New Year: New Path

'A New Path' photo by Paula Slade

Three years ago, I began an exciting journey of discovery, reporting on some of the finest talent in our country who consistently make a positive difference in the lives of children today.

If you’ve been following my articles since the beginning on Examiner.com, I thank you. If you’ve just recently discovered this blog, I thank you as well.

I wanted to let you know that I am taking a hiatus from posting on National Children’s Entertainment, at least for the foreseeable future.

For the time being, I may still (from time to time) post an article or two on my other blog, In My Humble Opinion. For your convenience, archived articles will be maintained on both sites.

This has been a difficult decision to make, and change is never easy, but there are several exciting projects that I am involved in and are now requiring a more concerted effort on my part. These ventures are actually multiple paths that I am taking, which involve possibly another blog, publishing, illustration, and returning to my roots in commercial voice over and narration. In addition, I am working on establishing a non-profit organization with the focus of eventually promoting and supporting literacy and the arts for children.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll continue to keep up with the progress of my journey through my pages on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and eventually Google +.

Wishing each of you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year, and hoping that our paths will continue cross.

2011 Holiday Guide: Apps for iPad, iPhones and iPod Touch

"All Kinds of Santas" photo by Paula Slade

This is the ninth installment of this series that provides numerous entertainment options for holiday gift giving for children and teens, and today we turn our attention to one of the hottest emerging categories for entertainment- applications (also known as “apps”) for iPads, iPod Touch and iPhones.

Children and teens are rapidly embracing these new technologies and there are numerous apps provided for entertainment, many of them extremely affordable, once you determine the choice of your technology device.

The applications for the devices appear below and have been researched for quality as well as value. All are geared to provide hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

If you happened to have missed earlier posts to this series, which began in November, links are provided in the right hand column on this page. Also, be sure to check out archived posts from this year and last year, as many products, in multiple categories, have been featured.

As always, you are the best judge of what is appropriate for your child’s entertainment.

The Night Before Christmas

Based on the 5-star book and recording published by Imagine Books, this recently released app is a totally charming interactive and musical re-telling of the all-time favorite holiday tale by Clement C. Moore.

The Night Before Christmas includes magnificent illustrations by Eric Puybaret; narration, music and sounds by Peter Paul and Mary, and interactive magic added by Touchoo.

This app has numerous functions: Auto Play; record; listen to the recording; read to me and read by myself, along with pages that spring to life with touchable surprises.

Below is a video preview of The Night Before Christmas, which is compatible with Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 3.2 or later.

Additional information, and screenshots, for The Night Before Christmas are available through iTunes where the app is priced at $1.99.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

From Loud Crow Interactive, comes a true classic translated into an interactive storybook delight.

The whole family will have fun with the entire Peanuts gang as they discover the true meaning of Christmas.

You’ll be able to unlock decorations for a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree; play Schroeder's piano; finger-paint with Peanuts characters and more, while you listen to the story, which is narrated by Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown.

Below is a video preview of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and requires iOS 3.2.2 or later.

Additional information, screenshots, and reviews for A Charlie Brown Christmas are available through iTunes where the app is priced at $6.99.

There’s No Place Like Space!: All About Our Solar System

From Oceanhouse Media, Inc. and The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library, comes an app that not only entertains but educates young ones.

The “Cat in the Hat” is your child’s guide as he takes “Sally” and “Dick” on a voyage through our solar system. Along the way, kids will learn fascinating and fun facts; interact by tapping on stars to see constellations; learn about the planets and more.

This app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 3.0 or later.

Additional information, screenshots, and reviews for There’s No Place Like Space! : All About Our Solar System is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $5.99.

A Duck in New York City

Kids will have a great time, reading, listening, watching and singing along with this excellent app for iPad.

A Duck in New York City app is based on the critically acclaimed Parents' Choice Gold Award-winning storybook - music CD by author/singer/songwriter Connie Kaldor, illustrated by Fil & Julie, and published by The Secret Mountain.

The story is about a little duck from the prairie that has a big dream—making it to New York City and doing his ducky dance on Broadway.

Filled with stunning illustrations, sophisticated animation, superb musical performance and captivating narration, this is a heartwarming and funny tale about self-esteem and following your dreams.

Below is a preview of A Duck in New York City, which is compatible with iPad, and requires iOS 4.3 or later.

Additional information as well as screen shots for A Duck in New York City is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $3.99.

Let's Go Chipper - Nature and Environmental Movies, Books and Activities

From IAGmedia, a conscientious green media company that playfully delivers content and programs that instill positive life skills and respect for the environment in young children, comes adventures in nature with Chipper, the ambassador of the great outdoors.

Chipper playfully teaches good character, and a love for animals and the environment in this all-inclusive portal to the parks filled with coloring activities, nature-inspired movies, books, music videos, activities and more.

No in-app purchases are required, plus you get a free gift with download. 

Honored as an I-Parenting "Hot Product" winner, and a Disney Family Fun winner, this app is educational and fun, encompassing academic standards in Science, Arts, Literature, and Social Skills.

Chipper and friends sing songs, tell stories, and provide games that help foster the social and emotional growth of young children - playfully. 

To learn more about Let's Go Chipper! Into the Great Outdoors series, please visit www.letsgochipper.com.

The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 3.1 or later.

Additional information as well as screen shots for Lets Go Chipper is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $0.99.

Not Without Bear

This is an absolutely endearing story about a little girl,”Audrey” and her best friend “Bear,” who goes missing at bedtime.

This app, published by appropo llc, is sure to become a bedtime favorite.

Children will listen to the story or have it read to them; they’ll be able to move pillows; travel around the world; open cupboards, smooth blankets, listen to music and so much more –all enhanced with sound effects and the ability to touch words and hear them spoken.

Based on Anna Grossnickle Hines charming picture book, this app is a delight.

Check out the animated screen shots at: http://www.appropo.co/appropo/home.html

This app is compatible with iPad and requires iOS 3.2 or later.

Additional information as well as screen shots for Not Without Bear is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $3.99.

NASA App HD by NASA Ames Research Center

This is a totally FREE app from NASA for iPad, sure to be treasured by teens who are interested in science and astronomy. They will be amazed at the number of features in this app- everything from live-streaming of NASA TV and launch information as well as countdown clocks to ISS and an Earth Orbiting Satellite Tracker, plus Facebook® Connect and Integrated Twitter™ for sharing.

The app is compatible with iPad, and a WiFi or 3G network connection, and needs iOS 4.3 or later.

The application collects, customizes and delivers an extensive selection of dynamically updated mission information, images, videos and Twitter feeds from various online NASA sources in a convenient mobile package.

The video below of the NASA App HD will show you the wealth of NASA information available for your teen’s iPad.

To download FREE, visit iTunes.

A Present for Milo: A Touch-and-Surprise Storybook

From Ruckus Media Group comes an app that provides more than 80 tap-interactive objects that initiate more than 125 animations.

This charming digital storybook provides narration, sound effects, music, read-along function, and surprises on every page that will provide hours of enjoyment for active little minds and busy fingers.

A Present for Milo has been honored with About.com's "2011 Readers' Choice Award for 'Best App for Kids’"; a Parents' Choice Award Winner: Mobile Apps; a “Best Apps Ever Award" Finalist (from 148apps.com) and a " Mom's Choice Award for "App and Software."

Below is a video preview of A Present for Milo, which is compatible with iPad, and requires iOS 3.2 or later.

Additional information as well as screen shots for A Present for Milo is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $3.99.

2011 Holiday Guide: Hanukkah Gifts

Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, which begins at sundown Tuesday, Dec.20, 2011 is celebrated in Jewish households for eight nights, and provides plenty of opportunity for candle lighting, dreidel spinning, latke making (making potato pancakes), gift-giving, gelt-getting (gifts of money), music making and story telling.

Last year, we featured some of the best Hanukkah presents, which are classic entertainment items, many geared toward the four to eight year old range, but when shared in a family’s home setting, these  gems were sure to delight all ages.

This year, we've again included the favorites that have stood the test of time and will probably be around for many more years to engage, inspire and entertain, plus we've also included some new additions that we believe are classics in the making.


Please remember, best pricing at the time of this post has been provided for your convenience, but it is always a good idea to cross compare with your favorite online as well as stick-and brick-retailers.

As always, you are the final authority in selecting appropriate items for your child’s entertainment.

First, we start with books. 


A Faraway Island is the 2010 winner of the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for “an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States.”

Originally published in Swedish in 1996 as "En o i havet," the book was written by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck, and published by Delacorte Press (an imprint of Random House Children's Books.)

A poignant and riveting novel that takes a different look at the Holocaust, as two Austrian sisters are separated from their family, and evacuated to an island off the coast of Sweden. Each girl placed with a different foster family.


