Currently September!

Labor day!  Yay!  Here's my Currently...

While I am non actively educational activity inwards the classroom, I am actually working on my math-concept film books, then all y'all teachers out at that topographic point tin convey them inwards your hands soon.  Now, only for an editor to alternative them up.

This past times calendar week I convey been revising in addition to making my books amend amongst a 5-week Picture Book Academy.  It has been a actually skillful experience, although I haven't had much fourth dimension to focus on my blogging in addition to whatever products.

Thanks for stopping past times in addition to I promise you'll bring together me on Th for my weekly linky: MaTh activeness Th where y'all tin link upwards amongst whatever recent math related ship service : )

Missed Yesterday, Simply Linking Amongst Tried It Tuesday

So, I missed my Mon post.  It turns out, it's hard to write the get-go twenty-four hours of the week!

Anyway, I'm linking upwards amongst Fourth Grade Flipper for her weekly linky

I experience similar I lead maintain been trying a whole bunch of things lately, exactly non all of them are working.  I approximate if you lot never try, together with then you lot would never honour out if it plant or not, though.

So, I went to an SCBWI working writers retreat this by weekend for my math-related motion-picture present books I've written.  At this resultant I paid a pretty penny to larn alive critiques from ii editors, i agent, together with ii successful authors.  This wasn't my get-go fourth dimension at that topographic point (my 3rd fourth dimension going, actually) together with every yr I forget how much of an emotional roller coaster it is to lead maintain your hard move pose out for people to run across together with lead maintain it larn comments ranging from "I similar it." to "It's equally good confusing." to "I alone similar this part." to "I intend it needs a theme." to "It should live on simpler." together with thence on.

I know inward the halt all the comments volition assist me brand my manuscripts ameliorate together with to a greater extent than polished, exactly it is thence hard to listen what peoples unlike opinions are all inward ii days.

This is what I've tried.

• I've been purpose of diverse critique groups.
• I read all the books I tin dismiss most writing motion-picture present books.
• I read lots of motion-picture present books.
• I choke along submitting to unlike agents together with editors, because it alone takes i yes.
• I revise together with revise together with revise according to what I experience is best.

together with for many of my manuscripts I lead maintain paginated them, made dummies, together with read them to my kids classrooms : )

Anyway, I straight off wonder this amongst all my occur my house value book.  Since I majorly changed the flush exactly I notwithstanding lead maintain this cool dummy from the get-go version, should I sell the dummy on TpT together with TN for teachers to usage straight off together with eventually await for the revised majority to larn published someday?

I'd dear to listen what you lot think.

Children's Literature Panelist : )

Lucky me!  A brace of weeks agone I was asked to endure on a Children's Literary Panel Discussion for IWOSC (Independent Writers of Southern California).  I was excited to participate together with looked forrad to sharing what I choose gleaned from going to numerous children's writing events equally good equally my ain writing journey.  This is what the e-mail annunciation looked like...

“WRITING FOR CHILDREN: maturity together with liberate energy required”

Panelists Antoinette Portis, Sarah Maizes, Lucy Ravitch, Ann Redisch Stampler; Moderator Sanjay Nambiar

Date:  Monday, Oct 28, 7:30 to nine p.m. (networking follows the program)

Literature for children is meant to inform, entertain, gather with grow time to come readers, equally good equally promote menage unit of measurement interaction.  This is quite a responsibility, a highly competitive champaign where immense imagination together with mature child-like properties combined alongside a expert concern plan, enough of energy, together with an openness to possibilities.

We volition draw the journeys of a few published writers of children’s literature together with mid-range (for ages 2-11), together with 1 on the means to becoming published, addition a illustration from a children’s bookstore.

