I admit it: I was a quirky kid. In addition to being among the pickiest of picky eaters in my entire elementary school and beyond—I also loved school (even homework), and I looked forward to bedtime. But as a mother and as a Certified Dreamwork … Read More

Find a stick and decorate it with paint, yarn, feathers, wire, beads, or anything else you can find. Now sit in a circle with your family or friends and start to tell a story. You could say, “Have you heard the story about...” … Read More

This fun DIY project comes together quickly and makes for hours of summer fun. Make your beanbags as big or small as you like—or even vary the sizes for added interest (and game-play challenge!). Supplies: Enough craft felt, polar fleece, or felted wool to cut a … Read More

Here’s a favorite recipe for lemon squares that’s easy to make. Kids (and grown-ups!) will love mixing up this tasty treat from Baking Class. Makes 24 bars. Ingredients: Crust: ¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter, at room temperature 1½ cups flour ⅓ cup confectioners’ sugar Filling: … Read More

When it comes to practicing gratitude, it’s never too early to start! Naomi Shulman’s Give Thanks, with Hsingping Pan’s delightful illustrations, offers kids a collection of 50 uplifting activities and games, like this friendship flower, for spreading joy and happiness in the world. What you'll … Read More

My kiddos started second grade this year, but I still remember their first day of preschool and the jitters (mine maybe more than theirs?) when they started—new teachers, new routines, new EVERYTHING. Looking for a fun way to keep the jitters at bay? Whether just … Read More

This fun and functional project from Wilderness Adventure Camp by Frank Grindrod will leave both you and your kids with a sense of accomplishment and a good story (including a spoon as proof!) to share around the dinner table when you return home.

What can we learn from a walk in the woods? It turns out a lot more than you might think. On a recent sunny weekend, I printed out a couple of Tree Bark Scavenger Hunt pages from Backpack Explorer: Discovering Trees (you can download … Read More

DEANNA: How did you decide to become a kid's book illustrator?  HSINPING: I have loved to draw since I was a kid, but I never thought that it could be a career option for me. Until when I was in high school, there was a … Read More

Whether in the backwoods or the backyard, a sun compass is a fun and simple way to use the sun to tell what direction is north. For best results, start making your sun compass before noon, when the sun is still at an angle, not … Read More