Jewel Of A Book

Jewel Sample's Review of Trout Are Made of Trees

2011-02-28T22:50:00.005-06:00

When I posted about transforming the unexpected it got me to thinking about what is transformed in streams. Today I am going to share with you what April Pulley Sayre found out about Trout. She was so excited about her discoveries that she wrote Trout Are Made of Trees.

How does this transformation happen? The author explains the process of how the ecological cycle-of-life interactions help to form the perfect nesting and hiding place for trout and eventually how the process moves along the food chain to feed animals and people. So, are trout made of trees? You will have to read the book to find out.

What I liked best is how the author extends learning by incorporating other aquatic discoveries throughout the story to keep the reader interested, as well as offering riparian conservation challenges for readers to consider in the back of the book. The challenges encourage you to put your thinking cap on and further investigate other natural habitats.

Kate Endle’s realistic illustrations are an entertaining collage of nature discoveries. My most favorite illustration depicts the children investigating their collection of specimens with a scientific book, which is encouraging modeling of children’s ability to discover things on their own. Although my first and second graders did not understand all of the words, artistically, I discovered the children came up with ideas to make a collage with their nature collections and use leaves for fish bodies. Please post your ideas when you read Trout are Made of Trees.

Trout Are Made of Trees is recommended as an excellent ecological life-cycle resource for elementary grade level reader.

Trout Are Made of Trees reviewed by Jewel Sample--Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses. To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.

Transforming the Unexpected

2011-02-26T12:26:00.003-06:00

It is fun to just take a day and write something unusual. Something most people would not have thought about. So for today’s writing challenge, collect one or two objects from around your house that you could use your imagination to transform into something. Write about the transformation process in a poem or a story.

Examples of objects, brick of cheese for a rat or scouring pad for a nail file or the refrigerator as a big mouth-eating monster.

Here is my attempt to write about object transformation of a bar of soap.

Soap

White soap

Floating

Melting

In murky bath water

Squeezing it between

Fingers and palm

The white frog leaps

Back into the white

Porcelain pond

Words ripple and

Swirl

Over brain matter

The hand fishes

And feels the undercurrent

The eyes hunt

Piercing the white

Undiluted swells

Looking for the

Amphibious creature

To rear its head

Plug pulled

Gurgle, gurgle

Slurp

Muddy white scum

Lays on the porcelain pond floor

Fully exposed

Melted smaller

Extraordinarily shaped

Lifeless

My white soap

Finding Joy in This Very Moment is Good Enough

2011-01-20T09:59:00.003-06:00

My challenge for today was to write about a moment of joy I had experienced today.

After spending much of my day doing genealogy research, I decided to watch Oprah’s Australian extravaganza in hopes of seeing something that I could say was a joyous moment. I loved seeing all the beautiful Australian sites. Truly God smiled when He formed Australia. But I wasn’t awe struck.

I loved the special guest moments with Oprah. For years I have dreamed of having my Oprah moment. My dream moment was meeting her while hiking in Telluride, Colorado and Oprah telling me she had read my book and loved it. I don’t know why this experience was so important to me. Maybe to get that affirmation from someone who seems to be socially valued and who values others as well. Maybe it’s the excitement of chatting with a celebrity about the challenges of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) families. Maybe it’s a little of both. But the Telluride dream is something I can live without and it doesn’t consume my everyday thoughts. I have learned that living a wholehearted life is to purposely find a joyous moment and to take that moment in with your whole heart, mind and body. Finding a joyous moment isn’t always easy to do.

Then today when I saw Oprah and a few of her loyal TV friends walk to the top of an Australian bridge, it totally blew my socks off. It was the most breath-taking risk I have ever seen her do. I thought to myself I have done some risky things, like go to the top of the St. Louis Arch and feel it sway. Or ride in a rubber raft down a Colorado River hanging on to the raft ropes with all of my strength, but Oprah’s bridge walking experience tops it all.

Indeed, Oprah’s bridge walk topped my most joyous moment of the day, until I looked out of my living room window and saw a juvenile Redtail Hawk swoop across my backyard close to the ground as if it was looking for prey. Momentarily I stopped breathing, as I watched the hawk perch itself high upon a limb in a neighbor’s cottonwood tree. Then I heard myself exhale with a huge “aaaah-h-h-haaa.”

I alerted my husband about this unusual occurrence. We both looked out several windows to see if we could get a better look at this gorgeous creature. Then within several seconds, the hawk flew up into the grey clouded sky and out of sight. I then realized that I had forgotten all about Oprah’s Australian bridge walk still playing in the background; waiting for the helicopter pilot to take their momentous picture.

I looked out my window for the next couple of hours to see if the hawk returned, but it didn’t. I knew then that my joyous moment would not be repeated today. The sheer joy of seeing a hawk in flight is good enough.

In Your World of Make-Believe

2010-09-29T12:14:00.003-05:00

We read stories everyday that takes us to a world of make-believe. Sometimes the story takes us to a far off land where boys never grow up, like in "Peter Pan" or tumbling down a rabbit's hole to have tea, like in "Alice in Wonderland."

Have you ever wondered how the author creates their stories? Many times they are from a dream they had or an event that really happened. The author takes that dream or event and places make-believe characters that remind them of someone they knew that was in the dream or at the event.

Today write your story from your own make-believe world. Not sure what to write about? Here are a couple of ideas. Pretend that a porcupine is doing the laundry at your house. Write about what happens while the porcupine does the laundry. Another idea, pretend a watermelon seed is growing from the drain in your bathtub. Write about what happens.

Don't forget to share your story with me or with a friend or two!

Happy writing!

Danny Diamondback: A Jewel of a Book Review

2010-09-19T10:05:00.004-05:00

DANNY DIAMONDBACK
By Barry E. Jackson

ISBN-13: 9780061131844, 2008
Fiction: Picture Book, Humor, Snakes, Friendship, Diversity, Music

Publisher: Harper Collins: NY ; $16.99
Author site: Barry E. Jackson

Danny Diamondback is an orphaned snake who searches for a new family. From the first family of jackrabbits to the sparrows, Danny is not accepted. Danny’s parents forgot to tell him that he is a dangerous poisonous snake. Then one day he happens upon a community of prairie dogs and they too scatter like fluff on a seeded dandelion, except for visually impaired Pablo. Pablo talks his grandmother into letting Danny stay with them. Pablo and Danny get to know each other through their musical talents. Pablo talks his family into letting Danny play in their band with a disguise. Danny feels accepted until his true identity comes out during a band concert and the desert animals scatter in fear. Danny finds himself alone until he notices a pack of hungry coyotes headed toward the prairie dog community looking for some chow. Are the coyotes equally afraid of Danny? Will Danny find a new home?

Barry E. Jackson’s animated illustrations are realistically entertaining, which softens the fear factor associated with the story. The southern drawl may put some off, but shows diversity in cultures. Leaving the “g” off of words or using a colloquial speech, like “y’all” to promote inflections may make it difficult for young readers to read alone.

What I liked best about the story was Jackson’s encouragement to the reader to look beyond differences of individuals and look for something in common. Never give up in finding that place where you can fit in by being kind and open to discovering new things about new acquaintances. Equally important, Jackson tells the reader that the rattlesnake is nothing to play with by gently squeezing in important facts, so the young reader does not go away thinking that a rattlesnake is something to play with.

Some topics drawn from this story for discussion include: orphans, friendship, fear, poisonous snakes, desert wildlife, talents, tolerance, cultural diversity, visual impairment, and music.

Reviewer recommends Danny Diamondback for preschool through elementary grade libraries and homes.

Reviewed for Jewel of a book by Jewel Sample--Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses. To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.

A Jewel of a Book Review: Dazzling Dragonflies

2010-09-15T14:07:00.003-05:00

DAZZLING DRAGONFLIES
By Linda Glaser

ISBN-13: 9780822567530, 2008
Nonfiction: Picture Book, Lifecycle, Dragonflies, Science, Nature, Entomology

Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.: MN; $22.50

How are dragonflies born? Where do they live? Will they hurt people? These are some of the fascinating questions Linda Glaser answers in her easy to understand and entertaining lifecycle story of the dragonfly. Pasoda’s realistic illustrations follow the life cycle, which helps the beginning reader learn what the dragonfly’s life cycle looks like from the egg stage through the adult stage.

What I liked best about this book is it teaches the early reader that there are more than one type of dragonfly, first in illustration and then at the end with typical question and answer pages. The thought-provoking questions introduce the reader to the critical thinking process.

Dazzling Dragonflies is recommended as a great nature resource for the elementary level reader.

Reviewed for Jewel of a book by Jewel Sample--Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses. To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.

A Kid’s Oral Book Review of OK GO

2010-09-12T11:42:00.008-05:00

By Cheyenne, age 6 and Gramma

Gramma: What is the name of the book you read today?
Cheyenne: “OK GO”

Gramma: What’s the person’s name who wrote the book?
Cheyenne: First--C-A-R-I-N --then, B-E-R-G-E-R. I only know a few words because I am just learning to read. But I know my letters really well.

Gramma: Did you like the story?
Cheyenne: uh-huh

Gramma: What did you like about the book?
Cheyenne: I can read some of the words by myself. That was really fun.

Gramma: Learning new words is fun.
Cheyenne: I am learning to read. I am growing big. Now I know what “OK” looks like and I know “GO” too. I say those words a lot.

Gramma: Did you learn a favorite word?
Cheyenne: Yeah, Screeeech. Cars do that when they S-T-O-P, stop really fast.

Gramma: What did you learn that you did not know before?
Cheyenne: I saw Kate roller skating. I have never done that before. I want to learn to do that because when you skate you save gas.

Gramma: Is there anything else about the book that you want to tell kids?
Cheyenne: I saw the word Uh-oh! That’s a mom’s word. Mom says that a lot. Kids can see what that word looks like. Okay The End.

Kid's Oral Book Review by Jewel Sample--Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses. To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.

OK GO Jewel of a Book Review

2010-09-10T11:27:00.005-05:00

OK GO!

By Carin Berger

ISBN-10: 0061576662, 2009
Fiction: Juvenile Literature, Ecology
Publisher: Greenwillow Books; Harper Collins: NY; $17.99

OK GO hooks the reader with attention-grabbing illustrations made from recycled items as the story unfolds with a twist by using catchy poetic phrases about reducing waste. A brilliant way to playfully model and teach the importance of caring for our ecosystem to the beginning reader.

OK GO is an excellent ecological and art resource for the home and school library. Parents and teachers can talk about ways to recycle, reduce energy, and make up catchy phrases to help remember to stay green or how to make art with reusable items.

Reviewed by Jewel Sample--Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses. To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.

Visit Carin Berger

Jewel of a Book Review:The Princess and the Pee

2010-09-06T08:22:00.008-05:00

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEE

By Susan A. Meyers

ISBN-13: 9781933831121, 2010

Fiction: Chapter book, Juvenile

Publisher: Blooming Tree Press: Austin, TX ; $8.95

Author site: Susan A. Meyers

Princess Pia Scarlet lives in a castle with her older sister, Darling Millicent and her baby sister, Angelica. Not all is perfect in the royal household. Pia grudgingly listens to her older sister tell her about all the events happening on the castle grounds that she sees from her top bunk. The best is the nightly firefly show. Princess Pia Scarlett yearns to sleep on the top bunk and watch the fireflies herself. Darling Millicent refuses to switch until Pia stops wetting the bed. Pia makes a bet with her sister that if she stays dry for seven nights they will switch beds. Pia searches the castle over for ways to help her stay dry. Does Princess Pia Scarlett find a way to win her bet?

Meyers writes an entertaining medieval tale that takes into account a sensitive issue faced by today’s early childhood children. What I liked best is the author’s gentle reassurance that someday the bedwetting can be conquered by the child.

Manelle Oliphant’s black and white illustrations bring the story alive with engaging humor.

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEE is a great resource for the early elementary grade reader who may be dealing with the bedwetting issue or has a sibling who is facing this typical early childhood developmental challenge.

Reviewed for Jewel of a book by Jewel Sample--Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses. To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.

Jewel of a Book Review of Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer

2010-08-28T12:12:00.008-05:00

CHICKEN DANCE
By Tammi Sauer
ISBN-13: 9781402753664, 2009
Fiction: Juvenile, Picture Book, Talent Show
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co, Inc.: NY; $14.95
Author site: Tammi Sauer

Sauer and Santat portray memorable characters in an entertaining barnyard production starring Marge and Lola, who hang out together where Elvis Poultry is top bird. The two best friend chicks almost lose their cluck when they read the Barnyard Talent Show poster. The grand prize is two tickets to the final multitalented doodle doo of the season. Lola and Marge set out to snag the prize, but first they have to test their talents and score higher than the other animals in the barnyard.

What I liked best about Chicken Dance was its humor in text and illustrations, which made it easy to keep the attention of a kindergartener and for them to identify with the characters. For instance, when Lola and Marge tried to swim the kindergartener laughed and said they had sunk like the chickens once.

A minor downside to the story is when improper expressions are used in a scene where the chicken friends are called a name, “Drumsticks” and the use of the word “losers.” If the expressions were not used it doesn’t appear to this reviewer to take away from the story.

Chicken Dance is appropriate for the early elementary grade reader. Parents and teachers can glean themes from reading this book for further discussion like friendship, name calling, favorite music, sportsmanship, diversity in abilities, what do farm animals really do or farm animal jokes.

Reviewed by Jewel Sample--Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses. To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.

Hungry Critters

2010-08-19T14:38:00.009-05:00

Hello writing friends!

Welcome back to the adventures of Jewel of a Book. I hope your summer brought you many things to write about.

School is now in full swing. Vacations have come to a slow grind and your body is almost use to getting up at the crack of dawn to get to school on time. Just as you are about to turn off the news on the television, there is a News Alert. "Rumor has it a group of hungry rodents chewed through a fiber-optic line at the high school. The critters endeavors managed to knockout the complete public school security system, as well as the telephones and internet service."

Write about it!

In real life, things happen when you least expect them! We can take those events and turn them into great stories.

Choose your own setting: school, hospital, bank, museum or parent's work.

Choose the kind of critters that you want in your story (rats, rabbits, squirrels & etc.).

Take a picture or find one in a book of the setting or the animal for your story.

Rumors spread, how does your rumor get everyone's attention?

How do you or your characters react to the rumor?

Does the rumor hold true?

Share your story by placing it in the comments below! Be sure and stop back by to see what others have written.

Happy writing!

Writing prompt by Jewel Sample---award winning author of FLYING HUGS AND KISSES.

CHASING LILACS: Entertainingly Riveting and Unforgettable

2010-08-18T08:58:00.009-05:00

CHASING LILACS

By Carla Stewart

ISBN: 9780446556552

Fiction: Young Adult

Publisher: FaithWords; a division of Hachette Book Group:NY

Chasing Lilacs is a fast paced 1950's coming of age story of an early adolescent girl named Sammie Tucker, who is growing up in a Texas Utility Service camp alive with human strengths, weaknesses, and secrets. Sammie is faced with typical adolescent issues of self identity, friendship, religious beliefs and love. which are complicated by her mother's "nerve" condition and sudden death. Sammie's childhood friend is sure an alienating aunt has come to take Sammie's mother's place. Sammie must choose whom to trust with her deepest fears as she walks through her own deep pain and heartfelt injustice, while uncovering bewildering community secrets.

What I really liked about Chasing Lilacs is when I was done reading about Sammie Tucker, I wished I could call the author up on the telephone and talk about the characters as if they were real people. Stewart skillfully entertained and engaged me with each character's personal pain, coping skills and sometimes unpredictable behavior in a community she brilliantly portrays with the belief that it takes a village to raise a child. Just when I thought I had figured out the next twist, Stewart surprised me with the unexpected, which kept me reading until the very end.

Similar to the writings of J.D. Salinger in the Catcher in the Rye, without the profanity, Stewart's themes and symbolism evoked many questions for future discussion. I found myself returning to read certain passages over and over, only to discover another theme or symbol to mull over. A welcomed benefit is the discussion questions at the end, which encouraged me to come up with unlisted questions for further discussion.

Chasing Lilacs is a great read for the high school or college level classroom, as well as the young adult heart.

Reviewed by Jewel Sample--award winning author of FLYING HUGS AND KISSES. To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com

Suzanne Lieurance Reviews Girls and their Dogs

2009-11-17T12:50:00.003-06:00

Reviewed by Suzanne Lieurance

Title: Girls and their Dogs
ISBN: PB 1-59369-169-6
Category: Be Your Best
Author: Sara Hunt
Ages: 8 and up
Retail Price: $8.95
Release Date: March 2007

Wow! This is the ultimate book for any young girl who loves dogs. In fact, if this book had been around when I was about 8 or 10 years old, I would probably have slept with it under my pillow. At that time, dogs were the most important creatures in my world - as they are today to many young girls the world over.

Girls will love the stories about real dogs (and the girls who own them) that are just part of the great dog-related information in this jazzy new book from American Girl and Pleasant Company Publications.

And girls will really have fun trying some of the recipes to create yummy treats for both dogs and their owners. They can whip up a batch of "Woof Woof Waffles" for their favorite dog - OR - try some "Puppycakes" (cupcakes decorated to look like dogs - you have to see these darling creations to truly appreciate the concept of puppycakes) for themselves and their "human" friends.

The book includes suggested names for pooches, doggie trading cards and mini-posters, and even tips for doodling a dog - creating cute pen-and-pencil pooches.

Colorful photographs and other illustrations help make this book simply irresistible to dog-loving girls everywhere!

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For more reviews of great children's books, visit the National Writing for Children Center!

Celebrate Family: Create a Memory Tree

2009-06-01T12:00:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Today I have posted an article about celebrating life with your family by making a memory tree.

To find out how to make your own memory tree visit Open To Hope.

Until Next Time, Celebrate Life!
Jewel

Six Tips to Help You Break Into the Children’s Magazine Markets With Your Non-Fiction For Kids!

2009-05-28T09:40:00.003-05:00

by Suzanne Lieurance

It’s no secret that one of the best ways to break into the children’s magazine markets is with nonfiction. So follow these 6 tips to have the best chance of acceptance with your short articles for children:

1. Study the markets - Each children’s magazine is different, with a different style, voice, and variety of subject matter. Take time to study the markets you wish to submit to and you’ll know which ones are the most appropriate for the articles that you wish to write.

2. Study Past Issues - Besides studying current issues of each publication you wish to write for, look at several past issues of each publication. Make a list of the various nonfiction article titles in each issue to get a “feel” for the way various authors narrowed their focus for each topic they wrote about. One of the big mistakes most beginning children’s writers make with their nonfiction articles is that they don’t narrow the focus of the article enough. If you want to write about camels, for example, don’t propose an article that tells anything and everything about camels. Instead, focus on just ONE aspect about camels and develop your article around that.

3. Include subtopic headings when writing your article - These will break up your article into “chunks” which are easier for young readers to read. These subtopic headings will also “lead” the reader through your article. They will also make your article “look” more like nonfiction instead of fiction.

4. Give your topic an unusual slant that will appeal to kids and editors alike - When you do this, your article won’t sound so much like a textbook. And articles that sound too much like textbook material are NOT in big demand with magazine editors.

5. Consider topics that will relate to themed publications - Many children’s magazines have themes for each issue. And, even for publications that do not have themed issues, editors still look for topics that can be used for holiday issues as well as other seasonal issues. For example, most publications feature some sort of back-to-school articles in their August or September issues. In the summer months, these same publications tend to feature articles that give vacation tips or crafts ideas and games to keep kids occupied during the summer. So, be sure to include some of these types of article ideas in your queries.

6. Look for lesser known publications - Competition is fierce for Highlights, Spider, Cricket, and most of the very popular publications for children. You’ll automatically increase your chances for acceptance if you query publications that don’t receive so many queries.

Try these 6 tips and it shouldn’t take you long to start receiving acceptances from the children’s magazines that you query.

For more tips and articles about writing for children, visit the National Writing for Children Center and join the Children’s Writers’ Coaching Club. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here.

Balloon Buddies

2009-05-27T13:23:00.005-05:00

Time: 1-1 ½ Hours
Grade Level: Pre-K & up

What you Need:

1-piece of construction paper or poster board.
Pencil
Blunt end scissors
Magic markers
1-balloon
Scotch tape
Double-stick tape

What to Do:

1. Place the construction paper on the floor or a hard surface.

2. Stand on the construction paper with both heels together in a “V” shape.

3. Use the pencil to trace around both feet leaving a space between the feet. (grown-ups are great tracing helpers)

4. Color or outline the toe nails with markers.

5. Cut out the feet with scissors leaving them together at the heels.

6. Hole-punch or poke a hole in the space between the heels with a pencil.

7. Reinforce by placing a piece of tape around the front side and back of the hole.

8. Blow up the balloon and tie a knot in the neck of the balloon.

9. Gently pull the knot of the balloon through the hole.

10. Fasten the balloon to the feet with a piece of tape.

11. Draw with markers a face and hair or ears. Or for ears tape a half circle cut from left over paper to the sides of the balloon. Or for hair cut stripes in the paper and double stick tape the hair to the top of the balloon.

12.Use double stick tape to stabilize or hold the balloon onto the table.

Jewel Of A Book

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2009-05-20T17:44:00.004-05:00

By Amy M. O’Quinn

Have you tried this old classic recently? If not, you should! Because when you combine chocolate, oatmeal, and peanut butter all into one yummy confection—you have a winner! Plus, it’s an extremely easy recipe with ingredients that you probably already have in the pantry. And because the goodies don’t have to be baked, you’ll have a delicious treat in no time at all. Give it a try!

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oats

Directions:

In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients except peanut butter and oats. Cook over medium heat. Let boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and oats. Spoon out quickly onto wax paper or aluminum foil. Cookies will harden as they set.

Visit Amy M. O'Quinn

Homemade Play Putty

2009-05-06T14:37:00.005-05:00

By Amy M. O’Quinn

Everyone loves playing with Silly Putty! But did you know you can make a ‘homemade’ version—in a single serving, no less? Experiment with different food colorings, and create play putty in a rainbow of colors! It’s easy and inexpensive.

Here’s how:

1. Into a glass bowl, add 2 T. white glue, 2 drops food coloring, and 2 T. liquid
starch on top.

2. Scrape the sides of the bowl to incorporate all of the glue.

3. Let the mixture stand for at least five minutes.

4. Knead the play putty until all the ingredients are blended well.

In about 24 hours, the putty will bounce and stretch! Store in a plastic zipper bag and HAVE FUN!

