Category : Tips
Posted in Tips on December 12, 2011
Over the past few posts, I have been sharing some of my favorite books (that come in a series). These are books that were in constant rotation in my classes. When I volunteer in the elementary school library, these are the books that get checked out before we have even put them back on the shelves. Last week, I shared favorite books for PreK children, toddlers, and babies and favorite books for elementary school students. Today, I share favorite books for middle school and high school students. I am not going to lie…I have read each and every book on this list and enjoyed pretty much all of them! I recommend that you read along (or read the book before) with your children. Only you as the parent can decide what is and isn’t appropriate for your children.
Middle School
Brian’s Saga Series by Gary Paulsen is about a 13 year old’s survival after his plane crashed. The first book in the series, Hachet, is a Newbery Honor book. Other books in the series: The River; Brian’s Winter; Brian’s Return and Brian’s Hunt.
Inheritance Cycle Series by Christopher Paolini begins with the book Eragon. Eragon is a fifteen year old who finds out that he is to be a Dragon Rider. Eragon was recently made into a movie as many of the books on the high school and middle school list. Other books in the series: Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance.
Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson is about a fourteen year old named Maximum Ride. She and her friends have wings and can fly. In the first book, one of the members is kidnapped and the other fight to save her. Other books in the series: There are currently seven books in the series.
Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz is about fourteen year old Alex Rider who is coerced into taking over his uncle’s dangerous work for the Britain’s intelligence agency, M16. The series begins with Stormbreaker which is a favorite of my former middle school students. Other books in the series: Stormbreaker; Point Blank; Skeleton Key; Eagle Strike; Scorpia; Ark Angel; Snakehead; Crocodile Tears and Scorpia Rising.
High School
The River of Time Series by Lisa Tawn Bergren is historical fiction about a teenager who gets sent back in time to sixteenth century Italy. She manages to not only survive but also thrive. I picked up this book when it was offered as a free Kindle download for a few days. As soon as I finished, I immediately purchased the next three in the series. It is a good, clean read. Other books in the series: Waterfall; Cascade and Torrent.
The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare will be a favorite if your child liked the adventure and excitement of The Hunger Games and the magic of Harry Potter. In the first book, City of Bones, fifteen year old Clary gets wrapped up in the world of the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Other books in the series: City of Ashes; City of Glass; City of Fallen Angels. Cassandra Clare has also written another series called Infernal Devices. Those books currently include Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince.
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins is hot right now with the first movie to be released in 2012. Personally, I can’t wait for the movie and I hope they are able to do the book justice. Sixteen-year-old Katniss lives in the poorest district of a post-apocalyptic world. Each year, two children are chosen from each district to perform in an annual event called the Hunger Games where only one person survives. Other books in the series: The Hunger Games; Catching Fire and Mockingjay.
Though the Lord of the Rings Trilogy was published over fifty years ago, it still remains a fan favorite. The trilogy is about Frodo and his quest. The adventure begins with The Fellowship of the Ring but I recommend that you introduce The Hobbit as well. Other books in the series: The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
When the Harry Potter series first became popular, I was teaching middle school. My middle schoolers couldn’t get enough of the wizarding series. Those middle school children are now in their mid-20s, Harry Potter remains a popular series and is still widely read. Other books in the series: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
I would be remiss if I didn’t add the Twilight series to this list because it is still very popular. With the recent movie release of the first part of the fourth book, its popularity is still a constant with the tween/teen population. Join a teenage girl as she meets up with a group of vampires and a group of werewolves. Other Books in the series: New Moon; Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.
Share your favorites in the comments!
Posted in Tips on December 7, 2011
*Stay tuned! We will continue this series with middle school and high school book choices soon!
Books make fantastic gifts for travelers. Even if your child hates reading, they could probably be grudgingly convinced to listen to you read a story! Yesterday, I posted about favorite books for PreK children, toddlers, and babies. Today I am sharing favorite series of books for elementary school-aged children. I volunteer in my son’s library every week and these are the books that we cannot shelve fast enough. Kids come into the library and grab these books off the cart before they even make it to the bookshelves!
I have not read all the books I have listed, though I am working my way through the pile. I recommend that you read along (or read the book before) with your children. Only you as the parent can decide what is and isn’t appropriate for your children.
