Category: Books

Local Cape Cod Author Dean Coe Debuts Wild Moon

9/17/2020

Local Cape Cod Author Dean Coe Debuts Wild Moon
By Molly

Chesterton the weasel is at it again in the book Wild Moon by Dean Coe. Wild Moon unlike the other Chesterton book is a short chapter book geared for second grade and up independent readers. This book is full of facts while reading like a story and includes, Dylan, a young teen on the spectrum.

Wild Moon begins with Chesterton and his Cape Cod forest friends discussing the disappearance of animal friends, their habitat and what they can do. In the second part of the book Dylan observes unsettling changes as well. The end of the book brings animals and humans together with a way to try and combat these changes. Wild Moon includes back cover blurbs from Award winning authors, Sy Montgomery and Temple Grandin.

If your child enjoys the other Chesterton books or is just a nature lover check out Wild Moon! Wild Moon can be purchased at your local Cape Cod bookstore or online here.

Molly, her husband, and their 1, 6 and 8 year split their time between their little piece of the cape in Orleans and Cambridge. She was a kindergarten teacher before her oldest was born then became a SAHM. She loves running, books, supporting literacy, nature walks, arts, craft, knitting and sewing as well as being outside and on the beach!

Celebrate Springtime With These 3 Books

4/10/2019

Celebrate Springtime With These 3 Books
By: Charissa

Spring has arrived!

It’s always fun to watch the changes that occur from season to season. Springtime brings with it so much new life and bright colors!

As a mom, I love to look for seasonal books to share with my children. The other day, while visiting the library, I was able to find 3 wonderful books that celebrate spring.

My 6 year old and I read through all 3 books together one recent afternoon. Although the same in theme, each book captures spring in a unique way whether through creative words or colorful pictures.

The 3 books are:

and then it’s spring by Julie Fogliano

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes

It’s Spring by Linda Glaser

I would highly recommend swinging by your library and checking out these 3 spring books (or any others you might find) and spending a few sweet moments sharing a book with someone you love.

Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.

Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair Spotlight: Eight Cousins Books

1/7/2019

With the Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair rapidly approaching we will be sharing blog posts on our participating sponsors, vendors and nonprofits. You will find out more about these amazing businesses and what they offer to our community. They will be sharing their services, advice, what challenges face our community as well as upcoming events they will be having. Make sure to check out our virtual program and resource guide ahead of the event so you can plan for what you want to see! We hope to see you at the Resource Fair!

The 2nd Cape Cod Parents Resource Fair will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Cape Cod Community College in the Cafe, use lot 9.

All parents, caregivers and children will enjoy this educational and fun resource fair. Attendees can connect with local family-friendly nonprofit organizations, resource providers and businesses that are dedicated to helping families in our community grow and prosper. The event will feature informative parent-focused sessions for adults led by area professionals along with fun and engaging entertainment for the whole family including music, art, yoga and even a dance class!

Every ticket holder will be entered to win a swag bag plus receive additional entries for the other giveaways from local businesses.

Purchase Your Ticket

Eight Cousins Books

1.          Tell us about your business/non profit and how it benefits local families?
Eight Cousins is a bookstore in Falmouth. In recent years, we have expanded to become Falmouth’s Local Family Bookshop, nevertheless, we retain our emphasis on children’s books, early literacy, and community engagement. We are passionate and knowledgeable about books and literacy. Ask us for advice, suggestions, and why reading with kids is one of the most important things you can do as a family. We also offer a range of toys, games, and puzzles. Because we are primarily a bookstore, our gift items emphasize education, play, and social connections.

2.          Where is it located?
189 Main Street, Falmouth next to Town Hall. We have a step-free entrance in the back of the store.

3.          What is your favorite thing about our community?
One of my favorite things about our community is the community engagement. I love seeing so many organizations, arts & sciences programs, and volunteer opportunities. We love the support the Falmouth community has been willing to provide to keep an independent book store open for 32+ years. Across the Cape, other towns continue to support their own local bookstores. There 10+ independent bookshops on the Cape and islands!