Visit Amy M. O'Quinn

What Makes a Hero - a Review

2009-05-05T06:39:00.004-05:00

Reviewed by Christian (3-years-old) and his grandmother, Karen Cioffi

Title: What Makes a Hero
Written by: Irene Trimble
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: RH/Disney (June 24, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0736421599
ISBN-13: 978-0736421591

Grandma: Did you like the book?

Christian: I like it.

Grandma: Who are some of the characters the book?

Christian: Buzz Lightyear, Tarzan, Hercules.

Grandma: Were all those characters heroes?

Christian: Yes.

Grandma: What was your favorite part?

Christian: Hercules lifting the big rock.

Grandma: What other part did you really like?

Christian: Buzz shoots the asteroid with his lazar gun. It comes out of his glove.

Grandma: What makes a hero?

Christian: They help.

For more information about Karen Cioffi visit her at Karen Cioffi-Ventrice

Co-Author of Day's End Lullaby

Piglet Feels Small – A Review

2009-04-25T10:18:00.004-05:00

Reviewed by Christian F. (3 years old) and his grandmother Karen Cioffi

Title: Piglet Feels Small
Written by: Jennifer Liberts Weinberg
Illustrated by: Josie Yee

Grandma: Why did Piglet feel small?

Christian: He couldn't climb the tree.

Grandma: What else couldn't Piglet do?

Christian: Bounce high. Fly a kite

Grandma: Were there things Piglet could do?

Christian: Plant seeds. Pick berries.

Grandma: Did Piglet feel better when Pooh showed him what Piglet could do?

Christian: Yes.

Grandma: Did Pooh run out of honey?

Christian: Yeah.

Grandma: Who brought him more honey?

Christian: Piglet.

Grandma: What was your favorite part of the story?

Christian: I like that part – Pooh's looking for honey.

Grandma: Did you like this book?

Christian: Yeah. It's good.

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Contact reviewer at Karen Cioffi-Ventrice

Co-Author of Day's End Lullaby

Bubble Print Art

2009-04-20T09:54:00.005-05:00

by Amy M. O’Quinn

It’s universal! All children enjoy being creative! And here’s a fun activity that’s easy, yet a little bit different from your run of the mill ‘crayon and paper’ project. It’s called Bubble Print Art, and it combines two ‘kid favorites’—bubbles and paint.

What You’ll Need:

White Art Paper
Water
Quart Containers
Tempera Paint (your choice of colors)
Liquid Detergent
Straws (not the bendable kind)
Shallow Pans
Spoon for stirring

Directions:

1. Mix one-third cup of tempera paint with one-third cup liquid detergent in a quart
container; add water to fill the container and stir. Let the mixture sit
overnight. If you want to use several different colors, you’ll need to make a
different solution for each one in a separate container.

2. The next day, pour each color solution into its own shallow pan.

3. With an adult’s supervision, place the bottom of the straw into the color solution
and blow gently through the top of the straw to create bubbles. Be careful not to
suck any of the paint up into your mouth...remember to BLOW!

4. Next, carefully press a piece of paper onto the top of the bubbles. The bubbles
should burst and leave an imprint on the paper. You can create a fantastic design
using different colored bubbles.

Get creative and have fun with your bubble print art!

**************

Visit Amy

Hop! Hop! Hop! – A Review

2009-04-19T07:53:00.004-05:00

Reviewed by Christian F. (3 years old) and his grandmother Karen Cioffi

Title: Hop! Hop! Hop!
Written by: Ann Whitford Paul
Illustrated by: Jan Gerardi

Grandma: Who went hop, hop, hop?

Christian: Little Rabbit.

Grandma: Why was he hopping?

Christian: He's following Big Rabbit.

Grandma: What did Big Rabbit hop over?

Christian: Flowers. A puddle. A log.

Grandma: Was Little Rabbit able to hop over things like Big Rabbit?

Christian: No.

Grandma: Why wasn't he able to hop over the things?

Christian: He's too small.

Grandma: Did Little Rabbit figure out how to get past things?

Christian: Yeah.

Grandma: How did he get past the things?

Christian: He walked around them.

Grandma: Did you like this book?

Christian: Yeah.

Blast off to Healthy Eating!

2009-04-13T08:59:00.005-05:00

by Terri Forehand

Kids, are you tired of being nagged to eat right?

Surprise your parents by choosing healthy foods all by yourself. Here are some tips to make good choices.

1. Know what the 5 food groups are. They are Breads and Cereals, Fruits, Vegetables,
Meat/ Fish, and Milk/ Dairy.

2. Pick 4... pick four fruits or vegetables every day. Ask your mom for them before
she has time to tell you. Pick 4 dairy items... milk, yogurt, or cheese. Pick four
times a day to drink a glass of water instead of juice or soda.

3. Pick 3 meats or proteins. Eat 3 meals each day. And limit your snacks to 3 a day
from one of the 5 food groups. Skip the sugar treats and see what happens.

Start the day off right by eating breakfast... it is the best meal of the day for jump starting your brain and giving you energy. Try it for a week without being nagged and see how you feel. My guess is you will really feel GREAT and your parents will think weird things are happening because they haven't had to nag. It'll be a hoot. Happy Eating!

*******

Visit Terri Forehand's blog for kids

The Backyardigans - Cops and Robots - A Review

2009-04-09T15:35:00.006-05:00

Reviewed by Christian F. ( 3 years old) and his grandmother Karen Cioffi

Title: Cops and Robots
Adapted by: Erica David
Illustrated by: Zina Saunders

Grandma: What are Tasha and Pablo doing?
Christian: They're pretending to be bad robots.

Grandma: What do Tasha and Pablo want to do?
Christian: Change all the robots to bad.

Grandma: What are Uniqua and Tyrone doing?
Christian: They're the police officers. They have to stop them.

Grandma: How did Uniqua and Tyrone save Pablo and Tasha?
Christian: They turned the switches off.

Grandma: Do you like the flaps in the book?
Christian: Yeah, I did.

Grandma: Did you like this book?
Christian: Let's read it again. Let's read it again.

Note: We read it five times!

How to Slice a Banana BEFORE You Peel it!

2009-04-08T15:47:00.006-05:00

by Amy M. O'Quinn

Can you imagine the look on your friend's face when she peels the banana you gave her and discovers that it's already been pre-sliced?

With a needle and thread, and a little practice, you can actually learn how to divide a banana while it's still in its peel!

Is that fun, or what? Here's how:

Instructions found at bakingbites.com.

Visit Amy M. O'Quinn

Who's Hiding, Josh? - A Review

2009-04-01T10:58:00.005-05:00

Reviewed by Christian F. (3 years old) and his grandmother Karen Cioffi

Title: Who's Hiding, Josh?
Written by: Nancy Krulik
Illustrated by: Jason Wolff

Grandma: What is Josh doing?
Christian: He has to guess what's under the flaps.

Grandma: Is Josh Cute?
Christian: Yes. He's a bear.

Grandma: Where did Josh look?
Christian: In the park. In the zoo, too.

Grandma: What was your favorite part?
Christian: The peacock.

Grandma: What's under the peacock's flap?
Christian: Baby peacocks. They're in their shells.

Grandma: What was your favorite place that Josh looked in?
Christian: The beach.

Grandma: Did you like this book?
Christian: Yes. I did.

***********************

Karen Cioffi-Ventrice
Co-Author of Day's End Lullaby

Octopus For Lunch, Anyone?

2009-03-31T16:15:00.005-05:00

by Amy M. O'Quinn

How would you like to eat an octopus for lunch? No, not a real octopus! But you can make one from a hot dog for a special lunchtime treat! Here’s how:

With adult supervision, use a knife to split a hot dog in half lengthwise, stopping about halfway up. Then split each of those halves into fourths (again lengthwise), being careful not to cut off any of the pieces. You should now have eight ‘tentacles!’

Now, simply put the hot dog into a saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil, and cook until done. Voila! Place your ‘octopus’ on a serving plate and enjoy! For more variety, you could use ketchup and mustard to create eyes and a smile. A fun twist on an old favorite!

Visit Amy M. O'Quinn
.

It's Time for Spring Cleaning!

2009-03-30T15:53:00.005-05:00

by Terri Forehand

As you spring clean this season, throwing out all that extra junk, here are a five things to add to your list. These will be great examples for your children and helpful to you as a parent as well.

1. Free your heart from hatred - throw out those old misconceptions and make a new
spring start by opening your heart. It will teach your children compassion and
understanding rather than hate and dislike.

2. Free your mind of worry. Most worries are things that you can't change anyway, so
break free from the worry and spring clean your mind.

3. Live simply and teach your children to do the same. For instance, a few favorite
toys and games that they enjoy are better than a room full of stuff no one uses. It
is simple to keep clean and easier for the kids to find and play with their
favorites. Less is More.

4. Give more - more time, more money, more clothing, more food, what ever you feel you
can give. It teaches children to think of others, appreciate what they have, and it
lightens the heart.

5. Expect less - don't lower your standards, just lower your expectations. It will
lessen your disappointments in life and increase your joy when your receive those
blessings you didn't expect.

Spring is a great time to do more than sweep out cobwebs and mop those floors. It is never too late to clear out your mind and open your heart too. It may freshen your outlook. Happy Spring!

****************

Visit Terri's blog for kids!

Paper Bunny Banner

2009-03-25T08:41:00.012-05:00

by Amy M. O'Quinn

Spring has sprung and Easter is just around the corner! To celebrate the season, you can create a special ‘bunny banner’ that is easy and fun to make. The basic idea is just the same as folding and cutting out old-fashioned paper dolls, but this project uses a cute bunny design instead.

Here’s what you’ll need:

8.5 x 11 inch white paper or card stock
Pencil
Scissors
Bunny template (at bottom)- Copy the design on card stock for ease and durability, and cut out to use as a tracing guide.
Crayons or makers
Tape

Directions:

1. Fold the paper or card stock in half lengthwise and crease, then cut.

2. Fold one of the strips of paper into fourths, then fold like an accordion. Each section will measure 2.75 in. x 4.25 in. I got equal parts by folding the strip of paper in half, then folding that in half again.

3. Position the bunny template so that the nose and back of bunny touches each side of the paper. Trace around the template.

4. Cut around the traced design, being careful not to cut where the outline touches the sides. This is what will hold the bunnies together.

5. Unfold the bunny chain...you should have four connected bunnies.

6. Give each bunny an eye and a pink nose.

7. You can tape more than one ‘litter’ of bunnies together to create a bunny garland. Hang from a mantel or spot of your choice to add a little seasonal interest and enjoy!

(Bunny Template)
Copy on cardstock and cut out to use as a tracing guide.

******************

Visit Amy M O'Quinn

Helping Kids Deal with Stress

2009-03-23T08:01:00.005-05:00

by Terri Forehand

Times are tough and the economy adds more stress to parents and kids too. Here are 3 tips to help your kids through the worry.

1. Remember that your kids really want more of your time than your money. Find cheap activities to enjoy together rather than expensive ones. Try board games, volunteering together to help someone with spring yard clean up, or plan and plant a garden. Be creative and allow time for your kids to express how they feel about what is going on in the world. Kids can be very talkative when their hands are busy.

