Amirah's Books

Happy Make it Monday!!!

Today, we will be reading all about penguins! Go grab your penguin books and get ready to make some adorable little penguins!

You will need:
Black, white, and orange construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Free penguin craft template: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Penguin-Craft-1049718

Collect your materials and print out your template! If you don't have a printer, you can do it by free hand!
Once you have traced your templates onto the construction paper, have your helper cut and paste the pieces together! Then, take your favorite penguin book and go learn all about penguins! You can turn this into a reading comprehension activity/writing project with the prompts in the template! So many ways to MAKE this penguin activity fit for your reader!!!

Our houses are now filled with new toys for our kids - but what toys did YOU love when you were younger?

I was always a block fan or into creating things with crafts.

You may already notice your readers developing a love for particular authors and illustrators. Nurture their fan-ship by helping them write a letter to their favorite author or illustrator! Many have their own websites with contact information. You can also contact the book's publisher; the mailing address for which can often be found on the back of the title page or on the publisher's website. 🙂

Who do you think your child would like to write a letter to? ❤️

To start the new year off right, it's all about mindset! Which one would help your reader sharpen their focus?

Doing Your Best - From the series "Big Words for Little People," it's showtime! Everyone will do their best. Each book in this series creates a special moment to focus on feelings and discover the words and phrases needed to talk about them. All the words are carefully chosen, and the 10 sharing tips at the back of the book, plus a glossary, offer easy opportunities to talk about first experiences and new emotions.

Be Positive! - Readers use creativity to combat negative feelings and boost self-esteem with the writing, craft, and doodling activities designed to help them feel more self-confident. These age-appropriate exercises and activities are designed to tackle the complex emotions a child faces and help the child to work out how and why they feel the way that they do.

What's your pick??

One of my resolutions this year is to slow down, and this is one of my favorite ways to do that.

For our Peek Inside Tuesday, I present to you:
Unhurry Magic Painting!

Now breathe…and relax. This magic painting book is all about taking a little time to breathe, focus and be calm, with the help of some friendly sloths. Simply dip the magic water brush into water, brush it over the black and white patterns, and you'll be amazed at the colors that magically appear.

Recommended for 4+

Add this book to your cart and get 10% back on your entire book haul!!! (reimbursed via PayPal, Venmo or Facebook Pay)
https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8748/unhurry-magic-painting

Happy Make it Monday!

Today we are going to make fake snow! This is such a great way for children to explore winter through play! You can build a snowman, make a sensory bin, or just see where the activity takes you!

You will need:
A large bowl
White hair conditioner ½ cup
Baking soda 2 and ½ cups
Large spoon or spatula for mixing

Mix ingredients and enjoy!!! You can take a pipette and food coloring to decorate your snowman or throw in some arctic animals! Maybe a snow kitchen? I cannot wait to see what you do!!!

Note: Children should be supervised by an adult while playing with the pretend snow. Small children may be tempted to put the snow in their mouths or rub their eyes.

Remember to wash your little one's hands after using this snow. This will prevent any residue from getting in their eyes should they touch their face or rub their eyes.

It's time to start a new week!

In terms of classical art, how are you feeling about it?

Have you ever seen your children's faces light up when you praise them during reading? The more enthusiastic I am, the more likely they are to actually engage vs looking around the room.

Positive attitudes are very important to a child's reading development and generate a desire to read. Showing genuine excitement for childrens' reading skills will encourage them to become great readers. Struggling readers may start to develop a negative attitude towards reading, but showing them that reading can be fun will get them excited about reading time. Great times to praise a child when he or she is reading include, when he or she sounds out a difficult word, self-corrects and re-reads a sentence, or asks questions as he or she is reading. ❤️

As we're thankful for a new year and a fresh start, it's important to remember all those who help us along the way, in big and small ways, every day!

I Like Helping People...What Jobs Are There? - Children who enjoy helping others can explore careers from mechanic to politician, paramedic to postal worker, and lots more. Great for children who have a passion for something but don't yet know how they can turn it into a job, this series helps them figure things out along the way!

Keeping Things Going - From firefighter to aid worker, police officer to mountain rescue worker, mommies and daddies do all kinds of jobs in all kinds of places. But there's one thing every child knows for sure - they're heroes! This sweet, rhyming picture book is filled with heroes to celebrate with the whole family.

What's your pick??

Amirah's Books added a Shop on Website button to their Page.

