Meet our “Love Books” Summer Book Exchange Participants for 2013!

Do you like books?  Are you looking for ways to extend them with your child at home this summer?  

We are so thrilled to bring you 36 Bloggers who are sharing their favorite Pictures Books and Activities. Right now they are sending packages all over the world as participants in the “Love Books” Summer Book Exchange. All summer long they will inspire us with their creative ideas for things that we can do to encourage our children to fall in love with books. We’d love for you to join us as we share our ideas! We’ll be sharing tips all month long of how to participate in your own home and community too!

We’ve gone Global! Here are all of our participants from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Switzerland! We encourage you to check out their sites and follow them as they bring you amazing ideas for your kids! There will be no summer boredom with these top Moms with you!

2013 “Love Books” Summer Book Exchange Participants

First of all a  huge thank you to Amanda who created this idea in the Spring of 2012

Amanda author at The Educators’ Spin On It

Book Package Received: Lion Themed Activities Favorite Book Related Post: Spring Love Books Exchange

Hi, I am Amanda at the Educators’ Spin On it.  My family is an active / book-loving family and we love all sorts of adventures. Just last week we were caving with friends, bowling, swimming, and more. My oldest will be attending 2nd grade at our local school, but I “after school” with lots of science, art, history, geography and more.

Cassie author of 3 Dinosaurs

Rain Forest Themed ActivitiesFavorite Book Related Activity: Top 10 Book-Related Activities

Cassie is a mom of three stomping, romping, and roaring girls.

She blogs about fun art and craft activities and printables she makes. She includes the odd review of products every now and then.

Krissy Author of B-Inspired Mama

Book Package Received: VanGogh Inspired Museum Art Projects
Favorite Book Related Activity: King Jake and the Dragon Castle Craft

I’m Krissy. After earning my Master’s Degree and teaching art for a few years, I became a full time mama. Now I’m a work at home mama authoring B-Inspired Mama to share simple ideas for kids crafts, learning fun, family recipes, and creative parenting.

Theresa author of Capri +3

Book Package Received: Goodnight Themed Activities
Favorite Activity: Painting in a Bag

Hi! I’m Theresa, Mama to four 2.5 year old toddlers (three boys and a girl). Raising four little ones who are all the same age is quite an adventure. We feel very fortunate to go from the two of us to a family of six and enjoy the abundance of sharing our lives with our four leaf clover (the Sugar Snaps).

Marnie author of Carrots are Orange

Favorite Activity: Leaf Pounding

I write Carrots Are Orange, a blog for parents and educators focused on Montessori inspired activities and ideas in the home and classroom. Although I spent ten years in the financial world and have a graduate degree in business, I am pursuing Montessori certification with the intention of homeschooling my two young sons full time. I live in Colorado with my two sons and husband, Tim.

Megan Author of Coffee Cups and Crayons

Book Package Received: Kindess Themed Activities

Favorite Book Related Activities Spoon Feelings

Megan is the creator of Coffee Cups and Crayons, a blog that shares fun kids activities and useful ideas for modern parents. She believes that intentional acts of kindness (and really good coffee) can change the world.

Crystal author of Crystal & Co

Favorite Book Related Activity: Best Children’s Books

We are a large family of all boys (except for the mama). We live in Texas and homeschool.

My boys love getting dirty and anything that involves a project with glue and scissors. They are all very creative.

Tara author of Feels Like Home

Book Package Received: Rainbow Fish Themed ActivitiesFavorite Book Related Activity: 100 Picture Books to Read Before You Grow Up

After teaching high school astronomy for 10 years, Tara decided to teach her own children and blog professionally. On her site, Feels Like Home, you’ll find everything from kids’ activities to recipes to healthy living. She works full time from home and homeschools her 6-year-old while her 2-year-old sister runs amok.

Elizabeth author of Get Busy Living

Book Package Received: Yoga for Kids Themed Activities.

Favorite Book Related Activity: Pipe Cleaners Gone Wild

Last year I was a first-time teacher to kinders, and now am a stay-at-home mom. I just got into the blogging world and am trying to find fun, educational activities for my 2 year old son.

Jodie author of Growing Book by Book

Book Package Received: Shout Themed Activities
Favorite Book Related Activity: 5 Tips for a Successful Trip to the Library with a Toddler

Jodie- I’m a mom, blogger and educator.  I have over 17 years experience in early childhood and elementary education. I now stay home with my two boys and blog at Growing Book by Book

Michelle author of Having Fun at Chelle’s House

Book Package Received: Alaska Themed Activities
Favorite Book Related Activity: Big Fun with the Lorax

I’m a Mom who loves to have fun with her littles.

