I'm back~

It's really a long trip and I'm finally back to Taiwan. We also went to Tainan last weekend. We had a very great time there becasue before we visited the famous night market, we met a nice couple Mr. and Mrs. Booth in hotel. They also liked to visit the same night market. They came from California, the north of San Fransico Bay and we just back from the south of San Fransico Bay. What a coincidence!! The next day we shared the wonderful breakfast time together.

It's the time to back to school, not only James but also including me. I start to prepare the daily lunch boxes for James and my husband. Specially James needs to stay in the school for whole 5 days a week! Poor James!

Final countdown

There are still a few days for me and James returning to Taiwan. It's quite a long time since we left Taiwan to USA. Everything here is pretty great. We love here but we also love our home country, specially the food. James told me that he's missing the food at night market like as stinky tofu......

My sister-in-law told me this summer is cooler than last year. They visited Taiwan early in July and felt the hot wave in south of Taiwan. Everybody hided in the house daytime. But here is comfortable to go outside and make activities (You still need the "sunblock"- sun lotion)

Anyway, it's time to back school. Wish everyone I knew is healthy and happiness in this summer vacation.

The birthday box

The Birthday Box - by Leslie Patricelli

What's better than getting a brand-new toy as a birthday gift? Playing with the box it came in!

Are your curious about what is inside the box? I won't tell you! Guess! But it is not important to know what's inside.

For me,

"I like to stand on my box. I am taller than a tree.

I give my box a hug.

Look! There's a hole. Is there something inside?..................."

What can w don with a box?

"We fly in an airplane over the ocean.

We sail a ship. I am the captain.

We slide through the snow. Look out below!

We cut some holes in my box. Snip. I am a robot............"

Happy Birthday, Lulu

It's wonderful book for Pre-K. It's Lulu's special day. Pretty cards to look at. A present to open before breakfast. And a party to prepare for! All parents in America will invite a lot of little friends to the kids party to celebrate. My nephew had invited her friend to the rock climbing for the seven years old birthday!

Help Lulu bake cookies, blow up balloons, and greet her guests. You're invited to the best birthday party ever. Happy Birthday, Lulu!

(from website)

A birthday for cow

Kids love birthday parties, so do I. They specially love the presents from parents, friends....

Do you know animals also love birthday?

It is cow's birthday, and the celebration is about to begin. Pig and Mouse are making Cow the best birthday cake ever. They mix flour, sugar, and eggs into a big bowl. Duck wants to mix in a turnip, which Pig and Mouse adamantly refuse to do so. How can you mix a turnip into a birthday cake? As the cake is baked and about to be decorated, Duck keeps insisting that they add the turnip, but the other animals refuse to consider this suggestion. They ice and decorate a beautiful cake which they feel Cow is guaranteed to love.

The end of the story has a funny twist: Cow arrives at the surprise party and is thrilled to receive a turnip; he is not quite sure what do with the birthday cake. Children and parents will enjoy this humorous story, as well as the cartoon-like drawings which bring it alive in splendid color and details. This book brings new humor and fun to an old topic, birthday celebrations. (from website)

It's really a hard time for James?

Today is the 3rd day for James' debate class. I heard that there are only 3 students left today. Is it too difficult for James? I doubt? What does the instructor think about that? There were total 5 students took this class in the beginning but now is only three? What happened? Does James can afford to the class? I don't know. He seems still ok for it. Everyday we check the vocabularies or search the information from website to meet the debate topic of next day. We are quite busy but happy. I like James to study hard to widen his vision and more experience to face the difference topic and learn how to debate!

Anyway, there are still have 2 days at all. I believe we can hang it on and go through by any tough situation here . GOGOGO!

We will return to Taiwan after 10 days!!! I love you Taiwan.

Red Sings from Treetops ~ Caldecott Honor book

Red Sings from Treetops

a year in colors - by Joyce Sidman Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

In winter....

Green waits

in the hearts of trees,

feeling

the earth

turn.

Color comes alive in this whimsical, innovative book: blue dances on summer lakes, green drips from spring leaves, black wafts mysteriously through autumn evenings. Together, an award-winning poet and a brilliant painter inspire us to look closer at the thrilling colors of the seasons. So what colors can you feel - or hear, or taste, or smell - today?

(pick up from web, book)

The Boy who wouldn't swim

The boy who wouldn't swim - by Deb Lucke

Eric Dooley would not swim. Even though it was so, so hot and everybody was in the town pool nearly every day. Everybody, including his little sister, who wasn't afraid of the water at all. Underneath his sunblock, Eric was green with envy. Not to mention sweaty. And irritated. How much more could he take before forcing himself to overcome his fears and try the water?

(picture from web)

It's about whole town practically lived in the pool. They got out of the water only to sleep! Except Eric Dooley! What's happening next to Eric?

Bubba and Trixie

Bubba and Trixie - by Lisa Campbell Ernst

(pick up from web/book)

Bubba the caterpillar is a nervous Nelly. He won't set even one of his sixteen feet off the plant where he born. And then he meets Trixie, a ladybug who lives life to the fullest. Trixie convinces Bubba to take a giant leap off his plant so that he can explore the beautiful garden down below. After that, Bubba and Trixie spend every day of the summer together, having more fun than Bubba ever imagined. Each night they make wishes on the stars.

