Thanks so much to everyone who entered the 20 book giveaway of Maddi’s Fridge sponsored by Flashlight Press. I appreciate your participation! So without further ado, here’s a list of the winners: I’ve sent your names and e-mail addresses to Flashlight Press. They will contact you to get your mailing address. Then, they’ll pop the […] The post Maddie’s Fridge Giveaway Winners! appeared first on Grandma Ideas ..read more

I grew up on a farm. We had a large garden and a bunch of fruit trees. And cows. And chickens. While I didn’t like weeding the garden and picking the fruits and vegetables, I did love eating them. (Well . . not the beets . . . ) My favorite? Strawberries and raspberries. About […] The post Maddie’s Fridge and a Book Giveaway appeared first on Grandma Ideas ..read more

(NOTE: I was given this Zig and Go kit to review but opinions are my own.) Have you heard of STEM? No, it’s not part of a flower — nor a watch. (Do you remember back in the day – before digital watches – that a watch had a stem that you pulled out so […] The post Zig and Go appeared first on Grandma Ideas ..read more

(I received a copy of this book but all opinions are my own.) When I was young, I had a pet cat. A yellow cat. Not orange or butterscotch. Yellow. Pastel Easter yellow. Gorgeous yellow. I’ve never seen another cat that beautiful yellow color. Never ever. We also had a black-and-white dog named Pee Wee. […] The post The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals appeared first on Grandma Ideas ..read more

(NOTE: I was given a copy of this book but all opinions are my own.) Many K-12 schools have adopted STEAM (or STEM) in their curriculum. It is a learner-centered approach to teaching that integrates technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. STEAM activities help students develop their critical thinking skills, problem solving, creativity, innovation, and team […] The post Control Freaks appeared first on Grandma Ideas ..read more

(NOTE: I was given a copy of this book but all opinions are my own.) When I was in grade school, I had an awful nightmare. About a boogyman. A boogyman with a mime-white face, with eyes rimmed in kohl black, with Einstein hair, and with fingernails 12 inches long. (This was way before Edward […] The post Hey, That’s My Monster appeared first on Grandma Ideas ..read more

By any chance, do you know how reading helps kids? Mmm? In case you don’t, lemme share a few ways. It helps them develop the ability to think, to problem solve, to make decisions, and to improve their reasoning abilities. It increases their vocabulary and their understanding of grammar and sentence structure. Additionally, it strengthens their social and emotional skills and even helps them learn to decrease their aggression. But mostly, books give them hours of pleasure and enjoyment! (Sometimes, I think that is more important than those other things . . . ) And what do your grandkids need w ..read more

(NOTE: I was given a copy of this book but all opinions are my own.) I know a fellow who absolutely loves to fish. All. The. Time. He spends every spare minute fishing — in rivers, reservoirs, ponds, streams, lakes. You name it, he fishes there. Funny thing, he catches the fish and releases them. He never takes them home to eat. I never could understand the catch and release thing. Why spend all that time fishing if you never take any home? Now, I think fish tastes nasty so you’d never catch ME eating fish! However, the way I see it, catch and release is like merely swinging a baseball bat an ..read more

(NOTE: I was given an advanced reader copy but all opinions are my own.) One universal story plot includes: the good guys. the bad guys, the bad guys going after the good guys, the plot thickens, almost all is lost, then the good guys win (hopefully). The fantasy book  The Groundworld Heroes by Adrian So follows that plot line — with a wonderful twist at the end. (Good unexpected endings are awesome.) This book is set in Soiland, home to a menagerie of citizens: moles gophers jerboas, meerkats, rabbits, anteaters, marmots, aardvarks, shrews, porcupines, badgers, and hedgehogs. (When our ..read more

(NOTE: I was given a copy of these books but all opinions are my own.) Before I get into the meat of what I want to say, I need to share a backstory. Remember COVID? The pandemic that shut the whole world down? For 14 months? During that time, author Mac Barnett did a daily read-aloud on Instagram of his published children’s books. Then he had a brilliant idea. He asked his childhood friend, artist Shawn Harris, to help him make a ‘live cartoon.’ (Mac and Shawn made up that term.) A live cartoon would have Shawn moving his camera over his artwork while they read the cartoon out loud. (Adding ..read more