Natasha Wing's Blog, page 17
October 22, 2013
The Eric Carle Museum
Outside The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of presenting at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. I gave a presentation to an audience ranging from toddler to teens (and one teacher who drove out from New York City to meet me) about my book, An Eye for Color: The Story of Josef Albers. I spoke about my connection with Albers (he lived down the street from me as a child) and performed some optical illusions with color. Afterwards in the Art Studio the kids created their own Albers-inspired art using colored squares.
The inspiration for the art project.
Making art with colored squares.
As a picture book writer, I was also a patron that day, touring the Eric Carle exhibits and the artwork of guest artist, Mo Willems. What an exciting experience to see how they develop their art and books!
Large-scale Eric Carle painting.
The very hungry caterpillar ate me!
Willems’s famous pigeon.
If you are a picture book artist, I highly suggest that you contact the museum to set up a presentation there. And if you’re a lover of picture books, then make the museum a destination. I bought some fun birthday and postcards in their fabulous gift shop.
The museum is located at 125 West Bay Road in Amherst, MA. Here’s more information: www.carlemuseum.org
Visit the museum in Amherst, Mass.
Filed under: Natasha Wing Tagged: Amherst Massachusetts, Eric Carle, Eric Carle Museum, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Josef Albers, Picture book
October 21, 2013
Art Projects Inspired by Books
Just this past week, I was one of 25 authors who took part in the Humboldt County Author Festival in California. I had the most amazing school visits and would like to share some art and writing projects that the kids from South Fortuna Elementary and Eagle Prairie Elementary in Rio Dell did which might inspire you to do with your own children or students.
Inspired by my Night Before books, the 4th graders designed book covers.
Inspired by The Night Before the Tooth Fairy.
Kids made turkeys from scrapbook paper after reading The Night Before Thanksgiving.
The artwork of Josef Albers from An Eye for Color was recreated by the students in their own choice of color squares.
So. Fortuna kids performed readers theater with Go to Bed, Monster!
Kids in party hats made their own birthday wishes like in The Night Before My Birthday.
Students made their own version of 100 things for The Night Before the 100th Day of School.
Dinosaur art based on How to Raise a Dinosaur.
Sharing cultural influences after reading Jalapeno Bagels.
I do not endorse nor did I install the ad below, but there’s a cost to me to remove it so it remains. You can ignore it as well.
Filed under: jalapeno bagels, Josef Albers, Natasha Wing, The Night Before the 100th Day of School Tagged: California, Counties, Eagle Prairie Elementary, Humboldt, Humboldt County Author Festival, Humboldt County California, Rio Dell, Rio Dell California
October 3, 2013
Presentation About Color at The Eric Carle Museum
On October 6th I will be giving a presentation at The Eric Carle Museum of the Picture Book in Amherst, Massachusetts starting at 2 p.m.
The talk will feature An Eye for Color: The Story of Josef Albers about an abstract artist who painted the Homage to the Square series and who influenced how art teachers teach color.
I will also demonstrate some color optical illusions.
So please come by the museum if you live in the area. Admission is $9 for adults and $6 for kids under 18.
Here’s more information about the upcoming presentations. (Scroll down to Oct. 6th for mine.)
Filed under: Natasha Wing
October 1, 2013
Pause for Poems
From Halloween Howls compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Filed under: Natasha Wing Tagged: Halloween, Halloween poems, poetry for kids
September 27, 2013
Pause for Poetry
Aspens aflame in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Fall in the Rockies
Yellow, orange streaks
slice down dark green mountainsides
like bright lava flows
Filed under: Natasha Wing Tagged: fall, poems about fall, Rocky Mountains
September 24, 2013
This Little Piggy Went to School
This pig is so precious! You’ve got to read this book to see more of him.
I received a review copy of Rufus Goes to School in the mail and I fell in love with this book the moment I slipped it out of the envelope! It’s just so grabby. The colors, the simplicity, the chalkboard use for the title, and the little piggy. Even my husband said the word cute when he saw it.
Confession: I happen to know the author. Kim and I were in a writers group together when we both lived in Northern California. So I am obviously rooting for her success. But even if I didn’t know the author, this book still tugs at my heartstrings.
This is the story of a persistent pig named Rufus who wants to go to school to learn how to read. When the principal denies him entrance citing that pigs can get unruly in school, Rufus tries again and again to be allowed in. You’ll have to read for yourself what Rufus did to finally appeal to the principal, and what he likes most about school. I can assure you, it’s quite satisfying. And luckily for us, this story has sparked a future story about Rufus (Can you say ahoy maties?) scheduled for Spring 2015. I’m not sure Rufus fans can wait that long!
Anyway, you should see the illustrations in this book. Artist Valeri Gorbachev’s ink and watercolor drawings are DE-LIGHT-FUL. The pig’s perpetual sweetness emits from every page. I adore how he captured Rufus’s enthusiasm, too. Something on just about every page makes you smile. I personally enjoyed the snout prints on the window scene. And this may seem minor, but the font fits perfectly with his art style. (I couldn’t find mention of the font name though, but I bet you artists would know what it is.)
So kudos to the whole design team!
And yeah, I know school has already started. But this book still works to read to the children who aren’t old enough to go to school, but are pressing their little noses against windows as they watch the school bus pull up, wishing they were the ones boarding it.
Filed under: Natasha Wing Tagged: Kim Griswell, Rufus goes to school, school books
September 21, 2013
It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.
Teachers and parents wanting to expand on this cultural celebration can read my book, Jalapeno Bagels, about a boy who is part Mexican and part Jewish who celebrates his heritage through food.
Filed under: Natasha Wing Tagged: hispanic books, hispanic heritage, Mexican books, national hispanic heritage month, spanish books
September 3, 2013
August 30, 2013
Back-to-School Blog Tour in Full Swing!
A page from The Night Before First Grade of teacher greeting students back to school.
As kids head to school for the first time, or back to school for a new year, I’ll be touring mommy and writer blogs offering anecdotes and discussions of my school-themed Night Before books. So won’t you stop in at these blogs and have a good read? And please support these bloggers by signing up and/or sharing their post with other mommies, parents and teachers. Thank you, and happy back to school!
August 22 – Morgen Bailey’s Author Spotlight
August 27 – Colorado is for Writers!
September 1 – Gidgets Bookworms
September 2 – Word Spelunking
September 5 – The Book Faerie
September 6 – From Tots to Teens
Check back for updates…
Mommy Poppins blog is giving away back-to-school swag during their Swagapalooza through September 15. I’m giving away a Night Before book package along with a classroom Skype visit. You can enter here.
And there’s one more way to win my school book package of The Night Before Preschool, The Night Before Kindergarten and The Night Before First Grade. I will randomly choose a winner from the comments below (so please comment to enter) at the end of my blog tour on September 7th. Note: Comments should contain a fact from one of the interviews or reviews from the blogs above so I have proof you read the post.
Filed under: back-to-school, bestsellers, blog tours, book reviews, Natasha Wing, The Night Before Preschool, writing blogs
August 28, 2013
Giveaway worth $150+
There’s a hot Back-to-School Swagapalooza going on at Mommy Poppins’s blog through September 15th. Prizes galore including my Night Before book package and 30-minute classroom Skype. So tell your teacher friends and parents sending kids off to school. You could score big!
Filed under: Natasha Wing Tagged: back to school, Mommy Poppins, Night Before, Swagapalooza
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