Pasta Pasta!

Zak and I tried to recreate the ravioli-making I learned in Italy.

There was a bit of bickering and a few mistakes, but I give us a solid B for a first attempt.

(And it tasted … like Italy! )

Big News!

🚜 BIG NEWS COMING THROUGH! 🚧

I'm excited to announce TWO new additions to the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site library coming this September!

In Construction Site: Garbage Crew to the Rescue! the crew teams up with new friends—garbage trucks, roll-off trucks, container delivery trucks, and more!—to help refurbish old homes, set up dumpsters and garbage cans, sort trash, recycling, compost, and transport the garbage away.

Construction Site: A Thankful Night, is a gratitude-themed lift-the-flap board book that's perfect for the holiday season. Kids will reveal delightful details as the construction crew gathers pumpkins, sets a scarecrow straight, and prepares the barn for a grateful harvest—all while feeling thankful for each other.

Both books are available for preorder right now. If you're a @barnesandnoble member you can get 25% through April 19th.
B&N premium members can take an additional 10% off physical preorders.

What better way to celebrate two new books for the fall?

Book Giveaways!!!

🐣🌸🐰 B O O K G I V E A W A Y 🐣🌸🐰

With the start of spring just one week away and Easter right around the bunny trail, I’m so thrilled to have teamed up with my friend Becca Thiemann PhD of @beccasbookbox to offer this curated collection of books PLUS a signed and personalized copy of Construction Site: Spring Delight! to one lucky winner.

To enter, make sure to follow my account and @beccasbookbox, comment on this post, and tag TWO friends before 11:59 AM EST on Wednesday, March 20th. US ONLY PLEASE!

One winner will receive one personalized copy of Construction Site: Spring Delight by Sherri Rinker + one copy of the following books:

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR’S EASTER EGG HUNT by Eric Carle

Springtime days ahead...

All set for springtime days ahead...

We've made it to the final weeks of winter, and I have planting and gardening on my mind! If you're ready to pack away the cotton ball snowmen and start planning spring crafts and activities with the kids, the Construction Site: Farming Strong, All Year Long activity kit includes literacy-building games and drawing prompts that feature our rough and tough trucks (and some cute farm animals, too! ) You can download the kit now at SherriRinker.com, and if you do I hope you'll share those amazing kid drawings with me here!

Thanks! Enhance Reading with Play!

With TRUCKLOADS of appreciation to @taleswithheart for this post! 🥰 Follow their Insta feed for more ideas!

• • •

Did you know, not all books about vehicles are made the same? We love @sherririnker’s Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series SO much (see huge pile) - for many reasons. Here are our top 3:

🚜 GENDER INCLUSIVE: Most books about vehicles are about boy vehicles, but not these. Kid McGear is a girl!

🚜 VALUES REST: Nearly all the books end with the vehicles going to sleep. They’ve put in a good day’s work & now they must go to bed.

🚜 CENTERS TEAMWORK: None of their projects would be possible without collaboration. Whether they’re demolishing a building or expanding an airport, they have to contribute their individuals skills & work together.

By this point, my kiddo has memorized all the words! So, to enhance storytime, he acts out the books with toys in #kineticsand 🙌 This strengthens his auditory skills, keeps his mind engaged, allows him to stay present for an extended period of time, & gives structure to his play. Free, open play is important & wonderful, but it can be nice to have a contained play experience, especially when sand is involved! #iykyk

Thanks

Thank you SO MUCH @threepeasfinds for this fabulous photo and post!
•
Our first play invitation in a few days! ☀️ We have been soaking up the sunshine and gorgeous weather with lots of outdoor play! So I am pumped to jump back in to some play invitations indoors this week!

Our latest @jackandlinktoys order was jam packed with all kinds of fun including these amazing Mini Writeables ™️ and number rounds! There are SO many ways to use these pieces, today they’ll be used for practicing counting and numbers!

