Winter 2016 : Story Hunters

Year 4 students across the UK are so fortunate because they received free set of Story Hunter books from the Book Trust UK! I could not believe it when Nazreen received the first pack – the books are of high quality, interesting and they are not just for read. There are also activity books and stationeries! They will get a new pack every month and parents need to pick it up from the class teacher.

Image from BookTrust (here)

From Story Hunters - Book Trust UK : To encourage that love of reading, every pupil signed up to Story Hunters will get a monthly personalised pack of books and activities, for a six-month period. Every pack will include at least two carefully chosen books, plus engaging games and resources that children can share with their families – a rewarding way to make the most of pupil premium and build home-school links.

Nazmi usually would be very excited when Nazreen come home with the new Story Hunter pack but due to different reason. So he could do this.

Winter 2016 : ABC UK - Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch

Nazran borrowed this book from the library. The ABC to Z refer to everything unique about the UK, for example, A is for Arthur (as in the King Arthur), B for Beetles (the band), G for the Giant Causeway (in the Northern Ireland). For each letter, I will find some videos (about King Arthur, the Beetles, etc) and watched them together with Nazran so he can learn more about the UK. Night time is loooong in the winter so we read a lot to kill time.

When he arrive at the letter L, he said he cant pronounce the word. I asked him to try harder (I was washing the dishes and I didnt look at the book). He tried but still, he said it was too hard. I asked him to spell it. He did but I stopped him halfway because I think he was not making any sense. Until I look at the page.... then I understand his struggle.

 

Cool, isnt it?! Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch is a large village in the Wales. It means - Parish [church] of [St.] Mary (Llanfair) [in] Hollow (pwll) of the White Hazel [township] (gwyn gyll) near (go ger) the rapid whirlpool (y chwyrn drobwll) [and] the parish [church] of [St.] Tysilio (Llantysilio) with a red cave ([a]g ogo[f] goch) (Wikipedia). It is the longest place name in the UK and one of the longest in the world :)

Now, let's learn how to pronounce it!

It is surprising how much you can learn from a simple book of ABC!!!

Winter 2016 : The end of Semester One, you can go home, books

Alhamdulillah.

I marked the day by returning all the library books. We are allowed to borrow 20 book for the whole semester (not, 4, not 8, like other libraries. TWENTY and it is for nearly 4 months). If someone else wants to borrow the same book, they just recall the book the same day and I have to return it on the next day. 

Winter 2015 : The books

...they borrowed.

Kid's book in the UK is a huge industry by itself. They have a lot of renowned kids' book writers, good books and interesting graphic. Some of the books has also been a textbook for my sons' class. This is something that I would like to venture in one day.

Winter 2015 : Anglo-Saxon book

I went to the second hand market in Harpurhey Market on one fine Thursday morning (before I went to the library), hoping to get something useful for Nazreen's Anglo-Saxon projects. He has to create an Anglo-Saxon shield and I have to create an Anglo-Saxon costume for him :)

They are going for a trip to an Anglo-Saxon village in January, so they have to blend with the rest of Anglo-Saxons and experience living as one of them. I love this project. It is SO FUN!!! That's why I got myself a sewing machine (here) and fabrics (here) before this.

After a few minutes walking, I found one roll of brown fabric ribbon (around 20 metres) for GBP2. I really needs it for Nazreen's costume! Then, I found this for 50p. Alhamdulillah.

The book explains in detail who are the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans, the Alfred's laws, England after Alfred, the Battle of Hastings, the Crusades, Magna Carta and many more. It is full of graphic which keeps me interested to read it till the end.

And later that night, the King Arthur movie was aired. It was about *duh* King Arthur and the invading Saxon army. The whole family really enjoyed studying the details especially their shield designs and costumes. Nazreen was so excited every time he heard the word "Saxon" mentioned by the actors.

For me, this is not a coincidence. It is Allah, Who eases everything for us. 

My problem with libraries...

I have not visited my office's library for quite some times. 
The last book I borrowed was in January (ok, not that long). 

The last time I visited National Library was last year. I was preparing a proposal for my Masters degree.

My problem with library is... when I walked in, I will have this sudden surge of overwhelming anxiety and goosebumps. My heart pounds and I can’t breathe. Too many books. Dont know where to start. I want to read everything.

Eventhough I went there for different purposes (doing economy report, preparing minutes, etc), I will end up at Design Section and have at least 10 books on design or architecture on my table.

Book wrapping - half way

Book wrapping Sunday.

These are half of the books. For three kids. Two schools.

They have not received the other half - Nabil's activity books for primary school, everyone's activity books for sekolah agama and Nazran's textbook for primary school. Around 50 pieces more.

The yellow containers are the kids' organiser containers for flash cards, pool-related stuff, art supplies, head accessories, wires, sewing supplies. The kids also have one each as their keepsake box. I purposely bought the small one so it is easier for the kids to move it around.

My husband re-arranged the kids' room, took out everything, change the layout and our living room was a disaster on Sunday, with me sitting at one corner, wrapping these books. 

Baby Nazmi lost in the pile of stuff once in a while. Nabil will be the one checking Nazmi every 10 seconds. lol.

Delhi : Kembara Khazanah India

My nephew lend me his book on India.

This is my favourite book during the treadmill session after the office hour. 

