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Celebrate Black History Month with Books

I found a great site featuring Coretta Scott King Award winning books at TeachingBooks.net.

The site presents all the winning and honor books with presentations from the authors and illustrators.
Hear illustrator Sean Qualls talk about how he illustrated BEFORE JOHN WAS A JAZZ GIANT by Carole Boston Weatherford. (2009 Illustrator Honor book)
Or listen to author Joyce Carol Thomas read from THE BLACKER THE BERRY: POEMS.(2009 Illuatrator Award winner and Author Honor book)
What a great way to connect with the creative talents who made these books happen!
What a great way to celebrate Black History Month.
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February Fun


HIGHLIGHTS has a “click and play” Hidden Pictures interactive game just in time for Valentine’s Day. See if you can find all the hidden pictures and make the illustration transform into bright colors–“Making Valentines.”

For more interactive kid computer fun, check out Guardian Angel Publishing’s new online magazine GUARDIAN ANGEL KIDS. Here is the link to their Games. You can draw and paint, solve puzzles, and find matches. Or watch one of the book videos. Or download one of the free books or coloring pages. There’s more than enough fun stuff to fill your week as you countdown to Valentine’s Day.
And don’t forget to read “The Foolproof Valentine’s Plan” right here on my website.
Posted on by cindyindigo

The Biggest Book in the World


The Klencke Atlas is 350 years old and it is the biggest book in the world. It is 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The atlas was a gift to an English king, Charles II, 350 years ago. Six people are needed to just to lift the book–that’s some heavy reading.


For the very first time in 350 years, the atlas is going to be on public display at the British Library. The display will highlight 100 maps, showing off their wonderful artwork.

If you wanted to make a book as huge as the Klencke Atlas, what would the book be about? Think about how big you would need to make the book mark for such a book. And how would you read the Klencke Atlas? You certainly couldn’t hold it on your lap.

Just some interesting book stuff for Friday…what are you reading this weekend???
Posted on by cindyindigo

Fun and Games and Writing


Let’s have some fun today. Do you like to play memory games?

How about matching up cards or answering game questions?
HIGHLIGHTS has a colorful memory game online this month–Memory Lanes.
I plan to go back and play the game again and try to beat my score. I didn’t have as good a memory as I thought. 🙂
Exploring your memory is a great way to create details for stories.
Pretend you wanted to set your story in your house.
  • What color is your front door?
  • What material is the floor in your living room? What sound do you make walking across it?
  • How would you describe the view out your bedroom window?
  • What do you hear when you open the window?
  • What do you smell cooking when you walk into the kitchen?
  • Is it warm or cold when you step outside?

I hope you enjoy challenging your memory today.

Posted on by cindyindigo

Pura Belpre Awards


Also announced at the ALA MidWinter Meeting in Boston on Monday were the winners of the Pura Belpre Awards, which “honor Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books.”


The 2010 winners were Rafael López, illustrator of Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day, and Julia Alvarez, author of Return to Sender. Check out the ALA link to find out more about the books and their creators.



Posted on by cindyindigo

Coretta Scott King Awards

The Coretta Scott King Awards were presented this week for outstanding books for children and young adults created by African-American authors and illustrators.


This year’s King Author Book winner is BAD NEWS FOR OUTLAWS: THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF BASS REEVES, DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson.

The King Author Book honor selection is MARE’S WAR by Tanita S. Davis.

The King Illustrator award was given to MY PEOPLE, illustrated by Charles R. Smith, Jr. and written by Langston Hughes.
The honor book for the illustrator award is THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS, illustrated by E. B. Lewis and also written by Langston Hughes.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Posted on by cindyindigo

New ALA Book Awards

The winners have just been announced and they are….TA DA!

2010 Newbery Award–WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead
Honor Books–CLAUDETTE COLVIN: TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE by Phillip Hoose
THE EVOLUTION OF CALPURINA TATE by Jacqueline Kelly
2010 Caldecott Award--THE LION AND THE MOUSE by Jerry Pinkney
Honor Books (this one was a favorite of mine)–ALL THE WORLD illustrated by Marla Frazee and written by Liz Garton Scanlon
RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski and written by Joyce Sidman.
More award-winning books tomorrow…
Posted on by cindyindigo

More Bird Stories


Normally when I think of winter birds, I picture cardinals and blue jays and sparrows. But what about seabirds–like the gulls and pelicans and terns. They hang out at the beaches even when the temperature drops.

What do these birds like to eat?
What do they sound like?
Where do they build their nests?
FEEDING THE GULLS by Deanna Calvert might be a fun to read.
Or A DAY AT SEAGULL BEACH by Karen Wallace.
Or SEEING SEABIRDS by Allan Fowler.
Did you know Herring Gulls will eat most anything? They are the ones who will steal your snacks at the beach if you’re not careful.
Could you write a story about a gull who ate too much junk food at the beach and couldn’t fly?
One day when it’s too cold to go outside this winter, pretend you’re the snack-loving gull and write about your misadventures.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Frosty Feathered Friends


This is turning out to be an awfully cold winter.

Lucky for us we can go inside where it’s warm.
The birds and other wildlife don’t have that opportunity, so it’s important they are able to find food to fuel their bodies.
If you can, leave some birdseed out for them. You’ll enjoy watching the variety of birds who come to feast on the tempting treats you’ve provided.
HIGHLIGHTS online magazine has a fun bird quiz you can play. You’ll not only be able to see possible bird visitors to your feeder. You’ll be able to hear them as well.
You can go to the library where you’ll find books on birds, like BACKYARD BIRDS OF WINTER by Carol Lerner. You’ll discover interesting information about the birds visiting your backyard. You can even keep a log of the different birds you see each day. Keep binoculars handy and a camera. Can you snap a shot of one? Or try to draw a picture.
Which ones are your favorites?
Posted on by cindyindigo

Hands Up to Start a Story

The new year is a great time to start writing–a story a week would be a great goal.

All you need to start your next story is your hand.

That’s right.
Place your hand flat on a piece of paper.
Trace around it.
In the center of your hand, write one sentence about the story you want to write.
A story about bringing my dog home for the first time.
Above the little finger, write “WHO.”
Then above the next finger, write “WHAT.”
Above the next finger, write “WHY.”
Above the next finger, write “WHEN.”
Above the next finger, write “WHERE.”
Now fill in the information on each finger.
WHO: my dog Patches and me
WHAT: bringing Patches home from the animal shelter
WHY: to show how scared Patches was at first
WHEN: last summer for my birthday
WHERE: at my dad’s house

Now, using your handy outline,
start at the beginning–
and tell your story.
Don’t forget to give your story a fun title, like “A Place for Patches.”
You can even add illustrations or photos.
Get ready, set, write!