2. Turn off the television, particularly news, during meal time. Family discussions can be stimulating when you ask your kids about politics, the economy, or the environment. It is a great time to share family values and solutions rather than dwell
on the negatives repeated over and over during the news. It makes for a much more pleasant meal.

3. Talk animals... all kinds of animals. Animals that can be pets, animals that are on the verge of extinction, and favorite animals. Kids love animals. It is a different kind of discussion, educational, and fun. It can even spark further research or suggest a family fieldtrip.

Parents who recognize that their children can become stressed over everyday news events can plan to include kids in more positive solutions and discussions if they give it some extra effort. Your kids will be happier knowing that you are there to help with any tough world issues they feel a part of, and your efforts will make them feel more secure in a very scary world.

*********

Visit Terri Forehand, a pediatric critical care nurse, blog for kids.

Books You Download - The Trend of the Future or a Passing Craze?

2009-03-22T14:51:00.003-05:00

by Margot Finke

E-Books, like hard copy books of all genres, vary in quality. As e-Books gain readership and popularity, more-and-more care is being taken to make sure the quality of the writing and art-work is really good. It has taken time for writers and e-Publishers to understand that standards of excellence DO matter, no matter what form the finished book takes.

There are now two e-Book Readers on the market that will show color illustrations (PANASONIC - FUJUTSU ). At the moment, their cost is way too high - but look at microwaves, TV and cell phones when they first came out! I am certain that as more readers go for downloads, the price of e-Book Readers will come down to a reasonable level. For now, we are stuck with the black and white version of e-readers, or our computer screens if we want color.

A HUGE PLUS is that children's e-BOOKS can be downloaded for as little as $3.00 each, whereas the same book in paper costs anywhere from $10.00 to $15.00. Adult genres a lot more. Buy GREEN and SAVE a TREE! You can also usually download picture books from the publisher, or online sites like Fictionwise, Readers Eden, and many more.

These days, many publishers, like Guardian Angel Publishing (G.A.P.), provide hard copy, e-Book Download, and CD versions of their books. Even some of the "Big Boys" are getting into the act. Soon there will be DVD versions of many picture books, with sound and music. Kids today, unlike many of their parents and grandparents, are computer savvy. We grew up taking the telephone and TV for granted. Kids today take reading on a screen the same way. They play games on a screen too, download their music, and watch movies as well. Kids today can't imagine life without computers and the magic they bring. I suspect it's the adults who need to catch up with the 21st century.

No one publishing venue is the RIGHT one. There is a time and place for e-Book reading, and a time and place for snuggling up in bed with a paper book. A new set of reading options.

e-Books are just beginning to take off, and become noticed as viable alternatives for reading fun and education. This is a new publishing arena, and it is still in that early shake-down period. Guttenberg didn't get it right the first few times around, either.

And in these tough times, and with environmental issues in mind, buying THRIFTY GREEN e-BOOKS makes total sense. And if some of those e-Books add a little voice, music, or action to the mix, why not? Think of all those boys out there who are reluctant readers. A little music and action could sweeten the deal, and make the bitter reading pill go down without a murmur - right?

Think of those long and boring family car trips. E-Books on a reader or DVD player can stop squabbles, and kids being brats in the back seat. And some stories are just MADE for reading and viewing as mini movies, with sound and action - as well as those wonderful illustrations. Did you know, that fun, educational computer games for the family, + others made for adults only, now haul in more money than movies - in the multiple Billions!!

We are already IN the electronic age. Our kids and grandkids will see and experience all electronic homes ( there are models out there already), and cars we don't need to drive - just type in a destination, then sit back and enjoy the ride - or a movie!! But hey, I don't want to throw you too far into "future scare."

However, you can bet the kids of today will embrace it all. The future
can't be stopped, and the past is already losing ground.

**************

Visit Margot Finke

* Manuscript Critiques - Writing Help

* Rattlesnake Jam +7 Book PB Series

Ting-a-Ling – A Review

2009-03-18T11:25:00.002-05:00

Reviewed by Christian F. ( 3 years old) and his grandmother Karen Cioffi

Title: Ting-a-Ling!
Written by: Siobhan Dodds

Grandma: What is Tilly doing?
Christian: She's talking on the telephone.

Grandma: Do you like the pictures?
Christian: I do. I do.

Grandma: Who is the cutest character?
Christian: The puppy. He's painting the duck yellow.

Grandma: Who is Tilly talking to?
Christian: She's talking to Mommy. It's time for a bath.

Grandma: Did you like the book?
Christian: Yeah, I did.

Yummy Leprechaun Hats

2009-03-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

by Amy M. O'Quinn

Top o’ the day! Today is Saint Patrick’s Day and time for a little more ‘green’ fun! So let’s make some ‘leprechaun hats’ out of vanilla wafers and marshmallows to create an unusual, yet tasty treat! Let’s get started.

You’ll need:

Vanilla Wafers
Large Marshmallows
Vanilla flavored Candy-Quik (also called almond bark)
Green Food Coloring
Green sprinkles and miniature candy decorating shapes
Spatula or knife for spreading

What To Do:

1. Gather your supplies and ingredients.

2. Put the Candy-Quik in a microwave safe dish and heat for about 90 seconds. Stir, then heat for an additional 15 seconds. Stir. Repeat until the coating is completed melted. Add green food coloring, until the desired green color is achieved.

3. Using a butter knife or spatula, begin spreading the melted candy coating onto the vanilla wafer.

4. Next, place a marshmallow on the ‘flat’ side of the vanilla wafer to form a ‘hat.’ Spread the candy coating all over the marshmallow, keeping it as smooth as possible. It helps to wipe the excess candy coating against the edge of the melting dish.

5. Place each ‘hat’ on a serving plate and put some green and white decorating candy shapes around the ‘rim’ of the hat to form a hat band of sorts.

6. Last of all, shake some of the green sprinkles on top of each marshmallow. The candy coating will firm up and harden as it cools, so work quickly. You can also store any unused candy coating in the refrigerator and reheat and stir as needed.

Yum! Enjoy your ‘leprechaun hats’...and enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day as well!

********

You can visit Amy at www.amyoquinn.com or homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.

The Importance of Play

2009-03-16T16:38:00.003-05:00

by Terri Forehand

The world can be a scary place for adults, so you can imagine what it appears to a child. In these uncertain times, play needs to be an important part of a child’s day. Here are some ideas to keep in mind.

* Play is a great stress reliever.
* Play allows the child the freedom of expression
* Play allows a child to act out his fears, concerns, or anxieties
* Play can be a diversion for painful procedures or separation anxiety
* Play can be a source of security and safety for a child
* Developmentally appropriate play helps a child with normal growth and motor skills
* Play should be incorporated with children who are hospitalized frequently
* Play puts the child in the driver’s seat allowing him to make choices and have a
sense of control

Safety during playtime must also be considered. Children of all ages need some sort of supervision depending on the age and development of the individual child. And that includes teens. All children are more secure when they know an adult is caring enough to check up on them and to be interested in what they are doing.

Now go play and enjoy!

**************

Terri Forehand is a pediatric critical care nurse. Visit her blog, Heartfeltwords4kids.

Make a Leprechaun Egghead!

2009-03-10T09:01:00.002-05:00

by Amy M. O'Quinn

Science is fun! St. Patrick’s Day is fun too! So let’s combine the two and enjoy a neat activity that is sure to garner a few chuckles. Making a ‘Leprechaun Egghead’ is a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, enjoy an unusual craft, and even learn a little horticulture in the process. You may even discover that you, too, have a ‘green’ thumb when you make this charming St. Patty’s Day decoration. So gather your supplies and let’s get ‘growing.’

What You’ll Need:

An uncooked egg
Scissors or a knife (With adult supervision)
Crayons or Paint
Grass Seed
Potting soil
Green Construction Paper

Instructions:

1. Cut the top off the uncooked egg by gently cracking the shell around the narrow end
with the blade of a kitchen knife or a pair of scissors. (Ask an adult to help with
this part.) The shell should break away evenly at that point so you will have deep
shell perfect for planting. Rinse the shell, inside and out, and let it dry
thoroughly.

2. Fill the clean, dry shell with fresh potting soil and sprinkle a small amount of
grass seed on the surface.

3. Keep the soil/grass seeds sprinkled or misted with water every day so the soil
stays moist as the grass grows. In about five days, there should be a nice growth
of green ‘hair’!

4. Now comes the fun part. Decorate the eggshell to look like a leprechaun...green
coat, orange beard, twinkly eyes, happy grin, and a pipe (See photo.)

5. You can draw, decorate and cut out a leprechaun hat from green construction paper
to put atop the leprechaun’s head. You may even have to give your egghead a
haircut!

Set your ‘Leprechaun’ on a table (a bottle cap is a great base), in a windowsill, or in some other special place and enjoy this perky little egghead on Saint Patrick’s Day...and beyond. He’s always good for a laugh!

************

Visit Amy M. O'Quinn at www.amyoquinn.com or www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.

Five Important Symptoms to NOT Overlook When Your Kids Complain

2009-03-09T17:13:00.005-05:00

by Terri Forehand

Kids sometimes just complain of minor aches and pains, tummy aches, and headaches. How do you know what is real and what isn't? Here are five things to take seriously when your child complains.

1. Pay attention when your child says he or she can't breath. Look for a change in
skin color, pulling in the chest or ribs when taking a breath or noisy breathing.
If you see or hear signs of difficulty breathing, seek medical care immediately.

2. Fever of 104 degrees or above that does not come down with Tylenol should have a
look see by the family doctor. Children under the age of one cannot tolerate fever
so those who have a 100.4 degree fever, should be seen regardless.

3. Pain should be assessed carefully. Belly pain is a common complaint, and belly pain
with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea may be just the flu. However, parents must also
keep in mind that appendicitis is common in children. So is constipation. Know your
child and their personal bowel habits to best make a decision.

4. Changes in mental status or behaviors should always be evaluated. I am not talking
toddler tantrums here or a cranky episode that can be put up to no nap time. I am
talking about an obvious change in alertness or mood for no apparent reason or a
deep sleep or drowsiness that can not be explained. These symptoms need to be
checked by a physician immediately.

5. Lumps and bruises that are outside the normal occasional bump from the coffee table
need attention. If your child has unexplained bruises on extremities, sudden purple
or red-bloody looking blisters, or lumps or masses that are unexplained, have them
evaluated by the family doctor.

I would add one other tip. If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 48 hours and your child is keeping nothing down, including water, he or she should be seen. Even if it is a simple flu, there are medications available to stop the vomiting so dehydration doesn't become an issue.

The most important thing I can tell parents is this. You know your child better than anyone. If you feel your child's symptoms warrant a doctor visit, then by all means take them in. Never let a medical professional belittle you for being a concerned parent, and never avoid getting your child seen for fear someone may think you are over-reacting. Remember the old cliche' ....It is better safe than sorry... especially with little one's. Your family doctor or nurse is just a phone call away. Trust your instincts and you be the judge.
***********

Terri Forehand is a pediatric critical care nurse. Read more health care tips and other articles at her blog - Heartfeltwords4kids

Brothers Are For Making Mud Pies - A Review

2009-03-04T07:16:00.000-06:00

Reviewed by Christian Filagrossi (who is 3 years old) and his grandmother Karen Cioffi

Title: Brothers Are For Making Mud Pies
Written by: Harriet Ziefert
Illustrated by: Chris Demarest

Grandma: Did you like the book?

