Hi, all, and Happy Thanksgiving Week.
Following are a few ideas for gifts, for books, and a way to help others.
For Everybody:
If you are looking for something that is truly unique, a couple of local artist friends are opening their studios to the public on Dec. 5th and 6th.
Potter Stacy Snyder in Arlington has her functional pottery for sale in her home studio. The sale is Dec. 5th and Dec. 6th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 508 N Kenmore St. in Arlington, VA. (Flyer posted below.)
Kate Samworth (author/illustrator of Aviary Wonders) is just over the line in Maryland, and she and her mom are having a studio sale as well. Visit them on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 11 and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 4. 7318 Flower Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912.
Keep a lookout for artists in your own community if you’re not in this one. (Or look some up on Etsy, where fabulous people like Sarah Hand hang out.)
For Readers (AKA Everybody)
Pam Coughlin over at Mother Reader always has a list of creative ways to give books and you can check out her web site for more. You might also consider:
El Deafo (Bell) + a pair of rabbit ears (or supplies for making your own graphic novel)
Origami Yoda (Angleberger) + origami paper
The Way Home Looks Now (Shang) + a baseball and crackerjacks
Teddy Mars, Almost a World Record Breaker (Burnham) + a copy of the Guinness Book of World Records
The Gingerbread Man is Loose at Christmas (Murray) + a set of blank cards for making your own card, or some mix for making your own Gingerbread Man.
And on the home front (aka books by me):
How to Behave at a Tea Party + a Tea Set
How to Behave at a Dog Show + stuffed dog or paper and ribbons for hosting a pet show of your own.
Nanny X + Secret agent supplies from the cool shop at the Spy Museum.
Nanny X Returns + some fishing supplies from your local outfitter
Dream Boy + a dream journal and pen
When you’re book hunting, remember to read local! Here’s a list featuring books by members of the DC Children’s Book Guild.
Sign on the line:
One More Page is having a great event today for Small Business Saturday. Visit the store and you’ll see local YA writers galore, wrapping books, suggesting books, and helping collect books for schools as part of the Compulsion for Giving Book Drive, followed by Martina Boone’s Book Launch at 6:30, an event she’s sharing by hosting a panel and playing some games with other YA authors.
Speaking of One More Page: If you order one of my books from them, you can ask to have it signed or personalized before they ship it to you. I also have book plates I can sign and send out if you prefer to use a book shop near you.
For Writers:
I really enjoyed doing critiques at SCBWI’s fall conference this year, so I thought I might offer a few more. I’m going to start by “selling” three critiques, at $50 each. But instead of paying the $50 to me, please send me an image of a receipt that shows you’ve donated $50 to a charity that is helping Syrian refugees. Then I’ll make arrangements to take a look at your manuscript. I’ll critique either a picture book manuscript or the first 20 pages of a middle-grade or YA novel. If you’d like to purchase this as a gift for a writer in your life, you’ll get: a tax deduction, the knowledge that you’re supporting someone in your life who wants to write, and the knowledge that you’re helping someone who truly needs it. Win, win and win.
Thanks!
Oh, and here’s Stacy’s flyer for those of you in the DC area:
Thanks, Shannon, and thanks for lesson plan!
Wonderful ideas! I love One More Page. As a boy-mom and a special ed teacher, the Origami Yoda series warms my heart b/c it gets boys reading and using fine motor skills.
Lesson plan plug for teachers who have holiday brain already: https://www.tales2go.com/an-origami-yoda-hamburger/
You’ve me thinking that How To Behave At A Dog Show would be a great gift for those adopting a new dog, as well!
Happy writing….