Where can you find English books for kids in Germany?
I love living in Germany and sometimes I really need to find a book in English. I’ve decided to make a list of my favorite bookstores that offer English language books, especially those that offer English language books for ages 9 to 12. We all know that voracious readers need books, whether they’re at home […]
Do you know kids who get lost all the time?
My brother was (and is!) excellent at finding his way around. Like Nero, I had to work at learning how to find my way. My big brother became a navigator in the Navy, so you can imagine how well he finds his way around. I love exploring with him! Unfortunately, he doesn’t live nearby and […]
Do you have kids who are smart and creative and nobody notices?
Shy or quiet kids can get easily overlooked if they don’t learn public speaking skills. #nobodyhearsyou If this topic comes up in your house or class, you might enjoy a zany fairy tale adventure about what can go wrong . . . and right. . . when a quiet inventor princess learns to speak up! For ages 9 to 12, but the whole family can enjoy it.
When You Can’t Keep Up with all the New Experiences
This is an epic train journey that is slowly coming down the tracks to you . . . When you can’t keep up with all the new experiences in your life, it’s overwhelming, even when the experiences are good. For many, 2023 was a year of acceleration–after the pandemic, everyone seemed to be making up […]
Washerwomen Day, Rose Monday, and Carnival (Karneval)
Rose Monday is the crown of Germany’s Karneval in the Rhineland. In the last days before Lent, people of all ages stroll the city in gorgeous costumes. Sometimes I also run into young men dressed in convenient cow costumes with a single zipper up the front. Learn more about this colorful holiday and how you can enjoy it with your family in the Seven Kingdoms.
Connect with the kids with REACH 💙📚
Perfect for long-distance relationships with kids! After I learned about Donna Boock’s amazing REACH discussion guides, I reached out 🙂 to her for an interview. She has a great mission: connecting readers and strengthening long-distance relationships. Don’t miss her special gifts to you at the bottom of this post! The audiobook giveaway is now over, but […]
How I recycled to make a cover for my new kobo Clara color ereader
This is the story of a quiet afternoon and what came out of it. Using what you have can remind you that you have “enough” already, sometimes more than enough. If you like to “use what you have”, you might enjoy this step-by-step way to make an ereader cover from an old ice cream bucket. […]
“I Want To Be Strong”
A castle in the middle of the current is strong This castle in the middle of the Rhine is the inspiration for the Blackfly Kingdom in the Seven Kingdoms. It’s doing its best to be strong! Pfalzgrafenstein castle, Germany. And so are you . . .
Cochem and Beilstein
inspired a zany, fairy tale series for ages 9 to 12 Cochem castle in the Mosel valley. ©Laurel Decher, 2018. The inspiration for the Seven Kingdoms Fairy Tales (for ages 9 to 12) comes from the Mosel and Rhine Valleys of Germany. Cochem and Beilstein are two lovely villages worth visiting. But the world of […]
Ice Cream Sundaes Rule in a New Audiobook for Kids! 💙📚
Find out more! Could Ice Cream Sundaes Help? In Rule Trouble: The Case of the Illegal Dragon, Vlad scoops a LOT of ice cream while trying to find a solution for this tricky case! His fairy godparent drives a flying ice cream truck and Vlad learns to make everything on the magical menu. Get the […]
Six Compelling Reasons to Come to the 2024 SCBWI Europolitan in Cologne
Are you an illustrator, writer, or translator who works on books for kids? Six reasons why it’s worth your time to come to Cologne for the 2024 Europolitan. Cachet, Community, Contacts, Craft, Context, Challenge, and Cologne. 🙂
Let the 2024 SCBWI Europolitan Come to You!
Calling all children’s book writers and illustrators in Europe! Focus, Color, Query, and Setting Workshops for Writers and Illustrators of Children’s Books For those of you who can’t make it to the fantastic Europolitan in Cologne, Germany this year (or for those who are but just want a little more), we have a treat for […]