Win A $50.00 Amazon Card & Signed Copies of The Pen Pieyu Adventures

Book Blasthttp://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/50-book-blast-giveaway-the-pen-pieyu-adventures-by-diane-mae-robinson/

About the Books

Book 1:

Title: Sir Princess Petra (The Pen Pieyu Adventures Book #1) | Author: Diane Mae Robinson | Year published: 2012 | Publisher: Tate Publishing |Number of pages: 68 | Recommended age: 5+

Summary: Princess Petra’s unusual birthday request sends the royal court into a frenzy, but when she agrees to undertake a knight’s quest they can’t stop her. Armed with a cake knife and outfitted in the best royal pots and pans, Petra sets off to face a dragon and win her real armor before encountering a bog witch, and an army of the kingdom’s worst enemies. Will Petra’s kindness and acceptance prove to be more valuable than weapons and armor?

Awards for book one, Sir Princess Petra:

2012 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award (Literary Arts).
2012 First Runner Up in the Purple Dragonfly Book Award in the Children’s Chapter Book category
2013 Honorable Mention in the Reader’s Favorite International Book Awards
2013 Finalist in the “50 Great Writers You Should be Reading” Award

Purchase:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Tate Publishing *Goodreads

Book 2:

Title: Sir Princess Petra’s Talent (The Pen Pieyu Adventures Book 2) | Author: Diane Mae Robinson |Publication Date: September 24, 2013 | Publisher:Tate Publishing | Number of pages: 92 |Recommended age: Read-aloud ~ 5+

Summary: Sir Princess Petra has already proven she is a kind and noble knight. This, however, does not please the king and queen—they want her to behave like a princess and forget this silly knight nonsense of hers! But when the king writes a new rule in the royal rule book that requires her to attend Talent School and acquire a princess talent certificate or suffer the spell of the royal magician, Petra, reluctantly, agrees to go. But who could have guessed what Sir Princess Petra’s Talent would be?

Awards for book two, Sir Princess Petra’s Talent:

2014 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards, finalist in three categories:

Children’s Fantasy SciFi
Children’s Grade K – 3rd
Children’s Grade 4- 6th

Purchase:

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Tate Publishing* Goodreads

The Buzz About the Books

Book 1: “I really feel that this little book is a gem. It is a relatively short book (70-ish pages) that can easily be read aloud to children in one sitting. My kids and I were completely captivated by this fun, adventure-filled tale about a very charming and unorthodox princess. I highly recommend this book to families with children under the age of 10 and as young as 5 who love a good tale filled with fairy-tale characters such as dragons, witches, princesses, and knights.” ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Book 1: “I liked this book because it has a great story line and a great message about believing in yourself. Petra proves that she and all girls can be daring, adventurous and brave. I think Petra was a great character and I liked Snarls (the dragon) even better because he had good sense and dragons are just cool. The book is a beginning chapter book so there isn’t a lot of details in it but it tells a complete story. The black and white illustrations in the book are really great too. The book is part of “The Pen Pieyu Adventures.” I hope that means there will be more books about Petra coming out! This book is an awesome beginning chapter book and a great read aloud.” ~ Erik @ This Kid Reviews Books

Book 1: “Sir Princess Petra is one of those stories that will appeal to most everyone. It is charmingly funny. Petra sets out to prove she has what it takes to be a royal knight and proves she can do nearly anything. Snarls, the howling dragon, is endearing and lovable. If stuffed, sitting on a toy store shelf, every kid would want him. The story is short enough to be read in one sitting, say at bedtime. There are many opportunities for humorous, wacky, high-pitched voices, making Sir Princess Petra fun to read aloud. The author’s imagination is appropriately childlike. Petra is a child every parent will love. I know a child would have sweet, funny dreams after hearing mom or dad read this at bedtime.”~ Sue M. @ Kid Lit Reviews

Book 2: “Sir Princess Petra’s Talent is precisely everything an early middle grade book should be with a multi-dimensional main character who is a great role model for young girls; a great supporting cast of unique and quirky characters; a plot largely driven through clever dialogue amongst the characters and involving much adventure and folly; and unexpected turns and twists that willleave parents and their children laughing out loud. ” ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Book 2: “This is an adventurous story, which gets going from the very first page and doesn’t stop. The characters are all enjoyable, and the situations, although sometimes challenging for Princess Petra, are very appropriate for the age group.” ~ Tonja @ Bookworm for Kids

