BACK TO SCHOOL CONTEST FOR KIDS

BACK TO SCHOOL is the time of butterflies in the tummy, nail biting anticipation, dread, hopes, and dreams.  And I’m not talking about the kids!  These are my feelings.  Remembering what I felt like as summer faded and the first cool breezes of autumn blew …oh the fear that came with it. So I try my best not to pass this on to my kids.

Having boys, its not at all easy to rein in the wildness and craze of carefree summer into a focused school mind set.  It’s hard work. Therefore I always tried peppering the 2 weeks prior to school  with small reminders of schedule and responsibility… translating to …back to routine.

For boys I find it most important to get them thinking about time constraints and getting back into a  schedule.  I like the idea of giving them specific chores to do in the morning that they will have to wake up early to accomplish.  This eases them back into the rise and shine mode.

But besides the practical side of easing them back into a schedule, the psychological aspect of helping them project themselves into a school mindset makes it easier to plunge right into it  once it school actually begins.

Here are some ideas other moms have suggested which I will embellish on. Reading books with the kids about the first day of school is a great idea.  Taking it one step further have the kids act out the book and play the characters. Give them a chance to recite the book by heart.  This not only gets them to role play. It also gets their brain in gear for learning, memorizing, assimilating material.  Play school or teacher is another good idea.  In conjunction with this I suggest having them come up with class room activities they would do if they were teachers and help them to carry them out.  Perhaps it will be and arts and crafts project like making button covers for a back to school outfit. Maybe it will be writing a sequel to a favorite children’s book. Maybe it will be baking an apple strudel. Maybe it will be going to the local market and to learn about fruits and vegetables.  You can suggest fun things as well and them do them together and remind them how fun school can be.

A family tradition at our house was ART EXHIBITS. A good time to set a date for one is a few days before school.  Have the kids draw a series of pictures related to first day of school. Use your kitchen or living room as an art gallery to showcase the art work.  Assign Judges (parents, siblings, grandparents, friends or neighbors) to vote on and give award seals for the best pictures of in the  series per sibling. Give an AWARD certificates or place a STAR on the winning picture of the series.  Have an  awards ceremony and celebration to follow with a special candle light dinner, a favorite dessert and special story time.

At bed time the week before school, instead of telling the kids a story ask them to tell YOU a story. Give them some topics such as  school, friends, teachers, books, school supplies or anything related.  Start one off to open up their imagination….Once upon a time there was a talking pencil who loved to go to school… etc etc.

My favorite part of all: On the eve before school the kids and I used to go to the beach for a late afternoon supper on the sand.  We ate  our sandwiches by the shore and enjoyed the breeze.   As we watched the sun setting  we said good bye to summer and  welcomed the beginning of something new.

In the spirit of creativity and encouraging back to school excitement, Booksicals has launched a Back to School Contest for Kids.  Prizes include book gift certificates, book gift certificate for the child’s classroom as well as free books. Please enter your kids and tell their  teachers about it! Click on the picture above for contest details.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get a HarperCollins book set.

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TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR KIDS READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL

I met author, illustrator Ashley Bryan today at the SCBWI children’s book conference in LA.   His inspirational acceptance speech for the Golden Kite award for his picture book autobiography changed my life…He read the poem THINGS by Eloise Greenfield which he joyfully sang out to us and  had us recite back  in the format of a negro spiritual: It changed my life.  Maybe it will change yours…

So repeat after me…
Things – byEloise Greenfield:       (Things by Eloise Greenfield)
Went to the corner   (Went to the corner)
Walked in the store  (Walked in the store)
Bought me some candy  ( Bought be some candy)
Ain’t got it no more     (Ain’t got it no more)
Went to the beach                   (Went to the beach)
Played on the shore                (Played on the shore)
Built me a sandhouse             (Built me a sandhouse)
Ain’t got it no more                (Ain’t got it no more)
Went to the kitchen                (Went to the kitchen)
Lay down on the floor          (Lay down on the floor)
Made me a poem                     (Made me poem)
Still got it                                   (Still got it)

Still got it!

