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The holiday season is in full swing, and people are getting excited for gift giving, getting together with family and friends, and school break! For most kids this means the school-related reading that is a part of their daily life also takes a break, but it also creates more opportunities for fun family reading time! Reading with your kids - not just during the holiday but any day - benefits their development and creates family moments and traditions you will all cherish for years to come. Share your Favorite Books Think back to when you were young; what were your favorite books? Share these treasures with the whole family, and ask your kids what their favorite stories are as well! If a book feels slightly advanced for your child, you can read it aloud and answer questions as you go. Be sure to stop and ask them questions to make sure they understand the story and to spark their imaginations! As you read together, stop and ask questions like: who's the main character?, why did [this character] do [this action], and what do you think will happen next? Be patient, and if you sense your child is losing interest or is too distracted, take a break and do something else so your kids associate family reading as fun (and different from school)! Get Extended Family Involved Aunts, uncles, and grandparents - especially those who live far away - can never get enough of your little ones! Take advantage of this holiday time together and ask your young reader show off their reading skills. Encourage your child to read aloud one of their favorite books to visiting family members, but make sure that it's one your kid has already read a few times so they feel confident (plus, repetition enhances reading skills). This is a fun reading activity every generation can enjoy! Family Reading is Fun for All Ages Your child is never too young to enjoy a good story. Even when children are too young to "understand" what you're reading, listening helps develop language skills, and more importantly they enjoy it and will usually sit with rapt attention and ask for more! Think of words like food for their brain. Reading aloud to children as young as infants is good for their developing brain, promotes curiosity, and keep them happy and engaged. Babies learn through imitation, so the more they see you reading, the more interested they will be in reading themselves as they get older! Pair Reading with Activities Think of activities that go well with the stories you're reading. Reading about animals? Take the kids to zoo and find the animals you are learning about! Read a book and draw pictures about the story. It can be fun to have you and your child each draw a picture of a main character and then compare them to see how they are the same and/or different! Nature walks, petting zoos, and museums are also great places to apply things kids learn in books to real life. What are some of your fun family reading traditions? What are some of your favorite stories to read aloud as a family? Share in the comments!

The holidays are a busy time, and we all want to get the perfect gift for the people we love! Seeing bright smiles on our loved ones' faces after receiving a present always brings joy, but finding that perfect gift isn't always easy. Giving the gift of reading is something you and your loved ones can enjoy throughout the holiday season and beyond. Whether you are a new family, a bilingual family, and/or an animal lover, our selection of books and activities will fill your loved one's face with joy! Gift Ideas for Bilingual Families Looking for the perfect gift for a bilingual family, or want to help your child learn a new language? We offer beautifully illustrated bilingual books that make wonderful gifts for language learners and/or bilingual young children and their parents. Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado and Babies Nurse / Así se alimentan los bebés introduce your little one to the themes of breastfeeding, biology, survival, and the natural world. These books inspire conversations about families - whether it's in English, Spanish, Dutch, or Hebrew! "My 5 and 6 year olds were captivated by the message and beautiful images. I strongly recommend this book!” —José Avilés, Head of School, Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School, Wilmington, Delaware, on Cuddled and Carried Cuddled and Carried also offers a downloadable Teachers Guide that helps parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers creatively introduce these themes and helps develop your child's curious mind. If My Mom Were a Platypus is available in Spanish, Dutch, and Hebrew and teaches about breastfeeding, birth, and families through the eyes of 14 different species (including humans)! Gift Ideas for New Families Nothing is better than spending time with family during the holiday season, and we have put together a selection of some of our favorite family books in our New Family Gift Guide! Our array of books for first-time parents will create the perfect gift for your partner and you. From co-sleeping to breastfeeding, these selections are terrific resources for any parent. "Becoming a dad is a wonderful journey. It does, however, require learning new skills. Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers is great set of training wheels. Enjoy the ride!" —Gregory Long, New Parent Educator and Full-time Dad Sleeping with your Baby informs, reassures, and defends the potential benefits of co-sleeping, and talks about how to co-sleep safely. Breastfeeding Facts for Fathers is a great stocking stuffer for Dad, and shows the pivotal role he plays in raising a healthy new baby. This book comes in a fun-filled booklet or a soft-covered edition with a stitched binding. Each of these booklets are the perfect gift to bring families together during the holidays! Gift Ideas for Animal Lovers Do you have a young animal lover in your life? We have the perfect gift suggestions in our Animal Lovers Gift Guide! Cuddled and Carried, Babies Nurse, and If My Mom Were a Platypus offer a world full of science and nature all in one. These books teach your child about the beauty of life through themes of biology, survival, and the natural world. If My Mom Were a Platypus also provides your child with an inside look at your role as a parent and how you love, feed, and protect them! “It is extremely important for children to learn that nursing is natural and normal. With its gorgeous illustrations, Babies Nurse beautifully represents the art of breastfeeding.” —Katie Finney, R.N., NICU Nurse These books bring out the animal lover in people of all ages. Everyone can enjoy the beauty of families and the animal kingdom while flipping through these gorgeously illustrated pages!

