Bellaboo Books: Children's Books for the Imagination

The Making of... | Part 1

2011-01-25T15:29:00.000-05:00

The inside has to be strong and pliable - twisting the wire helps double the strength.

I am writing a new children's book about a dog (What else would it be about!?) And so I sent the manuscript out to a few agents and it has been rejected but in kind words and with encouragement to keep trying. So, I figured since I am trained as a filmmaker, why not turn the book into a short film. The short film at hand is now going to be a combination of stop motion (claymation), live action (on a greenscreen) and assembled watercolors. Take a look around and see how it progresses!

Juno is a trusted helper and aid. She never leaves my side. Now if she could only make coffee.

The origional Jack complete with scarf!

Ohioana Book Festival | May 2010

2011-01-10T16:38:00.001-05:00

The entrance to the festival. It is located in a old warehouse that is slowly being converted into a huge library.

I was happy to see this display, something I had not seen before.

The entrance to the author tables - a great group of people!

I put sticker paws that lead up to our table to draw our audience in... here I am illustrating how....

It was a lovely time at the Ohioana Book Fesival. Here I am posing in front of the Governors House. After the festival, the reception was held in the back yard of the Governer's Mansion. It is a beautiful home, we were given a short tour and then onto the wine and cheese. I saw the solar panels that had been placed onto the garage a few years back which was cool.

Another view of the lovely Governor's Mansion! In the big league now! he he.

The Porch Dream book trailer now online!

2010-05-25T12:42:00.000-04:00

Take a look inside our new Book Trailer - hot off the editing machine press!

"The Porch Dream" is faithful to its promise and takes dreaming images to a new level in its lovely illustrations and poetry." as states the Midwest Book Review

Research trip NYC while attending the SCBWI Winter conference

2010-05-25T12:35:00.000-04:00

Ohioana Book Festival

2010-04-16T14:22:00.000-04:00

We are getting excited for the Ohioana Book Festival coming up May 8th from 10am to 4:30pm. I will be signing The Porch Dream and giving away free coloring pages and bookmarks - so please stop by if you find your in Columbus that day!

Click here to see info on all the Ohio authors that will be there.

the creation process

2010-04-02T10:23:00.000-04:00

I am starting something new - the next book. I've written the story but now to find the right combination of drawing and painting to bring the story to life. Stay tuned.

Amelia Island Book Signing

2010-03-09T09:14:00.000-05:00

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

2010-03-09T09:04:00.005-05:00

The Porch Dream (Every Dog Has a Dream...)
Tiffany Ann Laufer
Bellaboo Books.com
9780982008829, $15.99 www.bellaboobooks.com

"The Porch Dream," a popular seller at the Buckeye Book Fair this year, is a dog's (named Bellaboo, Bella for short) poetic dream of saving the earth through recycling adventures. A wonderful fantasy of recycling adventures and dreams of trash-rescuing permeate "The Porch Dream" in all its wonderful colored illustrations. Just how Bella imagines ways to save the world from "packages, parcels and postage, deliveries, drop-offs and more, but dreaming of sheep she also adored..." and including "Egg beaters, buttons, bananas and lamps, cameras, compost, carrots and stamps. Our recycling adventures have made us champs!" Bella's porch dream grows ever more fantastic, and ends with a beautiful bubble vision, Bella awakening to the day on the porch with her friend Colby to find that once again they were indeed saving the day "in various ways." "The Porch Dream" is faithful to its promise and takes dreaming images to a new level in its lovely illustrations and poetry. -MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW MARCH 2010

Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2009

2009-11-12T16:08:00.003-05:00

By THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
Every year since 1952, the Book Review has asked a panel of judges to select 10 books from among the several thousand children’s books published that year. The judges this time around were Adam Gopnik, who writes regularly for The New Yorker and is the author of two novels for children, “The King in the Window” and the forthcoming “Steps Across the Water”; Jillian Tamaki, a teacher at the School of Visual Arts and the recipient of a Society of Illustrators gold medal; and Lisa Von Drasek, the children’s librarian of the Bank Street College of Education.

Come on down to Wooster! the Buckeye Book Fair

2009-11-06T22:43:00.004-05:00

This is it - the Buckeye Book Fair - 100 authors/artists from all around Ohio and beyond - ready to tell you some brilliant and beautiful stories. Bring your eager mind and checkbook to shop for all your friends and family. Think of it, you could be done with all your holiday shopping in just one place!

