Crafty Christmas Countdown: 22

 If there are two things I have in abundance, it's Altoid tins and peg dolls. So it only makes sense to put them together. And the result is this craft: a manger scene in a tin.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 23

 Today's craft is a simple kit: adhesive craft foam attached to a canvas panel. I did Marfalfa it up a little bit by drawing dinosaurs as the car's driver and passenger.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 24

 It's December and that it means it's that time of year where I torture myself with the "fun" idea of making a Christmas themed craft every day until Christmas. It's a lot but it's also a great creative challenge. This year I decided to add to the challenge by setting strict limits on purchases. I'm trying to use supplies I already have.

To start out the countdown, I made a little cart out of cardboard. It was designed to be "pulled" by some bobblehead goats we got (I believe they were a fastfood promotion tied into the new Thor movie). And for giggles, I have Eevee driving the cart, delivering gifts. There is likely to be a Santa hat in Eevee's future.

Non-fiction book review - Off to Class

 

Off to Class by Susan Hughes

 If there's one experience that most young readers will find relatable, it's going to school. So if you're looking to educate kids about what life looks like for other people around the world, school is a decent place to start. This is especially true when that experience varies wildly from what we in the west consider "normal". Now, we should note that the schools featured in this book are not standard for the culture but are meeting a rather particular need. Even so, it's compelling reading. The chapters are easily read and use very accessible language.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Angora

 Today I have for you not a craft, exactly, but more of a project.

I have a pair of angora rabbits. If you're unfamiliar, angoras grow long, super-soft fur. Here's how they looked in September, before their fur was at it's longest

This particular breed of angoras sheds that long fur every couple of months and all of that fluff needs to be removed. Here's what they look like de-fluffed.

And because it blows my mind a little bit, here's the collected fur.

But why do I tell you all of this (other than the fact that I love talking about these rabbits) and how is that a project? My plan for this fur is to spin my own yarn. You may recall my diy drop spindle. So look forward to seeing a post about angora yarn in the future.

Picture books for everyone

 

When the Storks Came Home by Isabella Tree

This story is a prime example of how small actions can have a noticeable impact on an environmental issue. In an easy to follow narrative, Tree tells the tale of a small group reintroducing storks to an area, bringing them back from the brink of extinction. It's a tale of people and nature finding a way to live in balance. While it is a fictionalized account of real events, the message is clear. And the afterward lays out how general thrust of the story is true. It's only details that have been changed. Small children will appreciate the simple triumph of the story. For older kids it will encourage thought/conversation about ecology and the preservation of species and habitats.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non-fiction book review - Sharks Forever

 

Sharks Forever by Mark Leiren-Young

Most of us will admit that we have a single idea of sharks. Even if we understand that most sharks won't attack a person, our metal image of sharks probably strongly resembles the Great White. Leiren-Young paints a far more complex picture of sharks in all their variations. We learn a lot about sharks in general as well as plenty of species specific factoids. The tone of the book is fairly conversational, making it accessible and enjoyable for most middle grade readers.  With plenty o photos supporting the text it's a strong choice for a young reader.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley