My Little Round House ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

My Little Round House
by Bolormaa Baasansuren
adapted by Helen Mixter
(Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, 2006/2009)

My Little Round House is the story of a young boy who was born in Mongolia. Jilu lived in a nomadic community that traveled to new places in the different seasons.

Little Jilu remembers his first round house - his mothers' stomach. After he was convinced to come out by his father, Jilu begins to appreciate the round house of his family, or ger, with its round circle of sky blue in the roof. The story of Jilu and his round ger is enchanting as it weaves the seasons of life in pictures and words. Baby lambs lived in the ger to be fed by Jilu and his grandmother. Spring brought dumplings and fermented milk for meals and warmth after winter snows.

Reading My Little Round House made me want to live in a ger!

Summer, autumn, winter, spring, and summer again bring Jilu to his birthday. Jilu plays with animals and friends, running free in the summer green grass. Jilu loves the blue sky overhead, which reminds him of the sky blue circle in the roof of his ger, his home.

My Little Round House shows a different life than the one we are accustomed to in America. Readers will be enthralled to see how a small boy in a different country lives his life in a ger.

KID KANDY:

Make a Round Home

Materials: sticks, rocks, fabric scraps, string, tape, toy people figures

Look at the pictures of the ger to see how it is shaped and formed. Use the sticks to make a round structure, anchoring the sticks in the dirt to make them stable. Rocks, tape, and string can help hold your ger together. Cover the ger with fabric pieces. Let your toy people figures live in the ger. Add toy animals and other natural materials to your community.

Did you make a circle in the ger rooftop? Is there a door? What do you like about a round ger? Would you like to live there? Why?

***I have the hardest time trying to get good pictures of the library books that are covered in plastic! I apologize for the quality of photos, but I do want you to be able to see the cover.

A Single Pebble, A Story of the Silk Road ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

A Single Pebble, A Story of the Silk Road
by Bonnie Christensen
(A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Book Press; 2013)

A Single Pebble, A Story of the Silk Road is the delightful tale of a young girl who sends a small pebble with her father when he goes to trade their silk at the market. Mei desired that the pebble travel to the end of the trade road, but father did not go that far.

With childlike trust, Mei knew her father would find a way to send the pebble on its way to a child at the other end of the road.

And just like that, the jade-colored pebble was on its way, passed from hand to hand to the journey's end. Finally, the single pebble arrived at the end of the line when a pirate delivered the pebble to his son.

Readers will learn about the history of the Silk Road during the 9th century. Colorful illustrations and interesting characters will inform and engage readers of all ages. But don't imagine that this picture book reads like a history book. The story found in A Single Pebble, A Story of the Silk Road is captivating.

KID KANDY:

Treasures

Mei sent her treasure, a beautiful pebble, to travel with others in a journey that she could not yet make. Mei wanted to give her pebble to a child at the end of the road.

What treasures do you have? Do you collect something (rocks, cars, dolls, stickers, or other things)?

Assignment: Go find beautiful pebbles.

1. Beaches are a wonderful place to find pretty rocks. River beds and streams are another great place to search for treasure.

2. Choose your favorite pebble. Do you have company or relatives visiting this summer? Give one of them the pebble and ask that the traveler give the pebble to a child at the end of the road.

3. Keep collecting pebble treasures. When you get the opportunity, send one of your treasures on a journey to the end of a new road.

Deep in the Sahara ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Deep in the Sahara
Written by Kelly Cunnane
Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi
(Schwartz & Wade Books, 2013)

Do you ever wonder what it is like to live in the Sahara? How it feels to wear a malafa and keep covered from head to toe? To want to be like the grown-ups but you can't?

Deep in the Sahara is a book about a girl named Lalla who desperately admires older girls and women who are beautifully arrayed in colorful malafas. Lalla observes and talks to different members of her family to gain the true understanding of the purpose of a malafa as readers learn about life deep in the Sahara. And surprise, once she realizes all of the purposes of a malafa, her mother gives her one as blue as the Sahara sky.

Deep in the Sahara is a beautiful book for those who love to learn about other cultures and faiths. Readers will learn through both the story and the gorgeous illustrations.

KID KANDY:

Paint a Colorful Picture

Hoda Hadadi used bright colors in her illustrations of Deep in the Sahara. The results are peaceful, informative, heat-evocative drawings of life in a hot desert area.

