Surprise! I have another story time for you. This one is about something really important in these challenging times: KINDNESS. Whether you need some kindness today or you know someone who could use a smile, these two books offer ideas of little ways you can make a big difference. Included below the video are some … More Story Time: Kindness
Hi, friends! How are you all doing? I have a little gift for you to hopefully bring some joy and creativity to your day. It’s a story time with a fun new book I discovered at last year’s Association of Writers and Publishers conference. And, you know what? You (and your parents) will probably learn … More Bridging Learning & Creativity
Let’s be honest, parents. We’re the ones reading the picture books. Shouldn’t we be enjoying them, too? My heart does a little flitter-flutter when my kid grab the following books off the shelf. All of them would make great gifts for new parents, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and kids’ birthdays, too. Long live the heartwarming picture … More 12 Heartwarming Picture Books for Kids and Parents
For those of you who weren’t able to make it to The Denim Jungle book launch party in Seattle, I wanted to bring the party to you. So… welcome, friends, to my virtual book party! Come on in. I have all kinds of fun in store for you today. Enjoy your own personal author reading. Exercise your imaginations … More Virtual Book Launch Party
Sometimes in life, you just need to stop and ask the universe for directions. That’s what I did, going into my recent trip to Hawaii with my husband and daughter. After years devoted to (and struggling with) two kids’ books near and dear to my heart, I left it up to vacation to provide some meditation … More Directions
I grew up with a mom who was a children’s storytime librarian. So I can’t really pick up a kids’ book without brainstorming ways to make it interactive. The first idea below is my mom’s all-time favorite, and the others I whipped up for two of my 3 year old’s (and my) favorite kids’ books.
Carl Jung’s (and later Joseph Campbell’s) monomyth theory holds that all human stories—across all ages and cultures—experience the same basic journey. And over the course of that life story, the “hero” (or main character) encounters this cast of characters: Mentor Threshold Guardian Herald Henchmen Shape Shifter Hero’s Shadow (Villain) Trickster Take The Wizard of Oz, for instance:
Once upon a time, there was a hero. (S)he lived in a world where things weren’t perfect, but they were livable. Then something happened to change all that. At first (s)he denied it. Then someone convinced the hero otherwise. (S)he set off to do something. Things challenged the hero along the way. Eventually, (s)he got … More Story
What are you wearing? That’s kind of an intimate question isn’t it? But clothing is rather intimate. It comforts. It covers. It projects. It can spark conversations and memories, too. So look again: What are you wearing?
My Castle Heart Publications 