There is nothing children love more than cuddling up and listening to you read them a good story. Reading stories together is a special bonding experience that you both will remember forever. Fill your story times with a variety of books to keep kids interested and engaged, but don't be surprised if they ask for the same story again and again! Be consistent, be patient, and watch your little one's eyes fill with joy as you open up new worlds to them through the power of reading. Reading aloud to young children not only creates loving memories, but also promotes a love of reading and prepares them for the future. By reading aloud to your child you give them better language development, literacy skills, and a love of reading to better prepare them for when they start school. Magical Reading Memories When we look back on our childhood, many of us have fond memories of story time. Many adults remember snuggling up, listening to favorite stories, and feeling comfort and joy as we listed to the sound of a loved one's voice. Reading aloud to your children helps create these wonderful memories that you and your child will cherish forever. Magical stories encourage a love for reading. Sometimes children need time to think about stories they have read. Don't be surprised if, a day or so later, your child mentions something from a story you've read together! What happens during your child's first few years sets the stage for the rest their life. By reading to your child and sharing tales of adventure and fantasy, you help their little imaginations flourish. The adventures you go on while reading together craft magical Reading Aloud to Children Helps Development The memories created during story time are magical but so are the benefits that come from reading aloud to your little one. These benefits include: Increased Vocabulary and Language Skills - When reading aloud you build up your child’s knowledge of words, grammatically correct phrases, and sentences. This helps develop conversational, writing, and communication skills! Moral Lessons and Heroic Values – Children love to listen and copy everything. By reading tales of heroism and adventures aloud to your child you incorporate life lessons and introduce them to the concept of morality. Stories and their characters set an example of heroes and moral behavior that your child can model. Enhances Concentration - Reading aloud is extremely important even when your children are very small. By consistently reading to your child every day, starting as an infant, your child will learn to concentrate and sit still for longer periods of time. Brain Development - Reading to your little one increases their brain activity, which gives their brains a developmental boost! Encourages Love for Reading and Knowledge - Children are always curious! Reading aloud encourages your child to ask questions about the book and helps them draw parallels to their own life. This increases their curiosity about the world around them and promotes using their imaginations. Cuddle Up with Some of Our Favorites! Babies Nurse: This beautifully illustrated book's overarching theme of breastfeeding inspires conversations about parenting, biology, habitats, survival, and more, making this book an engaging choice for young children as well as elementary school readers! Cuddled and Carried: Beautiful images introduce the children to attachment in the natural world. Watching mothers lend a paw, wing, flipper, or hand to care for their young fosters empathy, kindness, and compassion. Supplemental back matter and a free Teacher's Guide helps parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers creatively describe caretaking, while introducing a range of early science concepts. Sarah Reece-Stretman, a pediatrician and mother of two, says that Cuddled and Carried "Makes cuddling during story time that much sweeter." If My Mom Were a Platypus: All mammal mothers feed, protect, and teach their young, even though these tasks can challenge their own needs for survival. But a mammal baby’s journey to maturity varies dramatically depending on whether it is a bear or a bat, a shrew or a seal, a hippopotamus or a human. This fascinating look at life cycles portrays the normalcy of birth and breastfeeding and explores how mothers help 14 different mammals navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults. What are some of your favorite stories to read aloud? Let us know in the comments!

