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Meet Freddy, the Katie & Kimble Blog’s Little Talking Host! (ages 6-10)
This is Freddie! She’s the talking host of the Katie & Kimble Blog. If you turn on your speakers and click on her picture over on the sidebar, you can hear her recite the Kimble, Kimble Chant. (You can find the words to the Kimble, Kimble Chant on the sidebar of the blog, too.)
If you place your cursor over Freddie’s picture in the sidebar, she will follow it with her eyes. Also, you can click on her one time and she will repeat her welcome. If you’d like to hear it more than twice, you can close your browser for a little bit and come back to it later. She will then speak again!
I named our little host Freddie because there are two fictional characters I like who are named Freddy. I am a big fan of the late author Georgette Heyer, and she wrote both Cotillion and Frederica, my two favorites, and both books have a very likable character named Freddy!
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebar, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble series among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
Winner: Juvenile Books Series.
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 6-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look normal. But the Russells don’t know they are living with Kimble, the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to Kimble’s mother.
© 2009-2012 by Linda Thieman
Teachers: Suggestions for Stretching Your Paper Budget (Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
We are hoping that some time within 2012 we will be able to include the Katie & Kimble Activity Packets in an online, computer lab system. Keep a look out for the big announcement! Happy Birthday, Shannon!
The Katie & Kimble books come with free downloadable Activity Packets at third-grade reading level for teachers to use as they see fit. There are six Activity Packets per book. Each Activity Packet contains 7 pages, all of which can be adapted for use in ways other than printing out in order to stretch your paper budget. Download Stretching Your Paper Budget here.
The No-paper Alternative
Transparencies: To put the no-paper alternative into practice, have each reader bring a spiral notebook from home. Call it a reading notebook.
The first teacher to use the Katie & Kimble books can take the Activity Packets and burn a set of transparencies that can be passed around from teacher to teacher with the classroom sets of the books. These can be placed on an overhead projector for readers to use.
At the beginning of each Activity Packet, the reader will copy the Content/Getting Started (prediction) page into his or her notebook. Then as the reader completes each of the activity pages that follow, he or she can check off the completed pages.
Readers can write the answers to many of the activity pages in the notebook. In some cases, they will need to write the questions in their notebook and then write their responses. In the case of the floor plan of Katie’s bedroom, readers can sketch it in to their notebooks and then fill in the labels that way, or one reader would stand at the projector as they fill in the worksheet as a group with an erasable marker. This would no doubt be the best way for the crossword puzzle activity pages, too.
PDFs: The reading notebook can also be used in a similar fashion if readers have access to computers. The teacher is welcome to download the PDFs of the Katie & Kimble Activity Packets to as many computers as is necessary and to rename the files to suit her/his purposes. Readers can then work at their own pace and use the above system.
Computer plus projector: If your classroom is equipped with a computer and a projector, you can show the pages on the screen from the PDFs. You are free to download these PDFs into any computer.
The Three-page Alternative
Similar to the no-paper alternative above, the three-page alternative involves running off copies of the Content/Getting Started page for each of the six Activity Packets, front and back, on three sheets of paper. This may make the Activity Packets seem more “official” in the mind of the reader.
Readers can also draw the Awards Ribbons into their notebooks at the end of each packet or draw them on scraps of paper to put up on the wall or the bulletin board.
Download the free Katie & Kimble classroom materials here.
Six MORE Moms Review Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (ages 6-10)
Here you can read reviews of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (a chapter book for ages 6-10) written by some wonderful mom bloggers. See what moms are thinking about this new chapter book series by children’s book author Linda Thieman!
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 6-10]
1) The Homeschool Messenger (Susieqtpie’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“…It is 106 pages of pure fictional fun! Don’t let the Ghost Story title keep your young ones from reading the book. It isn’t a scary book! Katie moves to a new town with her family and discovers a kindred spirit! She goes on a quest that is engaging and heartfelt!”
2) Moomette’s Magnificents Reviews (Cindi’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“…make sure to add this charming mystery book to your child’s reading list this summer!”
3) The Post-it Place (Jyl’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“…a book that will keep children engaged and wanting to know more. It isn’t
frightening at all, so no worries that your child won’t be able to sleep at night; it is just fun, excitement and a little suspense.”
4) From Melissa’s Desk (Melissa’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“I recommend this fabulously written book to all children ages 6-10!”
5) ‘Deal’ectible Mommies (Candace’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“Not only is Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story a fun read, it allows Milla and me to have some precious time together every night before bed. She makes a point every night to bring me the book and curiously awaits the next adventure!”
6) Homeschool Buzz Reviews (Kathy’s review of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story)
“Kimble is so pleasant you quickly forget she’s really a ghost!… Another spunky character is Katie’s dog, Twinkle; her ever present, playful English sheepdog is very appealing.”
Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble series among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
Winner: Juvenile Books Series.
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
©2009-2012 by Linda Thieman
Did You Know Kimble’s Dress is Real? (Plaid was ‘in’ in 1918, too!) Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story for ages 6-10
I wrote Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (a chapter book for ages 6-10, 280L) in May, 1994. At that time, I knew Kimble would be wearing a dress from the fall of 1918.
It took me years to find a pattern for Kimble’s dress. I looked and looked. Then, several years ago I finally contacted Mrs. Penny Ladnier over at CostumeGallery.com to see if she had any books or catalogs from 1918.
