Written and illustrated by Susan McBride
Published by Lark Books

A fun doodle book for older kids and teens. Basically this book is full of half finished drawings, cartoons and doodles, as well as writing ideas and questions, meant to stimulate the imagination and spark ideas in creative and bored kids. Sort of an irreverent poke at disciplinary figures, it is disguised as a school book, complete with fake lecture notes in the middle.

Some of the idea stimuli include questions like “what would you name your band if you had one?”, and pictures of naked hairless dogs and animals to complete the drawing, there are writing exercises like Automatic writing, as well as brief bio’s of people famous for being bored, and how they channelled their boredom into fame and creativity, like Andy Warhol and Iggy Pop.

While this book on the surface seems light and fun and frivolous, it does have some deep ideas and sophisticated concepts. This is not a dumbing down for big kids, rather an accessable way to reach kids who are actually a bit bored with learning and all the usual ways of getting their attention are no longer working.

Me, in Christmas denial? Nope.

The lovely Amelia has posted a freebie. Lovely cabled sock pattern knitted in lovely Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and the pattern’s written for circ’s or magic loop. Nice work.

Oh, OK, darn it. Christmas content.

Have you seen Liesl’s mitten ornament pattern and tutorial? And Anna Maria’s very sweet owl ornament pattern? Gorgeous.