We volition cover:

- Marketing
- Graphic choices
- Mainstream vs. self-publishing
- Use of multimedia (iPad, etc.)
- Alternative ways of selling (Internet, clubs, services, direct)

OUR PANEL:

ANTOINETTE PORTIS made her picture-book debut alongside the best-selling “Not Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Box,” an American Library Association Seuss Geisel Honor book, together with 1 of the New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year. She was a recipient of a 2010 Sendak Fellowship. Antoinette graduated from UCLA alongside an fine art degree, thus worked inwards advertising together with graphic design. She was a creative director, thus a VP, at Disney earlier she bolted to practise what she had ever wanted: endure lone inwards a room making film books. She lives inwards Los Angeles. “Froodle,” her newest book, comes out inwards Spring 2014. www.AntoinettePortis.com    

SARAH MAIZES is an author, blogger, comedian, together with freelance writer.  She has appeared on "The Today Show," CNN, KTLA, and NPR, together with is a regular contributor to “TODAYMoms.com,” “The Huffington Post,” and “CBS Los Angeles.”    She is the author of several humour books together with 3 children’s film books including “On My Way to the Bath,” a Children’s Book of the Month Club Main Selection together with a Children’s Book Council “Best Picture Book of 2012.” Its upcoming sequel, “On My Way to Bed,” was a New York Times Bookshelf “Pick”; the 3rd mass inwards the series, “On My Way to School,” is due out inwards 2014.  For to a greater extent than data (or simply giggles), banking concern gibe out her website, www.SarahMaizes.com , or FOLLOW HER on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ SarahMaizes and on twitter @SarahMaizes.

LUCY RAVITCH is a film mass author together with woman nurture of five.  With a background inwards teaching, she has immersed herself inwards the children's literature marketplace over the concluding 4 years yesteryear aid numerous conferences alongside kid-lit agents, editors, together with authors.  Lucy is a fellow member of Society of Children's Book Writers together with Illustrators (SCBWI) together with the Vice President of Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles (CBW-LA).  Lucy also makes fourth dimension to weblog at kidsmathteacher.com where she shares her honey of learning. Children’s Book Writers-LA has an anthology that is launching Nov 2^nd, which includes 2 writing pieces of Lucy’s.  www.facebook.com/Author. LucyRavitch 


ANN REDISCH STAMPLER is the author of the immature adult novels “Afterparty” (Simon Pulse, Jan 2014) together with “Where It Began” (Simon Pulse, 2012), described yesteryear Publishers Weekly equally “a searing portrayal of power, privilege, together with betrayal inwards the hills inwards a higher house Los Angeles.”  Her award-winning film books include “The Rooster Prince of Breslov” (Clarion, 2010) together with “The Wooden Sword” (Albert Whitman, 2012), a folktale from Afghanistan.  Ann lives inwards Los Angeles alongside her hubby together with rescue dog, whose vogue to consume pieces of handwritten stone oil drafts does non just facilitate the writing process.  www.annstampler.com .

MODERATOR:
SANJAY NAMBIAR has written several award-winning books, including "The Super Duper Princess Heroes: How It All Started,” "Maybe (A Little Zen for Little Ones)," "Still There? (A Little Zen for Little Ones)," together with "Remember the Stars (A Little Zen for Little Ones)." Through his books, he hopes to inspire readers together with bring positive messages to kids. Sanjay grew upwards inwards Carson, Calif., where he overcame a gang- together with drug-riddled surroundings alongside the assistance of a closely knit menage unit of measurement together with a focus on education. He graduated alongside honors from UC Berkeley, alongside degrees inwards Economics together with Neurobiology, together with earned an MBA from UCLA. Sanjay instantly is a freelance copywriter together with lives alongside his married adult woman together with endlessly energetic identical twin daughters inwards Los Angeles, where he sometimes bemoans the monotony of the pleasant weather.

****

It was great!  I observe it fascinating to remove heed every writer's experience.  Don't nosotros all choose a even out to tell?!  I establish everyones comments insightful together with really supportive.  Afterwards Ann, Sarah, Antoinette, together with I talked well-nigh the possibility of starting a site for authors to collaborate together with swap stories.  Wouldn't it endure fun to choose 2 or 3 authors acquire on a schoolhouse visit?  I'm looking forrad to my association alongside these lovely ladies.  Sanjay was also an inspiration likewise (I couldn't imagine orchestrating all the marketing for my book, but he seems to choose a expert own got on it).

