"Winnie the Pooh": Online Educational Fun for Children
by Jesse S. Somer
Recently I read a very cool book called "The Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff written back in the 1980's. It shows how the popular children's cartoon bear Winnie the Pooh created by A.A. Milne in England in the 1920's, though a Western concept, actually embodies the ideology of the great Chinese (Eastern) philosophy Taoism (pronounced Daoism). I remember enjoying Winnie the Pooh stories when I was a kid so I thought I'd do the modern task of searching for his name on the Internet. Of course there are hundreds of sites based on Pooh, but I decided to go to the official site entitled: http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/pooh/. Uh oh, Disney! Of course Disney didn't have the rights on Pooh Bear from the start, but where there is a dollar to be made in the realm of children's entertainment...I may sound a little judgmental here, but I just get a weird feeling about Disney, like they are planning to take over the world one day, possibly replacing the current governor of California, movie 'star' Arnold Swartzenegger, with Donald Duck or heaven help us, Goofy. Then again maybe that wouldn't really change the world much at all! I don't want to get too political as this article is basically going to be a positive review of the Pooh website, but when I think about it, having Pooh Bear as president instead of George Bush could have some really happy and peaceful repercussions around the globe. Getting past the idea that Pooh Bear has been 'acquired' by the Disney Corporation there are some positives in all situations (Taoist belief of the balance of yin and yang energies) and one of these is the fact that Disney have a lot of power and money behind them. Therefore, the Pooh Bear website in question sets a very high standard of how high the quality of websites can reach. The colored graphics are astounding as well as the movement and interactivity of the site in general. The main point of the site that I want to emphasize is the enjoyable educational value that it holds for children approximately 3-6 years of age, although after reading Hoff's novel, parents and people like myself can also get something out of the stories. Milne's original tales were a social commentary at the time of writing as well as promoting happiness and friendship to the youngest generation. Hopefully in keeping in character, Disney doesn't lose too much of the original purpose and perspective, though in being perpetually politically correct I'm sure all real controversy has disappeared like honey from Pooh Bear's jars.Your kids can enjoy Pooh based on-line video games, as well as downloading coloring-in pages, mazes, and color wallpaper posters. You can also download a fun empty family tree that the child can then research to fill in. As the site is highly professional and under constant updates in construction, it says that soon there will be Pooh alphabetical flash cards and even an 'Enchanted call from Pooh and Tigger", although this sounds like a pure money/honey making exercise. Speaking of money please be careful as this site has lots of different products and merchandise your kids are bound to obsess over. If I were you, just try and choose the stories and videos that seem to have genuine educational value. However, there are a few nice freebies that you can download from the 'Characters' link, such as a Tigger mask and a valentine card for Eeyore the donkey as well as more fun activities. Whether you want to show your young children an interesting and fun time on the computer/Internet, or you are planning to build a children's website of your own, this site is an excellent choice.
2008-04-22
Getting Your Children's Book Published
Getting Your Children's Book Published
by DC Green
The journey to having my first novel for children published has been riddled with road blocks and shonky bridges. The good news? At every rickety stage I've picked up tips (and anti-tips) which I'm happy to share with Newswrite readers...Read For me, this was the easy stage! Aspiring writers need to read like maniacs to be aware of other writers' work, both locally and internationally. There is no point writing a killer story if it resembles something already published. Sadly, that means no scar-faced teen wizards named Barry.Write Here's a simple equation: the more you write, the better you become at writing. By the time I was ready to be born I'd already completed my first three manuscripts (spent most of the time looking around for somewhere to plug in my laptop). When the doctor smacked me on the backside I squinted at him and went, 'Waaah!' Which of course meant, 'Ah, you must be my agent!' I went on to scrawl home-made comics throughout my childhood before I began writing for surf magazines at age 17. Since then, I've had thousands of articles and pieces of fiction published. A lot were 'hack' stories; a few won me awards and contests. All helped build my writing skills and voice.Feedback A local teacher read my first manuscript to his class (thank you, Bob Swoope). The feedback was terrific. One kid enthused, "It's just like Harry Potter, only funnier!" I dined off that compliment for a month. I'm lucky ten year olds believe payment in Paddle Pops is the industry standard for editors, else I'd be broke by now (well, actually I am broke). I read all my stories to my daughter, her friends, and any young relatives I can bail up. Whenever my juvenile focus groups wander off to the nearest TV, I know the chapter I'm reading needs major reconstruction. Whenever the kids sit glued to their chairs and demand more, I know my story is heading in the right direction (and I've bought the right glue and Paddle Pops). It's useful to let adults rip into your story as well. Adult writers, that is. I've learned it's best to avoid family members and friends, unless you enjoy making these people flee whenever they see you. Join a local or online critique group instead. Growing elephant-thick skin will also help you through this stage.Rewrite Finally, you think your book is ready. It isn't. Time to let the manuscript breathe for a month, before revising it with fresh eyes. Be ruthless. Hack those excess adjectives that editors loathe. Delete every scene that does not sparkle, advance the plot on multiple levels and compel the reader to keep reading. Rewrite again As a writer for children, you're not only competing against the mutant slush pile from Hell and other kid's books, but against the internet, computer games and 24 hour cartoon networks. Remember: the modern kid is smarter, more savvy and easily bored than any generation before.Submitting Crunch time. When you submit your first manuscript, get stuck straight into writing the second. When your manuscript returns unloved, send another submission out on the same day (or even better, send two). For every five rejections, rewrite. Never surrender.Over the course of several months, I sent my manuscript to every agent in the country. They all rejected until I was dejected. So I directly targeted publishers instead. I almost fell out of my computer chair when the second one immediately replied. The wonderful Ibis Publishing of Melbourne liked my story so much, they asked me to commit to writing two more in the same series. Truth is, to be published, I would have committed to writing a sequel naked in a bubble in the middle of Pitt Street. Luckily, they didn't. But I still have my bubble.Pre-publication Over a year has gone by since my book was accepted. My patient editor Belinda Bolliger has driven me through two more rewrites to add backstory, cull my ellipsis fever and tone down my more extreme jokes. My major character has become less obnoxious and had a sex change from girl to boy. Why? Apparently, girls will read about boys; but boys aren't happy reading about girls.I originally named my book after the planet of talking horses and mutant chooks at the centre of my story. However, Uponia (too strange) was changed to Planet Horse Fart (too rude) to ZAPP to Planet Horse (too horsey) to Raz James and The Amazing ZAPP Discovery (too vague) to Erasmus James and the Galactic ZAPP Machine (too... wait, that's it!). The cover art has changed almost as many times while the date of publication has been put back from last Christmas to May to June to September. Fingers crossed on that last one! It is vital to remain flexible and positive through such changes and delays. Yoga helps. Better to get everything right than to rush out an inferior product. The extra time has also given me time to set up a website, work out a battle plan with the Ibis marketing team Anthony and Paola and watch my hair turn even more grey. Meanwhile, my bank account has nose-dived, but who really needs fancy mod-cons like electricity and food?On the road Last month I drove to Sydney to psyche up the Pan Macmillan sales team. I delivered a ten minute standup comedy routine and was as surprised as anyone when the friendly team laughed at my feeble jokes and seemed enthused about selling my book. On the long drive home, I realised this would be but the first of many such promotional trips: to schools, book signings, anything and everything that will help me sell a few more copies and keep doing what I love so much. Then the rain began to bucket and my front tyre blew out. As I bounced into the bush, I realised I was about to experience another first on the scenic detour known as Publication Road.
