SmartyPantsNews

See Inside Your Body

2008-01-13T21:40:00.000-08:00

Did you know...In a day an adult breathes enough to fill 1000 party balloons.

Did you know...In one day your blood travels 12,000 miles!

Did you know...A red blood cell can travel around your body in under 1 minute.

Find out much more in See Inside Your Body. This is a great book for ages 7 and up.

What an awesome book! One page is about breathing, the next is abut our blood and how it travels throughout our bodies. Awesome pictures that explain how our blood flows. Bones and muscles, brain power, your senses and drinking and peeing.

High picture to word ratio with lots of flaps on each page that shows the body more in depth. I love this book. It is also available in Spanish.

This is a series called See Inside Science that also includes; See Under The Ground, See Inside Science and the newest book See Inside Your Head. All are excellent learning tools for 7 years and up.

Back to school made easier

2007-09-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

Is your child prepared for school this year?

Did your child complete his/her summer reading list? Did they write a book report or did you discuss the book to make sure the book was understood?

Did you spend at least 30 minutes a day helping your child read or spell or figure math equations? Yes, 30 minutes a day will instill the habit of reading or studying in your child.

Does your child hate to go to school? Maybe, he/she has fallen behind because of too much fun this summer. It’s easy to get them back on track or even ahead of the game when you are interested in their learning and happy to participate.

Does your young child know where England is on a map? How about Mexico, Canada, Oklahoma, Alaska?
Your older child should be able to spot Asia, Indonesia, Iceland, Russia, Japan and Afghanistan.

One of our cookbooks is called Children‘s World Cookbook.
Pick a meal from the cookbook to prepare together and talk about what you learned about the culture and traditions of that country later, while you are eating that meal at the table.

What year did Columbus sail the ocean blue? Use rhyming to make learning fun.

It’s not too late to help your child be successful this year in school.
Pick a story from the newspaper every day and read it together. This should be a current event story, not one about a movie star or new movie.

All work and no play makes learning boring. Science experiments are fun and help your child learn while they are having fun. Have your child read the directions as you guide him/her through the steps.

Check our online bookstore
you will find books on Science, Math, History, Languages, Geography, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation to name a few.

We offer over 1300 books for ages newborn through adult.

Qualify for 1 Customer Special for every $35 spent.
Qualify for $15 in Free Books for every $85 spent.

Use those discounts for Birthday Party gifts and/or Christmas gifts.
Our Dolly Dressing Sticker Books, Pirate Kid Kit, Friendship Bracelet Kid Kit or Touchy Feely Books for the youngest.
You and your child will be very popular gift givers with his/her peers.

Teachers also benefit from a gift of a new book for their classroom so think of a book instead of an apple.

Have a Pirate Party for your child

2007-06-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

A box of new books just arrived and I have to tell you about them. This great company that I am an Independent Educational Consultant for is up on everything new.

The Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End just came out in theatres. Usborne Books At Home has come out with some great new books and activities for all of your little pirates out there. First of all, I can’t wait to open the New Pirates Chest Kid Kit and the New Pirates Handbook. Every child who loved the movie will want to have these two. You can find all of these books on pirates on my website.

The Pirates Chest Kid Kit, ages 6 years and up, is encased in plaster of paris and comes with a Pirates beginners book, protective eye wear, a hammer and brush to chop away the plaster from the Chest and “pirate treasure”. This will keep any pirate want to be happy for hours. Please note this is something even a 10-12 year old will love. The ages that I have listed are just suggested and are a guide depending on learning levels.
I have had such a great response to the Dinosaurs Kid Kit that uses the same idea of chopping away to discover all of the dinosaur bones that the child puts together to form a model dinosaur skeleton. I am sure the Pirates Chest will be an equal hit.

Of course if you want to be a pirate, you will need the new Pirates Handbook, ages 8 years and up. It does tell you about the non glamorous life of a pirate and what it took to be a pirate.

The third Pirate book that I am excited about is 1001 Pirate Things to Spot, ages 6 years and up. I love this series. This is a puzzle book that is packed with pirate things to count and spot. I sell a lot of these puzzle books ( 1001 Animals to Spot, 1001 Bugs to Spot, 1001 Things to Spot Under the Sea, 1001 Things to Spot on the Farm) and I can’t wait to show this Pirate one.

