silly hats and some of our favorite kids craft books ♥ sombreros chistosos y nuestros libros de manualidades para niños

Like our hats? 

¿Te gustan los sombreros?

Silly aren't they?

 Chistosos  ¿No crees?

Yes, silly silly fun!

Definitivamente ¡super chistosos!

We made these using the guidelines in our currently favorite craft book:

Los hicimos usando este libro:

 

The Sunny Day Book

We made some changes.  The original design called for caps, but we didn't have any plain ones.  So I thought, why not use a hat?  I think they look adorable.  The kids love them and truly, that is what matters at the end.  Right?

El proyecto original pedía que usáramos cachuchas, pero como no teníamos ninguna sin diseño, pensé ¿Porque no usar sombreros?  Y eso fue lo que hicimos.  ¿Apoco no están curiosas?  A mis nenes les encanto, y al final eso es lo que cuenta.  ¿Que no?
 

When I pick out books for the kids, my number one priority is the illustrations.  I like them to be easy enough for the kids to follow on their own, if needed.  Of course, with every art project I am (for the most part) around to supervise, though my little guy is getting old enough to make some of these project all on his own.

Cuando escojo libros para los niños mi prioridad numero uno son las ilustraciones.  Me gustan que los niños puedan seguir las instrucciones sin dificultad y sin que yo tenga que estar ahí durante todo el proceso.  Claro que mi pequeña todavía necesita mucho de mi ayuda.  Pero mi nene ya casi puede hacer muchos de estos proyectos sin me ayuda. 

Here are other books that you can find in our art cabinet ready for use.  (And trust me they get pulled out a lot! My munchkins sure love creating! and I don't mind one bit):

Aquí comparto con ustedes otros libros que puedes encontrar en nuestro gabinete de arte, siempre listos para usarlos.  (Y les aseguro que si los usamos mucho.  A mis nenes les encanta crear!  Y yo, pues no me quejo nadita.):    

The Usborn Book of Art Ideas

This book is great if you have a little one that loves to paint.  The book is full of information about color use, different types of media and patterns.  It is easy to follow and full, I mean FULL, of ideas!

Este libro es perfecto para los niños que les gusta pintar.  El libro esta lleno de información acerca del uso de colores, los diferentes tipos de pinturas y brochas, y el uso de patrones.  Es fácil de seguir y esta lleno de muchísimas ideas. 

I Can Make That!

We have an older version of this book, called I Can Make Toys.  The kids love, love, love this book.  I've mentioned before that I keep a large basket full of recyclable materials- when this book is out so is that basket.  All the projects in this book can be made using materials you already have around the house.  Great, great way to teach your kids to be GREEN!

Nosotros tenemos una versión mas vieja de este libro que es llama- I Can Make Toys.  A mis nenes les encanta este libro.  Como les he mencionado antes, yo tengo una canasta llena de materiales reciclables listos para que los niños lo usen cuando quieran.  Cuando los niños sacan este libro también esa canasta.  Todos los proyectos en este libro se pueden hacer usando materiales que ya tienes en casa.  ¡Una manera perfecta para enseñarle a tu pequeño como ser mas consiente de su planeta! 

The Kids Multicultural Craft Book

This particular book might not have illustrations full of color, but it sure has a lot of great information.  With each craft you learn about where it was made, about the people that made it and some history on the materials originally used.  How perfect is that?  The kids get to learn about geography and cultures while making art!!!  Love it!

Este libro no estará lleno de ilustraciones coloridas, pero si que esta lleno de información.  Con cada proyecto encuentras un mapa con la locación de donde viven las personas que hacen ese tipo de manualidades, también información acerca de la cultura, e historia de los materiales que se usan.  Los pequeños aprenden acerca de geografía y culturas mientras crean proyectos.   Perfecto ¿no crees?

The Children's Year

 

Okay, I have to admit, this is not a book the kids pull out much.  I'm the one that tends to use this one.  The illustrations aren't all that great (for a child that is), but it really is a wonderful book.  Each sections is divided by seasons, a poem to begin the chapter, and crafts one can make during that time of year.  If you have younger children (like I do) they will be able to make just a  few of these crafts, most I think are intended for an adult or a young teen/preteen.   