by DC Green
The journey to having my first novel for children published has been riddled with road blocks and shonky bridges. The good news? At every rickety stage I've picked up tips (and anti-tips) which I'm happy to share with Newswrite readers...Read For me, this was the easy stage! Aspiring writers need to read like maniacs to be aware of other writers' work, both locally and internationally. There is no point writing a killer story if it resembles something already published. Sadly, that means no scar-faced teen wizards named Barry.Write Here's a simple equation: the more you write, the better you become at writing. By the time I was ready to be born I'd already completed my first three manuscripts (spent most of the time looking around for somewhere to plug in my laptop). When the doctor smacked me on the backside I squinted at him and went, 'Waaah!' Which of course meant, 'Ah, you must be my agent!' I went on to scrawl home-made comics throughout my childhood before I began writing for surf magazines at age 17. Since then, I've had thousands of articles and pieces of fiction published. A lot were 'hack' stories; a few won me awards and contests. All helped build my writing skills and voice.Feedback A local teacher read my first manuscript to his class (thank you, Bob Swoope). The feedback was terrific. One kid enthused, "It's just like Harry Potter, only funnier!" I dined off that compliment for a month. I'm lucky ten year olds believe payment in Paddle Pops is the industry standard for editors, else I'd be broke by now (well, actually I am broke). I read all my stories to my daughter, her friends, and any young relatives I can bail up. Whenever my juvenile focus groups wander off to the nearest TV, I know the chapter I'm reading needs major reconstruction. Whenever the kids sit glued to their chairs and demand more, I know my story is heading in the right direction (and I've bought the right glue and Paddle Pops). It's useful to let adults rip into your story as well. Adult writers, that is. I've learned it's best to avoid family members and friends, unless you enjoy making these people flee whenever they see you. Join a local or online critique group instead. Growing elephant-thick skin will also help you through this stage.Rewrite Finally, you think your book is ready. It isn't. Time to let the manuscript breathe for a month, before revising it with fresh eyes. Be ruthless. Hack those excess adjectives that editors loathe. Delete every scene that does not sparkle, advance the plot on multiple levels and compel the reader to keep reading. Rewrite again As a writer for children, you're not only competing against the mutant slush pile from Hell and other kid's books, but against the internet, computer games and 24 hour cartoon networks. Remember: the modern kid is smarter, more savvy and easily bored than any generation before.Submitting Crunch time. When you submit your first manuscript, get stuck straight into writing the second. When your manuscript returns unloved, send another submission out on the same day (or even better, send two). For every five rejections, rewrite. Never surrender.Over the course of several months, I sent my manuscript to every agent in the country. They all rejected until I was dejected. So I directly targeted publishers instead. I almost fell out of my computer chair when the second one immediately replied. The wonderful Ibis Publishing of Melbourne liked my story so much, they asked me to commit to writing two more in the same series. Truth is, to be published, I would have committed to writing a sequel naked in a bubble in the middle of Pitt Street. Luckily, they didn't. But I still have my bubble.Pre-publication Over a year has gone by since my book was accepted. My patient editor Belinda Bolliger has driven me through two more rewrites to add backstory, cull my ellipsis fever and tone down my more extreme jokes. My major character has become less obnoxious and had a sex change from girl to boy. Why? Apparently, girls will read about boys; but boys aren't happy reading about girls.I originally named my book after the planet of talking horses and mutant chooks at the centre of my story. However, Uponia (too strange) was changed to Planet Horse Fart (too rude) to ZAPP to Planet Horse (too horsey) to Raz James and The Amazing ZAPP Discovery (too vague) to Erasmus James and the Galactic ZAPP Machine (too... wait, that's it!). The cover art has changed almost as many times while the date of publication has been put back from last Christmas to May to June to September. Fingers crossed on that last one! It is vital to remain flexible and positive through such changes and delays. Yoga helps. Better to get everything right than to rush out an inferior product. The extra time has also given me time to set up a website, work out a battle plan with the Ibis marketing team Anthony and Paola and watch my hair turn even more grey. Meanwhile, my bank account has nose-dived, but who really needs fancy mod-cons like electricity and food?On the road Last month I drove to Sydney to psyche up the Pan Macmillan sales team. I delivered a ten minute standup comedy routine and was as surprised as anyone when the friendly team laughed at my feeble jokes and seemed enthused about selling my book. On the long drive home, I realised this would be but the first of many such promotional trips: to schools, book signings, anything and everything that will help me sell a few more copies and keep doing what I love so much. Then the rain began to bucket and my front tyre blew out. As I bounced into the bush, I realised I was about to experience another first on the scenic detour known as Publication Road.
Great Entertainment For Childrens Birthday Parties
Great Entertainment For Childrens Birthday Parties
by Low Jeremy
So you've decided to throw your child his or her first birthday party in a massive way? This is not surprising. Most parents would consider their babies' first birthday parties as important milestones in their children's lives, that's why they go all out with the preparations. Some parents opt to hire professional party planners to get rid of the hassle of preparations, but there are others who prefer to go the challenging (but, actually, more fulfilling) route of planning the party themselves - from the theme down to the minutest details, like the design of the table napkins.
However, no matter how much planning and thinking is put into the kinds of food and favors are served at the party and what theme and design it will assume, no party will be complete without the proper kids' entertainment. Children's birthday party entertainment could be in the form of games or visual amusement.
The visual amusement part is easy to obtain. You can simply pop in a cartoon and transfer it to a wide screen projector to keep kids occupied all throughout the party, or you can hire either a magician, balloon trickster, clown, dancing character mascot or face painter for a small fee.
If you're working on tight budget, one of the child's family members or the parents' adult friends can volunteer to be the entertainer for a day and tell the children stories and sing songs. Why, if willing he or she can even agree to become the clown for the day! You never know.
The games part is a little challenging, though, because you will need a good, enticing party host to get the guests to participate. Children are generally shy, so it can be quite a task to urge them to join in on the activities. There are many children's birthday party game ideas all over the Internet, so this part will be a cinch. Also, game materials can be easily obtained from party supplies stores - or you can make them yourself.
Naturally, since you intend to have games at your child's party, you should be prepared to give out a prize. Children get inspired to join games because of the motivation and inspiration presented by the prizes. The prizes don't have to be so expensive. Kids are easy to please, so even a coloring book or a small box of crayons will do.
Contrary to the usual impression, holding a children's birthday party is not really so expensive to pull off. With the right kind of entertainment, a little creativity, you will be able to come up with a party that will have everyone raving about it for days. Fun is not measured by how much you've spent on a particular event. It's with the camarederie that is developed during.
by Low Jeremy
So you've decided to throw your child his or her first birthday party in a massive way? This is not surprising. Most parents would consider their babies' first birthday parties as important milestones in their children's lives, that's why they go all out with the preparations. Some parents opt to hire professional party planners to get rid of the hassle of preparations, but there are others who prefer to go the challenging (but, actually, more fulfilling) route of planning the party themselves - from the theme down to the minutest details, like the design of the table napkins.
However, no matter how much planning and thinking is put into the kinds of food and favors are served at the party and what theme and design it will assume, no party will be complete without the proper kids' entertainment. Children's birthday party entertainment could be in the form of games or visual amusement.
The visual amusement part is easy to obtain. You can simply pop in a cartoon and transfer it to a wide screen projector to keep kids occupied all throughout the party, or you can hire either a magician, balloon trickster, clown, dancing character mascot or face painter for a small fee.
If you're working on tight budget, one of the child's family members or the parents' adult friends can volunteer to be the entertainer for a day and tell the children stories and sing songs. Why, if willing he or she can even agree to become the clown for the day! You never know.
The games part is a little challenging, though, because you will need a good, enticing party host to get the guests to participate. Children are generally shy, so it can be quite a task to urge them to join in on the activities. There are many children's birthday party game ideas all over the Internet, so this part will be a cinch. Also, game materials can be easily obtained from party supplies stores - or you can make them yourself.
Naturally, since you intend to have games at your child's party, you should be prepared to give out a prize. Children get inspired to join games because of the motivation and inspiration presented by the prizes. The prizes don't have to be so expensive. Kids are easy to please, so even a coloring book or a small box of crayons will do.
Contrary to the usual impression, holding a children's birthday party is not really so expensive to pull off. With the right kind of entertainment, a little creativity, you will be able to come up with a party that will have everyone raving about it for days. Fun is not measured by how much you've spent on a particular event. It's with the camarederie that is developed during.
