Early Literacy Archives - Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood

Bookstock 2017: Ultimate Book Sale for Michigan Readers – April 23-30

Bookstock is a client of mine through work. No additional compensation was exchanged for the purpose of this post. I truly just love this event!

Whether it’s reading to your children, having them read to you, or discussing a book on a plane with a stranger, books bring people together. This is just one reason I am thrilled to share about the ultimate book lover’s sale coming to Livonia April 23-30: Bookstock. If you enjoy books, this is a must-attend event!

I am a huge library advocate, but having books readily available in our home is equally important to me. In fact, it’s the one thing I usually indulge my kids with when they ask. How can I deny them their desire to learn? I love the opportunity to cuddle and learn together.

Now that I have a early reader in the house, I’m even more adamant about my kids seeing both my husband and I read our own books, and explaining how it’s such a great habit to start at a young age.

Thing is, books can be pretty pricey. For that, shopping used book sales is a great option. Not only is it like a real-life treasure hunt, but many books are typically like new, and most sales help great causes. Sometimes I just buy ones I love so I can pass them along. They make wonderful gifts!

Bookstock will unite word nerds at Laurel Park Place in Livonia April 23-30, 2017 this year. Mark your calendar!

About Bookstock 2017

Bookstock is an annual, non-profit used book and media sale. All merchandise sold comes from donations and all workers and organizers are volunteers. Proceeds are donated to non-profit organizations and merchandise remaining after the sale is donated to area non-profit organizations and schools.

During the past 15 years, Bookstock has generated nearly $1.7 million for literacy and education projects throughout Oakland County and Detroit.

200,000+ ITEMS! Pre-sorted books and merchandise, replenished daily. Available items include:

Current fiction, children’s books, biographies, cookbooks
Records and CD’s
DVD’s and Videos
Books on tape
Dozens of Categories

When is the sale?

April 23-30, 2017

Bookstock’s Pre-Sale will kick-off on Sunday, April 23 at 8:15 a.m. with a performance by Livonia’s Churchill High School Drumline. There is a $20 admission charge for the Pre-Sale only, which runs through 11 a.m. and offers savvy shoppers and collectors first crack at Bookstock’s treasure trove of bargains. Bookstock has over 200,000 donated used books, DVDs, CDs, books on tape, magazines and records for sale at bargain basement prices. The sale will continue through Sunday, April 30, running Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 9p.m. During regular sale hours, admission is FREE and most books cost between $0.50 – $4.

Special Sale Days

This year, Bookstock will feature six days of special sales:

Monday Madness – Monday, April 24: The first 1,000 shoppers will receive spectacular giveaways and one lucky shopper will receive a $500 VISA gift card.
Teacher Appreciation Day – Tuesday, April 25: Bookstock is celebrating teachers by giving 50% off to all teachers with a valid ID from 3–9 p.m. At 5 p.m., the Bookstock B.E.S.T.* Awards, (Bookstock Extraordinary Student/School/Teacher)will be presented to fourth grade students from Detroit Public Schools Community District who write the best essays entitled, “My Favorite Book Character…and Why.” A WDIV TV personality, will present the awards live,and cash prizes will be given to five students, their teachers and their schools.
Cookstock – Wednesday, April 26: Bookstock will feature the area’s largest collection of gently used cookbooks, and local TV celebrities Tati Amare (WDIV- 4), Carolyn Clifford (WXYZ-7) and Sherry Margolis (Fox 2) will announce the winners of the first Cookstock Recipe Contest at 5 .pm. at Bookstock, the first recipe contest to benefit literacy in Michigan!
Bookbuster Special Days – Thursday, April 27 and Friday, April 28: Buy three books and get the fourth book *free (*least expensive item) from 3 – 9 p.m. Spend $25 or more either night and be entered in a special drawing for:
- 4 tickets to a Red Wings game in the new Little Caesars Arena
- A piece of the Palace floor signed by Pistons Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer
- A two night stay and two rounds of Golf for two people at Treetops Resort in Gaylord
Half Price Finale, Sunday, April 30: All books and media will be sold for half price!

For more information about Bookstock, call (248) 645-7840, ext. 365 or visit bookstock.info, or follow on Facebook | Twitter.

Laurel Park Place is located on 6 Mile Road east of I-275 in Livonia.

What are your favorite frugal ways to get books?

Best Books For Ages 0-5 {+ Giveaway for Children’s Books from Bucket Fillers Inc. ENDS 2/9}

Shared by Mrs. Weber 13 Comments

Probably one of my favorite reasons for having kids is having the excuse to read children’s books again. There are so many great ones out there and I love researching them and finding ones I know my kids will adore. After 3 kids, many of our books are in well-loved condition and it warms my heart so much. Pretty sure books will be the hardest thing to let go of for this mama…My kids just love that special time with us every night, and honestly I look forward to it too!

We frequent the library to keep things interesting, and have a massive collection of books, which can be found in just about every room throughout the house. Some have been gifts or special treats on birthdays, etc., and many have been found second-hand, too. I never feel guilty spending money on books because I know it is the one thing that brings great joy to our family.

