Robyn Hood Black

Greetings in this new year! If you are a children's writer or illustrator living in or near Georgia and are looking to jumpstart your work - and you could use some unbeatable networking and camraderie - check out the upcoming SCBWI Southern Breeze Springmingle conference in Atlanta, Feb. 26 - 28. This year's keynote speaker is Jane Yolen. (more…)

Thanks for stopping by! I'm grateful to look back on a very busy 2009 and look forward to writing, drawing, speaking, and meeting up with other children's book folks in 2010.

I'm hunkering down in January with my novel, so apologies for scant blog posts, but I'll come up for air every so often.

Wishing you and yours a productive, inspiring, happy new year!

Are you finished with your holiday shopping? Or yet to begin?

In this crazy, frenzied time of year, there's a simple way you can do something positive for the world, and it won't cost you a penny. Under the links to the right, you'll find one to The Literacy Site, which is connected to these other great sites: The Hunger Site, Breast Cancer Site, Child Health Site, Animal Rescue Site, and Rainforest Site. Conscientious advertisers pay for space on these webpages, and you "donate" all kinds of wonderful things just by visiting and clicking.

Now, if you want to give a little more, take time to browse the "shops" for each site. They offer some terrific items which make fun gifts - that's where I've done a good bit of my shopping this year! Happy clicking.

Mostly, I'm thankful that I have the "usuals" to be thankful for, but not taken for granted - a wonderful family, health, home, food, shelter, work, freedom. I'm thankful to have grown up in a family that, while full of challenges, encouraged creativity and time spent together. (more…)

Hugs and howls to the creative young readers and writers at The Paideia School in Atlanta. I had the privilege of spending time with the elementary school students Friday during presentations and a writing workshop.

We talked about all things wolf - and such great questions! Thanks for your enthusiasm as I got to share one of my greatest passions. (more…)

I have the amazing privilege of volunteering at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Dahlonega, Ga., - http://www.chestateewildlife.com - with Juno and Luna, the wolves whose pictures you see here and there on my website. At a year-and-a-half old now, they are magnificent creatures.

When I visit them, we generally work on manners (socialization), and I also enjoy observing their antics. Today they were particularly playful. (more…)

In case you missed it and wanted to hear Teacher Jen's interview with me, here's the link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/teachertalkradio/2009/11/05/Teacher-Talk-Radio-Robyn-Hood-Black

I enjoyed being on her show and recommend her program site and her blog for some great tips for the classroom.

I'm thrilled and honored to be participating this Wenesday night, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. EST on Teacher Talk Radio with Jen Schneider! Jen, a kindergarten teacher who received the "Teacher of the Year" award in 2007, thrives on sharing terrific ideas through
http://teachertalkradio.blogspot.com (more…)

I'm delighted to be participating in the second annual READ-A-THON at the Hall Book Exchange (Gainesville, Ga.) this coming weekend. Beginning 5pm Friday, October 23, and ending 5pm Saturday, October 24, the event benefits the Gainesville/Hall County Alliance for Literacy, (www.allianceforliteracy.org). Participants of all ages will be reading books of all kinds! Bookshop owner Myra Meade promises plenty of free coffee.... (more…)

Awrrrooooooooooooooo - It's Wolf Awareness Week!

Oct. 11 - 17, 2009 - If you're not familiar with the amazing online resources offered by the International Wolf Center, this week would be a good time to discover them! http://www.wolf.org . You can tune in to the webcams and perhaps catch a glimpse of wolf activity in real time; link to current headlines from all over about wolf issues; or check out the educational resources for kids and teachers, just for starters.

On the local front, on my WOLVES page, I posted some pictures of the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve's Juno and Luna from last week. I've added a picture or two every month since they were four-week-old pups. They turned a year and a half old this weekend!