Red Apple Reading Magazine - April/May issue - Bitly

RED APPLE READING APRIL/MAY 2017 MAGAZINE

PARENT INVOLVEMENT VERSUS CHILD INDEPENDENCE

WWW.REDAPPLEREADING.COM

EARTH DAY BOOKS

READING SPECIFICS:

UNDERSTANDING PHONICS INSTRUCTION

10 WAYS TO GET KIDS OUTSIDE

EASY READER:

EARTH DAY RESCUE

BRUNCH AND A BOOK

THE NIGHT BEFORE MOTHER’S DAY

CONTENTS 04 WHO’S RESPONSIBLE? Finding balance between parent involvement and child independence.

06 BRUNCH AND A BOOK Make-ahead recipes and The Night Before Mother’s Day by Natasha Wing.

08 READING SPECIFICS: Understanding phonics instruction and its role in reading.

10 BOOK REVIEWS 10 heartwarming books about love.

12 TIPS

10 enjoyable ways to get kids outside.

13 STORY TIME! Join Pete and his pals in Earth Day Rescue.

14 LEVEL A - EARTH DAY RESCUE Best as a read aloud to pre-readers or for fluent reader practice – followed by an activity page.

26 LEVEL B - EARTH DAY RESCUE

Simplified story text for emerging readers – plus an activity page

38 LEVEL C - EARTH DAY RESCUE Early reader version of the story – followed by an activity page.

50 COMPREHENSION SKILLS

Check in with these story questions after reading Earth Day Rescue.

51 ACTIVITY PAGES

More fun-filled activity pages for young readers.

54 LITERACY TIME

Engaging activities that promote literacy.

56 LITERACY LINEUP

Birthdays and things to do for the months of April and May.

58 SPOTLIGHT ON... THE COMPLETE TALES OF BEATRIX POTTER

Review from a young and quirky book critic.

59 BEST OF THE WEB

Editor picks of exceptional online resources for families.

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©2017 Red Apple Reading. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and any reproduction or redistribution of part or all of this material without express and written permission is strictly prohibited. For questions or inquiries please email [email protected].

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Letter from the Editor Teaching children how to read has long been a passion of mine and was the catalyst for the creation of Red Apple Reading. As an avid reader from an early age, as well as enjoying the time spent with my own daughters reading children’s books when they were younger, I found the process of teaching reading in the classroom to be quite fascinating.

From cover to cover, every issue of this magazine is packed with literacy activities and ideas that can be easily adapted to a specific age group or reading level. All of this helps to provide families the resources needed to set their children on the path to becoming successful readers and, with any luck, future leaders. Happy Easter, Earth Day and Mother’s Day to you!

From the elementary school trenches I quickly learned that parents often feel helpless and unable to help their children learn how to read, not understanding what phonics is or how to do more than provide books and encouragement in the quest to help their child become a proficient reader. This issue’s Reading Specifics article sheds light on phonics instruction and the specific skills children need to learn, plus a host of activity ideas for families to support young learners and strengthen phonics skills. The leveled story in this issue, Earth Day Rescue, can be used for phonics practice along with the activity pages that follow it.

Tammy Bennecke EDITOR IN CHIEF AND PRESIDENT [email protected]

“ If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” – Cicero

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W W W. R E D A P P L E R E A D I N G . C O M

WHO’S RESPONSIBLE? Parent Involvement vs. Child Independence

How involved should parents be in their child’s education? Is a handsoff approach the best way to foster responsibility in your little one, or does maximum parental participation ensure a more successful educational experience? Like most things in life the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle, but finding the right balance can be tricky. How can parents foster responsibility in children while still maintaining a healthy level of parental involvement?

BEGIN EARLY Responsibility is a learned skill for most children and requires years of practice before it is mastered. This is especially true when it comes to managing time, completing homework, and keeping school supplies organized. Some parents notice a decline in their child’s grades upon entering middle school. This may be due to more challenging subjects and assignments. However, it is also possible that the student isn’t prepared for her teachers’ increased (and usually reasonable) expectations. One of the best things that parents can do for their children is to begin expecting them to carry a sensible level of responsibility early in their school career.

