What Is Part This, Part That? ~ Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

What Is Part This, Part That?
By Harriet Ziefert
Illustrations by Tom Slaughter
(Blue Apple Books, 2013)

What Is Part This, Part That? is part rhyme, part language, part literacy. Ziefert shows readers how to look at the same object from different points of view. The glass is part empty, or is it part full?

I love this book! Readers will be engaged to figure out the opposite of each object. The illustrations are bold and simple. Fold out flaps, cut-outs, and other features make this a fun book to read. The last part of the book is a long list of both parts of something - and the reader gets to guess what the object is from the two parts.

Kids will learn, read, and enjoy. I even had fun reading this clever book.

KID KANDY:

Figure Out the Object from Both Parts

On the very last page of What Is Part This, Part That?, Harriet Ziefert gives a big list of two parts for something. How many can you figure out by just knowing the parts?

Challenge: Make up your own part this, part that list. Try them on your family or friends at school.

Hint: Brainstorm some compound words (treehouse, catbird, ladybug). Use them to make your own what is part this, part that?

Fire Truck ~ Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

Fire Truck
By Peter Sis
(Scholastic Inc., 1998)

Matt loves fire trucks. In fact, he adores them so much, that all he says is "fire truck." One day, Matt woke up and guess what? He was a fire truck!

Fire Truck is a creative and terrific picture book about a boy who becomes what he loves - a fire truck. Matt drove all around rescuing and putting out fires - until he smelled breakfast.

Preschoolers will enjoy Matt and his adventures. The illustration of Matt as a fire truck is a fold-out page with lots of things for counting. Introduce your littles to Fire Truck. See how they can use their imagination.

KID KANDY:

Use Your Imagination

Matt imagines he becomes a fire truck. Encourage your child to use the same type of imagination.

~ What is your child interested in?

~ Is there a thing, activity, or subject that is the most favorite?

~ Let your child choose his or her most important thing. Talk about the favorite (trucks, dolls, ballerinas, cats, horses, and so on).

~ Encourage your child to move like the chosen thing - leaping, flying (flapping arms), driving, dancing.

~ Join in the imaginative play. Pretend to turn into your favorite thing. No, a cup of coffee is not very exciting. Maybe a hiker or motorcycle would be fun. But not a donut or latte.

Playing together is a great way to spend quality time together. Turn off the tech and turn on the connection with imagination and you.

One Child, One Seed, A South African Counting Book - Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

One Child, One Seed, A South African Counting Book
Written by Kathryn Cave
Photographs by Gisele Wulfsohn
(Henry Holt and Company, 2002)

One Child, One Seed, A South African Counting Book is a beautifully photographed counting book based on children, families, and people in South Africa.

Nothando lives in South Africa with her aunt and grandmother. The story tells the tale of Nothando planting a pumpkin seed. Each subsequent page continues counting higher and higher and show many scenes in South Africa. Sidebars tell more about the lives of Nothando, her family, and her friends.

One Child, One Seed, A South African Counting Book is filled with interesting cultural information. A pumpkin seed graph, numbers, and number words are features in this picture book. Children who are learning to count will enjoy this book. Anyone who wants to learn more about other countries and the lives of other children will learn much from reading One Child, One Seed, A South African Counting Book.

KID KANDY:

Make a seed graph.

1. Find some seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, or other large seeds).

2. Print numbers 1-10 down the left side of a piece of paper.

3. Print the number words (or ask a parent or older sibling to help you) beside each number.

4. Place the correct number of seeds in a row beside each number.

5. Read your graph! Count the seeds, read the number words, and have fun sharing your graph.

Previously ~ Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

Previously
Written by Allan Ahlberg
Illustrated by Bruce Ingman
(Candlewick Press, 2007)

Previously is one of those picture books that make you think. First, one has to figure out what the title means. Previously means just that. What happened previously?

Previously picks up where Goldilocks and the Three Bears ended. Goldilocks arrived home hot and sweaty. Because, previously she had been running in the woods. Because, previously she had climbed out of someone's window.

