Paramount Pick:
Happy Year of the Rabbit!
To Celebrate we will have two Paramount Pics this week...
Happy Year of the Rabbit!To Celebrate we will have two Paramount Pics this week...
Sale Offer Expires Friday, Fabruary 11, 2011!
Happy New Year, let’s all celebrate!
But wait, do you think my party is late?
It would be if the date’s January one,
But here at the Toy Shop we love to have fun
And if we can frolic and learn something new
Well, we know that it’s something we just have to do.
So on February 3rd, the Chinese New Year,
We’ll feast and we’ll craft and we’ll be in good cheer,
Because the Year of the Rabbit is finally here!
But wait, do you think my party is late?
It would be if the date’s January one,
But here at the Toy Shop we love to have fun
And if we can frolic and learn something new
Well, we know that it’s something we just have to do.
So on February 3rd, the Chinese New Year,
We’ll feast and we’ll craft and we’ll be in good cheer,
Because the Year of the Rabbit is finally here!
Happy Chinese New Year!
The date of Chinese New Year or the Chinese Lunar New Year, is determined according to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, and usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The Chinese calendar differs from the Gregorian (or Western) calendar in that, in addition to the repeating sequence of 12 months, there is also a repeating sequence of twelve years. Since each year is named after a different animal, this is referred to as the animal zodiac, and this upcoming year will be the year of the Rabbit.
Chinese New Year seemed like the perfect opportunity for us at Ape 2 Zebra to learn more about Chinese culture and traditions, and we wanted to share our delightful discoveries with you too.
We have learned that the customs associated with Chinese New Year celebrations vary according to region, but many people thoroughly clean the house prior to the New Year. This is intended to wash away the bad luck of the preceding year, and make room for good luck in the coming year. Often, there is a family feast featuring chicken, fish, and other foods with whose names sound similar to words like “luck,” “prosperity,” and “surplus.”
We’ve been having so much fun figuring all this out that I was faced with a formidable feat when forced to focus on one product to present as my Pick of the Week.
I was flummoxed until I finally found a feasible fit: I would fixate on two! With fanfare and flourish, the TWO finds that I am fanatical about this week are the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set and The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, by Barefoot Books.
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, written by Dawn Casey and illustrated by Anne Wilson, tells the legend of how the order of the animals in the animal zodiac was determined. The story is 25 pages long, and the book also includes four additional pages of information on the Chinese calendar, a list of the characteristics believed to be associated with people born in each animal year, and a chart of when each year of the animal zodiac has recently occurred. This allows readers to look up what sign of the animal zodiac they were born under, and to see whether the characteristics match.
The legend is told in a way that is accessible to children, with language that is understandable but not overly simplistic, and a quick pace that holds attention. The illustrations, which are done in a bright and colourful collage style, fill each page, and are interesting and engaging to the eye. The story may be a bit long for squirmy three year old, but is well suited to most children aged four to eight.
According to the legend, the order of the animals in the zodiac was determined by a race amongst all the creatures in the kingdom, of which there were 13. The winner, Rat, earns the right to have the first year named after him; however, he wins by trickery, and by betraying his best friend Cat. The emperor sees Rat’s behaviour as clever, and does not punish him for his actions. Cat, who is unable to finish the race because of Rat’s actions, does not earn a place in the zodiac (thus explaining why there are 12 years in the zodiac). The book concludes with the emperor telling Cat that it was unimportant that he was unable to finish, because what mattered was that he tried his best. The emperor then hosts a wonderful celebration for all of the animals, Cat included. Readers may wonder whether it was right for Rat to be rewarded rather than reprimanded for his actions, but these sorts of questions can be an excellent segue to discussions about topics such as the importance of friendship and fair play, especially if adults are prepared for these conversations in advance.
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac is informative, interesting, and entertaining, and provides a wonderful window into Chinese culture. When read to younger children, it is fun to follow it with a craft that reflects one of the animals in the zodiac, a search for China on a map or globe, or by spending time listening and dancing to traditional Chinese music. With older children, the book can be used to spark a conversation a conversation about different cultural practices and beliefs, to learn a few phrases in Mandarin or Cantonese, or to create some of the characters used in the languages.
Once you and your collection of curious kids have learned a bit about the customs, culture, and history associated with Chinese New Year celebrations, it is time to engage in an activity that fits in fabulously with the festivities. The
Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set encourages fine motor skills, stimulates the brain’s visual and spatial abilities, including spatial rotation skills (I needed this plaything when I was a porcupette), and fosters both creativity and early understanding of geometry, the classification of shapes, and the ways in which shapes can be combined.
The tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle consisting of seven flat pieces (two large right angle triangles, one medium sized right angle triangle, two small right angle triangles, one square, and one parallelogram) that fit together to form a larger square. The challenge is to use all seven pieces to form a specific shape, given only an outline or silhouette of the shape. While not specifically a tangram puzzle, the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set incorporates many of the same concepts, and can be used to create a wide variety of tangram like puzzles.
The set consists of 100 colourful wooden geometric shapes, including small and large circles, equilateral and isosceles triangles, small and large semi-circles, small rectangles, and large trapezoids. Large pieces measure approximately 5 centimeters across, while smaller pieces are approximately two to three centimeters in length. Also included are a lightweight 15 centimeter long wood mallet, a 32 centimeter by 22 centimeter, one centimeter thick cork board, a package of nails measuring approximately 1.5 centimeters long, and a printout with suggestions for designs that can be built with the set. Each shape has a small hole drilled through its centre, and the aim is to create pictures by arranging the shapes on the cork board, and attaching them to the board by hammering the nails through the holes in the shapes.
Arranging the shapes can be an exercise in creativity, in logical and sequential thinking, or in geometry concepts such as combining triangles to form squares. The hammering process requires precision and accuracy and is great for developing fine motor skills. It is also an effective (and quiet!) way to satisfy the urges of a preschooler who likes to pound, or needs to release some aggression or frustration. We have also found that the shapes can be attached by pressing standard pushpins through the holes, allowing children who are not quite ready to use the nails and hammer to still enjoy the activity.
Because of the nature of its components, the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set is recommended for children four and older. While the nails are not particularly sharp (I pressed one into my paw to test it out, oh the things I do for you), nor the hammer heavy, children who are at the younger end of the suggested age range should be carefully supervised while using the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set to ensure safety.
The Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set is a superior selection that is almost certain to be a favourite of your family for years to come. My toils as a toy tester tell me that it is trying to find a plaything that has such broad appeal. From girls to boys, logical thinkers to creative kids, pounders to perfectionists, the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set has something to satisfy almost every small one, and it is educational, and develops fine motor skills too. With bundles of brain benefits and because it is beloved by babes with a bevy of interests, the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set was bound to become one of my Picks of the Week. Whether you use it to study tangrams together with your Chinese New Year Celebration, or select it on a Saturday in September, it’s simply spectacular!
Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set typically retails for $48.50, and The Great Race: The Story of The Chinese Zodiac is regularly priced at $19.99.
To celebrate the Year of Rabbit, until Friday, 11 February, 2011 you will be able to purchase the Geometric Shape Tack Set for the choice price of $45.50, or The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac for $16.99!
About Haba:
Toy safety is a priority for Haba. Haba toys meet European Toy Safety Guideline 88/378 EWG for the materials used in, and the manufacturing of children’s toys. Twiddle Turtle, as with most Haba toys, is designed and made in Germany.
More about Barefoot Books:
Barefoot Books was founded by two mothers who wanted to expose their children to books that would feed their imaginations and instil a respect for diversity and a love of the planet. Barefoot Books focuses on stories that encourage independence of spirit, enthusiasm for learning, and acceptance of other cultures. Barefoot Books is also committed to giving back to the community, and regularly supports charitable organizations that share its goals. Barefoot Books also makes donations of books to children throughout the world (including North America), who would otherwise have limited access to stories.
The date of Chinese New Year or the Chinese Lunar New Year, is determined according to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, and usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The Chinese calendar differs from the Gregorian (or Western) calendar in that, in addition to the repeating sequence of 12 months, there is also a repeating sequence of twelve years. Since each year is named after a different animal, this is referred to as the animal zodiac, and this upcoming year will be the year of the Rabbit.
Chinese New Year seemed like the perfect opportunity for us at Ape 2 Zebra to learn more about Chinese culture and traditions, and we wanted to share our delightful discoveries with you too.
We have learned that the customs associated with Chinese New Year celebrations vary according to region, but many people thoroughly clean the house prior to the New Year. This is intended to wash away the bad luck of the preceding year, and make room for good luck in the coming year. Often, there is a family feast featuring chicken, fish, and other foods with whose names sound similar to words like “luck,” “prosperity,” and “surplus.”
We’ve been having so much fun figuring all this out that I was faced with a formidable feat when forced to focus on one product to present as my Pick of the Week.
I was flummoxed until I finally found a feasible fit: I would fixate on two! With fanfare and flourish, the TWO finds that I am fanatical about this week are the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set and The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, by Barefoot Books.
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac, written by Dawn Casey and illustrated by Anne Wilson, tells the legend of how the order of the animals in the animal zodiac was determined. The story is 25 pages long, and the book also includes four additional pages of information on the Chinese calendar, a list of the characteristics believed to be associated with people born in each animal year, and a chart of when each year of the animal zodiac has recently occurred. This allows readers to look up what sign of the animal zodiac they were born under, and to see whether the characteristics match. The legend is told in a way that is accessible to children, with language that is understandable but not overly simplistic, and a quick pace that holds attention. The illustrations, which are done in a bright and colourful collage style, fill each page, and are interesting and engaging to the eye. The story may be a bit long for squirmy three year old, but is well suited to most children aged four to eight.