Book 2: “The[se books] are early chapter books, fun and suitable for children ages six and up. They move very quickly and are quite short, so I think they’d be particularly suitable for reluctant readers. I also think boys would enjoy these books as Sir Princess Petra thinks and behaves in the way I imagine most boys wish girls would think and behave – kind, down-to-earth, adventurous, and never squeamish or manipulative.” ~ Tina @ Mommynificent

About the Author: Diane Mae Robinson

Diane lives in a small hilltop castle nestled amongst a very old and magical forest. In this mystical forest, all the fantasy creatures one can imagine live and audition for parts in the author’s next book. Diane has a journalism diploma from the Schools of Montreal and an advanced diploma from the Institute of Children’s Literature. The author also teaches acrylic and watercolor art to children, and is a writing instructor at the Creative Writing Institute.

The author’s first book in this series, Sir Princess Petra, has won three prestigious awards, and was a finalist for another award. The author recently acquired an agent with Gotham Artists Agency in New York.

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook *Goodreads * LinkedIn * Google+

 Enter to win a $50.00 Amazon gift card and book one and book two autographed hardcover books in The Pen Pieyu Adventure series. Enter here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e6447e6d209/

Finding Your Child Voice In Writing

Finding Your Child Voice

When writing children literature, finding your own child voice is the only way to create realistic characters, believable dialogue, and succinct narrative that will grab your reader’s attention and keep them involved in your story.

Students often ask me: So how does a writer find their child voice?

My answer to students is this: Before you can find your child voice, you must think like a child. To think like a child you must play like a child, even if it is only in your mind.

Seems like a relatively simple thing to do, right?  But as adults, we often let go of (or lose completely) our childlike attitudes and behaviors; tuck them away, in a memory box.

So, open the box. Remember. Put on a costume and dance around the room, go to a park and cruise down the slide, visit a classroom, read children’s literature, or hang out with some kids and just observe. Soon enough, your own childhood memories will come flooding back about what it was like to be that age: what was important, what wasn’t important, how you acted and how you talked, what the world sounded like, felt like, and tasted like.  

Once your own inner child is awakened, you will be able to immerse yourself into your child character’s head with more freedom; with more pizzazz.

Another exercise I have my students do to get into child-mode thinking is to look at things, people, situations and emotions; write down all the different ways to express it with originality. Then, break the sentences down again and again until the emotions and situations are expressed simply, with the innocence of a child’s heart.

 Here are some examples of my child voice that I’ve used in my own stories:

Excited:  He felt as if a herd of jumping bugs were doing cartwheels in his stomach.

Sad: My heart fell sideways and stayed lying down all day.

Descriptive dialogue: "I know grandma can fly. She has that flabby, flapping skin under her arms that turns into her after-dark wings."

Descriptive narrative: The wind pricked him, jabbed at him, finally becoming so mean with all its yelling and howling that he decided the wind just wasn’t worth playing with any longer.

So if find yourself dancing and twirling around the kitchen, doing cartwheels across the yard, or finger painting like a four-year-old, and somebody comes along to tell you that you are acting immature, take it as a compliment and start writing.

Illustration by Samantha Kickingbir

Copyright Diane Mae Robinson, 2014

For more information about my dragon books for children: http://www.dragonsbook.com

Chocolate = Books=Yummy

My friend, C.L. Murphy, asked me awhile ago to participate in the Chocolate Blog Challenge. C.L. is the author of the wonderful e-book series,The Adventures of Lovable Lobo and blog posts here: http://lovablelobo.wordpress.com/

So, thinking about chocolate, which I am totally addicted to and books, which I am absolutely addicted to, brought me to thinking about some really cool books, as I am eating chocolate in order to think wisely.

My book comparisons are all children book writers who I know and admire.

Sir Nathan and the Troublesome Task by Mark Simon Smith, bk. 2.

Trouble has darkened the colorful land of Mariskatania and it is up to the Hero, Sir Nathan, to save the day. There are stories of a terrible, awful, frightening beast roaming the countryside and Sir Nathan must hunt down this creature and return what has been stolen from Queen Gobbledeegook.

 These books are hilarious and so much fun: the silliness, the smiting, the dastardly situations, the humor, the unique characters, especially Sir Nathan  and when he has 'lengthy screaming fits about the dastardly tricks of evil and how it sneaks about, ruining everything'.