5 Ways to Use Cartooning to Make Your Company A Super Heroe
5 Ways to Use Cartooning to Make Your Company A Super Heroe
by Rosemary Rein
Go Wild! Go GREAT! Now to WOW!tm Customer Service Training Materials using a Cartoon Character we developed named Fred T. Frog and a Sketch for a 76th Birthday Celebration of 3 Friends.
Create WOW Factor and increase retention of your message and brand with Corporate Cartooning.
Please don't tell me HRD/Training Managers that you're still hanging those "Employee of the Month" plaques in your lobby that make even the most professional employee look like a felon-- let alone valued and important! Alas, don't admit that your training manuals would even put a die-hard reader of Popular Mechanics to Sleep! Do your Employee Retirement Parties bring tears to everyone in the room, particularly the retiree, because of a lack of imagination or real thought? Well, perhaps it's time to get funny (literally) and create WOW! Training Materials and Recognition Programs that engage us and capture our attention. "Corporate Cartooning"
Cartooning and Animation represents a media that engages both a new generation of Gamers as well as the Traditional Comic Book Enthusiasts. Here are 5 ways to put Cartooning to Work to motivate, educate and reward both customers and employees in Training Programs, Annual Meetings and Corporate Recognition Events.
5 Ways to put Corporate Cartooning to Work in Your Company:
1. Bring the WOW Factor to Customer and Employee Appreciation Gifts. Yeah, sure you can have a thumb drive or specialty gift basket imprinted with your logo to give to valued customers and employees, or you can really show your VIPs how special they are by creating a Personal Cartoon Sketch of them in front of the backdrop of your business. Trust me, with the thought that obviously went into the gift selection and creation they won't throw it away.
2. Create a Comic Book for Compliance, Safety and Customer Service Training. It's non-threatening and pretty darn funny when you have a "Dudley Does it Wrong" Character who does everything to irritate customers or violate safety procedures. The visual imagery and demonstration of what not to do is a powerful training technique for getting employees to do what you want them to do.
3. Host a Memorable Employee Retirement Party with your Own Bart Simpson. Present a Storybook and a multi-media that creates a heart felt retirement celebration. As a Facilitator, I have used multi-media presentations incorporating photos and music as well as animated characters to recognize the Guest of Honor. The animated characters are designed in the honorees image as well as other key team players who humor the audience with their banter of favorite corporate memories and upcoming plans for retirement. Traditional Roasting can be tedious in the hands of people who hate to do it and aren't good at it. Animation combined with a Professional Master of Ceremonies makes it professional, easy and fun and allows for lots of input from the employees in the planning of the Cartoon Sketches. At the end of the retirement party, the honoree is presented with a literal children's story book as a memorable keepsake.
Positive Workplace Campaign. This is one of my favorite cartooning techniques used to develop and promote a positive and inspired workplace. Battle your Negaholics! Remember the rule of Negative Contagion: Negative Energy Spreads faster than Positive in the Workplace. Try using your own Cartoon Character who presents Positive Workplace Messages that are linked to your team's mission and values and clearly outline Rules of Team Behavior.
5. Use Corporate Cartooning in Product Launches, Trade Shows, Customer Events and Training Seminars. Note: Not just for fun, but linked to a specific marketing/educational message that creates impact and retention. Cartoon Characters are powerful advertising messengers (Think the Geiko gecko).
At Now to WOW! Training Services and Business Events, we put Cartooning to Work for our clients to motivate, educate and reward both customers and employees. Note: Our contracted animation and instructional storyboard artists can turn your project around often within 48 hours all via Internet/email correspondence.
Do you want to bring your Annual Meetings, Training Sessions, Employee Celebrations from Now to WOW!tm with audiences through powerful and creative presentations? Contact us at www.gowildgogreat.com or write Rosemary@gowildgogreat.com
by Rosemary Rein
Go Wild! Go GREAT! Now to WOW!tm Customer Service Training Materials using a Cartoon Character we developed named Fred T. Frog and a Sketch for a 76th Birthday Celebration of 3 Friends.
Create WOW Factor and increase retention of your message and brand with Corporate Cartooning.
Please don't tell me HRD/Training Managers that you're still hanging those "Employee of the Month" plaques in your lobby that make even the most professional employee look like a felon-- let alone valued and important! Alas, don't admit that your training manuals would even put a die-hard reader of Popular Mechanics to Sleep! Do your Employee Retirement Parties bring tears to everyone in the room, particularly the retiree, because of a lack of imagination or real thought? Well, perhaps it's time to get funny (literally) and create WOW! Training Materials and Recognition Programs that engage us and capture our attention. "Corporate Cartooning"
Cartooning and Animation represents a media that engages both a new generation of Gamers as well as the Traditional Comic Book Enthusiasts. Here are 5 ways to put Cartooning to Work to motivate, educate and reward both customers and employees in Training Programs, Annual Meetings and Corporate Recognition Events.
5 Ways to put Corporate Cartooning to Work in Your Company:
1. Bring the WOW Factor to Customer and Employee Appreciation Gifts. Yeah, sure you can have a thumb drive or specialty gift basket imprinted with your logo to give to valued customers and employees, or you can really show your VIPs how special they are by creating a Personal Cartoon Sketch of them in front of the backdrop of your business. Trust me, with the thought that obviously went into the gift selection and creation they won't throw it away.
2. Create a Comic Book for Compliance, Safety and Customer Service Training. It's non-threatening and pretty darn funny when you have a "Dudley Does it Wrong" Character who does everything to irritate customers or violate safety procedures. The visual imagery and demonstration of what not to do is a powerful training technique for getting employees to do what you want them to do.
3. Host a Memorable Employee Retirement Party with your Own Bart Simpson. Present a Storybook and a multi-media that creates a heart felt retirement celebration. As a Facilitator, I have used multi-media presentations incorporating photos and music as well as animated characters to recognize the Guest of Honor. The animated characters are designed in the honorees image as well as other key team players who humor the audience with their banter of favorite corporate memories and upcoming plans for retirement. Traditional Roasting can be tedious in the hands of people who hate to do it and aren't good at it. Animation combined with a Professional Master of Ceremonies makes it professional, easy and fun and allows for lots of input from the employees in the planning of the Cartoon Sketches. At the end of the retirement party, the honoree is presented with a literal children's story book as a memorable keepsake.
Positive Workplace Campaign. This is one of my favorite cartooning techniques used to develop and promote a positive and inspired workplace. Battle your Negaholics! Remember the rule of Negative Contagion: Negative Energy Spreads faster than Positive in the Workplace. Try using your own Cartoon Character who presents Positive Workplace Messages that are linked to your team's mission and values and clearly outline Rules of Team Behavior.
5. Use Corporate Cartooning in Product Launches, Trade Shows, Customer Events and Training Seminars. Note: Not just for fun, but linked to a specific marketing/educational message that creates impact and retention. Cartoon Characters are powerful advertising messengers (Think the Geiko gecko).
At Now to WOW! Training Services and Business Events, we put Cartooning to Work for our clients to motivate, educate and reward both customers and employees. Note: Our contracted animation and instructional storyboard artists can turn your project around often within 48 hours all via Internet/email correspondence.
Do you want to bring your Annual Meetings, Training Sessions, Employee Celebrations from Now to WOW!tm with audiences through powerful and creative presentations? Contact us at www.gowildgogreat.com or write Rosemary@gowildgogreat.com
Who else want to keep the kids entertained
Who else want to keep the kids entertained?
by Tom Broadbridge
Children and grownups all over the world are enthralled and captivated by the challenges and exploits of inspiring heroes, children, people, kings that are faithfully brought to life through the power and creativity of animation.
So, is the idea of an Animated Kid's Bible so far fetched?
Not really when you consider that animation is the most artistic and highest form of illustration that exists in these contemporary times. Furthermore illustration has been part of telling the story of the Bible to children since mankind has been able to document images.
