Like all of Nonny’s children’s books, Play Clay Hooray! includes activity instructions and Nonny’s Nurturing Tips. This particular book features a recipe for homemade play clay from everyday kitchen ingredients. Reading a book, making & playing with some play clay… makes for a great day! You can view Play Clay Hooray! and all my children’s … Continue reading Holiday Cheer: Discover Fun Activities in Nonny’s New Book!
Hello, Blog Readers! Thank you for being along with me on the journey to the publication of my most recent children’s book, Play Clay Hooray! As the holiday season approaches, I invite you to consider my books as delightful and educational gifts for the little ones in your life. I appreciate greatly your sharing of … Continue reading Gift the Joy of Language, Learning, and Life: Exploring My Children’s Book Series
My new book is out! If you have children ages 3-8 on your shopping list for this holiday season, this might just be the perfect gift for them. It’s also great for their parents or other caregivers, too. PLAY CLAY HOORAY! is not only beautifully illustrated and fun to read, but also includes activities and … Continue reading Unwrap Joy This Holiday Season: My New Children’s Book, PLAY CLAY HOORAY!
We’re thrilled to announce that my latest children’s book PLAY CLAY HOORAY! will be released on November 27th. We’ve been fine-tuning the promotional text and would love for you to take a look at our current book description. Your feedback is always welcome as we get closer to this exciting launch! Discover the Joy of … Continue reading Get Ready to Celebrate: Release of ‘Play Clay Hooray!’ on November 27
Hello everyone! As I gear up for the release of my upcoming children's book, I wanted to share some valuable insights about the self-publishing journey that I’ve learned along the way. My first submission in 2019 brought a few surprises, including a detailed list of “fix-it” notes from Kindle Direct Press (KDP)—even when I thought … Continue reading Insights from the Final Steps of Self-Publishing
Building a book is like building a house. For me, first comes the story I'm going to narrate—the basic framework of my house, those pieces of wood nailed in place. Next, I share my story with my artist collaborator, Courtney Coriell Williams, and tell her the illustrations I have in my mind. When she delivers … Continue reading Building a Book
Another update about my soon-to-be-published children's book... All of the books in my Nonny Day Series include activities that relate to the story. In Play Clay Hooray! the activity is two-fold: 1) Making Homemade Play Clay, and (of course) 2) Playing With It! Included in the book is an easy recipe for play clay, along … Continue reading Reading + Activity = Language, Learning, and Life!
Delightful news! Another book in my Nonny Day Series is about to be published. Like all books in the series, this book is designed for early readers (ages 5-8), and contains nurturing tips and activity instructions. Great for homeschoolers, public or private school teachers, parents, and all adults who are interested in fostering a child’s … Continue reading Fostering Bright Futures for Children through Reading: New Book Coming Soon!
Below you'll find a fun version of the interactive song that's a part of one of my children's books. In this video my sweet grandgals perform the song, with the hand signs (and some giggles!) along with one of my daughters, their mom, accompanying on piano. "Higgledy-Piggledy" is a word you can find in your … Continue reading Spring Cleaning the Fun Way
There are certain dishes which we think of as "must haves" when we plan holiday menus for our celebrations with family and friends. If sweet potato pie is not already on your list, how about trying out one of the recipes included in my children's book "Sweet Potato Pie, Oh My!" One is a traditional … Continue reading Sweet Potato Pie, 2 ways 🥧🥧 — Good Recipes from Nonny’s Kitchen
During the fall and winter months—or anytime, for that matter—taking a little extra time to prepare a special treat to eat can help take our minds off things that may be challenging in our lives. Here is a favorite recipe of mine for Sweet Potato Pie. Sweet Potato Preparation 2 cups cooked sweet potatoes drained … Continue reading Nonny’s Favorite Holiday Recipes – Sweet Potato Pie
It’s not too early to start thinking about meaningful and educational holiday gifts for the youngsters in your life! If you haven’t purchased Volume 3 in my Nonny Day Series, Alphabet Excursion and Higgledy-Piggledy (perhaps because you didn’t find sample pages to view on Amazon--a story for another day!), below is what its delightful art … Continue reading The Holiday Season is Closer than You think – Shop Early for the Kids in Your Life (and their Caregivers!)
Dear Nonny's Blog readers, Have you visited NonnyDay.com recently? It's the website for my children's books: the Nonny Day Series. We've recently given it an updated look and structure, and would love for you to check it out. We plan to make additional changes to the site as we continue to publish the series. We'd … Continue reading NonnyDay.com updates – July 2022
If your gift list includes youngsters who are beginning explorers in the wonderful world of reading, my latest children's books will instruct in a delightful way. Perfect for spring holidays, end-of-school graduation/recognition ceremonies, birthdays, and fill-in-the gap summer reader/activity books. For those recipients who live close by, have the books sent directly to you so … Continue reading Nonny Day books for Spring!
