We love reading books and we look forward to story time in our house. Tucker talks about what book he can ‘read’ every day! When we received the Nature Discovery “In My Backyard” book, he immediately sat down next to me and asked me to read it to him. The illustrations speak to him, as a child, and as a parent, I love how the book speaks to the child, yet it teaches him or her things such as:
- What birds are in our backyards
- Illustrations on how a dragonfly is born
- What is on the ground when you sit down
And more! This is such a fun and learning book. We love and you know that you will too!
LITTLE ENVIRONMENTALISTS BEGIN THEIR “GREEN” EDUCATION IN THEIR OWN BACKYARDS
Nature Discovery In My Backyard
First In A SeriesFor Planet-Friendly Children’s Publisher
When today’s moms and dads were kids, exploring nature meant catching lightning bugs, creating an ant farm or making a mud pie. But with hot button topics like environment, sustainability, green and organic, today’s little consumers will quickly need to become little environmentalists. Where to get started when your youngster is just starting to explore his world? Try the backyard!
Introducing Nature Discovery In My Backyard, the first book in a series of children’s books by The Little Environmentalists, LLC (www.thelittleenvironmentalists.com). Geared for preschoolers and emerging readers, this picture book follows a little girl discovering what everyone sees, when they stop to look and smell the roses. A falling leaf, fluttering butterfly or crunchy grass beneath bare feet become an instant nature lesson.
“Children will smell, hear, feel and see their way through their own backyard nature discovery,” explains Rebecca Mattano, creator of The Little Environmentalists. “Each page offers a new and unique look into nature with colorful pictures that not only teach but challenge children to find all that nature has to offer.”
To help parents and educators enhance their “green” lessons, the book offers tips on nature for every season of the year. Interesting educational facts on plants and animals are described in the back of the book. Because how many adults can name the animal family that the groundhog belongs to? You might be surprised to learn that it’s … squirrel!
The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, digs its home underground. They dig about 700 pounds of soil out of the ground when they are making their burrow and can finish this in one day. When not in hibernation during the winter months, groundhogs spend much of their time sunning and eating. They are herbivores (vegetarians) and mammals that belong to the squirrel family. What do you know about Groundhog Day?
“My hope is for these books to build environmental stewardship starting with environmental awareness and building environment knowledge,” adds Mattano, mother of Sierra Rose and Madeline Sage.
The book offers plenty of easy-to-do outdoor activities led by caregivers, teachers and parents.
Learn about the different animals that visit your backyard during the different seasons. Put out various types of food for the mammals and birds and keep track of what gets eaten and by what types of animals. Use assorted types of bird food or make your own feeders with pine cones and peanut butter. Also put out fruits such as bananas, strawberries, and oranges for hummingbirds, butterflies, and orioles. You can also go to your local garden center and purchase plants to attract specific animals, making your own habitat (look for My Backyard Habitat coming soon). Get a bird and mammal book and record all the animals that you identify.
In My Backyard, the first in a series, retails for $6.95 and is available online at the publisher’s website, www.thelittleenvironmentalists.com and at Amazon.com. The second book, I’m Turning Green, is anticipated this fall.
Beyond the children’s books, environment lessons continue online at their website with a nature discovery sheet and links to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instructor’s Model Early Learning Standards which utilizes In My Backyard as a tool in the state’s classrooms.
The company suggests that the next time a parent purchases a book, magazine or paper, make sure it is printed on 100% post-consumer waste. After all, everyone — even the littlest — can make a difference.
ABOUT THE LITTLE ENVIRONMENTALISTS
The Little Environmentalists, LLC, is a company committed to developing and publishing children’s material to promote environmental awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship. The company is dedicated to sustainable business practices and producing environmentally friendly products.
The Little Environmentalists proudly print their books using 100% post-consumer waste, chlorine free and non-toxic toner. Environmentally friendly printing preserves forests and habitats, keeps toxic chemicals out of the environment and generates fewer greenhouse gases. It has been estimated that producing a ton of paper using 100% post-consumer copy paper rather than virgin pulp saves about 24 large trees, 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, 60 pounds of air pollution and 7,000 gallons of water.
Just the little tidbits about entries and what not Friday, October 3, 2008
and will end on
Friday, October 10, 2008
at midnight; central time. 
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About Tanya
pj’s, bathroom, wash hands, brush, floss and swish, then hugs and kisses. right before jumping into bed, we pick out an outfit for the next day.
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Bath, books then a little counting game I do that helps him sleep and nursing.
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A bath, mommy or daddy read a bedtime story, sleep. garrettsambo@aol.com
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homework,tv or family games and night night
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Brush teeth, read a story say prays and nighty night
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We do “Books and Songs” most evenings which means after brushing teeth and putting on PJ’s we read a book that each child selects and then I sing two songs — a lullaby and our version of Amazing Grace
vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu
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The little ones have a routine very similar to yours. Always have to have a story or 2 no matter what! Thanks for the giveaway!
braaisjo at gmail dot com
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My little ones are not little anymore. However, when they were younger, it was dinner, homework, and if there was time left – an hour of television.