Children love to be told stories, give them crayons and they will create pictures, play them a song and they will sing and dance to it, tell them a story and they will listen. Animated Children's Bible stories are just one step further in the evolution of telling this story which began with Gutenberg's publication of the Bible in 1450. Even that primitive book was elaborately illustrated with beautiful figures, flora and fauna.
There are many illustrated Bibles in existence and this includes everything from the etched woodcuts that decorated the pages of early Bibles to the illustrated children's favorite known as the Lion's Bible to the very controversial Japanese graphic novel known as the Manga Bible. The very first illustrated bible comic came from DC comics. DC Comics and Spire books also put out full cartoon versions of the Bible in the 1940s and 1950s. Like these Bible comics which are collected and respected by many enthusiasts as being genuine works of art, the Animated Kids Bible serves to dish up the moral lessons that our children need to learn while at the same time delivering timeless tales of courage, faith and endurance such as the tales of Noah, Abraham, John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth.
Whether we like it or not it is cartoons, graphic novels and animations that are grabbing our children's attention nowadays.
The success of animation by big time graphic novelists such as Frank Miller (who did the film noir called Sin City in 2005 and the story of Sparta called 300 in 2006) are certainly inspiring Christian animators as most graphic novels and animated films take the form of morality tales. This is exactly why the stories in the Bible so well suit the graphic animation format. Like a graphic novel most tales told in the Bible are morality tales with messages that warn us "not to go there" unless we end up like the tale's protagonist.
Furthermore the Bible contains some pretty spectacular scenarios that would put even James Cameron, Stanley Kubrick and Quentin Tarantino to shame. There is probably no creation story as incredible as the book of Genesis nor is there an apocalypse film on the market as powerful as the book of Revelation.
Don't get the idea that the Animated Kid's Bible is anything like Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments. These DVD videos are state of the art biblical animation in 3D-CGI and are exactly like the animation you see in major blockbuster films.
The Animated Kids Bible satisfies the imagination of children and encourages their education, with thrilling adventure stories from the bible, brought excitingly to life in language that children today can understand.
To preview go to http://www.thekidsbible.com or take a look at http://www.squidoo.com/AKB
by Tom Broadbridge
Children and grownups all over the world are enthralled and captivated by the challenges and exploits of inspiring heroes, children, people, kings that are faithfully brought to life through the power and creativity of animation.
So, is the idea of an Animated Kid's Bible so far fetched?
Not really when you consider that animation is the most artistic and highest form of illustration that exists in these contemporary times. Furthermore illustration has been part of telling the story of the Bible to children since mankind has been able to document images.
Children love to be told stories, give them crayons and they will create pictures, play them a song and they will sing and dance to it, tell them a story and they will listen. Animated Children's Bible stories are just one step further in the evolution of telling this story which began with Gutenberg's publication of the Bible in 1450. Even that primitive book was elaborately illustrated with beautiful figures, flora and fauna.
There are many illustrated Bibles in existence and this includes everything from the etched woodcuts that decorated the pages of early Bibles to the illustrated children's favorite known as the Lion's Bible to the very controversial Japanese graphic novel known as the Manga Bible. The very first illustrated bible comic came from DC comics. DC Comics and Spire books also put out full cartoon versions of the Bible in the 1940s and 1950s. Like these Bible comics which are collected and respected by many enthusiasts as being genuine works of art, the Animated Kids Bible serves to dish up the moral lessons that our children need to learn while at the same time delivering timeless tales of courage, faith and endurance such as the tales of Noah, Abraham, John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth.
Whether we like it or not it is cartoons, graphic novels and animations that are grabbing our children's attention nowadays.
The success of animation by big time graphic novelists such as Frank Miller (who did the film noir called Sin City in 2005 and the story of Sparta called 300 in 2006) are certainly inspiring Christian animators as most graphic novels and animated films take the form of morality tales. This is exactly why the stories in the Bible so well suit the graphic animation format. Like a graphic novel most tales told in the Bible are morality tales with messages that warn us "not to go there" unless we end up like the tale's protagonist.
Furthermore the Bible contains some pretty spectacular scenarios that would put even James Cameron, Stanley Kubrick and Quentin Tarantino to shame. There is probably no creation story as incredible as the book of Genesis nor is there an apocalypse film on the market as powerful as the book of Revelation.
Don't get the idea that the Animated Kid's Bible is anything like Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments. These DVD videos are state of the art biblical animation in 3D-CGI and are exactly like the animation you see in major blockbuster films.
The Animated Kids Bible satisfies the imagination of children and encourages their education, with thrilling adventure stories from the bible, brought excitingly to life in language that children today can understand.
To preview go to http://www.thekidsbible.com or take a look at http://www.squidoo.com/AKB
Cartoon Characters you can own!
Cartoon Characters you can own!
by Paula Chen
[GOARTICLES, Sun Apr 20 2008]
Talking Mouse Production (www.talkingmouse.com) is a creative and talented team of designers. We are a start up company and already have over 50+ original characters that you can purchase exclusively on our site. Our characters are great for promotional materials, stationaries, toys, games, baby clothes, children's book, avatars, cartoon series, comics, and more. We have fresh new characters everyday for immediate purchase or licensing.
Talking Mouse Production was founded in 2007 but was not officially launched till April 2008. The creators of Talking Mouse are Vince, Paula, and our very own Talking Mouse Mascot. All three entrepreneurials (yes three), realized that there was a market and a demand for our services. However, Talking Mouse Production is much more than a design company. We want to create a network for kids to enjoy, learn, and be a part of Talking Mouse! In order to achieve this goal and wonderful opportunity that anyone can get involve. We are going to be raising funds by providing our services or you could purchase a cartoon character from us. Part of the proceeds will go to building a network for kids under Talking Mouse Production. We have also provided a section for client contribution page that has all the list of clients that are involve and help make this possible.
We hope you come visit us soon and be a part of Talking Mouse!
Links: http://www.talkingmouse.com
Keywords: cartoon character illustration design, character vector art illustration design, vector art illustration design, character animation design, pixel art illustration design, cartoon animation 3d design, 3d art character design
Paula Chen Talking Mouse Production (510) 909 - 9633 paula@talkingmouse.com San Diego, CA
by Paula Chen
[GOARTICLES, Sun Apr 20 2008]
Talking Mouse Production (www.talkingmouse.com) is a creative and talented team of designers. We are a start up company and already have over 50+ original characters that you can purchase exclusively on our site. Our characters are great for promotional materials, stationaries, toys, games, baby clothes, children's book, avatars, cartoon series, comics, and more. We have fresh new characters everyday for immediate purchase or licensing.
Talking Mouse Production was founded in 2007 but was not officially launched till April 2008. The creators of Talking Mouse are Vince, Paula, and our very own Talking Mouse Mascot. All three entrepreneurials (yes three), realized that there was a market and a demand for our services. However, Talking Mouse Production is much more than a design company. We want to create a network for kids to enjoy, learn, and be a part of Talking Mouse! In order to achieve this goal and wonderful opportunity that anyone can get involve. We are going to be raising funds by providing our services or you could purchase a cartoon character from us. Part of the proceeds will go to building a network for kids under Talking Mouse Production. We have also provided a section for client contribution page that has all the list of clients that are involve and help make this possible.
We hope you come visit us soon and be a part of Talking Mouse!
Links: http://www.talkingmouse.com
Keywords: cartoon character illustration design, character vector art illustration design, vector art illustration design, character animation design, pixel art illustration design, cartoon animation 3d design, 3d art character design
Paula Chen Talking Mouse Production (510) 909 - 9633 paula@talkingmouse.com San Diego, CA
2008-04-13
Experience Nature, Go On A Camping Trip
Experience Nature, Go On A Camping Trip
by Melissa Thornton
Camping was a necessity in earlier times, travelers, hunters and explorers were often forced to stay one or more outside of a house. These days camping is something we do for fun and for a back to basics feeling. And it is true, there is little change in the way we camp these days in comparison with hundred years ago, we need shelter, food and a warm place to sleep. However, in these modern days, the camping gear is of much better quality then in the old days.
