This week I teamed up with some author friends Laura Sassi, Jill Roman Lord, and Tama Fortner to create ornaments inspired by our picture books. It was loads of fun! You can see all of the the ornament ideas on my Instagram or Facebook page.
I had seen the idea many places, but I had never tried it for myself. I recruited my daughter Chelsea to help me. We created this YouTube how-to video. We had so much fun making it!
You are in for a treat today! I am excited to welcome Danielle Santana from StorybookTree to my blog. I recently came across her Instagram account, and I absolutely love the products that she creates for families. I want to share with as many people as possible about her wonderful business.
Danielle Santana
Hi Danielle, I’m so glad you could join us today. I must say that I am a big fan of the products you offer. For those who are unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your business/blog/Instagram site?
I like to think of StorybookTree as a place where nature and creativity meet the magic of story-time. Here at StorybookTree, I hope to ignite the spark of reading in early learners – just as I did in my preschool classroom and with my own three children – by sharing with families quality picture books paired with fun, nature-based activities. What I have found is that families really do want to adventure together through the pages of books, and nature provides the perfect opportunity for a book adventure to begin!
Very intriguing! So tell us, what is at the heart of what you are doing?
The natural world is ripe for learning. That seed was planted in me from a very young age and continuously nurtured by my mom as I grew. Nature connects us all. In vigorous outdoor play, children learn to take risks, face challenges and solve problems. And as a teacher, every subject I wanted to teach could be found in nature: science, math, language arts, geography, social studies – and more! I would invite my children to learn about these academic subjects but in a subtle and very applicable way. Plus it’s fun to get outside! And looking back, this is really where the heart of StorybookTree was born!
I love that! I definitely agree that the outdoors offers a unique learning space, and kids definitely benefit from both playing and learning outside. How did you get started with your business? What specific steps did you take?
I first realized the power of story-time and it’s connection to nature when I read my children the book, Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. My children were completely captivated by the rhythm of the story and could positively see the adventure unfolding before them. When they asked for it again and again, I knew I had found a key that unlocked a very special door. So I created an activity (what would eventually become one of my printable storycrafts) to extend the lesson in the book out into nature. On our scavenger hunt I would subtly interweave the academic subjects into the nature lesson, creating meaningful, real-world connections.
Sounds fascinating, what type of connections do you mean?
We would look for shades of color, count pine cones and sort materials into categories; we would weigh the items we collected and draw pictures of what we observed. Seeing their faces light up when the children made a connection to the story were some of my favorite moments teaching.
I can picture the fun!
So next, my family and I moved, and my job position changed, but I knew I wanted to share my printable storycrafts with a wider audience. So I created StorybookTree on Instagram (found at @storybooktree) as a way to connect with others who have school-age children and who share a love of nature-based learning, beautiful picture books and hands-on activities. I am so thrilled to now have over 25 items in my small shop: (www.storybooktree.bigcartel.com) , including a printable storycraft to go with your beautiful book, Mindy: “Mouses Christmas Gift.” And, I am adding more Christmas items each week!
Oooh, how lovely! I am in love with this printable for Mouse’s Christmas Gift! What a sweet and charming craft. I hope many people will purchase and use it as they read the book. I am so honored that you made this. And more Christmas items yet to come this month?? How fabulous!! I will follow along on Instagram and watch as you unveil all of your wonderfully creative items. So fun!
I am curious, as you have developed your business, what has been the biggest personal benefit or reward? Has anything surprised you along the way?
Instagram has been a fantastic vehicle to drive traffic to my small shop www.storybooktree.bigcartel.com by providing a platform for getting my printable storycrafts into the hands of a wider audience, but it has come with a few surprises along the way. I had to learn everything from scratch, like what is an algorithm? And how does it work? How do I install a pop-up? And . . . what’s a cookie? I did a lot of research just on terminology alone! But this is where that seed my mom planted in me long ago for having a lifelong love of learning comes in. I continue to learn something new everyday and absolutely love it!
You are so right that all of us need to have a willingness to grow and learn new things! I have found that to be true in my job as a teacher and as a writer. We can NEVER stop learning!
Danielle, this has been such an interestingand enjoyable chat, I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to talk with me. Are there any final thoughts you would want to leave us with?
I believe books are meant to be adventured through, and now more than ever, families are discovering the important role that books play in their lives. Stories provide an escape when we physically can’t go somewhere, they introduced us to characters that become friends we love, and they foster a bonding opportunity for children and their families at story-time. I am so grateful for my StorybookTree community – a place where we can adventure together through the pages of books!
I couldn’t agree more! I wish you all the best, Danielle, and applaud the wonderful products you are creating for families everywhere. I wish you all the best!