Save with sets!
Save $13.55 on our new Make Believe Pirate Set.
This set includes: Pirates Handbook (H), Pirate Adventures (P), True Stories of Pirates (P), Treasure Island (P), and Mutiny at Crossbones Bay (P). Retail value of $33.95. Buy this set for $20.40

Your Baby Can Read!

2006-12-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

Your Baby Can Read ~ if you have a new child, grandchild, niece or nephew this is for you.

It is an awesome Baby Shower Present too.

It is never too early to teach a child to read - 3 months to 5 years old.

I think Your Baby Can Read is an excellent Early Language Development System. I just received my box with 5 DVD's, 5 double sided Sliding Word & Picture Cards, 1 Wipe-clean Word Card, 1 non-toxic Erasable Pen.

Get your own copy today! Just click here to find out more.

Please post your comments after you receive and use your system.
I can't wait to hear how much your children love it.

Exciting New Offer!

2006-09-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

Literacy For A Lifetime

A Grant Matching Program
Sponsored by Usborne Books/Educational Development Corp.

· 85% of children in the juvenile court system cannot read.
· Over 70% of adult prison inmates cannot read above a 4th grade level
·Spurred by the undeniable and shocking statistics that show a direct correlation between crime, the prison population and illiteracy, Usborne Books/ Educational Development Corporation is partnering with businesses, organizations and individuals to provide more books to kids.
· One of the national poverty indicators is having less than 25 pieces of printed material in the home.

· Literacy for a Lifetime offers a 50% matching grant in books for every dollar contributed. For example, a $10,000 donation is matched with an additional $5,000 and the organization of your choice receives $15,000 in educational materials for their use.
· States where homes have more reading materials
generally have higher reading proficiency.

· Literacy for a Lifetime can be used as often as donations become available, has no cap on the amount that can be donated and is tax deductible.

· 75% of unemployed adults have reading or writing difficulties.
· 90% of welfare recipients are high school dropouts.
· The receiving organization has full control over the selection of books.
· When inmates learn to read, only 15% of them are ever arrested again.

Who are Potential Recipients?
· Schools & Libraries· Head Start Programs· Non-Profit Organizations· Educational & Literacy Programs· Nurseries· Hospitals· Areas affected by natural disasters

Changing the World .... 1 Child at a time ... with books.

Anne & Stuart Loveridge
Independent Educational Consultants ~ Usborne Books At Home
Call us toll free 888-817-4151
http://www.planetsl3.com/

Ballerina Dreams

2006-06-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

I am exicited to announce a new series - Ballerina Dreams.
The 6 books will preview in our Fall 2006 Catalog that is released July 1st.

Dancing Princess
Jasmine's Lucky Star
Rose's Big Decision
Dancing Forever
Dancing with the Stars
Poppy's Secret Wish

Great books for your little girl who loves Ballerinas and Ballet!
I am taking orders now for your daughter's summer reading.

Fill your Easter Baskets with books!

2006-03-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

This Easter suprise your children with Easter Books in their Baskets.
I have listed some of my favorites and ones you and your child will love.
Baby Animals Lift the Flap Book
Rabbits
Easter Activities
Eggs and Chicks
Easter Cooking
The Family Bible
Caterpillers and Butterflies
The Rainy Day
Starting Gardening Kid Kit
1001 Bugs to Spot

To Love, To Learn & To Grow

2006-02-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

FREE Personal Consultation ~ just email me your name, first names and ages of your children and their To Love subject, To Learn subject and To Grow subject. I will reply with some suggestions.

You will find the books at http://www.PlanetSL3.com

Parents, help your child love to read and become more confident in school.
I am here to help each of you find the best books for your child/children.

First ~ Find a book that your child will LOVE.
Is it Horses, Mermaids, Dinosaurs, Princesses, or maybe, Puppies and Kittens. We have so many fun books to choose from. Maybe it will be a puzzle book or a stencil book or a search book.

Next ~ Find a book that will help your child LEARN.
Try Ballet, Art, Cooking, Soccer, Spanish or Astronomy. Learning can be fun and what better way than through a new cookbook, activity book or foreign language book.

Last ~ Find a book that will help your child GROW.
When you talk to your child's teacher, what is it your child struggles with most at school? Is your child's least favorite subject Science, Math, Reading, Spelling or History? I offer so many awesome books and tools to choose from.

Now ~ Use the new books to spend quality time with each of your children.
Pick a Grow subject and start there as this will help your child build confidence the next week at school should be easier for him/her.

