TLA Conference Lecture Notes
Pen and Link is my quarterly email newsletter about technology, writing, illustration, and making picture books. It's completely free, and well worth the paper it's printed on, which is none at all.
You can click here to subscribe to Pen and Link, or read recent issues by here.
Making Things
Here are some of my favorite links for getting kids interested in making things:
The Mad Scientists' Club
This series of books by NASA scientist Bertrand Brinley got me excited about making things when I first read them in the early seventies. Although technology has evolved dramatically in the years since (these were pre-computers), I've found they are received just as well today by my ten year old son. Out of print for many years, they're finally back thanks to Purple House Press.
http://www.purplehousepress.com/msc.htm
Make Magazine
One of the few things (besides Netflix) that still gets me excited about checking the mail, Make is also one of the best designed magazines I've seen in a long time. It's packed from beginning to end with every kind of project imaginable, for all levels of ability. Even if you don't build a single project, reading it is still great fun. The Make website is also well worth checking out.
GeekDad
This is Wired magazine's blog for projects dads can do with their sons. Despite the name, moms and daughters are welcome, too. Sort of a Make magazine specifically for kids.
http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/
Howtoons
Howtoons are illustrated projects in comic format, most of which kids can do with little or no help from adults. Very cool stuff here.
Free Software Tools
The following are programs that I really like, ones that I often use in my own work. I've included links to the manufactures of each one. (I've had great experiences with them, but of course I can't take responsibility for anything you put on your machine.)
Unless noted, all the software listed below is free and is available for both Macs and Windows computers.
Art Rage 2
(Painting and drawing)
I get asked all the time to recommend a good, fun art program for kids or for people who aren't ready to invest hundreds of dollars in Adobe Photoshop or Corel Painter. Until I came across Ambient Design's Art Rage 2, I didn't have any really good suggestions.
A fully functional version of Art Rage 2 is completely free to download and play with, and is available for both Mac and Windows. (If you want to spring for the full version with all the bells and whistles it will only set you back $19.95) It's great fun, and very easy to learn. Plus, it does a nice job of simulating all sorts of natural media, like wet paint brushes and crumbly chalk.
Google Sketchup
(3-D Modeling)
For years, I've been using 3-D software to help me work out difficult compositions in my books. I've used many different programs, and by and large they've been expensive and a chore to learn.
SketchUp, now owned by Google, is different. The price is right (free) and the learning curve isn't bad at all. Spend a couple minutes with the online tutorials and you'll be up and running. It's an intuitive and powerful program, and it's tons of fun.
If you decide to give Sketchup a try, be sure to check out the online video tutorials. They're fantastic.
There are also some great videos by Aidan Chopra, author of "Google Sketchup for Dummies" here:
http://www.youtube.com/aidanchopra
Sketchup also comes in an advanced version (Sketchup Pro) :
http://www.sketchup.com/
The pro version is free for educators, but you need to apply for a license here:
http://www.sketchup.com/?section=education
Seamonkey
(Web design)
If you're interested in getting your hands dirty creating basic web sites, but aren't ready to invest in something like Dreamweaver, Seamonkey provides a basic, no-frills, web design system.
Audacity
(Sound editing and special effects)
Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:
Record live audio
Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs
Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files
Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together.
Change the speed or pitch of a recording.