Thanksgiving is all about family, friends, and TURKEY! Keeping your little one busy while preparing food, entertaining company, and passing the days over break can be challenging. To help you keep your focus on that turkey that needs basting, we’ve rounded up a few activities and ideas that can help keep your child's mind stay busy with some learning and fun! Whether you have a group of kids or just one child to entertain there are thanksgiving activities for everyone to enjoy together! From our partner company Science, Naturally!'s Mystery of the Month to some of our Educational Resources, we’ve got something for everyone. One-Minute Mysteries What better way to spend Thanksgiving break than a challenging Mystery of the Month that you and your little one can solve together? Science, Naturally! has one-minute mysteries to keep the whole family entertained! These one-minute reads will challenge your kid’s knowledge of math and science in a variety of ways. Each mystery helps challenge your child’s little mind with literature-based math and science brainteasers. In November’s Mystery of the Month Raking their Brains, Hannah and Juliet are raking leaves and decide to have a friendly competition. But Hannah accuses Juliet of cheating! Help them prove that Julia played fair and square in this month’s mystery! Educational Resources While on Thanksgiving break keeping your little one’s mind active is important. Science, Naturally! has just what you need to help entertain your child with their entertaining and educational resources, including: Teachers Guides Daily Circuit Activity Sheets Hands-on Activities STEM Education Power Points Importance of Children’s Literature Thanksgiving Crafts Thanksgiving is not the same without festive fall decorations! These adorable turkey craft projects will keep your kids busy and brighten up your Thanksgiving break! Paper Turkey What better way to spend Thanksgiving break than crafting your own turkey! With this easy craft you and your little one can create as many gobbling turkeys as you want! All you need is some colored paper, scissors and a glue stick. Turkey Finger Puppets These adorable little turkey finger puppets are fun to make and will help keep your kids busy while you get ready for a festive dinner. After a yummy meal everyone can sit together and the kids can use their imagination to put on an adorable puppet show. Pilgrim Hat Crayon Cups When everyone is around for Thanksgiving things can get a a little chaotic and messy! With these cute Pilgrim Hat Crayon Cups you and your kids can have fun crafting and help the crazy day be a little more organized. Show off your child’s crafting skills by placing these adorable decorations on your Thanksgiving table! Reading is another fun and educational way to stay entertained over Thanksgiving break, and we are offering a Black Friday weekend special of 50% off our entire store as well as at Science, Naturally! -- plus free shipping on everything in both stores! What fun activities do you have planned for Thanksgiving break? Share your ideas with us in the comments! Happy Thanksgiving!

Premature birth is a scary thing, and it’s natural for parents to feel stressed and overwhelmed. One of the ways to help your little preemie to grow big and strong is Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo care is a form of developmental care that has benefits for all newborns, especially little preemies. It involves direct contact when a newborn is placed on a mom or dad's skin. Daily skin-to-skin contact helps your preemie grow and develop, while in the NICU, as well as at home. Kangaroo care strengthens the bond between you and your preemie and provides a feeling of safety, contentment, and comfort with one another. Kangaroo Care in the NICU The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can be a scary place for you and your new baby, and Kangaroo care helps reduce stress for both you and your baby. Your preemie has a unique personality as well as his or her own ways of reacting to life outside the incubator. When you're with your baby, observe her pleasure or discomfort at certain sounds, sights, touches, movements, tastes, or smells. Touching and holding is an important part of caring for your baby while they are in the NICU. It helps keep them warm, and is good for their heart rate and breathing. Some preemies can start kangaroo care soon after birth, but some babies may need to wait. You can still connect with your baby in other ways while in the NICU, just ask your baby’s health provider which ways are best for you and your baby. More Ways to Bond with Your Infant in the NICU Observe your baby's cues: For example, arching of the back is a sign your infant is uncomfortable somehow. Experiment to find out what soothes your infant - for example cupping her head and feet with your hands. When she turns toward you, make and hold eye contact, use a gentle voice – or both! Relax and Breathe Deep: Give yourself permission to relax and take a moment to enjoy this special bonding time with your baby. While it's normal to feel anxious in the NICU, deep breathing will not only relax you, but it is soothing to your baby as well. Avoid overwhelming stimulation: If your baby is especially sensitive to light, sound, or touch, ask the NICU staff to dim the overhead lights, turn down the monitors, and do what your baby finds soothing. Put a sign on her incubator to remind healthcare providers to keep these sensitivities in mind. Create a calming space: Hospitals aren't known to be cozy places, so, work with the NICU staff to try to make it feel a little bit more homey. Ask the medical staff if you can place family photos or small toys around the incubator. You also may be able to put in a cloth with your scent to remind your baby of you when you're away. Always be sure to check with NICU staff before placing anything next to or near your infant! Taking your Preemie Home Feeding, preventing illness, safety, and general baby care are all a little different for a premature infant, so taking them home can be a little more stressful. Skin-to-skin contact helps parents feel needed and connected to their baby, which melts away stress and leaves them feeling more fulfilled and empowered. There are several bonding opportunities doing everyday things, like during feeding, bath time, or snuggles at night. Dad can —and should— give Kangaroo care too! A preemie baby needs stabilizing skin-to-skin contact even more than a full term infant, so both moms and dads can take turns of holding your new bundle of joy! It is just as important for Dad to bond with your new baby as it is for Mom. This is only the beginning of a deep relationship for all of you! Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact The placement of a premature infant directly on the mother's skin right after birth provides a safe place for baby to be welcomed into the world! Here are some additional benefits of Kangaroo care: · Helps regulate the baby’s heart rate, breathing, and body temperature · Helps calm the baby · Better sleep for the baby · Promotes brain development · Boosts immune system and weight gain · Strengthens the bond between parents and baby Skin-to-skin contact helps reduce some of the more common health problems preemies face, as well as helping to improve your baby's development. It may even help both you and your partner alleviate some of the worry by making you feel more closely bonded with your new addition. Have you had a child in the NICU? How did you bond with your little one during this time?

