For 11 years, World Read Aloud Day has called attention to the importance of sharing stories by challenging participants to grab a book, find an audience, and read aloud! The global effort is now celebrated in over 173 countries and counting! Here are 20 books, perfect for reading aloud to the whole family!

The Paperboy
Pre-K – 3
In the still before dawn, while the rest of the world is sleeping, a boy and his dog leave the comfort of their warm bed to deliver newspapers. As the boy pedals his bike along a route he knows by heart, his dog runs by his side, both enjoying a world that, before sunrise, belongs only to them.

Big Dreams Collection
Pre-K – 3

Pig the Pug
K

Future Baby: Future Engineer
K

Baby Shark
K

The Wonky Donkey
Children will be in fits of laughter with this perfect read aloud tale of an endearing donkey. By the book’s final page, readers end up with a spunky, hanky panky, cranky, stinky, dinky, lanky, honky tonky, winky wonky donkey!
Pre-K –  K

The Dinky Donkey
K

Baby Faces: Splash!
K

Peppa Pig: Chinese New Year
K-3

It’s Spring!
Pre-K – K

I Am a Big Sister
Early Childhood – Pre-K

Lego City: Wrecking Valentine’s Day
Pre-K – 3

Baby Faces: Eat!
Early Childhood – Pre-K

Are You Ready to Play Outside
Pre-K – 3

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see?
Pre-K – K

The Giving Tree
“Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.” So begins Shel Silverstein’s beloved story about a tree that literally gives her entire self to the person she loves
K-2

Down by the Cool of the Pool
Pre-K – K

Red Pepper, Yellow Squash: A Book of Colors
Early Childhood – Pre-K

The Snowy Day
Pre-K – 3

Perfect
Pre-K – K

Grab your favorite read aloud book, find a buddy, and start celebrating World Read Aloud Day!

As temperatures continue to drop and frost visits your home each morning, feeling more like January, it’s time to start thinking about protecting your home from the colder weather.

Most of you have probably heard and are familiar with the tips we hear about on the news- leaving the water dripping, opening the cabinet doors and if you can, wrap the pipes to insulate them… but do you know what you would do if a pipe in your home actually did burst? I sure wouldn’t know what to do or where to start, so we got some advice from our friends at Stanley Steemer, who offer 24/7 Emergency Water Removal.

Minimize the Damage

If possible, stop the water at its source. (Do you know where your main water valve is?)

Turn off the electricity and remove small electrical devices from the areas with excess water, if it is safe to do so.

Avoid walking on wet carpet.

Remove small furnishings from carpeted areas or place aluminum foil under furniture legs. This helps prevent permanent rust of furniture stains.

Hang draperies and pin up furniture skirts to avoid contact with wet floors.

Remove any breakables, moisture-sensitive and high value items, as well as items that may stain floor coverings. Check under the beds and other furnishings.

Plan for restoration crews to move furniture into dry areas.

Wash your hands after handling damaged items.

Avoid the possibility of electric shock. Do not use home vacuum or shop vacuum to remove the water.

Avoid the temptation to turn on fans or heating and air conditioning units as they may spread
contamination if the situation is sewage-related.

Ok, so you’ve managed to minimize the damage as much as you can on your own, now it’s time to call for back up. Proper extraction and drying techniques help minimize the possibility of secondary damage, potential microbial growth and reduces long term costs. Certification and accreditation are important when considering who to call. You’ll want to find a company who can be there regardless of time or day, these types of housing emergencies don’t happen when it’s convenient for you.

And remember, prevention is always the best, but keep these tips handy in case you need them! Stay Warm everyone!

Stanley Steemer of North Central Alabama services the greater Birmingham Metro Area and surrounding counties, spanning from Cullman to Clanton and from the Mississippi state line to the Georgia state line.

All Stanley Steemer water restoration specialists have Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the most widely recognized and accepted certification program in the industry. These individuals are highly trained and prepared for any emergency water removal task they encounter. In addition to certification, our technicians attend IICRC-accredited continuing education and training programs throughout the year. We provide the time and money to train our people, and we supply them with the best equipment available.
For more information on their 24/7 Emergency Water Resmoval visit their site

Stanley Steemer provides trained technicians and state-of-the-art equipment you can’t get anywhere else. When flooding occurs, why muddy the waters? Call Stanley Steemer.

Use Code: Mom30 for $30 off any service. (Minimum charges apply)

The winter months are cold and flu season… sore throats and coughs are common in kiddos, maybe even a fever. So, as parents, how can we tell the difference when both the cold and flu present similar symptoms?

According to Children’s of Alabama, the flu hits a lot harder than a cold does, and a lot quicker. You can have a high fever, fatigue and body aches and feel very, very tired.

• Comes on faster and harder
• High fever
• Fatigue
• Body Aches