Hi all! I hope you’ll have a blast watching the fireworks tonight (Notice the little pun I made.).
In honor of this holiday, here’s a book read by Happy Cultivated. It’s called Apple Pie 4th of July, written by Janet S. Wong and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. This story shows that you can be traditional and nontraditional as you celebrate.
Still trying to find ways to have fun during the summer?
How about activities that expand the imagination, like creating make-believe worlds worthy to be found in stories?
Author Carmen White has ideas that would spark your child’s cleverness. You can find them on her website.
One fun activity she lists is designing a house with eleven rooms. You may only have one of each room (i.e. one bedroom, one kitchen, etc.). Otherwise, you can imagine anything you want. If I were to design my own house, it would look like this:
1 bedroom
1 kitchen
1 dining room
1 bathroom
1 living room
1 laundry room (Yes, I do need clean clothes.)
1 tool room/cleaning supply room (I’d have cleaning ladies and maintenance people to help me maintain my eleven rooms, so they would appreciate a room like this.)
1 office (I would decorate it so as to inspire me to sit down and write.)
1 room with an indoor racing track (I would take up running again, and my dogs may run with me, too.)
1 supply room for dog supplies (If you look at the next room listed, you’ll see why.)
1 room for my dogs (I would have all sorts of sensory activities, chew toys, and games for them so they’d never get bored.) The following video would be something like it (and maybe I’d add a fountain and dog-friendly plants for them to gnaw on):
Here’s the link to more of Carmen White’s creative prompts, including an out-of-this-world pet, a biography of a bug, and a zany plant. Enjoy!
How about a room of aquariums, all containing fish that float over lava?
A new book is released!
No, it isn’t written by me. This one is written by my writer pal Ted Atchley. I actually got to critique a manuscript of this sci-fi thriller.
Here’s the book’s official blurb:
An Elite Cybersecurity Analyst. A Desperate Rebellion’s Best Hope.
Brandon thought the assignment was just another standard security assessment. Wrong. As he peels back the layers of a deepening conspiracy, he discovers everything he thought he knew about his reality is a lie.
And he’s the only one who can save it.
Exiles from another reality see Brandon’s new knowledge as the key to victory over their tyrannical king and his immortal army. Pursued by both loyalists and rebels as he crosses the borders between realities, Brandon must protect his family, while figuring out who to trust.
Choosing well means rescuing his family, and saving both worlds, but choosing poorly will empower a malevolent evil to wipe out humanity.
Sounds exciting, huh? If you’re looking for a story rich in dangerous secrets, fast-paced action, and relationship tensions—and bird-like people in an alien world—look no further than The Key to Reality.
Stumped on what to get Dad for Father’s Day?
Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Magazine has a plethora of craft, dinner, and dessert ideas for the occasion. Follow the link here:
How about this for a gift idea? A barbecue kit! Clubhouse has both a recipe for barbecue seasoning and craft instructions to make a special apron.
A teen can make these, too. If he or she isn’t sure about making handprints for the barbecue grill’s flames, they can use a “fire” stencil and paint their own flames, like this one:
Are you on summer vacation yet?
If you don’t want your kids spending hours in front of the screen during the summer, there are many things you can do as a family. For starters, you can do science experiments at home!
K.A. Cummins has compiled a package of science experiments based on her children’s book Super Doople. The grade level is PreK through 4th, and it also contains coloring pages and activities like an “egg race” and an “egg-scape.”
Speaking of Super Doople, if you haven’t read my review of this whimsical story, you can read it on this link:
Want more coloring pages? Diginstall has an assortment of coloring and activity books to buy and download. The following pictures are some of the books available on their site.
They even have books for teens and adults, too.
Here’s the button that leads to the site. Have fun, you all!
Looking for another book for your young child? How about one that features a superhero?
Try Super Doople by K.A. Cummins. Not only does the main character become a superhero, he is a walking and talking…egg?
I wrote a review on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog, which you can read here:
Scrambling to find a gift for Mom or Grandma? M Liz Boyle has an idea for you. It’s a craft that’s so easy, a child can make it. Even a preschooler can team up with a parent to assemble it. Take it away, M Liz!
Are you struggling to come up with something nice to give your mom or grandma for Mother’s Day? I have a solution if you want to give a sweet gift but you are: a. limited on money b. limited on time c. limited on creativity d. limited on crafting ability (everything you try to make […]
Easy DIY Mother’s Day Gift — M Liz Boyle
To answer the title question, I did write a review that was posted last month on Story Warren. There you’ll read more about the historical novel for middle graders called The Bobtails Meet the Preacher’s Kid. But this is no ordinary preacher’s kid; this preacher’s kid is a troubled one.
This book was written by Arthur Yeomans, who, like me, writes book reviews for Jennifer Hallmark’s blog “Off the Beaten Track.”
If you want to see what kinds of books Arthur reviews, check out Jennifer’s blog or his website. He reviews science fiction and old children’s books.
Happy Early Resurrection Day!
In honor of this very special day, here’s a children’s book about how a little girl and her family impacted a man’s life. Thank you, Ms. D, for sharing The Flowering Cross with us.
Note: This video was made three years ago, so that’s why she mentions social distancing. But the ideas she shares apply to even today.
I’ve written another book review! Unlike the last four I posted here, this book is for younger kids, grades preschool to second grade.
The review is featured on the “Off the Beaten Track” blog, and I added the link here. Have fun!
K.A. Ramstad 