4.          How else do you get involved with the community?
We offer events throughout the year. We coordinate an annual Giving Tree to support local schools and organizations. We provide book talks and information on reading and literacy, particularly for children ages 0-3. We are happy to do literacy and book talks with organizations and parent groups.

5.          What do you think are the biggest challenges facing parents in our community?
I think there are more resources available to families than people realize, but it might be difficult to find those resources, because we are bombarded with so much information. I also think there is tremendous pressure on parents to move fast and do “one more thing.” It can be hard slow down and make family time together a priority. We’re supporters of not only reading together, but playing, taking a walk, going outside, talking. Those quiet moments spending time together are crucial.

6.          What is your favorite memory or story over the years involving you and your business?
This store has been part of my life for most of my life. I shopped here as a kid. My sister was born the same year the store opened and some of her first books were purchased here. We still have them. I worked here as a college student and then again when I was in graduate school. As one of the current owners, I love hearing similar stories about memories of this store across generations. We have people come in who purchased books – that they still have -- for their kids and are now bringing their kids to select books for the grandkids.

7.          What advice would you give parents and caregivers in our community?
The first few years are so important and what we see over and over is that the best things you can do to give your kids a strong start are also the most fun: playing, talking, eating, reading, singing, pretending. My advice is do the fun things!

8.          Do you have any specials, events, or anything else taking place this upcoming year that our parents should know about?
Our events are listed on our website (www.eightcousins.com), in our newsletters, and on our Facebook page. We have Tuesday story times in the summer and Family nights on Friday evenings. We welcome suggestions about events and programming.

Bremner & the Party And Sharkee & the Teddy Bear Book Review

10/10/2018

Bremner & the Party And Sharkee & the Teddy Bear Book Review
By Molly

Bremner & the Party and Sharkee & the Teddy Bear Book are both new Ripley's Believe It Or Not! These books were sent to me for an unbiased review.

Bremner & the Party is a cute book best suit for preschool and kindergartens. The main character Bremner is a pufferfish who gets invited to a party but he is nervous to go to the party. He is worried he will puff up and ruin the party. The story uses very few words and lets the pictures do most of the “talking”. This book is a great way to start a dialogue with a young child about being nervous as well as for pre readers to start engaging with a story and text.

Sharkee & the Teddy Bear is the story of a shark who along with his fish friend witness a teddy bear falling overboard and they go on an adventure to find the bear. Along the way they encounter other sea creatures who are silly but not very helpful in locating the bear. This story also has very few words and lets the pictures do most of the “talking”.

Molly, her husband, and their new baby plus a 4 and 6 year split their time between their little piece of the cape in Orleans and Cambridge. She was a kindergarten teacher before her oldest was born then became a SAHM. She loves running, books, supporting literacy, nature walks, arts, craft, knitting and sewing as well as being outside and on the beach!

10 Ways to Encourage Your Kids To Read More This Summer

6/4/2018

10 Ways to Encourage Your Kids To Read More This Summer
By: Charissa

Summer brings about new routines and rhythms. It brings lazy mornings and long evenings. Summer brings children who are excited to have a break from school and all the hard work that goes along with being a student.

My children will be out of school in a few weeks. We know that our children are usually asked to and/or often required to read throughout the summer. It’s a good and important request as we understand the many benefits of reading, but getting kids to read in the summer can be a struggle.

How can we encourage our children to read during their summer break?
I have 10 ideas that might just help our reluctant readers keep their noses in the books this summer.

1) Head to your local library.
My children are usually very happy to go to the library, and even on a grumpy day with a reluctant child, things somehow get better when we walk into the library. “I don’t like books!” quickly becomes, “Mom, check out this book!!” This summer my children and I are attempting to visit a different library each week checking out the various children’s rooms and books available in the different locations.

2) Listen to audio books.
While you’re at the library, check out a few audio books. We love listening to audio books while we’re in the car. We also love audio books on a rainy (summer) day. We have found that a narrator can really make or break the experience of listening, so doing a quick preview or reading reviews beforehand can be helpful. Audio books are a great way to “read” even more this summer.

