How to Get Dog Poop Off Your Shoes

In follow up from my previous post—never really thought there was a proper remedy for “Poo on My Shoe”. (POMS)… From eHow

How to Get Dog Poop Off the Soles of Your Shoes

Yuck! Dog poop on the soles of your shoes is not only smelly and gross, it is not something you want tracking into the house.
Those of us with multiple dogs have learned a trick or two about cleaning dog poop out of the soles of our shoes.

Instructions

1.    Step 1

If you are likely to step in poop when you go out to clean your yard, two things help. First, get in the habit of a daily poop pickup. Second, keep a pair of those plastic clogs by the door and use those for pickup duty. They are easy to hose off if you step in something nasty and you won't track any inside.

2.    Step 2

If there is snow on the ground, hop up and down in it, moving around and stomping until you are not leaving brown tracks behind. If the poop is fresh this will get it right up.

Wiping your feet on grass can actually smoosh the poo into the treads of your shoes. Instead, jump up and down. Find a puddle or a hose, wash off your soles and continue jumping in clean grass until they get clean.

3.    Step 3

If none of this is feasible, you have to hold your nose and use warm soapy water and a brush. The hotter the water, the more that lovely aroma will drift up to your face so practice holding your breath! Leather shoes should be polished afterwards because the soapy water can dry out the leather.

4.    Step 4

When all else fails or if the poop is starting to dry, use your dishwasher on the pots and pans scrub cycle. This works great on athletic shoes. I do suggest you empty out all the dishes first. Then put them in an old pillowcase along with a couple of fabric softener sheets and run them through the dryer.

This was posted as a handy tip… (for those that are proactive)

• Dogs fed cheap, high grain kibbles usually have softer and smellier poop.

Lunchpail Books Officially Launching 5/17

I am very excited to announce that Lunchpail Books will be launching Monday, May 17.   So, you have no idea what Lunchpail Books is all about; so let’s start with our mission:

Lunchpail Books provides high-quality early-reader books that encourage and nurture a life-long love and mastery of reading.  We specialize in books that are designed with beginning reader in mind with carefully selected age appropriate vocabulary.  Additionally, our books have compelling illustrations, a fun storyline and always an uplifting message-- stories children will want to read!

We are starting small with just three books and expect to add more soon—some by Lunchpail and the rest by aspiring fresh authors.  For now, Lunchpail Books will stick with early reader (for children 4-8 years old).   Each book is and will be carefully edited for early reader appropriateness.

“These books use the same controlled vocabulary that the late great Dr. Seuss used to bring such joy to early readers. While there are many delightful children’s books available, most do not utilize an appropriate reading level vocabulary.” says founder Johnnie Lunchpail. (from press release)

In other words, they use words too big for readers just starting out. Pass on the legacy of the love of reading by selecting books that children will want to read. This is what defines an early or easy reader.

Easy Readers are relatively new. They really started in 1957 with The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel). Before then, illustrated books were mostly read aloud, and those stories designed to be read to children by adults or perhaps older children. The Cat in the Hat was written with a controlled vocabulary limited to the 220 word Dolch vocabulary list. 

This was ideal for the beginner reader. This is what made Dr. Seuss so special and fun to read. A trip to the bookstore or anywhere that is selling children’s books, you will still find a plethora of titles by the late author. Very few other books offer such compelling story telling with such a controlled vocabulary.

Lunchpail Books “Peep Peep” series has already created a following of mostly teachers. Take it from Judy Wedel, a 20 year elementary special education teacher, who says the “The Peep Peep stories have simply adorable pictures with all of the components to encourage beginning readers. I love the endings because they highlight the basic needs of love and care, which are such a comfort to all children.”

To make the books more cherished as lasting gifts, Lunchpail Books offers a personalization option that allows book purchasers to include a personal note or dedication to the special reader in their life.

Currently Lunchpail Books is offering 3 titles with plans of introducing more in the near future.

“Peep Peep Comes Home”     “Peep Peep Takes a Walk”     “Peep Peep Finds a Friend”

Each book provides humor and anticipation with a comforting message within each.

Learn more at www.lunchpailbooks.com.

