For the second year in a row, Bur Bur and Friends has partnered with The National Basketball Academy, The Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx to host a one of a kind Youth Basketball Clinic in August of 2010. Spaces are limited and filling up fast so sign up now! The clinic is for kids ages 6-11 and will be held August 2-5th. Join the fun with friends while learning about teamwork and basketball basics.

Below is a letter from our friend Anna Rose. Anna is sharing that she would like to see more butterflies in our books. Since Bur Bur and Friends educates young children about the funnest sports and outdoor exploration activities, we think it is a terrific idea! Thanks for being part of our team Anna!!

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March 2, 2010 Dr. Seuss would have been 106 years old.  For those authors out there, his first book was rejected 27 times! As many of you know, his books are surely art imitating life.  To recognize his birthday and his great contributions to the literary world, we have included text from his book Happy Birthday to You!

Further down, you can see some of our favorite Dr. Seuss quotes that we hope you will enjoy too! (more…)

 

To help celebrate Black History month, co-author JoAnne Pastel was invited to spend part of a day reading the Bur Bur and Friends book series to the 300 students from K – 3 grades at the Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary http://www.obama.spps.org/ in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

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By Kathy Jandric, mother of three, grandmother of 6

It was about 4:30 in the evening on a wintry December day and the temperature was 4 degrees. Often when it gets this cold in Minnesota, we want to stay home, put some soup on the stove and keep warm. I had started a fire in the fireplace which was now roaring and snapping. I had been wrapping gifts for Christmas, baking cookies, cleaning and I was exhausted from a long week at work. (more…)

In light of the 6.1 magnitude aftershock in Haiti today, they continue to plea for our help and there is an EASY way you can make a difference for children and families. The American Red Cross understands the power of how mobile and social media can make a difference and are using it to get assistance to the victims in Haiti.

To donate $5.00 or $10.00 to The American Red Cross, Text the word Haiti to 90999. You will receive a text message back to confirm, click “yes” and that is it. Below is a Public Service Announcement from Michelle Obama. Please take action now, they desperately need our help.

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January of 2009 I wrote a post called Teaching our kids: Facts about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a way to celebrate the holiday. In 1994 Congress charged the Corporation for National and Community Service to encourage Americans to use the holiday as a national day of service.

Last year, President Obama asked us to ruminate on the messages and legacy of Dr. King’s dream and reminded people volunteering is a path to honor this man who made such a difference to people everywhere.  (more…)

Coaching is a great experience for you and for the kids you are teaching. Working with youth will create a lifetime love of the game when training is delivered right. Here are some tips to help you prepare your team. (more…)

By Sarah Simons, mother of 7

In September of this year, our family participated for the first time in the “Autism Speaks Walk” to raise awareness and money for autism research. There were many representatives from groups and companies offering support, services and products to address the special needs that children with autism may have.  As we walked through the exhibits, we saw gluten-free cookies, adaptive toys, t-shirts with affirming messages, and LOTS of chiropractors.

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In the spirit of the seasons, we want to extend wonderful holiday wishes to all of you. We are grateful that you continue to come along with us on our journey.

Bur Bur and Friends was created to inspire kids to discover their talents and self-esteem through true life experiences we like to refer to as “real moments.” This time of year can be a reminder for us to count our blessings as we see the magic through the eyes of a child.

At Farmer’s Hat Productions, we are thankful for your ongoing support and look forward to sharing many more of those real moments together with you and your families.

Happy Holidays,

-JoAnne and Kakie

P.S. Please consider becoming a fan of our characters on facebook@ http://tinyurl.com/ybpagn6

Award winning authors JoAnne Pastel and Kakie Fitzsimmons get mention in a Minneapolis Star Tribune Article. Pastel and Fitzsimmons are co-creators of Bur Bur and Friends, a cast of characters who help kids cultivate their self-esteem by educating them about sports, outdoor exploration and active play. Bur Bur and Friends characters are multicultural and are based off of real children.

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Recently, we have collaborated with some Minnesota author friends to open a retail store over the holiday season that featured our products. The story ran on the front page of the St. Paul Pioneer Press this past Saturday and was written by MaryAnn Grossman. The store was the brain child of our friend, Kelly Lucente, author of “Bye Bye Monster.” We are honored and humbled that Kelly calls us her friends and mentors. Don’t let the headline fool you, the point of the story was opening the store was something that had to be put together quickly.  (more…)

As families, we all want our kids to feel good about themselves. How often do we have those moments when we step away and say, “How should I start, when does it begin?”
According to the National Mental Health Center, children with high self-esteem:
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It is such a gift when we see reflections of ourselves in children. Remember those days when we thought we knew what the words to a song were? Even now, if we are not so sure, we still manage to sing through it. This talented young toddler has quite a knack for playing the ukelele and a great singing voice as well. It brought us back to a time when life seemed so much simpler. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! (more…)