Halloween Illustration – Spinelli Autumn Poem – Top Ten Picture Books 2013

Writing and Illustrating

This Halloween illustration was created by Mark Meyers. Mark was featured on illustrator Saturday on October 5th. You can read more about him by using this link: http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/illustrator-saturday-mark-meyers/

Autumn Light by Eileen Spinelli

Is it the sun rising orange

like a great gourd?

Or the moon

stored like a shallow bowl

behind the clouds?

Is it the glint of

a crow’s wing?

The hint of gold on speckled

husks of corn?

Or zinnias

late-born and bright?

Is it the starry-night lake?

The yellow leaf caught

in the rake by the door?

Or the low lantern flickering?

Is it love that matters?

Or wisdom?

Or simply being found?

Yes…and yes.

Happy Halloween!

The New York Times Book Review has announced its annual 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2013. The books will be featured in the November 10Sunday Times Book Review in a special Children’s Book section. 

The Book Review’s 10…

View original post 330 more words

Advertisement

An Evening of Celebration and Success for Amalie Howard’s Waterfell

Just wanted to toot the horn of my fellow authors and members of the Liza Royce Agency. Congratulations!

Books of Wonder was buzzing with excitement, as YA fans of all ages came out to celebrate the launch of Amalie Howard’s novel, Waterfell, and to meet Amalie’s special guest authors, Kristi Cook (Eternal), Page Morgan (The Beautiful and the Cursed), and Emmy Laybourne (Monument 14: Sky on Fire).

From left to right:  Amalie Howard, Page Morgan, Emmy Laybourne and Kristi Cook

Amalie Howard & Liza Fleissig

Page Morgan

Liza Fleissig & Ginger Harris-Dontzin

Congratulations Amalie!  What a wonderful evening!

View original post

November – Picture Book Month

Writing and Illustrating

What is Picture Book Month? Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates print picture books during the month of November.

Founder, Dianne de Las Casas (author/storyteller) www.diannedelascasas.com 
Co-Founders, Katie Davis (author/illustrator) www.katiedavis.com
Elizabeth O. Dulemba (author/illustrator) www.dulemba.com
Tara Lazar (author) www.taralazar.wordpress.com
Wendy Martin (author/illustrator) www.wendymartinillustration.com, put together their worldwide connections to make this happen.

Every day in November, there is a new post from a picture book champion explaining why he/she thinks picture books are important.

In this digital age where people are predicting the coming death of print books, picture books (the print kind) have so much to offer that they must be celebrated and shared. And the world needs picture books. There’s nothing like the physical page turn of a beautifully crafted picture book.

What You Can Do to Celebrate Picture Book Month?
* Become a Picture Book Month Ambassador and place the…

View original post 312 more words

Spooky Toast x’s Three.

Here are three fun ways to serve breakfast during the Halloween Season.  All three versions of Spooky Toast are quick and easy to do…even on a school day.

1.  Cookie Cutter Version 1:  Press a Halloween shaped cookie cutter into soft bread until it makes an imprint, but does not go all the way through.  I used a pumpkin shape in the photo.  Toast the bread.  When it is done, you will see the outline of your shape in the toast.  “Paint” jelly on the outline and add features with a clean paint brush. Purple looks good, red more like blood.

2. Cookie Cutter Version 2:  Use bat, pumpkin, or ghost shaped cookie cutters and press into soft bread all the way through.       Spread your favorite topping on each piece, or make sandwiches.                                                                   

2.  In the third version, you will need: green food coloring, milk, bread, butter.
a. Pour milk into a glass.  b. Add a few drops of food coloring.  c. Paint a monster or scary face on to the bread using a clean paint brush dipped into the green milk.  d. Toast the bread.  e.  Butter lightly.  f.  Munch your creature.

Creepy Spider Treats

Here is a quick, easy, and fun recipe for a Halloween party or after school treat.

CREEPY SPIDER TREATS

Ingredients: 2 C semi-sweet morsels, ½ C crisp-rice cereal, ¼ C shredded coconut, 1 ½ C chow mein noodles, sunflower seeds for eyes, waxed paper.