Materials: thick paper, watercolor or acrylic paints, brushes, apron, pencils, erasers

1. Consider what you would like to paint.

2. Sketch an outline with a pencil. This will help you feel the scope of the paper and shape of what you are painting.

3. Choose your colors and paint your picture. You may have to let certain areas or colors dry before you can complete your painting.

4. Stand back. Did you forget anything? Want to add something?

5. Display your colorful artwork.

6. Do another painting.

Do you enjoy painting and art? Maybe one day you will grow up to become an illustrator or artist. Wouldn't that be fun?

What Will You Be, Sara Mee? ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

What Will You Be, Sara Mee?
By Kate Aver Avraham
Illustrated by Anne Sibley O'Brien
(Charlesbridge, 2010)

What Will You Be, Sara Mee? is a story about Sara Mee and her brother. Sara Mee is celebrating her first birthday. In Korea, babies who turn one have a tol, or the first-birthday celebration that includes many guests, gifts, and the ritual event of the toljabee.

Toljabee is a prophecy game where items symbolizing different careers are placed in front of the child. Whichever item the baby chooses first supposedly indicates what he or she will become when he or she grows up.

Sara Mee celebrates with her older brother, who helps with the toljabee.

What Will You Be, Sara Mee? teaches readers a little about cultural practices in Korea. Sara Mee lives in America with her family, but the family still enjoys Korean traditions.

If you want to learn about other cultures, and maybe about some of your own neighbors, What Will You Be, Sara Mee? is a good place to begin.

KID KANDY:

What tradition does your family have?

~ Think about the things you like to do with your family.

~ What is one thing you do the same, every year, week, month, or holiday? Is that your family tradition?

~ Choose one family tradition. How did it begin? What does it mean? Did other generations have the same tradition or is it new for your family? What do you like about the tradition?

~ Think about What Will You Be, Sara Mee? What did you find interesting about the toljabee? What was different to you? What was the same?


Traditions are often passed down from parents to children to grandchildren. Families, cultures, and countries have different traditions. But the important thing is that celebrated traditions help us become who we are and understand our family.

And it is so much fun to learn about other traditions, isn't it?

We Are All Alike . . . We Are All Different ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

We Are All Alike . . . We Are All Different
Written and illustrated by the Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners
Photographs by Laura Dwight
(Scholastic, Inc., 1991)

We Are All Alike . . . We Are All Different is a wonderful book that explores the sameness and differentness of all of us.

Written by kindergartners (!), this book allows each person to be both unique and the same. The artwork and simple text are perfect for readers. The added photographs include a wide variety of diverse individuals. You will be pleased to see many ethnic groups and family combinations in We Are All Alike . . . We Are All Different.

And it's okay.

KID KANDY:

Crayon Resist Painting

Many of the illustrations were made by painting over crayon drawings with watercolor paints.

1. Draw pictures of your family members with crayons.

2. Use watercolors to paint the figures and background.

3. Dry and display the paintings.

4. Discuss your family. How are you alike? How are you different?

Foster the ability of your child to allow others to be different and okay at the same time. We are all different! We are all alike!


Thanks for reading and sharing!

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The Beckoning Cat - Picture Book & KID KANDY

The Beckoning Cat, Based on a Japanese Folktale
By Koko Nishizuka
Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger
(Holiday House, 2009)

Have you seen a beckoning cat?

I have, in several shops and restaurants. I've always wondered what they were for. What is the symbolism and the story that goes along with these cats with waving paws?

The Beckoning Cat, Based on a Japanese Folktale, is the best place to go to find out about those cheerful looking cats.

Yohei was a young boy who goes to the port each morning to buy fish to sell. He was very poor, but worked hard to find buyers for the fish that rested in buckets on both ends of a pole placed across his shoulder.

One rainy evening, a muddy kitty showed up at his door. Yohei fed the stray with as much of his meager food as he could. The next day it was gone.

Yohei's father came down ill with a high fever. Yohei was forced to go home and care for his sick dad instead of selling the fish in his buckets. He wished he could do both, as they desperately needed the money to survive.

Mysteriously, people started knocking on Yoshei's door. They wanted to buy fish. Who told them where to go? It was the beckoning cat, sitting by the door, waving her paw to garner attention.

