Author: cindyindigo

Posted on by cindyindigo

HAMSTER HOLIDAYS Earns a Great Armchair Review


I wanted to share the lovely interview HAMSTER HOLIDAYS received at Armchair Interviews.com.

Reviewer, Laura V. Hilton, said, “Has your child been struggling with learning about nouns and adjectives and what their jobs are in a sentence? Then this cute little book about hamsters and holidays will be just the right thing to help your child identify these important parts of a sentence.”
And Ms. Hilton adds, “This book will help grammar become fun.” To read the complete review, click on the link above.
Thanks for the great review, Ms. Hilton.
Now, what are you waiting for? Celebrate the holidays hamster style. Visit Guardian Angel Publishing to find out how you can order your own copy of the book.

Posted on by cindyindigo

More from Bruge–Weaving Lace and Stories


Bruge is famous for its lacework. How did they make lace before modern machinery? By hand, of course. The art of braiding this type of lace is tricky. This lace is called bobbin lace. Bobbins are used to hold the threads on a small pillow. Originally, the bobbins were made from bones, so it is also known as bone lace. And sometimes it’s called pillow lace as well. For more pictures, click on this Wikipedia link.

Stories are woven together also. Some of the threads of a story would include the characters, the setting, and the plot. Each story forms a different pattern, just like lace.
I’ve done only a little weaving in my day, on a small loom and knitting and crocheting as well. It’s tough to keep all the strands in line, forming the pattern you want. It’s tough to keep them from becoming tangled sometimes.
So it is with a story too. I work hard at twisting the plot here and turning a character there or weaving in the setting–just right. This week I’m revising a couple short stories and reviewing a middle grade chapter book in progress. I’m untangling a few knots here and there in each, trying to make wonderfully woven stories for my readers to enjoy.
Sometimes that involves a fair amount of unraveling–which makes it especially hard to keep the pattern of the story in tact. But a completed story, intricately woven with beauty and finesse, is always worth all the hard work.
Now, I’m back to my story weaving.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Paddling Up a Canal in Bruge




Well, not exactly paddling–but here are photos from our recent trip to Bruge in Belgium as we traverse some of the local waterways.

Bruge is often called the Venice of northern Europe because of its canals. This medieval city is incredible–like stepping back in time.
I’m trying to sail onward with a number of story adventures this week. Sometimes the writing and rewriting goes pretty smoothly. But today, I’m not sure if I’m making progress or simply spinning in a larger and larger circle.
Come back tomorrow to see if I’ve made progress with my writing…and for more photos from my travels.
Posted on by cindyindigo

More All-Stars Plus Robin Falls Kids Story Time Event





Just a few more photos from the big game on Tuesday night.

The theme for the evening–GO BEYOND–was celebrated in a tribute to numerous hometown heroes from across the U.S. whose charitable efforts were truly amazing.
My son Dan and his wife Megan wait in line with us to enter the stadium. Megan is a true-blue (and RED) Cardinals fan. Some of their wedding day photos were shot at the old Busch Stadium.
All-Star Cardinals first baseman, Albert Pujols, walks with President Obama after the ceremonial first pitch.
Glittery streamers filled the sky as the game got under way. I felt like a little kid at the bestest birthday party ever!
**************************
Visit the link above to replay the Blog Talk Radio presentation of five children’s authors from across the U.S.
Linda Bryan reads from her delightful, poetic picture book–THE SOUND SNATCHER.
Judy Cox shares her fun picture book–MRS. MILLIE GOES TO PHILLY
Scott Heyt entertains with a chapter from his middle grade novel–MICE DON’T TASTE LIKE CHICKEN
Pat McCarthy gives excerpts from her brand new history book–HEADING WEST: LIFE WITH THE PIONEERS (true tales of children who braved the frontier)
And me– peeks into all three of my PET GRAMMAR PARADE books, including HAMSTER HOLIDAYS
Thanks to host Laurie Zieber and helpers Roz Dellani Oakes and April Robins at Robin Falls.
Be sure to have your child enter to win one of the free books to be given away next month on the Robin Falls Kids Story Time.
Posted on by cindyindigo

All-Star Night at the Game in St. Louis





Wow! What a fun and exciting evening I had last night when I had the privilege to attend the 80th All-Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Here’s a few pictures:

A mini-arch outside the stadium near where we stood in line (for half-an-hour) because of extra-tight security with President Obama’s visit.
The Clydesdale horses open up the festivities inside.
The American and National Leagues’ lineups.
President Obama–who threw the first pitch–shaking hands with fans later in the evening.
Oh, and by the way, I was one of the few to shake his hand. How exciting is that!
The President very graciously stopped on his way to the broadcast booth to shake hands with a few of us who were trying to catch a peek of him as he scurried by with this entourage. It was so generous of him to take the time from his schedule to greet us. That’s a homerun in my book.
I’ll share some more pics from the game tomorrow and highlights from the Robin Falls Kids Story Time radio program I was on this morning.
Posted on by cindyindigo

HAMSTER HOLIDAYS and Robin Falls Kids Story Time



HAMSTER HOLIDAYS: NOUN and ADJECTIVE ADVENTURES is here!!!