Les tengo que ser sincera, este libro no lo sacan mucho los niños.  Yo soy la que tiende a usarlo mas.  Las ilustraciones no son muy interesantes para los pequeños, pero la verdad es que si es un buen libro.  Cada sección esta dividida en las estaciones del año, e incluye un poema y varios proyectos que puedes hacer durante esa temporada.  Si tienes pequeños como yo, solo podrán hacer unos cuantos de estos proyectos.  Pero si están perfectos para que un adulto o joven los use para crear regalos para niños. 

Do you have any fun craft books?  Share with us.  I would love to add them to our home library.

¿Tienes algunos libros de manualidades que te gustan? Comparte con nosotros.  Me gustaría añadirlos a nuestra biblioteca de la casa.   

For the love of reading and GIVEAWAY :: Por el amor a la lectura y SORTEO

Around here you will find books:

Por a qui puedes encontrar libros:

♥ In the family room :: La sala familiar.

♥ In the kitchen :: En la cocina.

♥ In my bedroom :: En mi recamara.

♥ In little A's room :: En la recamara de mi nena.

♥ In Ri's room :: En a recamara de mi nene.

♥ On my craft table :: En mi mesa de costura.

♥ In baskets :: En canastas

♥ On the furniture :: Sobre muebles.

♥ On the floor :: Por todo el piso.

♥ In little hands :: Entre manitas.

Everywhere!  

Por todos lados!

And in case you haven't figured it out by now...WE-LOVE-TO-READ!.  Not one day goes by when a book, or two- or a HUGE stack of books is read.  Our days include reading.  Our nights end reading.  So when I was asked if I was interested in reviewing Alphabet Woof, well, how could I resist?  And I was even more interested once I found out the book had been translated into Spanish.

Y por si no has adivinado...a NOSOTROS-NOS-ENCANTA-LEER! Ni un solo dia pasa sin leer algún libro, o dos o UN MONTON!  Nuestros dias incluyen leer.  Y nuestras noches terminan leyendo.  Es que cuando me preguntaron si estaba interesada en evaluar Sopa de !Guau!, pues ni como resistir?  Y todavía me intereso mas al saber que el libro avía sido traducido al Español. 

Sopa de ¡Guau! is a cute little book about a dog that had always wanted to talk, and finds himself doing just that after he licks clean an alphabet soup spill.  After everyone's amazement (including Maxi, the dog) he is contacted by an important Hollywood TV producer and is asked to start in his own talk show.  He and his family move to Hollywood, become super duper famous, but soon Maxi realizes he misses talking...to his family.  They leave the fancy life and back home they head again where he enjoys what he always wanted to do...simply talk to his family.

Sopa de ¡Guau! se trata de un perro que quiere hablar, y precisamente eso le pasa cuando lambe el piso, una sopa de letras que se callo. Todos quedan sorprendidos (incluso Maxi, el perro).  Al poco tiempo un productor de la tele le llama con la idea de empezar su propio "Talk Show"  y al aceptar Maxi y su familia se mudan a Hollywood, se vuelve super famoso.  Pero con el tiempo el se da cuenta de que extraña estar en casa compartiendo y hablando solamente con su familia. 

The book is full of wonderfu illustrations and easy to follow.  My kids really enjoy reading it. 

El libro esta lleno de ilustraciones coloridas y es fácil de seguir.  A mis hijos les gusta que se lo lea.  

Alphabet Woolf is written by Sherrie A. Madia and the help of her two daughters.  How cute is that?  Here is a little interview she so graciously agreed to do.  Enjoy.

Sopa de !Guau! esta escrito por Sherrie A. Madia y la ayuda de sus dos hijas.  Que bonito, no?  Aqui los dejo con una entrevista que acepto hacer con migo.  Disfruten.

(Para mis lindos lectores que hablan Español, disculpen pero la entrevista solo es en Ingles.)

SAC: How long have you been writing for?

SM: I have been writing since I was a small child. I would entertain myself by writing down stories I heard or ideas that caught my fancy. I would keep it all in a pink pocket-sized diary that I kept by my bedside.

SAC: What inspired you to write a book for children?

SM: My children, of course. When my youngest, Anna, was quite young, we made up a story together about a dog who ate alphabet soup and then started to talk. We wrote it on a scrap of paper and I tucked it away. That was more than 10 years ago. As my girls started growing up, I was looking for a way to keep us involved in each other’s lives—so writing a children’s book together made perfect sense. We have had so much fun as a family, and we all learned a lot as well.

