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12 Days of Fun Family Activities for the Holidays

12 Days of Fun Family Activities for the Holidays
Dec 14, 2021 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

The holidays may be a hectic time of year, but all you need is a little creativity to celebrate the season with those you love. Here are twelve days’ worth of activities to get you in the holiday spirit and connect you with your family and friends—wherever they may be.

3 New Animal Books for Middle Graders!

3 New Animal Books for Middle Graders!
Nov 04, 2021 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

This fall season has brought a few new middle grade animal books into our lives! If you like The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions for its lovable characters, its mystery and adventure, and its demonstration of courage and other SEL themes, check out these three new animal-filled chapter books...

How Are You Feeling Today?

How Are You Feeling Today?
Oct 04, 2021 by Tracey Hecht

I often start my virtual school and library visits with that simple question: How are you feeling today? Whether kids respond with happy, bored, excited, or even sad, the question invites a deeper conversation about their feelings and attention to their mental states. I then share stories from my early reader collection of books in which The Nocturnals characters, through actions and emotions of their own, model emotions that students often feel but find confusing or hard to express. Kids can relate to moments when Tobin the pangolin is nervous, when Bismark the sugar glider is loud and excited, or when Dawn the fox feels quiet and thoughtful.
 

Support Kids’ School Friendships With Stories

Support Kids’ School Friendships With Stories
Aug 11, 2021 by Tracey Hecht

With back-to-school just around the corner, it’s a great time to talk to kids about friendships, especially after this past year when many schools and schedules had disruptions. Kids may be apprehensive about rekindling old friendships, thoughtful about making new friends, or even nervous about how potential school disruptions this upcoming year may factor into their friendships...

 

4 Tips to Make Summer Reading Fun for the Whole Family

4 Tips to Make Summer Reading Fun for the Whole Family
May 20, 2021 by Tracey Hecht

It’s summer! Time to let go and enjoy—especially this summer. It hasn’t been the easiest year. Parents and kids both deserve to have some fun. But there’s also a lot of talk about "learning loss" resulting from pandemic year accommodations, not to mention the normal summer slide that can happen any year. Here are some tips to help make summer reading with the Tails & Tales theme more exciting not only for kids but for the whole family.

The Nocturnals Kindness Game

The Nocturnals Kindness Game
Feb 24, 2021 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

The Kindness Game was developed by Fabled Films Press to support literacy skills and social and emotional learning. The game is ideal for incorporating into bullying prevention programs and concludes with a student-lead exercise in identifying kind words and behaviors to promote a culture of kindness in schools and libraries.

3 Must-Read Children's Books for Black History Month!

3 Must-Read Children's Books for Black History Month!
Feb 17, 2021 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

February is Black History Month! Celebrate Black authors and illustrators (this month and every month) with these three books: the first book in a middle-grade series, a picture book, and a graphic novel. These stories invite readers into diverse experiences of everyday life that extol the strength of family and friendship.

It’s World Wombat Day!

It’s World Wombat Day!
Oct 22, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

Today is World Wombat Day! So we’re introducing you to our newest nocturnal friend: Walter the Wombat. The Nocturnal Brigade meets Walter in The Weeping Wombat, the latest book in our Grow & Read early reader collection.

Exploring Emotions and Behavior Through Stories

Exploring Emotions and Behavior Through Stories
Oct 20, 2020 by Tracey Hecht
We are well into Autumn, a time filled with transition, excitement, and anxiety as we near the end of the year. The practicalities of school have been heightened by new levels of unpredictability and unknown. As teachers and librarians, we want to help our children navigate this unpredictable year, even though we ourselves are feeling less confident about what that means. Books are a wonderful tool to help. Books have the ability to teach skills rather than provide answers and allow our kids to develop valuable social-emotional insights that will help them understand and manage these complexities.

