Kids Draw It Sketchbook-Viking and Hermit

April 8, 2014 by

kids draw it

Kids Can Draw It with a Viking and Hermit Sketchbook!

“Hermit?”

“Yes, Viking.”

“Do you like to draw?”

“I do, Viking. Do you like to draw?”

“Yes, Hermit.  I love to draw. I remember as kids, listening to my father’s stories, and he always had good ones that made us laugh like, “The Dwarves Meet the Shield Riding Fools” or “Rainbow Viking Meets Thor”, and the next day, all of us kids would draw it out with the characters and scenes from the stories he told.

Then, we’d gather each drawing from the kids together, to make a drawing book that we could page through, and laugh about on our breaks from our sword fighting lessons.

I would present our kids drawing book to my father, and he would laugh so hard that tears from his eyes fell to the ground, and he held his belly shaking like it hurt. All of us kids would only laugh more at the sight of him, until our cheeks were sore and exhausted from smiling.

Drawing and learning to draw as kids brings such fond memories of my father, Hermit.”

“What a nice memory, Viking.  I can’t remember anything like that from my past, but I do like to draw what I will make as a tool to use here on Hermit Island.

I draw it out first to see my idea, and then I draw it in steps as my plan to put it together. A drawing always helps me with learning the best way to make it, so that I can see any mistakes before I start.”

“Drawing is so good for learning, and for kids fun and learning isn’t it?”

“Yes, indeed.”

kids draw it

Kids Can Draw It with a Viking and Hermit Sketchbook!

Just like Viking and Hermit like to draw, kids can draw original illustrations and sketches from the Kids Book Series. Learning and practicing drawing for kids, teaches them to focus and to embrace their creativity.

Drawing

In your Kids Draw It Sketchbook, each drawing example can be printed out for your kids to enjoy. There are 14 illustrations to draw, and be a part of the action and adventures of the Storybooks for Kids.

Learning

For more learning to draw practice, there is an Extra Drawing Practice Page in the Drawing Book to print out anytime your kids want to try a drawing again.

Also, your kids can write down notes for each drawing, as well as fill in a Dedication and Thank You Page.  If your kids would like to package together each drawing into their own Special Drawing Book, they can! They can make it into a gift, or keep it on the book shelf as family memorabilia.

kids draw itGet It!

Kids Draw It Sketchbook is available at LaDy LaDuke’s Etsy Shop, and can also be selected as a Free Gift with Purchase.

 

~Courtney & Betina


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Viking Learns How to Swim Fast

February 8, 2014 by

how to swim

Viking and her Father approach the water…

“Father?”

“Yes, Viking”

“Do you think I will ever be fast enough to swim in the boy’s relay?”

“I think that is very possible, Viking.  You just need to work on your swim stroke more.”

How to Swim Fast with a Better Swim Stroke…

“Will you show me what I can do better with my swimming stroke, Father?”

“Certainly.  Now swim out to those rocks and back, and I’ll see how you are swimming.  Remember to cup your hands, and gently place them through the water, even though you are trying to do it very fast.

Try not to fight or slap the water, and be as smooth as you can.  Then, keep your flutter kick very strong, and breathe less often.”

“Yes, Father.  This time I will swim so fast.”

“Off to the starting rocks then.”

“You mean over there with the shallow, rocky bottom?”

“Yes, Viking.”

“But Father, I will scrape myself on the rocks.”

“Only if you dive the wrong way.  Not if you dive the right way before swimming.  In order to swim fast, and race with the boys, your dive has to be better than theirs, and it will make your swimming faster.”

“How do I not scrape myself?”

“You have to make your dive before swimming much longer and stretched out to get past the danger below, and when you hit the water, you will stay as close to the water surface as you can.  If you think about being as long and flat and shallow as possible over the water, you will clear the danger.”

“Okay, I think I can do it!”

how to swim

 

Swimmimg Faster Starts with The Right Dive Over the Water…

Viking steps to the rocks above the sharp shallows.  She is nervous, but confident she can follow her father’s instructions to better her swimming stroke. When she faces a challenge, she feels stronger.

“Swimmer take your mark!”

Viking bends down to touch the ground at her feet, waiting for her starting command, and thinking about each stroke…

“Go!”

She pushes off, and makes her body shoot like an arrow over the water.

how to swim

She sees the sharp edges through the clear water, as she flies over them.

How to Swim…

The danger disappears, and there is only blue water below.  She enters the water just at the surface with her fingertips and forehead, and extends forward even more.  She clears, and breaks into her swimming stroke and kick, except the one small scrape she can feel on her big toe.

Now She is Swimming…

She flutter kicks hard and strong, and swims her hands, cupped and pulling through with each stroke.  She holds her breath longer, and keeps swimming while thinking about each carefully placed stroke with her arms, hands and fingers.

A Swimming Finish… 

She reaches and touches the last rock wall with her last stroke under her father’s feet, and grabs her long-waited breath.

“How was that swim, Father?”

“That swim was pretty impressive…fast indeed.  Did you scrape yourself?”

“Just my toe.”

“Let’s see.”

“Oh, it’s just a scratch. Let’s go home and show it to your Mother.  She’ll take care of it.  We can tell her about your fast swim and best dive today.

You did well today, Viking.”

He picks up her special helmet he had made for her, and places it on her head.  He pats the top, and looks her in the eyes and smiles.

“Well done my daughter.”