My comparison to chocolate is to the Double Dipped Oreo Cookies Tin (for special occasions): all the fun of twisting off the tops and licking the middle of regular Oreo cookies, but with much more intrigue in the middle, on top, and all around.

The Adventures of Tomato and Pea Book 1: A Bad Idea 

by Erik Weibel

 Super-hero/O.L.E. agent Tomato wins an all-inclusive space cruise for himself and three

companions, and asks his best friends: Pea, his sidekick; Skew, a cook; and Poppy Lobster, a mailman aboard the S.S. Poofy.  Unbeknown to Tomato , his nemesis, Wintergreen,  has set the whole thing up with the intention of sending Tomato and his gang into a black hole from which they can never return.

This is a wonderful adventure written by an eleven-year-old who is also a book reviewer at http://thiskidreviewsbooks.com/  Who better to write a middle grade book than someone who reads a bazillion middle grade books?    

My comparison to Erik's book is to Chocolate Covered Popcorn--when watching or reading something entertaining, popcorn is a must. If it's very entertaining, then chocolate is required to top off that popcorn.







The Faeries of Birchover Wood--The Bad, #1, by Ian S. Rutter

Back in the days when the King of England           

fought along side such great beasts to defeat
the Bad, a magical pact was formed so that
if at any time the Bad was to find a way to
escape from the tree, then the spirits of the
myths, legends and folklore would come back 
and fight side by side to protect the innocent.
It was their duty. Their solemn vow. It was 
now that time to fulfill that promise.

This book reminds me of Chocolate Truffles: ganache centre (chocolate, caramel, nuts, almonds, berries, nougart, fudge, liqueur etc.) coated in chocolate, icing sugar, cocoa powder or chopped hazelnuts, almonds or coconut.  You get the picture, a lot of good stuff in each bite.



              Elven Jewel, # 1, by Kasper Beaumont

The story is a fantasy adventure about good versus evil. Four halflings,  

along with their bond fairies, set out to save their land, Reloria, from the evil Vergais (large, scaly creatures). There are also dwarfs, elves, knights and a dragon that team up with the halflings on their adventures to return the stolen Elven Jewel and, in turn, save their homeland.

 The comparison here is to Milk Chocolate Almonds: there's just no way you're going to have a few--eating the whole bag is a necessity, just like turning every page of this book.
 

The Adventures of Lovable Lobo, #3:  Lobo Finds Bigfoot, by C. L. Murphy

There’s something in the forest that smells very different to Lobo in his third adventure.  What could it be?  He discovers Squatchy, a little Bigfoot!  Squatchy leads Lobo and Roxy, to a clearing in the forest where they witness the Squatchy Stomp.  Stomp along to the beat just like the Bigfoots do!  Find Squatchy when he hides in the trees and learn the secret Bigfoot signal!  BELIEVE!




                   
 
  This book reminds me of Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate with peppermint sticks: warm, smooth chocolate with adventurous peppermint. Totally satisfying.

The last part of the Chocolate Blog Challenge was to find three bloggers to carry on the challenge. Well, that part didn't work out so well as all my blogger friends said "No" in one way or another. Here's what they said:  "I'm busy that week studying flora in Peru."; "That's weird you asked since I'm on a diet."; "I'm scared."; "Ny cat ate the "N" key on ny laptop."; "Oh, what is to become of men and mice?" Huh?

So I've decided to just send you to some of my friends blogs to see what they are up to.

http://kid-lit-reviews.com

    http://thiskidreviewsbooks.com/

Join The Writer's Choice Newsletter: http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com/

For more information on my dragon books for children/adventure kids books: http://www.dragonsbook.com

                                                             

Book Review. Little Miss History Travels to Mount Rushmore.

http://amzn.to/1svHU9L

LITTLE MISS HISTORY Travels to MOUNT RUSHMORE

by Barbara Ann Mojica

Illustrations by Victor Ramon Mojica

Publisher: CreateSpace, 2nd edition, August 26, 2013

34 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1492262985

ISBN-10: 1492262986

From the back cover: "LITTLE MISS HISTORY Travels to MOUNT RUSHMORE" is the first in a series of books using the Little Miss HISTORY character as a guide. She looks like a wannabe park ranger with pig tails and hiking boots three sizes too big. The aim of these books is to whet a child's appetite to learn more about history and encourage them to visit the landmarks featured in the series.  