"From School Library Journal Grade 5–8— In this gripping story, Stephie and Nellie, two Austrian Jewish sisters, are evacuated in 1938 from Vienna to a Swedish island and placed in separate foster homes. Twelve-year-old Stephie has promised her parents that she will try to ease her younger sister's way, a burdensome promise to keep. Auntie Alma, Nellie's Swedish mother, is warmer and more welcoming than Auntie Märta, Stephie's more austere foster parent." (Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Reviews for A Faraway Island are available at Amazon.com, and best pricing for this hardbound edition is through Amazon Marketplace at $2.24.


The items that are listed below were published during the early 1990’s but have remained in print because of their delightful ability to transcend generations, and all are available through favorite booksellers as well as most local libraries.

Latkes and Applesauce: A Hanukkah Story by Fran Manushkin and Robin Spowart





A gentle tale about a peasant family, whose potato crop was buried in a blinding early snowstorm and their apple harvest, meager at best – left them with nothing to eat for the Hanukkah holiday. Despite their poverty, they invite a stray cat and dog into their household for shelter and care from the cruel winter storm, and are blessed with a miracle of sorts on the eighth day of Hanukkah. With beautifully illustrated chalk drawings, the book also includes an explanation of the holiday, directions for playing dreidel and a wonderful recipe for latkes.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (October 1, 1992)
Best price available is at Amazon Marketplace
ketplace for a new paperback is $1.75

The Chanukah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel and Giora Carmi 

A totally silly story about 97-year old “Bubba” (Grandmother) Brayna, who each year during Hanukkah, makes the best latkes in the village, but this year, because she is very hard of hearing and almost blind, mistakes a hungry bear for her invited guest (the Rabbi), and feeds him all her latkes.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Holiday House (September 1992)
Best price for "Collectible" paperback in "very good" condition is at Amazon Marketplace for $1.97.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel and Trina Schart Hyman

Worse than the “Grinch,” a number of holiday-hating hobgoblins (each a nasty prankster) set out to ruin Hanukkah for an entire village, but “Hershel of Ostropol” outwits them all. Trina Schart’s Caldecott Award-winning illustrations are the perfect match to Kimmel’s cleverly told story.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 30 pages
Publisher: Holiday House (September 1994)
Best price available for paperback "new" condition is at Amazon Marketplace for $3.44





Now, for top recommended DVDs -

Lights: The Miracle Of Chanukah 

 
This 24-minute animated short explains the history behind the celebration of Chanukah, which also includes a special section about the Hebrew alphabet. A wonderful introduction of the holiday for children and features the voice over talents of Paul Michael Glaser, Judd Hirsch and Leonard Nimoy.
Presented in color, Dolby sound and full screen DVD format.
Best price at Amazon Marketplace $10.50.

Lambchop's Chanukah and Passover Surprise 

"Lamb Chop," "Charlie Horse," "Hush Puppy" and of course the beloved and late Shari Lewis tell you everything you need to know about the two Jewish holidays of Chanukah and Passover. This charming, G-Rated, 128 minute DVD also features guest appearances by Dom DeLuise, Robert Guillaume and Alan Thicke.
Best price from Amazon Marketplace for $11.79.

Here are the perfect music choices to ring in the holiday and for all year listening -

Chanukah Fever

"Mama Doni,” also known in real life as Doni Zasloff Thomas, an attractive and energetic 21st century, New Jersey-based Jewish mother and preschool-teacher-turned-entertainer, captivates kids and families with her fun-loving renditions of Chanukah songs.

Winners of the Simcha Award at the 2008 International Jewish Music Festival, Amsterdam, Mama Doni Band serves up a wide range of musical styles from reggae to rock with blends of Klezmer and even disco along with a few other genres mixed in.

Clever lyrics abound along with a bit of wacky shtick to celebrate not only the holiday but a beloved heritage.

You can preview all 14 tracks of Chanukah Fever at Amazon.com where the CD format is available for $13.84, or the option for an MP3 album download for $8.99 or .99 cents per track. Amazon Marketplace also has "new" condition CD's starting at $9.77.

You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy the following: A video of "Chanukah Fever" by The Mama Doni Band. Enjoy!

Another hit from Mama Doni - Shabbat Shaboom!

Earlier this year the inimitable Mama Doni brought her special brand of “funky music with a Jewish twist” to a new “Challah-Day” album, perfect for year round listening, Shabbat Shaboom.

