Storytime: Over Under

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Today we read Over Under

This is a wonderful book that introduces direction words to children (i.e. over, under, inside, outside, etc.) and some opposite words as well. The pictures are very basic and painted with bold colours. The text is sparse and does not interfere with the illustrations, allowing the child to focus primarily on the concept presented on each page.

To go along with this book, the cards from this post were used.

All cards not pictured

Your child(ren) may also enjoy doing the following activities with this book insha'Allaah:

1). Make a bridge using large cardboard boxes and encourage children to sit under the bridge.

2). Using a teddy bear, hold it over the bridge.

3). Using a shoe box or other similar sized box, make a masjid. Make the front and back of the masjid distinctly different. Show children the front of the masjid and the back of the masjid. Invite them to identify front and back for themselves.

4). Get a large (safe) object such as a box, weaved vase, coffee can, etc. and using a bean bag, place the bean bag inside of the box or can and outside of the box or can.

5). Encourage the children to raise their hands up in the air and then lower them down to the earth.

What other activities might you do with this book insha'Allaah?

Storytime: Karim and Mother in the Kitchen (Arabic)

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Today we read كريم و ماما في المطبخ

This is a nice book about a boy, Karim, and his mother, making cookies in preparation for friends who are on the way. The story shows the reader, in appropriately few steps, how to make sugar cookies. The illustrations are nice but there are a few aspects of the story you may wish to change as you read. For instance, the word "mama" was replaced by the word "Ummuhu" (his mother) and "Uh-oh!" was replaced with "Subhana'Allaah!". In another part of the book, you will need to point out that we do not eat with our left hands. Aside from that, the story is a nice read alhamdulillaah. The book also has taskeel on the words so that may be helpful for Arabic Language Learners insha'Allah.

Thus far, I have not been able to locate a place to buy this book by Huda Nashif on the internet but your local library may have it insha'Allaah. If so, your child(ren) may enjoy listening to this story. They may also enjoy the recipe at the end of the book that tells them how they can make their own batch of sugar cookies insha'Allaah (with the help of Father or Mother of course *smile*).

Storytime: Castles, Caves and Honeycombs

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Today we read Castles, Caves, and Honeycombs

Since Rub-a-Dub-Sub, Starry Safari, and Babies on the Go were enjoyed so much, I took a look at other books written by Linda Ashman. While all where not Islamically appropriate, I did find another book, Castles, Caves, and Honeycombs that has the same wonderful and delightful way of drawing the listener into the story, and like the other aforementioned books, Castles, Caves and Honeycombs is simply fun for children to listen to. The easy rhyme captures the ear while the illustrations help children make connections between the words and their meanings.

In this book, children learn that a home comes in many different shapes and sizes for different creatures. They also see that although the size, shape, colour and texture of the homes may be different, a commonality between them is their purpose: they provide a safe place to sleep, snuggle up together, play and simply be a family (among other things).

I think that this book may be our Together We Read choice for the month of February insha'Allaah but as of yet....undecided.

Have a peek inside of the book insha'Allaah: