Kid Time

Just poking my head in to say Jim Flora's Grandpa's Ghost Stories is back in print from Feral House Press. Happy happy day! Still THE spookiest of all the children's books ANYWHERE!

Source: http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/2017/10/grandpas-ghost-stories-back-in-print.html

A baby was born and his parents’ hearts were completely undone. They fell beyond in love with that sweet child. But after countless nights of unrest, these same parents could barely function. Then came the grandparents, to hold the baby while the parents napped.

When their house resembled a dumpster, the lawn was completely out of control, and the dishes were a mile high, the parents felt incredible overwhelmed. Then came the grandparents, to help with some of the responsibilities.

When the baby’s belly was hurting and the crying wouldn’t stop, the parents felt defeated and hopeless. Then came grandparents, to bring their wisdom.

The parents needed a night out to reconnect because a baby can make a couple feel disconnected. They didn’t have a babysitter lined up, though. Then came the grandparents, to give them some time to spend with each other.

When the two blue lines appeared on the stick and the parents found out they were having another baby, fear and anxiety crept in telling them it was going to be way too much. Then came the grandparents, who reassured them they would never be alone.

When the mom was having a meltdown and felt it was impossible for her to care for her family, and that she was still just a child herself, she cried. Then came the grandparents, to hug her and remind her she was still their baby, too.

When the parents and their kids just needed a spark of positivity and someone to brighten their day, they knew exactly who to call. Then came the grandparents, and put a huge smile on their faces.

Grandparents are the calm to our chaotic, the peace to our meltdown, the energy to our exhaustion, the comfort to our fear, the faith to our doubts.

It takes a special type of heart to simultaneously care for and love your babies AND your babies’ babies. Sometimes we need a love so incredibly large that it can cover multiple generations.

Then came the grandparents, to do just that.

Whether you’re a longtime Illustoria fan like us or a new reader, you’re in for a treat today! Illustoria is a tri-annual print magazine that celebrates visual storytelling, makers, and DIY culture through stories, art, comics, and activities. With the mission of inspiring creativity in kids and the young-at-heart, we’re thrilled to be sharing a sneak peek into their eighth issue all about home!

We’re also excited to be sharing some news from behind the scenes: beginning with its next issue, Illustoria will be published by San Francisco independent publisher McSweeney’s, founded in 1998 by author Dave Eggers.

Not only will McSweeney’s be carrying on the Illustoria mission to inspire creativity in all ages, they also plan to expand circulation with a special focus on schools, libraries, and other organizations who serve under-resourced communities. Readers will also see even more opportunities for young writers and artists to be engaged!

We had a chance to not only look through the newest issue, but also catch up with Joanne Chan, the founding publisher and editor-in-chief of Illustoria, and Amanda Uhle, executive director of McSweeney’s. Take a look below for their insights, memories, and advice below!

If you had to pick, what has been your favorite issue to work on and why?

JOANNE: It’s so hard to choose a favorite so I will have to skirt around this question! Each issue has involved such unique and gratifying collaborations–there was the philosophical conversation (over Skype) about kids and art-making with Hervé Tullet for Issue 2: Canvas; the interview with longtime heroes of mine, Carson Ellis and Colin Meloy, for Issue 8: Home, where they intimately share how they balance home life and creative work; meeting artist and writer Lisa Brown (Issue 3: Outside-In cover artist) over coffee to discuss picture books, teaching, and the importance of print; entering the inspiring space at Case for Making and chatting watercolors and pigment with Alexis Joseph and Lindsay Stripling, whose series “A Brief History of Color” was conceived for Illustoria and first appeared in Issue 4: Grow; the contribution by Cece Bell on the making of El Deafo in Issue 1: Beginnings, which still touches me to the core and completely speaks to why I feel this magazine matters. I can go on and on…. The making of each issue has involved a dozen or more experiences like these plus contributions of art and stories that are gems of delight and wonder, and the combined results–completely unique with each issue–are always greater than I could have imagined.