The original songs and stories on Shabbat Shaboom transport listeners to a place where the album’s warmly sincere pop-rock title track happily melds with a Gloria Estefan-meets-Fiddler on the Roof conga line tune, "Challah-Day,” where the reggae-influenced “Mazel Tov” meets a disco ditty, “Sabbath Queen.”

Shabbat Shaboom touches on such aspects as lighting candles, being with family (mishpocha), celebrating bat mitzvahs, and even the “workout” that Mama Doni mischievously terms "synagoguersizing." 

Shabbat Shaboom marks the first Mama Doni CD to showcase the entire Mama Doni Band.  

The Mama Doni Band photo by Ron Holtz

Sound samples for all 21 tracks of Shabbat Shaboom are available through Amazon.com, where the entire MP3 album is priced at $8.99 or $0.99 per down-loadable track.

Best pricing for the CD version is through Amazon Marketplace for $2.90.

Celebrate Jewish Lullabies Volume 1

In his fifteenth album release, guitarist/singer Craig Taubman has assembled a beautiful lineup of sweet musical treats for children.

Performed by numerous artists that include Craig Taubman, David Paskin, Yael Meyer and others, this excellent collection of tenderly performed songs with lyrics that paint gentle pictures, is sure to help little ones drift peacefully off to dreamland.

A Fall 2011 Parent’s Choice Award-winning album, Celebrate Jewish Lullabies Volume 1 is available to sound sample and in MP3 download for $0.99 per track or $8.99 for all 14 tracks from Amazon.com, where you will also find the Audio CD available for $13.07.

Now, for something really different...

Bannanagrams Hebrew

One of the most unique and primarily word-of-mouth promoted games, Bananagrams has taken the country by storm, and now it’s gone global with international editions, which now include Hebrew.

As a word formation game, it is slightly similar to Scrabble but it is fast-paced, portable and almost addictive as you can play in groups or solo. The game has simple rules and is very affordable.

Bannanagrams in Hebrew is available only through the following distributor:

http://www.bananagrams.co.il/en/  and is priced at approximately $26.41 US dollars, which includes all shipping.

The video below shows some teens having a great time with this unique edition of Bannanagrams.

2011 Holiday Guide: Best books of the year

'Smiling Snowman' photo by Paula Slade

This is the sixth installment of this series that provides numerous entertainment options for holiday gift giving for children and teens, and today we turn our attention to the best books released this year.

The products, which appear, below have been researched for quality as well as value, and are geared to provide hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

Best pricing options, at the time of this posting are provided below, but it is suggested that you cross-compare, when available, book prices and editions with your favorite online as well as stick and brick retailers, as pricing may fluctuate on a daily basis.

If you happened to have missed earlier posts, links are provided at the end of this article.

Also, you may wish to bookmark this page, as the links include reviews and videos, (when available) that enable further in-depth exploration at your leisure.

As always, you are the best judge of what is appropriate for your child’s entertainment.

 Moon over Manifest is written by Clare Vanderpool, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Designated this year’s winner of the John Newbery Medal, for the “most outstanding contribution to children's literature,” Moon over Manifest is a brilliant debut novel for author Vanderpool.

The story, a beautifully woven mixture of history and fiction is told in first person by “Abilene”, a 12-year old girl in search of her father’s family history, in a town that holds many secrets and tantalizing characters.

Below for your enjoyment, is the official book trailer for Moon over Manifest.

Best pricing for the hardcover edition in “new” condition is through Amazon Marketplace for $9.25. 

Best pricing for paperback edition is direct from Amazon.com for $7.99.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead, this is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing, and it is the 2011 winner of the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the “most distinguished American picture book for children.” 

A charming tale that highlights the important bonds of friendship, A Sick Day for Amos McGee , follows zookeeper Amos McGee’s caring animal friends as they treat him with a special visit of get-well greetings.

The woodblock print illustrations are very satisfying visuals that fully enhance this gentle story.

Connect to the video below, with children's book illustrator Erin E. Stead as she talks about the woodblock printing process she used to create the picture book illustrations for A Sick Day for Amos McGee.

More detailed customer reviews for A Sick Day for Amos McGee are available through Amazon.com.

Best price for this hardbound edition in “new” condition is through Amazon Marketplace for $9.73.

Ship Breaker is written by Paolo Bacigalupi, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group

Ship Breaker was honored with the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award for “excellence in literature written for young adults.”

A dark and dystopian, post apocalyptic future serves as the setting for this YA/adult crossover gripping tale about a teenage boy, “Nailer” and his day-to-day existence, which teeters on the edge of survival.

A fast-paced read, some parents may find Ship Breaker’s theme and conflicts more appropriate for older readers.

In the video below, author Paolo Bacigalupi provides additional insights into his book Ship Breaker.

Read more reviews through Amazon.com.

Best price “new” condition paperback is through Amazon Marketplace for $5.22.

Hardcover edition, best price “new” condition is also found through Amazon Marketplace for $5.93.

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill (Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.)

This uplifting and inspirational Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award-winner is a beautiful marriage of watercolor, collage, warm earth tones and poetry, in a tale, based on historical fact of a literate slave in 19^th century South Carolina, whose exquisite pottery is still prized today.

To find out more about Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, visit Amazon.com.

Best pricing is available through the Amazon Marketplace at $9.65 for the hardcover “new” condition edition.

One Crazy Summer written by Rita Williams-Garcia, (Amistad - an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) is the recipient of this year’s Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, which recognizes “an African American author of outstanding books for children and young adults.”  

One Crazy Summer also received the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction in addition to other honors.

In 1968, 11-year-old “Delphine” and her two younger sisters “Vonetta” and “Fern” travel to California and encounter relationship challenges with their mother who had abandoned them at early age.

A sometimes humorous, but definitely compelling drama, One Crazy Summer takes a hard look at family relationships, friendships and the social issues of that time.

In the video below, author Rita Williams-Garcia discusses her book One Crazy Summer at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

More reviews on One Crazy Summer are available through Amazon.com.

Best price for the hardcover edition in “new” condition is through Amazon Marketplace for $9.05

One Crazy Summer is set for paperback release on December 27, 2011 and may be ordered in advance through Amazon.com where the price is listed at $6.99. (Release-day delivery option may be available at checkout for most continental U.S. addresses.)

A Time of Miracles is written by Anne-Laure Bondoux and translated by Y. Maudet. Publisher is Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

A Time for Miracles is the 2011 winner of the Mildred L. Batchelder Award for “an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States.” 

Originally published in French in 2009 as “Le Temps des Miracles,” A Time of Miracles, is the story of a young refugee in search of his identity.

Exquisite prose and richly crafted in details, this journey of self-discovery spreads from the war torn Caucasus to France, and carries messages of hope and love from characters that live long in the mind after the book is closed.

Additional reviews for A Time of Miracles are available at Amazon.com, and best pricing for this hardbound edition in “new” condition is through Amazon Marketplace at $8.86.

The paperback edition in “new” condition is best priced at $7.99 through Amazon.com.

If you found this article helpful, or are still searching for more gift ideas, you may want to read previous installments of The Gift Guide by connecting to the links below:

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday DVDs for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday Music for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Audio Books and celebrations of Christmas

2011 Holiday Guide: Part 1-Gifts of Music for year round listening

2011 Holiday Guide: Part 2 - Gifts of Music for year round listening

Everyone loves a birthday party: Kids celebrate with ‘Chipper’

During the remainder of October, in addition to Halloween fun, parents, children and caregivers have an opportunity to celebrate nature and the environment with ”Chipper,” the squirrel who is known as the “eco-educational ambassador of the great outdoors. “

Chipper is also celebrating his fifth birthday this month, and he’s inviting families for games and activities that help reinforce the positive messages, which are consistently delivered in the Let’s Go Chipper series of apps, books, movies and community programs.

Below is Chipper’s special invitation to visit his website at www.letsgochipper.com , as well as a cute video to share with the kids in your life.

Halloween happenings part 4: Books to celebrate the season

Last year, a new literary tradition  was started by best-selling author Neil Gaiman, with the sole purpose of getting fun, spooky and spine-tingling books into the hands and minds of children everywhere for Halloween. The tradition is known as "All Hallows Read."

Gaiman has nothing against candy, that’s still a definite holiday must-have. In the spirit of this new tradition, today's post features great reads that are available free from local libraries nationwide.

If you’re not familiar with the recommended titles below, which cover a variety of age ranges, or you wish to actually purchase and add them to your child’s collection, simply click on the links for in-depth information from Amazon.com along with customer reviews.

A Very Brave Witch (Written by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Harry Bliss) - A best-selling New York Times/award-winning American Library Association book, this opening salvo is a direct hit and charming tale of a little witch whose curiosity about trick-or-treat helps her overcome her fear of humans and find a new bond of friendship.

Go Away, Big Green Monster (Written and illustrated by Ed Emberly) - Caldecott Medalist Emberly’s bold use of colorful and humorous monster illustrations takes the “scary” out of this read, and “puts” fun back into it.