Mandy author of I can do that! So can you

Package received Mouse Paint Activities
Favorite Book Related Activity: Olympic Tot School

My name is Mandy. I am a former teacher who now stays home with my two girls.

Becky author of Kid World Citizen

Favorite Book Related Activity: Cinderella Story Around the World

Becky Morales is a mom to 4 bilingual, multicultural, active kids ages 4-7; she and her husband are doing their best to raise them as compassionate world citizens, and lifelong learners.

She founded Kid World Citizen where parents and teachers can find global activities to do at home that help enrich little minds.

Jacquie author of Edventures with Kids

Book Package Received: Owl Themed Activities.
Favorite Book Related Activity: Why Every Home Needs a Map

Jacquie is an educator, nature lover and mom to two curious kids.  She is passionate about encouraging families to explore new places together and enhancing creativity in children. Jacquie creates enrichment activities and writes about children’s literature, family travel and fun ways to learn at Edventures with Kids.

Giselle Shardlow author of Kids Yoga Stories

Book Package Received: Alphabugs Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Farm Kids Yoga

Giselle Shardlow is the author of Kids Yoga Stories. Her yoga-inspired children’s books get children moving, learning, and having fun. Giselle draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, yogi, and mom to write the stories found at www.kidsyogastories.com

Ashley River author of Me &; Marie Learning

Book Package Received: Strawberry Themed Activities
Favorite Book Related Activity: Matching Games with Books

Ashley Rives is the owner of Me & Marie Learning, a blog all about early learning.

She has taken some time off teaching in a traditional setting to be at home with her young children. Ashley is now an in-home childcare provider, teaching her own and other children in her preschool room. Ashley has a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education with a Master’s Degree in Reading and Literacy.

Laura author of Play Dr Mom

Book Package Received: Spider Themed Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Alphabet Adventure

Laura (PlayDrMom) …Mother of 2 who’s also a psychologist specializing in children and Play Therapy.

Samantha author of Stir the Wonder

Book Package Received: Garbage Themed Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Red Leaf Yellow Leaf Sensory Bin

I’m Samantha, 28yo, SAHM, currently living in RI. We love playing outside & exploring nature in new places. I also enjoy crafting and sewing when I get the chance. We are moving this summer (hopefully) so I am looking forward to a fun package we get to unpack, instead of packing all our fun up!

Karen Author of Teach Beside Me

Book Package Received: Shark Themed Activities
Favorite Book Related Activity: The Sword in the Stone

My name is Karyn. I blog atTeach Beside Me. I have three kids boy (8), girl (6) boy (2).

We homeschool and live in Utah. We love all things book related! We live on a mountain.

Kara Fleck author of Dynamo Rhino

Book Package Received: Diego Rivera Themed Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Backyard Chemistry

Kara, I’m the editor of SimpleKids.net and the mama behind the Dynamo Rhino homeschool blog. I live in central Indiana with my husband and our four children.

Carolyn author of The Pleasantest Thing

Book Package Received: Dinosaur Themed Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Duck! Rabbit! Puppets

I’m Carolyn, the mom to 2 playful boys. I write at The Pleasantest Thing, focusing on play, laughter, and learning.

Laura Eldredge author at The Seeds Network

Book Package Received: The Year of Ms. Agnes Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Counting and Literacy with Pete the Cat

Laura Eldredge blogs for The SEEDS Network. Co-founder of The SEEDS Network, Early Childhood Educator, Blogger and mom of 3. I love children’s books and combining activities to go with them! We have lots of early literacy activities and information on our website and blog, and enjoy supporting early educators and parents in this way.

Dusty author of To the Moon and Back

Summer Book Exchange: German Themed Books 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Skippy Jon Jones

My name is Dusty and I am a SAH homeschooling mom to 3 children. We are expecting our fourth child at the end of the summer! We live in the foothills of the NC mountains and love to spend time outdoors. We are avid readers and picture book connoisseurs.

Kristina Buskirk author of Toddler Approved

Favorite Book Related Activity: David Goes to School

Kristina is a mom of four and a former Special Ed teacher for children with communication disabilities. She blogs at Toddler Approved as she looks for ways to make life a little more fun and creative with her kids while embedding learning into everything that she does.

Lauren Frank author of Tutus and Tea Parties

Book Package Received: The Little Mouse Themed Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Clouds Watching with a Book and Activity

My name is Lauren and I’m a mom to an almost 4 year old girl.

