Have a kid who loves to draw? Check out our NEW Drawing Skills Master Class!  Designed for kids 6-11 to gain skills and confidence.

Rubber Cement Resist with Watercolors

Thanks for all your comments yesterday! I’m feeling better today. A little less overwhelmed. Maia and I tried another fun watercolor resist earlier this week. With rubber cement! Rubber Cement Resist with Watercolors MATERIALS Watercolor paper or cardstock Rubber cement Watercolor paint (we used liquid watercolors) INSTRUCTIONS I had picked up a book called Watercolor […]

Wax Resist Painting with Watercolors

Here’s a melted crayons art project that even the youngest kid can do (unlike drawing on a hot cookie sheet, as we did recently)! Wax Resist Painting with Watercolors MATERIALS Wax crayons Candle (optional) Cheese grater Watercolor paper Wax paper Iron Watercolor paint

Susan Marie Swanson on Poetry for Children

Susan Marie Swanson is a poet and author of children’s picture books, including The House in the Night (awarded the Caldecott medal this year) and To Be Like the Sun. Besides writing children’s books, she has helped children write their own poetry for over 25 years! Here she shares her own experience on writing poetry for children […]

The House in the Night

  There is a very special book that Maia is requesting almost every night now. It’s called The House in the Night and is written by poet Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes. The text is lyrical and magical and we all love it. Harry and myself as much as Maia. Here’s how […]

The Amazing MaryAnn Kohl

MaryAnn Kohl, author and art teacher extraordinaire, has been bringing art to children for 25 years through her wonderful books (and longer as a teacher). I asked her about her most recent book, Great American Artists for Kids: Hands-On Art Experiences in the Style of the Great American Masters, and how she comes up with […]

Wordless Picture Books for Children :: In the Town All Year ‘Round

We’ve recently been enjoying a few wordless picture books for children. Wordless books are great for open-ended exploration and interpretation by both pre-readers and readers. I like that they can be “read” by young children on their own but also are excellent starting points for discussion if you want to sit down together.

Ginger Huebner on Roots + Wings School of Art

Ginger Huebner is an artist, a mother of two young children, and the founder and director of Asheville's new Roots + Wings School of Art.  Note: Readers will have a chance to win a children's book about one of her favorite artists at the end of the interview. JEAN: First, can you tell us a […]

Rosemary Wells — one of our favorite author illustrators

This Mother Goose book was a baby gift from our neighbor, a children’s librarian. We’re already in love with it. Rosemary Wells is one of our favorite author illustrators, although I have to admit I wasn’t even aware she had done a Mother Goose book! What a pleasant surprise. I like her playful interpretation of […]