November 1st was National Authors Day, and we want to honor our amazing authors here at Platypus Media by sharing their love for reading and why it is so important at a young age. We all know that reading to our children is important. A child’s reading skills help ensure their success in school, work, and everyday life. From a very young age children have the ability to interpret and process many different pieces of information. Listening and looking at pictures young children enhance their skills and brain development. There are several benefits to reading to your child at a young that will help them become successful little humans: Reading Helps Build Early Skills The more you read to your child, the more knowledge they absorb, and this helps your child absorb and interpret the world around them. Children love to copy everything that you do, and holding the book, turning the pages, and sounding out the letters and words it will help push your child to do exactly that. They can use the skills that they learned from listening to you to help them when they start to read themselves. Reading Creates A Bond Reading with your child means more time one-on-one time with your child which strengthens your bond. It creates a special activity that the two of you can share that they will look forward to (and you will too)! Our Authors' Love of Reading Dia L. Michaels is the founder of Platypus Media, and the author of our popular books 'Cuddled and Carried' and 'If My Mom Were A Platypus'. A mother of three, Dia knows the importance of starting to read at a young age. She’s an internationally published, award-winning author who is best known for her books about science and parenting. She has authored and edited dozens of books for both children and adults. Dia has a passion for promoting attachment parenting and supporting breast-feeding, which she does through speaking at conferences, universities, libraries, and schools around the country. Phoebe Fox is an award winning author of children’s books, including 'Babies Nurse'. Phoebe has loved reading ever since she was a little girl. Her parents would read to her, her brother and sister every night when she was little. Her first book 'Phoebe’s Birthday' was published in the third grade with the help of her teacher Mrs. Parenza. Phoebe has always had a passion for children and reading. She studied Early Childhood Development as an undergrad, and then moved on to get a Masters Degree in Curriculums and Instruction. When her first son was born she was inspired to pursue her passion and start writing her own books. 'Starry’s Haircut' was the start of her whirlwind writing career. Phoebe loves visiting schools and says reading to children “gives me a unique opportunity to share my books and experiences with students”. Phoebe's dedication and passion for reading and writing stemmed from her experiences as a child, being read to by her parents every night. “I adore books, respect children, and believe in the power of reading!” -Phoebe Fox

Platypus Media, and our sister company Science Naturally, are honored that our Bilingual Nurtured and Nuzzled Set and the Bilingual Science and Math Mysteries Collection are sparking an interest in reading for the children of Honduras through a wonderful organization called the Chispa Project! About the Sara Burkes, Executive Director of the Chispa Project Sara Burkes lives in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. She first went to Honduras seven years ago, to visit a friend in the Peace Corps. Inspired by the lives of the people there, she decided to get involved by volunteering in a local school’s 1st - 3rd grade classroom. At the time, she only knew a little Spanish from college and high school, but she ended up learning the language along with the children, working with them daily. Eventually, she founded The Chispa Project. Chispa means "spark" in Spanish, which reflects Sara's belief that access to books can spark a lifelong interest in learning. The Chispa Project is changing lives, not only for the kids of Honduras, but for Sara herself. For her, the reward has been how the community has made her feel: “Honduras has a rough reputation, but as an outsider they have been so hospitable and so welcoming. I think their warmth should be revered, and it sets an example for us as Americans to be gracious and compassionate to the complex story of immigration. I know it is hard for us to understand something like that, but we have not lived their lives or felt their love and desperation that leads to such a decision. Community is key.” The Chispa Project’s Mission Through book donations, teacher development, and international volunteer projects, the Chispa Project works with Honduran educational institutions to spark a passion for learning that will grow and be nurtured within the local communities. Their vision is to create a desire for lifetime learning which enhances the quality of life for all. Over the last several years - solely through volunteer efforts - approximately 14,000 books have been donated to more than 50 different schools! Because most Honduran families live below the poverty line and can’t afford children's books, 60% of Honduran children are below a satisfactory reading level. Literature helps develop creative thinking, gain fluency in their language, and encourages communities to come together. The Chispa Project focuses on putting