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  • From the Mixed-Up Files... > For Kids > Crafts

  • OhMG News!


    March 28, 2013: Big at Bologna

     

     

    This year at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, the focus has shifted to middle-grade.  “A lot of foreign publishers are cutting back on YA and are looking for middle-grade,” said agent Laura Langlie, according to Publisher's Weekly.  Lighly illustrated or stand-alone contemporary middle-grade fiction is getting the most attention.  Read more...

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    March 10, 2013: Marching to New Titles

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Check out these titles releasing in March...

     

     

     

     

     

    March 5, 2013: Catch the BEA Buzz

     

    Titles for BEA's Editor Buzz panels have been announced.  The middle-grade titles selected are:

     

     

    A Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson

     

     

    Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

     

     

    The Fantastic Family Whipple by Matthew Ward

     

     

    Nick and Tesla's High-Voltages Danger Lab by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith

     

     

    The Tie Fetch by Amy Herrick

     

    For more Buzz books in other categories, read more...

     

     

     

    February 20, 2013: Lunching at the MG Roundtable 

     

    Earlier this month, MG authors Jeanne Birdsall, Rebecca Stead, and N.D. Wilson shared insight about writing for the middle grades at an informal luncheon with librarians held in conjunction with the New York Public Library's Children's Literary Salon "Middle Grade: Surviving the Onslaught." 

     

     

    Read about their thoughts...

     

    February 10, 2013: New Books to Love

     

     

     

     

     

    Check out these new titles releasing in February...

     

     

     

    January 28, 2013: Ivan Tops List of Winners 

    The American Library Association today honored the best of the best from 2012, announcing the winners of the Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz awards, along with a host of other prestigious youth media awards, at their annual winter meeting in Seattle.

    The Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature went to The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Honor books were: Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz; Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin; and Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage. 

    The Coretta Scott King Book Award went to Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrated by Brian Pinkney.

    The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, which honors an author for his or her long-standing contributions to children’s literature, was presented to Katherine Paterson.  

    The Pura Belpre Author Award, which honors a Latino author, went to Benjamin Alire Saenz for his novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which was also named a Printz Honor book and won the Stonewall Book Award for its portrayal of the GLBT experience.

    For a complete list of winners…

     

    January 22, 2013: Biography Wins Sydney Taylor

    Louise Borden's His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg, a verse biography of the Swedish humanitarian, has won the Sydney Taylor Award in the middle-grade category. The award is given annually to books of the highest literary merit that highlight the Jewish experience. Aimee Lurie, chair of the awards committee, writes, "Louise Borden's well-researched biography will, without a doubt, inspire children to perform acts of kindness and speak out against oppression."

    For more...

     

    January 17, 2013: Erdrich Wins Second O'Dell

    Louise Erdrich is recipient of the 2013 Scott O'Dell Award for her historical novel Chickadee, the fourth book in her Birchbark House series. Roger Sutton, Horn Book editor and chair of the awards committee, says of Chickadee, "The book has humor and suspense (and disarmingly simple pencil illustrations by the author), providing a picture of 1860s Anishinabe life that is never didactic or exotic and is briskly detailed with the kind of information young readers enjoy." Erdrich also won the O'Dell Award in 2006 for The Game of Silence, the second book in the Birchbark series. 

    For more...

     

    January 15, 2013: After the Call

    Past Newbery winners Jack Gantos, Clare Vanderpool, Neil Gaiman, Rebecca Stead, and Laura Amy Schlitz talk about how winning the Newbery changed (or didn't change) their lives in this piece from Publishers Weekly...

     

    January 2, 2013: On the Big Screen

    One of our Mixed-up Files members may be headed to the movies! Jennifer Nielsen's fantasy adventure novel The False Prince is being adapted for Paramount Pictures by Bryan Cogman, story editor for HBO's Game of Thrones. For more...

     


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Crafts

Since you are here on The Mixed-Up Files, it’s safe to say that you are a book lover like me.  Book related crafts can be great gifts or be a fun way to personalize your own collection. Every now and then, I make a little gift for my favorite librarian and leave it on her desk. She thinks there’s a library pixie, but actually it’s just me, M.G.