Christian: Yes. (FYI: He uses Yes more often than Yeah)

Grandma: Did it show all the things you can do with a brother?

Christian: Lucas can’t eat cookies yet. (Lucas is his 3-month-old brother)

Grandma: Did you like the flaps that hid more of the things you can do with your brother?

Christian: Yeah. Under this one they’re jumping in a puddle.

Grandma: What was your favorite part of the book?

Christian: When the sister won the race. She jumped in the pool. Let’s read it again!

************************

For more reviews, articles, and other information about children's books, visit Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children.

A Yummy Saint Patrick's Day Treat!

2009-03-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

by Amy M. O'Quinn

It won’t be long until Saint Patrick’s Day, so have a little fun that’s “magically delicious!" Surely everyone has sampled cloverleaf cookies or cupcakes with green icing topped with a gold foil chocolate coin. But how about a new twist on an old favorite?

For a yummy (and easy) treat, why not make Lucky Charms Treat Bars and enjoy sweet marshmallow goodness combined with one of everyone’s favorite cereals? And remember, as Lucky the Leprechaun liked to proclaim, you’ll also get “pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers.” Or more accurately, as the marshmallows included today are—red balloons, blue moons, pink hearts, multi-colored rainbows, yellow and white shooting stars, Lucky's green hat with a green clover, an orange and yellow pot of gold, and purple horseshoes! Additionally, in 2008, a gold hourglass was added to the marshmallow collection.

Lucky Charms Treat Bars

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons butter or margarine
25 large marshmallows or 2 ½ cups miniature marshmallows
5 cups Lucky Charms cereal

Directions:
1. Grease a 9x9x2 inch pan.
2. Melt butter and marshmallows until smooth, either over medium heat or in the microwave.
3. Stir in Lucky Charms cereal until well coated. Press into pan with buttered hands.
4. Let cool until firm enough to cut, yet still pliable.
5. Cut into 8 equal bars.
6. Push a popsicle stick up into the bottom of each bar (about halfway), then press down slightly with your hands to mold the treat around the stick.
7. Place bars on wax paper and let cool completely.

Variations:
-Dip one end of each Lucky Charm Treat Bar into melted vanilla Candi-Quik that has been tinted with green food coloring, then coat with multi-colored sprinkles.
or
-Add green food coloring to the marshmallow/butter mixture before adding the cereal.

Enjoy!

Check back next Tuesday for a neat St. Patty's Day craft!

*********************

Visit Amy at www.amyoquinn.com or www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.

Keeping Kids Healthy in an Unhealthy World

2009-03-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

by Terri Forehand

This winter has been harsh weather- wise and health- wise. Kids have been exposed to RSV, cold viruses, flu viruses, and contamination from some of their favorite foods like peanut butter. Winter has been hard. How do you keep kids healthy in this kind of environment? Follow these tips to keep kids healthy:

* Rest, kids need rest. They might not think they do, but we know better. Kids
under 5 still need naps, and kids older than 5 and on up to late teens, still
need a reasonable bedtime. Most kids need 8-10 hours of good sleep every night to
keep healthy, alert, and active.

* Water, kids need 6-8 glasses of water per day. I am not talking soda, koolaid, or
juice. Good fresh water to hydrate cells and promote cell restoration.

* Vitamins, from a healthy diet and from supplements when kids don't eat right.
Vitamins and minerals from fruits and veggies are the best source to keep skin,
organs, and the immune system healthy so think fruits and veggies when thinking
snacks.

* Handwashing... the single most important form of prevention of the spread of
viruses and bacteria is good handwashing practices. Teach your children to wash
their hands frequently, especially after the bathroom, after being at the store
and touching carts, and after sneezing and coughing episodes.

Start with these tips and small changes to get kids on the road to health. Check back next Monday for more tips to keep kids healthy and active. And follow the same tips to improve how you feel too. Make it a family affair to get healthy and fit together.

*********

For more tips for keeping kids healthy, visit Terri Forehand's blog, heartfeltwords4kids

Buying Books for Boys - Especially Reluctant Readers!

2009-03-01T18:49:00.003-06:00

by Margot Finke

Okay, you want to get that kid away from the computer or computer game, but he just won't read. Show him a book and he completely shuts down. His light goes out!

Remember the old rhyme, "Girls are made of sugar and spice, but boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails."

If you give him books that offer more snips and snails and puppy dog tails, he WILL read them. Boys love the YUCK of life. Look for titles and stories with plots that deal with the following - or worse:
Barf
Slimy frogs
Bathroom humor
Macho action and dialogue
Underarm music
Farting
Boys clubs
Dangerous wild animals
Trekking to far off places
Making a sister's life miserable
A garage band named "The Suicide Squad - or similar.
The hero hates bathing, soap, clean clothes
The hero has bad breath, similar attitude, and is puzzled why his parents don't understand him!
Wacky humor
The wimp who discovers he CAN stand up for himself if it means life or death - HIS!

Look for books that combine any three (or all of them) in a plot, for a sure-fire, macho reluctant reader winner. HOOK the boy in your life early.

And, if you need advice about actual books that will HOOK that boy on reading, go to:

Michael Sullivan's
Books for Boys
http://www.talestoldtall.com/BooksforBoys.html

There you will find recommendations for boys of all ages, tips for parents, and even "Boy Meets BOOK" - and the rest is history!

You CAN get that boy reading - even if it kills you!

***************

For more articles, tips, and other resources about children's books, visit MargotFinke.com

The Elephant Song!

2009-02-27T10:43:00.002-06:00

This is like a silly mixed up concept book - with music. Enjoy...

For articles, tips, reviews, and information about children's books, visit the National Writing for Children Center.

"My Visit to Grandma Judy's" by Shannon Myers Kelly

2008-12-03T11:31:00.006-06:00

Do you visit your grandparents’ house? Is the weather warm or cold when you visit? Do you get to stay all day or overnight?

I read a picture book this week titled, My Visit to Grandma Judy’s.

The story is about a little girl named Amanda who visited her Grandma Judy during the summer. Amanda tells all about the neat stuff they did and found at her Grandma Judy’s house. The black and white pictures have new objects and creatures to discover on each page. You will have to read the story to discover if Amanda finds creatures at her grandma’s house that you would or wouldn’t find at your grandparents’ house.

To learn more about Shannon Myers Kelly visit Amanda-Adventures.com

Writing Adventure fun

Amanda discovers some things from nature. List the things Amanda finds. Then list the things you would find at your grandparents’ house. Are there any differences?

Collect or take a photograph with a grown ups help of some things from nature while visiting your grandparents. From the things you collected or photographed make a collage or picture to hang on your bedroom wall. Write a story about collecting or photographing your visit.

Amanda does some fun activities with her Grandma Judy. List the activities they do together. Are the activities they do different or the same things you would do with your grandma?

Write or draw a story about your favorite thing to do while visiting your grandparents.

Please share with Jewel you story by posting it in the comments section!

Until next time, happy writing!

How Holiday Celebrations Got Started

2008-12-01T21:19:00.007-06:00

Have you ever wondered how holiday celebrations got started? According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary the word holiday is from the words Holy Day. Holy Day is a day of observance for a religious event. Observance of a Holy Day can be traced back to biblical times when God commanded the Jewish people to observe seven days as holy in Leviticus 23. Today in the USA, we use the word holiday to mean an observance of national, cultural, or religious event. Christmas was formed as a national holiday in order to observe cultural and religious celebrations during the winter season.

I read a book a few weeks back titled, Mrs. Muddle’s Holiday by Laura F. Nielsen.

Nielsen shows how the Maple Street community celebrates many traditional, religious and cultural holidays throughout the year. Then a new neighbor, Mrs. Muddle, moves in and educates her neighborhood about celebrating out of the ordinary, extraordinary days, like the leaf fairy hides presents day. Will the neighborhood join in and celebrate with Mrs. Muddle?

To learn more about Laura F. Nielsen please visit here

Write All About It!

Holidays are an opportunity to spend time with family and friends. List the holidays your family celebrates through out the year. Write a story about your favorite holiday with your family.

If you could create a holiday, what would you name it? Explain what you would do on that day.

Please share with Jewel you ideas by posting in the comments section!

Until next time, happy writing!

"Clementine's Letter" An Aah-inspiring Book

2008-11-18T22:03:00.007-06:00

I read this really funny book this week called Clementine’s Letter written by Sara Pennypacker. Early into the story I discover that bighearted Clementine is learning the rules of third grade and how to stay out of the principle’s office. Then she is faced with her biggest challenge of the year when her teacher, Mr. D’Matz, is nominated to go on a research trip to Egypt. Clementine thinks no one understands her impulsiveness and her need to know the rules ahead of time, like her teacher. Her class gets a substitute teacher with new rules. Surprising twists happen as Clementine can’t figure out the rules until it is too late and she is in trouble for breaking the rules. I find myself wanting Clementine to find a way to be happy with the new school changes. Then one day the class is asked to write a letter of recommendation to a panel of judges for Mr. D’Matz. Clementine uses the opportunity to try and get her teacher back even if it means ruining her teacher’s once in a life time chance. Will her plan give her what she wants or into more trouble?

My favorite parts are the game Clementine plays when she is bored and her ideas for getting what she wants, like when her dad and she wrote a story together.

Clementine’s Letter is truly a fun story to read. To learn more about Sara Pennypacker visit her here

Story Writing Fun
One of the things that Clementine says, “I like to write important reminders on my arm. That way, I don’t lose them---I always know where my arm is, which is not true about pieces of paper. Plus, they look like tattoos. On Sunday nights, my mother scrubs all the week’s notes off, and I start over.” (pages 28-29)

Where do you keep your important reminders?

Make a list of the things you need to remember for the week.

Clementine writes a letter of recommendation for her teacher, Mr. D’Matz.

Write Clementine a letter with your best advice of how to write a letter of recommendation for your teacher.

Write Clementine a letter with your best advice on quiet games to play when you are bored.

Clementine writes a story with her dad called The Building Manager by alternating sentences and ideas.

Start a story with one of your parents or a friend alternating sentences.

Share your writings with Jewel by asking your parents to post them in the comments section below or emailing them to her.

Until next time happy writing!

Review written by Jewel Sample, MS; Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses, also translated: Besos y abrazos al aire (Spanish edition). To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com.

What’s that lurking under your bed?

2008-10-29T18:38:00.005-05:00

October seems to be the time of year when many thoughts about what could be lurking under our beds occurs more often than other times. Have you ever thought the creeping about was a ghost or a monster? Did one of your parents get out a can of “Ghost-buster Spray” or “Monster Repellent?” At my house we used what my young son called the Ghost-buster Spray. He believed there were ghosts lurking in the closet or under his bed. Sometimes I would spray the hard to reach places and he would spray under the bed.

Recently I read a book titled, Trockle to a mixed group of elementary and middle school children. In reading Trockle we find out, like most young children, Stephen’s imagination gets the best of him as he finishes his bedtime snack. He is sure there is a monster under his bed. His Mom tries to comfort Stephen by reminding him that she had used her reliable “monster repellent” just the week before, so there are NO monsters under his bed. Stephen is sure that this monster was not like the others. He even has a name, Trockle. And he snores! How can Stephen convince his parents this is one REAL MONSTER?

