Books with author Christina Rodriguez

"…excellent resource for parents, teachers, counselors, and other caregivers to help young children feel a part of the deployment process and prepare them for what's coming next." —Operation We Are HereThe activities in this fun 112-page activity book reinforce concepts young children are already learning and give them a safe way to ask questions, talk about their feelings, and feel connected to a deployed parent. Four sections (Getting Ready for Deployment, Deployment, Getting Ready for Reunion, and Reunion) provide appropriate activities for each stage of deployment, from packing and saying goodbye to welcoming Dad home. Includes mazes, dot-to-dots, counting, matching, coloring, crafts, telling time and other activities familiar to preschool and elementary children. A fun book for children and an excellent resource for parents, teachers, counselors, and other caregivers to help young children feel a part of the deployment process and prepare them for what's coming next. This book is specific to a dad deploying. A version for deployed moms is also available.

"…an excellent resource for families of deployed mothers with young children." —Midwest Book ReviewThe activities in this fun 112-page activity book reinforce concepts young children are already learning and give them a safe way to ask questions, talk about their feelings, and feel connected to a deployed parent.Four sections (Getting Ready for Deployment, Deployment, Getting Ready for Reunion, and Reunion) provide appropriate activities for each stage of deployment, from packing and saying goodbye to welcoming Mom home. Includes mazes, dot-to-dots, counting, matching, coloring, crafts, telling time, and other activities familiar to preschool and elementary children. A fun book for children and an excellent resource for parents, teachers, counselors, and other caregivers to help young children feel a part of the deployment process and prepare them for what's coming next. This book is specific to a mom deploying. A version for deployed dads is also available.

Military life is a colorful adventure, filled with challenges, blessings, and a whole lot of red, white, and blue. Frequent moves, deployments, and close friendships over the miles are just a few common shades. Each person in a military family lives a unique life. Elva Resa’s Coloring My Military Life books let you choose your palette to express your own military life experience. Each book contains a variety of illustrated military life situations and emotions appropriate for all ages. One-sided pages offer options to use a variety of coloring materials, take pages out of the book to frame or share, or draw your own pictures or doodles on the blank side. Coloring My Military Life—Book 1 features level one coloring pages with simple scenes especially interesting to younger children. An adorable puppy makes snow angels, marches in a patriotic parade, and dreams of being a superhero dog. Illustrator Christina Rodriguez says, “This book is an ode to the family dog—the loyal and loving companion animal who helps everyone endure the frequent geographic and emotional transitions of military life.” 32+ illustrations

Amanda understands her dad is making the world a better place, but it doesn’t make his year-long deployment any easier. By writing her thoughts and prayers on yellow ribbons and tying them to the branches of a wishing tree, Amanda is able to express her feelings and feel connected to her dad. As she wishes for her dad to enjoy good meals, make new friends, and return home safely, her little wishing tree comes to life with yellow ribbons of hope. This heartwarming story beautifully illustrates the range of feelings a child experiences when a parent is deployed, the power of hope and prayer, and the joy of a parent returning home. Wishing trees exist in many cultures as a way to bring people’s innermost thoughts and prayers to life. Amanda uses her wishing tree to express her feelings while her dad is deployed. Children can also create wishing trees to stay connected to parents traveling for work, grandparents who live far away, and even special friends between visits. Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Recipient, Family Life

Jump back in time with these A-Z animal adventure stories. Juggle with the family of dancing bears as William the Conqueror is crowned king during the Middle Ages, shoot through the streets of San Gottardo with a frog on Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine during the Renaissance, and sail across several seas to France with a kangaroo to see what trouble Marie Antoinette has gotten herself into at the start of the French Revolution. From Charlemagne to Mandela, kids will begin their journey of exploring how leaders, battles, and everyday folks have shaped the history of the world, from medieval to modern ages.Great to use in a group setting!"We just did week 2 of Animals in Time! The kids, ages 4-8, love this program. They can't wait till next week to hear the next story and find out what the animal is. They really like the worksheets as well. The games are amazing also! I love how it all works together!!!" —Abbie"The kids in our community love Animals in Time so much that the families with older kids have started volunteering to be the helpers. They would be so sad to miss this amazing class that their younger friends get to do!" —CarrieGreat to use at home!“I keep forgetting to mention how much we love Animals in Time. I have been reading the stories, but waited to let the kids have the activity book until after the holidays. Let me just say I can never find it because they pull it out and do it. We were supposed to be doing math, but instead my son was looking at his activity book.” —AnnmarieI thought these books would be a wonderful addition to our homeschool as we have been slowly making our way through history with our core curriculum these past two years. Not only have the children been learning some cool, new information, but they have been getting a bit of a review in what they have already learned while they travel with some friendly animal characters. There is quite a lot of historical, geographical, and scientific information that they were able to weave into the story. I think it is a wonderful way to add fun learning into your homeschool day for elementary school children. —Karen, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC And don't forget the Animals in Time Volume 2 Activity Book to accompany this storybook! (Animals in Time Volume 2 Storybook: Medieval to Modern compliments Classical Conversations, 5th Edition, history for Cycle 2.)

Amanda understands her dad is making the world a better place, but it doesn’t make his year-long deployment any easier. By writing her thoughts and prayers on yellow ribbons and tying them to the branches of a wishing tree, Amanda is able to express her feelings and feel connected to her dad. As she wishes for her dad to enjoy good meals, make new friends, and return home safely, her little wishing tree comes to life with yellow ribbons of hope. This heartwarming story beautifully illustrates the range of feelings a child experiences when a parent is deployed, the power of hope and prayer, and the joy of a parent returning home. Wishing trees exist in many cultures as a way to bring people’s innermost thoughts and prayers to life. Amanda uses her wishing tree to express her feelings while her dad is deployed. Children can also create wishing trees to stay connected to parents traveling for work, grandparents who live far away, and even special friends between visits. Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Recipient, Family Life

Storm Codes presents the sights and sounds of Great Lakes shipping in the late 1960s through seven-year-old Katy's story of hope and determination. As a fierce ice storm rips through northern Minnesota, Katy and her mother wait restlessly for her father's ship to return to their harbor in Duluth. Storm Codes vividly combines historically based illustrations with nautical terms and descriptions. Katy even creates her own secret code to help bring her father home safely.

Storm Codes presents the sights and sounds of Great Lakes shipping in the late 1960s through seven-year-old Katy's story of hope and determination. As a fierce ice storm rips through northern Minnesota, Katy and her mother wait restlessly for her father's ship to return to their harbor in Duluth. Storm Codes vividly combines historically based illustrations with nautical terms and descriptions. Katy even creates her own secret code to help bring her father home safely.

Saturdays are special days for Isabel. She spends the day with her lively aunts who shower her with love and special attention As Isabel enters her aunts' house one Saturday morning, she is greeted by Tia Dulce and the savory scent of cinnamon. Isabel wonders what she will learn to cook today. After Isabel helps Tia Dulce make a special snack, Tia Rosa and Isabel steal away for a special beauty hour. Tia Rosa's closet and jewelry box are a treasure trove full of fancy shoes, dresses, make-up, and jewelry. When she's all dressed up, Isabel runs to her Tia Clara who exclaims, "You're dressed for dancing!" Together they twirl to the rhythm of the music, working up an appetite for their special afternoon snack. With vibrant illustrations by Christina Rodriguez, Isabel's day with her aunts will delight children ages 3-7 who will identify with time spent learning and laughing with loving relatives. And for those children--and adults too--who want to make their own special afternoon snack, Un dia con mis tias / A Day with My Aunts contains a recipe for meat empanadas in both English and Spanish.