Manners DO Matter

Manners must be taught. And not only must they be taught, but they must be enforced and reinforced all the time. Seriously, multiple times at every meal. While it may feel redundant (and a tad annoying as a parent), it is too important to let slide. Manners do, and always will, matter.

This is why our new set of Hello Genius board books focuses on manners. Reading these books will help reinforce manners in a sweet and funny way. Believe me, I read them almost every night.

Titanic Reviews

In case you’re not counting down to the re-release of Titanic in 3D like I am, April 2012 marks the 100-year anniversary of RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage and arguably the most famous shipwreck of all time. Our newly released Return to Titanic series revisits the tragic voyage through the eyes of two modern-day teenagers, Maya and Tucker, who are sent back in time thanks to a twist of fate. The two friends make new acquaintances and discover some of unexpected bits of history along the way. Here's all four covers in their final glory.

I am ridiculously proud of this series, which I edited and helped concept, so knowing it’s getting some love from readers, is thrilling. Check out this fantastic review from Bite My Books and learn more about the series.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. -Martin Luther King Jr.

Image from The Seattle Times

STEM Friday

Please check out Capstone Connect today, where we're hosting STEM Friday. Add your links in the comments there to be included in the round-up!

The Joy of My Little Planet

"The chipper verse and bright palette offer an enthusiastic endorsement of the joys and small miracles to be found outdoors."

That line is a quote from Publishers Weekly's review of Little Seeds, part of our new set of environmentally-themed toddler books, My Little Planet. I love this line; it is confirmation that these books are just what I hoped they would be. When we set out to create this set of books, we said it should be a celebration of Earth and an early introduction of the importance of caring for it. Led by author Charles Ghigna and illustrator Ag Jatkowska, our sweet little books do just that!

Proud Book Moment

For my birthday this past year, I got a Kindle. I wasn't sure how much I would use it since I'm addicted to the library, but I can honestly say I use it every day. Even I'm surprised at how much I love it!

For Christmas, my 5-year-old daughter got a Vtech e-reader (which was way harder for me to figure out than the Kindle!). She opened it and yelled, "A Kindle! It's just like mom's!" She absolutely loves her e-reader and has already gone through a set of batteries in less than a week.

Although the electronic devices are fun and there's an obvious place for them in today's market, they still don't take place of reading an actual book. I still check-out books from the library, and my daughter still insists on reading books every night.

Last night after my daughter turned off her e-reader she asked, "Can we read a real book now?" Now THAT was a proud moment for me.

Reading Resolutions

Yesterday, over on the Capstone Connect blog, Mandy — who does not care for resolutions — wrote about her non-resolution for the year. Unlike Mandy, I love the idea of a resolution. If I don't have a specific objective to shoot for, life tends to get in the way and I fail to make the progress I would like.

Normally, I have no problem coming up with a list of goals for the new year. However, this year, I really struggled to come up with something that would be obtainable and actually interesting and enriching to me. So I turned to my reading habits and thought about what I would like to achieve as a reader this year. Here is what I came up with.

1. Read at least 30 novels. I plan to use goodreads to keep track of them, so that I can remember authors I liked and get great suggestions on reads I may enjoy.

2. Read at least five biographies/memoirs. Often, I forget about non-fiction books (other than cookbooks and craft books). But that means I am missing out on great reads that have the potential to enrich my fiction reading. And books like Tina Fey's Bossypants are just plain funny!

3. Visit the library at least two times a month. I love the convenience of reserving books online from my home, simply stopping quickly to pick up my stack. However, I am far more likely to discover new authors if I walk up and down the aisles, admiring the covers and spines. Plus, the fireplaces and comfy chairs in our local library make it a home away from home.

4. Read one chapter book aloud to my school-aged children every month. I have two great readers in my house. It is tempting to ask them to read to themselves in the evening, so I can focus on their three-year-old sister and getting ready for the next day. But books are meant to be shared and enjoyed with others. This year, I want to do that together on the couch.

Do you have any reading resolutions to share? I would love to hear about them!