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Monday
13Apr2009

CREATIVE PLAY FOR YOUR TODDLER by Christopher Clouder & Janni Nicol

Click Image to Buy!Creative Play For Your Toddler
by Christopher Clouder and Janni Nicol
Octopus Publishing Group Ltd., 2008
128 pp.
ISBN: 978-1-85675-286-2

From the back cover:
This practical and informative book offers:

An expert summary of Steiner theory and practice for children aged 2-4

• Advice on helping your toddler develop through creative, imaginative play

• Simple step-by-step instructions for over 20 naturat home-made toys

Christopher Clouder is the CEO of the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship, UK and Ireland, and the CEO of the European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education. He is also co-founder and Director of the Alliance for Childhood.

Janni Nicol is the Early Childhood Representative of the Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship and is active internationally for Steiner Waldorf education. She is also an early childhood consultant, puppeteer and storyteller.

Alliance for Childhood works internationally to promote policies and practices that support children's healthy development, love of learning and joy in living.

Personal notes:
I really enjoyed the Creative Play book for babies, so I bought this one sight unseen. And it certainly has not disappointed. It seems a little bit more heavy on explaining the theory than the other book, but that's just fine with me. It's a pleasant read and the play ideas are really nice and really, REALLY easy to incorporate into your daily play. I'm really quite glad I bought this, because there are so many things to make with my child, so they're enriching in multiple ways.

The Toddler Perspective:
He loves to do crafts with me, so I think this will be a big hit. I'll be sure to post my results when we've made something!

DateMonday, April 13, 2009 at 08:43PM CommentPost a Comment |
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Monday
13Apr2009

KYUUTO! FUZZY FELTED FRIENDS by Saori Yamazaki

Click Image to Buy!Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Fuzzy Felted Friends
by Saori Yamazaki
Chronicle Books, 2008
80 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-8118-6066-6

From the inner cover:
Say hello to your new best pals. These felted friends hail from Japan-homeland of all things cute. Inside, you'll find over 25 translated patterns that combine the appeal of authentic Japanese content with the ease of English instruction.

Cheerful photographs, step-by-step directions, and helpful how-to illustrations make it easy to whip up both water- and needlefelted projects. There's no knitting involved; simply treat raw wool fibers with either a felting needle or water and detergent to create these little creatures. Cute and cuddly, they're also useful! An elephant cozy warms a tea kettle; a whimsical bird mobile adorns a nursery; wee mouse pincushions hold your needles; while piglets, giraffes, zebras, or sheep carry all your gear in handy totes and pouches. Practice with these projects and then adapt the techniques to design your own stable of felted friends.

Happy crafting!

Personal notes:
This little book was so adorable that I've already purchased my own copy. The instructions are so simple and cleanly illustrated and beautifully photographed. I'll make a lot of these patterns and can't wait to design my own items! I'm going to start small, of course, and try out the small mobile phone charms. I'll use them for something else, as I don't have a mobile phone, but I'll post pictures to my personal blog when they're finished.

The Toddler Perspective:
He's at a stage where he wants to hold anything that looks like an animal up to his face to kiss and cuddle. I think I'll make a little mouse for him!

DateMonday, April 13, 2009 at 07:25PM CommentPost a Comment |
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Saturday
21Mar2009

KIDS CAN KNIT by Carolyn Clewer

Click Image to Buy!Kids Can Knit
Carolyn Clewer
Quarto, 2003
pp. 128
ISBN: 0-7641-2718-7

From the back cover:
A 1,000-year-old hobby is just hitting the playground, and children can't learn it fast enough. It's knitting!

You can do it anywhere, and make almost anything. With our easy-to-read instructions and colorful illustrations, you'll be completing our projects before the school bell rings.

Follow the simple instructions to make woolly delights you'll be proud to show off to your friends: funny-face bags, scarves and belts, quick-knit sweaters, and fantastic flower pins! Starting with finger knitting, you'll learn how to use straight and circular needles, and work in all the stitches you'll ever need -while having lots of fun!

It's the latest, greatest craze. So don't get bored-get knitting!

Personal notes:
This is from the Barron's Educational Series. So, the photos are great and the instructions are good too. My favorite part is the section near the end where they suggest knitting with unconventional materials. There's a great, easy rag rug pattern for kids that would probably be really fun and quick to make. There are also some nice patterns for a play breakfast of eggs and sausage.

DateSaturday, March 21, 2009 at 01:37PM CommentPost a Comment |
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Saturday
07Mar2009

PRESCHOOL MATH by Bob Williams, Debra Cunningham, and Joy Lubawy

Click Image to Buy!Preschool Math
by Bob Williams, Debra Cunningham, and Joy Lubawy
Gryphon House, 2005
240 pp.
ISBN: 0876590008

From the back cover:
Imagine children learning math with Art Math, Body Math, Moving Math, Wet and Messy Math, and more. Children will love learning about math concepts with these 140 activities that bring math to life in the classroom.

Math is a part of everyday play, and the hands-on, playful experiences in Preschool Math will give children an understanding of basic math skills.

Chapters include: Art Math, Block Math, Body Math, Cooking Up Math, Moving Math, Outside Math, Small Group Math, Whole Group Math, and Wet and Messy Math.

Preschool Math is organized by curriculum area, making it easy to integrote the activities into daily plans. Preschool Math encourages teachers to use children's natural curiosity and interests with activities such as Eat the Odd One, Symmetrical Pizzo, and The Popsicle Stick Game. Each activity relates to the guidelines set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Preschool Math encourages exploration and introduces concepts that build a foundation for a lifetime of learning. Use Preschool Math to turn your classroom into a math playground!

Personal notes:
I picked up this book because one of the authors is a Montessori educator, so I knew there'd be some good Montessori-inspired stuff in here. This book is fantastic. The instructions are simple. Each activity tells you what you're teaching and how to tell if you've been successful. So you can focus on trouble areas and skip the parts that you know your child already knows.

And the materials are things you likely have on hand any way. And it's all just fun! So, you can just present the materials, explain what you want to do and go from there. You don't even have to tell the kid that he's learning.

These activities are designed for groups of preschoolers, but they can easily be adapted to homeschooling.

The Toddler Perspective:
He has no idea how much he likes this book. I just incorporate it into daily play and he seems to enjoy it!  And it's always led to unexpected homemade games.

DateSaturday, March 7, 2009 at 11:41PM CommentPost a Comment |
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Tuesday
24Feb2009

THE HAND-SCULPTED HOUSE by Evans, Smith, and Smiley

Click Image to Buy!The Hand-Sculpted House: A Practical and Philosophical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage
by Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith, and Linda Smiley
Illustrated by Deanne Bednar
Chelsea Green Publishing Company, 2002
346 pp.
ISBN: 1890132349

From the back cover:
You are holding a bible of radical simplicity.

A cob cottage is the ultimate expression of ecological design. Made of the oldest, most available materials imaginable -- earth, clay, sand, straw, and water -- cob house are not only compatible with their surroundings, they ARE their surroundings, literally rising up from the earth. They are light, energy-efficient, and cozy, with curved walls and built-in, whimsical touches. They are delightful. They are ecstatic.

Personal notes:
This book covers so much material and gives so much valuable information. It's heavily illustrated and full of photographs, too. It's an incredibly inspirational little book to have on your shelf. We can't wait to put this book into use. We just need some land of our own!

The Husband's Perspective:
He's the one who bought this book! He loves the houses inside and the idea of making a home from the ground up.

DateTuesday, February 24, 2009 at 04:52PM CommentPost a Comment |
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