A troupe of hamsters celebrate a year of silly holidays in their unique hamster style. The book highlights nouns and adjectives on each page, as well as exploring opposites. Activity pages include scrambled words, match-up and crossword puzzles, and much more. Grammar becomes fun and games with hamster helpers.
Visit Guardian Angel Publishing  for information on purchasing this title in either eBook or print format.
HAMSTER HOLIDAYS–and all of the other books in the PET GRAMMAR PARADE SERIES–are available in print format from these online bookstores:

Visit illustrator KIT GRADY‘s web site for more information on the book’s wonderful artist.
Special Education Teacher, Cathy Eshleman of Kearney, NB had this to say about the book:
Through the use of hamster antics, Cynthia Reeg, in her whimsical style, writes about nouns and adjectives in a way that will capture the interest of any student. Hamster Holidays: Noun and Adjective Adventures is a “must have” for any teacher who is introducing or reinforcing nouns or adjectives in the classroom.
To hear some of the HAMSTER HOLIDAYS story, listen to author Cynthia Reeg read from the book and share snippets from her other PET GRAMMAR PARADE titles on WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, at 10:00 am CST on the ROBIN FALLS KIDS STORY TIME on BLOG TALK RADIO.
Six children’s authors will be sharing their books and answering questions this Wednesday. If you’d like to call in, here is the number: 646-649-1005.
If you’d like to find out more information and/or register for one of the more than 20 prizes to be given away in August, visit Robin Falls Kids or email robinfallskids@yahoo.com

This is the third of six blog talk programs this summer at Robin Falls Kids.
Don’t miss it!
Posted on by cindyindigo

ZeBee’s Virtual Summer Zoo Camp for Children

Too Dog-Gone Good to Miss
and

Just in time to beat summertime boredom–


An online cybercamp for children 5-8
Fun, educational activities–starting TODAY!!!
Eight weeks of zoo animal adventures
Prizes, games, animal trivia, arts & crafts, puzzles
July 6-August 28
Posted on by cindyindigo

HAMSTER HOLIDAYS Is Coming Soon


It’s been a busy summer already. Just returned from an international trip–I’ll share some photos later. But I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to tell you the good news.

HAMSTER HOLIDAYS: Noun and Adjective Adventures–the next book in my Pet Grammar Parade Series is nearly here. 
As you can see from the cover, illustrator Kit Grady has brought to life these adorable and entertaining hamster characters in her own wonderful, colorful style. 
You’ll meet Grandpa and Babe, Carlos and Jenni, Billy–who’s rather silly, and Lotty–who is decidedly spotty.
You can join them through a year of hare-brained holidays–sure to make you giggle. Nouns and adjectives are highlighted throughout the book. A study guide, activity sheet, and multiple puzzles are included.
HAMSTER HOLIDAYS is coming very soon in both eBook and print formats from Guardian Angel Publishing.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Find the Perfect Book Match for Your Summer Reading

I’m so excited to tell you about this great opportunity–just a click away. How many times during the summer when your mom or dad suggests you do some reading, you say, “But I don’t have any good books.”???

When you follow this link to Lexile’s Find a Book, you’ll be able to enter your grade and what type of books interest you. Presto! Find a Book will zap out a list of titles for you to check out faster than you can slurp down an ice cream cone on a 90-degree summer day.
Pick out a few titles which sound too good to miss. Go online to your local library. See if they have the books. Put holds on them and plan a trip to the library. In no time at all, you can be relaxing with the best of summer reads.
Not so much into reading…no worries. You can indicate what your reading level is when you enter your info into the Find a Book database. A long list of just-right books–for your interests and  correct reading level–will magically appear.
Yeah, but why bother reading during the summer. It’s vacation from school time.
So true, but a professor of education at Harvard University, James Kim, did a study. He found that students who don’t read over the summer can fall behind in their reading levels by as much as two months. That means you’ll have lost ground during the summer. You’ll start next school year just trying to catch up to where you left off the year before. That doesn’t sound like fun.
But, according to the professor, if you read at least 8 interesting books at your reading level during the summer, you won’t fall behind. In fact, you’ll probably increase your reading level.
Awesome! Wouldn’t that be a cool surprise for your new teacher as well as your parents.
Public libraries usually have great summer reading programs. You may be able to earn prizes reading this summer and beat the summer slide–loosing ground on your reading skills. 
So this summer, do your sliding into home plate–not down hill on your reading.
Libraries are truly COOL places to hang out in this summer. Check one out.
Let me know how you do with your reading and what’s the best book you read this summer. 
Posted on by cindyindigo

Summer Reading, Websites, and Recipes for Kids


Holly and I took a field trip to the dog park today. There we met Joey and his mom and their beautiful and friendly Irish Setter, Flash. After Holly showed Joey all the cool tricks she can do, we humans eventually got around to the really fun stuff–talking about books.

Joey was on the lookout for some good summer reading. I offered him a couple of favorites:
THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman
The Gollywhopper Games received the 2008 Midwest Choice Book Awards Honor for Children’s Literature. And the book is also up for possible readers’ choice awards in both Alaska and Texas.
The Graveyard Book won this year’s Newbery Award as well as honor book in the recently announced Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards. Follow the link for the other selections.
Of course, a library is a great place to visit this summer for expert advice on good books. Plus, they usually have special programs designed for kids of all ages. 
Some other fun things to do this summer can be found online. Visit the AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION’s list of great websites for kids. I’ve mentioned a few of the websites before, like
ReadKiddoRead and Giggle Poetry. But there are lots more suggestions for summer adventures from math to art to science to film making.
Joey also shared with me that he enjoys cooking. Yum! Yum! Don’t forget that I have some tasty recipes on my website. Dirty Worms seems like an appropriate dish for summer fare. For more recipes, click on this link. There you’ll also find games, crafts, puzzles, and more reading adventures.