TAKE BABY STEPS Naturally, parents would have difficulty handing over complete responsibility for school to their young child. Expecting your little one to assume too much responsibility causes undue stress and may result in unnecessary failure. Instead, parents can expect children to assume ageappropriate tasks. For instance, a kindergarten child can be responsible for placing her backpack in the appropriate designated space upon arriving home from school. Parents can then take responsibility for opening the backpack and checking

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for notes and important papers. However, that same parent should not have to look through their 6th grade child’s book bag for these things. A 12-year-old can and should assume responsibility for bringing important papers to Mom and Dad’s attention.

REMAIN AVAILABLE Regardless of their age, children need to know that Mom and Dad are always available when they need help. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Dad rushes home from work to retrieve the assignment his 14-year-old daughter left on the kitchen table (that might be a time to learn a hard lesson). It does mean, however, that parents frequently ask specific questions about school and

regularly voice their willingness to provide assistance when needed. It also involves having a demeanor that communicates openness and approachability. The key is to strike a balance: being available without being overly-responsible. It’s not always easy to know when to step in and when to hand over responsibility. A friend of ours who is a child therapist often tells parents if you give a child too much freedom it leads to fear, and if you don’t give him enough it leads to frustration. We think it’s fair to say that this is equally true of responsibility. We may not always get the balance just right, but if we take time to thoughtfully consider how we can best help our child grow into a responsible adult, the chances are pretty good that we’ll ultimately be pleased with the outcome.

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BRUNCH AND A BOOK: MOTHER’S DAY One of the best things about the spring season is getting a chance to honor our moms on Mother’s Day. This year why not keep things simple and consider staying in for a relaxing day? We’ve found some make ahead brunch recipes that are easy to prepare and delicious!

The Night Before Mother’s Day by Natasha Wing Perhaps after brunch is finished the kiddos can hop in bed with mom and read a book. This title from The Night

Before series of books makes for a fun read on Mother’s Day. Children will relate to the anticipation of preparing a perfect celebration for mom. The book’s focus on simple and meaningful things kids can do at home for their mother is an added bonus. Here’s to a relaxing day celebrating those special women who have done so much for their families. Red Apple Reading wishes all moms a very happy Mother’s Day!

BREAKFAST EGG CUPS Super Healthy Kids has a super simple egg cup recipe (think muffin-shaped eggs) that moms and kids will both enjoy! These little bites of yumminess can also be made ahead of time. Simply bake then store in the refrigerator for up to a week or the freezer for a month.

OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST If mom enjoys French toast then this recipe is sure to be a hit. This make ahead casserole can be put together in no time and is so simple that the children can do it with a bit of supervision. Visit for this yummy brunch recipe.

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Tablespoon

SERIOUS LEARNING THAT’S SERIOUSY FUN!

www.RedAppleReading.com Help your child become a better reader with videos and games that make it fun to learn.

MOTHERS ARE…

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READING SPECIFICS U ND ER S TA ND I N G PH ON IC S IN S T RUC T ION Phonics is an essential piece to teaching children how to read, yet it has many pieces that are not always specifically taught. While exposure to reading certainly helps children learn new words, it is phonics that gives beginning readers the strategies they need to sound out words, so their reading can eventually become automatic. What is phonics? Phonics is the relationship between a letter and its sound. For example, the letter D makes the sound /d/ when spoken. Once your child is familiar with most of the alphabet’s letter sounds, he can begin to learn phonics skills that will teach him how to put those sounds together to make words. Even though the bulk of phonics instruction may take place at school, it’s important to note that not all children receive the explicit and systematic phonics instruction they need to become a successful reader. This is where supplemental instruction and activities can really help. In addition to programs like Red Apple Reading, families can support young learners with a multitude of activities that strengthen phonics skills.

FOR YOUNG CHILDREN STILL LEARNING LETTER SOUNDS, WE RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING: - Point out letters in words around the house, on signs, and while reading. - Read alphabet books. - Focus on the sound a letter makes, not its name. - Find a multitude of easy and FUN alphabet activity ideas here.

ONCE A CHILD BEGINS TO CONNECT LETTER-SOUNDS INTO WORDS: - Buy or make word puzzles. - Practice word building with magnet letters or blocks. - Play letter games (e.g. I Spy, what letter is at the beginning of “bed”?)