Elementary
Junie B Jones by Barbara Park – Junie B. is a spunky little girl who finds herself in many predicaments. The series begins with Junie in Kindergarten. In book 18, she becomes a first grader and continues with her hijinks. The first book in the series is Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. The third book is called Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth. When my son began reading the books, I read a few of them and made sure that he knew that language like that was not acceptable in our house and just because Junie uses it doesn’t mean he can! It doesn’t seem to be an issue. Other books: There are over 30 Junie B. Jones books so there should be plenty to keep your little reader reading!
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osbourne – In the Magic Tree House books, a brother and sister pair named Jack and Annie discover a magic tree house full of books that takes them on journeys all over the world. Together, they have adventures and solve mysteries. Other books: There are 46 books in the series with number 47 to be released at the end of the month and number 48 to be released in July of 2012. There is also a nonfiction series of books called the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers that cover topics discussed in the fiction books like twisters, dolphins, mummies, pilgrims, polar bears and more.
39 Clues is a series written by a number of popular authors, many whose names you will recognize like Rick Riordan (author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians series), Linda Sue Park (author of A Single Shard), Margaret Peterson Haddix (author of the Among the Hidden series which I recommend for middle school students) and more. In the first book, Amy and Dan’s grandmother dies and they discover that they are part of the most powerful family in history. The source is hidden in 39 clues around the world,, which they set out to find. We literally cannot keep these books on the shelves. The students are waiting for them before I have even checked them back in. I had a few minutes of down time and read the first few chapters of Book One. It was definitely captivating and I plan on reading through the series with my son. These books are commonly checked out by 4th and 5th graders. Other Books: There are eleven books in the series.
Nate the Great by Marjorie Sharmat is another current favorite of my second grader. Nate is child detective who solves all sorts of mysteries (I am finding a recurring theme of solving mysteries while having adventures!). Other books: There are twenty six books in the Nate the Great series that have been published over the past thirty years. There is another series of books about Nate the Great’s cousin, Olivia Sharp.
The Amber Brown collection by Paula Danziger (Parents: You might remember reading her book The Cat that Ate My Gymsuit when you were younger!) is realistic fiction about a little girl named Amber and her friends and family. Our favorite book from the series is Amber Brown is Not a Crayon which is the first in the collection.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney might sound familiar because of the recently released movie based on the book. With the November 2011 release of the sixth book, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is in constant rotation. The book is based on a middle school student so I recommend it for older elementary or middle school students. Other Books: There are six books in the series.
Carole Marsh’s Real Kids, Real Places mystery series books are not only fun to read but are also educational. The books take place in real places and there is a mystery to be solved in each one. There are forty eight mysteries that are set in places like Mount Rushmore, Hollywood, DisneyWorld, the Twin Cities, Yellowstone, Hawaii, Mount Vernon and more. Other Books: Carole Marsh has written lots of books but another travel series that caught my eye is Around the World in Eighty Mysteries where there are mysteries to be solved at Big Ben, Dracula’s Castle, Mt. Fugi, the Great Barrier Reef and more.
Share your favorites in the comments!
*Stay tuned! Tomorrow, I will share favorite series of books for elementary, middle school and high school students!
When all else fails and I can’t come up with a gift idea, I head to my favorite bookstore and buy a book or a gift certificate for the recipient. Even though we allow handheld video games and electronics during our travels, I still limit the time that each child gets to spend playing them. Books are always first on the list of things to pack.
Buying books before a road trip or vacation are some of my favorite memories from my childhood. Before every trip, we would head to the bookstore and be allowed to pick out a certain number of books to take with us. When we got home, my mother would confiscate the books and hide them. I can still see that fresh new pile of books stacked high in my mother’s closet, taunting me to take one and steal off to my room where I could start reading. But, oh no, we couldn’t touch those books until it was time to pack up our backpacks for our trip.
As a teacher, I tried to read anything and everything that came across my desk. It helped me keep up with what the kids were reading and it kept me semi-cool in their eyes when I could discuss Twilight, Crank, or Harry Potter with them. Now, I volunteer in my son’s library and I have been trying to keep up with the books that are currently popular. Here are a few series of books, both recent and old favorites, I have seen in constant rotation at the library. If you buy the first in the series, I highly recommend being ready to stop by a bookstore to buy the next few!
I have not read all the books I have listed, though I am working my way through the pile. I recommend that you read along (or read the book before) with your children. Only you as the parent can decide what is and isn’t appropriate for your children.
