Anita VP

Today, in the spirit of authenticity, I bring you this moment: My son sees some books.   He’s very excited for these books.   He looks so adorable looking at the books.   He points.   He coos.   He smiles.   This lasts for a complete four seconds.   He crawls away to get the better of some house plants.   Goodbye books – see ya later! I guess good thing I’m fast with a camera!   We’ll keep trying for reading that’s longer than the blink of an eye. #AnitaVP #realtalk #reading #readmore #baby #parenting #littlecritter

Since we’re staying with my husband’s parents while in between houses, the tiny humans and I have had much more time than ever before to observe and enjoy things from his years growing up.   The current decided favorite of mine from his past is a library of informational, mostly-nonfiction books put out by Walt Disney. With topics ranging from science to riddles to shapes and colors, these books each highlight the titled subject matter in true nostalgic Disney fashion.   Presenting the material in an age-appropriate and balanced fashion, these books really feel like the most adorable vintage read.   Perfect for the young child.   My personal choice thus far has been the It's A Small World book, inspired by the ride itself, highlighting children in countries around the world. Perhaps equally sweet is the cursive note inside from his grandmother and his subsequent claiming of the books – his own name written in chunky red marker, letters perfectly ben...

All aboard the reading lesson train again!   Now that we’re quasi settled in between leaving our Colorado home and finding our new one, it’s back at it to so-called “regular” life for tiny humans. As I mentioned in another post , we’re learning to read over here using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons .   “What’s the first sound?” “Now the next sound.” “Are you a snake?... SSSsss” I can appreciate that this is genuinely the most complex thing that my four-year-old has ever had to take on – and there’s decided challenges in that!   In my child’s case, the comprehension of the material is there without question, but the desire to be compliant and obedient was seriously lacking.   However, I think that it might be fair to say that at this juncture I am perhaps the one who is learning more.   Patience.   Flexibility.   Persistence.   Endurance.   More patience.   I may have garnered a point this week in parentin...

Now that preschool is over and summer is here, I feel like it’s time for reading some new picture books!   While I’m a longstanding lover of the classics for children, a little bit of fresh meat is always good.   I’ve found this awesome list from Brightly called The Ultimate Summer Reading List for Kids Ages 3 – 5 that we’ll be working through this season.   I’m very excited for some of these titles, especially HIGH FIVE from the DRAGONS LOVE TACOS duo. What newer picture books are on your kids’ summer reading list? #AnitaVP #summer #summerreading #readmore #picturebooks #preschooler #preschool 

For fun, let's do something different today: A tribute to Eric Carle and my favorite hangry person The Very Hangry Caterpillar In the light of the moon, an egg of a head lay on a pillow. On Saturday morning, the hot unwelcome sun came peeking out too soon – pop! – and out of the bed rolled a large and very hangry dad. He started to look for some food. First, he ate through one banana. But he was still hungry. Next, he ate through two slices of toast. But he was still hungry. Then, he ate through three eggs. But he was still hungry. After that, he ate through four measly berries. He was, of course, still hungry… and hangry. Following that, he tore ravenously through five clementines. But daddy dearest was still hangry. That Saturday, sweet mama fixed him all the food she could find and he ate one blueberry muffin, one Snickers ice cream bar, one bag of beef jerky, one huge hunk of white cheddar, one heaping portion of s...

BEARS IN THE NIGHT has been a longstanding favorite in our house – you know one of those ones where your kid asks you to read it over and over again.   Out of the shelf, onto the chair, into the hands.   Yet, there’s something magical about BEARS IN THE NIGHT that allows us to willingly read this one as many times as requested.   Next to the kid, out of my mouth, into the air.   Arguably, this book thus embodies many qualities of the perfect picture book. Last week, we happily indulged.   And to our blissful surprise, upon hearing it for the first time ever, the baby laughed and giggled and grinned ear to ear.   He couldn’t get enough of it!   Sweet chuckles and smiles.   Babies laughing has to be the best sound ever. Hats off to you, Stan, Jan, and nighttime Bears.   We’ll be reading this one to both our bears for many moons. #AnitaVP #berensteinbears #bears #kidlit #picturebooks #Human#2 #baby #babygiggles #par...

Not long ago in Barnes & Noble, I saw the most fantastic alphabet book I have ever seen: P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever .   The title really says it all and I’d hate to give away any surprises, but this one is cute and fun! I can’t help but laugh, because right now in my house we are drilling phonics hard core to get Human #1 ramped up for reading.   That alphabet book would really be The Worst – haha!   As such, I’ll be saving this gem for another time in her life. Since we’re deep engrossed in Phonicsland, I also can’t help but wonder if many of the common word and picture references for letter names/sounds are out-of-date.   They’re either out-of-date or boring or something.   Just sayin’. My kid legitimately does not use the phrase “necktie” – nor do we.   She also thought that a little picture of the walnut (parading as “nut”) looked like a loaf of bread.   Another common “alphabet word”, just specific to N,...

