It's Springtime in My Backyard

Product Description

Its Springtime In My Backyard is a read-aloud picture book about a little girls relationship with two wild ducks that come and nest in her backyard at the first signs of spring. The large photographs with whimsical water colored illustrations provide the reader with a fun, true to life reading experience. Written in the young girls voice, this story is about her developing relationship with the wild ducks. A CD recording of the authors daughter reading the text accompanies each hardcover book. At the end of the story are two mallard fact pages and a childs springtime photograph album designed to encourage dialogue about springtime.

At four years old, Lauren, the authors daughter, began speech therapy twice a week. The plan was to strengthen Laurens communication skills before she entered kindergarten. The following spring, Ms. Mazur began to witness and write this story. Her goal was to engage her daughter in the storytelling process through a pictorial format that with Lauren she could create and share. After taking the photographs and discussing the story with Lauren, Ms. Mazur decided to make a professional recording of her daughter reading the story, an idea that brought boundless rewards.

Laurens awareness of the world around her and her delight in developing a tender, fragile connection with nature through Its Springtime In My Backyard opened the door to her growing desire to read, create, and write.

This book is the celebration of Laurens journey into the wonderful world of reading, writing and storytelling. The authors wish is that all children who enjoy this book will discover the joy of communicating and expressing their thoughts and imaginations, for they too have stories to tell.

Customer Reviews:

It's Springtime in My Backyard.......2007-07-14

It's Springtime in My Backyard tells the story of the author's young daughter Lauren's encounters with two Mallard ducks whom she calls Molly and Moe. This story combines real photographs of the ducks as they visit the Mazur backyard and become friends with Lauren with drawn illustrations of young Lauren as she narrates the story. This book includes a CD with Lauren reading the story.

It's Springtime in My Backyard is an enchanting story that reflects the carefree delights of children and their instinctive connection to nature. I thought the story was well written and wonderfully effective through the use of a realistic child's voice. I also liked the combination of photographs and illustrated work.

Will captivate and entertain young readers while providing them with encouraging insights into backyard experiences .......2006-07-12

It's Springtime In My Backyard featuring photographs by author and illustrator Kathy Mazur is the delightfully informative and educational tale of Molly and "Moe the Mallard". Following Moe and Molly's backyard adventures through their fun and active everyday lives, It's Springtime In My Backyard will captivate and entertain young readers while providing them with encouraging insights into backyard experiences as commonly encountered by children. Enhanced with the inclusion of an accompanying CD of the book (nicely read by seven-year-old Lauren Mazur), It's Springtime In My Backyard is very highly recommended for family, school and community library picturebook collections for its originality, and thoroughly "kid friendly" text.

Recommended!.......2006-05-10

A wildlife story for young children involves a pair of mallard ducks who visit the author's daughter during nesting season.

Lauren, age 7, tells the tale clearly on CD after her mother photographs an interaction that is built on patience and developing trust. My favorites are sequences of Lauren gaining the hen duck Molly's confidence while feeding her. The color contrasts, facial expressions and composition are great. Anyone struggling to preserve precious moments with child OR animal will marvel that Kathy accomplishes BOTH! The watercolors of a child at play and rest add pizzazz; the umbrella and puddle drew a chuckle!

The 26-page view of Lauren's relationship with hen, Molly, and drake, Moe, is followed by two pages of Duck Facts; simple vocabulary includes only a few challenges (iridescent is defined, but camouflage and vegetation are not.) Kathy adds 13 bird, animal, plant and flower photos that readers may find in their own neighborhood.

Springtime fills a science need in schools wonderfully, especially for urban dwellers who may not be exposed to feathered fowl.

A colleague who works with children with vision problems said she "liked that real photos are used, larger type on white background and in the same location!" Words are printed in blue, with green and even larger font size used to emphasize significant words.

Springtime lends itself to story-time reading for groups and will appeal to all ages and levels, including adults.

I recommend it to educators and librarians as a learning tool and to parents and relatives as a gift to treasure.

Armchair Interviews says: This nature book about establishing relationships is one to read again and again, with a CD that allows independent looking and listening.

Preschool & Simple.......2006-05-01

IT'S SPRINGTIME IN MY BACKYARD By Kathy Mazur is a simple pre-school picture book about a child's relationship with a pair of ducks, Molly and Moe, that return each year in spring to live in her backyard. The photos and childish drawings are by the author, and the child pictured is her own daughter, Lauren. Lauren, now seven, reads the book on the CD that comes with it. This refreshingly simple book teaches about wildlife, trust, and caring

Fun with a lesson.......2006-01-28

Reviewed by Jennifer Imparato for Reader Views (1/06)

This book is an amazing `learn to read book'. It is the story of a child and her interaction with two ducks at the beginning of spring. The story is written in short sentences that children can understand which are accompanied by real photographs and drawings that illustrate what the words are explaining.

