Janet Balletta, AWA

  Highlights of The Legend of the Colombian Mermaid Read Aloud at Barnes & Noble  in  St. Lucie West, PSL, Fl on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Synopses: The story is based on La Sirena del Hurtado in Valledupar, Colombia, telling the story of a young girl who turned into a mermaid for swimming in the river on Good Friday. Judith and Tomas live in the town where the legend takes place and their mother warns the children about the dangers of the river. Judith and Tomas promise their mother to always come home before dark. When Tomas goes missing from the river on Holy Thursday, Judith has to rescue him from La Sirena before it is too late. The Read Aloud took place at noon and was well attended by the local children and families. I  engaged the children by asking questions before, during, and after the story. Their favorite part of the story was when the rainforest animals helped Judith rescue her brother. After the Read Aloud, there was a book signing, followed by a ...

  Mujeres del pasado Agentes del presente written by  Maritza M. Mejia is a book about the women of the bible. This Spanish version is available now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GL3SCLDT.  The book includes a reflection section after each chapter to journal. It makes an excellent read for Lent or anytime of the year.   Enjoy exploring the women of bible. More information can be found at https://www.luzdelmes.com/blog/ 

  The Legend of the Colombian Mermaid is the perfect book to teach children about Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. How do you keep this Christian tradition alive in your family? In my family, we observe Lent by focusing on our spiritual life, drawing closer to God, and celebrating his resurrection power on Easter. If you are looking for a book to explain these concepts to young children, you just found it. This hundred year old bilingual legend with themes of obedience, family values, and cultural traditions fosters a love for Holy Week and Easter for children. Visit my learning activities page for projects to go along with the book at Janetballetta.com.  Happy Easter y Feliz Pascuas from my family to yours! 

  Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Oceans  is a great book to read with your children to celebrate World Water Day on March 22nd. Travel around the seven continents and meet the  mermaids with super powers who are on a special mission to save the ocean habitats. These mermaid sisters will teach your children the importance of keeping the ocean habitats healthy for the animals, people, and environment. This book has a strong message on water pollution, conversation, and recycling.  More importantly, it raises awareness on environmental stewardship and preservation of Earth's natural resources on a global level.  Ocean in a Bottle  is a fun activity for World Water Day the children will love!   S upplies: 1. empty 16 oz. water bottle 2. blue food coloring 3. small ocean animals 4. small sea shells 5. glitter 6. Elmer's glue Directions:  1. Put the animals, shells, and glitter into the empty bottle. 2. Fill up the bottle with water & add a ...