In December 2021 I participated in an hour and a half ZOOM meeting with two educators as they led a hands-on pie-baking activity with Baranof Elementary School students and their families in Sitka, Alaska. And the wonderful part of that for me was that they were using the recipe from my children’s reader Sweet Potato … Continue reading Wonderful Thank You Gifts from Sitka, Alaska!
Last week I met via Zoom with two educators—Ms. Kari and Ms. Jasmine—plus student/family participants in a 4-H Sweet Potato Pie Making Project in Sitka, Alaska. My daughter and tech support Eve Carlisle Polley joined me. It proved to be a delightful, fast-paced hour and fifteen-minute get-together joining Sitka and Louisville (over 2,500 miles). Eve … Continue reading Nonny says Hello to Sitka, Alaska Families! (Zoom Meeting for Cooking, Chatting, and Having Fun)
Dear Nonny's Blog Readers, I'm excited to share with you the news that the Sitka School District in Alaska will be using my book Sweet Potato Pie, Oh My! as a part of a sweet potato pie kit giveaway. The school district is distributing to fifty Sitka students and their families a kit with all … Continue reading Nonny’s Books are headed to Alaska! (New Project with Sitka School District)
Hello Nonny's Blog Readers! This year I've been pleased to share good times with you as we published the third book in the Nonny Day Series. All three are available for purchase through Amazon, and Volume 2 is on sale right now for under ten dollars.** VOL 1. Sweet Potato Pie, Oh My! VOL. 2 … Continue reading Nonny’s Children’s Books for the Holidays
Happy to let you know the Alphabet Excursion & Higgledy-Piggledy E-book is now available. Share? If you have family or friends who are Kindle readers, would you consider sharing this message with them? At no cost they can access the full book, and perhaps it will be a good match for them and the kids … Continue reading Alphabet Excursion & Higgledy-Piggledy for Kindle
Below you'll find a fun version of the new interactive song that's a part of my latest children's book. In this video my sweet grandgals perform the song, with the hand signs (and some giggles!) along with one of my daughters, their mom, accompanying on piano. "Higgledy-Piggledy" is a word you can find in your … Continue reading Fun Times Singing Higgledy-Piggledy (video)
Published! 😃 Dear Nonny's Blog Readers, I am happy to announce that the third book in my Nonny Day Series is now published! The book is called Alphabet Excursion and Higgledy-Piggledy. With its highly unusual and sophisticated rhymes, games, and songs, it is designed to delight pre- and early readers. It is perfect for the … Continue reading My 3rd Children’s Book is Here!
COVID-19 has probably changed the way you are going to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. However, may I suggest you make my Sweet Potato Pie for your intimate group even if the big family gathering is not in your plans? Think about trying out one of the recipes included in my children's book Sweet Potato Pie, … Continue reading Get a Boost from Sweet Potato Pie (Recipes)
Sometimes we just need good food to encourage our spirit as well as feed our body. Feeling a little down or merely a little blah? Check out today’s blog post to give your body and your spirit a food boost! And I’m not talking about reaching for a candy bar! My container garden, which sits … Continue reading Give Your Tastebuds This Tomato Treat! (Recipe for Kentucky Fried Green Tomatoes)
My second children’s book, Sweet Pickles Among the Marigolds, is now available in a Kindle version through Amazon. Maybe you are a librarian, children’s early education center director, primary school teacher, homeschooler, parent/grandparent or other caring adult. If you want a peep into excellent materials and ideas to spark enthusiasm for reading, you might consider … Continue reading Sweet Pickles’ Ebook Release!
When I was a young child and a pre-reader, I was introduced to the nursery rhyme, “Mary, Mary, quite contrary. How does your garden grow?” Back then I never wondered why she was contrary. But as I grew older and planted gardens of my own, I found out why she was in such an unhappy … Continue reading Nonny . . . How Does Your Garden Grow? (photo gallery)
Last week I was excited to share with you the news of the publication of my latest children's beginning reader/activity book. It's called Sweet Pickles Among the Marigolds: A Rhyme of Garden Fun. Today I'll give you a sneak peep between the pages with a recording of my sing-along song Pick Some Pickles! You'll find … Continue reading New song, new website, new book… Celebrate with me!
The shutting down earlier this year of physical schools and preschools due to the Coronavirus left many parents, grandparents and others to assume full-time roles as facilitators for learning. And now as the summer looms large with its own set of concerns as to how to fill the time of the young ones, may I … Continue reading Keeping Young Minds and Bodies Busy–My New Book Release!
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