In Kimble’s day, most girls did not go to the store and buy clothes. They bought patterns and cloth. Then they made their dresses at home! They would put the pattern on top of the cloth and then cut out the pieces of the dress. Then they would sew the pieces together. Continued below.
Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble series among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
Winner: Juvenile Books Series.
When I contacted Mrs. Ladnier, I was truly surpised. Mrs. Ladnier had just won an auction for a pattern book from the fall of 1918! And what was even more amazing was the auction was over in France!
So we waited and waited for the book to arrive. Once Mrs. Ladnier received the pattern book for children’s dresses, she faxed me the different dresses that were for a girl Kimble’s age. Then I chose one I liked.
Later, the illustrator for Katie & Kimble, Mrs. Kim Tharp, helped me design the back of the dress. We could guess at the back pretty well because we could see the front and the side of the dress.
Mrs. Tharp also painted in a plaid pattern for the cloth of the dress. Plaid was very popular that year.
So, that means that Kimble’s dress is REAL and that real girls wore that dress in 1918. They also wore big red bows in their hair, just like Kimble. And we took Kimble’s hairstyle and her dress boots from the pattern book, too!
Just thought you might like to know!
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebar, click on the yellow stripes for a little surprise or two!
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (Book 1 in the series) and Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2 in the series) are available here:
Paperback version: $5.95
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story!
Click here to order Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish (Book 2)!
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 6-10]
Nine-year-old Katie Russell and her family look normal. But the Russells don’t know they are living with Kimble, the ghost of a ten-year-old girl. That is, until Katie discovers Kimble and the two of them set off on a quest to find out what happened to Kimble’s mother.
© 2009-2012 by Linda Thieman
Madeline (age 7.5) Reviews Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, A Chapter Book for Ages 6-10
Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
Linda Thieman
Pale Silver Rainplop Press (2008)
ISBN 9780979439612
Reviewed by Madeline McElroy (age 7.5) for Reader Views
This is a ghost story of a girl named Katie who is nine and the other girl that you see on the front cover is a girl named Kimble who is ten. The two girls met when Katie heard a girl laughing at her new house but she didn’t see anyone. She kept hearing laughter and then she saw a girl ghost on her bed. Katie wasn’t afraid of Kimble. And Kimble was excited to see a new friend in her house.
I like the whole story of it and I want the other book of Katie &
Kimble. I like Kimble because she is a ghost, and I like ghosts, they
don’t scare me either. My most favorite character is Katie. I also like
Kimble’s pretty purple dress. I like the parts when Katie and Kimble hug each other because they are such good friends. The girls like to
play outside exploring and going on adventures.
Another funny part of the story is when Katie and the rest of her family in the house were in sleeping bags, everyone but Twinkle, the family dog.
I still like the pictures even if they don’t have color. Lots of chapter books don’t have pictures, but I wish they would, it makes it
more interesting to me.
This is an easy book to read for seven year olds. I think a lot of kids
in the world that know how to read would like “Katie & Kimble: A
Ghost Story” by Linda Thieman.
280L
Read Madeline’s review of Book 2, Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish, here!
Download the first six chapters of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story free here!
Teachers: Suggestions for Stretching Your Paper Budget (Katie & Kimble free classroom materials)
We are hoping that some time within 2012 we will be able to include the Katie & Kimble Activity Packets in an online, computer lab system. Keep a look out for the big announcement!
The Katie & Kimble books come with free downloadable Activity Packets at third-grade reading level for teachers to use as they see fit. There are six Activity Packets per book. Each Activity Packet contains 7 pages, all of which can be adapted for use in ways other than printing out in order to stretch your paper budget. Download Stretching Your Paper Budget here.
The No-paper Alternative
Transparencies: To put the no-paper alternative into practice, have each reader bring a spiral notebook from home. Call it a reading notebook.
The first teacher to use the Katie & Kimble books can take the Activity Packets and burn a set of transparencies that can be passed around from teacher to teacher with the classroom sets of the books. These can be placed on an overhead projector for readers to use.
At the beginning of each Activity Packet, the reader will copy the Content/Getting Started (prediction) page into his or her notebook. Then as the reader completes each of the activity pages that follow, he or she can check off the completed pages.
Readers can write the answers to many of the activity pages in the notebook. In some cases, they will need to write the questions in their notebook and then write their responses. In the case of the floor plan of Katie’s bedroom, readers can sketch it in to their notebooks and then fill in the labels that way, or one reader would stand at the projector as they fill in the worksheet as a group with an erasable marker. This would no doubt be the best way for the crossword puzzle activity pages, too.
PDFs: The reading notebook can also be used in a similar fashion if readers have access to computers. The teacher is welcome to download the PDFs of the Katie & Kimble Activity Packets to as many computers as is necessary and to rename the files to suit her/his purposes. Readers can then work at their own pace and use the above system.
Computer plus projector: If your classroom is equipped with a computer and a projector, you can show the pages on the screen from the PDFs. You are free to download these PDFs into any computer.
The Three-page Alternative
Similar to the no-paper alternative above, the three-page alternative involves running off copies of the Content/Getting Started page for each of the six Activity Packets, front and back, on three sheets of paper. This may make the Activity Packets seem more “official” in the mind of the reader.
Readers can also draw the Awards Ribbons into their notebooks at the end of each packet or draw them on scraps of paper to put up on the wall or the bulletin board.
Download the free Katie & Kimble classroom materials here.