libraries in rural schools that have low income and resource and a high risk of gang violence. Most of these schools have multiple grade levels learning in one room, leading to a poor teacher/student ratio. This results children teaching themselves most skills, and copying lessons from the board and books. The Chispa Project, Platypus Media, and Science Naturally We are always on the look out for ways we can support early childhood education and literacy efforts all around the globe, and we were thrilled to send the Chispa Project copies of our bilingual books. As Sara tours the country, she brings donated books to more school libraries, spreading literacy and an interest in reading throughout the country. How You Can Help Sponsor a Library: It costs about $6,000.00 to establish a library in Honduras, of which the Chispa Project sponsors $3,000.00. Sponsoring a library is a great way to impact the lives of these children for generations to come. Sara’s goal is to establish 10 new school libraries this year. Donate Books: Book donations are very helpful, and if you would like to donate books here are some general guidelines: The Chispa Project emphasizes Spanish books. Although bilingual literature is helpful for learning dual languages, the Chispa Project is focused on teaching Hondurans their own language first. They seek a variety of fiction and nonfiction books for pre-k to 9th grade at approximately 10-20 books per title. Kids struggle with math and critical thinking skills as much as they do reading—60% in Honduras are below satisfactory levels—so books with mathematical word problems are also great. The Chispa project is grateful for books of all subjects, but they do try to avoid books with the standard blonde-haired, blue-eyed princess, Christmas stories with an abundance of presents, and false historical narratives. All of the financial support for the Chispa Project comes from individual donations. Outside of that, community involvement is what makes the program sustainable. If you would like to donate books or financial assistance, please contact Sara at info@chispaproject.org.

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. Science Naturally wants to do what we can to support early childhood education and literacy efforts. As such, we thought it would be helpful to share resources that assist parents and educators with early education and literacy initiatives. This is the second article in a series of posts we will do on some of our favorites! About Reading Rockets Reading Rockets brings research-based strategies to teachers, parents, administrators, librarians, childcare providers, and anyone else involved in helping a young child become a strong, confident reader. Their goal is to "bring the reading research to life — to spread the word about reading instruction and to present 'what works' in a way that parents and educators can understand and use." Reading Rockets provides hundreds of articles on teaching reading, classroom strategies, in-classroom video, parent tips in 11 languages, video interviews with top children’s book authors, a daily news service, and much more. Free Reading Guides Parents and Educators can access reading guides that are ready to download, print and share, including parent tip sheets in multiple languages and companion guides to their popular PBS series! Literacy and the Sciences There is a strong correlation between the skills that are needed to grow strong readers and writers and the core skills used in science and math. Predicting, understanding cause and effect, understanding sequence, acquiring a rich vocabulary, building background knowledge, and developing the ability to read and write informational text are some of the skills Reading Rockets addresses in the Literacy in the Sciences series. Reading Rockets provides free tip sheets all about literacy in the sciences are written just for parents, available in both English and Spanish. Each tip sheet includes simple activities you can do with your child to build literacy and beginning science skills. Each tip sheet also includes a set of recommended picture books to extend the learning. These tips sheets include: Outdoor Explorations Steps of the Scientific Process STEM Tools at Home Making Predictions Taking Measurements Recording Observations: Journals and Field Notes Recording Observations: Capturing and Sharing Images and many more! Science and Math Books for Children Reading Rockets also has an extensive list of recommended science and math reading books for kids, including: An Anniversary Blast Count It Out Count, Think, and Play with Math How Things Work Numbers, Counting, Measuring and More: Books About Math Take Flight! Science Naturally's Science and Math Books for Kids Bilingual Science and Math Book Set/ Conjunto de libros bilingües is filled with entertaining, literature-based brainteasers that take just one minute to read! These books help kids see science, math, and new languages as approachable and learnable! Put on your Super Sleuthing cap and try solving these engaging and educational challenges! The I Love A Mystery Book Set blurs the line between entertainment and education. Make math and science fun with these literature-based books. Each mystery takes just one minute to read and features real-world scenarios. The brain teasers challenge kids to use critical thinking skills. Perfect for a long car trip or quick errands.