This adorable story continues on with the story of Yoshei, his father, and the cat, who helped Yoshei sell enough fish to buy strong medicine for his father.

Now the beckoning cat is seen as a good-luck symbol. Many merchants put them in their windows or at cash registers. Now do you recall seeing a beckoning cat?

KID KANDY:

Go on a Beckoning Cat Hunt

~ Search online to learn more about beckoning cats.

~ Visit a Japanese or Asian restaurant for lunch or dinner. Is there a beckoning cat?

~ If you find a shop or restaurant with a beckoning cat, ask the owners or servers to tell about the cat. Is their story like the one found in The Beckoning Cat, Based on a Japanese Folktale?

~ Make your own beckoning cat with construction paper, scissors, markers, and a brad. Cut out the cat, making it's arm separate. Attach the waving arm to the side of the cat with a brad so you can move it back and forth. What does your beckoning cat wave at?


Thanks for reading and sharing. Have a wonderful day!

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.

What Is Your Language? - Picture Book & KID KANDY

What Is Your Language?
Song by Debra Leventhal
Pictures by Monica Wellington
(Scholastic Inc., 1999)

Musical notes are included for this book you can sing. If you can't play a piano, don't let that stop you. One can enjoy reading the book aloud just as much.

What Is Your Language? is the story of a little boy who goes on a long trip around the world to meet new friends. At each stop, he asks his new friends to tell him their language. The friends, dressed in simplified traditional clothes, answer the boy and use the word for 'yes' in their own language. After many stops and new friends, the boy must return home. Now all of the friends respond with 'no' in their language, "Don't go!"

Of course, the boy has to go home. But the reader can tell how much he learned on his international journey just by looking at his room.

What Is Your Language? is a simple and fun language book. Though readers will only learn yes and no in several different languages, they will see clothing and some of the attractions from each country the boy visits. The last page of the book gives a pronunciation guide and tells a little about languages around the world (for adults or older readers).

What Is Your Language? is a great book to introduce young children to different languages and new friends that live around the world.

KID KANDY:

Adopt a Country!

~ Let your child choose a country about which he or she is interested. Adopt it!

~ Check out library books to read more about your country.

~ Search online for tourist sites featuring your country. Find language links that let you listen to the spoken language of the country. Listen and practice some words.

~ Go out to dinner at a restaurant that serves foods from your country.

~ Collect dress-up clothes that look like traditional clothes from your country. Play dress-up.

~ Adults: Start a Pinterest board about your country. Search for pins and pin them to the board. This is a great source of images specific to countries. Show the board to your child.

~ Enjoy learning about other countries and people.

Angie Quantrell likes to use Pinterest to collect ideas and images from other countries. A few simple clicks and it's almost like you are visiting in person. Almost. Maybe she needs to prepare some of the traditional foods so it will also taste like she is visiting.

Wacky Wednesday - Around the World: An Amazing World (3-D) - Picture Book & KID KANDY

Around the World: An Amazing World, Photos in 3-D!
Written by Heather E. Schwartz & Tammi Salzano
Designed by Flora Chan
(Scholastic Inc., 2009)

Wacky Wednesday brings you 3-D fun!

Love to travel? See the sights? Learn a little bit about a new place? Wear funny glasses to improve the view?

Around the World: An Amazing World, Photos in 3-D! is the perfect book for you. Don 3-D glasses (included) and check out world famous international landmarks. This book includes a bit of history about each location, trivia, and tells where in the world each is found. 22 amazing attractions are included in this 48-page book. That should amuse and educate almost anyone.

Travel bugs, this is for you!

KID KANDY:

Time for a Visit

Younger children will enjoy looking at illustrations with the 3-D glasses. Older children will love the ease of internet connections to the live sites.

~ Let each child choose his or her favorite landmark.

~ Search online and find videos or additional images for your child's favorite locations.

~ Pretend you are going on a trip. What will you pack? What will you eat? See? Do?

~ Maybe, just maybe, you can go on a real adventure and visit those spectacular sites. It's worth a bucket list wish, right?

Angie Quantrell loves dreaming about traveling to different bucket list locations. Finding pictures and videos online are the next best thing to actually going in person. Maybe one day. Wanna go?