06.24.09
Welcome to Friends in the Meadow Blog
First Blog Post
Welcome to our blog! We love kids, nature and animals of all kinds, especially birds. Come and share anytime!!
The book, Friends in the Meadow – Birds, has passed the initial test of the most important critics to us who include our grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The three year old grandson became a “birder” when he was around eighteen months old. He found a weak Goldfinch on the ground, was able to get close to it and said, “See birdie”. He has been hooked since, so his approval of the book was pretty much automatic. He especially likes birding when he can get his hands on my binoculars! The seven year old liked receiving the certificate from the book after identifying his first twenty birds. The others were not so quick to approve, but agreed to its merit after reading the book. Whew. . . . . , the worse is over!
This blog post is the author’s introduction of Friends in the Meadow - Birds to all interested audiences. Children of parents who are bird watchers will most likely enjoy the book as they are already familiar with the parent’s involvement in birding. The book will give them a way to relate more to their parent’s interests. Other children will also be interested. Children of parents who are not birders may find themselves becoming interested in the hobby, as the child reads the book, or has the book read to them. More interest in the hobby will develop as the parent and child begin birding activities together. Who knows, the child may make a birder out of their parents! There are many ways the hobby of birding can enhance any relationship. But it really takes the parent-child relationship to another level as both are spending time with the other. Time together is the key to building a great hobby but more importantly, a great relationship.
Administrator said,
June 28, 2009 at 3:37 am
Second Post
The hobby of birding can be as simple as watching birds through a window or as involved as providing many feeders and nest boxes in the back yard.
The family can even become “citizen scientists” by joining groups identified in the book, Friends in the Meadow-Birds. These groups gather bird data from back yard birders across the country and use the information in research to learn about the well being of our earth and the well being of the birds. The hobby can grow into a lifestyle that is fun, educational, interesting and even exciting! No two days of birding are ever the same.
The leading “lady” in the book is Lovie Dove who introduces the reader to her many bird friends and shares what life is like around the meadow near Mr. and Mrs. Wilson’s farm. Along with the story line is about sixty bird photos that help the child learn to identify the different birds.
As a reward for completing the book and identifying twenty common birds featured in the book, the child receives a certificate of completion. The certificate, located in the back of the book, is authenticated by the parent, scout master, teacher or other adult. The certificate gives the child a sense of accomplishment and positive self-esteem for learning about their world. The child receives education about a part of nature under the guise of having fun. The best way to learn!
In addition to Friends in the Meadow - Birds, be sure to check out the links on the website for more in depth information and websites about birds and birding. Have fun!!
An excerpt from Friends in the Meadow - Birds about hummingbirds.
“Hummingbirds”
Hummer Hummingbird visits Lovie’s area during the spring and summer months. Lovie calls her hummingbird friends feisty because they have so much energy. It seems as though they are constantly in flight. They are also territorial and will claim a whole feeder of sugar water for themselves.
This makes for daily defending of the feeder. After feeding, they will perch nearby and rest while keeping an eye on the feeder. If another bird approaches the feeder, off he goes to chase the other bird away, by fighting if necessary. It does not matter how many feeders Mrs. Wilson provides, this territorial battle will always take place.
Hummer Hummingbird is one of the most colorful of Lovie’s friends. He is a metallic green color on top and white with some green on his chest. When he is older, he will have an iridescent red throat just like his Dad. The throat turns red as the light hits it a certain way. Hummer is known as the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Hummer’s mother and sisters are not as colorful. They are metallic green on top and white on the chest. Their necks do not have the red color.
Lovie loves to watch the fast action of Hummer and his relatives, but they do not feed at seed feeders nor do they visit on the ground. They do like the nectar in flower blossoms. Lovie is only able to watch them and be
friends from afar.