AMANDA: I’ve been a subscriber for some time, but I’ve only had the pleasure of working on one issue, #9, which is focused on all things food and is due out this July. We have some great student-written work by young people from all over the world, an illustrated look at literary giants and their snacktime habits, and a feature on creative jobs to inspire our young readers. I expect a lot of kids will consider new future plans once they learn that donut decorator is a real career.

What does the move to McSweeney’s mean for Illustoria?

AMANDA: We are dedicated to keeping everything beautiful about Illustoria–its lovely range of different artists and styles, its high-quality editorial content. The look will be very similar. We only hope to add some new content which reflects our focus on the importance of supporting young writers and artists. The magazine will be the official publication of The International Alliance of Youth Writing Centers and we plan to publish youth writing from the 66 (and counting) worldwide organizations plus work from other young people as well. Next issue will see a poem (about potato chips) from a Detroit, Michigan 10 year old and a fiction about an underwater world with animal mashups–ripe for illustration ideas!–from a 10 year old in Louisville, Kentucky. We have a number of interviews with artists and other professionals, and their questions are being written by kids in Greenville, South Carolina and Reykjavik, Iceland. We’re also profiling a young entrepreneur and a young activist from The International Congress of Youth Voices.

What will you miss most about working on Illustoria?

JOANNE: Where to begin? I will miss our team acquisitions meetings, where we throw out pie-in-the-sky ideas and our creative juices are overflowing. I’ll miss seeing a sketch become final art and the delight of seeing a final cover for the first time. I’ll miss getting emails from readers, parents, and relatives of children, sharing with us how a certain issue was enjoyed, shared, gifted, or inspired some interaction in art-making. Perhaps most of all, I’ll miss the process of putting together something beautiful that I know was only possible through the hard work, belief, and commitment of many individuals. There is a rush and energy that comes from collaborative work, a sense of pride and accomplishment that only together could we have possibly pulled this off–it’s something I feel after every issue comes back from the printer. I know I’ll sorely miss being a part of the collective effort that goes into making this very special magazine.

What advice do you have for creatives, or anyone, who are switching gears and beginning new ventures?

JOANNE: For those who are ready to begin a new venture, my advice is to be bold, be original, be true to yourself. Ask for advice, make mistakes, move on, learn, discover new things, delegate whenever and however you can, and keep making progress. Know that you will commit a ton of your time (more than you think!), resources, energy, skills, and passion to developing your new endeavor, and that progress doesn’t come without sacrifices, so be sure that you choose a path that you deeply care about. Make what you do meaningful to yourself first, and that integrity of purpose will resonate with others.

AMANDA: My advice for adults pondering a creative change is to turn to the kids in their lives for inspiration. Young people are the bravest writers, the boldest thinkers. Most of us adults can learn a lot about how to live and to work from the kind of courage that’s overflowing in an average third-grader.

Thank you so much to Joanne, Amanda, Claire, and the teams over at Illustoria and McSweeney’s for taking the time to share their insights with us today!

And make sure to check out our Instagram page for a chance to win your own copy of issue 8!

Best Babysitters Ever
by Caroline Cala
Intermediate, Middle School     Houghton     246 pp.     g
2/19     978-1-328-85089-8     $16.99
e-book ed. 978-1-328-52788-2     $9.99

In this series opener, Malia stumbles across an old copy of Kristy’s Great Idea, the first of Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club books, and appropriates the central business model. But unlike Kristy and friends, whose babysitting adventures came with an earnest wish to do right by their charges, the trio of Malia, Bree, and Dot has less interest in caring for children than in getting paid — mainly so they can impress their peers with a party like the one at a classmate’s recent bat mitzvah. Nor are they particularly capable sitters…and things go from not-so-great to worse when Malia’s older sister and her friends become competitors. Much of the humor in this over-the-top send-up of lesson-laden kids’ pop culture comes via the hyperbolic traits of its sometimes misguided characters. But believable friendship dynamics and motivations balance out the silliness: as Dot eventually points out, Malia’s obsession with proving herself has made her unreasonably dependent on the club’s success. The source material’s premise (babysitting + friends + “a corded telephone” = club) is clearly explained and serves as a jumping-off point, so familiarity with Martin’s series isn’t necessary, though it makes these characters’ incredulity at its wholesomeness funnier. A breezy, entertaining read, this book and the promised sequels seem likely to fill a role similar to the original — as reading material kids choose for themselves.