3) Sign up for reading programs.
Your local library most likely has a reading program as do numerous book stores, restaurants, banks, and various organizations. Do a Google search for “summer reading programs”, and see what turns up!

4) Read to them.
Read to your kids. If your children aren’t readers, read to them. If your children are readers, read to them. Some of the most special moments with my children have happened as we shared a story together.

5) Read with them.
Grab a book and sit down next to your child while they read. Throw a bunch of pillows on the floor and cuddle up together with a stack of books. You will get some reading done, and so will your children. Telling your kids to read is a good idea, but showing them that you, too, are a reader is inspiring.

6) Introduce a new genre.
Children often gravitate to the same genres. This summer introduce them to something new. Are they fiction-lovers? Find them some intriguing non-fiction. Are they sports’ fans who eat up all the non-fiction football books? Find some page-turning sports’ themed fiction. Bring home poetry, biographies, mysteries, and historical fiction. Give them the opportunity to explore and reach for something new!

7) Take your books outside.
Warmer weather provides the perfect opportunity to take your books outside. Grab a large blanket, some pillows, or beach chairs, and head out to your yard or park. My kids love to read in their tree house. There's just something about digging into a good book while outside that encourages even more reading.

8) Create an incentive.
Reading programs have various incentives, so create your own family incentive. Make a chart, set a goal, and celebrate when your children have attained it. Simple celebratory options could include: ice cream sundaes, a camp-out in the backyard, or dinner at your favorite restaurant.

9) Throw a book party.
Looking for a reason to throw a party? Consider throwing a book party. Have your child invite friends over and celebrate reading. Choose one book and use that book as the theme or just celebrate books, in general. Have a simple snack table, throw down a blanket, a stack of books, and let the kids read together or to one another. You could also have a dress up station or an art table. The ideas and fun are endless!

10) Have a screen free week.
When screens aren’t an option, books and other entertainment suddenly seem more enjoyable. Choose one week this summer to go screen free, and take an extra trip to the library or bookstore. Inspire an environment of reading by eliminating screens. We plan on doing our week in August!
For many children reading might not be number 1 on their summer bucket list. Hopefully, with a little encouragement from you, you may find them reaching for a book just a little more often.

Charissa was born and raised on Cape Cod. After 9 years away from the Cape, she and her husband returned home to start their family. A former 5th grade teacher, Charissa has spent the last 12 years at home with her 3 children while working various part-time jobs. Just about a year and a half ago she decided to pursue something she had been thinking about for many years; she started a blog! She loves sharing her passion for living a full life without all the busy over at http://www.thenotsobusymom.com/. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram (@thenotsobusymom) to learn more.

Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair Spotlight: Melissa Zawadzki from Usborne Books

2/2/2018

With the Cape Cod Parent Resource Fair rapidly approaching we will be sharing blog posts on our participating sponsors, vendors and nonprofits. You will find out more about these amazing businesses and what they offer to our community. They will be sharing their services, advice, what challenges face our community as well as upcoming events they will be having. Make sure to check out our virtual program and resource guide ahead of the event so you can plan for what you want to see! We hope to see you at the Resource Fair!

The 1st Cape Cod Parents Resource Fair will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at The Waldorf School of Cape Cod.

All parents, caregivers and children will enjoy this educational and fun resource fair. Attendees can connect with local family-friendly nonprofit organizations, resource providers and businesses that are dedicated to helping families in our community grow and prosper. The event will feature informative parent-focused sessions for adults led by area professionals along with fun and engaging entertainment for the whole family including music, art, yoga and even a puppet show!

Purchase Your Ticket Now

Every ticket holder will be entered to win a swag bag plus receive additional entries for the other giveaways from local businesses.

