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.

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.

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?

Let It Snow!

HIGHLIGHTS Magazine has a new hidden picture puzzle for December: Let It Snow by Linda Weller.

Click on the link to download the picture and start searching. I am always amazed how the artists manage to hide all the objects in plan sight. Remember, sometimes it's easier to find a hidden object by turning the picture upside down or sideways.

Life can be like that sometimes too--when you take a look at something from a totally different perspective, you can find new answers or ideas. And since I can truly stand on my head, I do know what the world looks like upside down. Do you?

What would snow look like if you were standing on your head? Would it be falling down or falling up? Here is how I would write the letters if I were upside down...

W

O

N

S

Tis the season to be silly!

HAPPY ST. PAT'S DAY!

Holly has been celebrating, as you can see. Hope you have a great day.

Highlights Magazine has some great St. Pat's Day fun. Here is a link to their Hidden Picture.  And this link will help you create and play the HAT O' GOLD Game.

Don't forget to try writing your own Limerick. You'll probably want to try it on the Shamrock at Limerick Fun.  Or maybe the Leprechaun Puzzle--all of those treats are right here on my website.

May the luck o' the Irish be with you!

January Highlights Fun

HIGHLIGHTS magazine online has tons of fun of kids this month. You can download the Hidden Picture, "First Snow," and try to find all the hidden items. 

At HighlightsKids.com 

there are crafts, puzzles, stories, poetry and more. 

Or you may want to try a couple of the puzzles on my website.

Analog Puzzle 1 and Analog Puzzle 2 are word puzzles similar to crossword puzzles.

After you try these two, see if you can make up one of your own!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Matt!!!

How to Make Gingerbread Houses Online

This is the perfect time of year to create a tasty gingerbread house. HIGHLIGHTSKIDS.COM has this cool online site. Now gingerbread house fans can make one without any of the mess.

 

Jan Brett also has an online GINGERBREAD BABY HOUSE. You can design your very own. And a GINGERBREAD BABY COLORING PAGE you can print. Then you'll want to find a copy of Ms. Brett's newest book, GINGERBREAD FRIENDS, and discover all the adventures the Gingerbread Boy has when he sets out to find some friends.

Or you might want to read some other gingerbread tales. For a new twist on the story, try THE GINGERBREAD COWBOY by Janet Squire. You can probably find a copy at your local library or bookstore.

But if you are ready to make a real gingerbread house, find a book like Jennifer A. Ericsson's GINGERBREAD HOUSES FOR KIDS and start creating.

HIGHLIGHTS and Halloween

One more note about my HIGHLIGHTS poem, "Reaching for the Stars"--

You can see and hear the poem online at HIGHLIGHTS Kids magazine. I hope you have a chance to explore all the other fun stuff they have there as well.

Now for a Halloween treat. Be sure to visit KidLit Central News blog on Halloween for a chance to win some spook-tacular prices.

HIGHLIGHTS Poem

It's here! My poem, "Reaching for the Stars," is on page 5 of the November issue of HIGHLIGHTS magazine. See--that's me to the right, dancing for joy!

Melanie Hall created an enchanting illustration to help bring my words to life. Too cool! 

But don't just take my word for it. Visit your local library or bookstore and see for yourself. And, of course, enjoy all the other great reading fun in the magazine as well. 

Craft Activites for Autumn

HIGHLIGHTS magazine offers some online craft activities designed especially for right now.

Try this easy autumn leaf wrapping paper.

You can make this a "green" project by using newsprint or other paper for recycling.

Or try this stamped Rosh Hashanah card. It's made with an apple for a delightfully different design.

For another craft of the season, try making a SPIDER from my website in the KIDS section. Or one of the Halloween games.

Or if you want more fun and games, visit HIGHLIGHTS Games and Giggles.

Kyra, age 8, from Florida sent in this joke:

What's green and oinks?

Kermit the Hog!

Send me your favorite joke, and I'll share it here. Have a hoppy day!

More Great News!

I received a letter from HIGHLIGHTS for CHILDREN magazine today announcing the publication of my poem, "Reaching for the Stars," in the November 2008 issue of their magazine.
How exciting!
I started writing this poem while at the Highlight's Foundation Chautaugua Workshop in July 2005. My writer mentor for the week was David L. Harrison, a poet laureate from Missouri. It was during one of his presentations that the poem took shape.
So I offer a salute today to Mr. Harrison. I'm including some links below to a few online sites with information about him. Of course, he has a large number of books available either through bookstores or libraries. He writes not only poetry and stories for children but also nonfiction books as well.

A MATTER OF METER
By David L. Harrison
http://www.teachingk-8.com/archives/articles/a_matter_of_meter_by_david_l_harrison.html

The article explains some of the rhythmic patterns used in poetry with examples by children. The author also offers suggestions for presenting the topic to students.

RANDOM HOUSE MEET THE AUTHOR
http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=12056

Brief highlights of Mr. Harrison’s writing career and education

THE READER: THE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS READING ASSOCIATION
“Fluency Fun: Kids Love the Sound of Words”
http://www.arareading.org/The%20Reader%20-%20fluency.pdf

An interview with Mr. Harrison and examples of his poems