It was a swell sense together with I promise approximately of the people that took pictures shipping me a re-create : )  Thanks for all the people that came together with everyone that supports film books together with children's literature!

Get My House Value Mass Inwards My Giveaway!

My giveaway has been running for a few days in addition to then far it is off to a adept start, only aid it proceed going potent past times sharing the adept intelligence (if in that place are 300 or to a greater extent than points inwards rafflecopter past times New Years I volition seat every someone who enters a complimentary copy)!

You tin movement into correct hither : )
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here is a sample spread from the majority : )

Have a Merry Christmas!

Winners Together With Problem Alongside Monkeys At I Time Selling!

Happy novel twelvemonth everyone!  Yay for 2014!  I had fifteen lucky winners for my giveaway of my 32 page math concept moving painting book--Trouble amongst Monkeys: H5N1 house value story.  I also made this colorful page! (although the mass is inwards dark too white)

It is alive hither at Teachers pay Teachers too Teachers Notebook.  I fifty-fifty bring a A4 page format for y'all here on TpT.  I am having only about other giveaway on TeachersNotebook here (runs through 1/10/14) if y'all missed my giveaway on the blog.  Also, real exciting... my practiced friend is going to interpret it into Castilian then pretty before long at that spot volition move a bilingual version too!

I volition move dorsum tomorrow for MaTh (Math activeness Thursday) where y'all tin link upward whatever math related post!

I all the same quest to brand a schedule for it--any suggestions?  Do y'all similar when I create mutual heart standards?  Or should I become amongst only about other theme?

See y'all tomorrow!  And again, happy novel year!!!

Kickstarter Hither Nosotros Come Upwards For Tried It Tuesday

I accept been stewing in addition to thinking in addition to thinking some to a greater extent than nearly my children's mass that made me larn into writing for kids, My Kids Menu Book series--I am determined--I am going to run a Kickstarter crusade to plow my mass into a reality.  The books are novelty books that kids play amongst past times playing pretend restaurant, making an order, in addition to playing amongst money.  I fifty-fifty added some other layer past times making kid friendly recipes.  But I demand to start my serial amongst simply i book.  It volition survive The Pancake Menu: What volition y'all order?  Menu & Cookbook. So, similar a shot to larn create for Jan when I volition survive fundraising in addition to turning my destination into a reality amongst your help.

I had the footing of this watch since college (1999) when I made The H5N1 to Z Pie Menu for my children's literature cast (a mass amongst a pie, cost of the pie, in addition to a small-scale pic of what was within the pie).  Years later on when I had a brace lilliputian kids of my ain I had that mass on the bookshelf amid other books.  When I saw my 3 in addition to i twelvemonth one-time playing amongst my mass in addition to "reading" it (looking at the pictures in addition to maxim yummy) I watch maybe other kids could purpose this.  Life got busy but for the side past times side several years (about 6 years I watch nearly it in addition to wrote downwards some goals).  In those vi years i mass watch became a serial in addition to I had big plans for Menu Books.  My dream is that at that topographic point volition survive nearly 10-15 books in addition to every classroom volition accept the whole railroad train then kids tin play inward small-scale groups amongst them.  Kids tin accept fun amongst them at habitation also (of course)!

This brings me to my Tried it Tuesday linky amongst Fourth Grade Flipper

What accept I tried to larn my mass into the hands of parents, teachers, in addition to kids that volition beloved it?  Here are all my tried its for the in conclusion 4.5 years!

1.  I rewrote it. And revised in addition to asked friends in addition to menage unit of measurement what they thought.  There was alone then much menage unit of measurement in addition to I watch it was a practiced idea.  I all the same kept the watch of having it become from H5N1 to Z.  I finally got some extra fourth dimension to write when my 3rd kid went to preschool (fall of 2009).

2.  I joined SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers in addition to Illustrators).  They were a wealth of data in addition to I went to my outset big conference the summertime of 2010.  I've all the same been an active fellow member aid almost every fifty-fifty I tin around the Los Angeles area.  The manuscript looks much amend today because of the much assist from people I accept met amongst this organization.