Guess what today is?? That's right! TUESDAY! It's Peek Inside day!!

The Blizzard Challenge

You're given a magical compass and suddenly you're no longer at outdoor camp but in an amazing place in the world – with Bear Grylls as your guide! Olly's on a glacier and a blizzard's coming! He and Bear must trek across frozen lakes and through deep drifts to get home.

Recommended for 7-10

Add this gem to your cart and get 10% back on your entire book haul!!! (reimbursed via PayPal, Venmo or Facebook Pay)

https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8300/blizzard-challenge-the

Happy Make it Monday!

Today we will be making an exploding snowman!!! This is a fun preschool STEM activity that your kids will want to do over and over again!

You will need:
Sandwich bag
Permanent markers
Baking soda
Vinegar
Paper towel or tissue paper

First, give the sandwich bag to your child (if old enough) to decorate with permanent markers. This is a good opportunity to teach them how to draw a snowman's face! I recommend a large piece of paper or old placemat for this one! Next, wrap 3 teaspoons of baking soda inside a paper towel or tissue. Place the baking soda packet inside the plastic bag. Pour about 1-2 cups of vinegar into the sandwich bag and close quickly! It should swell up quickly. Stand back and watch it explode!

If you do not want to have the snowman possible explode in your hand, add the vinegar to the bag first, put in the baking soda wrapped in the paper towel without letting it touch the vinegar, seal it, and then let the paper towel drop down!
Q: Why did the snowman explode?
A: As baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, mixes with vinegar, carbon dioxide is created. The bag starts to fill with carbon dioxide (and that's why you see the bag start to swell up) until the pressure is too much and … BOOM!
If your kids are like mine, they will want to do it over and over again! Pull out a step by step drawing book and let them practice their drawing skills on the bags! Here are some ideas for changing different variables:
What happens if you don't use a paper towel to wrap the baking soda and put the baking soda directly in the bag?
What happens if you add more vinegar or more baking soda?
If you use the same amount of vinegar and baking soda, can you explode a bigger bag (try a gallon-sized bag)?

Today we get the opportunity to celebrate and honor an amaziong man named Martin Luther King.
Today, we are watching this video of Dr. King's I Have a Dream Speech, and talk about the importance of this Dream.
About the progress that has been made, but more inportantly the progress that needs to be made.
That we all matter and that our voice is important.
May we take a little time to "stand up for freedom together, struggle together" and teach our children to love and show kindness to everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP4iY1TtS3s

Want to Easily add Creative books to your home library?📚🔥

➡ Get a free $25 gift certificate to build your library

www.amirahsbooks.com

We have some of the BEST coloring books around for little ones through adults! Today is the perfect day to break open a new box of Crayolas and create something beautiful!

This series is perfect for kiddos learning to stay in the lines (and they are small enough to throw in an Easter basket too) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgX-ITjFwaQ

Happy Tuesday Book Lovers!! Let's open the pages of another great title today for Take A Peek Tuesday 📖👀

That's Not My Narwhal

Our That's Not My Books are such favorites in our home and I always thought these Narwhals were majestic animals straight out of a story book!! Your little one will love touching the textured patches as they meet lots of adorable narwhals. The bright pictures and textures are designed to help develop sensory and language awareness.

Recommended ages: 9mos+

🛒
https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8496/thats-not-my-narwhal-a-thats-not-my-series-book

Pretend play and interactive books are amazing ways to help kiddos develop those early social skills, especially when it comes to learning how to nurture and take care of others. The newest repositionable sticker book, Good as New, is a must-have for any home library!

Today we're making a pretend cast and bandages just like the ones used by the characters in Good as New! All you need is an empty paper towel roll (an empty toilet paper roll works too!), some duct tape (we used white, but casts come in all colors!), a permanent marker, and some scissors.

Wrap the paper towel roll with strips of duct tape -- I cut small strips that fit once around the roll and did two layers. After the roll is completely covered, cut the roll length-wise in the back so that it makes an adjustable cuff-like bandage. Use the permanent marker to sign the cast and write well wishes to the injured patient! If you have any leftover rolls, you can cut them into smaller pieces to make little bandages as well. They'll be good as new in no time!

If you haven't snagged a copy of Good as New yet, do it quick before this one sells out!! https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8832/good-as-new

Does anyone else fight the Battle of Brushing Teeth every night??

We've been reading Why Should I Brush My Teeth from the adorable lift-the-flap series Very First Questions and Answers, and -- cue the choir -- it's not a battle anymore!! We've also added in this super fun brushing activity, and now brushing teeth is FUN!!