Melissa Zawadzki - Usborne Books

1.) Tell us about your business/non profit and how it benefits local families?
Usborne Books & More is an award-winning publisher of the most exciting, engaging, and educational books on the market today! They are high-quality, innovative, lavishly-illustrated, and best of all, they are the books kids love to read! Usborne Books & More provides books that can compete with the vast media that attracts children today. From activity books, to fantastic fiction stories and wonderful multicultural picture book stories and more, Usborne Books & More is broadening the world and imaginations of children of all ages, while promoting literacy.

2. Where is it located?

Usborne Books and More is based in the UK, with divisions in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

3. What is your favorite part about our community?

Sandwich has been my home for the last 6 years, and I have enjoyed the small-town feel of this community. When my family first moved here, we came home to brownies on our doorstep from our neighbor! I didn’t think, before moving here, that people did things like this in real life! Since then, we have been helped in multiple ways in this community, and we have tried to do our share to help out too. I love seeing how this community comes together to support each other!

4. How else do you get involved with the community?

I have been attending a vendor show monthly in Falmouth, in which I can share my love for these amazing books and also support other moms and their passion for their companies!

5. What are the biggest challenges facing parents in our community?

Not only in our community, but in every community really, I think one of the biggest challenges parents face today is the overabundance of media available to our children. There is no way to shut it out from our children’s lives completely, but I think it is important to try and set aside some non-electronic time for our children every day, whether that’s reading a book, playing outside, playing a board game, or all of the above.

6. What is your favorite memory or story over the years involving you and your business?

I have only been involved with Usoborne Books & More for about 7 months now, but I am encouraged every time I receive a message from a parent, saying that their child loves their new book! On one occasion, I had sent a message, to a women who placed an order with me, that her books should be arriving to her that day. She emailed me back saying that she had been having a bad day, and that receiving my message had made her day. That in turn made my day! I love sharing these books and seeing how happy they make parents and their children!

7. What advice would you give parents and care givers in our community?

To parents and caregivers, I would say to spend great quality time with your children! Make that time count. Reading, playing, crafting, talking, listening all serve to create a strong bond between parent and child, which in turn, will give that child confidence and allow for better social/emotional development.

8. Do you have any specials, events, or anything else taking place this upcoming year that our parents should know?

I have a VIP group on Facebook that can be found at facebook.com/groups/capedbooks , where I post the latest info, specials, sales, new releases, etc. There is also a link to order books at any time! If you are interested in learning more about these amazing books, I encourage you to join!

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge 2017

7/11/2017

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge 2017
By Molly

I was invited to attend the Scholastic Summer Reading Tour on July 5th at the Brewster Book store as a way to kick of the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. My son (almost 5y), daughter (almost 7y) and I arrived at Brewster Books about 30 minutes into the drop in event and were instantly welcome by one of the Scholastic employs and directed to my contact person. At her table were tons of freebies like samples parts of new books, stickers, bookmarks, character masks and book lists. Then the kids got their picture taken with a virtual Clifford (add into pic afterward) and props of their choice. There was also a character prize wheel to spin; prize included pins, Harry Potter poster (which my daughter was thrilled about), and Captain Underpants poster along with other things. After browsing the book they had for sale we got a VIP tour of the Scholastic Tour bus which has a table by all different authors including Peter Reynolds. My kids also got to take pictures with the three guest authors that were there signing their books; Blue Balliett, Eric Luper and Josh Funk. There was also a drawing table with fun coloring sheets and how to draw your own pictures.

One of the great things about the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is everyone can participate from home! Just click here and sign up. The site allows you and your kids to track their reading and earn virtual prizes plus enter the sweepstakes to win prizes from Klutz. Another great resources on the site is book lists by age. So if your family is very busy this summer and needs a virtual way to track summer reading check out the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge and get yours kids excited about reading.

To celebrate how much we love reading, Scholastic is hosting a giveaway on our blog. We are giving away a giant gift set of assorted books. All you have to do is comment below on our blog post by answering our question below.

