Bridging the gap between global environmental issues and understanding it in our own lives.

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educateempower

👩🏽😎Vanessa Ryan-Rendall.
📚📚Children’s Author.
📚🌏Book reviews. 👩‍💼Teachers notes.
🌏🌏Hopeful eco-warrior

um always said, ‘Feathers help you capture good

um always said, ‘Feathers help you capture good dreams and keep the bad ones away.’ If I can catch a feather; I’ll have dreams of her.

With end pages adorned with the feathers of different Australian birds, feathers by Karen Hendriks shares not only a joy of nature but the joy we can find when we have lost a loved one.

The story starts with a little boy and his father outside chasing a floating feather which the boy is determined to catch. After a few misses and many floating just out of reach he is able to grab one to take home knowing that with this feather he will be a little closer to his mother.

The boy in this story has lost his mum and misses her every day, always looking for ways to remember her. The feathers provide that link to her and along with his father, they treasure the memories they have and hold onto the feather knowing that she will always be there in their dreams.

This book is the perfect way to talk to young children about love and loss. It shows us that it is ok to remember our loved ones, to hold onto memories and treasure these. It also shows that although that person may not be there, the day can always be bright and wonder can always be found.

Through the gentle pastel colours of Kim Fleming’s illustrations, the joy of nature along with the feelings this young boy is going through are easier for the young reader to see and feel.

This is a book to share with children who have lost parents or loved ones but also for those who haven’t so that they can see how these children may feel about small objects that arouse memories or how they feel at night time when there is time to remember loved ones.

The lovely links to Australian birds is also a nice way to lead into the conversation about death and loss and to lead out of it on a happy note.

#feathers #booksontour #karenhendriks #kimfleming #love #loss #mum #mother #children #parenting #teachersofinstagram #bookstagram #aussieteachers

Supermarkets needs to be made more accountable for

Supermarkets needs to be made more accountable for their plastic waste and toy giveaways.

If they don’t change, people who shop their may never too.

Sign my petition please and share it far and wide!

Link here and in bio

https://www.aph.gov.au/petition_list?id=EN1818

#waronwasteau #plastic #parenting #woolworths #coles #waronwasteaustralia @scottmorrisonmp @colessupermarkets @woolworths_au

GIVEAWAY TIME! I’m lucky enough to be working

GIVEAWAY TIME!

I’m lucky enough to be working with puffin books to offer my readers a great giveaway.

“Just because we are little doesn’t mean we can’t learn big skills”
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚

The prize is a fabulous stack of six Puffin little Books. These books are great for younger readers who are keen to learn more about the world around them in language that they will understand and engage in.

Teachers will love them to engage students in research skills as well as new science knowledge.

The titles include
📚Robotics
📚📚The Ocean
📚📚📚Composting
📚📚📚Snacks
📚📚The Solar System
📚The ANZACs

All you need to do is
📚like this post
📚tag someone who would also like to win this prize
📚follow me
📚and also follow @puffinbooksaus

📚Goodluck📚

GIVEAWAY closes 5pm Monday 5th October. Winner chosen at random.

#bookgiveaway #bookstagram #aussieteachertribe #teachersofinstagram #stem #science #puffinlittle #kidsbookreviews

Holiday sunsets #sunset #holiday #parenting #bea

Holiday sunsets

#sunset #holiday #parenting #beach

Taken last week on a warm afternoon bushwalk Warm

Taken last week on a warm afternoon bushwalk

Warm day dreaming after this morn!!

#bushwalk #river #sydney #afternoon #weekend #holidays #parenting #sunset

Dear @scottmorrisonmp #children #parenting #clim

Dear @scottmorrisonmp

#children #parenting #climatechange #climatechangeisreal #climateactionnow #solar #renewables #waronwasteau #plastic #waronwaste #ap4ca

Thank you @catewhittle for this beautiful illustra

Thank you @catewhittle for this beautiful illustration

Wear yellow today and spread the word - renewables will lead our recovery not more gas and coal.

Check out the great petition being led by @ap4ca and many others around asking the government for support to lead Australia into a better future for our children and the state of the planet.

So today :

🌏Write a letter
🌏Have a conversation
🌏Swap your energy over to companies like @diamondenergyaus or @powershopaus

🌏🌏🌏Make a difference 🌏🌏🌏
#sustainability #renewableenergy #ap4ca #solar #solarpower #parenting #australia @scottmorrisonmp @gladysb @trentzimmermanmp #climatechange #climateaction #climateactionnow #fundourfuturenotgas #schoolstrike4climate

Where have all the brave bears gone? And the big f

Where have all the brave bears gone? And the big fat slippery fishes? And all the lost and lovely creatures? Where are they? Where have they all gone?

