Debbie Ridpath Ohi's Blog, page 12
December 28, 2018
Free, print-ready template: Insert for iPhone XS Max case with clear back
I recently started printing out and/or drawing on custom inserts for my iPhone XS Max case; I'm currently using an Otterbox Traction Series case with a clear back. In case anyone else wants to experiment with these as well, here's a free, print-ready template (3 per page). ***I strongly advise printing out a test on cheap paper first and doing a test cutout to see how the template fits your case. You will also need to do a bit of trimming here and there.
Ideas for authors and illustrators: design an insert with characters from your upcoming book, or book covers. For a recent event, I printed out an insert with my name, Twitter and Instagram accounts - that way whenever I took a photo of people at the event, they could see who I am (if they didn't know already) as well as where they could find my livetweets/posts.
Idea for illustrators: print out the template on nice paper and then fill the paper with art. Make sure you don't draw with anything that might leave marks on the back of your iPhone! And again, do a test printout/cutout with cheap paper before starting to draw, to see how the template will fit your case.
You can find more free, print-ready templates and activities at DebbieOhi.com/printready. I've collected so many templates, posters, activity sheets etc. that this coming year, my plan is to reorganize into different pages to make my Free, Print-Ready Archive easier to navigate. I'll be posting updates as well as special bonus offers in my email newsletter (which I also plan to update more regularly :-)).
December 23, 2018
Need a gift for a book lover, writer or illustrator but have a small budget? Give them some TIME.
Looking for a meaningful gift for a friend but don't have the cash? Consider giving them TIME to read, write or illustrate. Click the image above for a print-ready PDF or download the "Gift Of Time" gift certificate here.
Depending on your relationship with the recipient, you could offer to do dishes for a week, pick up the kids from school, x number of hours of running, grocery shopping, babysitting and so on. If your friend complains about not having time to read, combine this certificate with a book.
Some suggestions for presenting the gift:
- Slip the certificate into a white envelope and then decorate the envelope with holiday stickers, sparkles, doodles, etc.
- Roll up the certificate and tie a color ribbon around it. Present it as is, or wrapped in gold tissue paper.
- Combine the certificate with themed gift, like with some packaged soothing chamomile or mint tea, chocolates in a mug, or other "it's time to spoil yourself" items.
- Combine the certificate with one of your favorite books.
Enjoy!
For more free, print-ready goodies, see Debbie's Print-Ready Archives.
December 20, 2018
December 18, 2018
THE SWAN RIDERS by Erin Bow (sequel to THE SCORPION RULES, Simon & Schuster)
For more info about Erin Bow's Prisoner Of Peace series, see this Simon & Schuster page.
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More info: Donalyn Miller's #BookADay Challenge - My #BookADay Archives (also see my visual #BookADay archive on Padlet, Flickr and Pinterest).
December 5, 2018
MY BEAUTIFUL BIRDS by Suzanne Del Rizzo (Pajama Press)
Yay, my copy of MY BEAUTIFUL BIRDS by Suzanne Del Rizzo (Pajama Press) now has a signed bookplate! Thanks, Suzanne. :-) This book about a young boy's refugee experience in the Syrian Civil War has received many accolades, and deservedly so.
From the New York Times: “If you’ve been wondering how to present the refugee crisis to children without losing faith in humanity, take a look at this graceful, even uplifting book.”
Find out more about Suzanne's book on the Pajama Press website.
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More info: Donalyn Miller's #BookADay Challenge - My #BookADay Archives (also see my visual #BookADay archive on Padlet, Flickr and Pinterest).
December 4, 2018
Advice For Young Writers, Quotes That Inspire, Why Picture Books Are Important, Advice For Young Writers - Three Questions With Author/Educator Frank Murphy
Frank Murphy is a teacher who writes and a writer who teaches. He spends most days at Holland Elementary School in Bucks County, Pennsylvania teaching 6th graders. I first came across Frank via Twitter, when I was impressed by his positive energy and joyous enthusiasm for teaching and children's books. You can find out more about Frank and his work at FrankMurphyBooks.com, Instagram and Twitter.
Upcoming Books:
A Boy Like You (Sleeping Bear Press, July 2019): Written by Frank Murphy, illustrated by Kayla Harren.
Frederick Douglass: Voice For Justice, Voice For Freedom (Random House, December 2019): Written by Frank Murphy, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell.
Q. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?
I do most of my writing on a Chromebook in a little study I have that doubles as a sunroom – my dog, Jumper, usually sits with me! Right above the sliding glass door, I have a piece of wire art (that I had made by a street artist in SoHo, New York City).
They are my favorite words written by Frederick Douglass, from his description of how he felt when he stepped onto free soil for the first time in New York City: “…after reaching New York, I said: 'I felt as one might feel upon escape from a den of hungry lions.' Anguish and grief, like darkness and rain, may be depicted; but gladness and joy, like the rainbow, defy the skill of pen or pencil.”
For me, these words inspire me to write words and sentences and stories that people will stop and feel and remember – like they do when they see a rainbow; I want to string together words that “defy the skill of pen or pencil”. I will never be the writer that Frederick Douglass was – but chasing that standard will only make me grow!
Q. What advice do you have for young writers?
I have much advice, being a teacher who writes for young readers and a writer who teaches young writers. But first on that list is to never stop reading picture books. In my opinion, all picture books should be for ages 0 – 99 (and beyond!!!). Picture books allow us, as writers, to study writing, the craft of writing at an essential level. Oh, and the beautiful messages; picture books are an invitation for somebody to be closer to you! Picture books can give young (and all) readers perspectives they may never had known. I think that picture books are the best medicine for helping to heal our world right now!
Q. What are you excited about right now?
I am most excited for my next two books to be released. A Boy Like You (Sleeping Bear Press, July 2019), illustrated by Kayla Harren, is my humble attempt at speaking to the young boys and young men in our world. It is filled with messages that suggest how to act and think and love.
Messages like the fact that it’s okay to cry and that they should listen to people’s stories and to give their personal best in all that they do. Another message is that words matter. I’m hopeful that this small contribution can help, in some small way, help grow the next generations of boys to become humans who see everyone as equal. I don’t think I’ll ever write anything more important than this book!
Then, my next book will be Frederick Douglass: Voice for Justice, Voice for Freedom (Random House, December 2019), illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. Frederick Douglass is my all-time favorite American hero! I discovered a little known story about him and it grew into much more, revealing the history behind the beginnings of Black History Month and its connection to Valentine’s Day.
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For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive.
HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG by Jen Betton (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books For Young Readers)
Click the above image for a bigger version of my #BookADay collage for HEDGEHOG NEEDS A HUG by Jen Betton (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books For Young Readers). Jen's debut solo picture book launched earlier this year, and I adore it.
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More info: Donalyn Miller's #BookADay Challenge - My #BookADay Archives (also see my visual #BookADay archive on Padlet, Flickr and Pinterest).
December 3, 2018
COUNTING BIRDS by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Clover Robin (Seagrass Press)
Above: My #BookADay post about COUNTING BIRDS: The Idea That Helped Save Our Feathered Friends, written by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and illustrated by Clover Robin (Seagrass Press, 2018). I was inspired to add some fan art!
**BOOK GIVEAWAY!** The publisher is giving away a copy of this book! Just retweet my post; a randomly picked winner will receive the book from the publisher (open worldwide).
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More info: Donalyn Miller's #BookADay Challenge - My #BookADay Archives (also see my visual #BookADay archive on Padlet, Flickr and Pinterest).
