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Friday, January 22
Did You Know Kimble's Dress is Real? Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 22 Jan 2010 05:00 AM CST
Did You Know Kimble's Dress is Real?
 I wrote Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (a chapter book for ages 7-10, 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, five 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.
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 sidebars, 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)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
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.
Tuesday, January 19
More in Our Katie & Kimble Activity Corner! Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story for ages 7-10
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 19 Jan 2010 05:22 AM CST
More in Our Katie & Kimble Activity Corner!
 Here are some more fun things to do in our Katie & Kimble Activity Corner!
You will find the Katie & Kimble Activity Corner on the right sidebar of the Katie & Kimble blog.
Learn the Kimble, Kimble chant here! Then make up a hand-clapping game to play with your friends as you chant!
Watch the Katie & Kimble video here!
Another fun thing to do is read stories about the author of Katie
& Kimble -- that's me! These are true stories. One is
from when I was 7 and it's a funny story about my dog. One is from when I was 8 and it's about my dad and a funny trick we played with a piano! The third one is from when I was 9 and we lived across the street from a baseball player. That was a lot of fun!
Listen to Kimble's song or the song that Mr. Russell sings in Katie & Kimble: The Magic Wish!
Or download free Katie & Kimble word puzzles. There are three puzzles for each of the first two books.
There are many more things to do in the Katie & Kimble Activity
Corner. Just look over on the right sidebar and you'll see them!
Have fun!
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: Click on the author's name at the top of any post and learn all about her (including how to pronounce her name)!
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)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
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.
Monday, January 18
Visit the Katie & Kimble YouTube Channel!
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 18 Jan 2010 08:00 AM CST
Visit the Katie
& Kimble YouTube Channel!
 Here's something fun to do!
Visit the Katie & Kimble YouTube channel!
On
the Katie & Kimble YouTube channel, you can watch a lot of fun
videos. One is 6-year-old Ki doing her review of the first four
chapters of Katie &
Kimble: A Ghost Story! Another is the Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story trailer.
More
videos include music from Hanukah, like many different versions of The
Dreidel Song. My favorite is a 3-year-old boy who stops in the middle
of The Dreidel Song and starts singing Jingle Bells! His dad tells him
no, so just like that, he switches back to The Dreidel Song! It's very
cute!
I've also added different people playing Graceful Ghost on
the piano. It's such a beautiful song, so sad and sweet, and it always
reminds me of Kimble.
And as a special treat, I've included a
personal favorite - Charlie Bit My Finger. This video has been watched
by 140 million people. You'll see why - it's actually very funny!
Enjoy your visit to the Katie & Kimble Channel!
Saturday, January 16
Six MORE Mom Bloggers Review Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 16 Jan 2010 10:18 AM CST
Six MORE Mom Bloggers Review Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
 Here you can read reviews of Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story
(a chapter book for ages 7-10) 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 7-10]
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 7-10!”
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.”
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)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
©2009-2010 by Linda Thieman
Friday, January 15
Kids Can Help Save the World Here! (Katie & Kimble Blog, ages 7-10)
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 15 Jan 2010 05:00 AM CST
Kids, You Can Help Save the World Here!
 If you've read Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, you know that Katie is the kind of girl who likes to HELP people and animals (um, and ghosts!). Now, here are three ways that YOU can help people and animals, too.
It's fun and it's important.
And you can learn great things at the same time! I've added all three
to the Katie & Kimble Activity Corner on the right sidebar of this
blog. That section of the sidebar is called Save the World.
 1) A 12-year-old girl named Mimi Ausland from Oregon started a website called FreeKibble.com.
Kibble means pieces of dog or cat food. Every day, Mimi adds a new Bow Wow
Trivia question about dogs. If you answer the question
(correctly or not), Mimi will donate 10 pieces of kibble to dogs who
live in shelters. This really adds up! Mimi has provided dogs with
thousands and thousands of pounds of dog food. That must be very heavy
to carry!
 2) Mimi also started a site to help feed cats. So if you go to the FreeKibbleKat.com website and answer the Meow Trivia question every day, Mimi will donate 10 pieces of kibble for cats!
 3) The third way that you can help is found at FreeRice.com.
Here, if you answer questions correctly, FreeRice will donate 10 grains
of rice to a hungry person for each question you answer. This can add
up quickly, because you can keep answering questions as long as you
want.
FreeRice has all kinds of questions. You can start at the
lowest level and build your English vocabulary. Or you can do the same
thing in other languages, too, like Spanish and French.
They
also have questions about art and famous artists, where you get to look
at famous pictures. You can also look at maps to answer questions
about countries and world capitals. And you can practice your math and
multiplication tables and earn rice for hungry people at the same
time! You also get to keep track of how much rice you've donated.
So, have fun, learn things, and help dogs, cats and people! Here's to saving the world!
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)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
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.
Thursday, January 14
Download Your Free Katie & Kimble Coloring Pages Here!
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 14 Jan 2010 04:26 AM CST
Download Your Free Katie & Kimble Coloring Pages Here!
Now
you can download free Katie & Kimble coloring pages here! The coloring pages show five scenes from Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story (a chapter book for ages 7-10, 280L).
Click here to download the Katie & Kimble coloring pages in PDF format.
Or, look on the right sidebar of this blog. You'll find the
coloring pages and other fun activities in the Katie & Kimble
Activity Corner.
Fun Katie & Kimble Hint: On the sidebars, 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)!
Instant download version: $2.48
Click here to order the instant download editions.
[Reading Level 3, 280L, for ages 7-10]
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.
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