This summer, the Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD series, which has won more awards than any other contemporary children’s video brand, will launch a new line of DVDs designed to teach early sign language skills to preschool children. Featuring beautiful productions of some of the most recognizable children’s books of all time, this new series offers a groundbreaking approach to learning sign language and helping kids of all hearing abilities to gain literacy and pre-reading skills.

The first two releases are Goodnight Moon & More Great Bedtime Stories, lovingly adapted from the 1947 storybook by Margaret Wise Brown, which has sold tens of millions of units worldwide, and the loveable tale A Pocket for Corduroy, with Five Little Monkeys to follow this fall. The inaugural releases will both be available on July 27.

The album is available for free on their website and well worth listening to. It moves freely, one track to the next, as the listener “walks” along a gravel path (crunch, crunch, crunch), listens to birds, hears waves lapping up on the edge of a pond, and then moves to the interior of an old manor. You hear an old fashioned music box, clocks ticking and chiming, and (my favorite) the incoherent chatter of children in a school room.

It’s both soothing and evocative. Very cool to play for your kids!

The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Documentation is required to obtain the pass. Acceptable documentation includes: statement by a licensed physician; document issued by a Federal agency such as the Veteran’s Administration, Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income; or document issued by a State agency such as a vocational rehabilitation agency.

The pass provides access to, and use of, Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity. The pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free).

The pass can only be obtained in person at the park. The Access Pass provides a 50 percent discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and specialized interpretive services. In some cases where Expanded Amenity Fees are charged, only the pass holder will be given the 50 percent price reduction. The pass is non-transferable and generally does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.

The Sensesational Alphabet is a super cool book that is designed for children with sensory or learning impairments.

The book incorporates vision, touch, smell, movement, and sound into the alphabet, getting just about every sense involved (though, as far as I know, you can’t taste the book).

It also includes the signs and braille for each letter! And the keypad along the side allows you to hear the words and letters. This is an amazing idea!

This company also produces Alphabet Touch and Feel Picture Cards that include the signs and braille, too. These would make great gifts!

The Sensesational Alphabet is also now available at Seedlings.

National Braille Press has some neat ideas:

• Silver-Plated Braille Alphabet Bracelets
• “Life is short. Eat dessert first!” Braille Magnet
• “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart” Braille Magnet
• “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world” Braille Magnet
• “Braille Opens Doors” Keychain
• Louis Braille Note Cards

Seedlings also carries some beautiful affirmation charms in braille. You can have them strung on a black neoprene cord (which looks very fashionable) or a silver bead chain.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Have you been trying to help your child learn how to ride their tricycle but they just can’t keep their feet on the pedals?

Tricycles can be great physical play since they teach kids to move one leg and then the other, similar to walking, and also teach kids with low tone how to push with their feet and legs to get some pretty fun feedback.

If you’re having trouble getting your child to keep his feet on the pedals, here are some pretty cool toe clips that may help. It’s a lot cheaper than trying to buy a special needs tricycle!

Remember the N64 Zelda game, Ocarina of Time? Well, I never finished it.

Time shifted, Link grew up, and suddenly I was supposed to essentially play the whole game over again as a big person and I just gave up. Sigh.

Well, there are kids out there that have actually figured out how to play this game Blind folded and they’re helping out their fellow blind gamers succeed in the game as well! Makes me want to bring the game out and try it again….

Did you know…

• Baby elephants can weigh 260 lbs at birth?
• Flamingoes are pink because their food contains carotene?
• A tiger’s roar can be heard from two miles away?
• May 23rd is World Turtle Day?

A whole book of facts about some of the animals on Noah’s Ark can be discussed while your student or child touches the unique features of turtles, elephants, dragonflies, giraffes, and more! The Noah’s Ark Tactile Set includes a print/braille picture book, twelve delightful tactiles, and a print and braille booklet titles “Fun Facts About Noah’s Ark” all for $28!

If you order Noah’s Ark from National Braille Press now, they’ll send you a FREE print/braille Winnie-the-Pooh calendar WHILE SUPPLIES LAST (but you have to call to get the free calendar: 800-548-7323 ext 520).

National Braille Press has released the images of their annual valentines cards. They’re specifically designed for blind kids to hand out to sighted peers.

The image is of a pizza and the braille above says “Have a pizza my heart.” On the back of the card you’ll find instructions on how to “decode” the braille.

These cards are fun and a great way to raise braille awareness in a sighted classroom.