Paul McDermott has created a beautiful story about memories, journeys and friendships. We meet Ghost Bear, a young polar bear cub who stands alone with the shadow of this mother in the background. He heads off on a long journey through the ice until he lands on an ice floe to somewhere.

He meets other animals along the way and notices all the beauty in the world. As he floats up to the stars, possibly dying himself, he learns that we are all made of stardust and our memories live on.

Older students will enjoy thinking about this book and what it means to them. Is it the concept that we are all made of the same thing, that we came from stardust? Is it a look at the concept of endangered and disappearing animals? And can it also be about love, loss and friendship?

This book is one to share, to discuss and to open up. The artwork Paul McDermott has created alongside this story is stunning. The space used around the characters along with the colours highlight many different aspects of the story and help readers to find their own meaning within the text.

I think everyone can find different meaning within this picture book and even younger readers will understand the concept of losing loved ones but everyone will enjoy the paintings and the creativity of Paul McDermott, the emotion and the peace. A perfect book to share.

#ghostbear #bookstagram #kidsbookreviews #scholasticbooks #paulmcdermott #life #changes #love #friendships #philosophy

But….there are footsteps to follow. And words th

But….there are footsteps to follow. And words that are wise. A map that will guide us when troubles arise.

Rain before Rainbows explores the concept of hope and seeing the positive side of life when things get tough. Written in rhyme, each page is a short sentence that shows the reader that although there are many mountains to climb, we can hold onto dreams and although there may be dragons that creep our way, we can still see the goodness that surrounds us.

Readers of all ages will see the young girl trying her best through snow storms and dark forests yet at the same time relying on her friend for company and safety. The two characters work together to embark on their life adventure, to experience new things and trust in those who can teach them.

This is such a beautiful book in so many ways. The illustrations ooze not only emotion but the colours show the beauty of the world with the various shades of colour and light. The animals and plants that adorn the page display life and it’s colour without the hustle and bustle of people and city life - something we need to think more about.

Rain before Rainbows finishes with hope that the world can be a wonderful place to live in and that there is awe and wonder in many things.

This book will inspire readers to persist, work with others and of course - get out in nature more often to see all of its rainbows!

#bookstagram #books4sustainability #rainbeforerainbows #rainbows #rain #natureplay #davidlitchfieldillustration #smritihalls #nature #colour

Don’t forget to sign the petition created by @ap

Don’t forget to sign the petition created by @ap4ca to lobby the government to supply solar panels and batteries to all schools in Australia.

Your signature counts and we are aiming for 10000 by next week.

Check out @ap4ca for the link or copy and paste below

https://www.ap4ca.org/?utm_campaign=follow_up_dan_tehan&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ap4ca

#kidlit4climate #solar #australianparentsforclimateaction #australia #australianparents4climateaction #ap4ca #books4sustainability #sustainableliving #renewableenergy #renewables #parenting #aussieteachers #aussieteachertribe #teachersfollowteachers #solarpower #climateactionnow

She pulled the vines aside, ripping at them. Burie

She pulled the vines aside, ripping at them. Buried deep behind the vines, she discovered a large round door knocker, bigger than her hand.

Saving Hollow Woods, Part one of The Door in the Woods series by Wendy Haynes has Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree feel to it yet also the mystery of The Enchanted Woods. It is magical yet so believable and it will engage any young reader who believes in magic.

Getrude and Tristan, young orphans, have been sent to live on a farm due to the effects of war with a kind lady named Aunt Betty. Aunt Betty takes good care of them but like any children of those days they often spend their spare time exploring the world around them.

Behind Aunt Betty's house are some woods which are fun to play in and seem to be fairly normal until the day Getrude notices a small door in a tree. It isn't until she is brave enough to open the door that she discovers a small world named Hollow Woods behind it. In Hollow Woods she meets Elves, trolls, goblins and dwarfs and explores their magical land without a worry.

That is until strange things start to happen and the elves of Hollow Woods enlist Tristan and Getrude to help them save their land.

Readers aged 7-12 will love this book for its magical story along with the relatable characters. They too will want to explore woods for small doors, hoping they can be the hero in a faraway land.

Magic in stories is always wonderful for young readers and Hollow Woods allows children to go simply into a magical world. There are no complex names or plot lines but an easy to follow story for those just starting out in the fantasy genre.

The Door in the Woods is the first book in the Hollow Woods series and I am sure many readers will be waiting to see what happens next!

Teachers can access some great teacher notes as this book is one to be read out loud to inspire imagination, story telling, poetry and many other great themes that can be embedded throughout the curriculum.

#bookstagram #savinghollowwoods #wendyhaynes #books #kidsbookreviews #fantasy #adventure #elves #wartime #fiction

Roland and his best friend, Garg the Barbarian lea

Roland and his best friend, Garg the Barbarian leave the safety of their village and embark on a quest to save Roland’s mum from the White Warlock

Sound fun? It is! This is another great Wimpy Kid story but this time interwoven between the Wimpy Kid and his perspective is the introduction of magical creatures, mythical lands and adventure and a much loved quest!