I’m excited to welcome Ashley Funk from Reading Reimagined to my blog today! I recently came across her Instagram account, and I absolutely loved the products that she offers to families! (I will let her explain more) She graciously allowed me to interview her for this blog post!I know you are going to love her products as much as I do!
Just look at these photos!
Welcome, Ashley! Thank you so much for joining me today!
First of all, how would you describe your business? What is at the heart of what you are doing?
At Reading Reimagined, my most important goal is to help parents leverage the benefits of reading aloud and playing with their children to develop lasting connections. A tight-knit family is the dream of every parent! We make this dream a reality when we spend quality, unhurried time with our children. When we read great books, then engage in a meaningful activity together, we create memories to last a lifetime. When we look back at the time we spent raising children, these moments of connection will mean everything!
I know how limited time is and how much parents cherish quality time spent with their kids. My goal is to encourage families to cuddle up reading excellent books and participate in play that will build lasting bonds. And I want them to be able to do it without running around town or spending hours to prepare these activities!
I agree! Some of my best memories with my kids are when we spent time reading and enjoying books together. What type of products do you offer?
My purpose is to help families connect through reading and playing together, so I have created products that are accessible to all families. My premium product is the Read & Play box, released each month. This box contains a hardback picture book, an imaginative play activity (for children) and a connection activity (for the whole family). All the contents are coordinated by theme and color. This product is ideal for busy parents because everything is ready to go! Read & Play Boxes stack neatly and come with a large spine label so that you can pack away the activities and pull them out later, giving your kids a fresh look at the play items for even more hours of enjoyment. They make the perfect activity for rainy days, play groups, and special occasions.
Because young families are often on tight budgets, I also offer a monthly Digital Play Pack. This printable document has a curated themed booklist (perfect for the library!), plus sensory play activities, crafts, creative storytime snacks, and exclusive coloring pages. It is a wealth of resources! Activities are designed to use either materials you already have at home or can easily obtain at a grocery store. This product is wonderful for moms who like to create experiences for their children.
I was so excited when you recently featured Mouse’s Christmas Gift in one of her Digital Play Packs, and I was very impressed with the creativity and quality of your products and for such an affordable price! They look so engaging!
Was it difficult to launch your business?What were the specific steps you had to take to get started?
I started collecting picture books when I was 11 or 12 years old. I just loved how a well-crafted story and beautiful illustrations could evoke emotion. As a teenager, I would create special activities and read stacks of books to the children I babysat. I studied Child Development in college and earned my degree a few years before I had my first child. Once I became a mother, my entire focus became raising children. In fact, I never had any plan to return to the workforce because I knew that my most important role was in the family.
One year ago, my kids wanted to have a booth at their school’s Christmas boutique. My 9-year old daughter and I came up with the idea to create book baskets. We chose three of our favorite picture books and combined each with play activities to make a gift-worthy basket. The moment we struck on the idea, there was no turning back! I deeply wanted to find a way to help families connect with each other, share my love of picture books, and use my creative talents. With my husband and kids cheering me on, I launched my Instagram page and began planning my signature Read & Play boxes. My husband handled the business setup, legal, and accounting work, so that I could focus entirely on creative content.
That is very fascinating. I am curious aboutwhat you would say has been the biggest benefit/reward of starting your business? Has anything surprised you along the way?
I find great joy in getting to know other parents who care so much about their children. The world is full of intentional parents! Seeing children enjoy my creative work is very fulfilling. Personally, I have experienced a lot of growth as I’ve learned new skills, solved problems, and pushed out of my comfort zone. I’ve been surprised to find that following my passion has brought me new energy, drive, and fulfillment. I absolutely love what I do!
Your passion certainly shines through! I can’t say enough about how wonderful I think your products are. I appreciate you taking the time to join me here today and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!!
I’m really excited for my friend Xochitl E. Dixon and the release of her new picture book Different Like Me. I recently reviewed her book on the Christian Children’s Author blog, but I wanted to do more!
I love teaching children about the Bible and biblical truth, and I believe Xochi’s book can be used as a springboard to teach many lessons! I developed a Kid Ministry lesson on topic of Comparison.
The Pinterest Board with Self Portrait Craft ideas is here.
It includes a black and white version and quick skit script ideas. If you use the lesson, I would love to hear your feedback! I am new to developing Kid Ministry materials and praying about making more. Any feedback is helpful.
Xochitl E. Dixon
Want to know more about author Xochitl E. Dixon? Here are the links to her website and social media:
It has been an amazing week celebrating the release of GRANDMA SNUGGLES. I am so thankful to all who participated and entered the contest.
The winner is @humbleandbold! Congratulations! I will be contacting you soon with the details of how to receive your prize.
Thanks again to Glenys Nellist and Gail Yerrill for giving me the opportunity to host this contest. And a big thank you to Zonderkidz for providing the prize.
