September 2008

Author/Illustrator Program with Tedd Arnold – September 25-26, 2008

by Dianne on September 27, 2008

Dianne de Las Casas & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

Dianne de Las Casas & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

On Thursday and Friday, the Baton Rouge Public Library hosted a children’s book author/illustrator program (this is their 31st year). Their featured author/illustrator was Tedd Arnold. Tedd Arnold is the author/illustrator of Green Wilma, No Jumping on the Bed, Parts (and its sequels), Super Fly Guy (and its sequels), and many other books.

Thursday night’s program was a family program with the presentation geared for kids. Tedd Arnold shared how he was inspired by his two sons, Walter and William, and their stuffed animals, Charlie (the dog) and Foxy (the fox) for a couple of his books. No More Jumping on the Bed was inspired by Walter. No More Water in the Bathtub was written for William. Tedd’s books are filled with laugh-out-loud humor. If you haven’t read any of the Parts books, you have to! Here is Tedd drawing the main character from Parts.

Tedd Arnold Drawing character from book, Parts - Sept 25, 2008

Tedd Arnold Drawing character from book, Parts - Sept 25, 2008

Tedd’s presentation was infused with great humor and light audience participation. He held the interest of children and adults alike. Super Fly Guy is one of Tedd’s most popular book characters. Tedd drew Fly Guy for the audience.

Tedd Arnold\'s Fly Guy - Sept 25, 2008

Tedd Arnold's Fly Guy - Sept 25, 2008

Marita Gentry, the illustrator for my picture book, The Cajun Cornbread Boy, won an illustration from Tedd Arnold.

Marita Gentry & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

Marita Gentry & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

Here is a picture of our book cover. Isn’t Marita talented?

The Cajun Cornbread Boy By Dianne de Las Casas Illustrated by Marita Gentry

The Cajun Cornbread Boy By Dianne de Las Casas Illustrated by Marita Gentry

My 18 year old daughter, Soleil, is majoring in art at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She wants to pursue a career in children’s book illustration. I thought it would be a good idea for her to attend the program. Soleil really got a lot out of both the Thursday night presentation and the Friday morning program. She was able to see the other side of being a children’s book illustrator – presenting for the public. Here is Soleil with Tedd Arnold.

Soleil & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

Soleil & Tedd Arnold - Sept 25, 2008

I highly recommend Tedd Arnold’s books. He’s a phenomenonally funny author and great guy, a super “fly” guy! LOL

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Wednesday, September 24, 2008 – Cooking Brings Us Together

by Dianne on September 24, 2008

Eliana Making Original Recipe - Ladybug Pizzettas

Eliana Making Original Recipe - Ladybug Pizzettas

Friends:

It’s been a few days since my last blog. I have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen with my 8 year old daughter, Eliana. What a delight she is. I love being around her – her enthusiasm is contagious. Since we began her blog, Eliana Cooks! A Creative Kid in the Kitchen, Eliana has been working hard at her craft in the kitchen. We plan menus together, shop together, cook together, and blog together. Eliana has even started writing her very own recipes. She keeps a “Food Notes” journal. Her delight has inspired me to “get creative in the kitchen.” I cooked this meal for my famiy: grilled portabellas with chorizo stuffing in a chipotle adobo cream sauce, grilled stuffed Anaheim peppers, roasted sweet corn, and homemade salsa for a fabulous Fiesta dinner last night.

Portabella with chorizo stuffing in chipote adobo cream sauce, stuffed anaheim pepper, roasted sweet corn, and homemade salsa

Portabella with chorizo stuffing in chipote adobo cream sauce, stuffed anaheim pepper, roasted sweet corn, and homemade salsa

The past couple of days have been tough ones. Yesterday, we found out that my husband’s 55 year old uncle died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Our family is saddened and in shock. My husband just lost his father three months ago so this news came as a big blow. Please keep our family in your prayers.

I have some medical issues I am dealing with and had to have minor surgery today. I am okay – now awaiting test results, which is always nerve-wracking. But this little face helps to keep me going. What a sweetie!

Eliana Making Cream Soda Floats

Eliana Making Cream Soda Floats

Tonight, Eliana made me dinner since I had to take it easy. She made her original “Ladybug Pizzettas.” These mini pizzas were absolutely delicious. I would serve them at a party! Eliana and I plan to write a cookbook together, Cool Kids Cook! We look forward to developing recipes and spending more time cooking in the kitchen together. Eliana will post her recipe on her blog, Eliana Cooks! Check it out.

Eliana\'s Ladybug Pizzettas on the Plate

Eliana's Ladybug Pizzettas on the Plate

I am looking forward to tomorrow. I visit my 18 year old daughter, Soleil, in Baton Rouge. She will be accompanying me to the Baton Rouge Library’s Author-Illustrator program featuring Tedd Arnold. We are both very excited.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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September 19, 2008 – The Date

by Dianne on September 21, 2008

Friends:

With Soleil gone to college and Eliana at her Abuela’s house, Antonio decided it was time for us to go out on a “date.” What a concept for a married couple. LOL So I dolled up…

Sept 19, 2008 - Dianne

Sept 19, 2008 - Dianne

We had dinner at a relatively new restaurant called Alligator Pear’s. I had falling-off-the-bones ribs and tender green beans. Antonio had half a rotisserie chicken with a green salad and potato salad. Afterwards, we went to movies. We saw “Righteous Kill” starring Al Pacino and Robert Deniro. It was a great, suspenseful movie about a serial killer with a surprising twist at the end.

Following the movie, we went to an outdoor concert at a local bar called On the Rocks. The concert featured a popular local band called Bag of Donuts. They dress up like popular cult figures and sing 80s tunes. See Gene Simmons from KISS and the Joker?

Sept 19, 2008 - Bag of Donuts Concert

Sept 19, 2008 - Bag of Donuts Concert

We had a great time. No children, just the two of us. What fun! We should have more date nights! :)

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Craft: Fancy Nancy – Paper Doll Chains

by Dianne on September 19, 2008

Fancy Nancy - Paper Doll Chains

Fancy Nancy - Paper Doll Chains

Fancy Nancy written by Jane O’Connor and Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser is a book about precocious little Nancy who loves everything “fancy.” It’s become a phenomenon, endearing little girls across the nation. I thought the classic paper doll chain would be a perfect accompaniment for Fancy Nancy.

Materials:
Large piece of construction paper cut in half vertically (4.5″ X 12″)
Scissors
Crayons or markers

Directions:
Cut a large sheet of construction paper in half, vertically (4.5″ X 12″). Fold it into 4 parts, accordion style.

Paper Doll Chain - The Accordion Fold

Paper Doll Chain - The Accordion Fold

Next draw the pattern. The pattern must extend to each side of the folds.

Fancy Nancy -Paper Doll Pattern

Fancy Nancy -Paper Doll Pattern

Then cut the pattern out.

Fancy Nancy - Cutting the Paper Doll Chain

Fancy Nancy - Cutting the Paper Doll Chain

Finally, color the dolls. We used the illustrations in Fancy Nancy for inspiration.

Fancy Nancy - Eliana Coloring the Paper Doll Chain

Fancy Nancy - Eliana Coloring the Paper Doll Chain

This simple craft is so much fun. Get crazy and creative!

Fancy Nancy - Beautiful Paper Doll Chain!

Fancy Nancy - Beautiful Paper Doll Chain!

Look how cute the dolls are on Eliana’s bulletin board.

Fancy Nancy - Paper Doll Chain on Eliana\'s Bulletin Board

Fancy Nancy - Paper Doll Chain on Eliana's Bulletin Board

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Craft: Leaf Man – Leaf lllustrations

by Dianne on September 19, 2008

Leaf Man - Gather leaves

Leaf Man - Gather leaves

Friends:

Leaf Man is a fantastic book by Lois Ehlert where the leaves transform into people, birds, fish, vegetables, trees, and more. It’s a great book for the Fall but works year round because trees are everywhere!

Materials:
Lots of different leaves in varying colors
Sheet of white paper
Pictures of animals (if you wish)

Directions:
First, gather leaves. Gather a variety in different colors. We try to pick leaves that have already fallen to the ground. Next, decide what type of animal you want to make and begin assembling the leaves on a white sheet of paper. This may take some experimentation. Try not to alter the shapes of the leaves – work with what you have. Creating leaf illustrations is like assembling a puzzle. Disassemble the puzzle and start again! Here are some examples. This is a mouse by Eliana.

Leaf Mouse by Eliana

Leaf Mouse by Eliana

This is a peacock created by moi!

Leaf Peacock by Dianne

Leaf Peacock by Dianne

This next one was a mother-daughter effort. Can you guess what it is?

Leaf Gator Snapping a Fish

Leaf Gator Snapping a Fish

Use your imagination to create something whimsical, something wonderful!

Leaf Man Book & Leaf Peacock

Leaf Man Book & Leaf Peacock

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Thursday, September 18, 2008 – Library Lessons

by Dianne on September 19, 2008

Sept 18 2008 - Eliana with Her Library Card in the Reading Castle

Sept 18 2008 - Eliana with Her Library Card in the Reading Castle

Friends:

Today, Eliana, my 8 year old daughter, and I went to the library. It was a special trip because she was getting her very own library card. It may not seem like a big deal to you but it is a very big deal to a third grader! This means that she’s a “big girl,” growing up just a little bit more.

I taught Eliana how to use the computer catalog to perform searches and find books. Then we had a lesson on how to find a book by its call number. She learned about the Dewey decimal system and how nonfiction is categorized. Using the call numbers, she found all her books on her own. Eliana checked out 8 books – 7 cookbooks (for ideas and inspiration for her new blog, Eliana Cooks!) and one book on becoming a chef.

Finally, she checked her books out by herself using the self-service check-out machine. She loved that.

Sept 18, 2008 - Eliana is checking out her books

Sept 18, 2008 - Eliana is checking out her books

Going to the library with your children is important. Not only are you putting your valuable tax dollars to work, you are encouraging literacy, supporting your community, and exposing your children to another world through the power of books. Here are some of the services and products the library offers:

* WiFi (wireless internet) access
* Computer use
* Magazines
* DVDs and CDs
* Book Clubs
* Meeting rooms
* Storytimes
* Crafts
* Performances
* Author Visits
* Art Showings
* Books, books, and more books!

Sept 18, 2008 - Eliana\'s Library Books

Sept 18, 2008 - Eliana's Library Books

So get your children a library card and check out the library! Here’s to the power of reading!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Craft: Library Mouse – Tissue Paper Roll Mouse & Book

by Dianne on September 18, 2008

Library Mouse Craft and Book

Library Mouse Craft and Book

Library Mouse – Tissue Paper Roll Mouse & Book
Library Mouse written and illustrated by Daniel Kirk is a fantastic book about reading and writing. Sam, a mouse who lives in the library, loves to read. He is so inspired by books that he decides to write one and sneak it into the library collection. Soon, all the children are buzzing about Sam, the new author. They ask to meet him and in a clever twist, Sam surprises them all and inspires many more authors. In this craft, you will make the tissue paper roll mouse and a small book.

Materials:
Tissue paper roll
Construction Paper
Chenille Sticks (pink and white)
Glue
Stapler

Directions
To make the mouse, from construction paper, cut out a tail, two ears, and two eyes. Pinch one end of the tissue paper roll shut, inserting the tail in the middle. Staple it shut. Wrap the tail around a pen or pencil to create a curl. Pinch the opposite end of the tissue paper roll in the opposite direction (it will look like a triangle). Glue ears at the top and an eye on each side. Cut a small piece of pink chenille and ball it up into a nose, leaving an end sticking out to insert into the tissue paper roll. Cut two small white pieces of chenille stick and fold it in half, creating whiskers. Glue on each side of the nose. Your mouse is ready and will look like this.