It's Earth Sciences Week! It can be difficult to think about how to teach science to young children, but science is based on curiosity, and when children aim to learn more about the world around them, it's science that holds the clues to a better understanding. Introducing kids to science at a young age will shape their development, teach them to ask questions, make predictions, and experiment with the world around them. These are critical science skills that help our little ones become better learners. Science doesn’t only have to be taught in the classroom, there are many learning opportunities parents can take advantage of to challenge their child's interest. What children learn while they’re young has a significant impact on their interests later in life. Making science fun can be pretty simple, as science is all around us in our everyday lives. Explore, Explore, Explore! Encourage your child to question their surroundings. The earth we live in is jam-packed with science, all you have to do is open your front door! Explore the outdoors and let them interact with their environment. By providing plenty of opportunities for your child to explore the world, you will increase their curiosity and soon everything they come across will become an important science investigation! Children are already hands-on learners, so they will love discovering new things about their world through exploring. Your own backyard is a great place to start! Think like a Scientist Children love exploring things that are new and exciting to them. When they are exploring the world, encourage questions about their findings. Let them design investigations and interpret the information they gathered. Engage them in conversation about their investigation, and give them the chance to communicate and defend their findings. Don’t always answer their questions - let their curious little minds think like a scientist and see if they can come up with an answer. It's not about being correct or incorrect, it's about sparking interest, curiosity, and investigation! Value Questions Our little ones’ wonder is limitless! They love asking questions, and that lets us know that they are thinking about how the world works. Even if you don't have all the answers, you can respond in ways that encourage their scientific thinking. Enjoy discussing the questions your child asks, and encourage them to share their perspective and observations. You don’t always have to try to answer all your child’s questions, but rather respond with your own questions like: “What do you think?” or “I don’t know, but we can find out together!” These can stimulate more thoughts and additional questions from your child. Create Experiments Who doesn’t love hearing “Whoa!” and “Wow!” from their children while they observe something scientifically amazing? You can help spark curiosity by conducting some at-home experiments with everyday objects you have in your home. Ask questions like, “What will sink and what will float?” or “What will happen when I mix soap and water together?” These questions to spark your child’s interest and gets them wondering! You and your little one can create some amazing science experiments that will make you both say "Whoa!" and "Wow"! The 'Beginnings' Collection Books play an important role in a child's life. Time spent with your child snuggled on your lap, reading a book together, is a part of most families days. This is an important way to lay the groundwork for later literacy. If you choose the right books, this will also set the stage for scientific curiosity. It's never to early to start introducing young children to reading and science! Exposure to animals and their environments—more and more frequently, through the pages of a book—is often at the root of a child’s interest in science. Our 'Beginnings' Collection is a fantastic resource for parents to begin conversations about the animal world and how it relates to human nurturing and development. Young Jane Goodall loved to observe the wildlife near her home, a passion that inspired her groundbreaking chimpanzee research. Charles Turner, pioneering entomologist, spent hours reading about ants and other insects in the pages of his father’s books. Rachel Carson began writing stories about squirrels when she was eight. Spark curiosity in a child and watch them develop a lifelong enthusiasm for learning!

Watercolor illustrations of animal families promote science education, attachment, and healthy attitudes toward breastfeeding in new children’s book. Washington, D.C., October 1, 2018: Platypus Media announces the release of a stunning new children’s book, Babies Nurse, by Phoenix author and elementary school librarian, Phoebe Fox. The author’s father-in-law, former NBA star Jim Fox, created the vibrant watercolor illustrations to capture a child’s attention and introduce the most natural and loving of activities—mothers nursing their young. Rhythmic text and engaging facts provide parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare professionals with new ways of sharing the importance of breastfeeding. The back matter extends learning with pages of fascinating animal facts and key words. This book serves as a springboard to introduce natural science concepts such as habitats, biology, survival instincts, and classification. “What a gentle book” writes Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block. “It nurtures a child’s empathy for others and opens their eyes to the world of nature. Very sweet and educational.” The accompanying Teacher’s Guide extends the book’s effectiveness. Written by Paola Segnini, ESL teacher and La Leche League leader, the Guide includes additional content, vocabulary, hands-on activities, and games to develop cognitive skills, teach science concepts, discuss breastfeeding, and improve literacy. It is available for free download at PlatypusMedia.com. Jack Newman, M.D., author of The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, writes, “With a poem for each mammal (including the human baby), Babies Nurse appeals to a child's love of rhythm and rhyme. Young children learn through imitation, and seeing all of these mother animals nursing their babies helps kids understand how normal breastfeeding is.” Kristin Struble, M.D., FAAP, pediatrician and mother, explains how the book builds positive images around breastfeeding, saying, “This beautiful children’s book magnificently demonstrates the natural and instinctual connection between a mother and her young. Breastfeeding