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Family Time
Writing and Reading
Writing and reading go hand in hand. As Stephen King wrote, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” That’s why I set aside time every day to read, not just children’s books, but works of adult fiction and non-fiction that inspire me. When my children were young, I used to take them to the library every week in order to expose them to quality children’s literature and cultivate an interest in reading. My imagination would take off like crazy during these trips, as I saw examples …
Treasure Hunt with the Munch Crunch Bunch
Treasure Hunt with the Munch Crunch Bunch is a storybook and activity book in one designed for children to help them learn about food so they themselves can be empowered to make healthy choices. Now what parent wouldn’t want that? This book has lots of fun, hands-on activities for families: board games; fruit and vegetable food riddles (“foodles”); ways to make grocery shopping educational and fun; and a terrific read tucked inside. Designed for 3-8 year olds, this book has so much color and life it’s entertaining for any parent, relative or teacher. The book is really laid out perfectly …
Danny the Dragon Invited on a Cruise
I am so excited to be a part of the Kiddie Cruise, themed as “Tea Party with Knights and Dragons” which launched out of New York’s Hudson River. Being the only dragon was a thrill! This cruise was aboard the Queen of Hearts which sailed on the Hudson River this past Sunday with goodie bags gathered from some of the best such as Toy Story- along with special gift from Danny the Dragon and me. Tons of kids climb aboard for 2 hours of fun with face painting, karaoke, puppet shows, balloons, arts and crafts and of course, a healthy lunch. Danny the Dragon was a part …
School Library Journal Praises Danny the Dragon
It is with great pleasure that I read the encouraging review of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy in School Library Journal. I am fortunate to have been recognized by many awards programs for this first book in the Danny the Dragon series, but what an honor it was to receive SLJ’s stamp of approval! School Library Journal is “the world’s largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens,” according to its website. The monthly magazine was founded in 1954, and its reviews on kids books are a valuable resource to librarians, teachers, and others who work with …
Danny the Dragon is Recognized by the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards
I’m happy to report that Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, the first book in my Danny the Dragon children’s book series, has been recognized by the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards. The Annual Purple Dragonfly Awards is a contest that seeks to award authors of books that appeal to children in all age groups. On their website, they say that they search for books that “inspire, inform, teach or entertain.” I’m honored that they have found those qualities in the story of Danny the Dragon and Jimmy. This award comes after a series of awards, for which I am …
Danny the Dragon Reading Featured on YouTube
Stay-at-home mom and blogger Annie (www.MamaDweeb.com) has posted a delightful reading of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy to her adorable three-year-old daughter, Lizzie, on YouTube. Have a look yourself at the link below! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8wKtMwFiKI Tina Turbin www.DannyTheDragon.com
iStoryTime Announces New App: A Book for Deaf Children
iStoryTime, the iPhone App Developer for DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon,” announces release of New App with Sign Language Interpretation of Award-Winning Children’s Picture Book “Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy” Los Angeles, CA [August 11, 2010] — iStoryTime, a publisher of children’s storybooks for the iPhone and iPad, announced today the launch of a groundbreaking app for deaf children – a vivid audio-visual presentation of “Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy” that includes a sign-language interpretation. The app is the first of its kind, paving the way for many more cutting-edge products to assist this underserved population. http://www.istorytimeapp.com “We …
Get Some Help, Mom!
Get your family to pitch in with chores around the house, especially the kids. Children may not be expert dishwasher loaders and you’ll always be able to do the chores better yourself, but learn to let it go and get them to help you out with some of the things they’ll be able to handle on their own, even if it’s just pairing together and folding socks. Studies show that children who participate in family chores have a higher chance of growing up more successful than other children. It will raise their feels of self-esteem, make them more competent, …
Turn off the TV—Tips for Families
Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does—television, that is. One of the best decisions I made years ago for myself and for my family was to cut down on television drastically. At first this may seem like a daunting task, but with a few simple tips, parents find it’s much easier than they suspected it would be. First of all, there is the matter of reducing the amount of TV your family watches to just a few shows a week. In order to do this, I recommend a family meeting to discuss your goals …
Encourage Social Skills in Children: Danny the Dragon Author Offers Tips
One of the ways parents can increase involvement is by supporting their child’s education and helping him achieve academic success. An important part of this, which parents don’t often think about, is teaching your kids the social skills they’ll need to succeed in school. Here are some tips for parents on how they can send their child to school with the social skills they need to successfully interact with teachers and other students. First, it’s important to teach your child to ask for what he needs. How can he get help unless he’s able to admit he doesn’t …