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Connecting Children with Nature

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Ocean

Book of the Week: A Swim Through the Sea

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Congratulations to last week’s winner Chris Leach. Chris was the winner of a free copy of There’s a Babirusa in my Bathtub by Maxine Rose Schur and illustrated by Michael Maydak.

This week we’re giving away a copy of A Swim Through the Sea to one lucky eNewsletter subscriber. In this illustrated tour of the plants and animals of the undersea kingdom, Kristin Joy Pratt highlights a selected species on each page with a full-color illustration and a paragraph of fascinating facts. The alliterative storyline and alphabet book format provide parents and teachers with an engaging way of sharing this special ecosystem with their children.

Making a Splash with Marianne Berkes

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Thanks to the Collaborative Summer Library Program kids across the country are “making a splash” with Marianne Berkes. The 2010 Summer Library Children’s theme is “Make a Splash, READ!” and many libraries have chosen to include Over in the Ocean and Seashells by the Seashore into their programs. In this video excerpt with Riley Roam from Page Turner Adventures, Marianne talks about how to enhance the books with learning activities. Many of the activities mentioned in the video can be downloaded from our website. In addition, you can download MP3 files of Marianne reading and singing Over in the Ocean. Librarians — and parents! — have found these tools valuable in helping to connect children with both nature and reading.

Ocean Activities for Early Childhood Educators

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Marianne Berkes has spent much of her life with young children as a teacher, children?s theater director and children?s librarian. Recently retired to write full time and visit schools and libraries, Marianne is the author of six published picture books for children, including the new title Going Home: The Mystery of Animal Migration.

This week we are excited to announce a collection of 18 different educational activities that Marianne has put together to accompany her award winning book, Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef. This collection includes activities ranging from water play to creating fish puppets. We hope that you enjoy this free download.

For more information on Marianne Berkes, please visit her website at www.MarianneBerkes.com. To find out more information on her school visits, click here.