is the first step in cultivating a healthy mind, gut, and spirit for both mommy and her little ones.” Babies Nurse will be released simultaneously in hardback, paperback, and eBook. The bilingual (English/Spanish) edition, Babies Nurse / Así se alimentan los bebés, was released in June 2018 to much acclaim. It has already won a Tillywig “Parents’ Favorite Products” award and was recommended by Foreword Magazine and Kirkus Reviews. Babies Nurse can be purchased in a two-book set with another new release, Cuddled and Carried. Together, these books about care and bonding create a foundation for healthy growth, introduce science topics, and promote breastfeeding and attachment. Both titles are part of Platypus Media’s new Beginnings collection. Phoebe Fox wrote this book to show children the warmth and beauty of nursing. To ensure this book directly supports breastfeeding promotion, she arranged for a percentage of the profits to be donated to La Leche League, International. This is her third book. Fox lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and their three sons. She can be reached at PFox@PlatypusMedia.com. Jim Fox makes his artistic debut with Babies Nurse. He is retired from the NBA, where he played most recently for the Phoenix Suns, and now enjoys creating watercolor art. Father-in-law to Phoebe, and grandfather of five, Jim lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Contact Jim at JFox@PlatypusMedia.com. Platypus Media is an independent press that creates products with a broad appeal to diverse families who believe in the importance of close family relationships for the full and healthy development of children. The publisher is committed to the promotion and protection of breastfeeding, and donates a percentage of profits to groups that work in this field. Platypus Media products are available for direct purchase. They are distributed to the trade by National Book Network. Library bound editions are available from Children’s Plus. Review copies available upon request. Sample pages, cover scans, and Teacher’s Guide available at PlatypusMedia.com. Babies Nurse Platypus Media • October 2018 Written by Phoebe Fox • Illustrated by Jim Fox English • Ages 4-7 • 8.5” x 11” • 32 pages Hardback ($14.95) ISBN 13: 978-1-930775-61-9 Paperback ($9.95) ISBN 13: 978-1-930775-71-8 eBook ($8.99) ISBN 13: 978-1-930775-75-6 Bilingual (English/Spanish) Edition: Babies Nurse / Así se alimentan los bebés Ages 4-7 • 8.5” x 11” • 32 pages Hardback ($14.95) ISBN 13: 978-1-930775-73-2 Paperback ($9.95) ISBN 13: 978-1-930775-72-5 eBook ($8.99) ISBN 13: 978-1-930775-74-9 Nurtured and Nuzzled paperback book set ($17.95) Includes Babies Nurse and Cuddled and Carried English ISBN 13: 978-1-930775-74-9 Bilingual ISBN 13: 978-1-930775-75-6 Platypus Media Resources for Families, Teachers, and Parenting Professionals 725 8th Street, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 Info@PlatypusMedia.com / www.PlatypusMedia.com Toll-Free: 1-877-752-8977 Office: 202-546-1674 / Fax: 202-558-2132 Facebook.com/PlatypusMedia Twitter.com/PlatypusMedia

We at Platypus Media want to do what we can to support early childhood education and literacy efforts. As such, we thought it would be helpful to share resources that assist parents and educators with early education and literacy initiatives. This is the first in a series of posts we will do on some of our favorites! Share My Lesson For more than 100 years, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has united and supported educators in their efforts to educate and care for American schoolchildren. While you likely know about AFT, you may not be familiar with one of their most valuable resources: Share My Lesson. Share My Lesson is the premier digital platform where educators can collaborate and share standards-aligned learning resources such as lesson plans, classroom strategies and professional development webinars—at no cost. Children demonstrate a clear readiness to engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning early in life. And, just as with language and literacy, STEM education should start early in order to maximize its benefits and effectiveness. Share My Lesson is a destination for educators who dedicate their time and professional expertise to provide the best education for students everywhere. Share My Lesson members contribute content, share ideas, get educated on the topics that matter, online, 24/7. On Share My Lesson parents and educators can search more than 420,000 FREE lesson plans and activities, including curated collections! Here is what people are saying about Share My Lesson: "[Uploading lessons] is a great, cathartic and productive process, and it has helped me see where I used to be as a teacher and where I am now." ~ Teacher "I would love my son's teacher to use this--that's how good it is!" ~ Parent Platypus Media is pleased to be a a Partner of Share My Lesson, and offer resources through their site, including: Baby Bat Cups: Grades 3-7 Mother Mexican free-tailed bats leave their babies (pups) in a cave with three million others at night while the mothers hunt. When they return to the cave at dawn, they're faced with the task of identifying their own baby in the pitch black, cold, and crowded nursery. How does mom find her pup? By their unique combination of smell and sound! This activity helps students understand how much the senses we use are the ones necessary for survival in our particular environments. This is a companion activity for If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and their Mothers. This title is available at a discounted price for Title 1 schools on the First Book Marketplace. Adaptable Necks: Grades 1-4 All mammals (with two exceptions) have backbones with 7 neck vertebrae. However, necks serve different functions in giraffes vs. humans, mice vs. whales, etc. This book explores how 14 different mammal babies navigate the path from helpless infants to self-sufficient adults, and comes with a free downloadable Teacher’s Guide filled with activities just like this one. This activity explores the similarities and differences in the structure and function of different mammals' vertebrae and helps students understand how organisms' bodies are adapted to their particular environments and lifestyles. This is a companion activity for If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and their Mothers. The title is available at a discounted price for Title 1 schools on the First Book Marketplace.

