Monday Musings
Singing and Acting — Lessons for Life (and for Writing)
This post could be subtitled “Words of Wisdom from Bruce Coville (with embellishments by Beth).” I first encountered Bruce Coville, author of middle grade fantasy novels and other such wondrous things, at the Summer 2011 conference of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in Los Angeles, SCBWI LA ’11. Not only did he…
Read MoreThe North Star…
The North Star has meant many things to many people over the years. Most often, it has meant guidance, a beacon, something to count on, something that can lead, that can be trusted. It’s something that helps us get our bearings, that tells us where we are and shows us where we’re heading. In life,…
Read MoreGratitude
It’s Thanksgiving Day here in Canada. As in the United States, many families have a tradition of taking a moment before the Thanksgiving meal to go around the table, each sharing something for which they are grateful. I’d like to invite you all to join me around my virtual Thanksgiving table, as I share some…
Read MoreI Love Celebrating October First!
For many years (I promise not to say how many), October first has been a special day in our family, as someone who means a great deal to us was born on that date. Over the years, the joy of the day has been added to for me by the fact that two people I…
Read MoreShow Me How! — Positive Parental Participation at work
In June of this year, Susanna Hill hosted a series of guest posts on her blog, all on the topic of self-publishing. I found the post by Vivian Kirkfield particularly interesting and edifying. Vivian has written and published a resource book for parents (and others) — Show Me How! — that, as the subtitle explains,…
Read More12×12 Shout-Outs and the I’M BORED Winner!
I’m excited about today’s post for two reasons. One, I get to announce the winner of the giveaway I held on my blog last week, and two, I’m highlighting the accomplishments of several members of our 12×12 in 2012 community. First of all, let’s see who won the copy of Michael Ian Black and Debbie…
Read MoreDEBBIE OHI! Guest Post — It’s Worth the Wait
I am thrilled to be helping to promote friend and Canadian illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s first picture book on my blog. I hope you saw I’M BORED on my Perfect Picture Book Friday post last week. Today, Debbie has graciously agreed to do a guest post on my blog, and I am so grateful to…
Read MoreAccess to Books is Crucial for Kids — Part 4, ONLINE and EBOOKS
These days, I’d be totally remiss if I didn’t mention the role computers and e-readers play in giving kids access to books. There are a plethora of reading opportunities for kids with all the technology available to them these days. There are, of course, traditional books that have simply been morphed into e-books, but there…
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