Baby/Toddler
Brightly colored board books are what will fit the bill for your baby or toddler. Though some of these are more author collections rather than a series, the books will still be appreciated.
Any book illustrated by Eric Carle – We particularly loved the books written by Bill Martin Junior like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You See.
Susan Boyton wrote our all time favorite nighttime book, The Going to Bed Book. We also loved Moo, Baa, La La La! My five year old still asks me to read that book sometimes!
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth – Children love to run their hands over this book where they get to count the ten little ladybugs as they disappear. This book came with us everywhere for several months! Other Books: Ten Rubber Duckies and Goodnight Sweet Butterflies by Dawn Bentley
Pre-K
Pete the Cat – If you asked me to recite Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes right now, I could sing the entire book. Both of my kids adore Pete the Cat and his adventures. Other books: Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes; Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons (out in 2012)
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff is a catchy book about that silly mouse that keeps wanting more and more! Other books: If You Take a Mouse to the Movies; If You Take a Mouse to School; If You Give a Pig a Party; If You Give a Pig a Pancake; If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister Herbert is one of my favorite children’s books of all time. I love the beautiful illustrations and the moral of the story. Other books: Rainbow Fish and the Whale; Rainbow Fish Finds His Way; Play with Rainbow Fish
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann is one of my daughter’s current favorite books. She LOVES pink…pink walls, pink bedspread, pink, pink, pink, The book is full of pink, pink, pink so it is perfect! Other books: Silverlicious; Goldilicious; Purplicious; there are also a number of I Can Read books
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor is frilly and fabulous. We don’t have many of the Fancy Nancy books, but we do have all the holiday ones. I always purchase holiday books for the kids and somehow my daughter’s books have all been Fancy Nancy books! Other Books: Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas; Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy; Fancy Nancy: Aspiring Artist
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom…will there be enough room? This catchy book teaches letter order and the other book in the series teaches numbers. This is a favorite of my son still even if he won’t admit it. Other Books: Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems is the only book on this list that I haven’t read but my kids think they are hilarious! They have read them at school and have told me all about them. I have them on my list of gifts that I still have to pick up! Other books: Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late; The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog; The Pigeon Wants a Puppy
I got a little carried away in my excitement to share favorite books with you that I ran out of room in the post. Tomorrow, I will share favorite series of books for elementary, middle school and high school students (unless I get carried away again and have to extend the post into a three part series)!
Share your favorites in the comments!
Posted in Tips on March 24, 2011
The word staycation has always made me cringe; however, I see nothing wrong with family travel in your own city or town. There are so many great things in your very own city that you probably haven’t even thought about exploring yet because work, school, or just wanting to spend your day off on the couch always seems to get in the way. We are going out of town this year for spring break, but for the past few we didn’t. Work schedules, ball schedules, and saving money for later trips kept us home. Staying home for your family vacation does not mean that your vacation has to be completely miserable!
Read Guidebooks for Your Area
Have you ever looked at a guidebook for your own city? If not, stop by the library or spend an afternoon in a bookstore. Jot down some activities that you haven’t had time to experience. Look for activities and restaurants that take you out of your comfort zone. For me, that meant trying activities that are in a neighboring town twenty minutes away. We don’t take the time to drive over so there are a lot of great activities that we never get a chance to do.
Involve the Kids
When you are planning your stay at home family vacation, ask the kids if there is anything that they have really wanted to do. There might be some great park, movie, or other activity that their friends keep talking about. Use this opportunity to explore something you have avoided because of time or cost.
Find a New Park
If your kids are still at the age where they enjoy a good park, then head to your local Parks and Recreation (sometimes called Leisure Services) website and find a park that you have not been to yet. Look for a park that offers something that your favorite park does not.
Try a New Food
Just because you aren’t traveling to another region or country doesn’t mean you need to stick to the same old food. Try a restaurant that serves a dish you have never tried before. Pick a restaurant that you might have avoided in the past because of the crowds, the wait, or the length of the drive to it.
Don’t Wait Until Your Vacation
You don’t have to wait until you have vacation time to explore your own town. Head out on a weekend and explore a new nature trail or visit a new playground. We have been visiting a new playground twice a month and my children love guessing what kind of equipment will be at the playground! Just enjoy the time spent together as a family!
