Education - Parenting Healthy

Sample copies for the book series were sent for feature

The Nocturnals Book Series for Tweens about Bullying

Book 1 – The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions

The 3 friends: Dawn, a serious fox, Tobin, a sweet pangolin, and Bismark, the loud mouthed, pint sized sugar glider work together to find the mystery of disappearing animals at night. Wit the helps of some other nocturnal friends they use teamwork, friendships and some humor in their journey to solve this mystery.

Book 2 – The Nocturnals: The Ominous Eye

The 3 friends set out again to find the source of violent jolt that fractures the earth. Turns out it is a giant beast who is likely to attack again. They find an animal that can help, but isn’t easily trusted.

Book 3 – The Nocturnals: The Fallen Star

All of the forest’s pomelos have been mysteriously poisoned! Dawn, Tobin and Bismark need to find the cause as other animals are falling ill including Tobin! It is suggested it is monsters from the moon, but the 3 are doubtful. It is a race against time to find the mystery illness source.

My advice? Just buy all 3 books at once because they are so engaging you want more. It was hard for Anthony to put the books down as he got into the story. They are very well written leaving the reader so curious and really wanting to know the end result. To have book 2 and 3 waiting will encourage this excitement and keep them reading. Anthony is 9 and in the fourth grade. He followed along very well.

If they want even more make sure they visit the Nocturnals website. It is full of so much fun related to the stories. There are videos, discussions, games and more.

About the Author, Tracey Hecht

Tracey Hecht is a writer and entrepreneur who has written, directed and produced for film. Her first middle grade series, The Nocturnals was launched in 2016 with The Mysterious Abductions and The Ominous Eye. The American Bookselling Association chose The Mysterious Abductions as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick. Her third book, The Fallen Star was released in May 2017.

In partnership with the New York Public Library, Tracey created a Read Aloud Writing Program in 10 schools around New York City. During the year, she continued to conduct this program in over 35 schools, libraries and bookstores across the country. In June 2017, she launched a partnership with The Ryan Seacrest Foundation with The Nocturnals program at the broadcast media centers within pediatric hospitals. The first hospital was the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC.

When Tracey isn’t writing, she can be found hiking, reading or spending time with her family. Tracey currently splits her time between New York City and Oquossoc, Maine with her husband and four children.

Books Reviews, Children's Books, Education, Parenting

Freddie the Fly Motormouth: A Story About Listening – Book

August 31, 2017February 8, 2018 Erin Sluka

I have partnered with Boys Town Press for this feature

Freddie the Fly: A Story About Listening

By: Kimberly Delude

When I hit middle school I was told by my parents and some friends that I was a motormouth. I talked and (perhaps it’s the Italian influences from my Grandparents who were the same way) I talked fast! I would here “Calm down, you’re talking too fast” or “My! You have a lot to say!” I learned and grew put of it in High School and like, Freddie the Fly am better off for learning to control my speech.

Kimberly Delude is a Certified Speech and Language Pathologist and this is her first children’s book. Freddie is told he is a motormouth and after meeting other just like him they work together to learn ways to pause and listen. It is in learning these new skills he finds out some pretty neat stuff about his friends all because he stopped to listen.

Freddie the Fly will be available in October on Amazon and you can preorder it now.

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Back to School 2017, Education, Parenting

Are You First Day Ready For School?

August 24, 2017October 13, 2017 Erin Sluka

There is no mistaking that if your kids aren’t headed back to school now, they will be soon – the stores are filled with supplies and sales and ads for back-to-school. The beginning of a new school year can be an especially challenging time for parents and children both, although for totally different reasons. For parents, making sure that kids are equipped with the supplies and everything they need to get organized and have a good year is usually the first challenge. Then meeting the teachers, checking out the classrooms, and assessing the curriculum for the year is next on the list.

We just completed our school shopping this week. We also moved to a new town this summer so yesterday I dropped off all papers to register my son in 4th grade at his brand new school. He is excited but also nervous too. The next step for us is to wait for the call on what teacher he gets and if it is the same of some new friends he has met in our neighborhood and on his soccer team.

For kids, the stress of the new school year can be a little different than what we experience as parents. Did you know that one in five children in the U.S. have learning and attention issues, like ADHD and dyslexia? Children with these types of challenges – many of whom have never been formally diagnosed – can feel especially stressed during the back-to-school season as they face new subjects, teachers and schools.

As the new school year approaches, we were excited to get personalized tips from the First-Day Ready Guide to help our kids make a great start. The Ad Council and Understood.org have partnered to promote ways children and their families can be First-Day Ready. Understood.org is offering a free First-Day Ready Guide to help parents with students at every age successfully manage back-to-school transitions. Understood.org is a free, easy-to-use online resource and community designed to support parents and caregivers of children with learning and attention issues.

Having a guide is so helpful. My stepsons are 19 and 24 so it’s been some time since I have sent a fourth grader off to school.

These back-to-school tips from the Understood.org website are an invaluable resource for getting on track and starting the year of on the right foot. They helped my family; hopefully they can help yours too.

Planning early is important to help relieve stress. Creating structure and routine around the start of the new school year—with checklists, calendars and other organization systems— helps prepare kids for class expectations. I loved browsing the Printable Back-to-School Downloads. I am a paper person so this helps me a lot. I also enjoyed the 9 Apps to Help Kids Manage Back-to-School Challenges so we can use them to have mini discussions at bedtime leading up to the first day of school.

You can also take your child on a school tour to help ease fears by showing them how to find their classroom, nearby bathrooms, the cafeteria and other important places the first week of school. This can be a huge stress relief whether the child is new to the school or not. Just knowing where to go can help them feel more comfortable.

Connecting with your child’s teacher early on benefits everyone and creates a great starting point for the new year. This will give you an opportunity to share your child’s needs or learning style while expressing your support for the teacher and the challenges he/she may be facing with a new classroom full of students. You will help create an atmosphere of cooperation while speaking up for your child and his or her challenges.

Finally, get support! Many parents and students are going through the same experience. Understood.org and Understood’s Facebook page connect parents across the country to share information and learn from each other. You can also ask around your community and school to find other parents you can connect with.

So, no matter your child’s age or needs, this Back-to-School season can be a seamless transition and positive experience for both you and your children!

If you could use some help getting started on the right foot this school year, Understood.org is a great place to start.

All kids learn in different ways and at different paces. With the right support, all kids can thrive in school and in life.

Books Reviews, Children's Books, Education, Parenting

Children’s Book about Learning From Failure – Mindset Matters

July 25, 2017February 8, 2018 Erin Sluka

Sample copy sent for feature from Smith Publicity

Mindset Matters
By: Bryan Smith

Children do not like to lose. They need to learn and then learn to have fun but they take winning very seriously at times. Eventually that desire to win can begin to define them and that is not the direction we want our kids mindsets to head at that young age. Mindset Matters about Amelia who loves to skateboard. But, when she has a fall and hand injury and fears it will interfere with her sport she feels like a failure. Amelia’s Dad teaches here to have a different mindset. It is a mindset that about learning and growing.

Mindset Matters is great for the grades 1-5 age group. Teach your kids how to find their Gonna-Get-It-Done attitude. Not only is this book for the child athlete, but it can be related to sibling competition and hobbies as well as academics. Use Amelia’s story to start a conversation that will empower your child. I read this to my son the night before basketball camp.

Find Mindset Matters on Amazon and bookstores near you.