About the story: History, as her parents call her for short, takes the reader on a trip to Mount Rushmore with very interesting--and probably some little known facts--about how the president's faces were carved, when they were carved, how many workers worked on the carvings, the cost of the project, the official name and Native American name for Mount Rushmore, and the mountain's link to the Native Americans in history.

What I thought: If my history lessons were this interesting when I was a kid, I would have loved learning history. This is an excellent history book with an adventurous main character that talks to kids (and obviously adults--me) in a fun way about history facts. I think this series is an amazing idea, and kids will absolutely love this book and will want to read the other Little Miss History books. Kudos to the author for making history fun. 

The illustrations are bold and colorful, and absolutely delightful.

Little Miss HISTORY Travels to The Statue of Liberty

http://amzn.to/1kZahDG

Little Miss HISTORY Travel to SEQUOIA National Park (Volume 3)

http://amzn.to/1lfmM2N

About the Author

Barbara Ann Mojica is an historian and retired educator living in New York State. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in History. Barbara spent more than 40 years teaching in NYC and holds New York State teacher certifications in Elementary, Special Education, and Administration. She also spent several years as a Special Education Administrator and principal of a special education preschool for developmentally delayed children. Barbara, although retired from teaching, is staying busy: along with her forthcoming series of Little Miss History travel books she writes historical pieces for The Columbia Insider, Pat Fisher and Ed Pollack Editors, under the banner “Passages”. Marrying her love of history and teaching, Barbara hopes her Little Miss History character will inspire children to learn about historical people, and visit landmarks such as the one covered in this book.

Visit Barbara's website: WWW.LittleMissHISTORY.com

Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artists Awards

                  
After nearly 200 applications and two levels of adjudication coordinated by The Banff Centre, eight outstanding artists emerged as  2014 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award recipients. 

His Honour, Col. (Ret’d) the Honourable Donald S. Ethell,

Government House, Edmonton, Alberta

Lieutenant Governor of Alberta presented the medals, certificates and $10,000 awards at a private ceremony June 11, 2014 at Government House in Edmonton. Meet this years recipients here:
http://www.artsawards.ca/index.php/emerging-artists/ea-past-recipients/

The Lieutenant Governor Emerging Artist Award is given to eight outstanding artist (in all disciplines) every two years. I was one of the eight recipients of this honourable award in 2012:
http://www.artsawards.ca/index.php/emerging-artists/ea-past-recipients/  

The Honourable Donald S. Ethell, Lieutenant Governor
of Alberta presenting award to Diane Mae Robinson
2012

June 11, 2014, Government House, Edmonton, Alberta

I was invited to this years award ceremonies at Government House where I watched the new recipients receive their awards, drank champaign, snacked on hors de oeurves, and chatted with very insightful and creative people.

I was also given an opportunity to present the Honorable Donald S. Ethell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, with my 2nd book in my children's fantasy/adventure series, Sir Princess Petra's Talent. In 2012, when I won this award, I presented the Lieutenant Governor with book one, Sir Princess Petra.