3.  I sent my manuscript off to agents in addition to what lilliputian editors are all the same open--sometimes after coming together them at conferences in addition to events in addition to sometimes after researching what they similar based on mesh sites.

         This is my submission breakdown thence far for all my books (I accept some other math related pic books too... 

• 2009 I submitted to v agents (it was way also early on but I wanted to regard what they thought)
• 2010 I submitted to 6 (I knew it was all the same a operate inward progress but I was getting some practiced feedback)
• 2011 I felt it was create then 26 that year!
• 2012 Only 12 but actually trying to narrow the search for the perfect agent or editor.
• 2013 28 submissions!
• 2014 12 then far this year.
• That totals 89 submissions (although 57 were for kids carte du jour books)

To assist people sympathise my plans for my carte du jour books I made a sample site at www.kidsmenubooks.com where printable play coin in addition to ordering pads tin survive printed at the readers convenience.  By the way, experience gratuitous to purpose the carte du jour coin for whatever play coin needs : )  I am certain it volition survive revised if my crusade gets funded, but y'all tin purpose it similar a shot if y'all like.

Anyway, I am happy to denote my tentative Kickstarter crusade to brand this mass a reality in addition to start the serial of Kids Menu Books!  I am slating the crusade to run inward Jan 2015.  In the hateful fourth dimension I demand to figure out the budget--so far it looks similar it volition demand to survive at to the lowest degree $50,000.

Things I demand to budget for are the buy of ISBN in addition to barcode, pay an illustrator (even though my drawings are okay I don't accept fourth dimension to create them every bit high measure every bit I would like), pay a someone to format the book, pay a printer (and the complexity of the folds of my format volition hateful I demand to larn an off shore printer in addition to that agency it needs to survive a minimum of a 3,000 impress run), pay to larn onto Amazon in addition to hopefully B&N, pay for website revamp in addition to upkeep.

I am confident at that topographic point are plenty parents in addition to teachers out at that topographic point that volition LOVE this mass in addition to the whole Kids Menu Book serial to come.  I'd beloved to remove heed what y'all think.

Kids Card Books! What They're All About...

Have you lot heard of Kids Menu Books?  Probably not, but if you lot know me personally you lot would.  I own got alone been working on them for 10 years.

In Jan 2015 I volition live on doing my Kickstarter drive to independently issue the get-go inwards the collection!  I would dearest you lot to sign upward for my monthly newsletter then you lot tin acquire the scoop on the progress together with if you lot missy posts you lot tin acquire the summary of the whole month!  Just acquire inwards in the cast at the correct (below my contact buttons).

For the drive I postulate to come upward up amongst a video.  So far this is what my script is looking like--

* * * *

Hi. My shout out is Lucy Ravitch together with I wrote a children’s book--but it’s non but whatever children’s book.  The Pancake Menu is an open-ended novelty mass amongst pretend prices for each particular of the menu.  Kids read, own got each other’s orders, together with exercise using money.  All this equals a hands-on experience making math fun.  Each fourth dimension children play, they tin social club what they want.  There are fifty-fifty recipes then you lot or the kids tin brand the pancakes!

In college I made the get-go bill of fare mass every bit an assignment for 1 of my Education classes.  In 2004 when I saw my petty kids playing amongst it I knew the bill of fare mass consider had potential together with I planned out a collection of them.  Since 2009 I’ve immersed myself inwards the children’s mass industry, finding out what it takes to acquire published, together with doing revision afterward revision.  The format changed many times, but similar a shot I experience it’s ready.

The get-go mass of the Kids Menu Books is The Pancake Menu.  It’s a swell tool for Elementary teachers together with math tutors to operate amongst their students to brand math fun.  Children skillful at math savour it but every bit much every bit those that don’t.  Because it’s similar a game to read together with play amongst the books kids dearest it.  They own got an chance to exercise addition, subtraction, together with piece of job amongst pretend money.  For a challenge they tin add together taxation together with a tip.  Also, if children brand the recipes there’s an chance to beak almost the cost of supplies together with the fourth dimension it takes to laid upward food.  And when measuring the ingredients kids larn real-world applications of mass measurements.

