I'm glad to welcome author Martha Swirzinski, M.A. today as she talks about her Movement and More children’s series of books.
Question: Tell me about the title of the series and what that means to readers?
Answer: The title Movement and More suggests that within the pages of our books I offer not just fantastic rhymes and great pictures but moving, interacting, thinking and socializing. Our books engage the whole child, all of the domains of child development.
Question: You mention “our” books. Who is the other author?
Answer: I co-wrote these with Dr. Anita Tieman, a psychologist, who has spent many years working with children. She brings her expertise into the social and emotional aspect of these books.
Question: You have three books. Leap…Laugh…Plop, Guess…Giggle…Wiggle and Kick… Catch…Buzzz. Can you tell me a bit about them?
Answer: These three books offer the ultimate mind/body connection. When children move both their bodies and minds are strengthened. Using entertaining rhymes and charming pictures, these fun and creative books offer multiple ways for your child to move. They also provide mind stimulating activities on each page. Each book brings the joy of movement together with the joy of reading. The pages of these books are filled with laughter, learning, movement and more.
More specifically: Leap…Laugh…Plop works on all of the locomotor skills
Guess…Giggle…Wiggle… has the children doing creative movement
Kick…Catch…Buzzzz.. addresses the manipulative skills
Question: Will there be any more in the series?
Answer: Yes, as a matter of fact we are working on the fourth now, which will be specifically on the non locomotor skills.
Question: How did you come up with this idea for a series of books?
Answer: I teach in a preschool and have my Master’s degree in Kinesiology, so I’ve been involved with children and movement for over 15 years now. I wanted to come up with a way that parents, and teachers could incorporate the specific movement skills necessary for motor and brain development in an easy and fun way. Doing an activity isn’t always easy. Sometimes space, equipment or time may not be available. However, reading a book is fun, easy and doesn’t require much planning.
Question: Where can readers find out more about you and your books?
Answer: Our website is WWW.WholeChildPublishing.com
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12 comments:
Terrific interview. Fascinating!
Best wishes,
Donna
Katie thanks for having me today.
Martha
As a former preschool teacher I'm sure these books will be welcomed by people who work with young kids.
I love Martha's books! We have a similar philosophy on movement and learning. I, too, have seen first hand how much more children learn when movement is part of their curriculum. Way to go Martha!
Martha, GREAT to meet you. And Katie, love that author/walking on water connection!
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Sharing writers' resources at Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites pick www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com
This is such a great idea - kids need every opportunity to move, and if that mind-body connection becomes innate, it's there for life.
Wonderful interview. Martha, your books are just what kids, parents, and teachers of youngsters need.
Learning and movement all in one!
I homeschooled my four children and found that kinesiology was an awesome thought process for them to use in developing their awareness of surroundings. It worked extremely well when they were younger and helped them to learn more about their surroundings and how to use education to their benefit later.
Jan Verhoeff
Martha, I love rhyme and used to study dance -- your books sound terrific. How did you hook up with your co-author?
Margaret Fieland
One of my daughters is an elementary teacher, Pre-K for most of those years. These books are perfect. Bravo for your books.
Margaret,
She is actually an old friend. When I started talking about doing something like this she jumped on board to bring in the social/emotional piece to the books. I think we make a great team.
I always love hearing about your work, Martha!
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