children's book author
Did you know that the Victoria Art Gallery features Family Sundays? https://aggv.ca/events/family-sunday-30/ The program happens on the third Sunday of the month and provides an opportunity for hands-on art making activities for all ages.
Sunday, January 19th from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Victoria Art Gallery at 1040 Moss Street.
What do you like to do on Sundays? Share in the comments!
Here’s a wonderful event that we are so lucky to have here in Sidney! On now through March at the Sidney Museum, there is a popular Lego Exhibition. https://sidneybia.ca/calendar-event/lego-exhibition/
Have a look at all of the displays and be inspired to see what you can create. At our house, we have quite a lego collection and though some of it is sorted into actual sets, much of it is a jumble. That really is no matter, though because the random pieces allow for new projects to emerge; ones that don’t match the picture on the box. And for some of us, it is best to work without an end product in mind and just see what unfolds.
So take your family to the Sidney Museum and see what creative potential may emerge. Do you have a photo of your own lego creation or one done by your kids? I’d love it if you’d share! Let’s see your lego creations.
Here’s a great community event coming up. Did you know that Grinched – The Panto is on at Mary Winspear in Sidney? You can get tickets for under $20 dollars per person. It will surely be a great family event during the holiday season. December 26, 27 and 28. http://www.marywinspear.ca/event/grinched-panto-1
In this night time adventure, big sister Kelsey is always her brother’s hero. She bravely helps with lost teddy bears, scraped knees, and favourite picnic foods. But when Thomas can’t sleep because of the lullaby monsters, Kelsey isn’t sure she can help, especially since monsters are the one thing she fears. When Thomas’ precious lullaby box is stolen, Kelsey must face her monstrous fear and in doing so, she discovers that the lullaby monsters are a lot like Thomas.
After a delay in the cover design, we now have The Lullaby Monsters nearly ready for publication, thanks to Paula Nasmith.
Would you like an advance review copy? Contact us to learn how to receive one.
authorcynthiamackey@gmail.com
I’m super excited to go to the Last Chance Craft Fair at the Mary Winspear in Sidney. December 14 and 15. Admission is $5 at the door. https://www.firstandlastchance.ca/
I love getting inspired by the handmade items and it is so much more interesting than the mall. There are so many delicious sights and smells. What do you love about the craft fairs?
Today is #10pbfor10 day! This is the day to pick 10 picture books you cannot live without. Here are mine!
And…I have some exciting news! In my upcoming giveaway, I’m giving story stretcher ideas for all of these beauties! I hope you’ll enter! Giveaway starts here August 14th. You can enter via Facebook too!
Hello and Happy Wednesday! I’m giving weekly writing updates to keep myself motivated. Writing consistently can be a challenge when there are so many distractions. This is my way of keeping myself on track so please humour me here.
So this week I’m feeling incredibly grateful for my online critique group, who have given me some amazing feedback to help move my story forwards. I’d left this one aside for several months while working on other projects but I’m still very passionate about the story. It is a fiction picture book that features an autistic main character whose sensory challenges make it very difficult for him to enjoy something as simple as going to the beach with his family. It is a super challenging story to write because if you know much about autism, you know it presents itself quite differently in each individual.
Yes, it is getting dark and I’m still working.
Anyway, thanks to Tara Perkowski, Tasha Hilderman, Sue Macartney, Akilah Pikou and Emma Wood, I have a new direction and inspiration for this story. I’ve written a couple of new scenes to develop the story and main character further. Revising this story hasn’t been easy but I know it is getting closer to where I want it to be.
How do you keep yourself motivated to get things done?
“When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.” -Creighton Abrams
Hello Readers and Lovers of Picture Books!
Since I have a great appreciation for book reviews, I’m on a mission to post one picture book review each month (weekly over the summer months) of a book I love. All the picture books I review in 2018 from this point forward will be the books of 12×12 members or have a Canadian connection. I hope to help you discover some great new picture books. Thanks for stopping by and reading!
I was excited to read SPORK for a couple of reasons.
1. It is published by KIDS CAN PRESS
2. The title intrigued me right away since I’ve noticed that whenever a child brings a spork to school, he/she is usually very proud of it, recognizing it as unique and different somehow.
Spork gets ignored when it comes time to set the table. He is not a spoon or a fork but something in between. After trying to change himself to become more valued, he finds that he does have a place on the table after all. There are so many mixed race families with parents from two different nationalities; this book helps children understand the feelings that may come from not fitting in. In the end, Spork discovers he has a very important purpose, just like all the utensils in the kitchen. He may be in the minority, but he is still important.
I loved the message and the metaphors. I love the image with the spork staring into the toaster to view his reflection. His cheeks are a little red showing the shame and embarrassment that can come along with being different. I’m not sure if children will like the black and white illustrations but I certainly did. I loved the page full of utensils of no matching kind. Children will be drawn to this as they seem to love tools of any kind. I can see the kid appeal with this book and plan to read it to my class when school gets back in the fall.
What picture books are you reading this summer?
Discover children’s books by Cynthia Mackey
Hello Readers and Lovers of Picture Books!
Since I have a newfound appreciation for book reviews, I’m on a mission to post one picture book review each month of a book I loved. So January’s book is right here: Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi.
There is something about walking through the woods that goes along with stories. Like tea and crumpets, cookies and milk or peanut butter and jam. Anyway, this gentle story has a few unexpected twists and turns that keep the pages turning. The book can be enjoyed for its delightful surprises and re-read for its kid appeal. Who wouldn’t want to attend a tea party in the woods?
Kikko, a likeable main character, wants to deliver a pie to her grandmother’s house. It’s a simple idea, but when her father leaves in advance, all she has to go on are some footprints in the snow and a figure in the distance. The story has a dreamlike quality with an appreciation of bravery and independence. The black and white illustrations with splashes of colour are delightful and different. Reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood, it is full of fun, friendship, encouragement and whimsy. A sure hit with little people and their significant adults! I’m happy to add this one to my library.
Appreciate what you’re reading here? I’d be happy to have your twitter follows and facebook likes. Thanks and have a great day!