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We brush our teeth, read a book watch a little tv then to bed
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Bedtime is 7:30pm here. The kids brush teeth, put on pjs and say goodnight to everyone. Then it’s time for me to tuck them in and turn on the audio book that they are listening to at bedtime that day. Thanks for the contest!
airalynn(@)gmail . com
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We usually watch a little TV, then read some books, wash up, then do kisses and settle down for the night. My kids usually go to bed about 8:00.
jlilleysprint@earthlink.net
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We have teeth brushing, pull out clothes for school, make sure backpacks are packed up and then it is night night time. We try to squeeze in stories but that doesn’t always happen at bedtime. Usually my oldest will read to my youngest after school though, to get in her reading minutes for the day.
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Stories and prayers
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We also watch a short movie to just snuggle + relax together. Then we go to the bathroom, brush teeth, read books, lullaby, prayer, + kiss goodnight sleep tight!
heatheranne99@hotmail.com
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We always read before bedtime.
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
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I have slightly older kids and it goes like this. Showers, nagging, bed. Oh, they are allowed to stay up later if they read!
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Bath, Brush, Book, Bed. Johnlenoraplus2@yahoo.com
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Brush teeth, prayer, and give mom and dad a kiss goodnight.
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Snack, bath, sleepwear, book choice(s), prayers, read books, THEN one child falls asleep during the stories and one stays awake until the last story is finished.
lizzauski@hotmail.com
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Bath, eat, drink, dry hair, brush teeth, multiple stories, prayers, lights out, music-same CD every night.
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Our routine is a bath, then we read a book, then she gets fed, then rocked for a few minutes, then in the crib.
egreca (at) hotmail {dot} com
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Bath time, snuggle and story time, brushing teeth, hugs and kisses, and to bed! Thanks!
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I’ve stopped bathing DD every night – too much long hair and drying it takes too long! So we wash hands and face, brush teeth, kiss Daddy goodnight, kiss brother goodnight, then read TWO books if it is before 8 PM, or ONE book if it is even one second after 8!
cathy54321@hotmail.com
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Bath, Teeth, Story and then lights out
ktgonyea@gmail.com
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They have a bath,read a story and they hug and kiss their grandma. If they act up after that my daughter has to handle it. Having her move back home is working out.
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Take a bath, read a book and then watch Wubbzy until he goes to sleep!
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What a great concept for a children’s book, my oldest son would love it. Bedtime is my husband’s time with the boys. Every night he tucks them in and tells them a “Pancake Man” story – one that he makes up based on what the kids want to hear about. For example: Pancake Man Flies a Space Ship, Pancke Man Drives a Dump Truck… he tells 2 of these stories a night for about a year and a half. It’s pretty funny.
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A shower for the ten year old and a bath for the one year old a cup of milk and low lights and snuggles
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I have your button on my blog.
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Ummm…what’s a bed time routine?!?!? Actually, I know what it is, but my kiddos don’t. We are working on reading a book (or 12) before bed.
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Right now we have two bedtime routines. Ds goes to bed first, and we read a story and say a prayer with him. Dd is a little older, and I read to her from the Little House series, then we say a prayer, hug each other and she goes to sleep.
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We brush teeth, read a book and pray daily before bed. I do my best to have everyone tucked in by 8 so me and my hubby can snuggle and watch our favorite shows!
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My little one and I read during the afternoon and towards bedtime. Then its a bottle, bath and bed!
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bath, teeth brushing, reading then kisses, hugs, prayers and good-night!
murphykatt[at]yahoo[dot]com
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Brush teeth, bath, then a story (or 2),and a good night hug and kiss.
pkildow(at)gmail(dot)com
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My grandson likes me to read to him or tell him a story.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
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brush teeth, back rub, sing a song read a book
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I am a subscriber.
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read hug kiss go to sleep
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Reading at night helps the little ones to get quiet for sleeping!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
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bath jammies then in beddy bye~
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take a bath and read.
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We often go for a walk then come in and get her teeth brushed and face washed then read a book or two and to bed by 8.
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We read then talk about the book then of to sleep.
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Thank you for having this. Our bedtime routine involves everyone using the bathroom and brushing their teeth. Then everyone off to their own room and my husband and I each read to each of our 3 children. Just a short story or a few pages of a long store. It is wonderful to get the hugs and kisses from all 3 of my wonderful babies. THank you!
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
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We start with a bath and teeth brushing, then we cuddle in bed and read until they start to get sleepy. Then its lights off and checking on them until they actually fall asleep.
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Bath, brush teeth, read sood nite.
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After dinner we play at the park, then take baths , read, brush teeth, gather up all the lovies and kiss them goodnight, and then bed around 8:30 or so.
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We brush our teeth, then we read and then its bedtime.
rebbi511 at peoplepc.com
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My son’s routine is simple:
We go for a walk around the block, a bed time snack, a bath, and then bed time story. He is usually out by 8:30 pm.
Great blog!
Amy
amy in kamloops @ gmail. com
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We try to read every night before bed.
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we read a book and then bed.
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First a bath, then a story and then to bed by 7:30 or 8:00
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little ones in bed by 9, the rest it varies…but we have older ones in college here too so its a nonstop revolving door
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my grandkids stay with me every weekend, they're 5 & 7. our bedtime is always 9pm
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