The Porch Dream will be there, come on out and say hi! Meet some new friends!

ps: I designed the POSTER, yahoo!

Book Signing | December 19th 11-1pm | Sunbeam

2009-11-05T09:56:00.003-05:00

Get ready for some storytelling, tasty cookies and shopping for a good cause. I shall be reading and signing copies of The Porch Dream at SUNBEAM | A shop for children on Fairmount Blvd. - Sales from Sunbeam go to benefit Vocational Guidance Services In addition, anyone who brings in a doggie or cat related donation for the CLEVELAND ANIMAL PROTECTIVE LEAGUE will receive a discount at the store that day.

This year you can buy a gift and support all local people directly. The Porch Dream was printed in the USA so even there - more home based jobs supported.

The Package Arrived - Layout enclosed

2009-09-07T13:33:00.007-04:00

I am almost ready to print THE PORCH DREAM. Yahoo! Crazy cakes! and it's a dream to be saying that as well. Say it again, crazy cakes! From the printer I received four things that have to be approved and then sent back. Here's what I got back - just in case you ever want to do a book, here's what you'll get:

1. Cover

2. Dust jacket (on the far left or above it's the bottom one)

3. Contents - this is not printed to the highest resolution, more for layout and such

4. Layouts of each page printed at the highest resolution.
I checked everything and ended up re-uploading corrected pages and then sent it back to the printer....
upnext...Online proofs and then to the PRESSES WE GO.

I'll let you know when the book arrives!

Georgia O'Keefe as inspiration

2009-09-02T14:39:00.002-04:00

Great new link from the ALA for websites for Kids

2009-08-28T11:37:00.004-04:00

ALSC announces exceptional Web sites for children ... The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association, has added Web sites this fall to Great Web Sites for Kids (www.ala.org/greatsites)... “Not all Web sites for kids are created equal,” said Karen Lemmons, co-chair of the committee and a library media specialist at Howe Elementary School in Detroit. “To make the cut and appear on the Great Web sites for Kids, a site must demonstrate commendable quality and reflect and encourage young people’s interests in exemplary ways. Sites must stand up to an evaluation and voting process by the committee before being deemed ‘great’ and added to the GWS page.”

Easy FELT Flowers for your desk, stroller, bookmark...

2009-08-16T12:57:00.009-04:00

Gathering the materials is the hardest thing - from here it's pretty simple. Enjoy!

Swedish Has Beens adorable shoes

2009-08-05T15:28:00.002-04:00

Adorable Swedish shoes - just found these at Swedish Has Beens - what luxury - don't fret they have them in our size too (albeit abit pricey wow!) But we can dream, right?

Simple sewing for beginners: The New Handmade

2009-05-01T10:25:00.003-04:00

Just bought this book and plan to make several things with my niece this summer. Cool projects that are easy beginning sewing and utilitarian objects which get used!

from amazon description:
In an age of mass-produced fashion, express your individual style! Create handmade projects for your wardrobe and home with only a small time commitment and basic sewing skills. Now you can make fun, useful accessories and gifts with the contemporary fabrics you love.

* Choose from totes and bags, cases and covers, fashion accents, and home decor projects
* Learn techniques you'll use again and again, such as installing zippers, using fusible applique, and basic machine quilting
* Mix and match the elements to make each design a one-of-a-kind masterpiece

Buckeye Book Fair • November 2009

2009-05-01T10:20:00.002-04:00

Poster design: Tiffany Ann Laufer - I submitted this to them and they graciously used it, yipee! The power of doing something from the heart!

That's it - Novmber 7, 2009 we be meeting new friends and celebrating books, reading and creativity at the 22nd annual Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster, Ohio.

Making Books with Children | a link

2009-04-21T13:55:00.003-04:00

Check out these great projects by Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord- free instructions and ideas for fun projects to do with your kids.

http://www.makingbooks.com/freeprojects.shtml

Stick & Elastic Book

This is a fun book because it is so simple and so clever. The directions start by folding paper in half the long way. By doing this you can reuse paper as long as it has writing on only one side. You can also use single sheets of paper. If you use new paper, you can skip the first step and make a larger book. Your book can have more pages but it will be harder to punch through all the layers at once. Although the book is simple, punching the holes and manipulating the elastic can be awkward. I don't make it with groups but it's perfect with a few children.

You Need:
* 2 sheets paper (it can have writing on one side)
* 1 elastic band (I use ones from vegetables and newspaper delivery)
* 1 stick about the height of the folded paper after step 1
* Hole punch

Making the Book:
1. Fold each paper in half the long way so that is long and skinny like a hot dog. If it has writing on it, the writing should be on the inside.

2. Fold each paper in half the other way.

3. Tuck one folded piece inside the other.

4. Punch two holes through all the layers about 1/4" in from the folded edge of the papers.

5. Wrap the elastic around the top of the stick and put the end into and through the top hole.

6. Turn the book over. At the back of the book, pull the end of the elastic down and put it through the bottom hole. Insert the other end of the stick into the loop.

Felt dolls for grown up girls too!

2009-04-15T09:50:00.001-04:00

Again, this from the Purl Bee...dolls made by Mimi Kirchner. Simply beautiful and inspirational - don't you want to just open the craft closet and get your supplies out? Check her blog here!

Dresses! Alas once I was a young girl too!

2009-04-09T18:13:00.005-04:00

I've been learning to sew and I have a long road ahead for sure. But this pattern was relatively easy and look, it worked!

Here is a second dress I started for another friend - this time abit more spicy!

Easter Finger Puppets

2009-04-09T18:09:00.001-04:00

Easter Finger puppets from The Purl Bee. Click here to learn how to make them!

Baltimore Book Festival | Bellaboo Books Accepted!

2009-03-13T09:38:00.004-04:00

Great news! Bellaboo Books is participating in the Baltimore Book Festival, September 26, 2009 from 12pm - 8pm. This will be our first book fair and we are excited to meet other authors and readers alike.

WHERE: Mount Vernon Place
600 Block North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Our new book 'The Porch Dream' will be on sale and ready for the taking! Can't wait to show it off to the world!

I’ll spell it out: if children can’t read, lives are ruined

2009-02-23T14:38:00.001-05:00

By Minette Marrin, The Times Online

This country’s education system is a betrayal of this country’s children. It blunts their intelligence, narrows their perspectives and blasts their future prospects. How often does that need to be said? Of course it is not universally true; many children defy the system, one way or another. But the point is that the system is bad. If the word “institutionally” means anything, this country’s education system is institutionally unfit for purpose.

Those who assume that I am exaggerating, as columnists do, should consider the interim report published last week by the Cambridge Primary Review, the biggest independent inquiry into state primary school education in England for 40 years, led by Professor Robin Alexander. After three years of exhaustive research by his team, he says “our argument is that [primary school children’s] education, and to some degree their lives, are impoverished if they have received an education that is so fundamentally deficient”.

At last a knight in shining educational armour seems to have come galloping over the hill. His review finds that the curriculum has been politicised, that the education department and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority have been excessively prescriptive in their micro-management of schools, that their focus on “literacy” and numeracy and testing has squeezed out other learning, and that children are being denied a broad and rich curriculum - with history, geography, music, art and drama the greatest losses. Alexander insists the arts and humanities “help to hold the line between civilisation and philistinism” but “in these severely utilitarian and philistine times” this argument “no longer cuts much ice”.

Fundamentally deficient. Impoverished. That’s telling them. The government is understandably furious. However, the professor’s armour is not quite so spectacularly shining as it might be. I feel he is missing some centrally important points. Of course we should return, as he says, to a broad, rich, varied curriculum tailored to the individual child and its ability. Of course it’s wrong to harry children though a narrow and painful thicket of pointless and politicised exams. Of course it is a tragedy that we are becoming a nation of philistines.

However, there is no point in proposing a wide and imaginative course of study for children who cannot read well. A child who cannot read well cannot learn. He or she cannot possibly share the riches of a wide education or the freedom of the literate mind to teach and enrich itself when others can’t or won’t. And the reason our schools fail so badly, the reason teachers teach narrowly to the dubious “literacy” tests, is that they have failed to teach little children to read properly in the first place.

That failure is what originally prompted all the hated micro-management from both political parties. Politicians just wanted to stop the rot in schools. The cure - extreme interference and its unintended evil consequences - may have proved to be as bad as the condition, but both Conservative and Labour governments had good intentions. The Conservatives’ national curriculum and league tables and then new Labour’s minute-by-minute intrusion into every school and into every teacher’s head were efforts to highlight and to resist the mysterious forces of educational failure.

These forces have somehow defeated the government’s best intentions. Children are still leaving their primary schools without being able to read properly, which means they are ineducable. There is constant dispute about figures and definitions, but it’s now commonly agreed that 20% of children leave primary school unable to read at the appropriate level for their age and that in many inner-city problem schools up to 40% of children arrive at 11 with a reading age of less than nine. It’s like putting a child who can’t swim into the deep end of a pool. Those who can’t swim, sink, as we see.

Evidence that I am not exaggerating comes, again, from an earlier report put out under the umbrella of Alexander’s Primary Review. In 2007 a study questioned whether the “massive investment” in national literacy and numeracy strategies for primary schools had produced value for money by raising standards. Professor Peter Tymms and Dr Christine Merrell, two researchers at Durham University, argued that the rise in standards claimed by the authorities could simply be the result of teachers tailoring their teaching to the test.

Worse still, the study suggested the results of the tests were often wrong anyway. As many as one in three primary school 11-year-olds (about 200,000 children) may have been awarded the wrong grade in their all-important maths and English national curriculum tests. This undermines the government’s claims that standards in the three Rs have gone up.

To return to the central question, why do so many children read so little and so badly, there are some glaringly obvious answers. First of all they are not being taught to read - to decode - words in the quickest, most efficient, most teacher-proof way. Every child, apart from a minuscule minority with serious disabilities, can learn to decode words through any good system of synthetic phonics - CAT spells cat. The huge resistance to this idea in the educational establishment is a constant mystery to me.

Another reason for this failure is that teachers are all too often not taught in their training how to teach children to read. There are also some very poor teachers around. And as any head teacher knows, it takes a lot of time, courage, persistence, money and support from the LEA to sack them: there’s every incentive to leave a bad teacher in place. But it takes only one bad primary school teacher to ruin a child’s chances for life. Last week the head of admissions at Cambridge University said very publicly that state school children are being handicapped academically by poor-quality teachers.

Finally, the government’s many reading schemes are rather dubious. And the reason, once again, is the deeply ingrained resistance at all levels in the education world to phonics. The original national literacy scheme, with its literacy hour, was undermined from the start by those determined to use several different reading systems as well as phonics. The Every Child a Reader scheme and its vastly expensive Reading Recovery initiative (£5,000 per child per year) are very questionable. What’s needed is a radical review of all these schemes. Until then, wishes for educational utopia will remain just that.

The New Book Banning, Children’s books burn, courtesy of the federal government.

2009-02-19T10:57:00.003-05:00

Read this excerpt pertaining to the passing of the CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008 specifically in that children's books before 1985 are to be destroyed. The New York Times hasn't even written about this - the bastion of privelaged reading, why not Times?

"Whatever the future of new media may hold, ours will be a poorer world if we begin to lose (or “sequester” from children) the millions of books published before our own era. They serve as a path into history, literature, and imagination for kids everywhere. They link the generations by enabling parents to pass on the stories and discoveries in which they delighted as children. Their illustrations open up worlds far removed from what kids are likely to see on the video or TV screen. Could we really be on the verge of losing all of this? And if this is what government protection of our kids means, shouldn’t we be thinking instead about protecting our kids from the government?"

READ FURTHER ON "The New Book Banning"

Here is another great article: Pass it on!

Children's Books in Dumpsters: Washington's Madness Continues, by Gary North

An excerpt here: "But why? "Stop dangerous lead paint!" Right. The lead paint in pre-1985 kids' books in minuscule traces. There is no known example of any child being injured by lead paint from a book. No matter. The law's the law."

Read to Me: a new video

2009-02-16T16:18:00.002-05:00

Behind the scenes here at Bellaboo Children's books, Belladog and her friend Colby got to take a sneak peek at the forthcoming book 'The Porch Dream'. I thought it only fair since they both starred in the book. Many thanks to Ann and Colby for helping us put this together.

A day at the Beach

2009-02-09T12:42:00.004-05:00

A day at the beach, though cold is always a welcome outing.

The Agent Search

2009-02-09T12:27:00.003-05:00

Bella and I have sent the book out to four agents, and while that's not nearly enough I am told, we are anxious nonetheless. We've actually heard back from two who passed. It was disappointing but not unexpected. So, we'll continue sending the book out and see what happens. With the cold of winter is makes the waiting go even slower. Even the scoobie boot doesn't get as much playtime while Bella waits by the door for Fedex.

Bellaboo Dog featured on 'Wag Reflex'

2009-01-21T16:28:00.003-05:00

Hey there, great news - Bellaboo Dog has been featured on the Amazon blog 'Wag Reflex'.
Check the link out - http://www.wagreflex.com/. How exciting!

Thanks Amazon!

B-Bugs! at The Cleveland Museum of Art Chalk Festival

2009-01-12T18:32:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share with the world out there my love for the Cleveland Museum of Art's Chalk Festival. Last September 20,08 I took part in the fundraising festival of chalk held each year on the front garden of the CMA. Here is my 'before' canvas if you will - a clean block of slate -

And then here is my finished 'masterpiece'! Horrah! and if you'll notice that it's full of B-Bug's from my counting book "Bellaboo & B-Bug's Book of Counting". It was such a fun time with families and amazing professional artists all down on their hand and knees drawing and creating art. Go cleveland! Dates for this year have not been posted yet - come join me next year!

Bags! Mugs! Dog bowl! and Onsies!

2009-01-09T15:15:00.002-05:00

"Read. Love. Live" that's our new official must repeat every morning mantra! We now have cloth bags, baby onsies, and other cool stuff available through Cafe Press!
Check them out, here!

Etsy.com & Cafe Press

2009-01-09T14:53:00.008-05:00

Bellaboo Books is now available through Etsy.com
Check out our Etsy site: here!

Dogs can detect early lung, breast cancer, study finds

2009-01-08T16:10:00.005-05:00

Dogs truly are amazing and with over 200 million scent receptors they can help us in ways we are only now coming to understand. Read below for a great find.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Courtesy Sage Publications
and World Science staff

In a society where lung and breast cancers are leading causes of cancer death worldwide, early detection of the disease is highly desirable. A new study has found that dogs might be able to help detect these cancers early.

The study is to appear in the March 2006 issue of the research journal Integrative Cancer Therapies.

The scientists said dogs’ extraordinary scenting ability can distinguish people with both early and late stage lung and breast cancers from healthy people. The research, performed in California, was recently documented by the BBC in the United Kingdom, and is soon to be aired in the United States, researchers said.

Other studies have documented dogs’ abilities to identify chemicals that are diluted as low as parts per trillion. The clinical implications of canine sniffing first came to light in the case report of a dog alerting its owner to skin cancer by constantly sniffing the skin lesion. Subsequent studies published in medical journals reported trained dogs’ ability to detect both melanomas and bladder cancers.

The new study, led by Michael McCulloch of the Pine Street Foundation in San Anselmo, California, and Tadeusz Jezierski of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, is the first to test whether dogs can detect cancers only by sniffing the exhaled breath of cancer patients, the researchers said.

Five household dogs were trained within a three-week period to detect lung or breast cancer by sniffing the breath of cancer participants.

The trial was comprised of 55 lung cancer and 31 breast cancer patients who had not yet undergone chemotherapy, and 83 healthy patients.

The dogs were presented with breath samples from the human participants, captured in a special tube. Dogs were trained to identify a cancer patient by sitting or lying down directly in front of a test station containing a cancer patient sample, while ignoring samples from healthy people.

The results showed dogs can detect breast and lung cancer with sensitivity and specificity between 88 percent and 97 percent, the researchers reported. The accuracy persisted even after results were adjusted to take into account whether the lung cancer patients were currently smokers.

Moreover, the study also confirmed that the trained dogs could even detect the early stages of both diseases. The researchers concluded that with further work, breath analysis could substantially reduce the uncertainties of cancer diagnosis methods.

Further reading at the SAGE Journals Online

Raising a 'reading' child, 2009!

2009-01-01T21:49:00.003-05:00

Did you know that children develop literacy skills before they learn to read - just as they develop language skills long before they begin to speak. Here are five ways every family can encourage reading and raise a reading child. These are from the San Mateo County Library and America.gov websites.

1. Read out loud to or with your child at least once a day, even if it's as little as 10 minutes. No matter how young the child is the sound of your voice, time spent together and example you set will make a lasting impression.

2. Visit your local library at least once a month. Libraries have numerous literacy programs, book and materials (books on tape, puzzles, etc.) that help engage your young reader.

3. Get yourself and your child a library card. Access to the library opens doors of knowledge, encouraging and supporting creativity and imagination - both tools for academic success.

4. Attend library story times and other family programs. Story times are fun and educational for children. In addition to educating parents on exciting new books for the age level, story time is a great time to meet new friends and members in the community.

5. Most simple of these is to READ yourself as a parent, for you are the best teacher your child will ever have.

Who is Bellaboo dog? The fyi.

2008-12-31T13:16:00.005-05:00

Happy almost New Year! 2009 Here we come.

Introduction: Bella is also called 'Bellaboo dixie daisy dog of the wild frontier'. She is probably 4 years old, 60lbs and from the Animal Protective League in Cleveland, Ohio. Bella has introduced this first time dog owner to the joys of dogs! She has opened my heart, mind and even home - together we've become 'foster parents' to many puppies from the APL in need of temporary homes. Bella was originally from an Indiana shelter where she was turned in with a litter of puppies and then eventually transfered all the way to Cleveland. When I met her the puppies were gone and yet she was smiling and ready to love.

Home: Now it's Bar Harbor, ME - Part polar bear Bella can't wait for the snow!

Age: 4 years (?)

Breed: Mixed. Possibly German Shepherd, Greyhound, Retriever (?)

Personality: Bella is mellow and yet can run faster than your average cheetah outside. Thus we believed the APL when they said 'greyhound'. She loves to play fetch and would retreive tennis balls and sticks all day - at least until a squirrel shows up and then it's all out pointer - she stalks silently and then will raise a paw and point in the targeted area. She once stole three sticks of butter off the counter to which she threw up (Thank God) although it was on the bedroom rug.

Likes: She has two best buddies - Colby the mutt and Percy the purebread. Also..did I mention butter? However, she mostly likes chasing and pointing out squirrels. Chasing cats comes close when she's being really bad. Lastly, she loves to sleep curled up at my side on the couch and I must say that is my favorite thing ever.

Dislikes: The vacuum cleaner, large trucks, gun shots (or of the similar) and small screaming children.

Favorite Toy: Dirty duck, little green man, the crazy ball on a rope (that hits her face when she wails it around - go figure?), the noisy hedge hog and the old scoobie doubie doo slipper.

Favorite Food: Turkey! Bacon! Squirrel!

Trivia: I went back three times to visit Bella at the Animal Protective League and she was there each time. I'd like to think that she and I were meant for each other.

Lemon Poppyseed Scones from Sticky Fingers Bakery

2008-12-30T11:28:00.002-05:00

Just got this prepackaged mix from my Mom and these are the most delicate and tasty scones I've ever made. I added a squeeze of fresh lemon juice as part of the water and it's quite unbelievable. Sticky Fingers Bakery is based in Spokane Washington and carries a whole line of great products.

Favorite Children's Books

2008-12-19T10:23:00.010-05:00

Orange Pear Apple Bear

by Emily Gravett

Actually, anything written by her is quite amazing.

Simply elegant and witty!

Tuesday

by David Wiesner

This book is unique in that there are no words, the first page opens with just a time of day... I love all his books but this one stands out in my mind for it's complete dive into the world of what if.

The Story of Ferdinand

by Munro Leaf

Growing up this is the story I liked best. I hadn't realized it was so old. (1936)

Rough Drafts

2008-12-19T09:55:00.006-05:00

Special thanks to all of you who have given me feedback and thoughts on my spelling, every now and then you misspell a word, right?

I have thoroughly enjoyed making 'The Porch Dream'. It's been something I look forward to each day sitting at my computer waiting for the harddrive to warm up. Thanks for being a part of it!

This is Savannah the city Rabbit giving me some additional pointers.

Snow in Bar Harbor!

2008-12-18T13:57:00.002-05:00

Finally, winter is here with four inches of snow and it stuck. Somehow it's not quite Christmas with out snow. Bella dog loves snow and with her huge white paws somedays I think she's part Polar Bear!

In the Works: "The Porch Dream"

2008-12-17T20:45:00.000-05:00

The Porch Dream is almost done! As we speak I am sending the manuscript out to literary agents, keep your fingers crossed! If there are no agents interested then Bellaboo Books will distribute The Porch Dream independently.

Welcome Friends!

2008-12-17T17:11:00.000-05:00

In my quest to believe in dreams...I have created a series of children's books that inspire, educate and most importantly, spark the imagination and creativity of young and old, children and parents alike.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy!