Mom Behind the Curtain

every mom wants to be an all-powerful wizard

Easy and fast DIY Athena Costume your girl will love!

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The books I write for kids are fantasy, so it’s probably no surprise that we’re big fantasy readers around this house. When my daughter was in middle school she finally discovered the Percy Jackson series and tore through them. (Can you call it “discovered” when her brother has been begging her for years and she only read it because her English teacher put The Lightning Thief on  a reading list?)

I made this Greek goddess costume for my daughter to be Athena from the Percy Jackson books. It's super easy, no sewing required! It would also make a great Book Week or Book Character Parade costume for lots of books, including Goddess Girls.

Some parents would be appalled that English teachers are encouraging kids to read something as commercial as The Lightning Thief. I think it’s great! To me, the main reason for assigning books is to turn kids into readers. The depressing books that most teachers assign discourage kids from reading….

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Best books for kids during Covid pandemic – childhood illnesses & quarantines

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For kids who time time on their hands because of #shelterinplace or #stayathome quarantine due to Covid, what are the best books for them to read? Or maybe you need a list of books because your kid is doing virtual classes this fall. Of course any great kids’ book can be a great book to read anytime, including quarantine. But reading about quarantines and illness can help them put current events in perspective.Mother and kid read books during the Covid pandemic to help understand pandemics and historical childhood illnesses.

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How grandparents can encourage grandchildren to read

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There are lots of ways grandparents can encourage their grandchildren to read. Grandparents reading to grandchildren is an obvious way. But did you think about what books you keep at your house for them? How about giving books as gifts to grandchildren? I’ve got great ideas for the types of books that grandparents can keep around their house to entertain visiting grandchildren. And I’ve also got lots of ways to make book gifts more exciting! Read on for lots of great suggestions of books to read to grandchildren, books to own, and books to give grandchildren as gifts that will foster a love of reading!3 ways grandparents can encourage their grandchildren to read: 10 best books for reading to grandchildren, books to have, & more than 96 books to give to grandchildren categorized by age and grade level.…

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13 Best Books for Girls in Middle School – My Daughters’ Favorites

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Looking for a great books for girls in middle school to read? Who better to ask than another middle school girl? This isn’t just some book list made by some librarians, teachers or other authors. They are not all award-winning middle books and their not all popular middle school books that are on every book list. But all of these books are among my own daughters’ favorite books that they read in middle school – a best books for girls in middle school book list!Not a book list by adults, these books were my own girls' favorite books in middle school. From popular middle school series to more challenging books.

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17 GIANT Boxed Book Sets – Exciting gifts for Kids and Teens

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These are best boxed book sets on Amazon! (As judged by me the children’s books that my own kids love.) These giant boxed book sets make great Christmas gifts for kids. Boxed sets make reading fun for even reluctant readers.  Some of these are classic children’s book series. Others are current popular elementary school books series and others work better for older kids and teens. All of these book series are well loved by my own kids.

These giant boxed book sets make great Christmas gifts for kids. Boxed sets make reading fun for even reluctant readers.  Some of these are classic children's book series. Others are current popular elementary school books series and others work better for older kids and teens. All of these book series are well loved by my own kids.…

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The Artemis Fowl Movie – a great way to motivate a boy to read

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The Artemis Fowl movie is finally coming! Read on to watch the Artemis Fowl movie trailer, find out the Artemis Fowl movie release date, AND get tips on how to use the movie to motivate a boy to read!

Artemis Fowl Movie Poster - The Artemis Fowl movie is finally coming! Read on to watch the Artemis Fowl movie trailer, find out the Artemis Fowl movie release date, AND get tips on how to use the movie to motivate a boy to read! #ArtemisFowl #Disney

Photo from Disney Studios

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Non-toy gift idea – the best boxed book sets for kids

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Books for presents? You might be afraid that doesn’t sound very exciting. But a big set of books in a boxed set is colorful and exciting! Here are the best books to give as a set from my own kids’ favorite book series.

Gifts for kids - Are you looking for a non-toy gift idea for kids that will still be exciting? Sometimes it's hard to come up with a present idea that you don't think is just going to become more clutter! A single book might not sound exciting. But there is something about a boxed book set that promises more adventure! Check out this list of my kids' favorite book boxed sets. They're the best boxed book sets to give kids this Christmas!

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Best Books for Girls in 5th Grade – My Daughters’ Favorites

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My girls' favorite books in 5th grade - on a background of book covers

This is a list of my daughter’s favorite books in 5th grade. My daughters already loved reading at this point, so their choices could be pretty advanced. If you’re daughter isn’t really into reading yet, be sure to also check out my list of best books for girls in 4th grade.

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Great Expectations – SAT movies

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Great Expectations is another movie that we watched for improving SAT vocabulary and reading skills.

Great Expectations (2012) isn't as gloomy as the preview suggests and a good movie to inspire the reading of the novel to improve your SAT vocabulary.

Watching Great Expectations to improve your SAT reading score

Great Expectations (2012) is not as gloomy, grungy, and violent as the first scenes and trailer suggest. …

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Becoming Jane – SAT Movies

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Becoming Jane is about Jane Austen's young romance that may have inspired her books. It's a great movie to learn vocabulary to improve your SAT score.Becoming Jane, about Jane Austen’s young romance with a Mr. Lefroy that may have inspired her books, is another movie that we watched for improving SAT vocabulary and reading skills. It’s based on the book Becoming Jane Austen, by Jon Hunter….

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