If you’re a mama working on counting, the ten frame math board is also so small and easy for little hands to practice counting manipulation with!

Paired with our fave book from @sherririnker too, OF COURSE! 🚙

Check Out Activity Kits Page on this Website

All set for springtime days ahead...

We've made it to the final weeks of winter, and I have planting and gardening on my mind! If you're ready to pack away the cotton ball snowmen and start planning spring crafts and activities with the kids, the Construction Site: Farming Strong, All Year Long activity kit includes literacy-building games and drawing prompts that feature our rough and tough trucks (and some cute farm animals, too! ) You can download the kit now from the Activity Kits Page of this website, and if you do I hope you'll share those amazing kid drawings with me here!

Easter Basket Ideaas

Such an awesome Easter basket idea! 🐣🌷Thank you SO MUCH to @threetimestheplay 🥰❤️
——-
Here are some of our favorites that we’ve had around the house for a long time and have stood the test of time for construction themed play and worth the investment for fun factor and durability! All 3 of my boys have loved these.

Happy Valentine's Day

Whether you love or hate Valentine's Day, you can bet your little ones will be all in — with the treats, plushes, and classroom Valentine's Day fun. I remember the scramble to find funny or cute valentines that celebrated FRIENDSHIP, and NOT
pre-k romance! So, this year, we’ve created downloadable and printable Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site valentines, featuring some of your favorite characters, that kids can customize at home and share with friends. (Accompanying candy is, of course, totally optional!)

Head to the link in my bio to get the download and don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, too!

Big thanks of course to @agfordart for his amazing illustrations!

The Book Stall is So Wonderful!

Bookstore Appreciation Post!

@the_book_stall in Winnetka, IL was the very first bookstore store to notice Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site— LONG before anyone had ever heard of me, and long before my book was even available at other indie stores or Barnes & Noble.

Robert kindly tells me that he “knew it would be a hit” when he saw the galleys, which might just be the loveliest compliment ever. The store worked with @chroniclekidsbooks to set up my very first school visit (I was both terrified and terrible, btw, but it was my start!)

Our local bookstores are vital for our communities and children--providing fun-filled, nurturing spaces for kids to uncover their passions, unleash their creativity, and experience new places without leaving their home town. I've traveled to so many bookstores through the years, but I can’t think of any shop that is more supportive of me and my work — or any store that I’m more passionate about supporting.

If you haven't visited Book Stall in person (or online!), take a look at what they're sharing this month with a selection from Mike Wysock, the store manager.

“We are dedicated to providing engaging children’s programming both at school author visits and here at the store! We recently celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the “I Am” series with illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos leading a fun drawing demo and scavenger hunt, and we are looking forward to our upcoming author visit with Kathleen Doherty featuring her new picture book, “The Twist-a-Roo,” as part of our long-running Saturday Storytimes. There’s always something fun brewing at The Book Stall!

Special thanks to the team at The Book Stall for the pictures through the years!

Construction Site: You're Just Right

Just when you've managed to rid your house of all those holiday treats, here comes Valentine's Day with a helping of sugar to wind the kids up again! If you're looking for a gift that's just as sweet as candy with no chocolate involved, I'm excited to be able to give away five signed and personalized copies of CONSTRUCTION SITE: YOU'RE JUST RIGHT.

When Valentine's Day arrives at the construction site, every truck finds a special note just for them. Kids can lift the flaps to reveal sweet and silly messages, celebrate the kindness of true friends, and discover who wrote the valentines for the construction site crew.

To enter, follow me at @sherririnker, comment on this post, and tag two friends by 11:59 PM EST on February 1, 2024. US only please!

MY DADDY illustrated by AG Ford

Here's a quick round-up of some of my all time favorite books for kids about Martin Luther King Jr. From learning about his life to gaining a deeper understanding of his mission and its importance, these picture books can help make this important slice of American History come to life.

And a special shout out to my friend and illustrator @agfordart whose work in MY DADDY is nothing short of spectacular. ❤