From the January/February 2019 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.

The Corner House is a place to meet, eat, drink, play, shop, learn and even exercise. Located in Brook Green, next to Shepherd’s Bush in West London, it is a great rainy day spot, and there is an underground labyrinth of indoor play things for toddlers and young children as well as a top floor for more grown-up dining.

And although we didn’t take any of their classes, it is such a great option for families to have that flexibility, if one parent wants to exercise, and the other wants a latte while the little ones play! Yoga, boxing, ballet… the options are endless! The studios are lovely! And you can also rent them out for parties and events.

See website for exact hours, classes, menus, and more!

We currently have two Camp Ebooks available as well as felt patterns for hand sewing. Each of these have step by step directions with photos.

These Kids Sewing Camp Ebooks are Perfect For:

Parents who want to teach kids how to sew

Home school families

Youth group leaders

Girl scout/Boy scout leaders

Anyone who wants a planned curriculum or ideas for teaching kids how to sew

After school activities program

Kids Summer Camps

Bags, Bags and More Bags Ebook

This ebook is filled with 30 plus projects for learning to sew bags including gift bags, drawstring bags, purses, tote bags, gift pouches, binder pouches, make-up bags, and more.
Please Note: You will find all of these camp projects in our

This is a digital download.

Immediately after your purchase, you can download your e-Book and start learning and sewing with the kids within minutes.

This e-Book is in the Adobe PDF file format.  You will need Adobe Reader to read this Kids Sewing Projects Curriculum Ebook. You can get it here.   Adobe Reader.

When Heavy Medal readers gave monthly “Suggestions” of likely Newbery contenders from March through August, Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s THE BOOK OF BOY was at the top of the list (tied with THE JOURNEY OF LITTLE CHARLIE) with eight suggestions.  It was an early 2018 publication, which is obviously an advantage in that process…but also: a pretty amazing book.

If you’re new to Heavy Medal, here’s a warning that we often reveal endings and surprises. And THE BOOK OF BOY has a pretty big surprise about halfway through, which I’m about to spoil if you haven’t read it yet. The surprise is that Boy’s “hump,” which causes him to be ridiculed, ignored, and teased by many (but not all) is actually the beginning of wings. Because he’s an angel. Murdock gives small hints about this along the way: Boy has the “face of an angel” (5), tells us that “naught in the world is so joyous as the feeling of flight,” (2) and never eats. But it’s not revealed for sure, and also not realized by Boy, until halfway through the book when he sees a painting and recognizes himself:

Not humps.
Wings.
Faded though this image might be, there was not a shred of doubt ‘twas an angel. (136).

Some readers may guess the truth before I did, but I don’t think it matters that much. For me, this surprise worked like the one in Megan Whalen Turner’s THE THIEF: Even if you don’t realize the whole truth until the last moment, you still know there’s something special and different about this character. And also like THE THIEF, once you know the secret, there’s still much more to come.

