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Tom Angleberger, local writer for our Roanoke Times, has just published a wonderful book about some kids, middle school, the awkwardness of growing up, and …oh yes, a talking Yoda likeness made out of origami paper.
 
To celebrate, Ashley and I are reading the book and publishing embarrassing stories of ourselves from middle school.  The kind [...]

  While reading the opening chapters of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, by Tom Angleberger, my thoughts flooded with the “horrors” of middle school.  Pants that were too short, emotional roller coasters and everyone blasting each other: “You get your clothes at Big Lots.”  The days never seemed like they were going to end.
I guess, [...]

I know the majority of our readers have little ones, toddlers, primary schoolers, “big” kids.  But those kids will grow up and become MIDDLE SCHOOLERS!  ARRRGH!
At the Donahue house, we are dealing with the kinds of things that happen in that transition from elementary to preteen and what we are trying to remind our young one [...]

  It’s a good thing we don’t get paid for this because Todd Christopher’s new book, “The Green Hour: A Daily Dose of Nature for Happier, Healthier, Smarter Kids,” (coming to stores March 16th) would have just put us out of a job. 
This book has it all.
 The important research:
-It is written to inform and encourage, [...]

Cause I held it in my hands!  Yeah, the “it” that I have been talking up for many months now!  I am just so excited about this.  “The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.”
  Tonight, the lovely and talented Cece Bell presented her wonderful series of entertaing and artfully delicious books to the kids at my [...]

Happy Valentine’s Day!
That is the inscription on the copy of Jennifer Ward’s “I Love Dirt.”  Ashley gave it to me a few years back on Valentine’s Day.  She’s such a sweet heart, and definitely knows the key to my heart.  I had a chance to share this story with Ms. Ward a while back through [...]

  A few years ago, Rick Van Noy, author of A Natural Sense of Wonder (Connecting Kids With Nature through the Seasons), heard about our merry troop of nature adventurers.  He wrote us a lovely note and asked if we would consider reading his book.  About the same time, I had just finished my Masters [...]

Remember the feel of a Big Wheel?  You know the slipping, the sliding, the out-of-control feeling you got when the wheels spun faster than you could keep up and your feet could no longer stay on the pedals? 
I hope that answer is yes.  It must have been our first introduction to parenting.  Come on now, [...]

Our 7 year old has a way of, let’s say, amping things up. Each event has to be a bit more dangerous than others. In fact, he is the reason that the City of Salem Parks and Recreation cut all the lower branches out of the trees at Longwood Park. He is a skateboarder and [...]

We are gearing up for a great spring - thanks to Hoodie-Hoo Day!, and we look forward to getting out with you.  This coming week, we will be celebrating some great books to get you prepared.  Tomorrow: a review of Outdoors Parents, Outdoor Kids by Eugene Buchanan.
Here’s another way to get ready!

We’re going to set [...]