Compassion: The Best Skill Against Bullying

Compassion: The Best Skill Against Bullying
Sep 30, 2020 by Tracey Hecht

Now that kids are in school—whether in person, remote, or both—let’s talk about an issue they experience in some way: bullying. Yes, bullies are a fact of life. Everybody encounters bullying at some point or other, either as the target, the bully, or both. (People are complicated!) You can find bullies in the schoolyard, in the office, on social media, and on the news.

4 Children’s Books to Have a “Feelings Check-In” with Your Child

4 Children’s Books to Have a “Feelings Check-In” with Your Child
Aug 19, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

Feelings can be hard to navigate, especially when we go through multiple feelings day to day. In turn, teaching children healthy ways to identify, communicate, and express their feelings can be just as difficult! So we’ve rounded up four children’s books to help kids understand their feelings and learn different ways to express them. Each book includes key social emotional learning (SEL) lessons. Read these books and have a “Feelings Check-In” with your family.

Six Family-Friendly Summer Activities

Six Family-Friendly Summer Activities
Jul 30, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press
The Nocturnals Summer Reading Kit is packed with engaging and entertaining activities to keep families entertained for hours. The STEM-related and Makerspace activities are a fun way to “sneak” science into family time this summer. 

How to Draw Bismark!

How to Draw Bismark!
Jul 20, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

Do you want to draw characters from The Nocturnals? Follow easy step-by-step instructions on the How-to-Draw Bismark the Sugar Glider Activity to create your own version of Bismark. You can even experiment with drawing different facial expressions for him!

Learn About A Mythical Dinosaur!

Learn About A Mythical Dinosaur!
Jul 09, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

The Summer 2020 Reading Theme is  "Imagine Your Story", which celebrates mythology, fairy tales, and folktales and encourages young readers to create their own stories.

4 Creative Ways for Dads to Bond With Their Children

4 Creative Ways for Dads to Bond With Their Children
Jun 18, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

Has working from home made it hard to find a good work-life balance? Are you feeling out of step with the rhythm of your home life? Every relationship needs recharging. Sometimes small, simple changes can reinforce the deep, meaningful bonds with our loved ones, including our kids. Here are some ideas on how to reconnect.

Tips for At-Home Moms Doing At-Home Learning

Tips for At-Home Moms Doing At-Home Learning
May 14, 2020 by Tracey Hecht

First, let me be clear—I am a terrible tutor, a lifelong resenter of housework, a decent but wildly disinterested cook, and yet I, like many of you, am in week eight of quarantine. But I am surviving! Not thriving, but surviving. Here are my tips:

Celebrate Earth Day with the Nocturnals!

Celebrate Earth Day with the Nocturnals!
Apr 22, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

Each year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd—a tradition that started in 1970, when the public began to realize the serious ecological problems threatening our planet. 2020’s campaign is focused on climate action. In honor of Earth Day, we have created a Nocturnals’ matching activity for you and your child. Match the endangered animals to their geographic location, then check out the following resources to discover how you can help save these unique species!

Learn to Be Your Best Self With The Best Burp

Learn to Be Your Best Self With The Best Burp
Apr 15, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

In The Best Burp, Bismark, Tobin, and their new friend Bink listen to Dawn when she asks them to reflect on the etiquette of their burp-off. Together, all the friends help each other grow into their best selves.

Play The Nocturnals Bingo over FaceTime or Zoom

Play The Nocturnals Bingo over FaceTime or Zoom
Mar 25, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

Looking for ways to connect with friends and loved ones while maintaining social distance? Try playing The Nocturnals Bingo over FaceTime or Zoom!

3 Riveting Middle Grade Books for Women’s History Month

3 Riveting Middle Grade Books for Women’s History Month
Mar 06, 2020 by The Editors of Fabled Films Press

It’s Women’s History Month! We’re celebrating by filling our March to-read lists with middle grade books that highlight the accomplishments and experiences of inspirational women. Here are three recommendations for 2020: