Following is a description of the articles I have available for reprint. For pricing and other information about the articles described below, please email me at cindy@cindyhudson(dot)com.

• 20 Great Book Series to Keep Kids Reading All Summer Long—Reading during summer is a great way for kids to keep up and even improve their literacy skills. Yet parents may be frustrated when their kids are reluctant to pick up a book. This 669-word article talks about the appeal of series and lists a wide range of titles that will appeal to all types of readers. I’ve included five suggestions that include classics and current series in four age groups along with one-line descriptions of each. A 161-word sidebar lists another 20 titles without descriptions.
• Inspire Your Kids to Go Outside, and De-Stress, With Books on Nature—Exposure to the outdoors is a great de-stresser, for both kids and parents alike. But getting kids interested in nature can be a challenge for parents, especially when time constraints and other distractions are always calling.The solution may be found in stories that present kids interacting with and enjoying nature. This 722-word article includes 14 titles geared to five age groups, from three year olds to parents.
• Do It Yourself Summer Reading Program—The benefits of summer reading have been widely proven. While programs at libraries are often available and easy to sign up for, parents may find that getting to the library or motivating their kids with the prizes offered is difficult. To help parents looking for their own way to motivate their kids to read, I’ve written a 543-word article about an easy way to put together a reading game that can be tailored to each individual family. It includes a 169-word sidebar of do’s and don’ts.
• Six Easy Steps to Turn a Backyard Scavenger Hunt Into a City-Wide Adventure—One of the most successful summer activities I’ve organized was a scavenger hunt with a twist. Instead of lasting a few hours, it went on for almost two months, and it took the girls in our mother-daughter book club places in our city they otherwise never would have gone. The game was simple to organize, and it was a hit with both the girls and their moms. A city-wide scavenger hunt is a great activity to pull together in July, when the initial excitement and energy of being out of school is waning into the summer blahs for everyone. This 635-word article gives all the details about how to make it work.
• Lunch Date—When one child in a family is a picky eater, it can strain the whole family dynamic. This is particularly true during vacations, when eating out is more common and finding restaurants to please everyone’s taste can add stress to what is supposed to be a fun time. My 980-word personal essay talks about the day we changed our thinking on eating out during vacation. I believe many families can find inspiration from it to tackle similar issues.
• Hammock Weather—Most of the moms I know find it hard to take time for themselves to relax. All too often, tasks on the to-do list trump taking time to read a book or put their feet up on the couch, or in better weather, swing in a hammock. And yet, I believe it can benefit everyone in the family when children see their parents take a breather. This 791-word essay explores this common issue and encourages moms to set aside time for themselves.