” If you write what you love and you impart what you love to even one person, then you are like a shaman, like one who heals,” said Bryan.

Thank you Ashley Bryan.  I know now why I write.  And I know now why I love writing for children.

Thank you Ashley Bryan for your inspiration and the gift of your art, your poetry and your spirit.  Today you have changed my life.

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Why I write

We have the winner of the Too Many Visitors for One Little House Name the Dog Contest. Five semi-finalists names were selected and then we had an ONLINE vote to choose the winning name.

Congratulations to Mary Jane Coward of Dillon South Carolina for submitting the winning name. Mary Jane’s entry , WAGS, was voted the Number #1 FAVORITE by fans, friends and on-line voters.

Mary Jane is a kindergarten teacher in rural South Carolina. Says Mary Jane: “I know I’ll enjoy reading (listening to) the book with my kinderkids!! ….Since our budget is zero…I enter as many contests as I can find for books to add to my classroom.”   Ms. Mary Jane is happy to be receiving her prize  copy of the book Too Many Visitors and a $25 Amazon gift book certificate.

How  would our winner, Mary Jane Coward choose to celebrate WAGS’s  naming party?  ”WAGS would love to visit a kindergarten class, of course!! All of the students would bring their dogs as guests!” says Mary Jane.

Please visit us on our  facebook  page http://budurl.com/booksicalsfans and tell us how YOU would celebrate Wag’s naming party or leave your comments below.

WAGS, his family and friends come to life on the Booksicals stage THIS THURDAY JULY 22 at 1:30 pm at  GAP KIDS at the GROVE LA.  Come and see the show! Get a coupon for a free book (with a Gap purchase ) at http://budurl.com/freebookcoupon or visit the concierge at Grove LA or pick up a coupon at GAP KIDS during July 19-22.

To read the story of  how scraggly dog finally found his NAME go to http://www.booksicals.com/truly-me-scraggly-dog-gets-a-name

Congratulations again to Mary Jane and her kindergarten class!

WAGS !

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WE HAVE WINNING NAME FOR SCRAGGLY DOG!

John Burningham’s Where’s Julius is a great picture book with beautiful illustrations about the power of imagination.

One day Julius is riding camels at the top of the tomb of Neffatuteum ( a pyramid in Egypt). Another he is cooling rhinocerous with muddy water in the Lombo Bombo River in Central Africa. Next he is crossing the frozen wastes of Novosti Krosky in Russia. Julius is way too busy to make it to most family meals when he is off on an exotic journey….and his parents don’t seem to mind. They’re cool with Julius’s imaginative quest for adventure!

A great read for kids of all ages and GREAT book for boys.

Where’s Julius by John Burningham, Crown Pulbishers, NY. 1986
‘s

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Where’s Julius? – Classic Children’s Book Pic of the WEEK

Since one of my favorite pass times is sitting in the kids section of the library reading picture books, I thought I would start sharing some of my favorites with you.

This months pic of the month is called: SNIP SNAP WHAT’S THAT? a Greenwillow Books publication by Mara Bergman, illustrated by Nick Maland. A story with few words but great message about standing up for your self and not letting yourself get pushed around.

Slowly, slowly the creeping alligator gets closer and closer. closer and closer, closer and closer. He’s a bully alright. And were the children scared? You bet they were. Until the children had ENOUGH! They SHOUT — GET OUT! and was the alligator scared? You bet he was!

Beautifully illustrated and comical with a very important message for kids and adults alike. No one should be allowed to push anyone around!

Happy reading!

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Picture books- My Fav of the month

The scraggly dog from Too Many Visitors for One Little House is finally going to get a name. We have 5 contestants of the Name the Dog Contest whose dog name made it to the finalist list. And now its time to Name the Dog! Your vote will be very appreciated.

