Have Fun with Fungooms by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com Lots of parents I know try to balance the amount of screen time their kids get. I think that's an excellent idea. Sometimes kids lives are so switched on, or so full of extra-curricular Read More......

Let's Prepare Our Kids for the Future by Susan Stephenson Regular readers of The Book Chook will have picked up by now that I believe strongly in the importance of play as the way kids learn best. When children start school, I think we should maintain Read More......

Children's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com Once Upon a Slime was written by Andy Griffiths , illustrated by Terry Denton and published by Pan Macmillan (2013). - Have you ever wondered where ideas come from and how stories are made? Read More......

Create Stories at Storyboard That by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com Storyboard That offers an online place for kids to create digital stories . Its main purpose is as a visual aid for communicators e.g. in the business area, but it would also Read More......

Why Reading Really is Magic by Mem Fox Reading is magical because it brings parents and children together for fun, bonding and giggles. It also helps promote a children’s brain, social and language development. Reading aloud to young children, before Read More......

Children's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com Arkie Sparkle, Treasure Hunter: Tick Tock was written by Petra James and published by Pan Macmillan Australia (2013.) 7 treasures 7 continents 7 days 7 books 6 changes of clothes 5 suspicious Read More......

Switch Kids On to Reading and Writing by Brian Rock As a former teacher and current parent, I’ve had experience in introducing kids to reading and writing . And while there’s no magic potion that works for all kids, I’ve learned that oftentimes the messenger Read More......

Learning Activities for The Wrong Book by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com As I mentioned last week , 11.00 am on May 23 is National Simultaneous Story Time in Australia, when hordes of eager kids and adults share a picture book in libraries, schools, Read More......

Children's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com I love books that lure kids onto the magical pathway to reading by offering humour and entertainment, don't you? Do you remember my enthusiasm for the first in R. A. Spratt's Nanny Piggins Read More......

Let's Celebrate Star Wars Day! by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com You may have noticed by now that here at The Book Chook, I love to celebrate. I very much enjoy special days that offer us the opportunity to sneak some literacy and learning into Read More......

National Simultaneous Story Time 2013 by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com What is National Simultaneous Story Time? National Simultaneous Storytime ... is organised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). It is a colourful, Read More......

Children's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com Interrupting Chicken is a children's picture book by David Ezra Stein, published by Walker Books (2013). It's time for the little red chicken's bedtime story and a reminder from Papa to Read More......

Fun with Avatars by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com Avatars are definitely engaging. Creating an avatar online is a nice way to involve kids in learning digital literacy skills - they'll learn about menus and buttons, try different effects, and Read More......

We're getting close to that time of year in Australia when all who love reading and children's books have a huge celebration known as Children's Book Week . School and public libraries will be offering all sorts of activities and fun according to this Read More......

Children's Book Review by Rebecca Newman Lighthouse Girl by Dianne Wolfer, illustrated by Brian Simmonds, published by Fremantle Press (2009). Review edition is a hardback ISBN 9781921361531 (the book is also available as a paperback $19.95, ISBN 9781921696572). Read More......

Three iPad Apps that Encourage Creativity by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com Today I want to tell you about three iPad apps that I believe have the potential to encourage kids to think creatively. Using these apps, kids could tell a story, record Read More......

Producing Visual Content Online with Kids by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com In Visual Literacy - Investigate and Play with Images , I re-stated my belief that picture books are a great format for developing early visual literacy skills, and that Read More......

Children's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com An Anzac Tale is a graphic picture book , written by Ruth Starke, illustrated by Greg Holfield, and published by Working Title Press ( Penguin ) 2013. When Australia pledges its support Read More......

LEGO DC Universe Superheroes Comic Builder by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com Here's an engaging comic editor that will delight young LEGO fans. They'll have fun, express themselves and have opportunities for creative thinking, writing, developing Read More......

How Do Kids Not Write a Book Review by Susan Stephenson The most successful article on The Book Chook in terms of traffic is How Do Kids Write a Book Review , which according to Blogger, has had 120 000 page views. Because I'm aware that with some kids, Read More......