The previous events continue to go backwards in time. Previously also takes the main fairy tales and shows what happened previously, right before the fairy tale happened. Backwards, backwards, backwards in time and events, several stories are thought about in a different context. The why's of the stories make for very interesting reading! Though I was confused at first, I truly enjoyed the connections built between the different tales, all in the form of previously.

Previously would be a great book to read after a round of fairy tales. It is the perfect book to encourage readers to think deeper and more outside the box about characters, stories, and even real life events.

Previously, the cat was helping me read the paper, leaving a worm and mud as evidence. Previously, she had been outside where she spied something to attack. The worm, who previously had been happily eating dirt and assorted stuff, was thinking about his Aunt Fanny . . .

KID KANDY:

Think Backwards

Choose an event - birthday, holiday, vacation trip

Start discussing the event by going backwards in time. Discuss what previously occurred. Make fun connections with others at the same event and what they had been doing previously. Use the phrase, "Previously, (fill in the blank)."

Provide paper and crayons. Draw a picture of one of the previous happenings in your tale.


Previously, I was sipping tea.

The Lottie and Annie Upside-Down Book ~ Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

The Lottie and Annie Upside Down Book
By Cara Lynn Vogel
Illustrated by Loretta B. Adkins
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2003)

Today's Terrific Tuesday book is a wonderful book about two inspiring women. Similar to those dolls that you flip over and turn the skirts to see a different doll (one on each end, two total), The Lottie and Annie Upside Down Book features Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon in the same book. Without the skirt flipping.

Readers do need to flip the book over after they finish reading about Annie's life of caring and telling about Jesus. After the book is flipped, one can then learn about Lottie Moon, a missionary who gave her life to tell about Jesus in China.

A Christian biography, The Lottie and Annie Upside Down Book, inspires readers and offers ways they can care about and help others and tell about Jesus. This book would be great for anyone who loves to read and learn about the lives of different people.

KID KANDY:

Help Someone

Both Annie and Lottie found creative ways to help others in need.

Look around you. Who do you see that has a need for special help or supplies? Brainstorm and find a way to help.

Neighbors? Family? Friends? Someone at school or church? Someone in your community? Maybe there is someone who needs help that you read about in the newspaper or heard about on TV. Let the Lord guide you to choose the one who needs your help right now.

Always ask a parent or adult to help you find the right person or situation to help. I know they would love to help you!

Some ideas (though the situation you are thinking about may have special needs and you will have to be wise to figure the best way to offer help):

bake cookies
gather diapers and baby supplies
give money
deliver food
help with yard work
collect books
ask neighbors for baby and kids clothes
sit and visit
invite to church
take out the trash
give flowers
send a card
make a phone call and chat


Happy Helping!

Sing to the Tune - Terrific Tuesday Books You Can Sing & KID KANDY

Sing to the Tune
Compiled by Joye Smith and Rhonda Robbins-Reeves
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2009)

Piggyback songs. Have you heard the term?

A piggyback song is a song with new words that is created by using the tune of a very familiar song. The new song piggybacks on the previously known melody. This type of song is very easy to adjust to whatever theme, situation, or content that is necessary. Piggyback songs are usually very short and very simple. These songs are perfect for those who work with or have children.

Sing to the Tune is a compilation of piggyback songs that have been made-up by Mission Friends teachers and writers over the course of several years. The songs are divided into the Christian concept areas of God's Creation, God, Jesus, Bible, Church, Family, Self, Community, and World. Cleanup and transition songs as well as finger plays, rhymes, and action songs are included in Sing to the Tune. The wonderful index makes it very easy to look for the songs you would like to use.

I bet you've already made-up your own piggyback songs. Fun times for fun kids.

KID KANDY:

Sing a Song, Make Up Your Own Song

~ Choose a familiar song. "Happy Birthday" is a favorite. Or try "Are You Sleeping?"

~ Sing the old song. Hum the tune.

~ What type of song do you and your child want to make-up? Dogs? Cats? Farms? Babies?

~ Play around with words and make up a few phrases that follow the melody and rhythm of the base song.

~ Sing your new song. Share it with the family.


Here's an example.

Tune: "Are You Sleeping?"

Theme: cats

Cats are meowing,
Cats are climbing,
I hug cats. I love cats.
Do you see them racing?
Do you hear them purring?
Soft, soft, cats.
Furry, furry, cats.

