What is the opposite of a friend? Is it a stranger, is it an enemy, or is it something else? Enemy Pie is a touching story with the message that bullying is not okay, and that it is possible to become friends with anyone if you are willing to try. It is a priceless lesson about… Read More
Differences and Friendship Many ancient philosophers saw the differences between two friends to be essential for their friendship. Aristotle saw the value of differences between a pair of friends to be based on their mirroring effect. You can analyze yourself by comparing yourself to your friends. You might ask yourself what you admire in your friends,… Read More
Fairy tales have always had a life of their own. I love that they have grown and evolved around the world. It is because of this growth and adaptability, that the fairy tale has become one of the world’s most important literary traditions. More recently, we have seen many humorous adaptations of well known fairy tales. … Read More
Green lacewings are often an under-appreciated group of beneficial insects, and they are so valuable for pest management. Their contribution to insect control quite is immense! As soon as the green lacewing’s eggs hatch, the hungry larvae will eat aphids, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies and other slow moving insects. So, I decided that our… Read More
Our wide range of life experiences help shape our values. We may know specifically what they are, or perhaps we just live by them without realizing it. Our values in their simplest form are our principals about what in life is important. This children’s book poses two important questions for all of us. What gives a… Read More
Although some may regard art education as a luxury, simple creative activities are some of the building blocks of child development. Learning to create and appreciate visual aesthetics is important to the development of our children as the grow up. Remember, what your children do with art is more important than what is made. *************** Learning in… Read More
A mix of sun and shade in woodland areas helps support plants that provide food for animals like bears, deer, rodents, squirrels and many types of birds. The woodlands also provide enough shade and tree protection to house nocturnal animals like owls and raccoons. I enjoy living adjacent to an oak woodland, and many of the… Read More
One of the valuable ways to support your children’s healthy development is as easy as opening the door and going outside. There is no question that regular, frequent opportunities to play outdoors help support the development of our children’s cognitive, social and physical development. Going outdoors, in the fresh air—whether on a windy, cold winter day or… Read More
Take advantage of the magic of nature—in your own backyard or on a walk. THE HIKE Written and illustrated by Allison Farrell “Utterly satisfying” Kirkus Three friends take a hike. Wren brings a sketchbook and a flag, El brings a poetry notebook, and Hattie brings feathers and holds Bean, the dog’s, leash. Hiking is their “favorite… Read More
“The Sneetches” is a wonderful story and a perfect example that really pin-points how ridiculous discrimination really is. This book is about discrimination based not on religion or race, but on belly stars. ********************************************************************* The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss is an excellent book for discussing issues of discrimination based not on religion or race, but on… Read More