Meanwhile, amidst the dust bunnies, chocolate wrappers, and carpet fuzz Trockle is also getting ready for bed. He too is afraid to go to sleep because he believes there is a BIG monster over his bed. What else can be making the ceiling noises in the dark? His Mother held his fears as NONSENSE. How can Trockle convince his Mother this is one BIG MONSTER?

Stephen and Trockle can not stop thinking about each other as they are trying to go to sleep. What will they do next? Will they become friends or will Stephen’s Mom get rid of Trockle once and for all? Be sure and read Trockle to find out what happens next.

The other day I had a chance to meet up with Holly Jahangiri the author of Trockle to ask her some questions our group had about Stephen and Trockle. This is what Holly had to say.

Jewel: Hi Holly, thank you for agreeing to meet up with me to answer some elementary and middle school children’s questions.

Holly: Sure, my pleasure. I love to talk with kids.

Jewel: My first question comes from J., “Where does Stephen live?”

Holly: Stephen lives in the suburbs of a very large city. There are lots and lots of things to do, but his house is in a quiet, friendly neighborhood. He can walk or ride his bike to school, but he takes the bus.

Jewel: Awesome! Stephen lives on the edge of a large city like many children who read this blog. R. asks, “Does Trockle go to school? If he does, what grade is he in?”

Holly: No, although he’d love to go with Stephen, now that he’s learned human boys are more fun than scary. His mom “homeschools” him, teaching him all a little monster needs to know.

Jewel: I hear home schooling is a lot like public school when it comes to having to do schoolwork like math and spelling. A. wants to know, “What does Trockle like to do for fun?”

Holly: He loves to ride around in Stephen’s remote-controlled monster truck. He once curled up inside Stephen’s baseball glove, and Stephen mistook him for a little orange ball. Trockle was literally bouncing off the walls for a while, and enjoying every minute of it. Sounds painful to me, but he couldn’t stop giggling when he told me about it.

Jewel: Sounds like something Trockle would love to giggle about his orange ball ride again. T. has this question, “Does Trockle speak Trockle language? If so, what does it sound like?”

Holly: Probably, but Trockle and his mother have learned English (you pick up a lot, living under the bed and in the walls) and that’s the language in which they told me their story.

Jewel: Wow that is remarkable! Trockle and his mother learned a new language. They are smart monsters. E. asks, “Are Trockle and Stephen only children? Are they adopted?”

Holly: Trockle is an only child. Stephen has an older sister. Neither of them are adopted.

Jewel: S.’s question is, “Has Stephen and Trockle ever gotten into trouble together?

Holly: You know, they’re really good kids. They haven’t gotten into much trouble at all – alone or together. But as they get older, I imagine they’ll test the limits just like all kids do.

Jewel: Yeah, sometimes when kids get to know each other things happen unexpectedly that gets them into trouble. The nest question comes from C, “Does Trockle’s sock stink like smelly stinky feet?”

Holly: It’s Stephen’s sock, and Trockle’s happiest if he gets it straight from Stephen’s foot right after a soccer game. I don’t know how he’s going to feel about it when Stephen gets a bit older and his feet really start to stink. But, you know, Limburger cheese stinks – some people say the worse it smells, the better it tastes. To Trockle, it’s a good, night-time smell. (You have to remember, too, that Trockle’s favorite treat is Brussels sprouts. Those don’t smell too nice, either.)

Jewel: Indeed Brussels sprouts can smell up a room while cooking. T. had another question, “Does Trockle and Stephen have future plans for letting us know other things about them, and like is it hard for Trockle to read since he only has one eye? I know a kid who has dyslexia. It is hard for him to read. Or does he wait for Stephen’s mom storytelling to learn and understand stuff?”

Holly: Trockle and Stephen have been very excited by the idea of a sequel, ever since someone brought that up during the first book tour. Trockle doesn’t really have a lot of trouble reading, but he does have a little bit of a challenge with depth perception and his mother has been thinking of getting him a monocle. She first noticed it when he ran Stephen’s monster truck into the corner of the wall – to him, it was on a plane with the wall on the far side of the hall. Stephen, on the other hand, has 20/20 vision but draws all his letters and numbers backwards. They look right, he just draws them backwards from the way everyone else does.

Jewel: Sounds like Stephen has writing problems like most kids learning to read alphabetic letters and write them. Our last question is from J. He asks, “Is Trockle part rodent?”

Holly: No, Trockle is 100% under-the-bed monster. Rodents don’t like under-the-bed monsters, so you should consider yourself very lucky if you have monsters under your bed.

Jewel: Whew! I am so glad Trockle is not part rodent. Stephen and Trockle’s mothers’ don’t have to put up with rodent smell that way.

Holly: Yeah, that would be a stinky smell worse than soccer socks or Limburger cheese.

Jewel: Thank you Holly for stopping by Jewel of a book.com to tell us a little more about your characters in Trockle. Come back and visit us again sometime, especially if you have an update about Trockle and Stephen.

Holly: My pleasure. Those were great questions by the way. I will be sure to let you and your blog reading kids know when the next book is out about Trockle.

To learn more about Holly Jahangiri visit her here.

If you have a story to share about “what’s lurking under your bed” post it in our comments below. Jewel would love to read them.

Until next time happy writing!

A Happy Birthday Forever Day

2008-10-28T09:35:00.003-05:00

Wouldn’t it be awesome if people celebrated your birthday forever? Well that very thing is happening for Noah Webster. October 16, 2008 marked Noah Webster’s 250th birthday. Can you imagine 250 candles on a humongous cake? I would have to invite the whole neighborhood over to help blow out the candles. It would be fun finding out if we accomplished getting the candles out before the icing melted.

Why do we celebrate Webster’s birthday? What do you do when you don’t know the meaning of a word you see? You probably use a Webster’s Dictionary. According to The Noah Webster House & West Harford Historical Society, Noah Webster wrote two of America’s most influential books, The Blue-Backed Speller (1785) and the American dictionary (I didn’t know about the speller either). Where would we be without a dictionary? Yup! I am thanking him too. Besides who hates a party with food?

So, what was life like for Noah Webster growing up? Noah was born in West Hartford, Connecticut in 1758 to farming parents. He had two brothers and two sisters. Noah spent his childhood on the farm until he was old enough to go to school. Then like most children born in the era of the 1700s when school was out, he worked on his family’s farm. Sure enough, parents’ gave children chores then too. I wondered where the chore idea came from when I was a child.

Noah did something at sixteen years old that most teens cannot do today. He went to Yale College, now known as Yale University. Upon graduation he wanted to go to law school, but his father could not afford the tuition. So Noah taught school until he could afford to attend law school. He eventually opened a law office and wrote in his spare time. He was 27 years old when his first book, The Blue-Backed Speller was published. Noah was 43 years old when he began writing his dictionary. An American Dictionary of the English Language was completed in 1828, twenty-seven years later. To work on a writing project for 27 years is incredible. Clearly he loved writing. Do you think you would have the patience to keep working for that long? I am so glad he did.

There is so much more to know about Noah Webster. For example, did Noah publish other writings than what are mentioned here? Who prepared Noah for college? How did he come up with all of those words in the dictionary? Where did he spend Thanksgiving?

Another interesting thing about Noah is he worked on copyright legislation. A copyright is defined as an individual right of an author to his original writings or artistic work for a certain amount of years. Noah’s legislative work is still important for writers today. I wonder how long he served in his state legislature. To learn more about Noah Webster and check out a picture of a page of his Blue-Backed Speller plus his childhood home visit The Noah Webster House & West Harford Historical Society. Indeed Noah Webster deserves a Happy Birthday Forever Day!

Would'nt it be great to have a birthday forever day? Write about what your birthday forever celebration would be like. Please share your birthday story by posting it in the comments section.

Jewel’s Delectable Edible Pizza Puzzle

2008-10-26T15:23:00.002-05:00

An edible pizza puzzle is made by taking a mixture of ingredients from different places and putting them together to form something that represents all the ingredients as a complete piece that you can cut into shapes and eat.

Makes 8- 8 inch pizzas

What you need

8-large flour tortillas
1-8 ounce can of tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Parmesan cheese

Pick one or two of your favorite meat/protein toppings:
1-package of sliced Pepperoni
1 pound of Italian sausage, cooked and drained
1 pound of hamburger meat, cooked and drained
1-8 ounce can of chicken, shredded or diced
2 cups or 16 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
1 can of red kidney beans, drained
1 can of refried beans

Pick one or more of your favorite vegetables:
1-can or fresh sliced mushrooms
1-chopped green pepper
1/2-chopped Onion
1-can of large pitted black olives.
1- 8 ounce package of Shredded Mozzarella cheese

What to do:

Mix together in a small bowl or measuring cup the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Set aside.
Place one flour tortilla on a microwavable plate.
Spread 2-3 tablespoons of the pizza sauce over the tortilla.
Sprinkle 1Tablespoon Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
Distribute evenly 6 slices of pepperoni or ¼ cup (2 ounces) of your meat/protein choice over the parmesan cheese.
Scatter a few of your vegetables choices over the meat/protein.
Top it by spreading out ¼ cup Mozzarella cheese over the meat and vegetables.

Place in the microwave and cook for 3-4 minutes on high or until the cheese is melted.
Cut the pizza into various shapes for your edible puzzle.

Enjoy!

While making your edible pizza puzzle were there conversation that gave you a story idea? Write about your edible pizza puzzle and share your story with us by posting it in the comments below...

How old is Pizza Anyway?

2008-10-22T23:52:00.007-05:00

I have been writing in my notebook ideas for new children’s stories. One story idea came from a question my granddaughter asked me at a family gathering. She sat holding her pizza up into the air with her hand and asked, "Just how old is pizza anyway?" I answered, “I don't know how old pizza is. Maybe they made pizza during the covered wagon days.” My grandson joined our conversation by stating, “Maybe during the caveman days.” Everyone laughed.

After our meal I couldn’t get her question out of my mind. I thought maybe this would make a great story. So, the next day I checked out pizza history on the internet and then went to the library.

I discovered the history and legends about pizza can be traced all the way back to the Roman days. The words for pizza often spelled bizzo or pizzo were found in Europe and the Mediterranean. Pizza dough was known as flat bread used as a plate dressed with olive oil, herbs and honey baked on hot stones. Then around the first century A.D. pizza had meat, herbs and cheese. Now how’s that for not having to do dishes? Isn't that cool?

But wait, what about books about pizza? How many people have had the same idea as mine? I found piles of books have been written in several different ways about pizza. For example, to name a few there are children’s fiction stories, mysteries, nonfiction books and cookbooks, so I don’t think I am going to write a pizza story anytime soon. But I found some great books to read!

Writing about my family’s pizza conversation was fun. Making an idea into a story for publication is tricky because there may be books already in libraries just like my idea. So the first things I do before spending a lot of time on writing and editing my story is write an outline about my story idea. I make sure I have a beginning, middle and an end. Then I get on the internet and go to the library to research how many books are written on the subject. I choose several books from various age groups like preschool, elementary, and middle school from the books I find. I write down the titles, authors, and a two to three sentence summary about each book I read in a notebook. All of this information helps me remember what I did about my story idea.

Have you thought about writing about a certain food or an idea from a family occurrence while eating? What food would you write about? Share your story with us by clicking on “comments” below and placing it in the comments box.

Remember I said I found some great books to read while researching? Here is my list of authors who used very creative ways to tell a pizza story!

