Sheila Glazov, author and personality guru, invited me to guest post on her Brain Color blog to talk a little about Show Me How!
She is a fascinating speaker, a lover of children and books and a true friend. When I was poised to publish “Show Me How!”, Sheila generously shared her knowledge and expertise.
Please click on the link, read my post and check out her wonderful blog site. Take the Brain Color Quiz! She also puts out a free monthly newsletter that’s lots of fun.
Have any of you read “The Celestine Prophecy”? Author James Redfield talks about ‘synchronicity’…a term first used in the 1920’s by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. Redfield explains that coincidences have a meaning personal to those who experience them.
Late last year, one of my blogging buddies, Nancy over at Spirit Lights the Way, suggested I check out a Friday linky of Picture Book Reviews. I hurried over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday…and I’ve happily been there every Friday since then! Susanna also hosts writing contests and writing prompts that encourage us to express our creativity.
Connecting with an amazing kid-lit community that followed Susanna’s blog, I met dozens of wonderful writers (one of whom has a birthday today…Happy Birthday, Beth!!!!), illustrators, librarians, teachers, moms…one of those was Julie Hedlund. It turns out that Julie had just organized a challenge called 12×12 in 2012…write a picture book draft every month of the coming year.
My love affair with picture books began over sixty years ago, but I had put away my picture book writing when I started working on my book for parents and teachers, “Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. Heart beating like a rock-band drummer, I immediately signed up.
And now the year is almost over…so it is definitely party-time! I know WE are all ready!
I have completed twelve picture book drafts…twelve more than I would have had if not for Julie Hedlund! Two or three have been critiqued and polished (hopefully enough) and will be submitted to publishers/editors shortly.
Julie’s blog also provides guest posts by writers, illustrators, editors and others who love children and books…each sharing a journey that motivates and teaches. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that we couldn’t have done it without her.
I also have thirty picture book ideas, generated during Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo…an amazing challenge in November that I recommend to anyone who has ever thought of writing a picture book or to anyone who has dozens of published picture books…the information and inspiration gained by reading the guest posts is invaluable!
This year has been a joyous one for me…due, in large part, to my immersion in Julie’s picture book writing challenge. It’s kind of like a picture book party where I am always dancing around, scribbling story titles, character names and plot ideas…what fun!
I will be retiring from my ‘day’ job on December 31…lots more time for picture book writing, I’m sure! I’ll be hopping aboard the 12×12 in 2013 train…I’m looking forward to continuing this picture book writing journey…with Julie Hedlund as the engineer!
We may be in the 21st century, but many parents will still be making gender discriminating toy purchases this holiday season.
Girls get dolls and baking sets and jewelry-making kits. Boys get trucks and Lego sets and model kits.
But, according to Dr. Susan Levine, chairwoman of the psychology department at the University of Chicago, “Playing with blocks, puzzles and construction toys helps children with spatial development and children with better spatial thinking are more likely to go into mathematics, engineering, science and technology.”
And playing with dolls encourages boys to develop a nurturing personality that will be crucial in building strong relationships later in life.
My top ten holiday gift recommendations for young children include dolls, blocks and puzzles…with no gender discrimination. I’ve always believed that block play is important for both boys and girls.
Toy companies are always ready to jump on board if they feel it will result in more sales.
Photo courtesy of timetoplaymag.com
Mattel, the maker of Barbie…and Lego…have teamed up to produce the “Barbie Build ‘n Style” construction set…in pink, of course!
A recent New York Times article discussed this new Barbie construction set that may encourage dads to interact more with their daughters. And in my book, anything that promotes positive parental participation is a good thing!
Jump into the New Year with an activity plan for your young children. Use Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking for fifteen minutes every day…read a picture book story or do a quick and easy craft or invite your child to help prepare a simple healthful recipe. You’ll find story suggestions and craft and cooking directions on every page of this award-winning resource for parents and teachers. If the book doesn’t make planning activities easier, please contact me to return it for a full refund of your purchase price.