Peep Peep

           

Do You Find This Offensive?

Do you find this offensive?

Is farting an appropriate subject matter for children’s books?  What are your thoughts?

Does this have more appeal for boys versus girls? 

I, (Johnnie Lunchpail) am playing with the text for a story, currently titled “There’s Poo On Shoe.”  Am I crossing the line of good versus poor taste?  Or will kids enjoy reading a “giggle” story?  Would this encourage boys to read more?  Fart more?  Or perhaps there is no gender bias at all.

There is a child in each of us… I know for sure there is an adolescent boy that lurks in my psyche – I still giggle at farting?

Let me know your thoughts….The Gas We Pass

Would “There’s Poo On My Shoe” be crossing the line of taste and acceptability to readers and Moms and Dads?

Quacking Up

Quacking Up!
Here are how ducks all over the world quack. It is interesting to me how different many of them are… why do you think that is? (Sounds are transliterated English equivalents)

Country	Sound
Chinese	Gua Gua
Danish	Rap Rap
Dutch	Kwak Kwak
Finnish	Kyak
French	Coin Coin
German	Quack Quack
Greek	Pa-Pa-Pa
Hebrew	Quak Quak
Hungarian	Hap- Hap
Italian	Qua Qua
Japanese	Ga Ga
Russian	Krya Krya
Spanish	Cua Cua
Swedish	Kvac-Kvac
Turkish	Vak Vak
Urdu	Quak Quak

So, Peep Peep’s friend Gua Gua translated to English is actually Quack Quack… but Peep Peep doesn’t care*. It is interesting to note that Peep Peep in Turkish would be jiyk jiyk. How is that? I can’t even pronounce that! It must be tough to be a bird in Turkey…. Wait! Turkey is a bird—A Turkish Turkey would go “glu glu”.
For a rather comprehensive list of transliterated animal sounds check out Derek Abbott’s Animal Noise Page.
Clilck here to learn more about Gua Gua in “Peep Peep Finds a Friend”

What makes a good children’s book?

So what makes a good children’s book?  Generally speaking it is the same as for any book out there!  Is it interesting? Compelling? Is it written for the reader?  For children, this also includes illustrations?   So which is more important the text or the illustrations? 

In my opinion, while interesting and compelling illustrations are paramount for a picture book, they cannot make up for a poorly written text.  What is considered poorly written?   There are many ways to determine quality.  Does the text have a flow or rhythm?  Does it use appropriate vocabulary?  Now the appropriateness of the vocabulary will depend a lot on the intention of the book.   Are you or an older child going to be reading this book aloud to a younger child?  Is it a book designed for an independent reader or perhaps a beginner reader?

Through my last trip to the local Barnes and Noble… I found some delightful “featured” picture books with beautiful and intricate illustrations.  In some cases the stories some sort of rhythm, but not a clear cadence… perhaps this is not a problem.  A larger concern was the word usage.  Without getting academic—does the story use big words?  Although a word like disappeared—may not seem like a big deal, if you are just starting out as a reader you may find a bit overwhelming when trying to read this word.

In earlier blogs, I have made reference to the Dolch reading list.   This is the list of sight reading words.   Personally, I feel sight reading is the key skill to good reading.   Many teachers may disagree.   Have you listened to a young adult read?  Many are painful to listen to as they phonetically sound out each word… Have you ever taken a speed-reading course?  Simplifying the process—it is basically teaching you to sight read in clusters.   Phonetics has its place in sounding out new words.   However, if an early reader can master the basic words and can sight read them… they will be well equipped to master increasingly more advanced reading.

Watch out for slick Marketing

You may have noticed that a lot of the “hot” books are spin-offs of TV shows, cartoons or movies.  They have big budgets behind them and can lure you into purchasing—especially when you have a little one with you.  More of a market brand than an endorsement of sound children’s literature.   So, open the book and ask yourself if your child could read this, or with a little help could do so.

Assuming you’ve got past the glitzy displays and into the dustier depths of the shop, what do you look for?

Is there a storyline?