1. Using pizza as a game.

Pete’s A Pizza
By William Steig
ISBN: 0062051571, (1998)
Fiction: Juvenile, Pizza, Games. Imagination
Grade Range: Birth-Pre-K
Publisher: Harper Collins $16.99
Author site: http://www.williamsteigbooks.com/

October 24, 2008

Pete is not having a good day. Pete’s father decides to have a pizza party to cheer him up. First they must make a pizza. His father pretends to turn Pete into a pizza. After Pete is made into a pizza he runs away and his father chases after him. Does Pete get captured? Is Pete cheered up?

Pete’s A Pizza is a great game story to act out with children.

2. Using pizza in a humorous and unusual adventure.

Curious George and The Pizza
By Margret and H. A. Rey’s
ISBN: 0395390338, (1985)
Fiction: Juvenile, Pizza, Monkeys, Curiosity
Grade Range: Birth-Pre-K
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company; Boston $3.95
Publisher site: http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/

October 24, 2008

Curious George visits a pizza shop with his friend and creates chaos when his curiosity about how to make a pizza gets the best of him. When he discovers he is in big trouble George runs away and hides in a pizza delivery truck. Tony the baker asks George to make an unusual pizza delivery. Will George make up for all the trouble he caused and get to eat some pizza?

Curious George and The Pizza is a wonderful anytime story for children to learn about the natural consequences of curiosity.

3. Using Pizza in a puzzle.

The Pizza Puzzle
By Susan Beth Pfeffer
ISBN: 0440413912, (1997)
Fiction: Pizza, Mystery, Divorce, Friendship. School, Honesty, Self-responsibility
Grade Range: 6-8 (Middle school)
Publisher: Yearling $16.00
Author site: susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com

October 24, 2008

Seventh grader Taryn Powell wonders if her parents are getting a divorce. After all they have been arguing and whispering a lot lately.

At School Taryn’s selective listening in class and her preoccupation with what is going on with her parents gets her in trouble with her English teacher, who is the meanest teacher in the entire school. Her teacher orders her to stand and face the class so she can tell the whole class exactly what is so important for her not to pay attention. Taryn didn’t want anyone to know about her parents and refuses to tell as tears trickle down her face. As punishment her teacher gives her an assignment to write a thousand word essay about what she was thinking about. In her anger Taryn spouts off at lunch about pulling a prank on her teacher to get revenge.

The next day she finds out someone pulled the prank. Taryn is held responsible. How is she going to clear her name? She knows it wasn’t her; she was doing something important and very secret. Who will believe her?

Taryn discovers she has a new friend when a classmate named Lexi helps Taryn out by providing her with an alibi. Taryn is relieved. Her secret is not exposed. She becomes obsessed with finding the prankster and clearing herself. Taryn soon learns the value of friendship when she finds herself in more hot water when she decides to lie again to keep her secret from being exposed. Will she decide to tell the truth?

In reading the title the author gives a clue that her book is about a mystery using a series of clues like fitting a puzzle together. Pfeffer brings into play twists and turns as she gives the reader clues to pace her story with the main character portrayed as the underdog. A fun and adventurous story that helps the reader learn through her characters about jumping to conclusions, honesty, friendship and accepting self responsibility.

4. Uses the word "pizza" in the title.

Peppers, Popcorn and Pizza
By Cleste A. Peters
ISBN: 0739801368, (2000)
Non-Fiction: Juvenile, Nutrition, Food Science, Pizza,
Grade Range: 3-5
Publisher: Raintree Streck-Vaughn

October 26, 2008

The title is memorable and ambiguous because Peters does so much more than what the title implies. Peters extensively links technology, careers, society, and the environment by showing how Food Science is used in our everyday lives. She answers some interesting questions through the use of scientific facts. Some of the fascinating questions are where did food originate? Where does food come from today? Can an apple a day keep you healthy? Why is it important to cook food? Do we put fungi in our food? Can our small intestine cover a football field when split open and laid out flat? What do smelly stinky feet and cheese have in common?

Peppers, Popcorn and Pizza is an entertaining food facts book that evokes more curiosity about food beyond her presented facts. One intriguing question was about eating popcorn for breakfast. In colonial times popcorn was indeed served for breakfast with sugar and cream. Today we eat popcorn as a nutritional snack and cook it in the microwave or in a hot air corn popper

If you’re wondering about the stinky smelling feet question, Peters points out that when we eat cheese the enzymes used to make the cheese break down fats and proteins into smelly molecules are the same molecules that cause feet to smell. I will have to remember this one when I am eating pizza. Will my feet stink? Check out her book for the answers to her other questions presented here.

The trials of listing internet resources in a book are that you can never tell how long the sites will be available. Two of Peter’s listed Internet resources that I checked are Kids Food.org and The Popcorn Institute. The kidsfood.org is no longer available. The Popcorn Institute is a fascinating place to find out more about America’s longtime favorite nutritional snack.

All Reviews by Jewel Sample, Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses, also translated: Besos y abrazos al aire (Spanish edition). To learn more about Jewel Sample visit her at jewelofabook.blogspot.com

Resources: To learn more about Pizza history and legends visit here

Dragonflies and Butterflies: Jewel Chats with Clea and John Adams

2008-10-09T14:02:00.006-05:00

Recently I read The Dragonfly Secret: A Story of Boundless Love by John and Clea Adams. It is the continuation story of Lea from John’s first book The Dragonfly Door. Lea is now a Dragonfly, in her new world. Lea makes new friends and likes to play hide-and-seek with Tess who is a butterfly and a boy. As they play Lea wonders why the boy has not told her his name or where he lives. The boy offers to tell Lea a secret but first she must do three things for him. Lea wants very much to discover the mystery behind his secret, so she agrees to fulfill the boy’s requests. With each request Lea meets people who need her help and she discovers something about herself.

I also read The Dragonfly Secret to a group of first, second and third graders. The kids had some questions for John and Clea, so I decided to contact them for a cyber-chat.

John and Clea agreed to chat with me about writing for kids and to answer some questions kids asked when they read the story too. Here is what they had to say.

Jewel: Thank you John and Clea for meeting up with me to chat about what you have been up to lately and your new book, The Dragonfly Secret: A Story of Boundless Love. To start things off I would like to ask how you got started in writing.

Clea: For me, I got the writing bug early when I won a couple of writing contests while in elementary school. That motivated me to take writing classes.

John: That’s not to say writing is easy or comes naturally. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Carefully crafting a quality story takes perseverance and a willingness to have your work critiqued by a professional editor.

Jewel: Absolutely, hard work, determination, and the willingness to have your stories checked out by someone other than a teacher or a friend are important. Sometimes writing has to be fit into a crammed schedule. Do you juggle your writing with a job or other interests like volunteer work or a hobby?

Clea: John and I juggle both writing and running our publishing company. Because we are a two-person company, we have to wear many hats – from authors one minute to other areas such as marketing, finance, operations and mail carrier.

John: In addition to that, we have 4 children between us (2 adult boys, one high school student and the youngest is 10 years old). They keep us fairly busy. We are also volunteers at our church and at a grief support/outreach organization called The Dragonfly Project. In our spare time we also enjoy going on long walks or bike rides.

Jewel: Whew, running a book company seems to keep you two very busy. Scott, age 7, has a question for you. He asks: “Lea likes to play hide and seek. What was your favorite game when you were a kid?

John: When I was growing up, I loved playing catch with a baseball or football. I grew up on a farm in Kentucky so we had lots of space for outdoor games.

Clea: My neighborhood used to play a game called “kick the can” which is a little like hide and seek and a little bit of the game of “tag”.

Jewel: “Kick the Can” reminded me of the games I used to play too. We played “King of the Hill.” Playing outside was our favorite pastime. Alexie, age 9 would like to know, “Did you tell secrets when you were a kid? If you did, then how did you keep the secret when other kids try to trick you into telling it?”

Clea: What a great question! I grew up with 3 sisters, so we were always telling each other secrets. When you are young, it is tough not to give a secret away. I think once or twice I told the secret to someone else, and I felt horribly about it! The best thing to remember is that someone has put a lot of trust in you and trust is tough to win back once it has been broken.

Jewel: Lea discovers a secret by trying new things. What writing secrets do you have for new writers?

Clea: Writing takes persistence. You have to be patient because crafting a story takes time and work. Never give up trying though.

John: Yes, read other good literature, especially some of the classics that have been around for generations. Our editor frequently refers to Charlotte’s Web as one of the best stories to help writers understand the use of good story structure, problem solving, obstacles, character flaws, and life lessons.

Jewel: In The Dragonfly Secret Lea goes to her new home. Jason, age 8 asks, “Where do dragonflies sleep and what do their houses look like?”

Clea: Dragonflies typically have homes near lakes, ponds or wetlands. Some will return to the same habitats where they were water nymphs. They rest on trees, tall grasses and plants. Dragonflies also like to land on rocks that are warmed by the sun.

John: There are lots of other interesting facts about dragonflies. Dragonflies are found all over the world (except Antarctica). In fact, there are over 4,500 different species. The largest dragonflies lived with the dinosaurs in prehistoric times and had a wing-span of 24 inches (about the size of an owl or hawk).

Jewel: Wow! The dragonflies that lived with the dinosaurs were big. I wonder if you could hear their wings flap. Emily, age 6 has our last question. She asks, “Do you have a dragonfly coloring sheet?”

Clea: We plan to add some coloring sheets soon to our website. Please check back. In the meantime, Jewel has a great dragonfly ring art project on her website that we think you will enjoy.

Jewel: Thank you so much Clea and John Adams for stopping by “Jewel of A Book” and sharing a little about yourselves. Please stop by anytime and shout a “howdy” to us.

To keep up with Clea and John Adams visit them at Feather Rock Books.

Dragonflies are amazing insects to study. To view real dragonflies up close and personal from around the United States visit The Digital Dragonfly Museum.

How To Make A Dragonfly Ring

2008-10-05T21:07:00.007-05:00

Did you know Water Nymphs transform into Dragonflies? John Adams' book titled The Dragonfly Door shows how two nymphs named Lea and Nym go through friendship and change. At the end of the book he explains in real life that during the summer months a female dragonfly lays her eggs in mud or attaches them to underwater plants. The eggs are about the size of a grain of rice.

When the egg hatches, the Nymph lives in the water for about one to six years. It eats other water creatures and uses the gills in their tail to breathe and to swim. As the Nymph grows up it sheds it skin for a new larger one.

When it is time for the Nymph to leave the water it climbs a reed growing out of the pond water into the air. It skin will split open, but this time the Nymph is transformed into a Dragonfly. The Dragonfly is warmed and dried by the sun as blood flows through it's body and helps straighten it's wings, so it can fly and find shelter among the tall grasses and food, like Mosquitoes. Eventually it will find a partner to lay eggs, just like it's mother did years before.

Here is How To Make Dragonfly Rings!

Time: 1-1 ½ Hours
Grade Level: Pre-K & up

Materials:
One piece of construction paper per child.
Crayons, markers and pencil.
Glue Stick.
Blunt end Scissors.
One twelve inch ruler or a straight edge object like the side of a spiral notebook.