I own got noticed that fifty-fifty petty children savour looking at the menu, fifty-fifty if they can’t apply the math principles yet.  Kids Menu Books own got numerous learning opportunities on many levels for ages 5-10. Kidsmenubooks.com is available for everyone to impress every bit many ordering sheets together with bill of fare coin every bit they need. There are also videos for the recipes, along amongst sections for parents together with teachers.

* * * *

What arrive at you lot mean value (even though it's non done)? Does it acquire you lot excited to purchase it? Are you lot confused yesteryear anything (still own got questions)? If you lot own got fourth dimension to poke closed to kidsmenubooks.com I'd dearest to know what you lot mean value (I arrive at excogitation on hiring someone to acquire inwards await neater amongst buttons if the drive is successful).

There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of printing a book.  I own got had my manuscripts revised several times together with done petroleum piece of job on pictures but similar a shot that I know I am going to issue it I postulate to arrive at the best drawings I can.  The terminal duad of days I own got been making certain I acquire to bed early on together with wake upward an hr early on then I tin depict earlier my kids acquire up...

The Ladybug Pancake inked amongst sketch erased

Erasing the sketch lines.

Mid-inking.

An one-time sketch that is inwards my mock-up book.  I can't hold off to present you lot the cool format inwards some other post!

The Snail Pancake...I mean value it's cute.

Alphabet Pancakes!  $0.30 per letter

The listing for the alphabet pancakes together with diverse syrup dishes.

 It's been fun getting create for this project.  I promise you lot are every bit excited almost Kids Menu Books every bit I am!  I would actually appreciate your back upward together with when the Kickstarter drive comes out to say all your friends (especially if they are parents together with teachers) together with part my video on your social media.

Thanks for reading!

#Mondaymadeit & #Imwayr: Minecraft Cake, The Pancake Carte Page Reveal, & The Picayune Seahorse Past Times Sheri Fink

Wow!  What a fun weekend!  My son's birthday together with a fun writing workshop... I'm linking upwards today amongst Monday Made It equally good equally It's Monday: What are yous reading?

Here is Mon Made it #1:  This awesome Minecraft cake!

How did I brand yous ask?  Here's what I did...

• Bake ii cakes (I used 2 mixes), each inward a 8" foursquare pan (it takes a combat longer since it is a thick layer).
• I made 2 batches of frosting, i I dyed brownish (with Wilton dye) together with i batch split upwards inward one-half together with dyed ii unlike shades of green.
• After the cakes cooled on a cooling rack I cutting them amongst a cake leveler on the move past times together with sides, together with pose them on a turntable to frost.
  
• Once the ii cakes were frosted on the sides amongst the brownish I used melting chocolates together with made a sparse layer of chocolate betwixt parchment paper.  I together with then cutting them inward fiddling squares together with pose them on the sides.
  
• Then on the move past times I made a grid hence that I could brand only about grass sections lite greenish together with others deeper green.  To brand the grass I used a ziploc handbag (the freezer quart size works the best) amongst a small-scale corner cut.
  
• Once it was done (hooray) it went inward the fridge.  One of my kids made a dandelion candle to acquire on it besides : )
  

Whew! The cake was a big made it--from start to complete I intend it was most iii hours for baking together with frosting together with it was good received : )

My other made it this by calendar week is my kickoff pose together page of The Pancake Menu: What volition yous order? Menu & Cookbook.  Many of yous induce got seen the drawings inward progress together with I wanted to break i page.  Drum roll.........

This film isn't railroad train inward stone, hence if yous induce got recommendations for changes allow me know now... Or create yous intend it is perfect?

My final made it--was I made it out to the CBW-LA final result amongst the Award Winning Author Sheri Fink!

I had a blast!!! I learned a lot together with Sheri was hence upbeat together with positive.  I walked out of the workshop taller together with feeling on move past times of the world--Thanks Sheri!

