Happy Holidays!

Winter is officially here, and it’s that cozy time of the year!
I’ve been exploring negative and positive space art quite a bit this year.
See if you can find the five hidden images in the negative space - 
the areas around and in between the art.

Now grab some cookies, a snuggly blanket, and let’s celebrate

the colors of winter.   Color Wonder: Winter is Here! invites you to an

interactive, colorful storytime experience.

  Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday season.

Cheers to a blessed New Year!

Happy Fall!

In all my years, I’ve barely paid much attention

to these skittish critters.  This year has been different,

with worries about the pandemic and safety of

our families and community; I appreciate my everyday life.

Sitting by my office window, I’m amazed at how productive 

the squirrels are.  One in particular, whom I’ve named Licorice,

has been storing nuts inside the corner of my backyard fence.

He puts a smile on my face with every trip to and from 

his secret hiding stash.  I’ve even collected acorns and left a pile for

him by my house.  Why?  In a nutshell, I’m thankful for 

these little snippets of happiness, which have made a big impact

on my optimism and hope for the future.

 

 

And with that, Halloween is still happening,

with a safe and creative celebration in the works!

In preparation, I made these little magnets/pins.  These Perler Beads are 

my latest craft obsession, and a fun activity to make with the kids.  

By glueing magnets to the back, they serve two purposes.

I decorate my refrigerator with them, and wear them like pins - by placing

another magnet to the back side of clothing.  No sharp pricks to worry about!

I prefer to create my own designs, but there are templates as well.

 

Check out my Baby Yoda, although my 

daughter thinks he looks more like a baby Shrek.

Have a safe and spooktacular fall season!

Fun Animal Idioms and Storytime Activities!

Here are some storytime activities that will have

kids expressing in idioms.  In my interactive die-cut book, 

Quiet as a Mouse: And Other Animal Idioms-

 children are introduced to fun animal idioms through

a playful guessing game.

 

Are you sly as a fox?  Stubborn as a mule?

These stick puppets, coloring and idiom activities

have been a big hit with the kids at my storytime author events.
Click here to print out the activity pages.

Here I am, happy as a clam!
For more storytime ideas, check out these animal
idiom activities from Toddler Approved.

Spring Storytime Read Aloud and Crafts!

As we are adjusting to these challenging times,

I am joining the kid lit community in sharing storytime and crafts

to entertain and help kids stay enriched and happy at home.

To celebrate the spring season,

I am reading Color Wonder: Hooray for Spring!

Stay tuned!  At the end of this video, there will be a demonstration

on how I created this novelty format with color-mixing wheels.

Make it a craft day too!  Pair storytime with these stick puppets and coloring

activities featuring the playful bug characters and spring flowers.

Click here to print out the activities.

And for some creative hands-on fun, check out these

wonderful color-mixing activities from Toddler Approved. 

Wishing you all a safe and healthy spring season.

Book Festivals of 2019

As I’m preparing for the holiday and 2020, 

I’m also reminiscing over the excitement I’ve had this year
and how quickly the time has gone by.

The Gaithersburg Book Fair was a fun-packed day of storytime and crafts.

It’s not usual that I get to read on a plush, velvet throne.

I was going for a friendly look, inspired by the cover of my novelty book,

Quiet as a Mouse: And Other Animal Idioms.  

Do you see the resemblance?

The Cecil County Book Fair was super festive.

Children met authors and illustrators from novelty/board books,    

pictures books, middle grade, to young adult and non-fiction books.  

I loved being surrounded by such young energy

and appreciated their enthusiasm for reading and books.

This time around, I’m representing this sly character.

I skipped the mask.  It probably would have frightened the children.

Over the spring, I made it up to New York to visit my favorite editors,

and even got to meet Captain Underpants at Scholastics!

I made sure to get this picture for my daughter.

The MD/DE/WV SCBWI Conference was a true creative force.

Presenting was a bit nerve-racking, but I enjoyed discussing

the novelty and board book process with so many

aspiring writers and illustrators.  They inspired me, too!

This photo was shared during my slide presentation,

and pleasantly sparked a burst of laughter in the room.

While I do have a large table to work at,

I find it comforting to lay everything out on the floor.

Believe it or not, this work space is very organized.

I’m proud of the projects I created this year,

and hope I may continue this creative journey

in the children’s book world.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Happy Lunar New year friends!  It's the year of the pig.  

If you were born during the following years, this is your year!

2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923

The Travel in China Guide lists the start and end dates.

Visit the Chinese New Year site to learn more about

the personalities and characteristics of the pig.

May this year bring you good health, fortune, and prosperity!

Color Wonder: Winter is Here! Storytime and Activity

I’m so excited to share with you my book trailer for

Color Wonder: Winter is Here!

Join me in this interactive visual storytime experience

that allows little ones to mix and match the colors of a winter

wonderland right before their eyes.  

This is one of my favorite formats, and I love watching
preschoolers experience the joy and wonder of color mixing.

 

Pair your storytime with a puppets craft activity.
Click here to download and print the winter characters.
Cut them out and have the children color
and glue them onto craft sticks.  You can also add sparkly
snowflakes and color dot stickers to the puppet crafts.

Have fun and enjoy!