The Latest from Laughing Zebra - Books for Children

Jan 4, 2010, Book of the Week: Wright on Time Utah (book 2) by Lisa Cottrell-Bentley

So, let’s kick this year’s Book of the Week off with the second book in the “Wright on Time” series. “Utah”, book 2. It is every bit as action packed as Lisa’s first book, “Arizona”.

This time the Wright family has traveled to the state of Utah.

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Dec 27, 2009, Zoo News Sunday: My Final entry

Good morning Bloggerville fans. Zebee here. I have some sad for me news. Today will be my last visit here at “Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa” blog. You might see me pop in around the web on other blogs, but this will be my last post here. I’ve had a lot of fun over these past two years talking with many of you, visiting with my boss Joy’s author friends and characters and going to zoos around the world. All good things come to an end, and this is it for us here at the V Zoo.

So, with all that said, let’s see what happened this week at the world zoos.

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Dec 20, 2009, Zoo News Sunday: Babies, Safari Lights and Volunteer Call

Good day Bloggerville zoo lovers. Zebee here. I know I’m getting this out to you a bit late, but… Anyway, let’s get to it.

Czech zoo sends rare Northern White rhinos to Kenya They say it’s a “Dangerous plan.” Why?

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Dec 17, 2009, Best Christmas Story Ever!

Star: I say it's "The Night Before Christmas."

Billy: No it's "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer."

Mori: My favorite is "Little Drummer Boy."

Zebee: What's all this arguing about? Can't you see

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Dec 16, 2009, Creative Wednesday: What Can You Make of This?

This morning while I was thinking of ideas for today's post, I came up with three different ways to get your creative juices flowing. For the next three weeks I'll be giving you started ideas you can use and of course I'd love you to share what you come up with in the comments.

Let's get started:

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Dec 15, 2009, The Lighting of the Tree at the V Zoo Party 2009

Good morning, Zebee here. Boy! Did we have a great tree lighting party! So many of my boss Joy’s author friends came it was amazing. Many of them brought along their characters too. Let’s see how many we can remember.

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Dec 14, 2009, Book of the Week: Wright on Time Arizona (book 1) by Lisa Cottrell-Bentley

Today I'd like to share what will prove to be a great series of mid grade adventure books. The books are about the Wright family. Dad, Harrison and mom, Stephanie are taking their two children 7 year old Aidan and 11 year old Nadia on an RV trip around the United States. They will be home schooled as well as get to see up close and personal the entire country.

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Dec 13, 2009, Zoo News Sunday: Bears, Sea Lions and Treats!

Good morning zoo lovers, Zebee here. Let's see what's happening at the zoos.

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Dec 11, 2009, A Truly Bilingual Program That Works Both Ways

When I read this article today, I just had to share. Finally, a school district that gets it. They are offering dual language classes from elementary up. The students that graduate from this program are fully bilingual and ready to face the challenges of the world better than most American students.

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Dec 10, 2009, Book Review: The Christmas Angel by Mary Jean Kelso

Good morning book fans, Zebee and the gang here today. When our boss Joy read this story to us, we all wanted to go on our own adventure across the country. But more on that later. First let’s read what Joy has to say about the story.

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Dec 8, 2009, Getting Ready For This Year's Tree Lighting Ceremony

Good morning to you all. Zebee here. To get you in the mood for Christmas this year, this is a picture of the central plaza in Caguas, Puerto Rico last year. Is'nt that one of the prettiest trees you've ever seen?

Okay, as some of you might remember, last year at our tree lighting ceremony we had a few mishaps. Don't remember?

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Dec 7, 2009, Book of the Week: Soap, Soap, Soap by Elizabeth Dulemba

Today we have a fun book to share with you. "Soap, soap, soap" is both written and illustrated by Elizabeth Dulemba. This is a fun filled bilingual story about Hugo, a young boy. His mamá sends him to the store to buy soap or jabón. Follow Hugo's adventure to the store and see who he meets along the way. Watch out, or you might end up needing a bath by the end of the story.

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Dec 6, 2009, Zoo News Sunday: Holiday Fare and baby names

Good morning zoo fans, Zebee here. It's December and I'm in the holiday spirit. Are you? Many zoos have their holiday lights and displays up, zo be sure to make a date the visit your local zoo soon.

So, on with the news from the week. See you at the end.

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Dec 4, 2009, Bilingual Crossword Puzzles

When I was creating my activity book to go with "Zooprise Party/Fiesta Zoorpresa", I wanted to include crossword puzzles. they are great learning tools. But how could one be made bilingual?

I could have made two puzzles, one in English and one in Spanish, but

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Dec 4, 2009, Word Games that go with

Fun word games to go with

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Dec 3, 2009, Book Review: My Grandmother's Kitchen Rules by Bill Kirk

Good Thursday everyone, Zebee here. When my boss Joy said that today's book was written by Bill Kirk, I got excited. I really like his book "There's a Spider in My Sink" that she read to us a while back. So, let's see what she has to say about this book of Bill's.