Click on the links below for great book-related craft and gift ideas. If you have a craft activity for you or your favorite bibliophile (that’s a fancy word for book-lover), tell us about it so others can try it out!

SUMMER CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES:

When you’re handed lemons…

…make smoothies!  Mixed-Up Files author Diana Greenwood shares some kid-inspired smoothie concoctions the whole family with love!

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/for-kids/crafts/chill/

…create some lemon science!  Mixed-up Author Lill Pluta shares some great ideas to experiment with those extra lemons!

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/for-kids/crafts/lemon-science/

…have a party!  Mixed-Up Author Diana Greenwood shares ideas for a summer lemonade party!

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/for-kids/crafts/summer-lemonade-party/

SPRING CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES:

GREEN-THEMED CRAFTS: Check out this great link with loads of ideas for crafts using recycled materials. Green is busting out all over. For more spring-themed fun, try this origami activity and create your own blooms while waiting for those in your neighborhood to sprout.

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WINTER GIFT AND CRAFT IDEAS

Never forget that books make great gifts.  Consider giving classroom teachers a gift card to your favorite bookstore or donating a book in your child’s name to your child’s school library. Bookmarks can be fun and personal stocking stuffers along with a favorite book. A nice pen set and personalized journal can be a special treat for your up-and-coming author. A book on writing, like Bird by Bird or Stephen King’s On Writing can inspire your favorite adult writer. Here are a few new craft ideas for kids and parents alike. Don’t forget to check out the previous craft suggestions at the bottom of this page for more gift ideas with a personal touch.

Help maintain long-distance relationships with the encylopedia of cousins:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/the-encyclopedia-of-cousins-674752/

Start a new tradition with a family comic book with super heroes you know and love:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/family-story-comic-book-674705/

Make a fun and edible spelling game:

http://familyfun.go.com/winter/winter-crafts/more-winter-crafts/w-i-n-t-e-r-bingo-675087/

Welcome your guests and make a keepsake of your visits with this guest book:

http://familyfun.go.com/winter/winter-crafts/more-winter-crafts/household-guest-book-664820/

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Book-Themed Crafts

Fun-to-browse site with dozens of craft ideas arranged by age, by category, and by materials needed. Easy-follow, printable directions:

http://familyfun.go.com/back-to-school/back-to-school-crafts/school-supplies/back-to-school-supplies-pg-918166/view-all/

Bookmarks

Slip-over-the-corner page marker:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/hold-your-place-in-style-669851/

Magnetic placeholder:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/magnetic-marker-668892/

Traditional tasseled bookmarks:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/novel-bookmarks-710294/

Ribbon “inchworm”:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/inchworm-bookmark-663701/

Printable designs:

http://familyfun.go.com/printables/back-to-school-bookmarks-702869/

Recycled project:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/bookmark-this-675057/

Fancy beaded bookmark:

http://familyfun.go.com/back-to-school/back-to-school-fashions/back-to-school-fashion-accessories/bead-reading-668621/

Origami pencil-shaped bookmarks:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/paper-pencils-674292/

Book Covers

Felt book “blankets”:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/book-blankets-793367/

Paper covers, with ideas for customizing:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/book-covers-662796/

Artistic stenciled paper covers:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/blopens-book-covers-663647/

Journals

Purse style with handle:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/on-the-go-journal-863565/

Bandana-covered notebook:

http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/bandana_craft_notebook_journal.shtml

Denim diary:

http://www.familycorner.com/homegarden/crafts/denim_diary.shtml

Pencil Toppers and Cases

Beaded, felt and colored-paper toppers:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/pencil-toppers-664093/

“Friendship” pens (yarn-wrapped with tassels):

http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/friendship_pens.shtml

Ideas for personalizing vinyl pencil cases:

http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/pencil_case.shtml

Harry Potter-inspired wizard’s broom topper:

http://crafts.kaboose.com/pencil-brooms.html

Turn your pencil into a wizard’s wand:

http://crafts.kaboose.com/pencil-wands.html

Other Fun Crafts

Make a cartoon flip-book:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/flip-book-cartoon-848205/

Create your own mini-book:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/magic-book-892804/

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