Education, Kids, Parenting

Let PJ Library’s Unique, Family-Friendly Ideas Enliven Your Purim Holiday

This year the Purim Holiday falls on March 9-10. The colors and festivities around Purim are so much fun and engaging for kids and PJ Library has tools and family-friendly ideas to make the holiday extra special.

On Purim, it’s customary to listen to the biblical Book of Esther (also known as the Megillah in Hebrew), put on comic productions of the story of Purim called purimspiels (Yiddish for “plays”), dress up in costumes as the famous characters from the story, bake (and eat!) hamantaschen, shake Purim groggers (noisemakers), give gift baskets (mishloach manot) to friends and do tzedakah and other good works to spread joy and help the needy.

PJ Library is here to help with all of that. If you have signed your child up (it’s free) to received mailers from PJ Library you should have the Purim set by now. In this celebration kit I got the book, Brave Girl and a Purim Box to make and decorate.

This Purim, PJ Library has created 18 great ideas sure to spur creativity and togetherness. Whether your children have never dressed for Purim before or baked a classic, delicious hamantaschen– or you’re just tired of the same old routine – check out these enjoyable activities! And, for more, families are welcome to visit PJ Library’s Purim Hub!

Families raising Jewish children may subscribe at PJ Library HERE, tapping in to a wealth of information, parenting resources and community events as well as free books.

Comment: I am proud to partner with PJ Library as a 2020 Ambassador. I am compensated lightly through this partnership and my words and comments are my own

Children's Books, Education, Kids

PJ Library LISTEN: free family-friendly audio stories and video streaming

This is a sponsored post with PJ Library. I have chosen to partner with them as an Ambassador for 2020

Looking for a few good books to change up your family’s bedtime story routine? Introducing Jewish stories and traditions is free and fun within the PJ Library LISTEN hub.

This year, make a resolution to bring great, award-winning and meaningful entertainment to your children through PJ Library’s numerous fee-free offerings – from the new streaming entertainment hub, PJ Library LISTEN, to receiving monthly age-appropriate books through PJ Library.

Launched in January, PJ Library LISTEN is a fee-free curated streaming hub for family-friendly audio and video entertainment. With one click, families may access hours of audio stories, themed musical playlists, animated videos and the 24/7 PJ Library Radio channel. New and seasonal content will be added to PJ Library LISTEN every month.

The children’s literature and music experts at PJ Library select the content for PJ Library LISTEN. Picture books by authors like Jennifer Rosner and Bara Bat-Shem come to life in animated videos. The curated playlists feature songs for most any occasion: back to school, bedtime and family dance parties by children’s music stars Joanie Leeds, Mister G and Josh and the Jamtones as well as artists like Nefesh Mountain, Rick Recht, and a special upcoming playlist featuring Lisa Loeb.All the content is available anywhere, anytime, and with no fee or sign-up required.

“PJ Library LISTEN offers families a wealth of entertainment options, and parents can trust that the content is safe and worthwhile,” notes Meredith Lewis, director of content for PJ Library. Monthly new musical selections reflect modern styles and content consistent with Jewish values, according to Lewis.

PJ Library January Books

For parents seeking to share the very best-in Jewish storybooks with their children, PJ Library is an award-winning program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation which sends more than 220,000 books per month to families raising Jewish children across North America. PJ Library is a fun, easy way to introduce kids to Jewish traditions, culture, and values through expertly curated, age-specific monthly selections, for children ages 6 months to 8 years old. The experiences changes for kids at age 9 when they graduate to PJ Our Way and get to choose their own book each month.

To sign up for the free monthly program or partake in a wealth of activities, recipes and parenting articles, as well as a new podcast for kids: “Have I Got a Story for You,” visit pjlibrary.org

FOR FAMILIES SEEKING TO RECEIVE THE VERY BEST OF JEWISH CHILDREN’S LITERATURE EACH MONTH,LOOK NO FURTHER THAN AWARD-WINNING PJ LIBRARY

Education, Parenting, STEM Learning

Greg Landry Homeschool Science

This post is sponsored by College Prep Science.

Greg Landry Homeschool Science

If the education you are providing for your child is missing a Christian base, this is for you. If you need another point of view to understand science topics or ACT prep, this is for you. If you are a Homeschool Mom or Dad looking for tools, this is for you.

Greg Landry is a homeschool science pioneer and offers online classes (for science leaning students and “non-science” students, science labs, ACT prep, a podcast for homeschool moms, and homeschool student-produced print publications.

Greg says he is first and foremost grateful. “The Lord has made me very aware of my need for a grateful heart. I’m grateful for a God who knows me and loves me (with all of my faults), for my family, for the thousands of homeschooling families I’ve had the privilege of  working with over the past 20 years, for the magnificence of His Creation, and for the trials in my life (James 1:2-4 ) that shape and mold me, humble me, produce perseverance, and mature me in my faith.”

Greg is a husband to his bride of 30+ years, a homeschool dad, and a former college professor. He and his wife homeschooled their two daughters. Both of them have graduated from college, and Greg says, “most importantly, both of them love Jesus. For that, we are very grateful.”  He grew up in French / Acadian South Louisiana (three of his grandparents were French speakers) and he loves the South Louisiana culture. At age 18 was invited to tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies baseball organization. He played baseball and football in college and holds a master of science degree from LSU (Louisiana State University).

He has a heart for students and a passion for science… but more specifically a passion for teaching students to see God’s hand in every aspect of His creation that surrounds us. His goal is to help them see that God’s creation didn’t just happen by chance – it wasn’t an accident, a fluke of nature.

Greg has spent the past 20+ years teaching science. He taught at a university, taught thousands of homeschooled students, has mentored students planning to pursue science / pre-med degrees, has designed and directed a university anatomy and physiology/biology cadaver lab, has published and presented scientific research, has academically counseled hundreds of college pre-professional (pre-med, pre-dental, pre-physical therapy, etc.) sophomores and juniors, has designed science labs for homeschooled students, and has written science lab manuals. 

Ten years ago he originated the “pre” classes (Pre-Biology, Pre-Anatomy & Physiology, Pre-Chemistry, and Pre-Physics) as a means of minimizing the intimidation of high school level science and preparing middle school age students for specific high school level classes. As one homeschool mom described it, “Greg has a unique ability to pull out the most important information and present it in a way that’s interesting and easy to understand.”

The thrust of Greg Landry homeschool science is to give homeschooled students access to Christian Worldview science that is focused on scientific inquiry, critical thinking, process reasoning, data collection, and the graphical and written representation of research. Greg says, “we want to prepare competent, confident students for their remaining high school years, their college years, and life. 

Greg and his wife live near Nashville, TN. His desire is to follow the Lord’s leading in teaching students to illuminate the incredible creation the Lord has put all around us. It reveals His glory! ​Homeschool dad, scientist, and former college professor, Greg Landry, offers live, online homeschool science classes, Homeschool ACT Prep Bootcamp, the Homeschool Mom’s Science Podcast, in-person two-day science lab intensives nationwide, freebies for homeschool moms, and student-produced homeschool print publications.

Books Reviews, Children's Books, Earth Friendly, Education

5 Must Have Books for Kids Ages 5-8 in 2019

5 Must Have Books for Kids Ages 5-8 in 2019

With school back in and Holidays nearing, finding new books is a constant. We may need books for reading homework, class reading, gift ideas and at home bedtime routines. There are so many new titles daily and I found 5 Must Have Books for Kids Ages 5-8.

The Boring Book

by Shinsuke Yoshitake

The Boring Book features one particularly bored boy as he discovers, there’s actually more to boredom than meets the eye—more questions, more theories, and heaps of humor. It is playfully—and hilariously—unpacks the ways in which a seemingly stagnant state is actually a portal into a dynamic, life-enriching experience. 

Chronicle BooksAmazonAuthor

Grown-Ups Never Do That

by Davide Cali and Benjamin Chaud

Grown-Ups Never Do That is as unbelievable as it may seem, but sometimes even grown-ups misbehave! It’s a rollicking tale, showcasing the humor—and the humanity—of the most important people in kids’ lives.

Chronicle BooksAmazonAuthor

Get Up, Stand Up (Bob Marley)

by Bob Marley and Cedella Marley

Get Up, Stand up is an adaptation of one of Bob Marley’s beloved songs and has a timely message for children: To counter injustice, lift others up with kindness and courage. As a young girl goes on with her day in school, she comes across several instances of teasing and intimidation. But with loving action and some help from her friends, she’s able to make things right for herself and others. 

Chronicle BooksAmazonAuthor

Caspian Finds a Friend

by Jacqueline Veissid

Caspian lives in a lighthouse surrounded by a cold gray-blue sea—every day, he watches, wishing for a friend, but no one comes. So, Caspian decides that wishing is not enough. What follows is a friendship story between a boy and a bear that is tender, warm, and perfect for gift-giving.

Chronicle BooksAmazonAuthor

Most of the Better Natural Things in the World

by Dave Eggers

With just one word per page, in lush, color-rich landscapes, we learn about the features that make up our world: an archipelago, a dune, an isthmus, a lagoon. Across them all, the tiger roams.

Chronicle BooksAmazonAuthor

Comment: I was sent titles and chose some to feature on my own