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As a child’s reading skills continue to grow, use flash cards, puzzles, and games to practice more advanced phonics skills. The following is a list of phonics skills in order from simple to more complex: short vowel sounds initial and final consonant sounds word building word families and rhyming (e.g. cat, bat, mat, sat) consonant blends (e.g. bl, tr, sk, st) consonant digraphs (e.g. sh, ch, th) long vowel sounds and spellings (e.g. long A: bake, tray, sail) r-controlled vowels inflectional endings (e.g. –es, -ed, -ing) prefixes and suffixes (e.g. un-, re-, -tion, -ly) variant vowels and diphthongs (e.g. oo, oi, ou) other sound variants: soft G and C, silent letters Visit Red Apple Reading’s Pinterest board, Phonics Fun, for scores of phonics activity ideas with inspiring visuals.

RED APPLE READING HAS OVER FIFTY PHONICS LESSONS IN ITS DIGITAL PROGRAM, WITH VIDEO INSTRUCTION THAT EXPLICITLY TEACHES EACH SKILL AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICE. PHONICS LESSONS PROGRESS IN SEQUENCE FROM SIMPLE TO COMPLEX AND TEACH ALL OF THE SKILLS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE.

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EARTH DAY BOOKS THE BACKYARD HOMESTEAD by Carleen Madigan This informative book shows how to make the most of your backyard. You will be pleasantly surprised to learn how much food can be harvested on just a quarter acre of land! Includes helpful charts and illustrations. All Ages

THE CURIOUS GARDEN by Peter Brown Little Liam happens upon a neglected garden and gives it some T.L.C. Before long his efforts begin to pay off and his garden spreads throughout the city. Children will enjoy the illustrations and watching Liam’s progress as he tends his garden. Early Elementary

COMPOST STEW by Mary McKenna Siddals This cool A to Z guide instructs children on suitable ingredients for the perfect compost pile! A fun earthfriendly presentation for young students. Early Elementary

JOHN MUIR: MY LIFE WITH NATURE by Joseph Cornell This biography is a wonderful introduction to beloved naturalist, John Muir. Older children will find Muir’s life compelling and inspiring. Includes several nature activities encouraging kids to explore the outdoors for themselves. Middle and High School

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UP IN THE GARDEN AND DOWN IN THE DIRT by Kate Messner If your little one is interested in gardening, he will enjoy this book. Kids get a glimpse of the workings that go on above and below the dirt. Humans, animals, and insects all play a role in creating a productive garden. Early Elementary

CHARLIE AND LOLA: WE ARE EXTREMELY VERY GOOD RECYCLERS by Lauren Child If Lola wants to get her very own live tree, she must accomplish the recycling tasks in the local community contest. Classmates join Lola as she learns just what it means to recycle. Book includes a poster and recycling tips. Preschool

MICHAEL RECYCLE by Ellie Bethel Michael Recycle isn’t your typical superhero. This green-caped champion shows up just in time to show a town the value of recycling. At the end of the book, Michael Recycle shares several Go Green tips with readers. Early Elementary

WE PLANTED A TREE by Diane Muldrow Children discover how trees benefit humans and the environment in this cute book. The story follows two families in different parts of the world as they each plant a tree and watch it grow. A lyrical text about the importance of trees. Early Elementary

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WAYS TO GET YOUR KIDS OUTSIDE

1. PLANT A GARDEN

6. GO ON A NATURE HIKE

Kids love to have a fun project to do with their parents. Start a garden (vegetable, herb, flower) and put your child in charge of keeping it maintained. Your little one will love observing the garden’s progress and will take pride in her hard work.

Nature hikes are a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors and it has the added bonus of being cheap entertainment and good exercise.

2. READ A BOOK Reading is not strictly an indoor activity! Why not spread a blanket in your yard on the next sunny day and

7. FEED THE BIRDS Make or purchase a bird feeder for the feathered friends in your yard. Give your child the responsibility of refilling it periodically. Challenge them to identify the different species of birds that visit your feeder.

invite your kid out to read a book?

8. PICK UP TRASH 3. HAVE A PICNIC Spring is the perfect time to enjoy a picnic. Have your children take their lunch outside every now and then and watch the clouds while they eat instead of television!

4. SLEEP UNDER THE STARS Pitch a tent in the backyard and have a campout. This is the perfect opportunity to sing songs, tell stories, and do a little star gazing.

5. PLAY A GAME Plan a fun game for the family to play outdoors. Need a little inspiration? Check out these DIY backyard games from Mom with a Prep.