Library Mouse Up Close

Library Mouse Up Close

To create the book, cut four equal sizes of white construction paper (the inside of the book). Create a front and back cover in a different color. Staple the book on one side. Voila! Now you have Sam the Mouse and a book of your own to write in! Happy Tales to You!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Craft: Wild About Books Paper Plate Snakes

by Dianne on September 17, 2008

Wild About Books Paper Plate Snakes

Wild About Books Paper Plate Snakes

Wild About Books Paper Plate Snakes

“In a flash every beast in the zoo was stampeding
To learn all about this new something called reading.
Forsaking their niches, their nests, and their nooks,
They went wild, simply wild, about wonderful books…”

And so begins one of my favorite new classics written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown. The story is clever and inspiring while the colorful illustrations slither, stomp, and stampede across the page. To go with this modern classic, I have chosen one of my favorite classic crafts – the simple, slithery paper plate snake.

Materials:
Paper plate
Crayons or markers
Scissors

Directions
Color both sides of the paper plate in any design you wish. Starting on the outer edge, cut the paper plate into a spiral about an inch wide. When you reach the inside, stop so that you have enough paper plate left to form the snake’s head. Make two eyes with a marker. Ssssssssss. Now you and your snake can curl up with a good book.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Book Craft: Humpty Dumpty Egg-Splodes – Egg-ceptional Blown Egg Humpty

by Dianne on September 17, 2008

Eliana Drawing Humpty on a Blown Egg

Eliana Drawing Humpty on a Blown Egg

Humpty Dumpty Egg-Splodes – Blown Egg Humpty
This is a great book by author and illustrator, Kevin O’Malley. Kevin has a wonderful sense of humor (in person and in books). The story begins with a man telling a story… Humpty Dumpty is ginormous and he’s on a rampage. This book is a uproarious romp through Nursery Land with spoofs of nearly every nursery rhyme you can think of. And the end is the stuff made of legends. A great book for boys but equally fun for girls too. Incidentally, Kevin O’Malley won the 2008 Louisiana Young Readers Choice Awards for his book, Once Upon a Motorcycle Dude.

Materials:
Raw egg at room temperature
Pin or Sewing Needle
Pencil
Ultra-thin permanent marker
Colored markers
1X5″ strip of construction paper

Directions:
With a pin or sewing needle poke a hole at each end of the egg. Over the sink or a bowl, blow into one side of the egg. The egg’s insides will emerge out of the other end. Rinse thoroughly then dry in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or bake in an oven for 15 minutes at 275 degrees. The heat will sterilize the egg and harden it further. With a pencil, draw Humpty’s face on the egg. Humpty’s expressions in the book are fun and easy to copy. Next, trace over the pencil with a permanent marker. Color the egg with colored markers. Take the strip of construction paper and tape it into a circle, creating a base for the egg to sit on. We used two eggs (Eliana did one and I did one) and didn’t even waste an egg! This was an egg-citing, egg-ceptional craft!

Egg-ceptional Humpty Dumpty X 2 (Eliana\'s is on the right)

Egg-ceptional Humpty Dumpty X 2 (Eliana's is on the right)

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Craft: Where the Wild Things Are Paper Bag Puppets

by Dianne on September 17, 2008

Where the Wild Things Are Paper Bag Puppet

Where the Wild Things Are Paper Bag Puppet

Where the Wild Things Are – Wild Things Paper Bag Puppets
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak was one of Soleil’s favorite books as a child. I read it over and over and over again. And then she read it over and over and over again until Mommy said, “Be still!”

Materials:
Paper lunch bags
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue

Directions:
This is such a fun craft because I basically let the children cut out their own wild thing features – horns, nose, lips, teeth, hair, eyes, ears, arms, and legs. Simply glue them on to the paper bag. Anything goes! Eliana had a ball with this book craft and wouldn’t let me look until her wild thing was done.

“And when he came to the place where the wild things are they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws…”

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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