siblings: 8 Articles

Mom reading to her little girl

Week of the Young Child: Books to Share

Celebrate little kids! April 2-8 is the Week of the Young Child.  The Week of the Young Child®  was established in 1971 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It recognizes that the early childhood years, from birth through age 8, lay the foundation for children's success in school and later life.  The purpose of the Week of the Young Child® is to focus public attention on the needs of young children, ages birth to 8,  and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. 1  Magination Press has published a number of books specifically for young children. Here are some of our series that explore developmental stages, experiences, and emotions from the young child's world. Share them with your young child! Big Little Talks Series The Big Little Talks books are fun stories to ease both parents and children through typical and common life stages using empathic listening and encouraging an understanding of age-appropriate behavior and emotions. Feel Better Books Series This acclaimed series of books for kids ages 4-8 that explores young children's common feelings and experiences. Written in light, rhyming verse, The Feel Better Books identify emotions or challenging situations and provide kid-friendly coping strategies. Get Ready Board Books Series   This series of cleverly wordless board books with bright illustrations will delight little ones and their parents and provides an endless opportunity to engage toddlers in their own storytelling and interpretation of what they see in the book. Super cute and appealing, little kids will see themselves in the stories as the books capture a family's experience. Once Upon a Garden Series “The series is perfect for young children who are working with issues of shyness, self-acceptance, and courage, and discovering new talents, skills and hard work. There is simplicity in the text and the illustrations are happy and bright and compliment the emotions and themes in each book. This series is sure to boost the self-confidence of children.”  —Children’s Books Heal Terrific Toddlers Series Written with simple language and reflective of children's realities, the Terrific Toddlers series is based on understanding of the developmental level of young toddlers. Books for Nourishing Friendships Series “Children will relate to strong and memorable characters that jump off the pages, identify with their friendship problems and learn some new strategies for coping. The characters deal with their own issues and do their own problem solving in all three stories — no adults involved...This series will be a winning one with children.” —Children's Books Heal Check out other books feelings, family, and friendship to read with your young child.

Read More
Week of the Young Child: Books to Share 2022-04-06T17:05:12-04:00

Celebrate the Holidays with Family

Winter holidays often mean time spent with family. Breaks from school and work allow people to travel to see or to host family or friends. Celebration and tradition mark the season. Magination Press has published more than 50 books that honor and explore families of all kinds and the situations they experience.  Here are some of our stories about families. When Nana Dances by Jane Yolen and Maddison Stemple-Piatt Nana can make any object a dancing partner. An umbrella, a broom, even a rake! Both onstage and off, she can shimmy, she can mambo, and do the bunny hop. She’s won prizes and can dance to grandpa’s music or to her own beat. But nothing is more special than when grandma dances with her grandchildren. This fun story is filled with the movement, energy, and laughter that comes when kids dance with their grandparents. "A cadenced celebration of grandparent-grandchild relationships.”  —Publishers Weekly Read an interview with the authors. That Missing Feeling by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater Mia’s life feels split in two after her parents get divorced—even her cat and dog now live in two separate places. When she’s at her dad’s house, Mia misses her mom’s jokes and singing. And when she’s at her mom’s house, she misses her dad’s laugh and cooking. Mia just can’t quite shake that missing feeling. Sometimes that missing feeling makes her angry. And sometimes it makes her sad. One day when Mia visits her Grandpa, he gives her a notebook to write her feelings. Mia keeps her notebook wherever she goes, writing about happy and sad memories. And soon her notebook becomes a way to balance that missing feeling. And also a home for her heart.  “A sweet beginner’s guide to keeping calm.” —Kirkus Reviews Read an interview with the author. The Heart of Mi Familia by Carrie Lara, PsyD Follow a young girl as she works with her abuela and her grandma to create a wonderful birthday present for her brother that celebrates her multicultural family and honors both sides and generations of her family. This follow up to the award winning Marvelous Maravilliso: Me and My Beautiful Family is a must-read for all families.  “Bicultural kids will feel seen in this sweet family story.”  —Kirkus Reviews Hear The Heart of Mi Familia read aloud. Oh Brother! By Alberto Pellai, MD, PhD, and Barbara Tamborini This charming story about a new addition to the family will help older siblings appreciate their expanded family. The little brother has arrived, and all he does is sleep and cry! He doesn’t play ball or swim or do anything a little brother is supposed to do. And he takes up all the parents’ time. But the little brother smiles when his big brother makes faces and claps when he plays the drums. Maybe being a big brother will be great?  Read an excerpt from the Reader’s Note. Papa, Daddy, & Riley by Seamus Kirst Riley is Papa’s princess and Daddy’s dragon. She loves her two fathers!

Read More
Celebrate the Holidays with Family 2021-12-13T17:46:18-05:00

April Is Autism Acceptance Month

April is Autism Acceptance Month. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States. 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, totaling over 5 million young people and adults.1  Magination Press has a variety of resources for children and teens about Autism and Asperger’s to help them understand and manage their diagnosis. All My Stripes: A Story For Children With Autism by Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer "Nobody gets me, Mama!" In the award-winning picture book, Zane the zebra feels different from the rest of his classmates. He worries that all they notice about him is his "autism stripe." With the help of his Mama, Zane comes to appreciate all his stripes — the unique strengths that make him who he is! “Rudolph and Royer shine a light on the autism spectrum, but go a step further and show how endearing, unique and beautiful the children are in this inspiring story about embracing differences.” — Children's Books Heal Asperger's Rules!: How To Make Sense Of School And Friends by Blythe Grossberg A large part of school isn't just taking tests, reading, and writing — it's knowing the rules for behavior in the classroom and learning how to communicate with teachers and classmates. This book makes school easier for kids with Asperger's by explaining the confusing — and often unwritten — rules of the classroom “Grossberg provides an upbeat and supportive guide for readers with Asperger's, covering feelings and emotions, teachers, asking for help, and dealing with bullies…The invaluable advice should help readers navigate new challenges.” — Publishers Weekly Asperger's Teens: Understanding High School For Students On The Autism Spectrum by Blythe Grossberg  For a teen with Asperger's, high school can be a time of great promise and opportunity — to learn more about subjects they're excited about, join clubs and activities that interest them, and make new friends — but it can also be uncomfortable at times. This award-winning book helps them use their strengths and unique personal style to feel more comfortable in high school and to be better able to make friends, understand teachers, and get the grades they are capable of. "High school students who have been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome will find this a welcome tool to add to their support resources. The straightforward tone and achievable tips make this guide approachable for a wide range of readers. Both teachers and counseling staff would be well served to have this title in their collection." — Booklist Autism, The Invisible Cord: A Sibling's Diary by Barbara S. Cain This award-winning book features Jenny, a teen who confides in her diary about what it is like to live with Ezra, her younger brother with autism, and her life with the most "wacky, exasperating, infuriating, amazing younger brother!" “...Cain reminds us that the experience of living with a child with ASD is not limited to parents; siblings are at the forefront of each challenge and every triumph, and they are profoundly affected as

Read More
April Is Autism Acceptance Month 2021-04-12T17:17:17-04:00