2012 Emerging Artist Award Recipients, and members of the board.

June 11, 2014, Diane at Government House

For more information on my fantasy kids books: http://www.dragonsbook.com

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Award Winning Children's Book Author Diane Mae Robinson         Announces New Reviews And Future Releases Robinson’s multi-award winning books, ‘Sir Princess Petra', and the second book in the series, 'Sir Princess Petra's Talent', teach children valuable life lessons through engaging fiction. Both  books have received rave reviews. Two more books are scheduled for future release [June 4, 2014, St. Paul, Alberta, Canada] Award winning Canadian author Diane Robinson 's highly  praised, multi-award winning children’s book, ‘Sir Princess Petra’, the first in the Pen Pieyu series,  features surprising plot twists and turns, brilliant flashes of humor, zany characters and is rooted  in timeless values that shine through the charismatic main character. It is written in the tradition  of C. S. Lewis and is reminiscent of ‘Shrek’. Reviewers have labeled the award winning book a  ‘fantasy adventure that is sure to become a timeless classic.’ 'Sir Princess Petra' took an Honorable Mention award in the 2013 Readers' Favorite International  Awards for Children Grade K - 3rd. Robinson was honored with two major awards for the book.  She was awarded the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artists Award for Children’s  Book Author and took 2nd place in the Purple Dragonfly Book awards for Children’s Chapter Book. The second book in the series, 'Sir Princess Petra's Talent' has already received a number of very  favorable reviews. The book recently garnered 5 more 5 star reviews and even more praise from  Midwest Book Review and Readers Favorite. “Writing and creating this fantasy series has been a fun adventure,” stated Robinson. “Petra is a  spunky character who teaches children about kindness, accepting others for who they are,  and believing in yourself. My grammar book is written in the same essence as this series.” Robinson is currently at work on the third book in the series, 'Sir Princess Petra's Mission'. She is  also writing an easy-to-understand grammar book for elementary children, 'Grammar for Kids and  Dragons'. The book deals with elementary grades grammar lessons in a humorous medieval tone. While dragon books are one of the most popular segments of fantasy fiction and children’s books  in today's marketplace, in these fantasy fiction books, Robinson uses the dragon books concept  as the background to teaching young people traditional values. Ms. Robinson's highly praised  work demonstrates that dragon books can be something much more than dragon books. Diane Mae Robinson is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information  below or by email at robinsond@mscnet.ca. More information, including reviews, information for  teachers and librarians, a downloadable lesson plan and a special children’s section is available  at her website. Both books are currently available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. About Diane Mae Robinson: Diane Mae Robinson has a journalism diploma from the Schools of Montreal, and an advanced  diploma from the Institute of Children's Literature in Connecticut. She is a writing instructor/tutor  for the Children’s Writing Course at the Creative Writing Institute. She is also an artist, writing  tutor and teaches acrylic and watercolor art to children. She lives with her husband, Allen, in a  small hilltop castle near St. Paul, Alberta.  They have four dogs and three horses, along with a f orest inhabited by gnomes, fairies, a princess, and a dragon. This magical forest is where Diane  creates her characters and gets the inspiration for her stories. Contact: Diane Mae Robinson http://www.dragonsbook.com robinsond@mcsnet.ca Teachers/Librarians page link:  http://www.dragonsbook.com/teachers-librarians.html Lesson plan link: http://www.dragonsbook.com/Sir_Princess_Petra's_Lesson_Plan.pdf

- See more at: http://www.freepublicitygroup.com/release_diane_robinson_dragons_book_may_114.html#sthash.bfk3hTPY.dpuf

Local Literary Arts Event

Multi-author autographing event set to go

 St. Paul, Alberta - In a gathering unlike any St. Paul has seen, six area authors will be introducing themselves and their books to the community at a group autographing session in the new St. Paul Value Drug Mart on Friday, 20 June 2014 from 1 – 3 pm and again in the evening from 6 - 7 pm.

A broad taste of books will be available to purchase from the authors.  Shannon Ouellette, writing as Shannon Raelynn, will be there with her romance, SEASCAPE. 

Diane Beveridge, writing as Diane Peeling, will present her brand new book of poetry, A JOURNEY IN WORDS: Discovering my Being.

Award winning author, Diane Mae Robinson, will be on hand with the two books in her children’s series: SIR PRINCESS PETRA and SIR PRINCESS PETRA’S TALENT. 

Learn a bit of local history from Ella Drobot with her semi-autobiographical anthology BEHIND THE KITCHEN STOVE and Nicholas Verbisky with his autobiographical EMBARRAS PORTAGE:  Before, and After.

Eileen Schuh will be promoting the first three novels in her young adult BackTracker series: THE TRAZ, THE TRAZ School Edition, FATAL ERROR and FIREWALLS as well as her adult science fiction novellas, SCHRODINGER’S CAT and DISPASSIONATE LIES.

“All the authors are very excited about this opportunity,” Schuh says, noting St. Paul and area businesses, organizations and individuals have been exceptionally supportive of her career. “We love writing and are really looking forward to sharing our words first hand and face-to-face with members of our community.”

As St. Paul doesn’t have a bookstore, the Value Drug Mart for years has supported area authors by stocking their books. Now, with an expansive new location, they’ve decided to further promote the literary arts in their community by sponsoring an autographing event for the authors behind the books on their shelves.

Hope Ainsworth, Store Front Manager for St. Paul Value Drug Mart, whose idea sparked the event says, “We are looking forward to showcasing talent that is in our own backyard and seeing many of you stop by to chat and meet the people behind the stories .”