In fact, books are also one of the only ‘toys’ we allow our kids to keep in their room. If they go to bed saying they aren’t tired, we let them “read” by flashlight. We figure starting the habit of reading before bed isn’t a bad thing, and we chuckle every time we go check on them and they are passed out with their books 😉

It’s amazing to me that all 3 of my kids seem to have similar taste in books — each of them have reached for the exact same books at the same periods in their life.

Here’s a list of our favorites for each stage so far.

Best Books For Ages 0-5

6 months – 12 months old

Five Little Ladybugs
Goodnight Moon
Sleep {babies love to look at other babies!}
Moo Baa La La La {or anything by Sandra Boyton, really}
Baby Touch and Feel Animals

12 months – 24 months old

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Busy Spider
Little Blue Truck
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie {or any in the series}
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

2-3 years old

4-5 years old

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs
The Giving Tree
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Can I Have a Stegosaurus, Mom? Can I? Please?
Just Imagine {this book is fantastic for critical thinking and discussion}

Another book our entire family has loved and used as an amazing tool for learning is Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Michigan author Carol McCloud. This book has been such a valuable asset to our family and has provided us with a wonderful tool to teach our kids about kindness, appreciation and positive behavior {coined “bucketfilling” in the book}.

Click on the image below to see examples of content inside

The book is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has recently updated and revised it to include more positive language. The new edition encourages positive behavior and helps readers better understand that bucket filling is a choice, bucket dipping is a negative behavior caused by a too empty bucket, and we an fill and dip into our own buckets, too.

I often recommend this book {and all the other books McCloud has written} when friends say they are looking for something to teach kindness. I love that when I see my kids being kind to each other I can say “You’re filling each other’s buckets right now,” or “You’re bucket dipping” and they know exactly what I mean and stop to smile or think about what they have done.

GIVEAWAY

I am excited to host a fun giveaway with the latest edition, plus other great books and goodies to get you started on your bucket filling journey! Follow the prompts below to enter to win. Must be a U.S. resident, age 18+. Giveaway ends on 2/9/16 at midnight. Good luck!

Bucket Filling Books Prize Pack

Books and Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers To Make Mealtime FUN

Shared by Mrs. Weber 5 Comments

Winter can be dreadful as a parent. My kids love playing outside, and it’s just not always possible with three kiddos, especially when it’s close to mealtime and layers of clothing are needed to go out.

Like most parents, our worst time of day is the hours between 4-6 p.m. when I am preparing dinner and the kids want to “help.” So, this winter I’ve made it my goal to do more meal-time theme nights to keep everyone happy. I have found when I give each of my kids a job, meal time runs MUCH smoother, even if it is messier.

After renting TONS of food-related books from our library, here’s what has been on our menu of books and coordinating meals and activities:

Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle

This book is fabulous for starting the discussion of where food comes from.

Meal: Pancakes, of course. My kids also love when I add a few drops of food coloring to make their ‘cakes blue or green.

Activity: Have your child help you stir in the ingredients, or add special additions such a blueberries {perfect for counting} or they can mush bananas to toss in the batter. My kids love using chocolate chips to make faces, too.

Peanut Butter and Jelly by Nadine Bernard Westcott

This book is based on the play rhyme and has illustrations kids love.

Meal: PB&J of course!

Activity: Spread a blanket out on the floor and have a picnic! My kids absolutely love doing this. We usually just coordinate with easy-to-pick-up foods.

Enjoying a picnic for dinner a few years ago. Yes, that’s MY beer. Sometimes that is needed after a long day!

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

This book is perfect for stirring imagination.

Meal: Spaghetti and meatballs

Activity: Use Play-Doh to make pasta! Kids love rolling out the dough and making snake-like pastas. Make a few balls for meatballs too. For older kids, discuss what foods you would like to see fall from the sky.

Pete’s A Pizza by William Steig

This book is perfect for kids who like to act as you read. Also perfect for sensory seekers.

Meal: Pizza. We love using whole wheat English muffins or Naan bread, and letting the kids put on their own sauce and toppings. Even if it looks like a mess, it still tastes great!

Activity: Pretend your child is pizza {this is what the book is about} — roll them out, toss them in the air if you are able, and place “toppings” on them, such as red checkers for pepperoni or pieces of white paper as cheese.

My 2-year-old loves helping in the kitchen, so I always put her to work!

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

This rhyme will get stuck in your head and the kids will want you to read it over and over.

Meal: Add some green food coloring to eggs and serve with pieces of ham.

Activity: Make an egg bar and let kids mix their own batch of eggs, adding in the toppings they like.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

This book will make your kids giggle…and you too!

Meal: Tacos

Activity: Make tortilla chips using corn tortillas to go with your taco meal. Cut up the tortillas into triangles to discuss shapes and talk about how the shape will go from soft to crunchy in the oven. Buy a few different salsas and let your child taste test them and rate their favorites.

Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This book is perfect for teaching about healthy eating habits.

Meal: Veggies. Can accompany just about any meal of course 😉

Activity: Make faces using veggies! Use cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, sliced cucumber, mushrooms, etc. and let your children experiment. {My kids will eat ALL their veggies if I just let them play with them first!}

How do you shake-up meal time at your house? I’m always looking for new ideas!