See? Easy and fun.

Remember, word games help a child develop language and literacy skills. Have a go!

Maple & Willow Together - Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

Maple & Willow Together
By Lori Nichols
(Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014)

Maple & Willow Together is the story of two sisters who did everything together. Maple and Willow even had their own language.

But alas, they did not always agree on the right way to do things. One day, the sisters got into a fight, disagreeing and acting out. They did not want to see each other again.

It only took a short while for the separated girls to decide that they did indeed want to spend all their time together again.

I love the names Maple and Willow. I love how the story allows the sisters to spend lots of free time playing outdoors. I think the illustrations are adorable.

Maple & Willow Together will help readers to see that it's okay to spend time together AND do different things.


KID KANDY:

Build a Fairy House

Materials: nature items such as pebbles, sticks, leaves, acorns, flowers, and pinecones

Find a spot where you want to build a fairy house. Use whatever you can find in your backyard (or park, forest, meadow, playground) to use as building materials. A fairy house can be flat on the ground or built up tall propped between rocks or tree branches. Maybe you want to build a fairy house in a hole or under a tree root or beneath a flower bush. Any place will be perfect for your fairy house.

Have fun!

Do you see any place to build a fairy house in the above pictures?

Molly's Adventures in Missions - Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

Molly's Adventures in Missions
Written by Joye Smith
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2009)

Molly's Adventures in Missions is a wonderful book that tells the story of Molly as she goes on her first missions trip. Molly learns about passports, trip preparation, and many of the things mission teams do when they go on missions trips in America and overseas. Molly is super excited to help others.

Molly's Adventures in Missions is the perfect book to read when you want to prepare your child to go on a missions trip. It can also be read to help your child understand what volunteer missionaries do on trips. I love how Joye Smith described the different ways we can help others - by going on trips ourselves or by supplying prayer, resources, and finances for others to go.

A missions lifestyle is embraced by Molly in this book. Just reading it makes me want to pack up and go!


KID KANDY:

Help a Missions Team

1. Find out who in your church is going on a missions trip.

2. Volunteer to help prepare for the trip. With your family, you can: gather supplies needed during the trip, collect items that will be given to help others (health items, baby things, etc.), give money to help pay for expenses, or help put together kits and materials.

3. Pray for the team member(s). Get specific prayer needs and post them at home. Let your child help you pray.

4. Get ready to hear all about the trip when they get back!


Maybe you and your family can go on a missions trip! You might have to wait for a few years, but that's ok. You can adopt a ministry in your city and do your own missions trips until everyone is old enough to go.

Or check out Familyfest, a missions experience geared towards families and children. Go to www.wmu.com/ and look under ministries to find out more.

And when you go, be sure to take Molly with you! She loves missions trips.

Molly traveled to France with us.

Terrific Tuesday - Linnea in Monet's Garden - Picture Book & KID KANDY

Linnea in Monet's Garden
Written by Christina Bjork
Drawings by Lena Anderson
(R & S Books, 1985)

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, when all wear green, I would like to share a book about a green space - Linnea in Monet's Garden.

Claude Monet is one of my favorite artists. My husband and I were blessed to visit Monet's home and gardens outside of Paris when we spent some time in France. I was in love, following the meandering pathways, admiring the gorgeous flower gardens, touring his home, and snapping photos like a crazy woman. Perhaps I was crazy. It's not every day one gets to view the inspiration for so many wonderful works of art.

Linnea and Mr. Bloom, a former gardener, embark on a journey to travel to Monet's home and gardens. Linnea in Monet's Garden is a wonderful book. It's part history, part speculation, part art lesson, part nature lesson, and even a gardening book of sorts. Giverny is beautifully represented as Mr. Bloom and Linnea explore, paint, have a picnic, and enjoy an outing worthy of a bucket list dream.

This book is perfect for those ready to visit France during summer break. It is also just as good for those who cannot go, but want to learn and maybe someday take a long trip to visit Monet's Giverny.