Viking picks up a flower, and puts it in her hair, and smiles back.

how to swim

How to Swim Fast…You can too, and read about more swimming in Book 3: Shaku Riding

Courtney & Betina

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Dictionary of The World of Hermit Island: Hermipedia

October 19, 2013 by

dictionary

Hermipedia Feature: Dictionary & Background of The World of Hermit Island

Hermit Island is a different place indeed!  To some, it is a place of myth that holds the stories of those lost at sea over many years, and to others, like Viking and Hermit, this world is very real, and what they know and learn every day.

What is this world defined, and who are Viking and Hermit?  What is the background of this mysterious Island world, and the dictionary background and stories of Viking and Hermit?

Let’s define and explore these questions with a Dictionary & Background of The World of Hermit Island, to reveal definitions and details we may already know, and ones to learn still.

In order to learn everything about this fairy tale myth, you must read our stories.

Now, the Background and Dictionary of this World…so far:

Dictionary Hermit Background

dictionary

 

The background of Hermit comes to him in his dreams, or while he is practicing his spear throwing, rope braiding, or harvesting his growing crops.  His background reveals itself in pieces, like deja vu moments , when he feels that he has lived that exact moment before, and it is repeated somehow.

He knows the memory is true, but somewhere lost in his thoughts that he cannot find.

Dictionary Background of a Soldier

His background is one of a valiant soldier and leader, and he surely knows he did learn much from his days spent as one.  How else would he learn to survive so well on this Island world, is what he thinks to himself?

Dictionary of Survival Instincts

Where did he learn to spear fish, learn to build a fire, throw his spear with such accuracy, speed and distance?  Where did he learn to swim, grow food, carve and craft tools, and live off the land?

How did he learn to ride Kasha the seahorse so easily, and devise such strategy for surviving the dangerous roaming night animals on this Island world with his clever clam house shells?

dictionary

Dictionary Background of a Time Before

Sometimes while he is working, he sees his hands in front of him, and they are very young and large.  They are missing their wrinkles, and belong to a man of great size.  His old hands still possess that amazing strength and grip. They just look different now.

At these flashing moments to his youth, he considers he may have spent time here on this Island world before as a younger man, and even a time before these many current years.  Did he wash up to the beach of this world twice, he thinks to himself?

And why is this young Viking girl so familiar to him?

Dictionary of  Mystery

This world of myth and mystery only knows.  Only it holds the key to these burning questions to learn.  Somewhere out there in that sea, beyond Hermit Bay where he helps Viking learn to spear fish, those churning waters know too.

dictionary

Background Dictionary To Be Continued…

Dictionary of The World of Hermit Island: Hermipedia

~Courtney & Betina

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How to Ride a Horse or Seahorse-Hermipedia: The Viking and the Hermit

August 23, 2013 by

how to ride a horse

Today’s Hermipedia Feature: How to Ride a Horse or Sea horse on Hermit Island…

The sea horses in our children’s story, The Viking and the hermit: Spear Fishing with Sasha & Kasha, are not like other seahorses, but you can ride them very similarly, just like a regular horse.

The Difference Between a Horse and Our Sea horses

First, we need to point out some differences on how to ride a horse from one of our sea horses in our story.  A sea horse  is more upright than a horse, but is similar in height.  Instead of holding reins like on a horse, you hold around the neck of the sea horse.

Horses Gallop vs. Sea Horses Skip

The sea horse does not gallop or trot like a horse, but a ride on one springs and bounces much like a pogo stick instead.

There is a rhythm of movement while riding a sea horse as well. It is both forward, and riding over a hump, like a horse on land, but the hump is bigger and more vertical in riding, as the sea horses spring, skip and jump.

A horse can navigate over land of course, and water too, but the sea horses of our story are supreme swimmers as well as mobile on land for riding.

Similarities Between Riding a Horse and Our Sea Horses

Our sea horses have a saddle area or curve of their backs for riders to sit, although the ride is bare back, and without any stirrups.

Mount a Sea Horse

To mount a sea horse for riding, a rider must hold to the sea horse neck, and lift and swing up onto the sea horse.  The sea horses are very good at sitting still to make this easier if you first pet them, and rub their long noses.  You can then rub between their eyes, and stroke their head comb, over and down to the back of the neck, where you need to place your hand to lift yourself up for riding.

How to Ride

A rider sits upright and straight on the back of the sea horse, much like a horse. To ride, you want your shoulders straight and not rounded.  For riding, you need your lower back to not be curved, but lined up under your shoulders.

To ride like Viking, and because she is so tall, she does not need to swing up onto the back of the horse like Hermit.  She can just scoot up, and keep both legs to one side, like side-saddle on a regular horse.

how to ride a horse

The Difference Between How to Ride and Stop a Horse from a Sea Horse

Since there are no reins with our sea horses, to stop the skipping, hopping or jumping, riders need to lightly squeeze with their legs to first let the sea horse know.  Then, a rub on the neck where riders hold, will tell the sea horses to come to a stop.  It also helps to just say, “Whoa Kasha.”, or “Let’s stop Sasha.”

Our sea horses in our story, and particularly Kasha and Sasha are very smart, and will hear voice commands well.  Especially if they have gotten to know you, like Hermit, and know that Hermit likes Viking, and it’s OK to like Viking too.

How to Ride a Horse or Seahorse-Hermipedia: The Viking and the Hermit

Courtney & Betina

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