Breastfeeding is a beautiful part of nature, and is very healthy for you and your baby. In addition to containing nutrients and vitamins, breastmilk also includes disease fighting substances, protection from illness, and nurtures a strong bond between mother and child. Every child should be aware of what breastfeeding is and that it is a wonderful bond between mommy and baby. There are many ways to explain breastfeeding to your child, but by familiarizing kids with the benefits of breastfeeding, they’ll grow up to see it for what it is: a completely normal and natural aspect of childcare. Babies Nurse and Cuddled and Carried are a beautiful way to talk about breastfeeding, nurturing, and family bonding with your child! Giveaway - Win a Free Copy of All Three! Enter today to win a free copy of Cuddled and Carried and Babies Nurse! Simply follow the link below and fill out the form with your name and email! We will enter your name in a random drawing, and the winner will be announced on October 15th, so please submit your entry no later than midnight on October 14, 2018. To enter, please click here! Babies Nurse This collaboration between a children’s librarian and an NBA- player-turned-watercolor-artist introduces the most natural and loving act—mothers nursing their young. Winner of a Parents’ Favorite Products Award, the book’s luminous illustrations and lyrical text give children a glimpse into the worlds of 13 different mammal babies. Compelling childhood facts also broaden the reader’s knowledge about each animals. “What a gentle book! It nurtures a child’s empathy for others and opens their eyes to the world of nature. Very sweet and educational.” —Dr. Harvey Karp, FAAP, author, The Happiest Baby on the Block The book’s overarching theme of breastfeeding inspires conversations about parenting, biology, habitats, survival, and more, making this book an engaging choice for young children as well as elementary school readers. Elementary school librarian, children’s book author, and mother of three, Phoebe Fox wrote Babies Nurse to show children that all mammals provide milk for their babies. Fox sought to emphasize the warmth and beauty of nursing while demonstrating that all mammals share certain approaches to feeding, protecting, and teaching their young. When it came time to find an illustrator for the book, Phoebe asked her father-in-law, Jim Fox if he would accept the task. Retired from the NBA where he played for the Phoenix Suns, Jim was himself a recipient of plenty of his own mother’s milk and says the benefits are obvious: he is 6’ 10”, healthy, and has produced wonderful kids and grandkids. Cuddled and Carried This award-winning book celebrates the bond between parent and child with gentle text and gorgeous illustrations of animal babies that will delight and educate children. With warm paintings of animal mothers tending to their cubs, pups, calves, and chicks, Cuddled and Carried introduces the reader to a variety of animals and their behavior. Written by Dia L. Michels and illustrated by Mike Speiser, the simple text, supplemental back matter, and stunning illustrations will help parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers creatively describe how babies are cared for. The book introduces a range of early science concepts including habitats, family systems, and survival instincts. The book has already won a Purple Dragonfly Award and a Top Choice Award from Baby Maternity Magazine. The accompanying Teacher’s Guide is also an excellent resource for continuing the discussion, available for free download at PlatypusMedia.com. It includes additional content and hands-on activities to develop cognitive skills, introduce early science concepts, and improve literacy. “This book shows that animal families are not so different from human ones,” explains Michels, who is also the author of If My Mom Were A Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers. “I want children to think about how each species matures, survives, and what their communities look like—whether pride, flock, or family. Showing children this type of attachment in the natural world fosters empathy, kindness, and compassion.” English Nurtured and Nuzzled Book Set Both Cuddled and Carried and Babies Nurse also now come in a two-book set! (The giveaway winner will receive a copy of both books). These two early childhood books from our Beginnings collection are filled with captivating illustrations of animal mothers caring for their babies. These books demonstrate a wide range of habitats and healthy relationships in the natural world. The elegant text and educational back matter will help parents, librarians, educators, and healthcare providers adopt new ways of introducing children to attachment, breastfeeding, and early science concepts. Both books model the warm, nurturing bond between parent and child, while encouraging curiosity about childhood, nature, and families. "These gentle books beg to be read aloud with a little one in your lap, but they offer more than mere bedtime stories. Designed to encourage a lifelong passion for learning, they also include supplemental information about the animals pictured as well as suggestions for talking with children about the natural world." —Karen Lyon, The Literary Hill Set includes Cuddled and Carried and Babies Nurse. Click on titles for more information about each book. ​ Free, downloadable Teachers’ Guides are available to further explore the content in each book.