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The next time you visit your local park take a trash bag with you. After your kiddos play have them walk the park for 15 minutes and pick up trash.

9. CREATE EARTH ART Get outside and get creative! Using only materials from nature, encourage your little one to design a masterpiece. Take a look at these earth art designs from Hands On As We Grow.

10. FEED THE WORMS Did you know that worms can daily eat half of their weight in food scraps? Vermicomposting (worm composting) is a great way to take care of your food waste. The compost can be used for your garden! Read more about worm composting here.

STORY TIME

EARTH DAY RESCUE 3 DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SAME STORY! CHOOSE THE VERSION THAT’S BEST FOR YOUR YOUNG READER, THEN CLICK A LINK BELOW AND PRINT THE PAGES FOR REPEATED READING AND PRACTICE.

LEVEL A - STORY AND ACTIVITIES

PAGES 14 - 25

BEST FOR READING ALOUD TO PRE-READERS

LEVEL B - STORY AND ACTIVITIES

PAGES 26 - 37

EASY TEXT FOR EMERGING READERS

LEVEL C - STORY AND ACTIVITIES

PAGES 38- 49

MORE COMPLEXITY FOR EARLY READERS

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

PAGE 50

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EARTH DAY RESCUE Level A


It was a beautiful spring day and Pete decided to go out sailing in the ocean with Polly. While Pete steered the ship, Polly went for a flight over the water.

p. 1


Polly looked down and was surprised to see murky water with trash in it. The water used to be so clear and blue! She spied her friend Dominic struggling with a plastic soda can ring on his snout.

p. 2


Polly rushed back to Pete. “Blimey!” exclaimed Pete. “We better help Dominic before he becomes shark bait!” He pulled his ship up close to Dominic and used his dagger to cut the plastic off.

p. 3


“Thank you,” said a relieved Dominic. “The trash in this ocean can be dangerous for sea creatures!” Dominic swam off unharmed. This gave Pete an idea.

p. 4


Pete gently attached a note to Polly’s ankle. “Take this to our friends on land. I’ll meet you at Cutlass Cove!” said Pete.

p. 5


Flora and Oliver were playing on the beach when Polly swooped in with Pete’s note. Flora read the note and the three of them rushed to Cutlass Cove.

p. 6


“Ahoy!” said Pete. “I’m glad you’re all here. Did you know most ocean pollution begins on land? Let’s help save our water friends and get to work cleaning this beach!”

p. 7


The friends enthusiastically approved of Pete’s plan. They grabbed trash pickers and trash bags and spread out across the beach. Pete gathered trash in the water with a fish net from his ship.

p. 8


After a few hours, they saw a distinct difference and there was no more trash on the beach. Dominic was happy to see the ocean even looked more clear and blue!

p. 9


That evening the friends gathered for a bonfire. Pete congratulated them on a job well done. “We made a big difference here today, mates. Let’s do what we can to keep the beach and water clean for everyone.”

p. 10

RECYCLE IT!

RED APPLE READING

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EARTH DAY RESCUE Level B


It was a nice day and Pete went sailing with Polly. Pete steered the ship, and Polly flew over the water.

p. 1


Polly looked down and saw dark water with trash in it. She saw her friend Dominic with a plastic ring stuck on his nose.

p. 2


Polly went back to tell Pete. Pete raced to help Dominic quickly. Pete used his dagger to cut the plastic off.

p. 3


Dominic thanked Pete. “The trash in the water is bad for sea animals,” Dominic said. Pete had an idea.

p. 4


Pete tied a note to Polly’s foot. “Take this to our friends on land. I will meet with you soon!” said Pete.

p. 5


Flora and Oliver were playing on the beach when Polly came to them. Flora read the note and they went to meet Pete.

p. 6


Pete told his friends that most of the trash in the water starts on the land. “We can help our water friends and clean this beach!”

p. 7


The friends liked Pete’s plan. They took trash pickers and trash bags and got to work. Pete used a fish net to get trash out of the water.

p. 8


After some time they had picked up all of the trash on the beach. Dominic was happy to see the water looked more clear and blue!

p. 9


That night the friends met for a bonfire. Pete told them they did a great job. “The beach and water are clean now. We can do our part and help keep it that way!”