Does it have a beginning and middle and an end?   Does it flow?  Does it have a message?  For small children this may just be a simple message or love, acceptance or comfort.  You can find this type of stories featured at Lunchpail Books.   Check out the “Peep Peep” adventures.  They feature a simple story, with a simple uplifting message of love and acceptance.  No need to go deeper than that for a 5 year old!

Is it written well?

Read a couple of pages of the book—does it make sense?  If it is a rhyming book, does it have a regular or fun rhythm to it?  For Lunchpail Books—there is a certain musical form found in the books… children enjoy the beat.

Does it avoid political posturing?

A good children’s book (one that could be destined to be classic) knows no particular time, or political leanings.  (Some non-fiction books may be an exception).  Think of “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak.  The delightful creatures are not locked into any particular region, area or political agenda.   Leave this kind of stuff for the grown-ups

Illustrations?

Younger readers= simpler art.  Bright colors!  Fun!  More on this in a future blog. In the meantime, you can find some very simple child-like drawings featured in the “Peep Peep” adventures.  Simplicity with a sense of humor appropriate for child and adult.

PEEP PEEK (video clip)

My first video clip--not much to brag about, but I will get better over time.   Let me know what you think.

PEEP PEEK 1

Would love your feedback, thanks!

Johnnie Lunchpail

Should books for early readers be expressed in rhyme (poetry)?

What memories do you have from rhymes, songs or jingles that have stuck with you?  When I was a kid the girls would play a game with their hands that involved an intricate pattern of verse and motions.   It wasn’t really “Patta Cake”, but I don’t recall what the activity was called.  I was mesmerized by the game, but it along with hopscotch was off limits for boys. But what a great blend of kinesthetic and auditory… it had rhythm and rhyme.    All I can recall is that it started with

“A sailor went to sea, sea, sea, to see what he could see, see, see… And all that he could see, see see was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea… hey those girls that once knew this—what was it called?

I pulled this from the “Scholastic” Website (www.scholastic.com).   Does rhyming help the early reader read?

If you've ever recited a nursery rhyme, played "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" or sung "If You're Happy and You Know It," you've been preparing your child for learning to read. Familiar songs and poems can strengthen his ability to hear the sounds of our language — a skill that will serve him well when he learns to connect sounds with letters (phonics) in kindergarten and 1st grade.

Nursery rhymes are especially powerful, because they are so memorable. Research has found that children who are familiar with nursery rhymes when they enter kindergarten often have an easier time learning to read. This is probably because rhyming helps them discover many common word patterns (such as those in quick/stick or down/crown). And the more familiar these patterns become in oral language, the more easily children will recognize them when they begin to encounter them in print.

The ability to hear rhymes — knowing that cat rhymes with hat, but not with bag — is an essential skill for learning to read because it means that your child can discern the differences among individual sounds (or phonemes). Playing with rhymes trains her ear to hear the differences and similarities in how words sound.

Songs with rhyming lyrics are also terrific devices for teaching your child about the patterns of sounds. You might remember the Schoolhouse Rock television segments from your childhood ("Conjunction junction, what's your function?") as some of your first lessons in grammar. The phrases were memorable because they were fun to say and sing. Here are some more fun ways to use rhymes to further strengthen your child's language and reading skills:

Find many opportunities to sing to and with your child. Create songs on the spur of the moment about whatever you are doing. Try "This is the way we wash our hands ... " Remember that you don't need to have a good singing voice; your child will love it because it's yours.

Combine rhyming with rhythmic clapping or movements. For example, try the rhyme "Ten Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" to reinforce sound patterns. Rhymes like these are especially helpful for an active child who needs to involve his entire body in the activity. Songs like "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" or "The Hokey Pokey" can help your child follow directions as you sing the words. This kind of play involves your child's whole body in absorbing the sounds of speech, which may make it easier for him to connect the motion with the words you say.

Encourage wordplay using poems, rhymes, or songs. You might begin by saying, "What rhymes with Matt [his name]?" Make up silly rhymes, such as, "Did Matt sit on the cat?" Or try working together to tell a little story about a cat chasing a fat rat. Write down the sentence you've thought up, and have him illustrate the idea. Together, make your own rhyming book.

For some new and unique rhyming books crafted especially for the early reader, take a look at Lunchpail Books.