Talk Like A Pirate Day AYE MATEY

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is on the horizon, so we hope you'll be joining us on 19th September for a  sailor's hornpipe and a tot of grog!
We're celebrating all things pirate with the launch of our latest animated singalong - Portside Pirates. Available now! and on the 17th September, the video gives you the perfect excuse to break out the Parrot Puppets and slap on an eye patch for a pirate-themed great time!

CHECK OUT OUR BOOTY:

Pirate Books and Puzzles

Macaw Parrot Puppet

Macaw Finger Puppet

If you need some help with how to be speakin' pirate-like then ne'er be afraid me hearties, there's a website that should help:  http://www.yarr.org.uk/talk/

We'd love to see photos and videos of you and your children enjoying your Pirate story time.  Please forward them to thecozybooktree@yahoo.com and we will proudly display them! 

YO HO HO Have yerself a barrel o'fun!

 

In The Spotlight: Illustrator Clare Beaton

Clare Beaton Illustrator

Clare Beaton was brought up in North London where she to this day still lives and works.  She studied graphics and art in college.  Within a year of her graduation she was picked up by the BBC as an illustrator for childrens programs.

Clare Beaton has a love of folk art and now creates illustrations for chldren's books and we are proud to say we carry these fabulous books of hers.

She is popular with parents and children alike for using felt and a mostly vintage range of buttons, braid and fabrics.  Her pictures are all hand-stitched and she is always looking for more items to recycle and give a new lease on life in her work.  Old aprons are a favorite of hers for sources in wonderful patterns.

Ms. Beaton's illustrations do not stop there but continue on in pen and in craft and activity books, children's jigsaw puzzles and games and was animated for a series of TV ads in North America for Triaminic.  Working with an animation studio has been very interesting for her and she hopes to see more (as we do) of her work animated in the near future.

You can see and purchase Clare's books such as:

Baby's First Book, Baby's First Journal, Action Rhymes NEW, Nursery Rhymes NEW, and Mrs. Moon, Lullabies for Bedtime NEW

 

 

 

 

at:  www.TheCozyBookTree.com today!

NEW To The Baby Library Tales and Rhymes

Our beloved illustrator Clare Beaton is at it again.  The Cozy Book Tree, Ambassador for Barefoot Books is proud to announce our newest addition to our Baby Library with:

 CLICK HERE To View Book

Featuring seven classic nursery favorites like Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep and Hey Diddle Diddle, this sturdy board book format is ideal for sharing with babies and toddlers.

For babies to 4 years 

 CLICK HERE To View Book

Small children love to act out simple rhymes! This collection features classic favorites like Incy Wincy Spider, Pat-a-Cake and One Potato, Two Potato in a sturdy board book format that is ideal for sharing with babies and toddlers.

For babies to 4 years 

CLICK HERE To View Book

Lullabies for Bedtime

Cozy up for bedtime and hum along to lullabies both old and new. The twenty-two selections in this richly textured book are meant for dreamtime sharing. Book with CD edition includes songs sung by Dana Kletter.

For babies to 3 years

Today's Video Is: The Animal Boogie Ages 3-7

Does your little one love to sway and boogie woogie oogie?  Put your little one on your lap and have a listen and a watch our Award Winning Sing-a-long book and CD called The Animal Boogie.  Down in the Indian jungle, the children and animals are learning about actions like leaping, stomping, shaking and flapping while meeting different jungle creatures.



Have FUN!

15% Off New Customer Discount

 

The Cozy Book Tree, your Ambassador to Barefoot Books is offering all NEW customers 15% off their first order placed from August 18-September 1, 2010.

To receive this discount enter COUPON CODE: SCSHFT 

CLICK HERE

To Shop With Us

Offer only valid for first time new customers. Code cannot be reused for same customer after first initial purchase. Offer only valid at www.jamie-volner.barefootbooks.com

Tips For Sending Your Child Of To School

Every year millions of young children start school for the very first time. They carry backpacks, lunchboxes, pencils, sometimes a grin on their face, but more often, a look of trepidation about what school will really be like. They wonder: Will my teacher be nice? Will I have friends? What if I can’t find my way? Who will sit with me? What will I do? What if I don’t like it? What if I miss home? What if it’s too hard?

As parents guiding our children off to start school for the first time, or to begin a new school year, we want to do all we can to ensure that they have a great experience. At the same time, we want to encourage their independence as they set off on a new journey in their development.

Kathryn White, author of Ruby's School Walk, early educator and mom of five children, shared her tips to ease children's start-of-school anxiety and make this an enjoyable milestone:

Click HERE to meet Ruby!

• Read with your child and talk about the school experience. Share with them stories about your memories of school, both the good and the less so. School is an adventure, and like all adventures, it has its ups and downs.
• Help spark your child’s imaginations about school to encourage them to talk about their concerns and face their fears. You can do this through stories, books, drawings and other art forms. Ask them questions such as what they think school will be like, what they are excited about and worried about, what they think they will learn, etc. These conversations can also be had with grandparents and other favorite people in your child’s life.
• Build a community in your neighborhood. It is amazing what a familiar and friendly face can do to help a child overcome their fears about going to school. As your family journeys to school each day you might see this friendly neighbor, or only see them occasionally, but it will help your child feel comfortable and safe on their trip to school.
• Sit down together and create a fun map to school. Note interesting landmarks and have your child color them in or place numbers at each point. On that first morning to school, your child will be preoccupied with checking off the landmarks on their special map. The school can be drawn with welcome signs, making it a great triumph upon their arrival.
• Walk with your child to school whenever possible. If you don’t live nearby, take public transport, bike or drive and get out a few blocks away and walk together. The walk will become a meaningful way to spend time together and help get the day off on the right foot.
• Create traditions. Take pictures of your child in front of your home or on their way to school. Each year you can reflect back on these first day of school photos and see how much your child has grown in every way.
• Know that if the first day went well or didn’t go well, there are many more days of school throughout the year and peaks and valleys along the way.

We hope your child’s first experience with school is part of their magnificent journey of growing up!



The Cozy Book Tree

Bonding With Your Little One

Reading to your child even right after birth helps your baby to become used to the sound of your voice. Reading in soft tones creates a soothing environment to your child and switching off between mommy and daddy is a great idea.

As your baby develops into toddlerville (no, not a real word but I like it) he or she now starts to look at story time as fun, exciting and reading often becomes a ritual between child and parent with squeals of "Mommy (or Daddy), again, read it again!" In other words, you are bonding with your child.

The focus here is not to start "teaching" them to read at such a young age but to teach them to use their imagination, get wrapped up in the story and have FUN! The learning to read part will come. Fundamentals have a way of unraveling themselves when shown by example. You are their example.

My son and I enjoyed our reading time together. By the time he was 3 if I was not ready at our usual story time boy did I hear about it! It was our time to bond, time to let both our imaginations run wild with giggles and oooo's and ahhhhhh's. Story time sometimes ended up into making a "play" out of the story and acting out parts. He was so proud when he started to learn to read on his own and could then read to me. We would take turns switching off during storytime. I'd read, then he'd read.

There is nothing better than bonding with your child. These are the years to cherish. Ohhhhh how I miss him curling up into my lap, looking up to me with those huge brown eyes with light in them knowing we were about to embark on another fun journey together. One day, when my son becomes a father I hope he remembers this joy, bonds with his children and keeps the imagination train chug chugging along.

Play, Learn, Create