NOTE:  This recipe should be done with adult supervision.

 

1.    Melt 1 C morsels in the microwave at 30 second intervals. Stir after each interval until desired consistency.  It should look and feel like spreadable frosting.

2.   Mix in the cereal and shredded coconut.

3.   Drop spoonfuls onto waxed paper for the spider bodies.

4.   Melt the second cup of morsels.   Gently stir in the noodles.

5.   When cooled, pick noodles out one by one and stick them onto the spider bodies.  You can use a toothpick to press them in.

6.   Add sunflower seeds for eyes.       

7.   Refrigerate until set. 

For more ideas for fast and fun Halloween goodies visit Wicked Good Halloween Treats at: http://www.parents.com

Easy, Last Minute Halloween Costume

For an original and easy last minute costume try making a PICNIC COSTUME like in the photo.  All you need is the following:          

Vinyl tablecloth, scissors to cut a head/neck hole, glue or Duck Tape, and assorted plastic picnic food items to glue on.  I used a hamburger, pickles, cookies, watermelon slices, candy wrappers, french fry box, water bottle or juice box, etc.  Use your imagination.

A VARIATION on the same idea is a birthday party.  Instead of picnic items, glue a cardboard cake or cupcakes, balloons, party hats, and gifts…all the things you’d find on a birthday party table.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Fall Fossil Fun

Are you looking for a new and adventurous activity for the whole family while the weather is still pleasant and perfect for being outdoors?  Try FOSSIL HUNTING.   http://www.fossilsforkids.com   is a wonderful site to get you started.  The website tells you where to find fossil sites in your area, tools needed, activities and more.  It also shows photos of some of the fossils you’d find at certain digs.  What better way to enjoy getting dirty and learning about our prehistoric past.

If you send me photos of your own fossil discoveries, I’ll post them here.

Happy Fossil Hunting.

Hooked on Rainbow Loom®

For those who are hooked…or want to know more about…Rainbow Looms.

My fellow blogger, Laura Sassi, posted during the summer about the buzz circulating around the Rainbow Loom®.  (Please click here to check out her wonderful post at Laura Sassi Tales.)  I am here to tell you that the buzz is still buzzing!

This has to be one of those IT items.  The kind of IT item that you wished you had thought to invest in way before it ever became an IT item.

Every kid in my son’s first grade class, and I mean EVERYONE, both the boys and the girls, is making bracelets and necklaces.

There’s the standard fishtail, the fancier starburst pattern, and of course, there’s the highly desirable hexafish 6-pin fishtail.  The latter is all the rage among the first graders.

Over the weekend, after spending hours reworking my bracelets, I mastered the starburst and hexafish 6-pin fishtail.  Applause please!  With many of these patterns if you…

View original post 290 more words

Publishing Industry Kudos

Writing and Illustrating

Tina Overman’s new book YOGI’s Team was published on September 19th. You can find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you read the cover, you will see my name, Kathy Temean as illustrator. If you want to see some additional illustrations you can visit: www.tinaoverman.com (some scattered throughout her site. I haven’t had time to add them to my website.)

“You Are My Cupcake” Joyce Wan signed contract to illustrate three new picture books: PUG & PIG by Sue Gallion (winner of the 2013 Promising Picture Book Award at LA-SCBWI) to be published by Beach Lane Books/S&S in Fall 2015 and two picture books featuring two of the cutest new chicks in children’s books, PEEP & EGG, by Laura Gehl to be published by FSG/Macmillian in Winter and Spring 2016.

Darlene Beck-Jacobson receives two book blurb endorsements for her book titled, “Wheel of Change” coming out in 2014. Here they are: 

View original post 333 more words

Example of a Good Picture Book Discussion Guide

I found this to be a delightful book and wanted to pass it along. Please watch the video about TAP THE MAGIC TREE.

Writing and Illustrating

http://www.thepageturn.com/tap-the-magic-tree-video-and-teaching-guide/ Look under video for link to view a cleaner copy.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

View original post