Crafty Christmas Countdown: 21

My first Christmas countdown, I made a paper mache hot air balloon that didn't turn out particularly well. With the time I put into it, though, I couldn't bear to throw it out. I've had it in my craft supplies ever since with plans to alter it. Which I have done, at last. I like this new version much better.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 22

You can find a lot of ornaments at the dollar store, most of them tackier than I care to use. This reindeer, as it was sold, doesn't appeal to me. A little paint, though, makes it much more interesting.

And since it was a 2 pack, I was able to try different designs. 

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 23

I think my favorite Christmas image is the Christmas star. I found this simple star on Pinterest and had to give it a try. I used ribbon instead of raffia. It's a simple decoration but I like how it looks.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 24

Friends, can you believe it's December already?! It's time for my third annual Crafty Christmas Countdown.

I decided to hit the ground running this year with a puppet. If you've been following my blog at all you know I have kind of a thing for puppets. I thought it might be fun to make a Christmas light puppet. I started with a plastic Easter egg. A little multi surface paint gave the surface a sort of translucent quality. I used a pipe cleaner for the arms/wire. My favorite part, though, is the battery operated tea light inside which allows the bulb to glow.

Picture books for everyone

Let There Be Light and From Eden to Bethlehem by Danielle Hitchen

Technically, these books don't exactly fit my standards for this feature. Technically, they're board books. As such, they're not exactly going to appeal to your upper elementary reader. Unlike many animal or opposites board books, though, they'll grow with your tot. Each concept is illustrated in a simple way. We see concepts like light and dark or an image of an animal. Then, for the slightly older child, we're given a Bible verse that illustrates the idea and puts it into a larger context. For a child growing up in a religious family, religion can sometimes feel disconnected from the rest of life. Books like these build a foundation of greater life context for young children.
Advanced Reader Copies provided by NetGalley

Non fiction book review - Christmas

Christmas by Nikki Tate and Dani Tate-Stratton

There is no shortage of books out there that explore symbols and traditions of Christmas. I don't know that I've ever seen one aimed at children that explores the topic in such detail and wide scope. We see traditions from various regions and their source in cultural and religious traditions. Thus we get a brief introduction to the importance of winter holidays in several religions and parallels to modern Christmas. Each exploration is fairly brief but a complete overview. It's more of a quick reference for the curious than a source of complete research but would be a welcome addition to most children's book collections.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - The Brain

Title: Science Comics The Brain
Author: Tory Woollcott
Genre: non fiction graphic novel
Similar books: Smash! by Sarah Latta
                      Human Body Theater by Maris Wicks
Rating:

entertaining and informative

Summary (provided by publisher): With Science Comics, you can explore the depths of the ocean, the farthest reaches of space, and everything in between! These gorgeously illustrated graphic novels offer wildly entertaining views of their subjects.
In this volume, Fahama has been kidnapped by a mad scientist and his zombie assistant, and they are intent on stealing her brain! She'll need to learn about the brain as fast as possible in order to plan her escape!
How did the brain evolve? How do our senses work in relation to the brain? How do we remember things? What makes you, YOU? Get an inside look at the human brain, the most advanced operating system in the world . . . if you have the nerve!

My opinion: I went into this book expecting a basic "these are the parts of the brain and this is how neurons and electrical signals send messages". And that's certainly a part of it. We get a couple of pages about how neurons differ from other cells and a deep dive into the role of electrical signals. But this is more than simple biology. It starts with the development of brains as specialized tissue, the differences in brain structures in various species. We move on to different types of signals and intelligences and the importance of diversity in thought. That's a lot of information to pack into under 130 pages of graphic novel while also integrating a simple story.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley