Download our 30 free printable reading bookmarks to mix and match (front and back) for your child.

Part of my job as an educator is to teach literacy skills and because of my strong belief that literacy is the foundation for nearly everything we do in life (the ability to speak, listen, read, and write are all essential in daily life), I do my best to instill a love for literacy in our household. We read to our kids every night. We have more books than toys (well maybe not, but perhaps nearly equal). I can’t stop myself from buying them new books. We also try to have conversations with the entire family around the dinner table every night. While it’s not like a sitcom in our house every night, we do our best.

We began reading chapter books to our five year-old daughter about a year ago and she recently discovered how fun they can be (and frankly, they are fun for us as parents too). A couple of years ago, I made Dr. Seuss themed bookmarks for a friend’s Kindergarten class (she’s a teacher as well) and then shared them with our daughter’s preschool class last March. I hosted them for you to download my other site, Hullabaloo Stories.

Last week, a very excited Kindergartner (our five year-old) asked if I could make some new printable reading bookmarks for her new chapter books. I guess she needs a little variety… or maybe she will be like me and have several books going at the same time. Just for her, I decided it would be fun to find cool quotes about reading and make them with her favorite polka dots.

We wanted to share these printable reading bookmarks with you too… our readers, because we hope you too want to help encourage a love for reading in your household and children’s classroom.

My husband also decided to join in the fun and create some bookmarks to add to the collection. He found some fantastic quotes from some notable children’s books. We hope you like all that these free printable reading bookmarks as a set has to offer.

Tip: The printable reading bookmarks should be printed and paired, front and back, to form a two-sided bookmark and, if possible, we recommend you laminate the bookmarks to help them to hold up against the wear and tear a kid can subject them to. We use the Xyron Cold Seal Laminator. Enjoy…

Share these printable reading bookmarks with your friends

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“All Aboard! This is the Polar Express.”

Today, my wife and I secured tickets to ride The Polar Express shortly after Thanksgiving. We logged onto the V & T Railroad website (V & T stands for the Virginia and Truckee) and found that most of the tickets were already purchased for the dates that we wanted to have this experience. We chose to go in the VIP Parlor Car. If we’re going to have an experience with our kids, we might as well go all the way, right?

Needless to say, my wife and I are very excited about this experience. The Polar Express is one of our favorite books to read to our children around the holidays. Also, the Polar Express movie does a great job keeping true to the book as well as enhancing the adventure aspects of the book.

Tom Hanks doesn’t do a bad job as the voice(s) in The Polar Express movie either. In fact, he’s one of my favorite actors. Did you know, Tom Hanks spent some of his youth in Reno, Nevada? It’s true! Of course, those were the days well before he filmed Bosom Buddies, Sleepless in Seattle, Forest Gump, or Cast Away. His connection to Reno makes me like him that much more, even though he may have a slip of the tongue here and there on national television. We love you, Tom!

Polar Express Giveaway Details

To coincide with our journey on the Polar Express, we decided to hold another giveaway. This time, we’ll be giving away The Polar Express on Blu-ray and a copy of the book by Chris Van Allsburg. This giveaway will last until Monday, December 17, 2012 at 9:00 PM PDT. We think this will be just enough time before Christmas to get the items to the lucky winner. You can say that we’re just in a giving mood, it being Christmas and all. Well, even though it is still a couple days before Halloween at the time of writing this post, Christmas will be here before we know it. That being said, please enter the giveaway below and spread the word. Let’s make this the best holiday season ever.

All aboard the Polar Express!

What: The Polar Express diesel train ride. It is an hour long and includes a souvenir ceramic Polar Express mug, a keepsake silver bell, hot chocolate, water, holiday treats, entertainment and a reading of The Polar Express.

Who: The V & T Railroad

When: Departure times: 5:00pm, 6:30pm & 8:00pm each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from November 23rd through December 23rd.

Where: Carson City Depot, 4650 Eastgate Siding Road Carson City, Nevada 89701 | (775) 687-7410

Extra Extra: Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas. Also, if don’t have a printer, write down your confirmation code and bring it with you at check-in. You can also purchase “winter road closure protection” with your tickets in case the roads prevent you from arriving. Please bring your picture ID and a printout of your confirmation, and go directly to the activity location.

No cancellations or refunds. All ticket sales are final.

The Polar Express diesel train ride from Carson City, Nevada to Virginia City is based on THE POLAR EXPRESS book and characters TM & © 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg. Used by Permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (Source: Carson City Activity Tickets)

Inspiring a lifetime love of learning.

This was a post I had posted a while back on my other website at Hullabaloo Stories and I received such good feedback that I thought I would share it here on Windy Pinwheel. Below are some of my absolute favorite books about the amazing love between parent and child. These are the books I love to read to my children.

This first book was a book I fell in love with when I was in 2nd grade, my teacher even cried when she read it, back then I had no idea why, but when I became a parent, I understood why. I used to read this book to both of my kids when they were in my belly. I wanted them to come into this world knowing they were loved and would be forever.

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

This book goes through a child’s life span and explains how a mother’s love knows no limits, no matter how hard the day was, no matter how bad the temper tantrums were and no matter how much the house got messy or things got broken. At the end of the day, parents love their children unconditionally.

“Love you forever, like you for always” is my favorite quote of the book.

You Are My I Love You, by Maryann Cusimano Love

This book is pure poetry to me. The love between a parent and child is unique. This story goes through the ways parents love their children and, in return, how children love their parents.

“I am your way home; you are my new path.” is my favorite quote from this book, as it describes new parenthood so well, a new path for the parent but home base for the whole family.

I Love You Through and Through, by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak

This book is not only about loving your child and everything about them, but it’s a teaching book. While reading this book, you can teach your child about emotions, body parts, and motions.

My favorite line is the last two pages of the book, “I love you through and through…yesterday, today and, tomorrow, too”. I tend to get a little teary when I read that line to my children.

I Love You More, by Laura Duksta

This is a fun book because it shows both sides of the love story of mother and child. The book itself has two stories in it, the author writes that it’s a “flip-side book…like love it never ends” I think that is my favorite quote, because like my favorite children’s book, Love You Forever, the love between parents and children never ends.

Inside the book, the mother tries to explain her love for her child and on the flip side the child attempts to do the same thing, in words that a child would use to explain things.

Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney

In this book the little bunny is trying to tell his dad how much he loves him but in return the daddy bunny expands on that to show the love he has for his child is limitless. A very cute story.

So there you go, my favorite books about loving your children. I love to read these books to my children and I hope that you will enjoy them as well.