The different reactions people have to Boy’s revealed identity impel the second half of the plot. The swordsman is awed. The steward is greedy and vengeful  (“The thing is mine!” (134)). Secundus is kind of bitterly amused, at least at first: “An angel. Just my luck.” (142). And Boy is even more confused than before:

“I’m not an angel, I wanted to shout. I’m a monster who wants to be a boy. (144)

There’s much more to this book than that plot twist, and I believe I believe we can “find excellence” in all of the literary elements listed in the Newbery Criteria. The 14th century setting is vivid and distinct. We don’t get many dates or broad context; instead we get a feel for the churches, fields, roads, and for the way religion played such a large and varied role in everyone’s daily lives. Boy is a compelling and thoroughly original character. He has the goodness of an angel in many ways, but also real human wishes, and struggles with choices as much as anyone.  Secundus is also fascinating, and he has his own mysterious quest. His interactions with Boy, who doesn’t really get his sardonic humor (or maybe he does a little), provide some light moments:

“You can read, milord?”
“Ah. Yes. ‘Tis a liability of my occupation.”
“Of pilgrimming?”
He barked a laugh. “I was once a lawyer.”
I did not say anything because I was so amazed to meet a man who could read, which even Father Petrus could not do, and also I did not know that word. (23)

Secundus changes in the reader’s view as Boy’s perceptions and understandings widen. That’s also true of minor characters that figure mainly in Boy’s memories, like Cook and Sir Jacques. Boy’s language suggest the historic era (“I was feared to approach” (22)), but unfamiliar usages are used judiciously, so most readers won’t struggle. His words are eloquent in a simple way that feels right for his character:

A notion sprouted like a weed inside my head: how fine ‘twould be if my hump were gone, so that I could know more smiles and comfort and safety. If I could live as something other than a hunchback or monster.
Stop, I ordered myself. You should not think so, Boy. ‘Tis not right.
But the weed would not stop growing, no matter how I tried to pluck it. (50-51)

Several plot threads intertwine seamlessly, including the secret of Boy’s condition, the search for the seven relics, and the wild pursuit of Boy once his angelic nature is known. And all contribute the themes of kindness and forgiveness.

In a Newbery year, it’s nice to have one book early in the year that rises pretty high. That can be sort of a measuring stick as you read other strong contenders. THE BOOK OF BOY has fit that role for me this year, and although there are still many unread books on my list, so far I don’t think I’ve read one that has matched it.

physical

The first two to three months were a huge adjustment for her. I thought since she was already going to preschool/daycare four-and-a-half days, it really would not be that different. Boy, was I wrong! I had been warned by a few mom friends that she would be exhausted, which might show up in her behavior through bed wetting, tears, outbursts, etc. I greatly appreciated the heads-up and figured it would last two to three weeks. To be honest, it lasted for about three months (and still reared its head occasionally through May). Empathy is not my strongest suit, but I tried to remember how new this all was to her, how much she was learning each day, and how hard her little body and brain were working! She was also super hungry at night!

Physically she also grew a ton in her strength (and bravery) at the playground, specifically the monkey bars, which she says was her favorite part of kindergarten! We were shocked one night at the park at how far she had come. I guess 180 days of practice will add up! She loves going back to her school playground in the evenings to play when there are not a hundred other kids there

social

I didn't see it coming, but Rooney also started to establish her own social life with play dates with new friends where I am not present. She made a new friend on the bus and they liked to plan spontaneous play dates almost daily. And once spring rolled around, there was an abundance of birthday parties where all the kids in her class were invited. It seemed like everyone had spring birthdays!

Probably the most unexpected thing we dealt with was her best friend moving away over Christmas break. Rooney started the year not knowing anyone in her class, and became fast friends with a sweet little girl. She would come home from school and basically only talk about this one friend. Sadly, after a few months she had to say goodbye to her best friend as she moved a couple hours away. It was really heartbreaking! She still talks about her weekly.

mental

Rooney grew a ton in her education, of course. Learning to read, spelling by sounding out words, learning new songs ... she loves schoolwork so she was never sad about having to go to school.

HEALTH

Kindergarten also meant being exposed to new germs. Before kindergarten, Rooney had never been on an antibiotic. This past winter was brutal — she had strep throat twice, a double ear infection, influenza B, the stomach bug, etc. March was a rough month!