‘Tis the Season…

 

Source: Facebook

Marketing Funnies: The Evolution of Social Marketing

Reblogged from Snap!:

Click to view the Facebook Marketing Humor and Wisdom Page and subscribe!

No comment necessary...:D

The Benefits of Reading Together

1. A stronger relationship with you. As your child grows older, he’ll be on the move—playing, running, and constantly exploring his environment. Snuggling up with a book lets the two of you slow down and recaptures that sweet, cuddly time you enjoyed when he was a baby. Instead of being seen as a chore or a task, reading will become a nurturing activity that will bring the two of you closer together.
2. Academic excellence. One of the primary benefits of reading to toddlers and preschoolers is a higher aptitude for learning in general. Numerous studies have shown that students who are exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education. After all, if a student struggles to put together words and sentences, how can he be expected to grasp the math, science, and social concepts he’ll be presented with when he begins elementary school?
3. Basic speech skills. Throughout toddlerhood and preschool, your child is learning critical language and enunciation skills. By listening to you read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, your child is reinforcing the basic sounds that form language. “Pretend reading”—when a toddler pages through a book with squeals and jabbers of delight—is a very important pre-literacy activity. As a preschooler, your child will likely begin sounding out words on his own.
4. The basics of how to read a book. Children aren’t born with an innate knowledge that text is read from left to right, or that the words on a page are separate from the images. Essential pre-reading skills like these are among the major benefits of early reading.
5. Better communication skills. When you spend time reading to toddlers, they’ll be much more likely to express themselves and relate to others in a healthy way. By witnessing the interactions between the characters in the books you read, as well as the contact with you during story time, your child is gaining valuable communication skills.
6. Mastery of language. Early reading for toddlers has been linked to a better grasp of the fundamentals of language as they approach school age.
7. More logical thinking skills. Another illustration of the importance of reading to children is their ability to grasp abstract concepts, apply logic in various scenarios, recognize cause and effect, and utilize good judgment. As your toddler or preschooler begins to relate the scenarios in books to what’s happening in his own world, he’ll become more excited about the stories you share.
8. Acclamation to new experiences. As your child approaches a major developmental milestone or a potentially stressful experience, sharing a relevant story is a great way to help ease the transition. For instance, if your little one is nervous about starting preschool, reading a story dealing with this topic shows her that her anxiety is normal.
9. Enhanced concentration and discipline. Toddlers may initially squirm and become distracted during story time, but eventually they’ll learn to stay put for the duration of the book. Along with reading comprehension comes a stronger self-discipline, longer attention span, and better memory retention, all of which will serve your child well when she enters school.
10. The knowledge that reading is fun! Early reading for toddlers helps them view books as an indulgence, not a chore. Kids who are exposed to reading are much more likely to choose books over video games, television, and other forms of entertainment as they grow older.

Source, Picture credit

Ideas for Old Books

Reblogged from House of 34:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Old books can be found everywhere.  From Goodwill and Habitat Restore to used Book Stores and garage sales.  Libraries even sell out of date books for very little money.

I have been wanting to make my last name initial from a book to put in my bookcase.  I had seen it on Pinterest, where they used a jigsaw and a template made from a large cutout printed font. 

Read more… 85 more words

A few great ideas for those who are crafty and don't want their books anymore. :D

Book Art

I had no idea that people did this with books. For someone who was taught to always wash her hands before picking up a book, doing this to a book is unimaginable. But, it is beautiful, right?

Credit: all thanks to Pinterest

Writing and Publishing

So, I thought that this blog could use an infusion of information about writing (and, even, publishing). I don’t know much about these topics (certainly not about publishing), so, I picked the brains of other bloggers via pingbacks.

The Writer’s To-Do List

One hundred “rules” for writing fiction: 87-91

The 7 Deadly Sins of the Writer

How to Organize Your Self-Published Novel

What to Say to a Literary Agent on the Phone

What Really Sells a Book

Self-Publishing Week Wrap-Up

Picture credit

Teddy Bear vs. the Monsters in Your Room

Is this not the best picture you’ve seen? (At least, lately?)

I came across it on Facebook by chance; it’s by Begemott and it’s called “Sweet Halloween Dreams”.

But, it just says it all in terms of the function of a teddy bear, doesn’t it? Or, maybe, Teddy could be a representation of your bit of courage standing up to your fears in general. Or David and Goliath….or some other metaphor…

Does anyone have stories to share about their teddy bears or childhood fears of the dark? I never had a toy to sleep with, but I did endow my duvet with powers of protection.

The Perfume that Smells Like a Book

It has finally happened. The lovely smell emitted by every new book has been bottled. Is this every book lover’s dream come true or a conspiracy from the e-book people to convince us paper book lovers to go digital? I don’t know, but I am intrigued.

Read more about it here: Karl Lagerfeld to Develop “Paper Passion” Fragrance, Karl Lagerfeld’s Paper Passion Perfume to Smell Like a New Book, Paper Passion: Wallpaper Launches Fragrance with Karl Lagerfeld & Steidl

Photo credit

Book Page Wreath

Reblogged from :

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hello friends. Yes, I know. I am the worst—it has been over a month since my last post! But, please don’t hate…because I have something awesome to show you!

BOOM!

This was such a fun, inexpensive and super easy wreath to make!
The worst part of this project was when I continuously burnt the crap out of my fingers had to rip up two books in order to make this.

Read more… 407 more words

The perfect crafting project for when you don't really want your books anymore, but aren't ready to throw them out...just in time for summer...:)

Happy Canada Day!

This is one of  my favourite holidays. I only cry on Canada Day and Rememberance Day. Not even Christmas can get me this emotional. I guess that I’m pretty patriotic. So, I raise my glass to Canadians everywhere and to everyone who loves their country as much as I love mine.

Here’s one of the best Canadian songs ever: Canadian, Please.

P.S. Yes, I’ve berated myself for not reviewing a book by a Canadian author for this occasion…but, I’ll be sure to have one reviewed for Remembrance Day.

Photo credit