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Week of August 28, 2010
I’m hoping all of you quiet friends out there in cyberspace will start commenting again – it’s been a quiet summer! At least comment on the giveaways – how about this Canvas Storybook Kit?
How about these five fun word activities? Do you like #5 best?
If you haven’t learned of the dreaded TKWDLTR Syndrome, don’t miss this guest post from YA author, Michael Spradlin.
Week of August 23, 2010
Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord, author of Handmade Books for a Healthy Planet guest posts on making a family time line accordion book. You’re going to love it!
Develop your child’s artistic side with ideas from picture book author and illustrator, Bob Barner, who suggests drawing to music and collaging. (Can I make that a verb?) Plus, he’s giving away a copy of his latest book, Bears! Bears! Bears! to one lucky reader.
Week of August 16, 2010
Ready, set and we’re back in school! What happened to summer?
This week, I have a very personal essay on Babble.com about learning to understand my introverted daughter. I hope you like it! Here, on Imagination Soup, I share the difference between shyness and introversion.
One of my favorite authors, T.A. Barron, shares a family activity to spark your children’s creativity.
Also, if you need a meaningful birthday gift idea for a friend, consider the picture book, Walk On!.
Week of August 9, 2010
Yikes! My daughter is starting kindergarten next week. Children’s author, Audrey Vernick, guest posts on “Five Essential Things You Must Do For Your Child to Be Ready For Kindergarten.” Plus, she’s offering a giveaway of a backpack loaded with school supplies AND a signed copy of her book, Is Your Buffalo Ready For Kindergarten? to which I demand a sequel titled Is Your Buffalo’s Mom Ready For Kindergarten? (Some days I can’t wait. Other days I worry.)
Exciting news! Guests posts from authors, Ridley Pearson, Bob Barner, Sue Fliess, Michael Spradlin, Gitty Daneshvari, Lisa Railsback and more, coming up in the next few months! Subscribe to make sure you don’t miss any.
Did your child take any photographs this summer? Author, Esther Hershenhorn, suggests using your photos to make an alphabet book.
Week of August 2, 2010
Cameras and kids? YES! See how fun a family trip can be when you add cameras and teach your child a few basics about photography – like holding the camera still . . .
Mitali Perkins, YA author, mom and world traveler, writes about using stories to shape a child’s heart – to teach compassion, understanding and charity. It’s an amazing post; I hope it will inspire you as it did me.
Week of July 25, 2010
This week is about my favorite new books for early readers. First, the Toon Books which are AMAZING! Geoffrey Hayes, author and illustrator of The Big No-No shares how comics teach literacy skills and are not to be discounted. (That’s a big no-no I say!) His publisher is generously offering three lucky readers their own copy of The Big No-No!
Just as delightful and entertaining are Jan Thomas’ books – like Rhyming Dust Bunnies and Where Will Fat Cat Sit? You’re going to love them if you don’t already. I’m so happy to have discovered her.
Week of July 18, 2010
Need another artist date idea? My blogger friend, Mary-Francis Main, shares three fun ideas: play-dough, cloth pencil case and felt dolls.
Want something to exercise your imagination? Try telling mixed-up fairy tales. Don’t worry, it’s easy-peasy. I explain in my mixed-up fairy tales post.
Week of July 11, 2007
You’re going to LOVE this week’s posts! I’m so excited to host two wonderful guests. First, Anne Mazer, the author-extraordinaire of Spilling Ink and many children’s books, gives us fun ideas for writing dates with your kids. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?! Then, Melanie Sklarz of a Dose of Creativity, shares how important creativity is to our health and well being and gives us fun ideas to encourage creativity in our children. Thank you both so much!
I love Anne’s Young Author’s Handbook, Spilling Ink written with co-author Ellen Potter. Read my review and enter to win a copy of Spilling Ink here. Also, win a copy of my new favorite YA Novel, Tortilla Sun here.
Week of July 4, 2010
Cancer sucks, especially when you’re a parent of small children. My post, Cancer Sucks! talks about how to support a friend whose spouse has cancer. I hope you’ll read it and give me more ideas.
Week of June 28, 2010
It’s here at last!!– my scheduled few days of solitude in the mountains!!! I can’t wait and I’m nervous. It’s been so long . . . Wish me well as I embark on the great no-children unknown . . . Here at Imagination Soup, things are buzzing. Playaways are my newest favorite, most wonderful invention. You must read all about them! Our next artist’s date is from Jennifer Cervantes, author of YA book, Tortilla Sun. From co-writing a story to learning the word of the day, Jennifer gives us some great ideas for living a writerly life with our kids
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Week of June 21, 2010
I’m so privileged to host two amazing guest posts this week. First, Maya Bisineer asks What is YOUR special story? and offers a reader the chance to be published on Memetales. Then, Debi Huang of Go Explore Nature gives us a fun idea for an artist date with nature. Thank you Maya and Debi so much!
Week of June 14, 2010
I WON!!! It will be official in August — I won the best Scholastic Book and Reading Blog for 2010. Thank you awesome readers and friends for your support! Yippee!!!! 
S is for Story is the children’s book version of a writer’s alphabet. I’m loving it — read more about it here. (Plus, a giveaway!)
Writing classes started last week and I love the energy of my wiggly, sweaty young writers who think of so many imaginative ideas! If you like glue, scissors, and magazines — this activity is for you.
Make a dream board with your kids for your weekly artist’s date.
Finally, those of you with toddlers and preschoolers, help them build literacy skills with wordless picture books.
Week of June 7, 2010
Handy Dad and HGTV host, Todd Davis guest posts on awesome projects to make with your kids – mostly involving getting wet. Grandma’s Pear Tree author, Suzanne Santillan, gives us great ideas for picture books that teach lessons. Comments on her post will be entered to win a copy of her book.
(Are you serious? It’s June!) Week of May 31, 2010
Summer is here. What happens now? How about reading Olugbemisola’s guest post to launch our family artist’s dates? She has enough ideas to last us all for the entire summer — you’re going to be inspired . . . “Stop and Give Me Five Senses“ reminds me to live mindfully which not only helps a writer, but human being in general. Read more here. Get your kids hooked on books with choices. Enter to win 1001 Children’s Book to Read Before You Die. The Book Chook published her wonderful and FREE Literacy Lava 5 for parents and teachers. My contribution deals with graphic novels — are they real reading or only for struggling readers?
Week of May 24, 2010
Do you need ideas for your reluctant reader? What about one of these six new ideas? I’m beyond thrilled to be one of the finalists for Scholastic’s Parent Blog Awards in the Reading and Books category. Thank you, Scholastic! This week, the first Parent-Child Book Club Newsletter and Sweepstakes goes out. Twelve subscribers will win a set Olivia and the Lemonade Stand or Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom books. Sign up for this special newsletter to win books and get parent-child book club ideas.
Week of May 17, 2010
Summer’s almost here so it’s time to register your kids for a summer reading program. Check out my comprehensive list of all the 2010 summer reading programs for children. Dawna Edwards shares how she got her family to eat through the alphabet — I LOVE this idea, don’t miss it! Also this week, Renata Bowers, author of Frieda B. Herself, writes about imagination and play – my cup of tea! You can win her delightful picture book here.
Week of May 10, 2010
What is your reading legacy? Recently I’ve been thinking that my kids need to see me reading more often in front of them, modeling my own love for books. Just to inspire us all, I’m giving away 1001 Books to Read Before You Die. Do you have any budding writers? Deborah Underwood, author of The Quiet Book, Pirate Mom and other great books, suggests using a Story Spine to craft a plot
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Week of May 3, 2010
Keep your kiddos addicted to books with my top summer book picks for all age groups. See why I made it my top seven and a half, and not ten. YA author, Victoria Hanley offers us inspiration with her the story of her daughter learning to read AND gives away two of her books — Seize the Story and Violet Wings.
Week of April 26, 2010
Aren’t you so excited about summer? And, kind of dreading it?! I’m planning my summer to include artist’s dates with my kids. Create, imagine, write to nourish yourself and your kids! Doesn’t that sound fun!? (And, sort of unrealistic? — hopefully not.)
How do you prepare your child for reading? Mary Gallagher, author of Teach Your Child to Read With Children’s Books says Read, Read More and Read Often.
Week of April 19, 2010
I’m starting a special newsletter just for parent-child book clubs that will be different from regular blog posts. Are you interested? It will include recommendations and book club sweepstakes from Simon and Schuster. SUBSCRIBE HERE for this parent-child book club newsletter.
