Books | Sheila Farren Billings | | Art, Paintings, Murals and More

The coloring book features lively pictures and different quick facts of early American history on each page; but don’t tell the kids–they just think it’s fun! Salem, Massachusetts, is called the Witch City because of the witchcraft hysteria in the 1600’s; but there is so much more to know! Pirates, Revolutionary War heroes, ship building, sea captains and the China trade, abolition, women’s rights, the list goes on and on. That’s why I named my book “Salem: Which City?”—I couldn’t choose which event was most interesting! Salem’s colorful history is a wonderful way to get children interested in learning about early America. Salem was the home of the first candy company in America–started by a woman. It was also the home of America’s first millionaire. Salem’s sea captains battled pirates to bring pepper, which was more valuable than gold, to America’s shores. Some famous people with Salem connections include: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Nathaniel Bowditch, Alexander Graham Bell, Horace Mann, the Peabody Sisters and many more. As a career teacher, I wrote and illustrated the book and fun-tested it in my own classroom. It has also been widely used in the elementary school curriculum of the Salem Public Schools. It is a great tool for home schoolers and other parents who want their kids in grades K-5 to learn to love American history. 24 pages.

Salem MA is known as the Witch City, but there’s so much more! This book uses games, puzzles and cut-outs to whet your child’s desire to learn about US history. Salem, Massachusetts, is called the Witch City because of the witchcraft hysteria in the 1600’s; but there is so much more to know! Pirates, Revolutionary War heroes, ship building, sea captains, the list goes on and on. That’s why I named my book “Salem: Which City?”—I couldn’t choose which event was most interesting! There is a word search, mazes, dot-to-dot, find the hidden pictures, and more to treat your child or student to hours of fun—all while learning American history. Paper dolls are low-tech fun, and kids love them. Boy and girl cut-out figures each have five outfits showing what kids wore from 1626 to 1930. There are logic problems, color-by-number, an answer key and more included in the book’s 25 pages. The themed activities bring history alive. As a career teacher, I wrote and illustrated the book and fun-tested it in my own classroom. The books have been widely used in the elementary school curriculum of the Salem Public Schools; and they are great tools for home-schoolers and other parents who want their children in grades K-5 to learn to love American history.

Work-A-Day Week and the coordinating activity book, are a wonderful way to teach children the days of the week. The book reflects the diversity of happy, modern families working and playing together. With only 37 words, repeated in a catchy rhyme, it is fun to read aloud to your child, and perfect for early readers to try themselves. Every page is alive with adorable illustrations and hidden objects for children to find in the exquisite hand-drawn borders. The book is already receiving acclaim in the literary world as well. “Kids will love reading Work-A-Day Week,” says Clifford, the Big Red Dog creator, Norman Bridwell. “I plan to introduce it to my grandchildren.” Cartoonist Mark Parisi of Off the Mark raves, “Work-A-Day Week is such a fun and delightful book, it makes me wish I didn’t already know the days of the week.” Amazon.com customers are giving the books rave reviews.

Work-A-Day Week Activity Sheets provide children with hours of fun and learning. They include games to play alone or with friends, career paper dolls for boys and girls, creative cutout projects, and much more. “Little ones learn better when it feels like play,” says Sheila Farren Billings, who taught in elementary school for 10 years and has a Masters in Education. “The activity sheets help children enjoy learning, while open-ended elements spark their creativity and sense of humor.” The book is already receiving acclaim in the literary world as well. “Kids will love reading Work-A-Day Week,” says Clifford, the Big Red Dog creator, Norman Bridwell. “I plan to introduce it to my grandchildren.” Cartoonist Mark Parisi of Off the Mark raves, “Work-A-Day Week is such a fun and delightful book, it makes me wish I didn’t already know the days of the week.”