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Dec 2, 2009, Creative Wednesday: What Hapened Next?

Have you ever read a book to a child and had them ask you: "What happened next?"

Do you say: they lived happily ever after? they went to sleep? or worst of all, nothing the story is over?

So, what did happen next? Did the three

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Dec 1, 2009, It's December 1st!!!

Good morning everyone! Zebee here. This is just a quick note today. See, my boss Joy has this tradition. December 1st is Christmas decorating day.

We here at the V Zoo all join in the fun. We will help decorate our enclosures. The giraffes will help string lights and garlands at the highest points, Billy and his mom are in charge of the popcorn and cranberry stringing, Elvis is in charge of adding the lights and I am going to somehow put the angel on top of the tree. Want to see her?

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Nov 30, 2009, Book of the Week: Anna’s World by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin

“Anna’s World” is a book that takes you into the world of the Shaker’s back in the mid 1800’s though the eyes of a fourteen-year-old girl, Anna. After a terrible flood and bout with Typhoid fever, Anna’s father leaves her in the care of the Shakers. With the promise to return for her, Anna is left to live, work and study with these strict hardworking people.

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Nov 29, 2009, Zoo News Sunday: Christmas at the Zoo

Good chilly morning to all, Zebee here. My boss Joy says that Florida is cold, or at least colder than she remembered for this time of year. She's bundled up and, well, that's not why I'm here.

Today I'm going to share 5 zoos that are going all out for this holiday season. If one of these is near you, please make sure you stop by. If not, send me a comment about your zoo and I'll highlight it another Sunday.

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Nov 27, 2009, Thanksgiving Holidays From Around the World

I'm going to depart from my normal type of post today in honor of Thanksgiving.

As an American, many of us can get into the thinking that Thanksgiving is only an American celebration. Not so. Many cultures around the world celebrate their own Thanksgiving.

Now, they don't celebrate the same way we do, but they celebrate non the less.

Here are a few links that share different Thanksgiving traditions from around the world.

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Nov 25, 2009, Creative Wednesday: My ABC Food List and more

Okay, as promised, here’s my list:

A apple, really, I try to eat one every day B broccoli C chocolate, I’m willing to bet that many women said this too D dates E eggs

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Nov 24, 2009, Turkey, Turkey, Where is the Turkey?

Good morning Bloggerville fans. Zebee here. I thought today would be a fun day to share some fun activities with you all about turkeys. My boss Joy surfed the net and here are some of the ones she found. Have fun with them.

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Nov 22, 2009, Zoo News Sunday: Baby names, Awards and birthday celebrations

Good Sunday to you, Zebee here. Is it getting cold yet where you live? Here at the V Zoo it stays a nice 80 degrees all year round. Can’t get any better weather than that. Anyway, let’s see what’s happening at the world zoos today. See you at the end.

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Nov 20, 2009, Bilingual Board Games

In surfing for ways to have fun and learn a second language, I came across the Language Learning Game. This company has created two games to learn basic Spanish. The idea is simple and perfect for children in early elementary school. I encourage you to check it out. Be sure to click on the link at the bottom of the home page. The owner Barbara Bohl tells you about the game and how it came to be.

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Nov 19, 2009, Book Review: Triangle Top, The Tale of a Troubled Tribe by Mark Johnson

Good Thursday morning to you all. Zebee here with another really great book. When my boss Joy read this one to us, we all thought back to when we had Mori’s surprise birthday party. Without all of us helping out, the party wouldn’t have happened. Anyway, let me get out of the way so Joy can tell you about “Triangle Top, The Tale of a Troubled Tribe.”

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Nov 18, 2009, Creative Wednesday: Favorite Food Alphabet

It's safe to say that we all have favorite foods.

I challenge you to come up with a list of foods that you really like. Now, that's not much of a challenge, so, make your list in alphabetical order and list one food item for each letter of the alphabet. The food has to start with the letter, not just have the letter in the word somewhere. If that's too easy, see if you can make the foods rhyme.

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Nov 17, 2009, Are These For Real?

Okay, my boss Joy's cyber friend Kim Wheedleton posted this on her blog. When Joy saw it, she knew we had to share it here. Oh, Zebee here, I got so excited about the video, I forgot to introduce myself. Anyway, here it is.

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Nov 16, 2009, What Takes A Book Beyond Reading?

For many months now I've been sharing books that go beyond reading.

Now it's your turn. Do you have a favorite book that you'd like to share here? If so, leave me a comment and I'll set you up as a guest blogger for a Monday post.

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Nov 15, 2009, Zoo News Sunday: Orangutans, bonobos and Christmas already!?!

Good morning Bloggerville fans, Zebee here. It’s been a quite week on zoo news fronts. Check out a finds and meet me at the end. I have a request for all of you.

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