Resource Books

There is nothing that children love more than a good story. Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s for the Primary Grades, Revised connects 90 of the best children's books to early learning centers, stretching each story five ways with lively and entertaining activities that heighten reading readiness, sharpen comprehension skills, and expand the excitement of story time. Pulling the best stories from the original books, this new edition also features new children's books as well as old favorites, refreshed activities, and online references for expanding story experiences. 256 pages. Paperback.

Parenting isn't always the joy it's made out to be. On the contrary, many parents feel they are struggling to maintain their sanity and control of their young children's behaviors. Offering realistic, practical advice for parents who want the joy back in parenting. Instead of getting bogged down in negative cycles, the book will help readers leave those behavior struggles behind and turn children on to cooperation and respect. The book will also help adults model their "best self" and show children how to live. Unlike other parenting books that focus on problem behaviors or parental wellbeing, this book is grounded in research from child-development specialists and focuses on creating a home that is consistent, responsive, and loving. Paperback. 296 pages.

Whether you see a preschooler laughing or crying, hugging or tugging on a playmate, taking risks or seeking comfort from an adult, you know that they are developing their emotional skills and growing up in so many ways every day. And they need your help! This book shares common milestones and typical scenarios to help you recognize various ways that preschoolers express their feelings and interact with others. As you support preschoolers struggling to handle emotional challenges that occur during everyday interactions with adults and other children, you will help them learn the skills to navigate their emotional ups and downs in more positive ways. Paperback. 96 pages.

Fun activities to develop the fine motor skills preschoolers need for school success! Teachers know how important it is to develop children's fine motor skills as a stepping stone to future learning, and Mighty Fine Motor Fun provides you with the tools and information you need to teach fine motor skills to children ages 3 to 5. The activities in Mighty Fine Motor Fun are organized by age; they are useful and creative, but most important, they are fun! With few materials needed, the activities are perfect for both large and small groups and are easy to integrate into any curriculum. Activities include: Moving Bubbles, Hide-and-Seek Playdough, Tape It Up!, Shape Person, Itsy Bitsy Writing Utensils, Paper Mobile, and many more! Paperback.

Every child belongs. Every child is unique. Every child has strengths. Every child has the potential to fly. Inclusion benefits all children! Inclusion--perhaps you believe it is complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Not true! Jani Kozlowski, experienced trainer and technical-assistance provider on inclusion and disability services, dispels the myths and shows that implementing high-quality inclusive practices in your program is easier than you think! Throughout "Every Child Can Fly," Kozlowski explores the defining features of high-quality inclusion and shows readers how to provide access and support for children with disabilities. Learn how to help them feel included through strong family involvement, peer relationships, individualized teaching practices, collaborative teaming, ongoing evaluation, and staff professional development. Learn why inclusion is important. Unravel the jargon and acronyms. Understand screening, assessment, and referrals. Paperback. 272 pages.

Beginning a new business venture can be a daunting task, and setting up an in-home child care program can be especially challenging. After the licenses have been applied for and acquired, what comes next? Now, an expert on the subject provides advice, tips, information, and activities for setting up a child care program and running it smoothly. From creating a healthy, safe environment for children to developing engaging activities that can be used to shape daily plans, Family Child Care Basics shows how to plan and implement a program where children will learn, play, and thrive. Topics include: Setting up Your Environment, Toys and Materials, Setting a Schedule, Developing a Curriculum, Daily Planning, and Child Growth and Development. English version.

While the visual and performing arts are powerful curricular companions to early STEM experiences, educators may not have the tools and resources to introduce art beyond painting and drawing. Creative Investigations in Early Art provides them with an inquisitive, explorative approach to boost young learners creativity and critical-thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills through artistic expression. Paperback. 112 pages.

Take a fresh approach to community service and giving back. Teaching young children to be socially conscious, community-oriented, and eager to volunteer seems like a daunting task, especially for busy families with children of varying ages. Simple Acts brings busy parents practical, easy-to-do ideas to involve the whole family in volunteering and helping others in the community. Full of advice, tips, and real-life stories; this fun, easy-to-use guide helps parents and children of all ages incorporate hands-on community service experiences into their daily lives. You're never too young -or too old- to start giving back! Paperback. 144 pages.

Now that you've identified the market need for high-quality child care and you've taken the first steps to building your practice, what's next? How do you ensure quality care? How do you create a culture of growth and stem turnover? The Basics of Leading a Child-Care Business, the second book in The Business of Child Care series, explains how to develop and lead a high-quality program where children can play and learn in the care of a well-educated, committed, and trained workforce. Explore key questions that shape understanding: what are the root causes of turnover, how do you set the culture of your organization, how can you build the best team for your organization, and how do you construct professional-development plans for sustained growth? Paperback. 160 pages.

Loose parts. You have heard the term, probably in the context of promoting engaging play with open-ended, natural, and manufactured materials that can be manipulated with limitless possibilities. In this book, discover how a loose-parts mindset promotes active learning in the early elementary classroom, enhancing curriculum and ensuring connection to state standards. Offering inspiration and guidance on developing, applying, and teaching a loose-parts mindset, the authors break down common myths of using loose parts for learning and walk you through getting started in the classroom and on the school grounds. Examine your role as an educator, address safety concerns, and explore how you might evaluate and assess loose parts in the classroom. Paperback. 272 pages.

You may have noticed out-of-school-time care is burgeoning. As more families have two working parents, states and school districts are swooping in to provide supervision of children before and after school, during school breaks, and during the summer. And, as these programs grow, they continue to adapt to new approaches of out-of-school learning. Gone are the days of board games and swing sets! "School's Out: Challenges and Solutions for School-Age Programs" will cover all bases of creating a quality program: what quality school-age care looks like; forms of out-of-school-time care, standards, credentials, accreditation-what they are, and how to get them; licensing, regulations, basic safety, risk management, supervision and nutrition; and roles of the teachers and administrators. Paperback. 232 pages.

