Thank you for joining us at the Laughing Zebra Blog. Here you will find all the latest things right as they happen at Laughing Zebra - Books for Children.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Follow along on the Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa blog as Zebee takes you through the 'V Zoo', presents book reviews and zoo news from around the world.
You can also follow us at Books Go Beyond Reading blog and discover fun ways to help children learn.
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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.
Continue reading "Book of the Week: Wright on Time Utah (book 2) by Lisa Cottrell-Bentley"
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.
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 KenyaThey say it’s a “Dangerous plan.” Why?
Continue reading "Zoo News Sunday: Babies, Safari Lights and Volunteer Call"
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
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:
Continue reading "Creative Wednesday: What Can You Make of This?"
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.
Continue reading "The Lighting of the Tree at the V Zoo Party 2009"
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.
Continue reading "Book of the Week: Wright on Time Arizona (book 1) by Lisa Cottrell-Bentley"
Good morning zoo lovers, Zebee here. Let's see what's happening at the zoos.
Continue reading "Zoo News Sunday: Bears, Sea Lions and Treats!"
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.
Continue reading "A Truly Bilingual Program That Works Both Ways"
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.
Continue reading "Book Review: The Christmas Angel by Mary Jean Kelso"
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?
Continue reading "Getting Ready For This Year's Tree Lighting Ceremony"
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.
Continue reading "Book of the Week: Soap, Soap, Soap by Elizabeth Dulemba"
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.
Continue reading "Zoo News Sunday: Holiday Fare and baby names"
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
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.
Continue reading "Book Review: My Grandmother's Kitchen Rules by Bill Kirk"
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
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?
“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.
Continue reading "Book of the Week: Anna’s World by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin"
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.
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.
Continue reading "Thanksgiving Holidays From Around the World"
Okay, as promised, here’s my list:
A apple, really, I try to eat one every dayB broccoliC chocolate, I’m willing to bet that many women said this tooD datesE eggs
Continue reading "Creative Wednesday: My ABC Food List and more"
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.
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.
Continue reading "Zoo News Sunday: Baby names, Awards and birthday celebrations"
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.
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.”
Continue reading "Book Review: Triangle Top, The Tale of a Troubled Tribe by Mark Johnson"
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.
Continue reading "Creative Wednesday: Favorite Food Alphabet"
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.
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.
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.
Continue reading "Zoo News Sunday: Orangutans, bonobos and Christmas already!?!"