According to the legend, the order of the animals in the zodiac was determined by a race amongst all the creatures in the kingdom, of which there were 13. The winner, Rat, earns the right to have the first year named after him; however, he wins by trickery, and by betraying his best friend Cat. The emperor sees Rat’s behaviour as clever, and does not punish him for his actions. Cat, who is unable to finish the race because of Rat’s actions, does not earn a place in the zodiac (thus explaining why there are 12 years in the zodiac). The book concludes with the emperor telling Cat that it was unimportant that he was unable to finish, because what mattered was that he tried his best. The emperor then hosts a wonderful celebration for all of the animals, Cat included. Readers may wonder whether it was right for Rat to be rewarded rather than reprimanded for his actions, but these sorts of questions can be an excellent segue to discussions about topics such as the importance of friendship and fair play, especially if adults are prepared for these conversations in advance. The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac is informative, interesting, and entertaining, and provides a wonderful window into Chinese culture. When read to younger children, it is fun to follow it with a craft that reflects one of the animals in the zodiac, a search for China on a map or globe, or by spending time listening and dancing to traditional Chinese music. With older children, the book can be used to spark a conversation a conversation about different cultural practices and beliefs, to learn a few phrases in Mandarin or Cantonese, or to create some of the characters used in the languages.
Once you and your collection of curious kids have learned a bit about the customs, culture, and history associated with Chinese New Year celebrations, it is time to engage in an activity that fits in fabulously with the festivities. The
Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set encourages fine motor skills, stimulates the brain’s visual and spatial abilities, including spatial rotation skills (I needed this plaything when I was a porcupette), and fosters both creativity and early understanding of geometry, the classification of shapes, and the ways in which shapes can be combined. The tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle consisting of seven flat pieces (two large right angle triangles, one medium sized right angle triangle, two small right angle triangles, one square, and one parallelogram) that fit together to form a larger square. The challenge is to use all seven pieces to form a specific shape, given only an outline or silhouette of the shape. While not specifically a tangram puzzle, the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set incorporates many of the same concepts, and can be used to create a wide variety of tangram like puzzles.
The set consists of 100 colourful wooden geometric shapes, including small and large circles, equilateral and isosceles triangles, small and large semi-circles, small rectangles, and large trapezoids. Large pieces measure approximately 5 centimeters across, while smaller pieces are approximately two to three centimeters in length. Also included are a lightweight 15 centimeter long wood mallet, a 32 centimeter by 22 centimeter, one centimeter thick cork board, a package of nails measuring approximately 1.5 centimeters long, and a printout with suggestions for designs that can be built with the set. Each shape has a small hole drilled through its centre, and the aim is to create pictures by arranging the shapes on the cork board, and attaching them to the board by hammering the nails through the holes in the shapes.
Arranging the shapes can be an exercise in creativity, in logical and sequential thinking, or in geometry concepts such as combining triangles to form squares. The hammering process requires precision and accuracy and is great for developing fine motor skills. It is also an effective (and quiet!) way to satisfy the urges of a preschooler who likes to pound, or needs to release some aggression or frustration. We have also found that the shapes can be attached by pressing standard pushpins through the holes, allowing children who are not quite ready to use the nails and hammer to still enjoy the activity.
Because of the nature of its components, the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set is recommended for children four and older. While the nails are not particularly sharp (I pressed one into my paw to test it out, oh the things I do for you), nor the hammer heavy, children who are at the younger end of the suggested age range should be carefully supervised while using the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set to ensure safety.
The Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set is a superior selection that is almost certain to be a favourite of your family for years to come. My toils as a toy tester tell me that it is trying to find a plaything that has such broad appeal. From girls to boys, logical thinkers to creative kids, pounders to perfectionists, the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set has something to satisfy almost every small one, and it is educational, and develops fine motor skills too. With bundles of brain benefits and because it is beloved by babes with a bevy of interests, the Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set was bound to become one of my Picks of the Week. Whether you use it to study tangrams together with your Chinese New Year Celebration, or select it on a Saturday in September, it’s simply spectacular!
Haba Large Geometric Shape Tack Set typically retails for $48.50, and The Great Race: The Story of The Chinese Zodiac is regularly priced at $19.99.To celebrate the Year of Rabbit, until Friday, 11 February, 2011 you will be able to purchase the Geometric Shape Tack Set for the choice price of $45.50, or The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac for $16.99!
About Haba:
Toy safety is a priority for Haba. Haba toys meet European Toy Safety Guideline 88/378 EWG for the materials used in, and the manufacturing of children’s toys. Twiddle Turtle, as with most Haba toys, is designed and made in Germany.
More about Barefoot Books: Barefoot Books was founded by two mothers who wanted to expose their children to books that would feed their imaginations and instil a respect for diversity and a love of the planet. Barefoot Books focuses on stories that encourage independence of spirit, enthusiasm for learning, and acceptance of other cultures. Barefoot Books is also committed to giving back to the community, and regularly supports charitable organizations that share its goals. Barefoot Books also makes donations of books to children throughout the world (including North America), who would otherwise have limited access to stories.
Precociously (and prosperously) yours
Darla Porcupine
Darla Porcupine
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