As a follow-up to my previous post on reading to baby , I wanted to provide some solid examples of the types of board books that may be best for baby.   In the article referenced , they discussed that babies were most stimulated when there were six or more named characters. The English major in me immediately jumps to some complex Shakespearian-style plot where your vast cast of characters is all intertwined (and modern day me jumps to Game of Thrones).   Alas, it’s much more simple than that for baby’s board books.   We luckily may just be looking at the full series of farm animals.   Nonetheless, many board books do not meet this criteria.   Because so many just involve a singular baby or other main character or even just have a series of “words to be learned” with matching pictures, it honestly it took me a while to think of a handful matching this descriptor. As such, consider reading the following six classic books, with a full cast of cha...

As I find myself trailing deeper down the picture book rabbit hole (pun intended), I realized I should brush up on the history of picture books.   Many of us are familiar with Beatrix Potter’s books as being some of the first widely popular children’s picture books (and the source of many cute Easter decorations); however, what the first children’s picture book is may be less common knowledge. Today, I bring to you this factoid: Orbis Pictus .   Credited with being the first children’s textbook with pictures, Orbis Pictus was printed in German and Latin in 1658.   It covers more academic topics, like zoology and religion, than many of the cheeky stories we read today.   But *gasp* it’s like someone finally figured out that children are very visual! You can check out a complete version here: archive.org/details/johamoscommeniio00come/page/n1 Thank you, Gutenberg, and thank you, John Amos Comenius ! #AnitaVP #first #picturebook ...

Human #2 is becoming increasingly fun.   He tries to kiss me.   He makes adorable hissing sounds, like the cutest little blue-eyed snake you’ve ever seen.   He also is really visibly enjoying evening story time.   We’re trying up the ante in terms of reading specifically targeting him and it’s so sweet to see him smiling as we read to him. Need any justification as to why you should read to your baby?   Check out this pretty neat article :  For baby’s brain to benefit, read the right books at the right time .   It uses scholarly research, but lays it out in a "regular person" friendly manner.   It also talks about which books specifically are more beneficial for the baby crowd.   For me, this article is good encouragement to keep at those healthy, daily habits that further my kids’ brain development. Read, Baby, read! #AnitaVP #parents #readmore #picturebooks #boardbooks #baby #storytime

Every year as Spring pops up and we move into Easter season, my mind always goes back to a picture book we read each year, HUMBUG RABBIT.   It’s a silly, entertaining little story about a Scrooge-like rabbit – but what makes it phenomenal are the illustrations.   Check out this book preview here . I love it all.   Bunnies are hands down one of my very favorite animals.   I love the rainbow of eggs.   The careful placement of the text alongside of the illustrations and the binary above and under ground views turns this into something special. For whatever reason, picture books, in particular, sing to my soul and continue to do so.   I would encourage you to snag a copy and read it.   Read it to your kids.   Take the time to read the books that are special – you’re building memories, not just killing time. #AnitaVP #Easter #Easter2019 #Rabbit #HumbugRabbit #picturebook #readmore

The proverbial ‘they’ say that job change, having a baby, and moving are some of the most stressful things in life.   So why not pack that all into the span of less than 12 months, right?   Sure – I’m not crazy.   I’m totally crazy.   Just yesterday, I marveled at the fact that I’m lucky my head is attached at the neck or I would surely misplace it.   It’s also a wonder I’ve not fallen sick with all that’s going on over here. Nonetheless, I’m working my heinie off to help aid for smoother transition for my kids.   So what would my gut reaction be to do to help with that transition: write a new manuscript around the concept, of course!   At the moment, it’s titled WHEN I MOVE.   I’m looking to create something to help Human #1 develop a healthy internal monologue regarding the move.   Inspired by the narrative voice of books like IN MY ROOM , I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and writing something from a first-person point of view. ...

As a parent, I’m finding that some of my favorite picture books to read to my tiny humans are ones that in some way aid with anticipating a transition.  It feels like a parenting BOGO or 2-for – tiny human gets a story and we prepare for something more serious. Case in point, we read books about getting a sibling before Human #2 came along.  Currently, I’m in the writing stages of a picture book manuscript about moving.  What are your favorite picture books to help a child anticipate a transition, either as a parent or from your childhood? Pictured: A transition so fast that no human or picture book could have prepared me. #AnitaVP #picturebook #amwriting #moving #parenting #transition

What do the people want?   What they want! How do the people want it?   How they want it! When do the people want it?   Now! In my research regarding attaining agented representation and publication, there is so much talk about trends, what sells, and what’s popular now.   Which, I get it – we all have to eat, agents and publishers included. I’m going to go out on a limb here though and make the following statement:   In my humble opinion, the beloved Poky Little Puppy would not even be able to get an agent today.    Poor Poky Puppy.   He’s adorable and naughty and we all learned something.   But by today’s standards, (I think strongly) it would be considered boring and lacking character development.   Let’s not even get into the fact that no one would want to publish something that suggests that you feed your snowflake dog anything other than  the most premium, artisan dog food. Granted, this is all ...

Since 1983, Mama Bear has been advocating for a less messy room.  They figured out which items, like Sister’s teddy, brought joy.  They sorted by category.  They purged.  There were emotions.  They tidied.  It’s all much better in the end. Mama Bear seemed to have a really different disposition than the sweet and adorable Marie Kondo.  But… it seems there is perhaps nothing new under the sun. I mean, I’m just saying…  (Not gonna lie though, I’m totally on another purging kick.) #AnitaVP #readmore #berenstainbears #mariekondo #sparkjoy #oldschool #picturebook #mamabear