A Trip to the National Library

My husband went to Fraser's Hill on weekend and Baby Nazmi had a fever. I sent and fetched my other three sons at two different tuition classes with this boy...

I bought them lunch on the go then we went straight to the National Library. I have planned to bring them there since baby Nazmi was born. You know, during your maternity leave, you will tend to register your kid's everything - from the back account, insurance, education plan, including National Library membership.

The kids' library is so different now. 

We sat at a corner so baby Nazmi could lie down and drink his milk. Kids were having fun picking up books from the bookshelves and returning it to the trolley.

Nabil registered for a session in Hypermedia room. They provide educational games for kids above 9 years old. After Nabil's session ended, they watched Upin and Ipin together in the room next to Hypermedia's.

Then they played some games online and watch educational videos. 

You just need to register on the spot and show your ID or your kid's MyKid to borrow the book from the library. 

Library2u

I applaud the effort made by my office's library.

They gathered latest publications and light reading materials including interesting novels on a trolley, and pushed it to every level of my office blocks. 

Sometimes people didnt go to the library and borrow the books because they cant find the time but now, fear not fellow colleagues, the books will come to you!

I borrowed this book (the librarian in blue is writing the due date of my book in the photo). The book is really interesting because it includes easy healthy recipes for each type of healthy fruit/vegetable/grain/meat mentioned in the book.

Nazmi and books

We are trying to cultivate reading habit in the young minds. We bought them books, read together, make the Big Bad Wolf a very special event for the whole family and we put books everywhere in the house. Recently, I put a plenty of children and puzzle books in our car, in the slot at the car door to be exact.

Whenever they enter the car, it become automatic that they will reach for the book first. I can see Nazmi started to love books, which is a very good sign.

Tak kisahlah terbalik pun.

Biological clock

As we are trying hard to adjust our biological clock during this Ramadhan, baby Nazmi's biological clock also went haywire.

This is him, arranging books at nearly 2 am. He just woke up and just finished running around the whole house. I am a sleep deprived mom.

Library Open Day

Today is our Library Open Day. MPH is selling a lot of interesting books at a discounted price. There are a lot of activities going on throughout the day.  

I have been eyeing for this book for quite sometimes. I even queued at the MPH counter at KLIA to pay for this book before I departed to Medan last year, but I return it back to the shelves right after the man before me finished paying his books. I dont know why. 

I dreamed about it since.

Today, I just cant say no. She is too beautiful. I have to take her home.

They read books

Notice I left the below portion of the bookshelves empty or with just a few things? The area is within Nazmi's reach so no point putting anything there. It will end up on the floor, if not in his mouth.

Nazmi reads a book

My Birthday is on 30 April 2014

My Amazon wishlist
Used books are ok.
#edyna #zuria

Arabic Class & Dictionaries

I registered for Arabic Language Class at my office this year to help Nabil and Nazreen to do their Arabic homework. I have learned Arabic in IIUM so it was quiet easy for me to understand the basic.

This is the dictionary that we use in the class. One of the authors is my Arabic ustaz, Dr. Mohd. Phozi Usop. He taught us the step-by-step on how to use the dictionary since Arabic dictionary is different from others.

And today, I bought this for my kids. I hope it could help them in doing their homework.

Highly recommended.

Serigala Besar & Jahat 2013

We went there at 1.30am. The kids were so excited traveling in the middle of the night to the Big Bad Wolf. I met my best friend, Nur Azah who was my roommate in IIUM for a few years, my partner in silat since matriculation until the final year and my trusted teammate in IIUM archery team. Yes, our world revolves around each other for six years.

Since my sons keep having a trip to the restroom and I have to spend a lot of time waiting at the kid's section outside the restroom, so half of the book bought this year are theirs. I was too tired halfway. My husband done with his books in 45 minutes and the bag was full with the kids' books, so I just made a few quick rounds for MY BOOKS pulak. I manage to get only 8 books this year.

Nazreen helped me to pull the trolley bag. He made a few stops to read some books.

We went back at 4.30am and we went to work a few hours after that.

Sharing Experience in Myanmar & APEC book

I have attended a talk by Tan Sri Razali Ismail, the former United Nation Secretary-General's Special Envoy in INTAN. He talked about his experience dealing with Burmese junta’s military occupation of Kokang and his mandate to facilitate the implementation of the UN General Assembly resolution 54/186 (google it up).

I never failed to visit the bookshop every time I went to INTAN. Upon entering the bookshop, I experience goosebumps, as usual. Has anyone else experienced goosebumps by looking at huge amount of books? Please leave your comment here. I need to know whether it is normal (whether I AM normal).

I bought this interesting book since I need to attend an APEC workshop in a few days. I read it at the airport. 

In the flight, all the way to Medan. 

And in my hotel room.

I met the writer of the book in Medan. He was one of the speakers for the workshop :)

Good morning!

The best way to start my day. 
1. Early in the morning.
2. Book.
3. Orange juice.

Then, prepare breakfast, wake everybody up, feed everybody, clean dishes, sweep the floor, mop the floor, mandikan baby, make sure everybody dah mandi, wash dirty clothes, sweep the floor, mop the floor, hang the clothes, put away toys, tidy up kids' bedroom, sweep the floor, mop the floor, fold the clothes, prepare lunch, bla bla bla.

One week school break is like having NINE SUNDAYS in a row. Everybody is home. Toys are everywhere.

Really, for me, the best part of the day is early in the morning.