Author: cindyindigo

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Lenten Meditations for Children: Helping Others Carry Their Crosses

We’ve almost finished the third week of Lent–half-way through. I made some intentions at the beginning of Lent. Some of them I’m doing better on than others. One of my intentions was to spend more time in prayer, but I’m not too sure I’ve been following through on that one as I should.

During Lent, we try to perform acts that will draw us closer to Jesus. Simon of Cyrene was drawn very close to Jesus, even when Simon didn’t want to be. He was the stranger the Roman soldiers pulled from the crowd. Jesus’ cross was dumped on his shoulders. Simon helped Jesus on His way to Calvary.
Luke 23: 26–As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.
MEDITATION: Pedro, the new boy, sat down next to me at lunch. He had only a small, crumpled paper bag. No milk or soda. He twisted away from me and pulled out a bruised apple and a little pack of crackers–like the ones the lunch ladies hand out on chili days. That’s all Pedro had for his lunch.

I looked at my sandwich, loaded with meat, cheese, lettuce, and pickles. Plus, I had chips, carrot sticks, raisins, and a giant chocolate chip cookie I helped Mom bake last night. I bit into a chip, but I didn’t feel so hungry anymore. I didn’t need all this food.

With a plastic knife from my lunch kit, I cut the sandwich in two.
“Here,” I said, placing it by Pedro. “I’m not hungry. You want some of this?”

Pedro nodded. “Thanks.”

I pushed the chip bag in-between us. “Take some of these. I won’t be able to eat them all.”

“Okay,” was all Pedro said. But he smiled too and offered me some of his crackers.
By the end of the meal, I didn’t even have to think twice before I broke the cookie in two and gave him the bigger half.  
*****
Have I helped Jesus carry His cross this Lent? Have I reached out to help someone in need? Have I given my time or resources to aid someone else?
Jesus, show me how I can help carry your cross. Show me how to care for others. I know when I treat others with love, I am loving You. Thank You. Amen.

ACTIVITIES: 
  1. Have your child grocery shop with you. Help him pick a less expensive food (perhaps breakfast cereal) than he usually eats. Collect the saved money during the rest of Lent then help your child donate the money to a needy organization.
  2. Have your child make a list of ways that she could aid members of your family. You could post it on the frig or bulletin board, and she can check off her kind deeds.
  3. Have your child make a list of ways that he could aid students and teachers at school. Again, you can post it in a prominent place and celebrate his loving acts with him.
  4. Help your child sort through her clothes and toys. She could donate gently worn/used items to a homeless shelter.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Newbery Honor Author — Ingrid Law


The American Library Association has a short video interview with Newbery Honor author, Ingrid Law, talking about her wonderful book, SAVVY. To find out more about SAVVY, read my review of it along with another super fantasy story, THE GIRL WHO COULD FLY. 

So many great stories to read. 
On your mark. Get set. Go!
Grab a book and start reading.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Doggie Day Camp — Going Beyond Reading



I’m very excited that Joy Delgado, author & publisher, chose DOGGIE DAY CAMP as her picture book of the week for her blog–GOING BEYOND READING. 

At her new blog, Ms. Delgado will present “books that show children in fun and subtle ways interesting and new (to them) facts. Books that go beyond being just a story. Books that, well, teach.”
Thanks for inviting Bubba and his friends to the BEYOND.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Lenten Mediations for Children: Condemning Others


We’re already at the end of the first full week in Lent. Time goes by so quickly when we are busy with all the routine day-to-day work and activities. So I wanted to include here at least one Lenten meditation each week for children. I’ll use somewhat the same format as I did several years ago in an article I wrote for MY LIGHT magazine , in which children can view Jesus’ life and death in relation to their world.

A good source for Lenten meditations can be found in Christ’s passion. Today we’ll think about the beginning–when Pilate condemns Jesus to death. Even though Pilate couldn’t really find anything to punish Jesus for, he let the crowd sway his decision. [Mark 15:12-15]
Pilate spoke to them again, “What do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” They called back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 
MEDITATION: Today I condemned Libby. She wore her ugly purple sweater and stupid matching headband. Tiffany giggled loudly when she saw Libby at her school locker. “You look like a grape with wavy hair.” 
Maria pointed a finger. “Did you put on the light when you got dressed today?” They turned to me laughing, so I felt like I needed to join in. That I needed to say something cool also. 
“I think Libby just got sloppy with her grape juice this morning,”I said. We laughed more. But when Libby ran past us, I pretended to cough and looked away.

Who have I condemned today with a look, a thought, or my words? Who have I made suffer because I was not brave enough to love–especially when it was difficult?

Jesus, help me be strong and loving toward all those I encounter each day. Amen.
ACTIVITIES:
  1.  Have your child illustrate Pilate condemning Jesus or the meditation scene with the school children.
  2. Older children might want to write their own meditation and prayer focusing on the cruelty of condemning others.
  3. Take a positive approach. Help your child list how many ways he has shown (or could show) love to others today.
For more Lenten meditations and activities, click on the following link at Fridge Art–a center for family oriented activities.
And for another beautiful picture of the Biblical scene highlighted above, visit Wikipedia.
The illustration at the top of the page is from Karen’s Whimsey. She has many other religious clip art available.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Snow Fun in Birmingham



Winter seems to be refusing to let go this year. It recently dealt an icy hand across much of the United States, even down into the South. My brother & sister-in-law, James and Lauri, live in Birmingham, Alabama–which rarely sees snow. But last week they received enough to play in for a short while.