We both share a love for books, learning and love playing outside! We are very active and enjoy the little things in life.

United Kingdom Blogging Friends Joining the Fun!

Anne-Marie author of Child-Led Chaos

Summer Book Exchange: The Singing Mermaid
Favorite Activity: Making Paint

I’m Anne-Marie, mum to two girls and live in Oxfordshire, UK. We LOVE picture books and read hundreds every year. I ramble about books, education, parenting and random things

Cerys author of Rainy Day Mum

Favorite Book Related Activity: The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Cerys is a former marine biologist and teacher turned stay at home with two children, she shares crafts, play ideas, fun learning and activities for babies, toddler and preschoolers on her blog Rainy Day Mum.

Emma author of Mummy.. Mummy.. Mum

Favorite Post: Google Buns

Emma is a stay at home mum with three children under 7. Emma’s blog Mummy..Mummy..MUM!! is full of funny anecdotes, and fun craft and activity ideas. You can also find her at Science Sparks, which has lots of great science based activities for all ages

Hannah author of Making Boys Men

Book Package Received: Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers Themed Activities
Favorite Book Related Activity: Cat in the Hat Story Sack

My name is Hannah, I’m a stay at home mum to three boys (5, 3.5 and 19mths). I blog at Making Boys Men about the play, fun and adventures we have together.

Jenny author of the gingerbread house

Book Package Received: Alien Themed Activities
Favorite Book Related Activity: Small World Play and the Little Poppets

My name is Jenny and I blog at the gingerbread house. I have an 18 month old daughter and 3 year old son who both love books and crafting. We live in London, UK, and also enjoy baking, playing outside and having fun.

Rebeccah author of Here Come the Girls

Book Package Received: Ladybird Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Threading

I live in the UK and blog at Here Come the Girls a kids activity blog full of crafts, cooking and learning activities. I am a teacher and passionate about teaching a love of reading.

Canadian Friends Joining the Fun!

Erin author of The Usual Mayhem

Favorite Book Related Activity:

Erin D is a mother to three, a major insomniac, and a lifelong bibliophile. She writes at various sites including PreK and K Sharing, B-Inspired Mama, So You Call Yourself A Homeschooler.

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Mummyology, Serenity You, and the Canadian online magazine Homeschool Horizons as well as teaching a monthly online nature study class at SchoolhouseTeachers.com. If she isn’t at one of those places, she’s probably hunched over her 10th cup of coffee for the day or hiking with the kids…….sometimes both simultaneously.

Jen Farr Author of Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Book Package Received: Firefly Activities
Favorite Book Related Activity: Fredrick the Pebble Mouse

I’m a SAHM, with 2 daughters and a dog. On my blog, Kitchen Counter Chronicles,

I write about everything that lands on our kitchen counter; crafts we’re making, what we’re growing in our garden, the books we are reading and the food we are eating.I also love sharing our eco-friendly lifestyle philosophy and how we are playing and learning outdoors.

German Friends Joining the Fun!

Heather Aliano author of Only Passionate Curiosity

Book Package Received: Color Themed Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Kid’s Caricature Sculptures in the Style of Honore Daumier.

I am Heather Aliano. I am a military wife and homeschooler who happens to be stationed in Germany. We love traveling and learning about other cultures. I teach art to local kids in my free time. We are history and nature junkies.

Switzerland Friends Joining the Fun!

Ariadne author of Positive Parenting Connection

Book Package Received: Eco friendly Activities 
Favorite Book Related Activity: Books and Play

I’m mom to three spunky and curious children aged 7, 5 an 3 years. I’m also a certified parenting educator and a facilitator for a summer program called Art in the Park and a weekly playgroup for children 0-3 years. Currently we live in Switzerland a top a beautiful mountain with our dog Murph and one blue fish.

I write all about parenting and positive discipline at Positive Parenting Connection.

You’re Host for the “Love Books” Summer Book Exchange 2013

Kim Vij author at The Educators’ Spin On It

Favorite Book Related Post: How to Change the World with Weezer

Kim Vij is the co-author of The Educators’ Spin On It. As an early childhood teacher and a mom of three, she’s learned many tips and tricks of parenting and teaching along the way in the past 20 years. She shares her “Educator’s Spin” on parenting issues and how to make learning playful and playtime meaningful.

Get Inspired by the Summer 2012 Exchange includes 20 Pictures Books and Activities

This Summer it will be 36 Picture Books and Activities, we invited you to follow along!