What are Kid Kits?

2006-01-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

Kid Kits are activity kits packed with fun. Everyone I show them to just loves them! They come in a book and materials for one or more activities that will keep your child busy and happy.

Five new Kid Kits are offered for 2006! I am so excited to show them to you. Perfect for birthday party presents & all at very reasonable prices.

The Dinosaur Excavation Kit is a T-Rex dinosaur skeleton encased in a block of clay, Dinosaurs book and tools and everything you need to go on your own archeological dig! After you find all of the pieces of the dinosaur skeleton, then assemble your own T-Rex skeleton. Great for ages 6 and up.

Volcanoes Kid Kit is perfect for the young scientist who can perform an experiment and have the Volcano erupt. Instructions for "safe" lava to flow from this realistic model of a Volcano and a book to learn all about them. This will fascinate any child ages 6 and up.

Butterflies, butterflies, so pretty in a twirling mobile that you can make with all of the pieces needed. Your child will be proud to show off this great mobile.
Color the butterfly patterns and then use the shrinky dinks plastic sheets to make them come alive for your mobile. Then sit down an read the book on caterpillars and butterflies. Ages 6 and up.

Give your princess a Cinderella pop out carriage of her very own. This comes with a book on Cinderella. Spend quality time with your child ages 4 and up as this beautiful Pumpkin Coach needs an adult to help put it together.

What child isn't fascinated with flying and model airplanes. This kid kit comes with a book called Flying and 4 POP out planes; Fighting Falcon, P-40E Warhalk, Spad 13 and Heilkel. Any interested pilot to be will be fascinated with this Kit. Ages 7 and up.

Well, these are just a few of the many available. I will just name a few more; Dinosaurs, Chess, Princesses, Horses, Mermaids, Paper Flowers, Origami, Microscope, Starting Ballet and who can resist Magic Tricks with a wand, finger and everything to become an expert magician.

You can find all of these on my website; www.PlanetSL3.com.
Order a few to keep on hand and give a great gift for anyone's birthday.
Perfect for Grandparents to keep on hand so you will always be able to entertain the Grandchildren for hours.

The new books have arrived!

2005-12-28T19:06:00.000-08:00

I just received some of the new titles for 2006 and I want to tell you about them.

>>> I will start with 1001 Fairies to Spot. This book will keep little girls, ages 6 and up, occupied for hours. Each double page spread is full of things to spot such as strawberry sodas, magic wands, fairies on swings, fairy newspapers and more ~ what fun and so many fairies!!!

>>> The next book is for ages 5 and up; The Castle Jigsaw Book. See what life was like with 6 fun jigsaw puzzles that show cut away pictures to see inside parts of the Castle and how people lived.

>>> I love the Big Book of Picture Puzzles and so will kids 8 years old and up. It is 4 books in 1 with over 4000 things to spot! The Great History Search, The Great World Search, The Great Dinosaur Search and The Great Castle Search ~ a great value!

>>> Children’s Book of Art is for ages 10 and up. Beautiful pictures of some of the greatest works of art. Read about Warhol, Degas, Matisse, O'Keeffe, Monet and more. Read this book with your child and spend good quality time together. Great for Homeschoolers!

>>> Dinosaur Stencil Book is very popular with 13 stencils to draw many awesome dinosaurs. This book will make any child, 4 years old and up, an expert Dinosaur artist!

>>> Who could resist the 123 Jigsaw Book. Count the animals on the giant puzzle train while your child puts the 12 puzzle pieces together. Lots of fun for ages 1 and up.

Well, that is my quick review of some new books on my website www.PlanetSL3.com . These and the rest of the new books for Jan-June 2006 can be seen and purchased on my website.

Reach For The Stars

2005-11-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

Another successful Reach For The Stars reading fundraiser for the 5th grade at the Guy E. Rowe School. 17 participants brought in $939 in pledges from their friends and family. 5 completed the 10-10-10 Challenge. What is the 10-10-10 Challenge?? Ask 10 people to sponsor you $10 each and you to read 300 min in 10 days!
Each child receives 50% of their pledge money they collect in Free Books for their home library, 30% goes towards their class trip to Boston and 20% in Free Books - the teacher picks out for his/her classroom.
This is a great reading fundraiser and I love to promote RFTS!

Summer Fun Shows

2005-03-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

Take your kids on a summer of fun!

