“Memoirs of a Goldfish” by Devin Scillian with Fishbowl and Puppet Craft

Creative Wednesdays One of my favorite projects to with children is creating projects that correspond to their favorite books. The little girl I am currently caring for loves the adorable book, Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian. So I helped her make a paper plate fishbowl and puppets of the characters in the book. […]

“Siblings Without Rivalry” by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Weekly Trip to the Library I have been fortunate. With just one brief exception, all the children I have cared for got along well with their siblings. This is clearly not the norm. Sibling rivalry is common and that is why Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live […]

“When the World Feels Like a Scary Place” by Abigail Gewitz

Weekly Trip to the Library Who hasn’t felt anxiety over the past year? Amid the pandemic, racial injustice, capitol riot, gun violence, and unemployment this year has been really hard. University of Minnesota researcher Abigail Gewirtz’s book When the World Feels Like a Scary Place: Essential Conversations for Anxious Parents and Worried Kids centers on […]

“Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book” and Puppet Project

This is such a beautiful book and perhaps my favorite children’s book about changing seasons and the animals that live in a tree. Through a hole in the book’s cover of Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book, by Britta Teckentrup, an owl invites us inside to meet a majestic tree and all its forest inhabitants during […]

Decoding Boys by Cara Natterson

Weekly Trip to the Library Not all nannies care just for infants and toddlers. For most of my nanny jobs I helped care for older boys until they went to junior high school, high school, and then I worked as a family assistant as the eldest son went off to college. In my past nanny […]

“How to Catch a Leprechaun” and Make a Leprechaun Trap

Irish folklore describes leprechaun as little fairies. Legend says they keep pots of gold at the ends of rainbows. Every Saint Patrick’s Day my Nanny Kids and I make leprechaun traps along with thousands of kids around the world. “How to Catch a Leprechaun” is a perfect children’s book for four- to ten-year-old kids, by […]

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” By Eric Carle and Caterpillar Craft

Creative Wednesdays “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle features a caterpillar who eats his way through a wide variety of food before pupating and emerging as a butterfly. The winner of many children’s literature awards and a major graphic design award, it has sold almost 50 million copies worldwide. It has been described as […]

“How to Catch a Snowman” and Make a Paper Strip Snowman

Creative Wednesdays This week read How to Catch a Snowman by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton to the children and make a paper chain snowman I found it at buggyandbuddy.com. How to Catch a Snowman is a picture book that speaks from the perspective of a snowman as children try to catch him. Unlike other […]

10 Valentine’s Day Books for Early Learners

Weekly Trip to the Library Here are some of my favorite Valentine’s Day books at a variety of reading levels for preschoolers to second graders. Why are they my favorite books? Because these are my Nanny Kids’ favorite books. Pick the appropriate books depending on your Nanny Kid’s level of reading. The child will enjoy […]

“Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly and Coretta Scott King

Weekly Trip to the Library In honor of Black History Month I highly recommend reading “Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race” with your Nanny Kids. It is inspiring for girls and boys and children of every race and culture specifically written for children ages four- to eight-years-old. “Hidden […]