At the end of the story, there is information about male and female mallards, as well as pictures of other animals and plants that signal the beginning of spring. This book also includes a CD, on which the child the book is written about (Lauren Mazur, age 7) reads the book.

I would recommend this book to any parent with a young child. It's not only a fun story for beginning readers, but it's also a lesson about mallards as well. That's like two lessons in one story.

My Little House Chapter Book Collection: Animal Adventures, School Days, Pioneer Sisters, the Adventures of Laura & Jack

Average customer rating:

excellent for young and older little house fans

My Little House Chapter Book Collection: Animal Adventures, School Days, Pioneer Sisters, the Adventures of Laura & Jack
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Manufacturer: Trophy Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Literature | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

People & Places | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Series | Children's Books | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0064494381

Customer Reviews:

excellent for young and older little house fans.......2000-05-26

My girls ages range from 9 to 3 and they all loved the little house stories, but the best thing was I loved being able to get the three books all in one set and then to get the paperdoll and the poster was just an added bonus. Thanks please make more of these box sets available.

My Little House Book of Animals: Adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House)

Average customer rating:

Great book that grows with your child!

My Little House Book of Animals: Adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House)

Manufacturer: Harpercollins Childrens Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Readers | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0060259922

Book Description

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now the very youngest readers can meet Laura and her loving pioneer family and learn all about the animals Laura grew up with through this simple text adapted from the original Little House books.

Customer Reviews:

Great book that grows with your child!.......2007-01-06

My daughter was given this book when she was about eighteen months old. She is now almost six years old and the book is still fun! At first we would just look at the pictures of the animals and make the animal sounds. Later on we would look at the animals and I would read their name and the sentence using the animal name from the original Little House books. Now I can read the animal name, the sentence, and the citation to which book the line came from. All the animals are fairly common.

Average customer rating:

There's a Mouse in My House!
Sheree Fitch
Manufacturer: Firefly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 155209393X

Book Description

In this charming, fun-to-read tale, a young boy is told to get rid of a mouse who has entered the family home. However, that may not be as easy as he thinks -- for this is no ordinary mouse. In order to avoid her certain demise, the mouse convinces the boy to grant her three wishes -- a glass of soda pop, some cheese and a chance to tell her story. And tell it she does...

There's a Monster in My House (Luxury Flap Books)

Average customer rating:

Lift the flap book ideal for 2yr old children

There's a Monster in My House (Luxury Flap Books)
Jenny Tyler , and Phillip Hawthorn
Manufacturer: Usborne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0794515673

Customer Reviews:

Lift the flap book ideal for 2yr old children.......1997-04-28

A great simple book with clear graphics and a lift up on each page. Milly searches a house looking for a monster, but instead finds animals under blankets etc. - the flaps reveal what the monster really is each time. Needless to say she does find her monster in the end. Each page also has four common elements (e.g. a spider) for the child to look for. Excellent

The Deer in the Wood: Adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (My First Little House Books)

Average customer rating:

This series is flat, lifeless, precious
I wish there were more like this!!
Wonderful way to start reading Little House Books

The Deer in the Wood: Adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (My First Little House Books)
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0060248823

Book Description

Even the youngest child can enjoy a special adaptation of a classic Little House tale, as Laura and Mary listen to Pa talk about meeting a mother deer and her baby fawn deep in the Big Woods of Wisconsin.

Customer Reviews:

This series is flat, lifeless, precious.......2001-03-03

Each book is not a story so much as a scene from a department store window. The stories have no plot to speak of. The characters have no personality at all. Production values are high, and my daughter was interested in a glimpse of life in another place and time. But these books are so much less than they could have been. Bide your time and get the originals instead.

I wish there were more like this!!.......2001-02-06

My 3 year old daughter loves her "Laura Books" and can't wait till night so she can hear another. I fell in love with the novels when I was a little girl and am so happy that I can share the stories with my little girl. The stories are easy to read. I have almost every one and plan on getting all of them.

Wonderful way to start reading Little House Books.......2000-05-25

I've been a fan of Little House books since I was in second grade. With this series made for young readers, I can start reading my favorite books to my niece before she is even in school. This book in particular was a very endearing story about a mama deer and her baby. Madelyn loved it! I thought the illustrations would make Garth Williams proud.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful text AND illustrations!!

Bear Came over to My House
Rick Walton
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0613616014

Book Description

The bear came over to my house to see what he could see. . . . And what do you think the bear saw? ME! But the bear doesn't stop there. He came over to get what he could get (wet), think what he could think (I stink!), and even wear what he could wear (a chair?). Join the bear and his animal friends as they spend the whole day going from one sticky mishap to another in this boisterous takeoff of the American tune "The Bear Came Over the Mountain."

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful text AND illustrations!!.......2005-10-29

For toddlers, it seems that I either find books with wonderful pictures, but way too much to read so that they quickly lose interest, or the right kind of text with horrid illustrations that fail to engage them. This book is absolutely perfect, and FUN for adults and kids both! The bear in this book is so loveable, thanks to the kind-hearted, sweet personality imbued by the wonderful illustrations. So much of the story is conveyed by the pictures alone, and they are priceless. The story is a fun rhyme, broken up with just the right amount of text on each page, and kids can try to guess what comes next. I never get tired of reading this one. I recommend this one for kids age 18 months to 5 years.

Who wants to live in my house? (The book bank)

Average customer rating:

Who wants to live in my house? (The book bank)
Margaret Beames
Manufacturer: The Wright Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1556246285

Product Description

Child's Easy-to-read illustrated story.

Animals come to my house: A story guide to the care of small wild animals

Average customer rating:

Animals come to my house: A story guide to the care of small wild animals
Esther Kellner
Manufacturer: Putnam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Agriculture | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0399205004

Animals in My House (Look-and-Learn Books)

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Animals in My House (Look-and-Learn Books)
Kristin Eck
Manufacturer: Rosen Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1404227016

Book Description

Fun, colorful photos of familiar animals with simple labels make this Board Book an excellent fit for your Pre-K and K students.

Average customer rating:
Blended Wall Quilts From In The Beginning
Sharon Evans Yenter
Manufacturer: In The Beginning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Quilts & Quilting | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Road

Kaffe Fassett's Museum Quilts: Designs Inspired by the Victoria & Albert Museum

Feathered Star Quilt Blocks I

French Braid Quilts: 14 Quick Quilts with Dramatic Results

Glorious Patchwork

ASIN: 0970690037

Book Description

Following the popularity of "Blended Quilts From In The Beginning", Sharon is now guiding quiltmakers through the process of making gorgeous "Blended Wall Quilts" in this ultra-easy workbook. Easy-to-follow instructions for eight quilt patterns, color, and fabric selection, make this a must-have book for quilters wanting to learn to make blended quilts. Simple piecing is emphasized, and basic units are repeated from quilt to quilt, allowing quilters to focus on the fun part...fabric and design! Once again, Sharon demonstrates that easy piecing, combined with beautiful fabrics, result in elegant and sophistcated quilts.

Average customer rating:

Award Winner

A book that inspires the inner heart and delights the eye

Sanctuary: Gardening for the Soul
Lauri Brunton , and Erin Fournier
Manufacturer: Friedman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Garden Design | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1586631551

Amazon.com

If you like landscape or gardening books that are heavy on pretty, full-color pictures but whose text is light on substance, you'll love Sanctuary, this large-format softcover whirl through the (admittedly very pretty and substantive) garden photography of Dency Kane. It's organized into sections with such soft-focus headings as "Peace," "Change," "Passion," "Mystery," and "Contemplation." That should tip you off to the tone of the copy that runs through here, which--with the exception of captions that identify various flora--brings very little insight to the images and, if you haven't completely discounted it after a few pages, takes on the inane droning quality of Jack Handy's "Deep Thoughts" meditation spots on Saturday Night Live. ("You can't be noisy in a growing house--it has the sacred quality of a library," goes one such morsel of page-filler. "Listen only for the gentle creep of growing limbs.") But again, the pictures are lovely, and not without their bounty of inspirational ideas for gardeners. --Timothy Murphy

Book Description

“Each chapter is devoted to a particular aspect of a sanc-tuary garden: peace, change, passion, mystery, and contemplation....The photographs are glorious.”—The American Gardener. Peaceful gardens come alive in this lushly photographed and oversized volume. Serenity is found in soothing, flowing water and the brilliant colors and mystical perfume of fragrant plants.

Customer Reviews:

Award Winner.......2000-09-22

This book won the Quill and Trowel Award of Excellence for Photography given by the Garden Writers Association of America for the Year 2000, tantamount to the Academy Awards for Garden Writers! The photography is truly exceptional.

A book that inspires the inner heart and delights the eye.......2000-03-29

It is rare to find a book that is conceptualized by the photograpber, with writers chosen to add the written word to enhance the beauty of the photography. Dency Kane has a keen eye and a remarkable sense of aesthetics. While one may first think of cool, lush green gardens as the basis of sanctuary, Dency shows how the vibrancy of a tulip or a bird-of-paradise flower-seen up close-can can induce a sense of tranquility or sanctuary as well as the full-blown garden. Her photogrqaphy, juxtaposed with the lyrical text, invites us to explore and celebrate the microcosm that surrounds us. She invokes the beauty in things like a dead zinnia equally with that of a dewy rose.