KID KANDY:

Paint a Garden or Visit a Garden

Dig out acrylic or watercolor paints. Help your child secure heavy paper to a clipboard or table. Study flowers, trees, rocks, or bushes to see the lines, colors, and shapes. Let your child experiment with ways to capture nature on paper. You could even join in the fun!

Visit a garden! Many larger cities have public gardens or arboretums. Pack a picnic and take your child on an outing such as the one Linnea went on with Mr. Bloom. Cameras are great for recording the beauty (and images can be used later for painting practice). Make sure your child gets a chance to take some shots of the nature at its best.

Angie Quantrell loves gardens and gardening. She dreams of visiting other fabulous gardens where weeds do not belong to her and beauty is a feast for the eyes.

Terrific Tuesday - Let's Learn About . . . - Picture Book & KID KANDY

Let's Learn About . . .
Written by Angie Quantrell
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2012)

In the world of Christian education, there are 9 concept areas that encompass all of the things that preschoolers need to explore and learn about. Those areas, while mainly guidance for teachers, leaders, parents, and grandparents, are also good for preschoolers and young children to start labeling as they experience activities in each concept area.

Let's Learn About . . . is a book about concept areas for preschoolers. God, Jesus, Bible, Church, Self, Family, God's Creation, World, and Community are the nine areas.

Molly and Mikey, preschoolers who love learning about missions and going to church, go on a journey to learn about each of the concept areas. Miss Goodwin, their teacher, engages them in discussions and activities that are perfect for exploring in a hands' on way. Which, by the way, is the most perfect way for young children to learn. (Personally, this old child - myself - best learns through actually doing activities as well!)

Miss Goodwin also shares a note to parents, Bible thoughts for preschoolers, and one activity for each concept area.

The 9 concept areas are the building blocks of Christian education for preschoolers. Mission Friends, an age level organization for preschoolers, is the perfect place to use Let's Learn About . . . But any gathering of preschoolers would benefit from the focus on these foundational concept areas.

If ever you need to know which things to focus on when you are teaching your child, or a group of littles, Let's Learn About . . . will show you the way and give you ideas.


KID KANDY:

Make Your Own Let's Learn About . . . Chart

1. Draw a chart with nine columns on poster board.

2. Print the name of one concept area at the top of each column. Let your child decorate the chart with markers and stickers.

3. Plan an activity for each area (not all at once, of course, but spread out through a month or six months or a year).

4. Each time you do an activity that ties in with one area, put a sticky note or star in the corresponding column.

5. Make a goal to do something in each area.

6. Start again!


Read Let's Learn About . . . for more ideas and explanations of Christian concept areas.

To order:

Call: 1-800-968-7301
Online: www.wmustore.com; Go to Age Levels: Go to Preschool: Go to Books

Thank you! I offer my most humble thanks and blessings to you.


Angie Quantrell loves working with preschoolers and young children. They say the most interesting things and have a zest for life. With children, anything can be fun if you are willing to be a little crazy!

Terrific Tuesday - I Can Do It! - Picture Book + KID KANDY

I Can Do It!
Written by Angie Quantrell
Illustrated by Cathy Lollar
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2003)

I Can Do It! is the partner book I wrote as I was writing I Can Give (featured last week on Terrific Tuesday). Both books turned out beautiful, but I seem to remember some mental chaos along the line.

I Can Do It! is a story about Meiying and her family. Meiying is Chinese American. Illustrations and language features reflect Chinese heritage and language. I love the Chinese characters running down the sides of the pages. They are amazing.

I Can Do It! is a story about the many things Meiying can do to learn about and do missions. Missions include things like helping, loving, sharing, telling about Jesus, and more. Meiying loves interacting with her family, church, and community. She shows how even preschoolers can be on mission with Jesus.

Missions activities, a note to parents, Bible thoughts for preschoolers, and suggested Bible readings for adults are included in I Can Do It!

I'm very proud of I Can Do It! and think it is a wonderful book for preschoolers. Cathy Lollar did a fabulous job illustrating I Can Do It! I hope you think so, too.

KID KANDY:

One activity Meiying helps with is collecting food for the hungry. Here are some ways to gather and give food with your child.

~ Go shopping together. Let your child choose several items to give.

~ Go shopping in your cupboard. Help pick out healthy food items to give.

