Did you know that the biggest full moon of the year could be seen this past weekend? On Saturday, May 5th, the moon was extra big and extra bright. A “supermoon” happens due to a fluke of orbital mechanics that bring it closer to the earth. Between the supermoon and the upcoming solar eclipse (!!) we’re on a bit of a space kick. Here are five books to read if you are too:
Your kid’s personal guide to being an astronaut will school them on eating in space, being a team player aboard ship, and training for weightlessness on the vomit comet. There are lots of fun facts (a space suit has 12 layers, and weighs 280 pounds!) and other resources. Also: the author’s site tells you how to make a rocket. Read more...
We asked Melissa Bourdon-King, the manager of Mabel’s Fables Children’s Bookstore to share her top picks for St. Patrick’s day reads. Don your finest green threads, whip up a batch of leprechaun milkshakes and get into these festive books!
Thy fly-eating old lady is back, but this time she’s on a mission to down all the items to make up a perfect rainbow behind which to hide a pot o’ gold.
Thought hearts, stars, horseshoes, clovers and blue moons were just the Lucky Charm leprechaun’s fanciful pickings? Nope – they all have a pretty cool history behind them. This book delves into the imagery of the holiday, illuminating the history of the most recognizable icons, including St. Patrick himself. Read more...
We asked the Toronto Public Library to share their favourite books about charity for parents and kids. A couple of these titles may not make for ideal bedtime-story reading, but they contain ideas you can totally impart on your kids. And what better time to do it than the holiday season, when helping others just makes you feel that extra bit warm and fuzzy?
The author spent a month in 12 different charities for a year, volunteering to build homes after Katrina and working at a women’s radio station in West Africa, and this book is about his observations and what he learned.
Andrew Parker of the Toronto Underground Cinema’s Bunchbrary
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The snow is just starting to fall. Christmas cookies are being baked for office parties and family get-togethers. Poinsettias are starting to show up in stores. Stores. Wait. Oh, no. I haven’t started shopping yet!
Don’t panic just yet. Save that panicking for the last Saturday before Christmas, but for now here are 10 movies to help get you and your family motivated to get out there and brave the crowds. These films offer key perspective and just might put your family in the right frame of mind to deal with something completely illogical: the Christmas shopping experience. Read more...