Here are the names:

Garbanzo
Wags
Rukus
Troubles Junior
Butterscotch

If you vote you have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com and a signed copy of Too Many Visitors for One Little House. Kids, teachers, parents and friends – Go to the link below and VOTE by emailing us YOUR choice for the dog’s name. And may then best name WIN!

http://www.booksicals.com/name-the-familys-new-dog

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NAME THE DOG CONTEST VOTE FOR BEST NAME!

We are working on a new children’s book!

My talented marketing director, Phyllis Zimbler Miller, and I were on the treadmill as usual (every day we discuss business, marketing, new ideas) and were reminiscing about a television series we had written together called Karate Moms.  About half way into the discussion — we both looked at eachother… got that funny smile that means BRIGHT IDEA across our faces and simultaneosly realized we had a new idea for a NEW children’s s book series  about Karate.

BRAIN STORM TIME — and the character of KATIE KLUTZBERG –starts coming into focus.   I run home, jot down some ideas, email to Phyl, she emails back, we write, we hone, we critique , we craft  and the story unfolds…

So here’s the story…

Katie Klutzberg comes from a long line of klutzes. She drips ketchup on her clothes during lunch, she trips in the halls, she is the last one to be picked for any athletic school team.  Katie can’ t stand being so clumsy but what can she do? She comes from a long family line of klutzes.  Then one day  the graceful Master Yu comes to school to demonstrate Karate techniques and guess who he picks to help him demonstrate?  Everyone laughs at Katie as she trips and falls in front of the whole class . But why did he pick KATIE? Does Master Yu know something no one else does?

NOW…
Treadmill time is getting more fun as we meet put other business aside (yeah) to discuss the unraveling of our new beloved Klutzy Katie and ideas for a whole  series.

I’ll be keeping you posted on the progress  of Klutzie Katie, the new Karate Kid

Talk to you soon!

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MEET KARATE KATIE- the KLUTZIEST KID IN TOWN

We’re off again!

Off and running with the November Book Tour of Too Many Visitors for One Little House. 
For the Tour’s first book give away oportunity  visit: MyHeartBelongs2BooksBlogspont.com at  http://budurl.com/holidaybookgiveaway

Stay tuned for news about more holiday book give aways!

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Holiday Book Give Aways

The second annual Dribble for The Cure Event took place today,  Nov 1,  at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion at the UCLA campus in Westwood. I was there manning a Booksicals table along with and lots of other people from the community who came out to support the work of  UCLA Mattel’s Children’s Hospital and cancer research. 

Lots of people bought copies of Too Many Visitors for One Little House to donate to the children’s library at the hospital.  Some people donated 10 books or more!

At the Booksicals booth kids  got to taste free samples of nanny’s strudel, get free apples ( an apple a day keeps the doctor a way!- says Nanny) and enter the Too Many Visitors for One Little House Dog Naming Contest. 

It was wonderful to be part of this important cause and to experience the great community turn out. 

Booksicals looks forward to working with Mattel’s Children’s  Hospital on more events for the CURE!

To get info about this wonderful event visit http://budurl.com/dribbleforcure

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BOOKSICALS Dribbles for the CURE -

Looks like Booksicals is taking off with a series of exciting  events for the fall season.  Meeting  teachers, librarians, bookstore owners and parents who are as thrilled as I am about what we are doing at Booksicals is a great boost and very energizing.

We kick off the September season with a special event at Baby Gap/Gap Kids at the Grove in Los Angeles on Wed. Sept 9, 2009.   Sunday October 25 th  Barnes and Noble, the Grove,  is hosting a Booksicals event  at 1:00pm.    

We will be hosted by the  LA Memorial Library for a family event  on Monday evening Dec 21 at 6pm.  

Wizo will be hosting a special Booksicals Event for their annual Hannukah festivity in December. 

 I look forward to an excting season. Please check out our news and events page for dates, times and places for upcoming events.   Hope to see you at a performance!

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Back to School Season and we’re off!