One evening Bubba wishes for everything to stay exactly as it is forever, and Trixie gently tells him that he will soon turn to a butterfly.

Bubba refuses to listen: " I just want to stay me - and be your friend!"

Trixie promises that, no matter what, they will always be friends, but that isn't enough for Bubba. Will Bubba's wish come true? (written by book)

Did you remember your any one of good friends? Did you keep in touch with him/her? Those unforgettable time will never come back again? Enjoy the story and get a new thought!

Class two at the zoo

Class Two at the Zoo - by Julia Jarman Illustrations by Lynne Chapman

Class two is going to the zoo! They see parrots squabbling and spotted cheetahs running. What they don't see is the crafty anaconda sliding from the water..... One by one, the students and even Teacher are gobbled up by the sneaky snake. That is, until one girl catches the snake in action. Can she save the day?

(pick up from web/book)

It's a little bit scary, don't worry, the brave little girl will recuse the swallowed teacher and classmates. Kids can learn the name of those animals You can play zoo game. Have fun!

Bear wants more

"When springtime comes, in his warm winter den a bear wakes up very hungry and thin!" Remember last time we talked about the Bear try very hard to stay up Christmas? Now, the spring is coming, of course the Bear wakes up. Bear finds some roots to eat, but that's not enough. He wants more!! With his friends' help, he finds some berries, clover, and fish to eat, but that's not enough. Bear wants more!!

How Bear's friends help him to finally satisfy his HUGE hunger in a most surprising way??

(pick up from web/book)

Gilroy Outlet

It's a wonderful day to go shopping in outlet. I have been there for couple times. Sometimes I drove, sometimes didnot. There are a lot of famous stores let you feel so exciting. For example, you can find the "hot" store "COACH" where always "people mountain people sea"! Of course, I bought some from there! Levi's, American Eagle, Body shop, Gap, Old Navy, Puma, Keneth cole, in and out burger, Timberland, Clark, some kitchenwares, BCBG, Banana Republic.....too much and hard to memorize.

Shopping is my favorite habit. I love shopping!!!

Bear stays up for Christmas

How was your last Christmas? Was it interesting? Have you receive any present from Santa? What is your expected present for next Christmas? Bear just want to give it a try " Stay-up for Christmas" Do you think he can make it?

Bear Stays up for Christmas is good to use in the day before Christmas in class. Bear likes to sleep in winter all day long but his friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up - by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents!

(pick up from web/book)

Bear's new friend

Bear's new friend -by Karma Wilson / Jane Chapman

Bear is going to the swimming hole, but first he must find his friends. There's a clatter in the tree! Is is Mouse? No..... "Who?" calls Bear.

Something quickly scampers by! Is it Hare? No.... "Who?" calls Bear.

Someone seems to be hiding from Bear and his friends. Who is it? WHO? How Bear and his forest friends discover a NEW FRIEND will enchant young readers.

I bet you don't know the answer!! Fortunately, I know that and I will give you a hit to guess what animal hiding in the swimming hole.

An animal with feathers, 2 wings, feet, peak, great eyesight at night.

Never take a shark to the dentist

It seems a lot of book with the title as "Never...... the...", here the author of Judy Barrett created a story to tell us there are many things you should never ever, ever do.

Like sit next to a porcupine on the subway(ouch!). Or hold hands with a lobster(double ouch!). Or take a shark to the dentist (triple ouch!).

And the imaginative illustrator John Nickle give us a raucous look at the perils of taking giraffes to the movies, goats to the library, and pigs out to lunch....and other such silly stuff.

I love this book!!

A frog in the bog

A Frog in the Bog -Karma Wilson, Joan Rankin

There's a small, hungry frog sitting on the log in the middle of the bog.

He flicks ONE tick off of a stick.

He sees TWO fleas in the reeds.

He spies THREE flies buzzing in the skies.

The frog is feeling pretty fine, but the...... the log in the middle of the bog starts to rise.....

What s surprise!!

(picture from website)

Your can play the number game! And you can see the chant, kids will love it.

The foggy foggy forest

The foggy foggy forest by Nick Sharratt (picture from website)

"What can this be in the foggy, foggy forest?" (then you can see the shape from shadow)

That is a good to guess what creatures are coming next from the shadow. Each time you can make a different guess according to the displayed shadows. Sometime I am right but sometime wrong. The answer is always showed on the next page by fill of color. Most of the them are easy to guess from the known famous fairy tales. Quit fun!!

Bear series - Bear Feels Scared

I love the bears. Here is a pile of bear books you can see. You will surprise that how the kids love them!

Bear Feels Scared!

Bear's gone for a walk in the woods and gets hungry, so he decides to turn back. But the sun is setting and the sky's getting gray. A rainy storm kicks up and Bear just can't find his way.

Bear has many woodland friends around him and they play together, take care of each other in the dark dark windy night.

That will be the same experiences as anyone who has ever felt the fear of straying a little too far from home.

Karma Wilson / Jane Chapman

1. Bear snores on

2. Bear stays up for Christmas

3. Bear feels scared

4. Bear wants more

5. Bear's new friend

6. Bear feel sick

(picture from website)