Happy Halloween!

Costumes are made and the desserts are done.

All I have left to do is carve the jack-o-lantern and let the fun begin.

Have a safe and wonderful Halloween!

Books and Smiles for Haiti #2

The books are coming in!  Thank you to our generous children's book

community for sending the amazing books for Books and Smiles for Haiti.

Please drop me an email if you would like to join us in sharing 

your wonderful stories with the children of Haiti.

Thank you author/illustrator Salina Yoon for sending thirty 

of your plushie, sparkly, novelty titles for the youngest readers.

Thank you author Danna Smith for the wonderful picture books.

Thank you author Uma Krishnaswami for your beautiful stories.

Thank you Ronnie Ann Herman of Herman Agency 

for this great collection of titles.

Thank you author Alison Formento for sending your fun counting books.

Thank you Nanci Moklak for the wonderful selection of books.

More books are on the way, and we are thankful for the generous donations.

Join our Facebook group page to stay updated.

You may also like: Books and Smiles for Haiti!

Celebrating with Fire Trucks!

Finally, a boy themed party!  I really enjoyed making these cupcakes for 

my twin newphews' birthday; A nice change from the usual fairies,

princesses and mermaid themes my girls prefer.

The fire trucks were piped using melted chocolate wafers.

I suggest piping each color one at a time, since chocolate cools quickly.

Pipe first with red, then brown, and finish with yellow.

Our parties are never complete without my daughter's usual book-card!

Can you tell this birthday boy enjoyed his fire truck?  Yum!

You may also like: Surprise Mermaid Party and

Despicable Me "Just Because Party"

A Round-Up of Fun Shapes Activities!

I love seeing creative, clever ways for kids to explore shapes.

This Reading Mama has nicely tied-in fun learning 

with shape pictures and writing.

Swing by her amazing blog and check out the activities and details.

Over at Creative Connections for Kids, this wonderful blogger 

rounded-up a great collection of playful shape ideas.  

I enjoyed discovering new ways to introduce shapes. 

Visit Creative Connections for Kids for the many 

play-and-learn shape ideas shared by creative bloggers.

How cute is this little fella?  I was tickled with the adorable 

pictures and sweet write-up by The Eyes of a Boy.  

I'm so thankful for our wonderful children's community and their 

kind efforts to spread the love and enrich our youngest readers.

Many thanks to the lovely bloggers for checking out Away We Go! and 

sharing their wonderful creative ideas!

You may also like: Away We Go! Shapes and Transportation Activities
and Away We Go! Activities by Toddler Approved!

Liebster Award Nomination!

Thank you Maureen Roble with Eating Kids' Media for nominating 

my blog for the Liebster Award! The Liebster Award is for blogs with fewer

than 200 followers and could use more love from great readers like you! 

 Here are Maureen's questions and my answers:

No judging my 2 minute sketch. Ha ha...

1. If you could be an ice cream flavor, what would it be, and why?

Chocolate chip mint, because I eat too much of it.

2. What is your favorite time of day to blog?

Sweet night time when everyone is in bed and the house is quiet.

3. If you were not a writer (or other current occupation) 

what would you be and why?

A toy designer!  I would LOVE to design games and toys.

4. Your go-to (place, blog, person, book) when you are dry on inspiration?

Design images where I can find them - books, magazines, online...

5. What is your favorite book of all time?

My little girl makes books with drawings of the two of us filled with

mommy-daughter love, and they're the best books ever!

6. The best advice you've ever received?

This is a HARD question and I have to think about it for months

to come up with the best answer.

7. If you could have a super-power, what would it be and why?

To keep my family safe; I am a worry-wort.  

And a sharp memory would be cool too.

8. What is something you are optimistic about?

The fall season! I want to bake lots of apple and pumpkin pies!

9.  I wish I could see....because...

I wish I could see Rome again because I would love to go back 

and experience what I was too young to appreciate. 

10. What is your most indispensable possession and why?

Pictures of my family.  I love looking at old photos and
being reminded of how fortunate and blessed I am.

Thanks Maureen!  And now I pass the award to these fine blogs

and my questions for them.

Christine Marie Alemshah

Romelle Broas

Naomi Milliner

Woven with Pixie Dust

Penguin and Pinecone
Ninja Woman
Dani Duck
From the Mixed-Up Files of Jennifer Bertman

If you choose to accept, let the fun begin!

 Nominate 5-10 bloggers and let them know of their award.

Ask them 10 questions as well as answer the questions from the blogger

who nominated you.  Link back to that blogger and spread the love.

Here are my 10 questions. Happy blogging my friends!

1.  Summer or winter?

2. Chocolate or vanilla?

3. Who is your favorite children's book character?

4. Who is your favorite cartoon character?

5. What is your happy thought?

6. Sweet or salty?

7. What is your favorite hobby?

8. What is your secret to happiness?

9. If you can do something without consequences, what would that be?

10. If you can have one wish to make today awesome,

what would you wish for?

Be sure to go back and visit the other Liebster Award Nominees
and send them some love.  Happy fall season!

Away We Go! Activities by Toddler Approved

Photo courtesy of Toddler Approved.

I love these playful, oversized activities from Toddler Approved!

The shapes and transportation projects coordinate well with

 Away We Go! and will continue the fun exploration of shapes.

Photo courtesy of Toddler Approved

Swing over to Toddler Approved to check out the preschool

projects and great ideas for Away We Go! A Shape and Seek Book. 

You may also like: Away We Go! Shapes and Transportation Activities

A Fun School Visit!

I've lived in this area for quite a while, and for the first time had the 

opportunity to visit St. John the Evangelist School, with students ranging

from Pre-K through 8th Grade.  They invited me to join them for Author Day,

and I truly enjoyed meeting the delightful children and faculty.

I met with the students in two groups, starting with Pre-K - 3rd Grade.  

We talked about what it means to be an Author/Illustrator, 

and discussed my art style in Away We Go!, drawing with shapes.  

The children were adorable and eager to participate.  I was impressed!

The second presentation was with the amazing 4th - 8th Graders.

What a great group of kids!  I shared my children's book process, 

and how to develop an idea and get it published.   

They were fun to talk with and had lots to add to the discussion. 

These illustrators were ready to work on their own drawings,
creating animals and vehicles using only shapes.

I invited the students to submit their shape creations for an art contest.

All the drawings were very creative, so I decided everyone is a winner!

YAY!

Wow!  How great are these drawings from the lower grades?

Good job Emily, Luke and Tiffany!

And the creativity continues, with the upper grades.

Well done Emma, Alice, Matthew, Nicolas and Maggie!

I made a bunch of sketchbooks to deliver to all the talented winners!

I hope the children enjoyed my visit as much as I enjoyed 

spending time with them.  It was a big treat for me!

You may also like: Away We Go! Shapes and Transportation Activities