By the Light of the Halloween Moon (Written by Caroline Stutson, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes) - Wiggling toes tempt a variety of not-so-scary goblins and ghouls.

The Berenstain Bears Go on a Ghost Walk (Written and illustrated by Stan and Jan Berenstain) - One of several Halloween-themed Berenstain Bear classics. In this book, Papa Bear is in charge of the Bear Country School's Ghost Walk and he “learns the hard way that one bear’s fun is another bear’s nightmare.” Be sure to also check out these other entertaining titles, each offering a lesson to be learned for the entire Bear Family: The Berenstain Bears and the Prize Pumpkin;  The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat; and The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House.

A Dark, Dark Tale (Written and illustrated by Ruth Brown) - This whimsically illustrated and simple text creates rib-tickling scariness, taking young readers on a visual journey with the word “dark.”

Clifford’s Halloween (Written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell) - Everyone’s favorite big red dog loves everything about Halloween, even dressing up in a costume.



 

Georgie (Written and illustrated by Robert Bright) - First published in 1944, this evergreen-classic features a friendly little ghost who needs a new home to haunt.

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever (Written and illustrated by Steven Kroll) -“Desmond” and “Clayton”, two adorable field mice grow the biggest pumpkin ever, and learn valuable lessons about friendship, cooperation and helping.

The Witch in the Cherry Tree (Written by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Jenny Williams) - David and his mother must find a way to protect their freshly baked cakes from the tricky witch in the cherry tree, who longs for fresh baked goodies.

The Terrible Trick or Treat  

(Written by Edith Battles, pictures by Tom Funk) - A real classic. Beautiful fall-colored illustrations and a charming story about a young boy named “Christopher” who  discovers more tricks than treats on Halloween.

A Woggle of Witches (Adrienne Adams, Author, and illustrator) - Simple text and double page illustrations take a friendly group of witches through the nighttime skies.

The Graveyard Book (Written by Neil Gaiman , Dave Mckean illustrator) "It's kind of like The Jungle Book, only instead of a jungle it's a graveyard. It's about this 2-year-old whose family is killed, and who is adopted and brought up by dead people and taught all the things that dead people know." ~ Neil Gaiman ~  A Newbery Medal and Hugo Award-winning bestseller. Suggested reading levels for The Graveyard Book are ages 9-12, but more often than not, Gaiman’s superb storytelling and rich language as well as imagery crosses boundaries well into the adult world.

You can also connect to Gaiman’s own free video readings of The Graveyard Book at Mr. Bobo’s Remarkable Mouse Circus, the author’s official website for young readers.

After you hear Gaiman read his entire book, you may want to view the video below that covers some of the informative question and answer sessions that took place during his book tour for The Graveyard Book.

For more Halloween articles, you may want to see:

Halloween Happenings Part 1: Pumpkin picking

Halloween Happenings part 2: Go ‘Boo at the Zoo’

Halloween Happenings part 3: Seasonal videos

Eric Carle’s ‘The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse’: Fun creative inspiration

"The Artist Who Painted the Blue Horse" by Eric Carle

Beloved children’s author/illustrator Eric Carle’s newest book, The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse is set for simultaneous release here in the United States and United Kingdom on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011.

Courtesy Eric Carle Museum

Carle’s distinctive artistic style, a combination of vibrant colors applied to hand-painted paper and formed into expertly crafted collages, has garnered him a worldwide following over the past four-plus decades.

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse continues this artistic tradition, which has served to delight countless children, and in his latest offering, he provides children a good dose of creative inspiration and permission to think outside of the box.

Many of Carle’s books are best-sellers and are considered evergreen children’s classics that have been translated into more than 50 languages, selling over 100 million copies around the globe. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse is sure to be embraced in that same rarefied category.

Inspiration for this latest book came from the Expressionist period of painting and in particular the German artist, Franz Marc. In the video below, Carle discusses this, and demonstrates his creative technique in addition to sharing some of the story.

If you’ll be visiting New England from now until March 20, 2012, be sure to check out the special exhibition, The Art of Eric Carle: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. 

The exhibition includes almost all of the original artwork from the book, plus three “dummies” (working mock-ups for the final product). Also on-hand is a poster of one of Marc’s blue horses as well as several of Carle’s conventionally drawn horses, and a few other animals – a terrific way to compare Carle’s range of media and variety of technique.

For further information regarding the exhibit along with address and hours of the Museum, visit online at: http://www.carlemuseum.org/