What to Do:

1. Lay your pointer finger down on the center of the paper.

2. With a pencil trace around your finger.

3. Close the bottom opening to make the body of the Dragonfly.

4. Turn you paper sideways and spread your pointer and index fingers over the side of the body.
5. Trace around both fingers to form the wings on one side of the body.
6. Turn the paper the opposite direction and spread your pointer and index fingers over the other side of the body.
7. Trace around both fingers to form the wings on the opposite side of the body.

8. Draw bug eyes and an antennae on the head

9. Draw five-eight half circles to lengthen the tail.

10. Draw two 1 ½ inch parallel lines between the wings on each side of the body to make strips for the ring.

11. Color your dragonfly with markers or crayons.

12. Cut out the dragonfly along the penciled outer lines being careful not to cut off the strips between the wings.

13. Bend the strips between the wings downward.

14. Place glue on the upper side of one strip.

15. Overlay the strips together to form a ring, adjusting the ring to fit your finger before the glue dries.

16. Place the Dragonfly ring on your finger and pretend it flies through the air.

Let's Write About An Adventure!
While playing with your Dragonfly ring and making motions in the air with your hand to pretend it flies, your mind goes to an adventure. Write and share with us your adventure by asking your parent to leave your story in the comment section!

Resource Box: Jewel Sample is an award winning writer of the children's book, Flying Hugs and Kisses. To learn more about Jewel visit her at Jewel’s Sand Box News

How To Make Your Own Puzzle

2008-09-16T19:45:00.008-05:00

Favorite Memory Puzzle

Time: 1-1 ½ Hours
Grade Level: Pre-K & up

Materials:
One piece of poster board or sturdy paper from a cereal box.
Crayons, markers and pencil.
Glue Stick.
Blunt end Scissors.
Clear contact paper.
One piece of computer copy paper or any light colored construction paper.
One twelve inch ruler or straight edge object like the side of a spiral notebook or a puzzle piece from a store bought puzzle.
One large business size envelope or a plastic zip-lock bag

What to Do:

1. Match the one corner and edge of the drawing paper and the poster board.
2. Pencil trace around the other edges the paper.

3. Cut with scissors along the pencil lines to make the drawing paper and poster board the same size. (Grown-ups are great helpers for cutting)

4. Set aside the poster board.

5. Draw a big picture of your favorite memory on the drawing paper.

6. Color a solid frame around the paper edges with a crayon or marker.

7. Cover the entire back of your drawing from edge to edge with glue.

8. Starting at one edge lay the glue side of your drawing down onto the poster board.

9. Smooth from the center out as you are laying the papers together.

10. Cover the front and back with clear contact paper.

11. Cut with scissors the excess contact paper by cutting along the edges of the drawing paper.

12. With the ruler pencil mark the back of the poster board to make 3 inch triangles or rectangles of squares or trace around your puzzle piece until the entire back is marked with puzzle shapes.

13. Cut out the shapes with scissors by following the pencil lines.

14. Put your puzzle back together using the solid colored edges to frame the outside.

15. Store the pieces in the large business envelope or a plastic zip-lock bag

Puzzle Race:
Invite a few friends to time you with a second hand watch and themselves while putting each others puzzles together. Write down each time. Compare how long it took each person to put the puzzles together. Find the winner by ranking the smallest amount of time first. Who came in second, third or fourth? Try putting a puzzle together blindfolded! How long did it take you?

How big is the World’s Largest Jigsaw puzzle?

2008-08-18T22:34:00.003-05:00

In 2007 the Educa Borras factory of Barcelona, Spain made the world’s largest commercially made jigsaw puzzle containing 24,000 pieces. The puzzle measures 14ft 0.5” X 5 ft 1.8” (14 feet 0.5 inches wide by 5 feet 1.8 inches high) and weighs approximately 26 pounds. It sure won’t fit in my 8 ft X10 ft bedroom.

Royce B. McClure painted and designed the artwork for the puzzle, which is titled Life: The Greatest Challenge. McClure found the biggest challenge was eliminating large areas where there was no changes taking place, so the puzzler would not become bored while putting the puzzle together.

It is officially entered into the Guinness World Records!

To find out how Royce B. McClure put together the design for the puzzle and see a picture of the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle visit the question and answer section here

Want to see some more of the world’s largest toys?

The Worlds largest spherical puzzle and other toys can be seen here

A Great Kid's Magazine

2008-08-18T22:21:00.006-05:00

Stories for Children Magazine is a free Internet magazine for kids who are 3-12 years of age. Each month the magazine has fun fiction stories, crafts and puzzles that are written or designed by grown-ups and kids. There are also interesting nonfiction stories that tell you about neat stuff like what is windmill language and why pine cones have points.

I found an awesome place called "Storyville" where Stanley Bookman lives and book adventures happen in the most unexpected ways. The Storyville story was written by a creative and imaginative kid too. To check out Stories for Children Magazine visit here

Always Practice Internet Safety

2008-08-18T22:00:00.009-05:00

Jewel and her friends practice internet safety while having fun on information exchange cyber-highways.

The Internet safety rules Jewel and her friends follow are:

Never give out personal information like your
(even if they want to give you something free)

Full name
Address
Telephone or cell phone numbers
Parent’s full name
Parents work location or telephone number
School name or address
Friend’s full names or address’
Computer passwords
Credit card numbers
Hospital names you were born in

Never agree to meet with someone you met on the internet with out first checking with your parents.

Always tell your parents or guardian right away if you read something or someone sends you a picture that makes you feel uncomfortable or afraid.

Never send a picture of yourself to someone without first checking with your parents or guardian.

Never respond to messages that are mean, rude, or make you feel uncomfortable. It is not your fault if you get these messages. Always tell your parents or guardian right away. Your parents can leave a tip about these types of messages at http://www.cybertipline.com/

Always be respectful and do not do anything that could hurt others or break the law.

Always check first with your parents, teacher, librarian, or guardian, before downloading or installing software that could possibly harm or damage the computer.

These rules are modified from Safekids.com, a place dedicated to helping kids stay safe while having fun on the cyber-highways of electronic information exchanges.

For more internet safety information visit Safekids.com

One Giant Sleepover Z-Z-Z

2008-08-18T21:37:00.005-05:00

Today I was thinking about some of the things I did while I was in elementary school. When I was in the sixth grade I had a birthday slumber party. I invited six of my friends. We played games, told stories, ate popcorn and of course, we ate birthday cake and ice cream. I remembered someone dared us to eat a dill pickle and mustard sandwich. That was my first introduction into eating something strange. We tried to stay up all night, but did not accomplish it. The one thing I still do from time to time is eat dill pickle and mustard sandwiches.

I was wondering if kids still have slumber parties today. When my children were young they called them sleepovers, but I figured that was because they were boys. So I Googled sleepovers on the Internet and discovered a giant sleepover took place in the UK this past summer. 45,000 children registered for a Save the Children fundraiser. That would be like a whole city of nothing but kids where I live. Awesome!

One group played games and won prizes. Another group slept over in a glass viewing tunnel with sea life swimming over their heads at the Loch Lomond Aquarium. To see what other totally cool stuff they did visit here.

What’s the largest sleepover you have attended? If you could go to the world's largest sleepover where would it be and what would you do?
Post your story by clicking on comment!

Favorite Kid's Places

2008-08-12T20:17:00.003-05:00

A cool Bug Guide for kids can be found here. It is hosted by the Iowa State University Entomology, Just click on the picture of the bug in the left hand column and it will take you to read about many things common to that bug, like the bug's common name, where they live, life cycle and pictures of what the bug looks like.

National Geographic Kids has some really cool stuff. This month kids can find out about the mascots of the Beijing Olympics or virtually travel with the global brothers Stefan and Tyler. Plus there is so much more. To check out National Geographic Kids click here.

Jewel's Writing Adventures

2008-08-12T20:16:00.002-05:00

Where do I get my ideas to write a story? I get my ideas from the things that happen where I live; or while traveling, eating out or visiting family, or people around a community. Things just happen and WHAM an idea pops into my head. Then I have the desire to write about my idea.

Right now I am writing about two characters who are brothers named John and Logan. The boys set out to go fishing and are surprised by finding something. Will they figure out what it is? Will something else happen too? I use my imagination or sometimes real life events to make my story interesting.

Sometimes I play the “what if” game. My grandchildren and I play this game a lot when they visit. They love to make up funny or weird stories to surprise me.

The game goes like this. Someone will start out asking the question what if and fill in the rest of the sentence with something they are interested in. Just the other day my granddaughter started the game with the question, "what if every time you told a lie your hair turned green?" Then someone one else picked up her question and started telling a story. When that person was through telling what they thought would happen, then another person would take over the story and add to it. We never know how the story will end or what will happen. It is so much fun.

You can play the “what if” game too and write it down. What if your teacher or parents, best friend or class bully, pastor or coach gave you three wishes? Pick one person and write about what those wishes would be. Then write about what happened when the wishes were granted and if you like how things turned out. Before you know it you have a cool story to share with your friends.

Share your stories with Jewel by asking your parents to post your story in the comments section or email Jewel and she will post them.

What's Up

2008-08-12T15:18:00.003-05:00

How Long Have Jigsaw Puzzles Been Around?

The first puzzle was produced by John Spilsbury, a London engraver and mapmaker, in 1760. Mr. Spilsbury attached one of his maps to a sheet of hardwood and cut out the borders of the countries with a saw. The map puzzle was used to help British children learn geography.

By 1880 pictures were glued or painted onto plywood, then cut with a fretsaw into different shapes. The word jigsaw puzzle became the popular name for the new favorite entertainment. Sometime in the late 1800’s cardboard was used for children’s puzzles.

Today jigsaw puzzles are made out of wood, cardboard and a variety of plastic materials. They are used to help children learn and for entertainment.

Visit the American Jigsaw Puzzle Society to learn more about the history of jigsaw puzzles.

Books Kids Pick

2008-08-12T14:02:00.009-05:00

Want to see your book on Kid's Picks?

1. Write about the books you have read.

2. Ask your parent to send your book review in an email to Jewel.

3. Jewel will post your book here.

Ticklemonster

by Max Haynes

Read by Chey, Preschool

"This book is funny. I laughed.

I played more tickle monster games. I had more fun.

I read it again.

Kids will like the Ticklemonster."

Stephanie's Ponytail

by Robert Munsch

Read by Emily, First grade

"If I were Stephanie's ponytail I would tell the other ponytails that you are a bunch of copycats!

I like Robert Munsch so much that my teacher gave me The Sand Castle Contest book the last day of school. I have never seen a bathtub full of ice cream before. That was cool!"

"I think everyone should read Robert Munsch books!"

Want to see your book on Kid's Picks?

1. Write about the books you have read.

2. Ask your parent to send your book review in an email to Jewel.

3. Jewel will post your book here.

Jewel's Books

2008-08-12T13:12:00.020-05:00

Hi!

I love to write stories for children. The storybooks listed help kids through the sadness they feel when their baby brother or sister has died.

Flying Hugs and Kisses is about how five children comforted each other when their baby brother suddenly died. They want to tell their baby brother that they loved him. Will they find a way to send their hugs and kisses to him?

Flying Hugs and Kisses won The National Parenting Center 2007 Seal of Approval! That means it is a great book for children to read.

Flying Hugs and Kisses Activity Book is for kids to color, draw, and write in to help answer questions about when a baby brother or sister dies. It has fun things to do like games and puzzles.

Besos y abrazos al aire is the Spanish language edition of Flying Hugs and Kisses
(no longer available)