SAC: Why did you decide to translate it into Spanish?

SM: My background is in intercultural communications, and what many people don’t realize is how important culture is to shaping who we are and how we navigate through the world—so we don’t want to lose our heritage. I do a lot of work in communities where Spanish language is dominant for children—but the selection of books in Spanish is never ideal. So, I knew I wanted to create a book that would incorporate Spanish into story time to make the experience of a parent reading to a child even more meaningful.

SAC: Do you speak another language? Are you raising your girls bilingual?

SM: I speak Spanish, Italian and French—más o menos—none of them perfectly. I want my girls to grow up bilingual, so I incorporate Spanish in our conversations so that they will be fluent. And I practice myself all the time—my grammar needs some work. Of course, as young teenagers, my girls don’t have a lot to say to me in any language—but I continue to try!

SAC: What is a typical day in the life of Sherrie as a mama?

SM: Running, running, running! We have very full schedules and could easily go without stopping to notice one another. But I try to incorporate small touches to our days that let my girls know how much I love them. Making lunches for my girls is one way I do this. About a year ago, I started drawing small pictures and notes on their lunch bags to liven them up. I didn’t think my daughters even noticed. But when I mentioned that they may be too old for this, both girls said, “We look forward to our lunches each day and so do our friends.” So it’s the little things that make the big difference.

SAC: How do you balance work and motherhood?

SM: Very carefully. I have been a single mommy for more than a decade, and I can say from experience that timing is everything. Single parents face challenges that two-parent families do not. For example, down time is rare, and keeping work, school, and home working smoothly means always paying attention. But the trick is to remember that it’s okay if a few things don’t get done. And if things aren’t perfect, well that’s just life. Laughter is our secret weapon. On any given day—good or bad—you will hear laughter in our house. A sense of humor is like a suit of armor for whatever life will send your way. My girls know how to laugh—at themselves and at life—so I never worry.

SAC: Do you have plans to write more children books?

SM: We do! My daughters and I are working on “Moxy’s Family-Time Cookbook” which will have fun and easy recipes for the whole family—including recipes for dog treats!—we had to include our four-legged friends.

But we are most excited about our brand new book called “Bumblelina” (http://www.Bumblelina.com) which has just been released. This is a book about a tiny bee who wishes she could fly—and learns the importance of trying. The book is illustrated with black and white sketches and just one hidden spot of color on each page, which we think children will find especially fun.

Like “Alphabet Woof!” a portion of the sale of Bumblelina goes to support the SPCA International, so we can continue to help animals in need.

Thank you Sherrie!

Gracias Sherrie!

And now for that giveaway:

Y ahora para el sorteo:

Sherrie has generously sent me an extra book (in Spanish) for one of my readers to win!

Sherrie me ha mandado otro libro (en Español) para que se lo gane uno de mis lectores!

Want to win it?  Then leave a comment telling me why you would like to win her book.  That's it!

Quiere ganártelo?  Entonces deja un comentario diciéndome por que te gustaría ganar su libro.  Eso es todo!

For an extra chance to win you can also :: Ahora si quieres mas oportunidades, entonces:

1. Twitter about this giveaway :: Comenta acerca de este sorteo en Twitter.

2. Tell your friends on Facebook :: Cuentale a tus amigos de Facebook.

3.  Blog about it :: Escribe en tu blog acerca del sorteo.

Make sure you leave a separate comment for each. :: No se te olvide dejar un comentario por cada opción. 

Comments will be closed this Friday November 19 by midnight EST.  The winner will be announced Sunday November 21.  Good luck! 

Los comentarios seran serrados este viernes 19 de Noviembre a las 12 de la noche tiempo Este.  El ganador sera anundiado el domingo 21 de Noviembre.  Buena Suerte!

*No monitary compensations was given for this post.  Two books were sent to me by the author (one for review and another for the giveaway).  All thoughts are my own. 
* No me pagaron por este post.  Solo me mandaron dos libros (uno para evaluar y otro para sortear).  Todos los pensamientos son mios.

** Comments are now closed.  Winner will be announced Sunday November 21.  :: Los comentarios ya estan cerrados, anunciare al ganador el Domingo 21 de Noviembre. **