Benefits of Reading Aloud With Your Child
“Why should I read with my kids?”
Reading is often considered a solitary activity, but when done together, it can provide several benefits, especially to children. Reading aloud with your child is an activity that may seem simple, but it packs a punch in terms of its benefits. Here’s why you should read aloud with your child as often as possible.
1. Enhances Vocabulary
When you read aloud to your child, you expose them to a wide range of words and phrases that they might not encounter in everyday conversations. This helps to expand their vocabulary and improve their language skills.
2. Develops Listening Skills
Listening to someone read aloud helps your child to develop their listening skills and attention span. They learn to focus on the story and understand the sequence of events, a crucial skill for their overall cognitive development.
3. Fosters Bonding
Reading together is an intimate activity that can help to strengthen your bond with your child. It gives you both a chance to spend quality time together, discuss the story, share thoughts, and create lasting memories.
4. Encourages Imagination
Books are a great source of stimulation for a child’s imagination. When you read aloud, you help to bring the story to life in your child’s mind, encouraging them to visualize the events and characters in their own unique way.
5. Instills a Love for Reading
By making reading a regular activity, your child is more likely to develop a love for books. This can set the foundation for a lifelong habit of reading, which can benefit them in countless ways as they grow older.
So, let’s get reading! 
Do the best you can. This isn’t a contest for “best parent.” Do what you can when you can. Reading aloud with your child is not just about passing the time or keeping them entertained. It’s a powerful tool that can contribute significantly to their overall development. So, take some time from your busy schedule and read aloud with your child as often as possible. You’ll be surprised at the positive impact it can have!
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Our offices will be closed until September 1, 2023, for family breaks, vacations, etc.
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See you soon.
#ALA: Meet Nancy Manet at the American Library Association 2023 Annual Conference
The Small-Tooth-Dog Publishing Group is delighted to announce the appearance of singer-songwriter and author Nancy Manet at the upcoming American Library Conference at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Nancy Manet will sign copies of her latest book, “My Expansion,” and meet fans at the Independent Book Publishers Association exhibitor booth (#3711) at 3:00 PM on Saturday and 11:30 AM on Sunday.
Fresh from a recording at Abbey Road Studios in London, Nancy will sign her children’s book focusing on her struggle to break free from rigid thinking.
Released as an adaptation of Nancy’s soon-to-be-released song, “My Expansion” captures her journey of reconciling a strict, dogmatic religious upbringing with her profound desire to love and support her free-spirited daughter. Through vivid poetry, Nancy poignantly portrays her struggle and ultimately finds her way toward understanding and acceptance.
Illustrated by Michelle Buvala, “My Expansion” showcases the enchanting tale of Big Bear and their cub through captivating artwork, making it an engaging and accessible read for young audiences. The book is available for order from local independent bookstores and online retailers.
Nancy is happy to offer a limited number of “My Expansion” copies exclusively for attendees of the American Library Conference. These limited edition copies will be available for signing at Booth 3711 on Saturday and Sunday. Due to the high demand and limited supply, conference attendees must visit the booth early to secure their copy during each of Nancy’s 30-minute signing times.
Writing from east Texas, Nancy Manet shares her experience, stating, “My upbringing led me to expect my children to conform like perfectly-potted tulips in a neat row. However, I discovered my first child to be more like a field of wildflowers. In my quest for perfection, I erred by being rigid and rule-driven instead of parenting with love and grace.”
Nancy’s early life story of hardship, betrayal, and abandonment paved the way for her present-day success as an entrepreneur. Confronted with a choice between embracing her LGBTQ daughter or rejecting her, Nancy defied dogmatic, religious ideologies and embraced genuine love and empathy for her child. She firmly believes that rigid thinking and expanding love and empathy cannot coexist.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Nancy Manet and have your limited edition copy of “My Expansion” personally signed at the American Library Conference. Join us at Booth 3711 on Saturday and Sunday to engage with this author who fearlessly explores parental love, acceptance, and personal growth.
Children’s Book Week May 2023
It’s Children’s Book Week! 📚 Coloring Page Alert! Freebies below for home and classroom activities.↓
Reading books with your kids can be a great way to spend quality time together and to help your kids develop important skills:
• Improved language and communication
• Improved problem-solving
• Enhanced focus and concentration
• Increased memory and creativity
Plus, it’s just plain fun! 😃
Oh, the free coloring page? Here it is!
Free bookmarks to print & color? Go right here!
We love the hashtag #ReadBooksSparkChange. What better way to kick that off than when of our bears from “My Expansion” by @nanmanet? This book is about sparking change in the relationship between Big Bear and the cub. From learning and growing as a bear family in the book to finding more expansion by reading great books, we think this art by illustrator @themesquitetreestudio is perfect.