The basic requirements
What you take with you on a camping trip varies from person to person but we all need some general basic equipment. Some persons like to take as little as possible with them and see camping as survival, others need more luxury and take much more camping gear with them. With basic camping gear we mean, a tent, a ground cloth, clothes, food, and gear to prepare the food with, sleeping bag and a first aid kit. You can't go camping without this basic camping equipment, but it is always possible to take more stuff with you. Because more and more people go camping with a trailer they can take a lot with them.
You first time camping?
If this is going to be your first camping trip, start small. Choose a place close to home, so you can return home if something goes wrong or you don't feel comfortable during your camping trip. Prepare yourself and make lists of everything you think you might need. Don't rush anything on the day you are leaving and load your car or trailer with all the above necessary camping gear, and when you have place for other stuff you can take that with you to. But the most important stuff comes first. When it is possible take someone with you who is an experienced camper so you can learn some camping activities.
Planning is the most important preparation.
When you go camping everything comes down to your planning skills, you need to
- Book a camping site on time - make lists of inventory, food and gear - shop for everything you need - check the weather for the coming days - check your car, trailer or RV before you leave - make sure that someone at home knows were you are and how to reach you - secure your home - plan the route you are going to take
Natural explorers
Kids are natural explorers, when they arrive in new surroundings they are instinctual driven to explore and learn everything about that place. A camping trip brings up their natural sense of adventure and another way of living than they are used to.
Safety first
In your basic camping equipment you can't do without a first aid kit, and you might consider buying a complete first aid camping kit because there will be slightly different products in those kits than in a home first aid kit. You should also think about bug repellent, snake bite kits and sunburn lotion. Remember to take antihistamine, pain killers, and prescription medication like an inhaler when someone of your camping friends have asthma. Try to anticipate on everything you can think of most common types of injuries or hazards.
by Melissa Thornton
Camping was a necessity in earlier times, travelers, hunters and explorers were often forced to stay one or more outside of a house. These days camping is something we do for fun and for a back to basics feeling. And it is true, there is little change in the way we camp these days in comparison with hundred years ago, we need shelter, food and a warm place to sleep. However, in these modern days, the camping gear is of much better quality then in the old days.
The basic requirements
What you take with you on a camping trip varies from person to person but we all need some general basic equipment. Some persons like to take as little as possible with them and see camping as survival, others need more luxury and take much more camping gear with them. With basic camping gear we mean, a tent, a ground cloth, clothes, food, and gear to prepare the food with, sleeping bag and a first aid kit. You can't go camping without this basic camping equipment, but it is always possible to take more stuff with you. Because more and more people go camping with a trailer they can take a lot with them.
You first time camping?
If this is going to be your first camping trip, start small. Choose a place close to home, so you can return home if something goes wrong or you don't feel comfortable during your camping trip. Prepare yourself and make lists of everything you think you might need. Don't rush anything on the day you are leaving and load your car or trailer with all the above necessary camping gear, and when you have place for other stuff you can take that with you to. But the most important stuff comes first. When it is possible take someone with you who is an experienced camper so you can learn some camping activities.
Planning is the most important preparation.
When you go camping everything comes down to your planning skills, you need to
- Book a camping site on time - make lists of inventory, food and gear - shop for everything you need - check the weather for the coming days - check your car, trailer or RV before you leave - make sure that someone at home knows were you are and how to reach you - secure your home - plan the route you are going to take
Natural explorers
Kids are natural explorers, when they arrive in new surroundings they are instinctual driven to explore and learn everything about that place. A camping trip brings up their natural sense of adventure and another way of living than they are used to.
Safety first
In your basic camping equipment you can't do without a first aid kit, and you might consider buying a complete first aid camping kit because there will be slightly different products in those kits than in a home first aid kit. You should also think about bug repellent, snake bite kits and sunburn lotion. Remember to take antihistamine, pain killers, and prescription medication like an inhaler when someone of your camping friends have asthma. Try to anticipate on everything you can think of most common types of injuries or hazards.
Move Over Harry Potter, Fantasy Novels Just Got Sexy!
Move Over Harry Potter, Fantasy Novels Just Got Sexy!
by Lydia Quinn
For several decades, the alluring world of Fantasy novels was dominated by such stalwart offerings such as the classic Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. In recent years, huge hordes of readers surged towards the imaginative magical world of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling. In both cases, the genre of fantasy novels was redefined and extended to include new visions of fantastic locales, amazing characters and new styles of storytelling for this popular genre.
Now, thanks to a newly published effort by American author R. Leigh, called The Winds of Asharra, the Fantasy fiction genre has been radically redefined once again, this time for grownups seeking fantasy characters with some sizzle and sex appeal. In short, The Winds of Asharra is genre bending, a combination of Fantasy and Romance novels, with equal parts adventure and sizzle. It's enough to fog Harry Potter's glasses or make Tolkien's hobbits blush.
The Winds of Asharra is 600+ pages long, set in the sensual world of Asharra, a place with twin suns and a purple sky. Unlike traditional fantasy fiction, there's not a wizard, witch or troll in sight. Instead, the reader is treated to such unique and diverse characters as evolved feline-like creatures, intelligent telepathic trees, musical dragons and dream inducing mystical crystal beings. The main characters, two 18 year old Earth teenagers, Victor and Zoe, unexpectedly arrive on the surreal and sensual land of Asharra and embark on a journey of self discovery in a world where adventure, love, sex and home all have new meanings. When Ionera, a troubled Asharran girl with a mystical secret enters Victor's life, his priorities turn upside down and new challenges present themselves including the beginning of an epic quest which will benefit all of Asharra if successful.
While these elements, although unique, sound appealing, there are two reasons why The Winds of Asharra represents a distinct change in popular Fantasy Fiction. Apart from the adventure elements, WOA (as its fans refer to it) adds great romance and humor to its story, elements which are often lacking in modern fantasy fiction. In fact, we found it difficult to categorize the Winds of Asharra. Was it Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Romance or something else? In any case, it's Fantasy fiction for adults, definitely not for the pre-teen set.
The final reason why WOA should be regarded as decidedly different is the successful effort to develop and insert a complex fantasy philosophy into the book. Much like L Ron Hubbard had done in years ago with Dianetics, Author R. Leigh introduces a plausible philosophy of the Asharrans into WOA, a creative, positive, life affirming worldview that is refreshingly optimistic in these troubled times.
Even the author of WOA is decidedly different and uniquely mysterious as the back cover of the book suggests: "Author R. Leigh is a mystery to local neighbors, appearing enigmatic and ageless, and wearing an ever present red crystal pendant. Some have guessed this author's secret other-worldly origin, speculating that the tales of Asharra might somehow be true. Outskirts Press does not confirm this and will not comment on rumors that the manuscript for this novel appeared in our offices out of nowhere. We urge you to read this book and decide for yourself." True or not, this made us smile and secretly hope that there are elements of the fantastic in our world, waiting to be discovered.
In conclusion, The Winds of Asharra is unabashedly different, worthy of examination by any graduate from the Harry Potter books who is eager to take the next step into a new fantasy universe, the world of Asharra.
by Lydia Quinn
For several decades, the alluring world of Fantasy novels was dominated by such stalwart offerings such as the classic Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. In recent years, huge hordes of readers surged towards the imaginative magical world of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling. In both cases, the genre of fantasy novels was redefined and extended to include new visions of fantastic locales, amazing characters and new styles of storytelling for this popular genre.
Now, thanks to a newly published effort by American author R. Leigh, called The Winds of Asharra, the Fantasy fiction genre has been radically redefined once again, this time for grownups seeking fantasy characters with some sizzle and sex appeal. In short, The Winds of Asharra is genre bending, a combination of Fantasy and Romance novels, with equal parts adventure and sizzle. It's enough to fog Harry Potter's glasses or make Tolkien's hobbits blush.
The Winds of Asharra is 600+ pages long, set in the sensual world of Asharra, a place with twin suns and a purple sky. Unlike traditional fantasy fiction, there's not a wizard, witch or troll in sight. Instead, the reader is treated to such unique and diverse characters as evolved feline-like creatures, intelligent telepathic trees, musical dragons and dream inducing mystical crystal beings. The main characters, two 18 year old Earth teenagers, Victor and Zoe, unexpectedly arrive on the surreal and sensual land of Asharra and embark on a journey of self discovery in a world where adventure, love, sex and home all have new meanings. When Ionera, a troubled Asharran girl with a mystical secret enters Victor's life, his priorities turn upside down and new challenges present themselves including the beginning of an epic quest which will benefit all of Asharra if successful.
While these elements, although unique, sound appealing, there are two reasons why The Winds of Asharra represents a distinct change in popular Fantasy Fiction. Apart from the adventure elements, WOA (as its fans refer to it) adds great romance and humor to its story, elements which are often lacking in modern fantasy fiction. In fact, we found it difficult to categorize the Winds of Asharra. Was it Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Romance or something else? In any case, it's Fantasy fiction for adults, definitely not for the pre-teen set.
The final reason why WOA should be regarded as decidedly different is the successful effort to develop and insert a complex fantasy philosophy into the book. Much like L Ron Hubbard had done in years ago with Dianetics, Author R. Leigh introduces a plausible philosophy of the Asharrans into WOA, a creative, positive, life affirming worldview that is refreshingly optimistic in these troubled times.
Even the author of WOA is decidedly different and uniquely mysterious as the back cover of the book suggests: "Author R. Leigh is a mystery to local neighbors, appearing enigmatic and ageless, and wearing an ever present red crystal pendant. Some have guessed this author's secret other-worldly origin, speculating that the tales of Asharra might somehow be true. Outskirts Press does not confirm this and will not comment on rumors that the manuscript for this novel appeared in our offices out of nowhere. We urge you to read this book and decide for yourself." True or not, this made us smile and secretly hope that there are elements of the fantastic in our world, waiting to be discovered.
In conclusion, The Winds of Asharra is unabashedly different, worthy of examination by any graduate from the Harry Potter books who is eager to take the next step into a new fantasy universe, the world of Asharra.
7 Ways To Educate Yourself
7 Ways To Educate Yourself
by Trudy Van Buskirk
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." ��" Henry Ford
Educating yourself is probably something you did to start your business and don’t do now. You may think you don’t have time for it since you’re too “busy†with your existing clients or finding new ones. The truth is that you should never stop learning (whether you own a business or not) because it has been shown in countless studies that it keeps you young.
Research and Development or education doesn’t have to take much time nor even be formal like courses that give you letters. It doesn’t have to cost a lot either. Like marketing, a little bit can be done every day.
Here’s the way you can educate yourself ��" painfree.
1. Learn to read and understand your financials and all analysis (your website and your newsletter) of your business. You don’t have to become an accountant or a web designer or any kind of “techie†to do this.
2. Read magazines for small business. These always have an article to teach you something. Look at the ads and see what others are doing. They could be your competition or even your clients. If the writer or advertiser is a client then you have a reason to email them and stay in touch.
3. Subscribe to and read email newsletters. There are at least three kinds ��" those with topics you want to learn about, your competition’s, and your client’s. You always want to be learning or keeping up. You want to see what your competitors are doing. You want to learn what your client is doing. Remember that these can be just online versions of the magazine. Do similar things here but check out the links they suggest, too.
4. Read newspapers. Many of these are going away and being made available online, you never know what you’ll learn in them. Do the same things as you did in #2 with magazines.
5. Read books. This may seem like using “old†technology but it really works. Some people (like me) love to read. In fact, we are even known to read the cereal box in the morning! You can buy or borrow books in countless ways. Go into a bookstore to browse, get a book from one of the online bookstores, borrow from someone else (just be sure you return it) or go to the library. Yes, they still exist and people use them.
6. Participate in teleclasses. These are seminars by phone. Be sure of two things ��" have cheap long distance and know what kind of teleclass you’re taking. Some are at no charge but have advertisements in them and some cost money. Decide if it’s something you want to learn and it’s at a time you can listen.
Many teleclasses are recorded so even if you have something else at the same time, you can download the recording to your computer��" if you sign up.
7. Attend live seminars to get new ideas and skills and to network with the others present. You may or may not have the time or money so put one in your budget for next year and go.
All of these activities can take up a lot of your time so know how much you’ll do of each one daily.
Put time and money in your plan under R&D (or education). Do some every week.
by Trudy Van Buskirk
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." ��" Henry Ford
Educating yourself is probably something you did to start your business and don’t do now. You may think you don’t have time for it since you’re too “busy†with your existing clients or finding new ones. The truth is that you should never stop learning (whether you own a business or not) because it has been shown in countless studies that it keeps you young.
Research and Development or education doesn’t have to take much time nor even be formal like courses that give you letters. It doesn’t have to cost a lot either. Like marketing, a little bit can be done every day.
Here’s the way you can educate yourself ��" painfree.
1. Learn to read and understand your financials and all analysis (your website and your newsletter) of your business. You don’t have to become an accountant or a web designer or any kind of “techie†to do this.
2. Read magazines for small business. These always have an article to teach you something. Look at the ads and see what others are doing. They could be your competition or even your clients. If the writer or advertiser is a client then you have a reason to email them and stay in touch.
3. Subscribe to and read email newsletters. There are at least three kinds ��" those with topics you want to learn about, your competition’s, and your client’s. You always want to be learning or keeping up. You want to see what your competitors are doing. You want to learn what your client is doing. Remember that these can be just online versions of the magazine. Do similar things here but check out the links they suggest, too.
4. Read newspapers. Many of these are going away and being made available online, you never know what you’ll learn in them. Do the same things as you did in #2 with magazines.
5. Read books. This may seem like using “old†technology but it really works. Some people (like me) love to read. In fact, we are even known to read the cereal box in the morning! You can buy or borrow books in countless ways. Go into a bookstore to browse, get a book from one of the online bookstores, borrow from someone else (just be sure you return it) or go to the library. Yes, they still exist and people use them.
6. Participate in teleclasses. These are seminars by phone. Be sure of two things ��" have cheap long distance and know what kind of teleclass you’re taking. Some are at no charge but have advertisements in them and some cost money. Decide if it’s something you want to learn and it’s at a time you can listen.
Many teleclasses are recorded so even if you have something else at the same time, you can download the recording to your computer��" if you sign up.
7. Attend live seminars to get new ideas and skills and to network with the others present. You may or may not have the time or money so put one in your budget for next year and go.
All of these activities can take up a lot of your time so know how much you’ll do of each one daily.
Put time and money in your plan under R&D (or education). Do some every week.