p. 10

HELPING HANDS

RED APPLE READING

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EARTH DAY RESCUE Level C


It was a nice spring day and Pete went out sailing in the ocean with Polly. While Pete steered the ship, Polly flew over the water.

p. 1


Polly looked down and was shocked to see dirty water with trash in it. The water used to be so clear and blue! She saw her friend Dominic struggling with a plastic ring on his snout.

p. 2


Polly rushed back to Pete. “Oh no!” cried Pete. “We better help Dominic before he turns into shark bait!” He pulled his ship up close to Dominic and used his dagger to cut the plastic off.

p. 3


“Thank you,” said Dominic. “The trash in this ocean can be dangerous for sea animals!” Dominic swam off unharmed. Pete had an idea.

p. 4


Pete attached a note to Polly’s ankle. “Take this to our friends on land. I’ll meet you at the beach!” said Pete.

p. 5


Flora and Oliver were playing on the beach when Polly flew in with Pete’s note. Flora read the note and the three of them rushed to meet Pete.

p. 6


“I’m glad you’re all here,” said Pete. “Did you know most ocean trash comes from the land? Let’s help save our water friends and get to work cleaning this beach!”

p. 7


The friends approved of Pete’s plan. They grabbed trash pickers and trash bags and started cleaning the beach. Pete gathered trash in the water with a fish net from his ship.

p. 8


After a few hours, there was no more trash on the beach. Dominic was happy to see the ocean even looked more clear and blue!

p. 9


That night the friends gathered for a bonfire. Pete praised them for a job well done. “We made a big difference here today. Let’s do what we can to keep the beach and water clean for everyone.”

p. 10

WO RD R E S C U E

RED APPLE READING

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COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

EARTH DAY RESCUE

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1

How did Pete’s friends know where to meet him?

2

What idea did Pete share with his friends?

3

What did Pete’s friends think about his plan?

4

Do you think the plan worked? Can you think of another way to help?

5

Would you help Pete if he asked? Why or why not?

RED APPLE READING

FAVO R IT E T H I NGS

RED APPLE READING

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WORD HUNT

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RED APPLE READING

SYLLABLE SLICE Say each word slowly, noting where the syllables break in each word. Draw a slash between letters to show the syllables.

flower

rainbow

recycle

basket

ladybug

pollution

rabbit

raindrop

water

butterfly

On a piece of paper, make four columns with the numbers1, 2, 3, and 4 at the top. Take the words above and sort them into lists based on the number of syllables. Then think of other spring or Earth Day words that can be added to each list.

RED APPLE READING

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LITERACY TIME!

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NATURE NAMES

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

A nature activity inspired by Little Family Fun! Give your child a small bag or sack and send him outside to collect some small items from nature: sticks, grass, pebbles, leaves, pine needles, flowers, bark, etc. Use a piece of cardstock or cardboard and write your child’s name in large letters. Let your child glue the nature items to the letters to spell his name!

Help little ones learn about recycling by making a chart together on a large piece of paper or cardstock. Divide the paper into 4 equal squares and write a header at the top of each: Paper, Cans, Plastic, and Glass. Then go to the kitchen and take a look through the fridge and pantry to determine what packages and containers can be recycled once they are used. Children can draw or write examples in each square. Alternatively, gather several items from each category together and take a picture. Add the printed pictures to the chart and post near the recycling bin as a reminder for the whole family.

RED APPLE READING

Grow successful readers!

PLASTIC EGG ACTIVITIES If you’re looking for another way to reuse those plastic eggs after Easter (other than saving them until next year), Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas has some inspiring ideas for turning them into fun learning aids! Use them to practice capital and lowercase letter matching, word families, sight words, compound words, synonyms or antonyms, and math skills. Grab a Sharpie and get ready to make some easy learning games that your kids will love!

A LPHABE T SCAVENGER HUNT OPTION 1: Give your child a clipboard and paper with the letters A to Z written on it, then challenge her to hunt inside or outdoors to find an object that starts with every letter of the alphabet (e.g. apple, basket, candle). Have her write down what she found for each letter on the paper without worrying about spelling if she’s not sure, then read them back to you when she is finished. OPTION 2: Take a set of foam, magnet or block letters (or write each letter A to Z on a Post-it note) and hide them around a room or larger area, then send your child off to try to find them. Have him put the letters in alphabetical order on a table or the floor to determine if he has found them all.