Need even more free pages for classroom activities? Go here for the full list.
New Indie Reader Approved Book: My Expansion
Here’s today’s news! For our “My Expansion” book, we are honored and humbled to receive a 4-star review, and a “Indie Reader Approved” status today from IndieReader. Congrats to Nancy Manet and Michelle Buvala for this fine, detailed review recognizing the hundreds of hours that go into producing a book like this.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Nancy Manet’s book MY EXPANSION, beautifully illustrated by Michelle Buvala, is an original, creative, and compassionate story to encourage and offer guidance to a child who may be different from other children . . . While MY EXPANSION is clearly a children’s book, the messages it conveys are as much directed at parents as they are at children. “ ~IndieReader
Thank you to everyone on our team that strive for excellence in all our books.
Tucson Festival of Books 2023
We’ll be at the 2023 Tucson Festival of Books! Great new books, too. Watch this post.
Three New Books Debut on March 4:
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Salt and the Sea
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My Expansion
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The Gecko is On the Cover  |
Schedule. See us in booth #408
Saturday, March 4, 2023
10am Meet and Greet: Michelle Buvala
10am: Free Family Craft #1: Gecko Headbands for the book, “The Gecko is On the Cover.”
12noon Meet and Greet: Nancy Manet
12noon Free Family Craft: Bear Masks for the book, “My Expansion.”
2pm Meet and Greet: Harriet Cole
2pm Family Crafting #3
4pm Meet and Greet: Sean Buvala & Marc Severson
4pm: Family Crafting: #4
Sunday, March 5, 2023
10am Meet and Greet: Nancy Manet
10am: Family Crafting #1:
12noon Meet and Greet: Amanda Malek Ahmadi
12noon Family Crafting #2
2pm Meet and Greet: Tamera Norwood
2pm Family Crafting #3
4pm Meet and Greet: Harriet Cole
4pm: Family Crafting: #4
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Is it time for you to publish your book for kids?
Come start your journey with our learning resources. 
✍️ Writing children’s books is an incredible way to improve the world.
🌎 Here are five benefits of being an author of children’s books:
• Share your creativity: Writing children’s books is a great way to be creative and share your ideas with the world. 💡
• Make a difference: You will have the opportunity to impact the lives of many young readers positively. 🤗
• Be an inspiration: Writing for young readers can provide inspiration and motivation to help them achieve great things. 🚀
• Express yourself: Writing children’s books allows you to express yourself through stories and characters. 📝
• Create memories: Writing children’s books can create memories that will last a lifetime. 💭
Get started. Can you do it? 🤩 You never know where it may lead you.
Reach out if you want help, author. #authorlife #childrensbooks 📚
Vendor Show Cooperative Advertising
Hey, authors! New 2023 Co-Ops are open! Vendor-Show Cooperative Advertising
Do you have a book (kidlit or nonfiction) not published by us that you’d like to see promoted at a festival or convention?
Working a vendor show at a festival, convention, or a “con” can be tiring, challenging, and expensive, especially when you have just one or two books. However, we’re experienced at these shows and have the necessary personnel and supplies. Why not let us do the work for your book for a fraction of what it would cost for you to do it yourself?
We invite you to consider placing your high-quality book(s) at some of our upcoming shows. There is value in saying, “My books appeared at ‘XYZ Big Fest!” We’ll be sure to capture digital pictures that show your book in a great light. You can then use these as you wish.
Learn more right now at this link.
Gift Idea: There’s Good All Around
There’s good all around. This excellent book for kids and families has a positive message: even when things get you down, there still can be found good all around.
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An easy, gentle book for all those good-night times, especially the poetic verses from @tamera.norwood and illustrations from Graziella Miligi. This will hold a place in your family’s
bedtime routine.
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Order now for December deliveries.
2023 Tune Up!
Our latest workshop/lab helping you get your social media ready for 2023.
Let’s remove your excuses and help
launch a fantastic 2023 where you’ll reach and connect with audiences, readers, and great customers.
Confused, Lost, Burnt Out, Overwhelmed, Frustrated?
Another NEW YEAR is upon us, and you still aren’t where you want to be? You are so done with theories and making resolutions …and…you know you won’t be able to keep them.
The core essentials of marketing have not changed in decades. However, HOW marketing is done changes frequently. Perhaps you are a bit confused by the “option shock” and want someone to show you WHAT needs to be done and HOW to get it in place and working. You’re not ready to hire staff yet, but sheesh, all of this is making you a bit crazy?
Or, you might be doing okay with your work but want a refresh on the latest ideas and services, that is, a tune-up for 2023.
Okay, we hear you. What if we gave you the steps weekly and showed you where the (no cost!) resources are ready for you to use?
What’s the offer?
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