2008-03-21
Online Books Store: Books Paradise : cartoon children book store shopping sale online
Online Books Store: Books Paradise
by Fletcher Mak
plug itIn today’s hectic life, Internet has opened thousands of opportunities. Online book store is one amongst them. You can see several online book sellers, thousands of interesting books by titles, authors and favourite publishers at single platform. It could be quite amazing to see huge stocks of books from different streams like humanities, travel, management, technology, medicine, etc. You can buy novels, fictions, horrors or thrillers from online books store. Considered as reader’s paradise, these online book stores are thriving like anything. They facilitate you with long lists of books according to subject and language. If you like to order children book, go to the children book segment and find the best book for your son/daughter. Different online shopping portals categorise books by age group and popularity. If you like reading books, read reviews, latest releases, and order rare books which you always wanted to have. You can also compare price of books with others available online. Buying latest handbooks online is quite beneficial. Offering best bargain, it comes with discounts, gifts and easy payments thereby, enabling buyers to go for it. You could also see expensive books in far less price and enjoy the hassle-free home delivery of books. Buy cheap books from online books store which are slightly used and benefit greatly. Get the best deal by surfing different stores that have top selling books, you want. Go for used book, as they are offered at low prices. If you want to buy 2-3 books then enjoy the bouquet offers and avail attractive discounts simultaneously. Visit online books store and compare prices of books with lowest quotes possible. Browse auction sites and bid on the title or author you want. Wait for stock clearance sales, festive offers or discount coupons and enjoy the convenience of ordering books from home.
by Fletcher Mak
plug itIn today’s hectic life, Internet has opened thousands of opportunities. Online book store is one amongst them. You can see several online book sellers, thousands of interesting books by titles, authors and favourite publishers at single platform. It could be quite amazing to see huge stocks of books from different streams like humanities, travel, management, technology, medicine, etc. You can buy novels, fictions, horrors or thrillers from online books store. Considered as reader’s paradise, these online book stores are thriving like anything. They facilitate you with long lists of books according to subject and language. If you like to order children book, go to the children book segment and find the best book for your son/daughter. Different online shopping portals categorise books by age group and popularity. If you like reading books, read reviews, latest releases, and order rare books which you always wanted to have. You can also compare price of books with others available online. Buying latest handbooks online is quite beneficial. Offering best bargain, it comes with discounts, gifts and easy payments thereby, enabling buyers to go for it. You could also see expensive books in far less price and enjoy the hassle-free home delivery of books. Buy cheap books from online books store which are slightly used and benefit greatly. Get the best deal by surfing different stores that have top selling books, you want. Go for used book, as they are offered at low prices. If you want to buy 2-3 books then enjoy the bouquet offers and avail attractive discounts simultaneously. Visit online books store and compare prices of books with lowest quotes possible. Browse auction sites and bid on the title or author you want. Wait for stock clearance sales, festive offers or discount coupons and enjoy the convenience of ordering books from home.
Book Buying Guide for Babies and Toddlers : cartoon children book store shopping sale online
Book Buying Guide for Babies and Toddlers
by Shauna Hanus
plug itDeciding on which book to buy for your toddler or baby can feel tremendous when standing in the children's area of your local book store. If you find yourself looking and just not knowing which books to buy or where to begin the helpful children's book buying tips below will make short work of your shopping.
Where to Find Books for Babies and Toddlers
Your local library and garage sales are great places to find used books for children. Most libraries hold a used book sale each year where you can buy great children's books at rock bottom prices. Libraries also have books available to borrow for babies and toddlers. This can be a great way to introduce new books to your children.
Book of the month clubs offer an opportunity to build up your own personal library in your home. There are a wide selection of children's book of the month clubs available where you can select books from a catalog and order them from home. Your child will get excited about selecting a new book each month and then have great anticipation waiting for his or her new book to arrive in the mail.
Choosing Storage for Children's Books
Books should always be accessible to young children. By storing books on low book shelves or in low drawers children will be encouraged to pick up books and read.
You may find that children feel a connection to books if they help make a storage container for their books. Try getting an old cardboard box or storage container and having your child decorate the box. When the decorating is finished your child can load the box with his or her favorite books and keep it down low where they can reach in and get a book any time.
Which Book is Best for Babies and Toddlers?
Young babies like to look at colorful board books that are easy to hold and easy to handle. Thick cardboard like books or books with soft sides and vinyl covers allow babies to chew without getting hurt.
Toddlers like to read books with easy to follow story lines and simple rhyming books. Toddlers also like books that relate to their life. Such as stories about potty training or going to school, something the toddler is doing in his life.
Picture books are great for both babies and toddlers. Babies like to look at the colorful pictures and toddlers like to make up story lines to go with the pictures.
Selecting a Time to Read to Children
Babies and toddlers just love to be read to. Any time of day will work for most children when it comes to reading. A nice routine of reading at bed time or after bath time is recommended by many child development specialists.
Just remember that children love to read and if your toddler brings you a book and asks you to read, you should take the time to do so. Reading will build a love of books and foster great memories of quiet time spent together.
by Shauna Hanus
plug itDeciding on which book to buy for your toddler or baby can feel tremendous when standing in the children's area of your local book store. If you find yourself looking and just not knowing which books to buy or where to begin the helpful children's book buying tips below will make short work of your shopping.
Where to Find Books for Babies and Toddlers
Your local library and garage sales are great places to find used books for children. Most libraries hold a used book sale each year where you can buy great children's books at rock bottom prices. Libraries also have books available to borrow for babies and toddlers. This can be a great way to introduce new books to your children.
Book of the month clubs offer an opportunity to build up your own personal library in your home. There are a wide selection of children's book of the month clubs available where you can select books from a catalog and order them from home. Your child will get excited about selecting a new book each month and then have great anticipation waiting for his or her new book to arrive in the mail.
Choosing Storage for Children's Books
Books should always be accessible to young children. By storing books on low book shelves or in low drawers children will be encouraged to pick up books and read.
You may find that children feel a connection to books if they help make a storage container for their books. Try getting an old cardboard box or storage container and having your child decorate the box. When the decorating is finished your child can load the box with his or her favorite books and keep it down low where they can reach in and get a book any time.
Which Book is Best for Babies and Toddlers?
Young babies like to look at colorful board books that are easy to hold and easy to handle. Thick cardboard like books or books with soft sides and vinyl covers allow babies to chew without getting hurt.
Toddlers like to read books with easy to follow story lines and simple rhyming books. Toddlers also like books that relate to their life. Such as stories about potty training or going to school, something the toddler is doing in his life.
Picture books are great for both babies and toddlers. Babies like to look at the colorful pictures and toddlers like to make up story lines to go with the pictures.
Selecting a Time to Read to Children
Babies and toddlers just love to be read to. Any time of day will work for most children when it comes to reading. A nice routine of reading at bed time or after bath time is recommended by many child development specialists.
Just remember that children love to read and if your toddler brings you a book and asks you to read, you should take the time to do so. Reading will build a love of books and foster great memories of quiet time spent together.
Children Books Store: Get the Best Books for Children : cartoon children book store shopping sale online
Children Books Store: Get the Best Books for Children
by Alden Jerry
plug itChildren have always loved reading books. Books are their best companion and give them knowledge. They love to read and get complete information regarding various aspects of life. In school we used to study a number of books on different subjects to gain insight. Every child spends considerable amount of time with books. Story books have always been a great source of entertainment and awareness for kids. Children books help the kids to understand various subjects and learn them in an easy manner.
Every child begins his foray into the world of knowledge and wisdom with the incredible books. Beginning with the initial level nursery rhymes and picture books to the intricate mathematics and science subjects in the middle level, books provide knowledge to children. No one can imagine education without books. Thus they are extremely important for every child. Children books are full of interesting facts presented in funny and comprehensive manner. These books endeavour to present various topics to children in easy and interactive manner so that they can easily understand the important lessons. Books have always contributed in facilitating knowledge and awareness in children.
Storybooks and fairy tales have always attracted children. The awesome tales of Cinderella, Snow White and Rupenzal have entertained kids since ages. How can one forget the fun filled journey of Alice in the Wonderland and the Red Riding Hood’s perils in the forest with the cunning wolf? These stories have entertained the kids. Fairy tales books are quite popular amongst children. These best children fantasy books have characters which take children to the world of whims and fancies; they enthrall them with their magical and wonderful extravaganza and entertaining anecdotes. Kids get thrilled with the amazing stories. Stories are wonderful way to teach them small and important lessons of life. Stories give them the true knowledge about the morals and values through the imaginative characters.
Interactive learning is provided by the various books that have been specially crafted for giving children innovative lessons about the various topics. From numbers to alphabets, from science to literature �"books are the source of knowledge on every subject. It is very important for the young ones to learn the basics of various subjects well and then only they shall be able to understand the complex topics at later stage. Books play a very vital role in this aspect. There have been many highly successful series of books from various authors and publishing houses that have given children the most important and valuable lessons in the most intelligent manner.