Authors will also gladly grant interviews during the event.

For more on my fantasy kids books, visit my website at: http://www.dragonsbook.com 

Strange Facts About Words

Some strange facts about words

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious." 

There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".

No word in the English language rhymes with month,orange, silver, or purple.

The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" 
uses every letter of the alphabet. 

                         *************************************

Heteronyms are words that are spelled the same as another, but having a different sound and meaning.


     - The dragon wound the cloth around the wound on his leg.

     - He could still lead the knights if he could get the thick lead door opened.

     - Upon arrival, the royal dove dove through the window.
   
     - The royal carpenter built the door to close to the window—it would not close.

Homographs are words of like spelling but with more than one meaning. 

  - The prince, even in his present state, was to present the present to the princess (the 1st and 3rd "present" are the homographs; the 2nd "present" as to the 1st and 3rd "present" are heteronyms). 
      
  - The kingdom’s gardener was summoned to produce lots of produce, or else.

  - The princess did not object to the shinny object the dragon brought her.
  
  -  Some of the soldiers got in a row as they tried to straighten the row.

                   ********************************************

Then there's the odd word up. Look it up in the dictionary. It is a two-letter word with the most meanings of any two-letter word:

Upon waking up, the princess looked up in the sky. The cloud art brought to mind a topic she must bring up to the royal councilman--she must speak up. Who would be up for election? And who would write up the royal reports? 

As she pondered, she decided to polish up the silverware and warm up spaghetti. Later, she cleaned up the mess before opening up the royal library. Deciding it was time to get dressed up for the ceremonies, she wondered if she was up for it. The whole deal would take up a lot of her time, but if she did not give up, she might wind up with a new role.

"Hmmm, it's clouding up outside." She closed up the shutters and wrapped up in her shawl.

                 I am one mixed up writer.

copyright, Diane Mae Robinson, 2014

For information on my dragon books for children: http://www.dragonsbook.com

Ukrainian Pysanka

The original Easter egg.

Pysanky artists decorates Easter eggs using methods and symbols that have been part of Ukrainian culture for centuries. Pysanky (PIH-sahn-kih) are eggs decorated with a process that employs wax and dyes, using different colors and symbols that have special meanings in Ukrainian tradition. A single egg is a pysanka.

Pysanka art by Sophie Pidwerbeski,
my baba

My grandmother, Sophie, and her sisters, mother, and grandmothers, who were all born in the Ukraine, knew the art of this treasured Ukrainian tradition.

The tradition of pysanky is believed to pre-date Christian times, even going as far back as Trypillian culture--and ancient Eastern European civilization. As Christianity spread into Ukraine, the pagan symbols used to decorate the eggs were given Christian associations, and pysanky became a form of folk art connected to Easter.

The art form, somehow, and often in secret, survived despite the many hardships of the artists over the years: war, Communist rule, and even during the period when religious practices were outlawed.

Although I do not know the art myself (it is on my bucket list of things to learn), I do remember my mother and grandmother drawing on the Easter eggs, first with pencil then with wax, and then dipping them into different colors.

The pysanky are created using a wax-resistant dyeing technique: the eggs are dyed in progressive stages and wax is applied to resist the dye from settling in certain parts.

Drawing the wax design on the eggs is called "writing"--the term comes from the word "pysaty", which means "to write". The writing is applied with a stylus called a kistka.                 

Eggs made by my aunties and cousin that still live in the Ukraine
and somehow got them to Canada in original condition.

The designs are filled with symbolism---all the shapes and simple picture have a particular meaning, for examples: triangles represents the Holy Trinity; a rooster symbolizes fertility; yellow is associated with youth; black with mortality; red with love and passion for Christ.

Instructions on how to do the pysanka art: http://www.ehow.com/how_8568216_pysanky-instructions.html

Another good resource page on the art: http://www.conjure.com/icon.html

My aunties and cousin in the Ukraine.
1985

Pysanky art is a wonderful art form that I fear is fading away with the older generations. 

That gives me an idea. After I learn the art, I could give art classes where I teach visual arts. Anyone want to take an Easter egg course?

copyright, Diane Mae Robinson, 2014

Related post, The Ukrainian Writer: http://www.dianemaerobinson.com/2013/06/the-ukrainian-writer.html