~ Coupon together. Let your child be in charge of handing coupons to the cashier. Use the money you save to buy food or donate to a program that feeds the hungry.

~ If you participate in a specific program, make up a flyer and go door-to-door with your child to ask neighbors for help in feeding the hungry.

Be sure and say thank you!

Where can we give the food we collect?

~ Homeless shelter

~ Women and children's shelter

~ Church hunger ministry

~ Community collection site

~ School outreach programs (like weekend backpacks of food)

Angie Quantrell loves picture books with great illustrations, lots of color, and fun features like language phrases. She enjoys teaching boys and girls about missions.

I Can Do It! is available through Woman's Missionary Union:

Phone: 1-800-968-7301
Online: www.wmustore.com (Go to age levels, preschoolers, and then books)

Jesus Loves Me - Books You Can Sing - Terrific Tuesday Book & Activity

Jesus Loves Me
Pictures by Hector Borlasca
(Zonderkidz, 2008)

The Terrific Tuesday book is Jesus Loves Me, a book you can read and sing. And if you are one of the fortunate and gifted ones, sheet music is included, so you can play along on a piano.

This version of Jesus Loves Me shares about five different verses. Jesus wears His usual robe, facial hair, and long hair. The children in the book, however, are modern boys and girls who hang out with Jesus at the playground, park, and beach. Pretty fun illustrations.

KID KANDY:

Make a Jesus Valentine!

1. Cut a large heart from pink cardstock.

2. Trace the heart onto patterned scrapping paper. Cut it out and glue it to the back of the cardstock heart.

3. Punch holes around the edge of the heart (about 1 inch apart).

4. Cut a long piece of yarn. Tie one end through the hole at the top of the heart (the center dip part). Wrap masking tape around the opposite end to create a safe needle. This is my favorite needle for kids. It also keeps the yarn from fraying.

5. Help lace around the heart. Tie a knot with both ends of yarn and make a hanging loop. Trim off excess.

6. Print a Bible thought or verse in the center of the pink heart. A good one is Jesus loves you (see John 15:12).

7. Decorate around the verse with markers, stickers, rubber stamps, decorative tape, buttons - whatever craft materials you have on hand. Dry.

Now you have a Jesus Valentine!

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Angie Quantrell loves reading and singing books. One can never have too many books. Just not enough shelves.

I Can Pray - Terrific Tuesday Picture Book & Activity

I Can Pray
By Angie Quantrell
Illustrated by Clay Allison
(Woman's Missionary Union, 2000)

I Can Pray is my very first published children's picture book.

I remember the challenge and excitement of writing, editing, and watching this book come to life. When my author's copies arrived in the mail, oh, that was one perfect day! It still fills me with joy to see what the Lord has done in my life.

Abby is a young girl who lives with her mom and day. Change is coming her way (check out the way mom's tummy grows), but Abby is not worried. With the different people in her life, Abby experiences many different ways to pray, places to pray, and things for which to pray.

Prayer is the theme of the book. Simple sentences are written for the youngest of preschoolers to enjoy, while a longer and more involved storyline takes place for older preschoolers and children. I Can Pray concludes with suggestions for parents and activities for preschoolers and their parents.

I Can Pray is one of my favorite books!

KID KANDY:

~ Prayer Journal
Prayer journals are all the rage. Create a simple prayer journal by posting a pretty wall calendar on a wall.

Dedicate a special time each day to pray a short prayer with your child. Jot down a sentence prayer (simple drawings are perfect for young preschoolers) inside the box for each day. Let your child offer sentence prayers and record those. Allow him or her to notice empty squares.

Make it a goal to check back and see which prayers have been answered. Your child can color that square with a highlighter. Prayer is answered!

~ Prayer Jar
Print the names of family and friends on wooden craft sticks and store them in a jar. Each day, during your prayer time, let your child choose a stick. Say sentence prayers for that person. Keep the stick out until all have been prayed for. Return sticks back to the jar and start again.


I Can Pray is available at www.wmustore.com under the Age Level Resources (preschool) tab. Or call 1-800-968-7301.

Angie Quantrell loves to dream up and write books for preschoolers and children.

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