(Be sure email is correct as we will contact winner this way. Giveaway open to all US Residents 18+. This giveaway is sponsored by Scholastic and hosted by Mommies LLC. Cape Cod Moms will ship the winner their prize. Giveaway runs from 7/11/17-7/26/17 at 11:59pm EST. )

What does your family do to encourage reading over the summer?

Fall Picture Book Release Reviews

10/31/2016

Fall Picture Book Release Reviews
By: Molly

Just in time for the beginning of early holiday shopping Usborne and Kane Miller have released some fun new books. These new releases and lots of other great books can be found here.

Choose Your Own Journey by Susie Brooks and illustrated by Tracy Cottingham is an adventure book geared for child 3-7. At the beginning of the book the child gets to choose the BOAT, the TRAIN, the CAR or the BIKE and the follow adventure being that object and see where it will takes them. The text includes information about how the adventure would be experienced in each vehicle which gives the child an opportunity to experience the journey from different perspectives. The illustrations are detailed and include cutouts and path following to engage the reader even more through the tactile addition. With the books action based and onomatopoeic language the reader is drawn in and almost becomes part of the book. Choose Your Own Journey is a great book for language development, interactive reading and can be read again and again.

Counting Throughout the Day by Margaret Hamilton and illustrated by Anna Pignataro is a counting book geared at 3-6 year old. This book is not just another counting book with its beautiful soft illustrations and rhyming text. From “One cuddly teddy on a brand-new day.” right to the end with “Good night!” the counting from 1-12 then 20, hundreds, thousands, millions and back to one shining moon tells a story with details of counting throughout the day. This is a counting book which can be enjoyed by both child and adult day after day.

There are two new books being added to the Billie’s Adventures by Sally Rippin illustrated by Alisa Coburn; Billie’s Wild Jungle Adventure and Billie’s Yummy Bakery Adventure. Billie’s adventures are set in her preschool making them ideal for preschool and kindergarten aged children. In Billie’s Wild Jungle Adventure Billie and her best friend Jack are out in the school yard’s tire swing pretending to be monkeys and before you know it they’re on a jungle adventure. Billie’s Yummy Bakery Adventure starts with a cardboard box bakery and a friend who doesn’t want to play with others and after some help from the teacher and some team work a super bakery serving all the classrooms creatures is created. The use of speech bubbles, onomatopoeia, different text and size and imagination makes them great for read alouds and as a way to get kids to start writing their own stories. The illustrations are vibrant and detailed but at the same time simple as if a child could have drawn them from their own imagination. Billie’s Adventure books would be great for getting a child excited about school and for classroom use.

Another book that would be great for budding writers is Scribble & Author by Miri Leshem-Pelly. In this story there is Scribble who is a scribble it starts off “Hello, Scribble. I’m the author, and I’m here to help you create your journey. Let’s start at the beginning.”. With rough draft style illustration and Scribble using speech bubbles the author and Scribble walk their way through writing a story and in doing so create a funny book about how you write a story. This book would be a great introduction for 5-7 year olds who are learning how to write stories as well as just a funny book for kids 3-8 years old.

What is your favorite picture book and why?

Molly Hubner
Usborne Books & More Independent Educational Consultant
I am always looking for people to join my Usborne team, host parties (Facebook or home), or just share these wonderful books! For more information visit my website or contact me at mollyhubner@gmail.com. Plus follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/mollyhubnersusbornebooks/

"Giggle More, Worry Less: A Pediatrician's Thoughts for New Parents" Book Review & Giveaway

10/19/2016

"Giggle More, Worry Less: A Pediatrician's Thoughts for New Parents"
Book Review & Giveaway
By: Amy

In today’s society when we are all so connected, Dr. Gregory Parkinson, M.D., reminds us to let go and live. Live for those moments filled with happy memories and turn not so happy ones into more enjoyable ones. These are the moments our children will remember and pass along to the next generation. “Keep your eyes on the prize”.

Throughout his book he gently reminds us who the Purple Hearts of Parenting are and of the “heroism in parents, especially mothers, which is badly unrecognized in our society.”