Give your kids some summer fun and "quality time".
Summertime is when the sponges we feed with information all winter goes dry when it comes to swimming and playing sports. Who didn't love their summer vacations??? I certainly did! I became a fish who lived at the beach. I was a swimmer and a state champ at that. Loved tennis, golf & riding my bike.
Summer reading lists seemed to be a bother that I would "catch up on" the last week in August.

Mom's ~ I am sponsoring "Summer Fun Shows" that will keep your kids learning and loving books all summer. Your children will be more advanced than their peers when they return to school in the fall.

Summer Fun Shows
Door Prizes ~ Show Specials ~ Refreshments

Nature Fun
Seashore Fun
Fairy Fun
Pirate Ocean Fun
Gardening Fun
Dinosaur Fun
Horses Fun
Space Fun
ABC Fun
Princess Fun
Ballet Fun
Castle Fun

Have fun with your kids this summer ~ Puzzles, Games, Art & Crafts, Reading

Order your own Summer Fun Sets for your own kids ~ just call Anne 207-743-8795 for more info.

Did you know?

2005-03-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

Research experts predict that in the new millennium, math and reading illiteracy may impede three-quarters of American adults’ chances to obtain any but the lowest paying jobs.

Experts believe that the biggest obstacle to literacy is the scarcity of books and appropriate reading material.

1998 Reading Report Card found that students with higher reading scores were more likely to report four types of reading materials in their homes – encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, and at least 25 books! – The National Assessment of Educational Programs

The average college graduate earned about 43% more than the average high school graduate in 1980. Today the difference in earnings between the same two workers is over 70%! - Government Accounting Office

If every child were read to daily, from infancy, it would revolutionize education in this country. – U.S. Education Secretary Richard W. Riley

Successes!

2005-02-17T12:53:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who has participated!

11 year old Cody was my shining star. This young man first participated in a reading fundraiser that I held with his 5th grade class. He took his challenge to be sponsored to read and ran with it. He collected the most in pledges for his class. The entire class participation was very high and they earned 30% cash or $1,200 plus in cash for their Boston trip this spring. Each child who brought in pledge money received 50% of their pledges in free books for their home and their teachers picked out 20% in books for the classrooms. I love my job! I get to give free books to kids and teachers who are in need of learning tools.

Well, after the fundraiser, Cody was so excited about earning free books that he called me and scheduled a Book Show with me. What an enthusiastic child. He took catalogs to all of his neighbors and friends and within a week, he needed lots more order forms. His mom should be very proud of her son. I know she is. He called everyone the day before to remind them to come see the great books and his turnout of 12 guests the night of his show was tremendous. His show was my best all year! I love it when kids love to read!

Successes!

2005-02-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

These are my favorite books for Kid/Teens and even Adults.
Click here for internet only specials.
PlanetSL3.com

A favorite poem

2005-02-10T09:21:00.000-08:00

20 Minutes A Day
Read to your children twenty minutes a day;
You have the time, and so do they.
Read while the laundry is in the machine;
Read while the dinner cooks;
Tuck a child in the crook of your arm and reach for the Usborne books.
Hide the remote, let the computer games cool, for one day your children will be off to school;
"Remedial?" "Gifted?" You have the choice;
Let them hear their first tales in the sound of your voice.
Read in the morning; Read over noon; Read by the light of the Goodnight Moon.
Turn the pages together, sitting close as you'll fit.
Till a small voice beside you says,"Hey don't quit."

It's never too early

2005-02-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

Raising a Reader...Read to your child 20 minutes a day!

Read aloud from the moment you bring your new baby home from the hospital. Cloth books are wonderful for your youngest reader who needs the soft touch.

The new chunkie books are great ~ Just the right size for little hands to hold and will stand up to punishment.

At 9 months Touchy Feely Books will hold your child's attention with all of the textures to feel and discover.

Give your baby time to look at the pictures, which should be held about eight to ten inches from his/her face.

Teach your children to play in books instead of in front of the TV or video games. This is something that is habit forming at an early age.

Play rhyme, rhythm, and sound games with your child. Look for objects in pictures or around the house that begin with a specific letter of the alphabet.

Quotes

2005-02-09T17:52:00.000-08:00

A room without books is like a body without a soul. ~ Marcus T. Cicero

"Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing." - John Andrew Holmes

New News

2005-02-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to the SmartyPantsNews blog.