Here's what you need: paper/pen, a clear plastic sheet protector, dry erase marker, (old) toothbrush, shaving cream

Draw a giant tooth on a sheet of paper and place it inside the sheet protector. Draw the "germs" and "food" onto the tooth with the dry erase marker, and then use the toothbrush to brush away the bad stuff and make the tooth shiny and clean! You can add shaving cream to use as toothpaste for a little extra fun!!

Need to add this one to your library asap? Click here to grab a copy!: https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8231/lift-the-flap-very-first-questions-and-answers-why-should-i-brush-my-teeth

Springtime brings warm sunny days, rain showers, and -- if we're lucky -- rainbows! What Makes it Rain, from the fun lift-the-flap First Questions & Answers series is a super helpful book to explore all those questions that come up about the changing weather patterns. And today we're adding in some creative art to go along with it using salt painting!

Supplies needed: white cardstock paper, pencil/marker, Elmer's glue (the squeeze bottle), salt, paintbrush, watercolor paint (I love to use liquid watercolors and add just a dash of water to it -- the colors stay bold and vibrant when you paint the salt!)

Draw a fun weather-themed picture on a piece of white cardstock. Trace the drawing with a line of glue. Shake the salt onto the glue, making sure to cover the lines of glue completely. Tilt the paper to let the excess salt runoff -- and you're ready to paint! You can wait for the salt/glue to dry, or paint right away -- just taking care not to press too much into the wet salt/glue. Dip the paintbrush into one of the colors and lightly touch it to the salt/glue line -- the color will absorb into the salt/glue mixture like magic! 🌈

You can find a copy of What Makes it Rain right here!: https://d11157.myubam.com/p/5534/lift-the-flap-first-questions-and-answers-what-makes-it-rain

It's almost EASTER!! How about a fun maze activity to celebrate?

This week, tell me one thing you have learned this year that you would tell yourself!!! Looking back and reflecting can help us to be able to move forward with direction and purpose.
For me, I would tell myself to enjoy the extra family time and pace myself!
What about you?

Happy !! We made it!

What is more fun than games?? (Especially games that teach your child when they don't even know they are learning!) That's the best as a parent! It makes you feel like you're getting away with something 😂 Here is a fun "game" that UBAM offers, that my kids ask to play over and over again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgiqQmNLggE

🛒- https://d11157.myubam.com/search?q=learning+palette

Never underestimate the power of a kind deed! Kindness is something that can make an impact on us and others when we least expect it!
Share an act of kindness that has impacted you! Mine will be in the comments!

I have been thinking a lot about our health care workers lately! I am so grateful for those who work tirelessly to provide medical care and emergency services to those in need!
We were just reading this book about all of these amazing people who help keep us healthy!!!
I love that this book shows healthcare workers from the perspective of a child of a health care worker!
Who is a health care hero in your life?

"Pop-Up Fairy Tales: The Three Little Pigs" is our chosen book this week 📖👀

Our pop up books are like no others!! Enjoy the retelling of this classic fairy tale, with fantastic pop-ups, all stunning illustrations. Our books even come with QR codes for streamable audio.

Recommended ages: 3+

🛒https://d11157.myubam.com/p/7830/pop-up-fairy-tales-the-three-little-pigs

Do you ever feel overwhelmed about not being able to do enough? That you only have time for one story? One minute, one hug, or one moment to share with your child? Is it enough? Does it really make a difference?

First of all, take a deep breath and remind yourself that your small acts make a HUGE IMPACT over time!!! These tiny habits show the importance of reading and spending that quality time together!

One story a day or whatever you can do is enough. You are enough. AND your children will cherish even the tiniest moments to take to be with them and read with them!

What tiny moment are you going to work on them is week?

It's Take a Peek Tuesday Time 📖👀

Let's look inside 100 Things to Know About Saving the Planet

It's so important for our kiddos to learn the value of taking care of our planet. This book has lots of tips and 100 facts about looking after our planet with bright & infographic illustrations. There's even links to selected websites to find out more ways they can help.

Recommended ages: 9+

🛒
https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8649/100-things-to-know-about-saving-the-planet-ir

Let's look inside our Mix & Match Series toddler books.

Baby's Very First Mix & Match Emergency!
&
Baby's Very First Mix & Match Jobs

Little children will love making different animals with these entertaining board books. Each page is split into two parts – a head and a body – with animals in various jobs to mix and match. With over 150 combinations and bright illustrations throughout.

