I’ve been waiting and waiting for my book to arrive at my house for weeeeeks. In my mind, I pictured it’s arrival with champagne and party hats and music and cake and jumping for joy and basically just an all day party. But, well…this is real life, and the package actually sat at the front door all morning, into afternoon, into evening, until I realized what it was. I’m so stupid!
So then my heart started racing and I tore it open…
As I reached into the cardboard mailer (with the wrong address, thank God for loyal mailmen!), I paused for a second. Is this really happening? Twenty-six months of working and waiting, and now it is an actual object that I am holding?!!
My heart is racing a little. What if I hate it? Is everything spelled correctly? Did they fit in my dedication?
Checking, checking, flipping through….
OMG, I think I love it!!!
Truth be told, I tried for like 100 hours last night to make an animated gif of me turning the pages of my book. But I could not get my Wordpress blog to accept it. (Deep, frustrated sigh.) I think I need a plug-in or something and that word scares me. So here are some interior photos instead!
And from the back cover….
“Art Workshop for Children offers a unique, child-led curriculum of open-ended creative workshops that begin with explorations of simple supplies and build gradually, adding new materials and more complex skills. Along the way, adults are guided on how to be adept observers who provide questions, encourage deep thinking, and help spark an excitement for discovery.
Thoughtful essays share perspectives on mess-making, building creative confidence, the role of adults, collaborative art, and insights into the Reggio Emila approach to early childhood education, which values the child as strong, capable, and resilient.”
The book is FULL of beautiful photos, insightful essays (by my good friend and Reggio educator Betsy McKenna), whole sections on setting up an art area and hanging your child’s art, and just lots of inspiration. I really think you will love it. Out of the 27 workshops, only two are from my blog, so 25 new ideas!
The book doesn’t officially come out until October 15th. BUT…if you order it now you get it on sale! I mean, maybe that’s worth the wait…? I know, it’s hard to order something and not get it immediately. We are all so used to instant gratification. But think of this way, if you wait to order until it’s out, you’ll still get it at the same time! Crazy, right?
Here’s where you can order the book right now (Amazon is an affiliate link):
Buy it on Amazon
Buy it on Barnes & Noble
Buy it on IndieBound
Buy it on Indigo in Canada
For UK purchase click here
I’m so happy that I finally introduced you to my book. Oh, and I’m working on a short little trailer that I hope will be done on the pub date. Stay tuned!! And THANK YOU for supporting me, as always!
xo, Bar
It looks amazing! Congratulations! It’s always wonderful to have new inspiring books like this one. Can’t wait to read it.
thank you Ann!!! you are so nice to leave a comment, and to buy my book! I am so appreciative of your support, it means the world! xo Bar
Hi! I thought I posted a few days ago, but I mustn’t have done it properly! Oops! I discovered your blog a week ago and already my 2, 5 and 6 year old have made dream catchers, painted extra pinwheels, done sunburst paintings, painted a gazillion hearts, painted with acrylics using your kindah Khalidy inspiration idea, made about a thousand Pom poms and explored many different colour combinations and painted some mini paintings with white borders. They’ve also experimented with using tape to make different patterbs like Stars and hearts. We love getting messy and are all about enjoying the process, not focusing on the product (although thats been a lovely bonus!). I have pre-ordered your book. I have never really enjoyed ‘art’ myself before, due to lack of confidence to jump in and try, but I DO know how important it is that I demonstrate risk tasking and be ok with failures for my kids and I am jumping right in with them and learning as much as they are along the way. Thank you!
oh my goodness, you are the best mom!! Teegan, thank you for leaving a comment. you truly have just made my day. my week! the fact that you feel a lack of confidence with art, and yet still give it your all with your kids – showing them that it’s ok to take risks and not be perfect – you are a fantastic role model for them. and you will love my book, actually the introduction that I wrote speaks to this exact subject. of feeling like you are not “artsy” as a parent so therefore don’t feel comfortable doing art projects. but what it’s really more about for the kids is exploring materials. it’s not about perfection, right or wrong. some of my projects do teach more skills (like the dream catchers) but even those can and should be interpreted in their own way. bravo to you!!! you win the mom award of the day. keep in touch! xo bar