We road trip a lot…short trips only an hour or two away to 15 hour days. I love the picnics on the road, the forced family fun in the car, and the children’s excitement when they spot something they have never seen before. We don’t love car problems though. Unfortunately, they are inevitable. We have changed tires on the side of the road and in various parking lots. We have been at the mercy of small town mechanics who have thankfully always been helpful and honest. We have had to leave the car in the capable hands of tow truck drivers when we were only 20 minutes away from home after a five hour drive. When I look back at events that seemed so traumatic, we have actually been very lucky.
Now, let me give you a little background on my car. When it was just over three years old (less than a year ago), we had to rebuild the entire transmission. My car and I are not always friends. As I pulled into my driveway after the seven hour drive from Orlando, the check engine light came on. I wanted to scream. To make matters worse, my husband’s check engine light came on this week too. We decided to get his car fixed first (ouch!) since we knew there was a real problem.
I mentioned to a friend that the check engine light was on but that the car seemed to be running fine. I didn’t want to take it in and shell out the money it will cost. She told me that Auto Zone stores will check your engine for free and will give you a print out of what might be wrong with the car. You may already know this, but I didn’t so I wanted to share! Yesterday afternoon, I headed to our local Auto Zone and had the car checked. They were very informative and let me know that I didn’t need to race right over to the mechanic for this particular problem. It still needs to be fixed but it can at least wait until we get my husband’s car out of the shop!
If you are ever on a road trip and your check engine light turns on, try to locate an Auto Zone nearby. There are Auto Zones throughout most of the South and East Coast as well as the West Coast. They will check the light, you will know if you can continue on, and it is all free!
Photo Courtesy of Robert Couse-Baker.
Posted in Tips on January 27, 2011
The Super Bowl is around the corner and Spring Training will begin for baseball soon. Whenever we travel, the first thing we check is the baseball schedule. Much to my husband’s dismay, we usually time our trips when the teams are playing away. When this happens, we like to try to schedule a tour of the stadium. Many stadiums offer tours for a small fee. It gives you a chance to wander the field, see the locker rooms and press boxes, and other places that you normally don’t get to see during a game. Here are a few things to know before you go:
- The tours can be lengthy, especially for a small child. Most tours last at least 45 minutes to an hour and include some walking. You could walk up to a mile in some stadiums so wear comfortable walking shoes!
- Make reservations ahead of time. Some stadiums allow walk up ticket purchases, but if you buy your tickets ahead of time you will be gauranteed a spot and there will be no tears when you have to leave without going inside!
- If you have an infant, use a sling or backpack. If you need to use a stroller, call ahead of time to see what each stadium’s policy is.
- Keep the kids occupied with a scavenger hunt. As they walk the tour, spot the different things on a list. You can write one up yourself by jotting down a few things to look for (a monument, a stadium seat with the number 4, something green, a locker, etc)! You could also play a game of I Spy as you tour.
- Pack a picnic lunch or snacks to leave in the car. Many of the tours do not allow food and drink. When the tour is over, have your own little mini tailgating session!
Visit my latest post at TravelingMom which lists the current and a few of the previous Super Bowl spots that offer stadium tours.
And guess what Trekaroo’s Spotlight Thursday is all about? Spring training! I can almost smell the hotdogs and popcorn now!
In my review of 2010, I mentioned that we always try to travel on a low budget but that 2010 was no exception. We had lots of unexpected expenses but we still made room in the budget for traveling because it is important to our family. My latest article on Traveling Mom is about four different ways we save for vacation. If you have a moment, drop by Traveling Mom and leave me a comment with your favorite way to save for vacation.
Throughout the next month I will be giving our tips, secrets, and things we have learned along the way to help us save for vacation and be able to travel the way we want to and as often as we want to. I am thinking about making it a weekly post!
Photo Courtesy of borman818
The holidays are almost here and I am always looking for new gift ideas. We always try to surprise them with something that will double as a great travel item. Here are some ideas that were big hits around the house this year:
My Busy Kit and Travel Kiddy activity kits – We had the opportunity to try both of these. I received the My Busy Kit as a thank you and we won a Travel Kiddy. The kids loved them both for different reasons. They were filled with age appropriate activities that come in a fun bag perfect for any kind of travel.
Doodle 123 – This book helps your little artist come up with ideas. Each page has a picture and a few directions. They may be asked to fill in the numbers, finish drawing the house, or draw the slices of bread! It will keep them entertained and you won’t hear them say that they don’t know what to draw!
