26Mar 2025 by catbird No Comments
“Clear and Bright”

“Clear and Bright”

Craft Project, Folklore, Foraging, Learning, Picture Book Buds, Spring
Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions! Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story Written by: Teresa Robeson Illustrated by: William Low Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story is a lovely, lyrical story about a family celebrating the Ching Ming Festival. This is a spring festival right around the same time as spring equinox that has been on my radar for some time, but that I didn't previously know very much about. When I came across this picture book I jumped at the chance to learn more. If you have read much of my work than you may have noticed that…
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20Mar 2025 by catbird No Comments
“When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast”

“When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast”

Folklore, Foraging, Hike Ideas, Learning, Picture Book Hikes, Spring, Spring Equinox
Picture Book Hikes are a fun and easy way to bring learning outside. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related hike, activity and snack suggestions! When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast  Written by: Andrea L. Rogers,  Illustrated by: Madelyn Goodnight  When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast  is about a familiy foraging in the early spring for wild onions and then joining a feast at their local community center. I was excited to come across it because I am always looking for seasonal celebrations from different cultures and this is one I had not come across before. I also love wild onions in the spring, they are one of the first (if not the very first) edible plants to start growing, months…
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13Mar 2025 by catbird No Comments
“What the Crow Saw Below”

“What the Crow Saw Below”

Book Buds, Craft Project, Learning, Picture Book Buds, Play, STEAM
Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions! What the Crow Saw Below Written by: Robert Tregoning,  Illustrated by: Greg Stobbs What the Crow Saw Below is a new book that I was able to read as an arc copy. I was excited to get my hands on it because I love crows and the illustrations are freaking awesome. For some reason there have been a whole slew of crow picture books lately and I haven't been terribly excited with any of them until now. (In fairness I haven't gotten to them all yet..) But, back to this book, honestly I would recommend it based…
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30Jan 2025 by catbird No Comments
“Over and Under the Snow”

“Over and Under the Snow”

Craft Project, Hike Ideas, Learning, Picture Book Buds, Picture Book Hikes, Play, Recipes, STEAM, Winter
Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions! Over and Under the Snow Written by: Kate Messner,  Illustrated by: Christopher Silas Neal Over and Under the Snow is a classic winter time picture book read. It manages to be both fun to read and packed with information about what various animals do to survive during the winter, making it great for mixed age groups. I always include it in my hibernation study recommendations, but where is really shines in my opinion is in it's description of the Subnivean Zone. The hibernators seem to get all the love this time of year, and all while the shrews, mice…
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29Dec 2024 by catbird No Comments
“Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch”

“Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch”

Craft Project, Folklore, Picture Book Buds, Play, Recipes, Twelfth Night, Winter
Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions! Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch Written by: Barbara Cuoghi, Illustrated by: Elenia Beretta, Translated by: Genni Gunn Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch is a picture book that has been translated from its original Italian which tells the story of Befana the Winter Witch. If you have read my blog before you may know that I am a huge fan of Befana (check out my Befana bread here) and always include her in our Twelfth Night festivities, I have even considered writing a picture book about her because all of the ones that…
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19Nov 2024 by catbird No Comments
“Owl Moon”

“Owl Moon”

Craft Project, Picture Book Buds, Picture Book Hikes, Play, Recipes, Winter, Winter Solstice
Picture Book Buds are a fun and easy way to incorporate literacy into nature study. Read a book (you can even read it outside!) and then enjoy the related activity and snack suggestions! Owl Moon Written by: Jane Yolen Illustrated by: John Schoenherr Owl Moon is a classic winter story about a young girl and her father going for a walk at night. They are hoping to see some owls and her excitement at staying up late like a big kid is palpable. I am also always struck by her desire to keep quiet so as not to scare off potential owls, that struggle for a young child to be quiet and observant is something so many parents will immediately recognize, and it's so beautifully detailed. This one is a classic…
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