Book Description

Beauty and tranquility can enhance our everyday lives, and more and more people have found this peace in their own backyards. Create a very special space, one in harmony with nature, and that stirs the soul. Go by a "natural calendar" that includes festivals, activities, garden tasks, and ideas for attracting wildlife. Feed the senses with color therapy and bright borders, practical ways of creating sound, and aromatherapy. (A directory of perfumed plants helps you choose the ideal fragrance.) Heal yourself with medicinal plants, flowers, and herbs. Add inspirational touches such as objets d'art, with seating, water elements, and arbors. Connect with ancient traditions, from Egyptian to Japanese to Renaissance, in which gardens were designed with great love and care. Include meaningful archetypal symbols like the Tree of Life and the Green Man. In just a few hours, you'll feel renewed and revived!

Average customer rating:

Sanctuary: Gardening for the Soul
Lauri; Fournier, Erin Brunton
Manufacturer: Friedman/Fairfax Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LPS76I

Book Description

Sociologists often study exotic cultures by immersing themselves in an environment until they become accepted as insiders. In this fascinating account by acclaimed researcher William A. Corsaro, a scientist "goes native" to study the secret world of children.

Here, for the first time, are the children themselves, heard through an expert who knows that the only way to truly understand them is by becoming a member of their community. That's just what Corsaro did when he traded in his adult perspective for a seat in the sandbox alongside groups of preschoolers.

Corsaro's journey of discovery is as fascinating as it is revealing. Living among and gaining the acceptance of children, he gradually comes to understand that a child's world is far more complex than anyone ever suspected. Here he documents a special culture, unique unto itself, in which children create their own social structures and exert their own influences.

At a time when many parents fear that they don't spend enough time with their children, and experts debate the best path to healthy development, seeing childhood through the eyes of a child offers parents and caregivers fresh and compelling insights. Corsaro calls upon all adults to appreciate, embrace, and savor their children's culture. He asks us to take a cue from those we hold so precious and understand that "we're all friends, right?"

Customer Reviews:

An absorbing account of a dedicated researcher.......2004-03-07

Written by a leading authority on child ethnography William A. Corsaro (Robert H. Shaffer Class of 1967 Endowed Professor of Sociology, Indiana University - Bloomington), We're Friends Right? Inside Kids' Culture is an absorbing account of a dedicated researcher who strived to better understand children by immersing himself in preschool culture. A scientific analysis as well as an intriguing personal narration of individual and illustrative case studies, We're Friends Right? offers a new perspective on child psychology, development, and research. We're Friends Right? is a seminal contribution to Child Development and Parenting Studies reference collections -- as well as highly recommended reading which is thoroughly accessible to non-specialist readers with an interest in gaining an informed and informative insight into the complexities of early childhood.

Inside View of Kids' Cultures.......2004-02-24

This book which is based on 30 years of ethnographic work with preschool children in the U.S. and Italy captures kids' lives in preschools from their own perspective. We see children's creativity and spontaniety in their pretend fantasy play, dramatic role play, friendship relations, and conflicts and resolutions. A refreshing and direct study of children close up and presented with care and many insights. A must read for parents and teachers of young children.

"We're friends, right?": Children's use of access rituals in a nursery school (Working papers in sociolinguistics)

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"We're friends, right?": Children's use of access rituals in a nursery school (Working papers in sociolinguistics)
William A Corsaro
Manufacturer: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

We're Friends, Right? Inside Kids' Culture.(Book Review) : An article from: Childhood Education

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We're Friends, Right? Inside Kids' Culture.(Book Review) : An article from: Childhood Education
Sheryl J. Reinisch
Manufacturer: Association for Childhood Education International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0009GM0KS
Release Date: 2005-06-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Childhood Education, published by Association for Childhood Education International on September 22, 2004. The length of the article is 343 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: We're Friends, Right? Inside Kids' Culture.(Book Review)
Author: Sheryl J. Reinisch
Publication: Childhood Education (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 2004
Publisher: Association for Childhood Education International
Volume: 81 Issue: 1 Page: 50(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

WE'RE FRIENDS, RIGHT?: INSIDE KIDS' CULTURE

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WE'RE FRIENDS, RIGHT?: INSIDE KIDS' CULTURE
William A. Corsaro
Manufacturer: Joseph Henry Press Washington, DC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IWY35I

Average customer rating:

WE'RE FRIENDS, RIGHT? INSIDE KID'S CULTURE
W. CORSARO
Manufacturer: Joseph Henry Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSWVUU

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