Recommended ages: 1+

🛒
https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8769/babys-very-first-mix-match-jobs

🛒https://_____.myubam.com/p/8768/babys-very-first-mix-match-emergency

Lets walk on the wild side with Dinosaur Sounds 🦖🦕 and head out on an exciting excavation adventure (in the sandbox 😉)!

But first, we'll need to make our own dinosaur bones! Enlist your little paleontologist for help and head to the kitchen to whip up a set of dinosaur fossils using the super simple recipe below. Bury the bones in a sandbox, flowerbed, or sensory bin, add in a few tools (playdough tools, paintbrushes, etc.), and have fun discovering some "real" dinosaur bones!!

Head here to grab a copy of Dinosaur Sounds: https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8730/dinosaur-sounds
.. then gather the following supplies: flour, salt, water (that's it!!) 🙌

To make the bones:
1. Mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 cup of water together in a bowl.
2. Knead the dough for a few minutes until it's firm.
3. Shape the dough into dinosaur bones. Let your imagination run wild!
4. Place on a sheet pan and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes per inch of thickness.
5. Allow the bones to cool completely, then bury in sand, dirt, or a sensory bin for a fun dinosaur dig!

Look-and-find books are not only lots of fun and a great way to get little ones interested in books, but they also help develop so many basic (and important!!) skills! Look-and-find books build listening, memory, and vocabulary skills as children begin to recognize the objects in the pictures. And the Very First Book of Things to Spot at Home is filled with bright, colorful illustrations that invite your child to look, point, and interact with the book, answering questions, solving simple puzzles and building those critical early social skills!

Help your kiddo sharpen their observation skills even more by going on a fun scavenger hunt inside the house! Write down a list of items (or draw a simple picture of the items) and let your little investigator hunt for each object! You can even add in some colors practice by specifying a certain color of the object, and then practice counting by adding up all the items they found!

Grab a copy of Very First Book of Things to Spot at Home here, and then head out on a fun scavenger hunt to see what you can find!: https://d11157.myubam.com/p/5268/very-first-book-of-things-to-spot-at-home

🎨 Let's get crafty!!

These activity books are SO much fun and will keep your kids' creative juices flowing! I wanted to show off three of my very favorites for you! Which one would be a hit in your house?

Find them on my site here:
🔮 https://d11157.myubam.com/p/6284/fortune-tellers-to-fold
🦙 https://d11157.myubam.com/p/7903/llama-embroidery-kit-ir
🐋 https://d11157.myubam.com/p/6138/oceans

Happy Sunday Book L💜vers!

I'm sharing one of our family's favorites🤗

100 Superplanes to Fold & Fly✈️

This title comes with simple step-by-step folding instructions and a collection of futuristic designs inspired by next-generation planes and spaceplanes.

Recommended ages: 6+

🛒https:/d11157.myubam.com/p/8735/100-superplanes-to-fold-fly

Today is all about US, ladies! The theme for this year's International Women's Day is Choose to Challenge. International Women's Day was March 8.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

I am so glad that our books highlight the strengths and accomplishments of women from around the world.

To celebrate, I'll be read this book to your daughter. Let her know that she can be anything she wants to be! https://d11157.myubam.com/p/5981/amelia-who-could-fly

Who loves to camp in their backyard? This is something I have always wanted to do as a family! Even though we aren't going on a big Spring Break vacay this year, spending time outside looking at the stars sounds like a pretty good alternative!

Here are some fun activities for you to do with your little ones while you admire the night sky on this first official day of SPRING!

Looking for that perfect activity book to fill the Easter basket? Then, look no further and pick up your copy of Easter Sticker books here ➡️➡️➡️ http://d11157.myubam.com/p/8787/little-stickers-bunnies #.YDXCL5TYbLc.link
http://d11157.myubam.com/p/8279/little-stickers-easter #.YDXCZDMcZxw.link

Do you think about whether your child is able to keep up with other kids in the classroom? Especially during these times, I wonder where I can find books 📚 to build confidence and esteem. Let me introduce you to a wonderful book that will keep your young child excited about learning!!!
Dotty and Dash's 123
Join Dotty and Dash as they race through the pages, discovering numbers galore in this colorful pop-up extravaganza
This one is recommended for ages 3-6
🛒https://d11157.myubam.com/p/8160/dotty-and-dashs-123