We learned all most her journeying to independently publishing her books together with most her life's story a bit.  Each mass of her "Little books Series" is most planting inward kids the seeds of self esteem.  As business office of the workshop fee nosotros each received her The Little Seahorse book!
  It's Monday: What are yous Reading comes in!

My oldest immature lady read it to herself together with she enjoyed it.  Then my iii twelvemonth onetime wanted to read it.  She enjoyed the brilliant pictures (which are hence awesome) together with recognized at that spot was a mommy seahorse inward there.  Then, my xviii calendar month onetime picked it upwards together with wanted to "read" it too.  He wasn't patient plenty to induce got me read it to him but he had fun going through the pages.  It has a neat message of overcoming shyness.  With it's empowering message, it's no wonder that Sheri has done hence well!  She is a neat author together with a neat motivational speaker.

I kickoff met Sheri final Nov together with when I spoke amongst her I didn't intend independently publishing was a feasible alternative but she was hence positive together with has the personality of if yous desire to accomplish something cipher tin flaming halt you.  I induce got a few friends similar this together with oftentimes I am too, but when at that spot is something I haven't done earlier I am sometimes hesitant.  Fast frontward only about months together with hither I am getting create to independently pose out my kickoff mass inward my Kids Menu Books Series!  Sheri powerfulness non know it, but she was a big component subdivision inward my determination to acquire ahead together with create it myself : )

Have a neat calendar week everyone!  If at that spot is something neat yous desire to accomplish, don't allow anything or anyone halt you--just create it!

Have You Lot Idea Of Writing Children's Book? Gratis Ebook In Addition To Listing Of Organizations & Websites!

Hello Teachers together with Educators!

I relish writing for kids together with today I stance I would portion amongst yous some of the organizations I am utilisation of simply inwards illustration yous desire to write too!  I set inwards some swell websites also : )

So, I am utilisation of 3 organizations together with at that spot are also some FB groups equally well.  One of the organizations simply made a gratis ebook titled Teacher to Teacher: Advice for Educators who desire to write for Children.  You tin respect my advice on page 22 : )

Here is my listing of writing groups inwards monastic say of my involvement together with all the same they come upwardly to my mind.

Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles is a grouping close together with honey to my pump since my friend founded it v years ago.  It is a non-profit arrangement that helps prepare together with inspire writers together with let's everyone know they accept a voice.  Although, nosotros come across inwards the South Bay expanse of Los Angeles yous are gratis to follow the facebook page together with proceed upwardly amongst CBW-LA.org's official newspaper--Scribbler's Scoop (lots of expert insights)!

Society of Children's Book Writers together with Illustrators (SCBWI) is an international non-profit arrangement that is also amazing together with has been around for most twoscore years!  They accept 2 conferences a twelvemonth inwards Los Angeles together with New York together with they accept satellite branches around the globe.  There are a lot of things to larn together with SCBWI tin attention the newbie to the to a greater extent than experienced.  There are many FB pages for the diverse areas, but hither is the primary i Fans of SCBWI

Children's Book Insider has some swell insights together with a handy newsletter.  They are currently giving away an ebook for Teachers interested inwards writing for children that gives inspiration together with insights from over 75 instructor writers!

KidLit411.com has a swell website amongst a wealth of data together with they also accept a Facebook grouping (although it is a unopen grouping where yous quest to acquire permission to join).

KidLit.tv is a neat site that also has a unopen Facebook group, but in i lawsuit you're inwards at that spot are many things there.  The website is helpful together with has swell videos!

Here are also some sites that are swell to know about...

• Picturebookmonth.com has PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month--every November, xxx ideas for xxx motion-picture demonstrate books)
• 12x12challenge.com has yous challenged to write a motion-picture demonstrate majority each month!
• Inkygirl.com--Debbie reads, writes, together with illustrates children's books together with has a swell site!
• Taralazar.com--Another swell author spider web log amongst tons of information!

together with best website for information on literary agents...

• Literaryrambles.com

Wow, a lot of information is out at that spot if yous desire to write for kids!  Best of luck to all yous teachers together with teacher/writers out there!