Author Archives: Amanda Allen

Captain Underpants?

If you have children in the third or fourth grade, you might have heard of the undeniably silly-sounding Captain Underpants. The main characters in the book create a superhero by accidentally hypnotizing their principal, Mr. Krupp. The main characters, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, attend Jerome Horwitz Elementary school, and they are constantly running afoul…

Reading to your baby

You may think that reading to your baby is the same as reading to your older children, but it’s not. There are a few differences, such as: When parents read to older children, they read the book “as is”. When they read to babies, they may or may not read all the words. When reading…

4 children’s books on dinosaurs

If your child is naturally curious, and is fascinated with dinosaurs, then any or all of these books may be right for them. Here is a list of four dinosaur-related books for children. A Dinosaur Named Sue-This book tells about the discovery and later museum showing of a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton in 1990….

Miss Bindergarten celebrates the 100th day of kindergarten

Going to kindergarten can be a real challenge (one that I helped both of my children with), and reaching the 100th day of school is a real milestone. In this book, a teacher named Miss Bindergarten helps her class get ready for a party on the special day. The class has been together for 100…

Nature’s Classroom in Florida Gets Revamped

Nearly every elementary school student from the last forty years in Hillsborough County has a memory of taking a trip to this native wildlife and plant sanctuary. A ribbon cutting and grand re-opening ceremony is scheduled for this Tuesday, and guests will get a guided tour of the site. As reported on Yahoo News: “The…

Curl up With a Good Book

If you like to relax in the evenings, a book may provide just the escape you need. There are so many exciting books, by great authors, that I’m sure you’ll be able to find something you like. Whether you like romance, horror, or comedic novels, there’s a book out there for you. My favorite author…

Art Classes for Children

If you want to expand your child’s imagination, or just get them into an extra-curricular activity, art classes may be a good idea. Most schools offer art instruction, but at once a week on average it isn’t really enough. Most YMCA branches offer classes in art, as do many public libraries, community centers and museums….

Reading to your Baby

It’s never too early to instill a love of reading in your child. Starting at about six months of age, you can do it-because that’s about the age when babies become interested in sharing a story with you. Reading will help build your child’s vocabulary and improve his communication. Studies have shown that language skills,…

Children’s Book List

Birth to Preschool -Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney -Lucky Song by Vera Williams -Owl Babies by Martin Woddell -Do You Want to be My Friend by Eric Carle -The Temper Tantrum Book by Edna Mitchell Preston Preschool to Age 8 -Annabell Swift, Kindergartner by Amy Schwartz -Best Friends by Miriam Cohen…

Book Gifts for Children

Books make great gifts for children. Even babies like to look at the colorful pages while Mommy or Daddy reads to them. This article will help you choose the right book for a child in your life. Classics like The Cat in the Hat, Where the Wild Things Are, and Charlotte’s Web are all great…