When a story comes to the end -- it does not have to be the end of the story. Instead, teachers can continue the learning with activities and experiences to promote conversation about that story. Story Play encourages even the most inexperienced teacher, librarian, child care professional, or family member to become a storyteller with ideas for expanding stories into meaningful learning experiences. With stories, poems, songs, chants, and fingerplays, as well as ideas for working with puppets and props, Story Play brings all the fun of storytelling into the classroom in new ways. These easy-to-follow ideas focus on literacy skills and are perfect for engaged, active learning. 224 pages. Paperback.

Witness the magic of open-ended exploration and the wonder of learning through play. As a nurturing caregiver, you have precious opportunities to ignite curiosity in the infants, toddlers, and twos you care for. Let Curated Moments be your guide to unlocking the possibilities of the Reggio Emilia approach for your littlest learners. Transform your space into a sensory wonderland overflowing with joyful inquiry.

When young children are engaged in imaginative play, they are not just having fun; they are developing skills and concepts that are foundational to their learning. Teachers can get the most out of this critical development time with thoughtful preparations that allow the children to freely explore their creativity and learn from each other. Using simple props and donated items, the book shows how centers can be transformed into rich and rewarding learning spaces for children. Play Today offers dozens of easy-to-do scenarios that will spark open-ended play explorations. Play strategies discussed boost brain development in many ways, including: Memory and flexible thinking, Communication, Social-emotional skills, Mathematics, Science, and Literacy.

Infants and toddlers need caring adults to help them learn emotional competence-how to understand, express, and manage emotions. By supporting their development in the early years, educators can create a strong foundation that will give young children important life skills and resilience. Paperback. 152 pages.

Learning to read is one of the major milestones in a child's life, and it's one that parents worry about. This guide gives parents information on how to support their child on his or her reading journey. Now parents of children, aged three to five years old, have the power to ensure their child becomes a successful reader. Available in English and Spanish. Set of 20 guides.

Give children a variety of ways to fall in love with rhythm, rhyme, repetition and structural sequence - important building blocks for future readers. Over 700 selections. 507 pgs.

3 years & up. This book has over 200 developmentally appropriate games that are great for learning to read, including games of alliteration, oral blending, writing, alphabet recognition, letter sounds, word play, and rhyming. 144 pages. By Jackie Silberg.

Toddlers are on the move almost constantly! Even though encouraging physical activity is not a problem, you can model new movements and skills and lay the foundation for them to enjoy physical activity as they grow. Toddlers need lots of time to master the basics, such as jumping, rolling, and balancing. As they become more comfortable with their bodies and confident in their ability to be physically active, their desire to participate will increase. They'll enjoy kicking and throwing different types of balls, walking up and down stairs, running outside, and pedaling tricycles. Most of their physical activity involves unstructured play, and rightly so. However, you can also introduce them to new equipment with structured play and then let them explore on their own or with playmates. If you help toddlers understand how to develop physical skills, you will help them build confidence and have fun being active. What a gift for a lifetime! Paperback. 144 pages.

The Neglected Child' provides everything educators and caregivers need to know to identify and intervene in neglectful situations, while also creating a safe, nurturing, and protective environment for young children. From defining the different types and levels of severity of neglect to establishing suspicion and reporting neglectful situations, this book is filled with helpful information from expert psychologists and educators in the field today. Each chapter includes a brief quiz to assess chapter learning and "Notes from the Field" that represent real-life stories the authors have encountered in their work. The appendices at the end of the text include reproducible handouts, sample statements for parent handbooks, self-assessments for teachers, and important contact information to use when reporting neglect. Paperback. 128 pages.

Calm and in Control provides strategies to help children in a preschool or kindergarten classroom learn to regulate their emotions and behaviors. Some children need help recognizing that something is upsetting or overly exciting. Others may have difficulty knowing how to calm down and take control of their emotions or behaviors on their own. Discover how to create a nurturing and consistent environment that supports children as they navigate learning, social interactions, and impulse control throughout the day. Explore techniques to support: Turn-taking, Lining up as a group and coping with not being first in line, The ability to refrain from blurting out answers, Freedom from separation anxiety, The ability to handle transitions, Regrouping after something funny happens, Impulse control, and Socially appropriate behavior. You will find yourself referring to this book often for ideas on enriching the day with sensory play activities and strategies that prevent disruptive behaviors!

Discover the natural curiosity and enthusiasm of toddlers and twos as they explore creative art experiences designed just for them. In this updated, color edition of First Art for Toddlers and Twos, you will find more than seventy-five art experiences, with lots of variations that add to the fun and tips for making the activities run smoothly. There's even a chapter of special adult-made props, such as an Art Baggie Book to display a child's artwork and a Tabletop Easel made from a pizza box to catch all the drips. First Art for Toddlers and Twos starts children on a journey full of exploration and creativity! Paperback.

Young children are born scientists with an innate desire to analyze and investigate the world around them. Creative Investigations in Early Science helps educators expand and encourage young learners' inquisitive nature as they explore the physical, life, and earth sciences. Paperback. 100 pages.

Babies are naturally active, and their movements help them explore their environment. They first move involuntarily, based on reflexes, and then learn to move more independently as their bodies grow stronger and they begin to investigate the world around them. You can encourage their muscle development, strength and balance with simple activities done with infants as young as six weeks old. Paperback. 96 pages.