Hummingbirds will give a good fight to keep others away from their feeder. But there are times when the dominant hummer gets defeated because too many others show up at the same time. And they all want to drink the sweet nectar tasting water. So eventually, the owner of the feeder gives in and lets the others drink. But only because he had no choice!
peggy williams said,
July 5, 2009 at 4:56 am
Some exciting things have been going on regarding FRIENDS IN THE MEADOW - BIRDS, in the last few days. The website http://birdandnaturefriends-children.com is online and completed except for the usual updating when needed.
From July 11-14, the book will be on display at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago. We’re hoping lots of librarians and other visitors will take a peak at the book.
The first press release was submitted July 3, 2009, by Free-Press-Release.com/. The services of Free-Press-Release.com were very helpful and we are excited about the coverage and promotion this service offers. The release is listed below:
For Immediate Press Release
One Bird In The Hand And Two In The Bush
Birmingham, AL, USA. July 3, 2009 –– Just as our country has received another lesson that you can’t get something for nothing from today’s economy troubles, along comes a children’s book that says you can. The new book, Friends in the Meadow – Birds (978-1-4389-3386-3, Trade paperback, 40 pp, 8 1/2 x 11, $15.49 at AuthorHouse.com), introduces children to the hobby of bird watching. The book encourages parent involvement in the hobby, which gives the child a two fold or more benefit. The child learns a new and exciting hobby which can help build self esteem and becomes more involved with parents as they join in the fun, thus building a closer relationship.
Through a fictional story line involving bird characters, Lovie Dove, Fee Bee Chickadee, Reddy Cresty Cardinal, Bobby Bluebird and others, factual information is blended into the story so that children are able to enjoy the book and learn about the hobby of bird watching. The children are encouraged to begin a life list by identifying twenty birds. After completing this list, the parent or adult verifies the life list and completes a certificate to present to the child for their accomplishment (which is the last page of the book). Your child’s self esteem will begin to flourish.
This children’s book is different because it involves more than just reading the book or having the book read to the child. It has fifty photos of birds that catches any aged child’s attention and helps them begin to learn to identify birds. With just minimal involvement from the parent in the hobby, the parent-child relationship can grow to a new level. Many parents struggle to find common ground or a common interest in which they can interact more with their children. This hobby can start as young as age two and continue throughout adulthood. If the parent becomes involved, the parent and child will always have an enjoyable common interest and a closer relationship.
The author, Peggy Williams, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked twenty plus years with parents and children. Research for decades has shown that when a parent is involved with their children in school and spends quality time at home together, the child has a higher success rate overall. The chance of becoming a successful adult increases. The hobby of bird watching can even weave itself into the fabric of the whole family’s lifestyle offering many days of low cost fun and experiences for everyone.
Clichés aside, Friends in the Meadow – Birds, offers the child and parent much more than just one book to read.
Contact: Peggy Williams, M.Ed., LPC
email: peggywilliams09@yahoo.com
website: http://www.birdandnaturefriends-children.com
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Thanks to Free-Press-Release.com for your services.
Administrator said,
July 9, 2009 at 3:57 am
I was about to think that I’d seen all the “regular” birds that are around my area and have spent the last several vacations looking for birds I’d not seen before. But last week I spotted a Killdeer walking down the sidewalk in our small town. Yesterday, I finally saw a Meadowlark that just perched on my deck just long enough for me to get a good look. That was exciting. My seven year old grandson was with me both times. This got him excited as well about continuing his Life List. He has already this summer identified over twenty birds that he read about in FRIENDS IN THE MEADOW - BIRDS, and some others. I framed his Life List certificate he completed from the book and he proudly carried it home to hang on his wall. Not to brag, but he is good. Gets a little carried away sometimes, but that’s o.k. He’ll probably before the summer is over try to convince me he saw the Ivory-billed woodpecker, as he is sure he has seen birds that live on the Pacific coast right here in Alabama! But at least he is excited about bird-watching as is his three year old brother. Keeps them both off the video games and from in front of cartoons all day and into nature and the real world. The best thing is that they love it! The best thing for me is that they are learning about the world and do not realize it, even better!! Happy Birding!!!