BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES

LIFT THE FLAP BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES by Emily Bone. Illustrated by Nat Hues.

At 46 years of age I can honestly say I still enjoy looking at lift-the-flap books. I get a feeling of lifting the top of a treasure chest to discover what's inside each time I open a flap! Usborne doesn't disappoint when it comes to packing their lift the flaps with information and pictures to discover. Yesterday, my 3-year-old niece and I were looking at this book, Bugs and Butterflies. I had pulled it out, because we are starting on bug collections around the Killiany house. (More info on that below if you would like to join us!) She loved opening a few flaps and hearing a bit of information before turning to the next page. I let her lead the way on what her interest was and together we enjoyed butterflies, bees, water bugs, etc. We didn't open every flap or read every word. Then we closed it up and off she went on her next little adventure. If I pull out that book today when she's around, I'm sure she'll be back up next to me, ready to check out a few more pages and have another look at her favorites from yesterday. The experience was enjoyable to her! Why am I sharing this with you? Make sure that when you are reading to your kids you are giving them a "bite" that they can handle! The goal isn't always reading that book, cover to cover, in a sitting! Books are like food for the brain. Delightfully fill your little one up to a satisfying level and then send them on their way to the next adventure! Do not overstuff them to the point of misery!

I will be sharing some "bug books" over the next few days as the Killiany kids are on the hunt for a few amazing insects to mount in a collection. We have opened this up to our local homeschool community, and I have put together some simple instructions with YouTube links on how to complete the process. If you are local and would like to join us or if you are not local and would like to do it in your area, PM me with your email, and I will send out the info. Give me a couple days to get the email out!