RED APPLE READING

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APRIL 2017 Birthdays, holidays and other fun days to celebrate! Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

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TAD HILLS

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READ! IT’S INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY.

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ALICE SCHERTLE

SANDRA BOYNTON

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ANTHONY HOROWITZ

GRAEME BASE

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CHERYL WILLIS HUDSON

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STEVEN SCHNUR

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DROP EVERYTHING AND READ TODAY! MARTIN WADDELL

JOSH FUNK

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CHRIS RIDDELL

GRAHAM SALISBURY

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ROBERT LOPSHIRE

JACQUELINE BRIGGS MARTIN

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LEARN ABOUT HAIKU POETRY. MITCHELL SHARMAT

EASTER

23 VISIT THE LIBRARY FOR WORLD BOOK DAY!

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EVALINE NESS

JON AGEE

STUART J. MURPHY

MARY HOFFMAN

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PATRICIA REILLY GIFF

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NANCY SHAW

EARTH DAY

JANE BRESKIN ZALBEN

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HARPER LEE

NICOLE RUBEL

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NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

EVALINE NESS

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RED APPLE READING


MAY 2017 Birthdays, holidays and other fun days to celebrate! Sunday

Monday

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Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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Friday

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Saturday

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MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU! READ ACROSS TEACHERS’ AMERICA DAY DAY

ROBERT BENDER

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ERIK CRADDOCK

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MOTHER’S DAY

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MARGARET REY

DAVID ALMOND

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CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS

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PETER SIS

GRACE LIN

LILLIAN HOBAN

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GIULIO MAESTRO

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BETSY LEWIN

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LEO LIONNI

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ELEANOR ESTES

ELLEN HOWARD

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READ ACROSS MAVIS AMERICA JUKESDAY

BERNADETTE WATTS

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JENNIFER ARMSTRONG

MARY POPE OSBOURNE

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GET CAUGHT READING TODAY! NANCY KRULIK

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EMMA KENNEDY

MEMORIAL DAY

DIANE DEGROAT

SCOTT O’DELL

FRANCES O’ROARK DOWELL

ANN MCGOVERN

JULIA DEVILLERS

LYNN SWEAT

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WILL HILLENBRAND

RED APPLE READING

GET CAUGHT READING MONTH

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SPOTLIGHT ON…

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter

Written by Carley Bennecke, In-house book critic

Beatrix Potter is most famously known for her 1902 narrative of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, an unforgettable classic about a disobedient young bunny who runs off into forbidden territory. But did you know she also has twenty-three other published ageless tales? They can all be found in The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter. All of Potter’s stories take place in the same enchanting world as The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The characters overlap in most of the storylines. Some even have linked events. This original and authorized edition contains the original illustrations and uncut transcripts. This extensive collection of tales was memorable for me. As a child, I loved the extraordinary artwork and how the characters intertwined through the stories. The creatures wore charming clothes and lived in cozy little homes. Now is a great time of year to read these tales with Easter right around the corner! This extensive collection is perfect for reading aloud to young children. Each story teaches a lesson or moral too, which can serve to open thoughtful discussions with your kiddos.

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RED APPLE READING


BEST OF THE WEB READING:

Student News Daily

This non-profit current events website provides content to help older students become informed news readers. Comprehension and critical thinking questions are provided with articles. Available online and as an app in iTunes and Google Play.

HOMESCHOOL: Homeschool.com Helping homeschooling families for over 14 years, Homeschool. com has a huge selection of articles, videos, curriculum, product reviews, printables, parent forums, and more. Covers everything from preschool to college prep. They have plenty of resources on their social media pages too!

WEB: KidSites.com Since 1997 this site has provided recommendations and links to FREE websites for kids. All sites have been reviewed for quality content, good values, and subject matter that’s safe and suitable for children. Great resource for both parent and teachers.

“If you don’t see the book you want on the shelf, write it.” — Beverly Cleary

BLOG: Pragmatic Mom Highly recommended to follow on social channels! Harvard graduate Mia Wenjen shares her love of children’s literature and her passion for getting children excited about reading. She offers practical and useful info for parents on many other subjects as well. Co-founder of Multicultural Children’s Book Day.

RED APPLE READING RED APPLE READING

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APRIL/ MAY 2017

RED APPLE READING Serious Learning that’s Seriously Fun.

WWW.REDAPPLEREADING.COM