Here are photos of their dog Mandy learning how to roll snowballs and the spirited snowman they all made.
If your area wasn’t dusted with any of the white stuff and you’d like to play with some snowflakes, you can make some of your own. Click on this link from my website to learn how to make paper snowflakes. And when you’re finished, here’s a list of snowy reads.
Brrrrr!
Posted on by cindyindigo

Children’s Book Winners for the NAACP Image Awards

Congratulations to Nikki Grimes and Brian Collier for their picture book biography on our new President,

Barack Obama: Son of Promise Child of Hope. It has earned honors for OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK–CHILDREN

I had the wonderful opportunity to see the galley of this book last June while attending a writers’ workshop in Arkansas. Ms. Grimes visited one day and shared not only the book with us but also insights into how she writes poetry. It was a fantastic presentation.
 
To read more about Ms. Grimes poetry tips, visit my blog archives.
Nikki Giovanni’s poetry book, Hip Hop Speaks to Children, was awarded by NAACP for OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK–POETRY. It also earned a spot on BOOKLIST’s TOP 10 ART BOOKS FOR YOUTH. Poetry Speaks to Children is another Sourcebooks publication that Ms. Giovanni contributed to as well. 
Posted on by cindyindigo

Acrostic Poetry for Cold Dogs and Hot Dogs


Holly, my dog, says it’s cold outside, so she’d rather stay inside.

A fun inside activity is writing ACROSTIC poems. They’re a breeze–and not an icy, cold breeze either.
Start with an easy acrostic using your first name. Write the letters vertically, one underneath the other. Here’s how Holly’s name would look:
H
O
L
L
Y
Now, use each letter as the first letter for that line. Since we’re using Holly’s name, we’ll make the poem about her.
Happy all the time
Often takes naps
Likes to explore
Loves to eat treats
Yip-yaps at birds and squirrels
If you want a challenge, make the lines work together–like a mini-story.
Happy dogs, like Holly,
Often give other pets and people
Lots of slobbery
Licks–which are really doggie kisses–and they aren’t
Yucky at all!
And if you want a super-duper challenge, expand your ACROSTIC to more than one word. Try telling your poetic story using these words:
D
O
G
G
I
E

D
A
Y

C
A
M
P

Have fun and stay warm!
For more adventures with pets, visit Mayra Calvani’s new blog:
Posted on by cindyindigo

Some of the Best Children’s Books

When there are so many good children’s books out there, it’s always great to get some help in narrowing your reading list. Of course, I wish I had time to read all of them, but I know that’s impossible.

Here’s the latest from the Association for Library Services to Children: 2009 Notable Children’s Book Awards
These books are chosen for their quality and creativity for children ages birth to 14 years. One on the list that I just finished reading is STINKY by Eleanor Davis. This graphic novel for young readers pairs a monster boy and a human boy, and as it turns out, they have much in common. Fun illustrations and easy reading combine to make this selection a winner.
Be sure to check out more of the notable books on this list. And I’m always excited to hear about special books that you’ve discovered. 
Some sunshine + A good book = Heaven.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Lincoln’s Poetry

Happy Birthday, President Lincoln!

Many people know that February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, but many don’t know how much President Lincoln enjoyed poetry–both reading and writing it. A wonderful site to visit to learn more about the poetry he loved to read and some examples of poetry that he wrote can be found at The Library of Congress. 
President Lincoln wrote many of his speeches with poetic flourish. THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS is a wonderful example of his mastery of words and emotions. Click on the link above to view copies of the powerful speech. Follow this link to see a photograph of Lincoln at Gettysburg.
Many writers wrote poems about President Lincoln as well. Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the first African-American poets to gain recognition in the United States, wrote a special poem about Lincoln. Dunbar compares Lincoln to Homer, from the famous Greek play–The Illiad and the Odyssey.
Why not try writing your own poem about President Lincoln. That would make a very special present for a very special President.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Reading For All Ages


I’ve read some wonderful books of late and would like to share them with you.

The first is a young adult historical fiction novel titled, I AM REMBRANDT’S DAUGHTER by Lynn Cullen. (Bloomsbury, 2007) Cornelia van Rijn, Rembrandt’s illegitimate daughter, tells the story of her 16 years living with the famous creative genius. At the time of Cornelia’s birth in Amsterdam, however, Rembrandt had fallen out of favor with art patrons. The story recounts the struggles of the family, especially Cornelia’s search for her own identity and happiness amid the turmoil of poverty and the ever-present plague threat. Both romance and resilience play parts in this tender novel.
The second wonderful book is PSALMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN by Marie-Helene Delval and illustrated by Arno. (Eerdmans, 2008) The title belies the fact that this beautiful book is a treat for all ages. 40 psalms are simplified for more easy reading and understanding. Arno follows this simplified approach with his colorful illustrations. The combination of text and pictures with the messages of love found in the psalms creates a truly powerful piece of literature. 
*For another example of introducing young children to Biblical verses, check out my book–GIFTS FROM GOD.
The third book is a picture book by one of my favorite children’s authors, Karen Hesse.  SPUDS (illustrated by Wendy Watson–Scholastic, 2008) tells the story of a poor rural family, three children and their hard-working mother. When the mother goes to work one night–leaving the eldest child, Maybelle–in charge. The narrator–the middle boy, Jack–relates their exploits when they decide to harvest left-over potatoes from a neighbor’s farm. They bundle up young brother, Eddie, pulling him in the old red wagon. They scramble in the dark to fill a bag full of potatoes, but when they return home they are in for a surprise. This is a touching story of a family working together to overcome their hardships. The illustrations evoke the 1930’s setting with sweet vignettes.
The weekend is almost here. I hope you get some extra reading time in–perhaps one of these great books would be the perfect treat.