Laughter, fun and giggling make life more enjoyable and are the best cure for sadness. Time is our most precious commodity. Our children crave moments filled with family and laughter. This is a precious gift.

“Consumerism pushes us towards excess. Advertising exists for us to buy more. However, to buy more we need to work more, and to take part in more involved activities takes more time.” Dr. Parkinson nails it with this statement in his book. There is just not enough time for it all, so we need to spend our time on what is truly important and not worry and stress over the less important things. At the end of the day when we are long gone, no one will be talking about how: "she always had all her laundry done...", "her house was so clean all the time...", "she always had the latest toys and gadgets...". Instead people will say: "she was a good mother/friend/sister.....", "remember when mom would bake cookies with us or run around in the leaves and mud puddles?". The important memories will linger and the less important will be forgotten.

He covers important topics such as time management reminding us after the day is broken down we are only left with 1/3 of the day showing us just how precious our time with our children truly is. He also goes over other key things important to child health: things to look for; when to listen to your gut as you learn about your child; preparing the nest-everything from genetics to choosing the right pediatrician (qualities to look for); breastfeeding and more.

Dr. Parkinson breaks down and explains all possible situations in simple terms in order to prepare parents for both good things to come but also the possibilities and what it entails when there are obstacles to overcome such as child health problems, premature labor and more. His book is very open, straight forward and honest giving you the facts on it all and without judgement.

In today’s society women are given the impression that children, “spring from the womb, leap to the breast and live happily ever after.” This is a disservice. It is hard, it takes time and patience and it is a skill that must be taught. Personally with my first child it took at least two months post birth to even begin to master breastfeeding and that was only due to my support group at Falmouth Hospital, great lactation consultants, a supportive pediatrician and tremendous patience and hard work on my behalf. For me it was all worth it but I can remember the first few weeks feeling like a failure because I was struggling to feed my child when in reality it was a journey we had to work through and learn together.

“Giggle More, Worry Less” is a perfect book for any parent and especially new ones. Dr. Parkinson does a fantastic job of covering all the important topics while showing us that we just need to relax and laugh (because what else can you do when your infant explosively poops on you while changing her?). Life is too short to worry about every single little thing that could go wrong. Just hold your children close and enjoy all those moments! We highly recommend picking up a copy of this book for yourself or a friend. You will not be disappointed and it will gently remind you to just enjoy each moment even when you feel overwhelmed.

Giveaway: Win A Autographed Copy of:
"Giggle More, Worry Less"

Beginner Nonfiction Books

10/17/2016

Beginner Nonfiction Books
By: Molly

Now that the kids have been back in school for about a month I (as I am sure those of you with young elementary aged kids) have begun to think about getting books for my daughter to start reading. For some kids fiction is great but for others nonfiction works better. Today I pulled two books from the Usborne’s Young Beginners/ Beginners Series to review. These series has several books on subjects from baby animals to pirates and everything in between.

Pirates is a Beginner book and one of my sons favorites to have read to him. The book has information on who and what pirates were, the golden age of piracy, life syte, ships, famous pirates and the Whydah. According to the book “The Whydah Galley sank in a terrible storm of the coast of Massachusetts, USA, in 1717….”. Pirates has a table of contents, glossary of pirate words, websites to visit and index. This book is enticing to kids because of its bright pictures, content matter and the way it is organized with each new page spread as a new aspect with the info organized in little tidbits.

Baby Animals would be a great beginner book for any child that loves animals. The text is a little simpler than that in the Pirates book as it is a Young Beginners book. In the Young Beginners books there is only one to three sentences per page and no tables of contents, glossary, ect. The pictures are colorful illustrations and the information simple but interesting. I can see my kindergarten daughter being able to read this book on her own in the next year or so.

What types of books does your child enjoy reading or having read to them?

Molly Hubner
Usborne Books & More Independent Educational Consultant
I am always looking for people to join my Usborne team, host parties (Facebook or home), or just share these wonderful books! For more information visit my website or contact me at mollyhubner@gmail.com. Plus follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/mollyhubnersusbornebooks/

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