Magnetic Travel Tic Tac Toe - Tic Tac Toe is a huge hit in my house. We play it at restaurants, sitting in the living room and in the car. The only problem with that game is you can quickly run through paper and you will have lots of trash to recycle. The magnetic part of the game insures that you won’t lose the pieces easily. We would love to have this Lego Tic Tac Toe but I could never justify the cost!
Other magnetic travel games – We love games. Magnetic travel games are compact, only a few bucks, and can entertain for hours. Some of our other favorites are Hangman and Checkers.
Doodle Pro- This travel sized Fisher Price version of the Magnadoodle will offer unlimited drawing time! When you are finished with your picture, just erase it and start again!
Tangrams – Tangrams are Chinese puzzles consisting of a square divided into pieces and you arrange them to match a design. You can find tangram puzzles that are magnetic like this one, Rex Game Tangoes Jr. There are also some that come in boxes for storage like this one by Melissa and Doug.
I Spy Books - We love playing I Spy but in tight quarters on a plane or when little sister is sleeping, it might be handy to have one of these I Spy books! It is the same concept as the game. It is just in the handy form of a book!
What are you getting your little traveler for the holidays this year?
Please give a big welcome to Mandy, my friend and fellow blogger. Mandy blogs about all sorts of stuff (family, being a mom, cooking, and much more) over at Mandy’s Life After 30. I love hanging out with Mandy because she has a great outlook on life, a sense of adventure, and she is absolutely hilarious! I have to apologize to Mandy for not getting this post up in a timely manner. I am sorry! Today Mandy is talking about her love of the Welcome Center!
Do you need tips on places of interest and attractions to see when you visit a new city? Are you looking for more things to do within your own hometown? The best place to start your adventure is the local convention and visitors information center.
Even the smallest cities typically have a welcome center with stacks of brochures highlighting nearby marvels, restaurants and more. I love to frequent these places while on the road or even in my hometown.
What’s not to love about these hubs? Welcome centers generally offer free maps to visitors. Most even have a list of annual events and festivals. The volunteers or part-time personnel who work there are typically some of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet. I always ask these people for “local” restaurants to try and for family-friendly activities that mine would enjoy. You may find the most obscure, interesting sights to visit just from picking up a flier or brochure sitting inside a welcome center.
Pensacola, Florida’s information center has walls and walls of literature arranged by category – from dining to diving, from historic tours to nature trail guides and much more. The building is quite impressive compared to other centers I’ve visited. It boasts larger than life statues highlighting the city’s mascot and several attractions. This center has a puzzle for visitors to piece together in addition to snacks for patrons to enjoy.
During my last visit to this particular facility, I obtained details regarding an upcoming art and wine festival, picked up a copy of free newsletter and took a free map of birding trails. I also received a two-page sheet of every festival and known event taking place in Pensacola, signed up for a travel guide and became entered into a contest where a friend of mine could win a free trip to the area. So, you never know what good things may come just from visiting the local information shop!
Changing cities receive new businesses and excursions frequently so be sure to check out your local visitor center for fresh ideas. Or if you know of an event or business that should be listed in an area, inform the local city officials so they can include it their collection.
The best place to play tour guide is right in your own hometown. Start there for fun things to do then branch out as you travel. Happy trails to you! May you feel welcomed and inspired in each center you visit!
Stop by Spotlight Thursdays over at Trekaroo!
Posted in Tips on August 30, 2010
For Monday Dreaming, I am dreaming of a smooth adventure for the grandparents when they come to watch my kids for a week. Daddy J and I are going out of town and the grandparents will be watching the kids. I know they will be in good, loving hands but we have never traveled away from the kids for more than a weekend and they are never staying in our house when we go away. There are so many things you have to remember to tell them about your daily routine. Things that you automatically think of like what time the bus picks up or when the sports activity begins but there are also things that I didn’t think of right away like directions to the school should they need them or what time the trash gets picked up.
I was very surprised at how little I found during a quick search of the Internet. I was looking for some templates to fill out or a checklist of information and couldn’t find a single thing. I did ask on Twitter and got back some great responses that will help me out. Over the next week or two, I am going to try and devise a few worksheets that I hope to put on the site so you can download them for the next time you go out of town without your kids.
Stay tuned!
