and saves the day with another ice cream cone for the two to share, teaching us there is nothing better than sharing a yummy ice cream cone with your best friend on a hot day!

I hope you enjoy the rest of ice cream month as much as I will!

Happy Reading!
Laura