From time to time new books for children are published which deal with the various aspects and subjects from different arena. With the advancement in technology and enhancement in lifestyle, today children have better understanding and increased level of comprehensibility. This change has also influenced the children books. Best selling children books are now speaking about the internet and technology etc.
The best place to avail the most awesome children’s books is the various children book stores. These days various online books stores are present on the internet with which one can get the books on various genres and topics for children of all ages.
You can find innovative and interactive picture books and children reading books that teach numbers and alphabets for beginners. For kids between 3 to 4 years you can have books with interesting poems and nursery rhymes. For a bit older kids who can read well, various story books and fictional novels are present. Kids between 7 to 11years love reading comics and thriller books. The famous characters like Archie, Richie Rich, Superman, Sherlock Holmes etc have always entertained children.
Online children book stores are the most reliable place to search for your child’s favourite books. You can avail these books at great prices and avail amazing discounts. The best aspect is that you can avail these books easily right from your home. All you need to do is, select the book and order it online.
by Alden Jerry
plug itChildren have always loved reading books. Books are their best companion and give them knowledge. They love to read and get complete information regarding various aspects of life. In school we used to study a number of books on different subjects to gain insight. Every child spends considerable amount of time with books. Story books have always been a great source of entertainment and awareness for kids. Children books help the kids to understand various subjects and learn them in an easy manner.
Every child begins his foray into the world of knowledge and wisdom with the incredible books. Beginning with the initial level nursery rhymes and picture books to the intricate mathematics and science subjects in the middle level, books provide knowledge to children. No one can imagine education without books. Thus they are extremely important for every child. Children books are full of interesting facts presented in funny and comprehensive manner. These books endeavour to present various topics to children in easy and interactive manner so that they can easily understand the important lessons. Books have always contributed in facilitating knowledge and awareness in children.
Storybooks and fairy tales have always attracted children. The awesome tales of Cinderella, Snow White and Rupenzal have entertained kids since ages. How can one forget the fun filled journey of Alice in the Wonderland and the Red Riding Hood’s perils in the forest with the cunning wolf? These stories have entertained the kids. Fairy tales books are quite popular amongst children. These best children fantasy books have characters which take children to the world of whims and fancies; they enthrall them with their magical and wonderful extravaganza and entertaining anecdotes. Kids get thrilled with the amazing stories. Stories are wonderful way to teach them small and important lessons of life. Stories give them the true knowledge about the morals and values through the imaginative characters.
Interactive learning is provided by the various books that have been specially crafted for giving children innovative lessons about the various topics. From numbers to alphabets, from science to literature �"books are the source of knowledge on every subject. It is very important for the young ones to learn the basics of various subjects well and then only they shall be able to understand the complex topics at later stage. Books play a very vital role in this aspect. There have been many highly successful series of books from various authors and publishing houses that have given children the most important and valuable lessons in the most intelligent manner.
From time to time new books for children are published which deal with the various aspects and subjects from different arena. With the advancement in technology and enhancement in lifestyle, today children have better understanding and increased level of comprehensibility. This change has also influenced the children books. Best selling children books are now speaking about the internet and technology etc.
The best place to avail the most awesome children’s books is the various children book stores. These days various online books stores are present on the internet with which one can get the books on various genres and topics for children of all ages.
You can find innovative and interactive picture books and children reading books that teach numbers and alphabets for beginners. For kids between 3 to 4 years you can have books with interesting poems and nursery rhymes. For a bit older kids who can read well, various story books and fictional novels are present. Kids between 7 to 11years love reading comics and thriller books. The famous characters like Archie, Richie Rich, Superman, Sherlock Holmes etc have always entertained children.
Online children book stores are the most reliable place to search for your child’s favourite books. You can avail these books at great prices and avail amazing discounts. The best aspect is that you can avail these books easily right from your home. All you need to do is, select the book and order it online.
2008-03-11
Not Stocked At The Ballet Store - Your Ability To Concentrate : Shopping sale online : Cartoon-Children's Book store
Not Stocked At The Ballet Store - Your Ability To Concentrate
by Dianne M. Buxton
Advancing in ballet, and into pointe shoes is determined by some finer details other than age, experience and muscle strength. Your ability to concentrate, to form neural pathways (learning new things through concentration and repetition) and to create the correct muscle memory will show that you can go on to pointe work. You must be able to work safely, with no distractions. If you are a little tired, or having an "off day", your ability to concentrate will get you through.
Holding back a young dance student from pointe work, who has the near-perfect physique, allowing for accurate placement and tidy looking exercises, is sometimes advisable.
The extent of muscular strength may not be present yet. Just as important, the maturity and ability to concentrate may not be developed.
The advantage of practising pre-pointe foot exercises is that a student has focused on some finer details of muscle work in the tiny intrinsic foot muscles. These muscles do not get developed well in our footwear, generally.
Specific exercises using the toes like you are playing a piano, or switching off lifting the big toe from the floor, then the other four toes, develop the foot muscles.
But first, the neural pathways are developed. The ability to concentrate on these tiny movements trains the brain to recognize what you want.
Then, after repetitions of the correct movements, the brain connects immediately with the right muscles and the correct movement results. That's muscle memory. And the strength follows.
I've often recommended stretching while you are watching a movie, or studying. Sprawled on the floor with a book, in second position, and slowly stretching and backing off when pain occurs, does not take the same kind of focus.
What you cannot get on the shelf at the ballet store, you can get with practise. Your brain will build neural pathways any way you want. If the technique is accurate, hurrah. If not, you will at some point have to unlearn, and learn again. That is more difficult.
If your power of concentration is not developed, no problem. You just repeat a correctly learned exercise. Your fantastic brain takes over. You feel your muscles and every single part of a movement. THEN you start to build strength.
And when you get into pointe shoes, you already have a better ability to concentrate, a good muscle memory from well built neural pathways, and a measure of control.
Some excellent tips and tricks to build strength, muscle memory, and understanding faster, are provided here.
by Dianne M. Buxton
Advancing in ballet, and into pointe shoes is determined by some finer details other than age, experience and muscle strength. Your ability to concentrate, to form neural pathways (learning new things through concentration and repetition) and to create the correct muscle memory will show that you can go on to pointe work. You must be able to work safely, with no distractions. If you are a little tired, or having an "off day", your ability to concentrate will get you through.
Holding back a young dance student from pointe work, who has the near-perfect physique, allowing for accurate placement and tidy looking exercises, is sometimes advisable.
The extent of muscular strength may not be present yet. Just as important, the maturity and ability to concentrate may not be developed.
The advantage of practising pre-pointe foot exercises is that a student has focused on some finer details of muscle work in the tiny intrinsic foot muscles. These muscles do not get developed well in our footwear, generally.
Specific exercises using the toes like you are playing a piano, or switching off lifting the big toe from the floor, then the other four toes, develop the foot muscles.
But first, the neural pathways are developed. The ability to concentrate on these tiny movements trains the brain to recognize what you want.
Then, after repetitions of the correct movements, the brain connects immediately with the right muscles and the correct movement results. That's muscle memory. And the strength follows.
I've often recommended stretching while you are watching a movie, or studying. Sprawled on the floor with a book, in second position, and slowly stretching and backing off when pain occurs, does not take the same kind of focus.
What you cannot get on the shelf at the ballet store, you can get with practise. Your brain will build neural pathways any way you want. If the technique is accurate, hurrah. If not, you will at some point have to unlearn, and learn again. That is more difficult.
If your power of concentration is not developed, no problem. You just repeat a correctly learned exercise. Your fantastic brain takes over. You feel your muscles and every single part of a movement. THEN you start to build strength.
And when you get into pointe shoes, you already have a better ability to concentrate, a good muscle memory from well built neural pathways, and a measure of control.
Some excellent tips and tricks to build strength, muscle memory, and understanding faster, are provided here.
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