This never put down story is one from children aged 8 and up - purely because at this age with the different concepts of magic and myth, it helps to have a bit more worldly experience.

The illustrations are fun, adding more humour and storytelling and the bright orange cover is definitely a stand out on the bookshelf.

All children love magic and myths and I really liked how they were used in this story, joining children’s love of The Wimpy Kid and possibly a new concept of myth. This could be a great way to entice reluctant readers into new genres and topics.

This book is also great in that Rowley tells the reader just how much he loves writing and loves books - so perfect for children to see a character that is like them talk like this.

The Diary of a Wimpy kid is a great first reader for independent readers as having the illustrations can help with understanding. The only issue I have with these books is that they are loved so much and the structure of the language used in the books can influence students' own writing. Don’t get me wrong, it is great to see children reading these books but just be aware of how they write their own stories and that they are not always written in first person or with slang style referencing.

#rowleyjefferson #awesome #bookstagram #friendly #penguinbooks #kidsbookreviews #kidsbooks #diaryofawimpykid #adventures #laugh #humour #jeffkinney

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Educate. Empower.

2 hours ago

um always said, ‘Feathers help you capture good dreams and keep the bad ones away.’ If I can catch a feather; I’ll have dreams of her.

With end pages adorned with the feathers of different Australian birds, feathers by Karen Hendriks shares not only a joy of nature but the joy we can find when we have lost a loved one.

The story starts with a little boy and his father outside chasing a floating feather which the boy is determined to catch. After a few misses and many floating just out of reach he is able to grab one to take home knowing that with this feather he will be a little closer to his mother.

The boy in this story has lost his mum and misses her every day, always looking for ways to remember her. The feathers provide that link to her and along with his father, they treasure the memories they have and hold onto the feather knowing that she will always be there in their dreams.

This book is the perfect way to talk to young children about love and loss. It shows us that it is ok to remember our loved ones, to hold onto memories and treasure these. It also shows that although that person may not be there, the day can always be bright and wonder can always be found.

Through the gentle pastel colours of Kim Fleming’s illustrations, the joy of nature along with the feelings this young boy is going through are easier for the young reader to see and feel.

This is a book to share with children who have lost parents or loved ones but also for those who haven’t so that they can see how these children may feel about small objects that arouse memories or how they feel at night time when there is time to remember loved ones.

The lovely links to Australian birds is also a nice way to lead into the conversation about death and loss and to lead out of it on a happy note.

#feathers #booksontour #karenhendriks #kimfleming #love #loss #mum #mother #children #parenting #teachersofinstagram #bookstagram #aussieteachers ... See MoreSee Less

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Educate. Empower.

4 hours ago

Mum always said, ‘Feathers help you capture good dreams and keep the bad ones away.’ If I can catch a feather; I’ll have dreams of her. With end pages adorned with the feathers of different Australian birds, feathers by Karen Hendriks shares not only a joy of nature but the joy we can find when we have lost a loved one. [ 322 more words ]

educateempower.blog/2020/09/30/feathers-by-karen-hendriks-and-illustrated-by-kim-fleming/ ... See MoreSee Less

Feathers by Karen Hendriks and illustrated by Kim Fleming

educateempower.blog

Mum always said, ‘Feathers help you capture good dreams and keep the bad ones away.’ If I can catch a feather; I’ll have dreams of her. With end pages adorned with the feathers of different Aust...

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I was impressed with Vanessa’s professionalism in preparing the teacher notes for my picture book, In the Shadow of an Elephant. Her depth of knowledge on the multitude of topics covered was just incredible! She has compiled a 15-page document that will allow Educators and students an opportunity to explore conversations and discover different layers within the book.

Georgie Donaghey

I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of Vanessa’s teacher notes for My Daddy is Different available from website. From the start, Vanessa was quick to respond to emails, efficient and professional and was willing to make changes when asked. She developed a comprehensive 15 page resource, as well as extra activity pages that extended the important themes of the story. The activities were linked to the Australian Curriculum and cater for Kindy through to Year Four.I wholeheartedly recommend Vanessa because her knowledge and expertise means that I now have a valuable teaching resource to provide alongside my book.

Vanessa’s expertise and attention to detail when compiling Teachers’ Notes is incredible. Her work putting together notes for my poetry collection, SeaSpray17: Ocean Photography & Haiku Poetry was comprehensive, insightful and practical.

Vanessa’s Teachers’ Notes are written in a way that makes them equally accessible for classroom use, learning from home, library programming and use by the general public.

I highly recommend Vanessa’s professionalism and quality of work, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with her again!

Dannika Patterson www.dannikapatterson.com

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