Peep Peep

Story Time with Sam E Circle... sit back and relax and enjoy the first Peep Peep book-- "Peep Peep Comes Home".

The Power of Reading to Your Child

I think we will all agree that reading is paramount to success… and most of us enjoy the enrichment or escape found in a good book of any genre.  However, for those of us with a beginner reader in our lives—it may be challenging to pass on, your love of reading.  For many of us, reading was hard.  It takes lots of concentration and memorization at first.  Some of us (i.e. me) were and are lazy… reading just represented way too much work.

So how can we help our early readers feel the joy of successful reading—without necessarily making it feel like work?  One of the very best ways is to start young and read often to your child.  It is a wonderful bonding activity and there is nothing like curling up together and sharing a book.   Some are migrating to e-readers, but there is something wonderfully tactile about holding a book and turning the pages—perhaps I am old-fashion?  Yet, there have been times that one of our children’s books has fallen in the tub—and we recovered.  I am not so certain that we would have been so relaxed about a $400 e-reader lying beneath the bubbles.

No matter which camp you lie in—take the time to read together.  At what age would be a good time to start?  I would start at birth and start the habit and tradition.   I used to read a variety of things to the kids, including Shakespeare’s sonnets.  I got the idea from Dylan Thomas’s father, who did the same.  When Dylan’s mother commented that she was certain that the child did not understand a word—Dad replied, that was probably so, but he would learn that English can be a beautiful language.  I can see the impact on my children… their writing and word choices… languages (any) can be beautiful.

Once your child is aware and can sit and enjoy a story, you may start with picture books and talk about the pictures.  Once they get the feel of this whole book thing—I would then move to an early or easy reader with a controlled vocabulary and a fun rhyming scheme.  Dr. Seuss was the master at this.  Check books carefully—make sure there are not too many challenging or big words.  Another source is Lunchpail Books, which also use a controlled vocabulary and rhyming scheme.  Words are common easy words that are important for a child to learn to site-read.

Here are some other ideas you may wish to incorporate into your reading routine:
Reading is more than just saying words. It's a shared activity between children and caring adults. Children can also learn a great deal about language by hearing parents and grandparents read aloud. Children benefit most from reading aloud when parents:

• are enthusiastic about the experience.
• give children time to look at the pictures and encourage them to hunt for objects in the pictures.
• discuss stories with children.
• help children learn to identify letters and words.
• use an index finger underneath words so that children connect the print to the story.
• talk about the meaning of words.
• answer questions asked by children at the time they ask them.
• continually re-read children's favorite books.
• compare experiences in books with like experiences in children's lives.
• encourage children to read with them when phrases are repeated in a book.
• ask their children questions related to the book after reading to them.
• encourage children to make up their own stories. Parents can write down the stories and then read them back to children.

Help children to create their own books by using their own stories and cutting out magazine pictures, photos and/or children's art work.

Parents will want to keep plenty of books around for children to pick up and parents should set up a regular routine for reading such as nap time and/or bedtime.   How many books are in your home?
Children also get the impression that reading is valuable when they see their parents enjoy and benefit from reading. When parents read at home and check out library books for themselves, as well as their children, parents model the pleasure and importance of reading.

Children's Books in Multiple Languages

New book available at Lunchpail Books: (available in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Mandarin)

“Peep Peep Finds a Friend”

The child in all of us notices the superficial differences in everything around us; but from the standpoint of innocence-- diversity is neither good nor bad—we are just different.  Peep Peep’s new friend Gua Gua captures that diversity that draws us together, not apart.   Aren’t we more alike than we originally thought?  “Gua Gua” by the way is the sound ducks make in China.

“Peep Peep the duckling

Tries hard to obey,

But it is not easy

To be good all day.”

Don’t we all have trouble being good all day!

Peep Peep is the precocious duckling who stars in “Peep Peep Comes Home” and “Peep Peep Takes a Walk”.  This time while feeling a little bored meets an unusual looking duck named Gua Gua.  Peep Peep eggs Gua Gua along and before they realize it they are in the midst of another adventure.  Adventures when shared, bond acquaintances into friends. 

Not familiar with Lunchpail Books?  Lunchpail Books, specializes in early reader books….hmmm that doesn’t help—

What is an Early or Easy Reader Book?

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 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 continues the tradition of fun, exciting easy reader books utilizing the same controlled or restrictive vocabulary.   Each book is careful crafted inside and out to provide children with sound foundation in independent reading.  We highly recommend that you start with the “Peep Peep” series and watch your early reader get excited about reading!

We are also pleased to announce that in keeping with the theme of diversity… we will be offering “Peep Peep Finds a Friend” in English, Spanish, French and Chinese…  Here Is a sample:

Peep Peep the duckling

Tries hard to obey,

But it is not easy

To be good all day.

小鸭很努力,

努力學乖乖。

乖乖不容易,

何況是整天。

Peep Peep la canette

Essaie de bien écouter.

Mais ce n’est pas facile

D’obéir toute la journée.

Do You Love Pickles?

What do you love about pickles?

Here are some types...

Types of Pickles

• Fresh-pack (or quick process) pickles are cured for several hours in a vinegar solution or are immediately combined with hot vinegar, spices, and seasonings. Examples include dills, bread-and-butter pickles and pickled beets. Quick Process is what these instructions (below on this page) show. 

Other types are:

• Fermented pickles are vegetables soaked in a brine solution for 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, lactic acid bacteria, naturally present on the surface of vegetables, grows. Other microbes are inhibited by salt. The color of the vegetables changes from bright green to olive/yellow-green, and the white interior becomes translucent. Examples include dill pickles and sauerkraut. See this page, if you'd rather make fermented pickles.
• Refrigerated dills are cucumbers marinated for 1 day to 1 week in a salt and spice brine (in the fridge) and then stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. No canning is required! See this page for refrigerated dill pickle directions!
• Fruit pickles are whole or sliced fruit simmered in a spicy, sweet-sour syrup. Examples include spiced peaches and crabapples. See this page for directions to make spiced peaches!
• Relishes are made from chopped fruits or vegetables that are cooked to a desired consistency in a spicy vinegar solution. Examples include corn relish and horseradish. See this page for cucumber pickle relish directions!
• NEW! Low salt / reduced salt dill pickles

What do you love about pickles?

Lunchpail Books, new book: "I Love Pickles" coming soon...  what happens if you love pickles too much... read along sing along with Lunchpail Books