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8 Brilliant Picture Books by Toni Morrison to Read Aloud with Kids

February 17, 2021

Toni Morrison Children's Books

By Karen Williams Award-winning author Toni Morrison is well known for her powerful writing that examines the black experience in America, with a particular focus on women and girls. Both a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winner, she is best remembered for her classic novels The Bluest Eye (1970) and Beloved (1987), which was later adapted into a movie with Oprah Winfrey’s support. Her vast and impressive body of work includes 11 novels, nine non-fiction books, two short stories, and two . . .

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DIY Book Craft: Super-Simple 2-Step Elastic Bookmark

December 23, 2020

Elastic Bookmark_Cover

At last! A bookmark that won’t slide out of place and get lost in the depths of kids’ backpacks (or yours). Bookmarks are key tools in raising readers, and we’ve got you covered with this super-simple, two-step bookmark craft that makes adorable, functional page markers in minutes flat. All you need are some simple materials and a bit of creativity—or just start with our examples.   You can easily turn these elastic bookmarks into an awesome holiday craft, gift, or party favor by . . .

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These 6 Easy Crafts Support Literacy and Make Great Stocking Stuffers

November 25, 2020

Stocking Stuffer Roundup

By Laila Weir Big eyes in little faces as they behold a trove of gifts just for them. Delivering an enticingly wrapped bundle to a loved one. Spreading holiday cheer, and letting someone know we’re thinking about them. Nothing says holiday spirit like sharing gifts, and, as the days turn colder, thoughts naturally turn to acquiring them.  All that generosity may bring joy to young and old, but it isn’t always a gift to our planet, or our pocketbooks. Creating homemade presents can be . . .

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DIY: Recycled Pencil Holder

October 19, 2020

PencilHolder

By Kelsey Nickerson Raising little readers and writers means providing plenty of reading and writing material, which in turn can mean a whole lot of pencils and pens trailing around your home. But never fear! With just a little glam, you can upcycle a plastic container into the perfect storage container for pencils, markers, and even crayons!  This craft is quite simple and can be used for so many different things. Do your kids have writing utensils floating around their backpacks? Give . . .

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DIY Book Craft: To-Go Activity Kit for Kids

October 12, 2020

DIY To-Go Activity Book for kids

Need to keep kids entertained on the go? This simple DIY activity kit is perfect for road trips or plane trips, for restaurants, or for anywhere kids need some distraction while they wait. (Think instant entertainment on the sidelines of big sister’s soccer game or big brother’s cello practice!) Help your child follow this simple tutorial to make their activity book, and then let them personalize it with their own decorations and favorite activities. Or stuff it for them as a fun surprise to . . .

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DIY Book Craft: Cute Cat Bookmarks

October 5, 2020

Cute Cat Bookmarks

Meow! These playful DIY bookmarks are perfect for the animal-loving bookworms in your life. This is a fun craft for all ages, though younger children will need some help, especially with the cutting. Making their own bookmarks is always motivating to young readers, and who wouldn’t want to dive into a good book when they see this cute kitty peeking out over the pages? They’re also an appealing way to dress up a book gift with a personal touch. We used bright cardstock to make a rainbow of . . .

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DIY Book Craft: Accordion Book

September 28, 2020

DIY Accordion Book Craft

By Kelsey Nickerson This accordion book craft is a great one to do with kids. Not only is it easy to make a pretty little book, it’s also a fun way to encourage children to write—they’ll be eager to fill these cute pages. Plus they can wrap the covers with an original drawing or painting, a great way to give kid creations a second life. Younger kids will just need a little help with the assembly, but then they can let their imaginations take over as they illustrate the cover and put the . . .

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DIY BOOK CRAFTS: THREE BEST BOOK-PAGE FLOWERS

September 21, 2020

Book-page Flowers

We love upcycling the pages of unsalvageable books and magazines into homemade decor. It’s such a crafty and fun way to beautify our spaces, create a text-rich environment for the kids, and save a few trees while we’re at it. And some of the prettiest upcycled book-page decor we’ve encountered are these bookish blooms, a literary twist on classic paper flowers. These DIY book-page blossoms are a fun craft to freshen your table or decorate for a special event. Display them in a natural wood . . .

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DIY BOOK CRAFT: DECOUPAGE NOTEBOOK

September 14, 2020

There’s nothing quite like a new notebook for inviting possibility, its crisp pages tantalizing us with speculation about what’s to come. And personalizing a notebook is the perfect way to channel that sense of possibility and really make it our own. So why not kick off a new school year, a new project, or a new diary with this DIY book-page decoupage notebook? This easy collage project is appropriate for all ages, and letting kids customize their notebooks is a fun way to get their buy-in . . .

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DIY BOOK CRAFTS: SEVEN FAVORITE BOOK-PAGE CRAFTS

September 7, 2020

Book Page Crafts

As lovers of literature, tossing books into the recycling bin can feel almost sacrilegious (even that dog-eared paperback that’s lost half its pages). And the nature-lovers in us rebel at the idea of crafting and decorating with brand-new paper when stacks of books and magazines are tossed every day. That’s why we celebrate the idea of giving unsalvageable and obsolete books a second life by upcycling them into book-page crafts.  Creating decorative and useful objects out of old book . . .

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Hey There, I’m Maya!

Maya Smart

I’m Maya Payne Smart, a journalist, book lover, and literacy advocate. I split my time between deep reading and slow writing, often about dynamic women who lift as they climb. My focus? Promoting a #litrich lifestyle for families and individuals. I aim to show parents what it takes to raise fluent readers and to connect people of all ages to great books and authors. I also share productivity tips, interviews, and more, when inspiration strikes.

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