By Valary Oleinik, valarywithawhy.com
Have you ever tried to keep a streak going? Maybe you practiced shooting hoops every day for a week or tried to make five baskets in a row. Each time you missed, you thought, “Just one more try.”
Or maybe you played a video game and unlocked an achievement, earned a badge, or reached a new level.
If so, you already know something about gamification. You also know something about the work I do as a gamification advocate.
As a gamification advocate, I study why games capture our attention and how some of those same ideas can help people learn, grow, and solve problems.
I have a career today that did not exist when I was in school. The key pieces existed, but they had not come together in quite the same way yet. The same may be true for you. You might have noticed that …
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About the book: At any moment in time, we are taking in information about our world through our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin, and joints. This, sensory processing, is how we experience our world and is unique to each person. Our job as parents, caregivers, and adults in influential roles is not only to take notice of our own sensory systems, but to help children do the same. The goal of this manuscript is to bring awareness to this topic and supply tools for discussion. We, the authors, in a real-life OT session, realized the need for this book when Sarah didn’t have a children’s book to recommend for Jackie’s child. Jackie had already completed two children’s books and said, “Well, let’s create what we need!”
A Chameleon Tale uses the changing color of the chameleons’ skin, differing facial expressions, and a variety of actions to illustrate how a sensory …
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About the book: Let’s learn our ABCs, but let’s make it beautiful! An ABC book to learn, delight, and start conversations. In Jackie Adrian’s signature, acrylic, collage style, she has brought her collages to life with the alphabet. The letters, paired with vivid collage, capture the focus of the young learner.
Each letter collage is detailed with a small, few sentence long story about the letter subject. “B is for Bird. Meet Wes. He likes to give compliments. By the way, you are looking so lovely today.” The descriptions are whimsical, a little off-kilter, and always inclusive. “F is for Flamingo. Meet Ruby. They like to swim with crocs. Nelson is their best friend.” Visit www.jackieadrian.com for an ABC flashcard set which pairs with the book.
Buy the book!
Illustrator Jackie AdrianAbout the Author/Illustrator
Jackie Adrian shares: Creating art is playtime for me, whether it is writing, illustrating, or …
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About the book: The intention of this book is to show that, wherever we grow, humans have quite similar ideas about the best way to maintain healthy relationships. We may look, talk, and eat differently, but the ways to love and respect one another have strong, universal threads. Jackie Adrian’s first wisdom nugget book (As You Grow I Want You To Know) reminds us of the universal wisdom of self-love. This book expands our collection of wisdom nuggets by exploring the world (quite literally) of relationships.
Each of the 15-page spreads shows a) a grown-up and child in different parts of the world, b) a wisdom nugget, and c) an interesting fact or cultural phrase pertaining to the country visited on the page spread (and loosely to the featured wisdom nugget as well). Culture changes quickly, by meters or minutes. This text took many measures to be inclusive and …
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Jackie Adrian shares: Creating art is playtime for me, whether it is writing, illustrating, or working on a new surface pattern design. If you know my art, you know I layer color, pattern, and push the limits on what can play nicely together, creating something entirely fresh and vibrant. I am inspired by travel – trying to explore new places a few times a year – which always brings me unique perspectives I want to share through color, shapes, or words.
I believe in making a life worth celebrating, so being surrounded by interiors that echo the energy I want to feel inspires my designs. Maximum color, design risks, and whimsy are welcome here.
I love wholesaling, licensing, and collaborations, so let’s offer something beautiful together!
“Wisdom Nuggets,” by Jackie Adrian
About Wisdom Nuggets for Relationships: Wherever You Grow I Want You To Know
The intention of this book is …
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About Ja’Khi Rise: All American Underdog
Author Montel White explains, “A lot of us wait for light at the end of the tunnel not realizing we are the light in the tunnel that someone is waiting to follow! Khi is my first child, my blessing, my best friend! I wrote this book to motivate and uplift all, but mainly my Khi! Daddy loves you, King.”
Rangers Of Voltron Rise of the Darkness Micah Origins
About Rangers Of Voltron: Rise of the Darkness Micah Origins
Before the Rangers.
Before Earth.
Before the Darkness rose again…
Long before the chambers fell from the sky, before names like Micah, Jakhi, and Faven were ever spoken on Earth, there was a war that tore a planet apart.
Vontron—the cradle of gods, warriors, and living light—burned beneath the weight of betrayal.
Moese and Jomes stood at the heart of that war.
About Deep In The …
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Learn all about the David O. Stewart show:
Today: Watch ep3 of his show featuring historian and author George Goodwin as they talk about chapter 2 of The Democracy We Must Keep, “Common Sense, Thomas Paine, December 1775.” • Listen to ep2 starring historian Stephen Wilson of St. John’s Church Foundation on chapter 1, “Liberty or Death, Patrick Henry, March 1775.”
Meet the Author: A trial and appellate lawyer for many years, David writes history and historical novels. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Independent Review of Books, was a reporter for the Staten Island Advance, and for 10 years wrote the monthly Supreme Court column for the American Bar Association Journal. He has also done on-air commentary for CNN, C-SPAN, Bloomberg News, and MSNBC.
About his newest …
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About the Accidental Poet: “My goal is to make anyone who reads my poems smile and forget for a moment where they were going or what was on their agenda, and emmerse themselves in another place and time,” shares Nate Whiting, an accomplished poet, singer, and songwriter born and raised in Beverly, Massachusetts, and now residing in Glen Burnie, Maryland, with his wife, Jo Gilley, and his two sons, Leif and Clay.
Nicknamed “The Accidental Poet,” Nate has written hundreds of poems to entertain friends and family with his “Whimsies.”
Nate holds a Bachelor’s & Master’s in K-12 Teacher Education, Health, & Physical Education from West Virginia University. For over a decade, he was an elementary school teacher in Fort Washington, Maryland, where he started writing children’s poems for his students and fellow teachers. Nate continues to write poetry and play music full-time in the Baltimore/Annapolis area. His literary …
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A Note from the InkandescentKids editors: If it’s Friday, it’s time for our weekly spotlight on HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins, who will be sharing her insights with us. See our first post below, and be sure to follow Sarah at homeschoolot.com.
A Note from Sarah: This topic was inspired by a recent conversation on The OT is IN podcast with speech-language pathologist Amanda Owens. If you’d like to dive deeper into the connection between language, reading, writing, and even math, click here to listen to the podcast and here to watch on YouTube.
WikiMedia Source: Math
By Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L
When a child struggles with math, most of us assume the problem is math.
Sometimes that’s true.
But sometimes the challenge is hiding somewhere else.
Consider a word problem.
Before a child ever solves the equation, they must read the words, understand the …
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InkandescentKids welcomes Kerri Hagerty, a dedicated law enforcement officer and children’s book author! Her books in The Adventures of Olive series, will be available for sale at the Inkandescent Kids Book Fair on August 8, 2026. Reserve your tickets to win our grand prize.
Above: Check out our interview with Kerri and our publisher, Hope Katz Gibbs. And scroll down to read about Kerri’s journey.
Meet the Author: Kerri Hagerty is a dedicated law enforcement officer who has proudly served her community for over 20 years. Through roles ranging from patrol officer to detective, she has received several awards, including Officer of the Year, Officer of the Month, two Life Saving Awards, and numerous public commendations.
Beyond the badge, Kerri is also an accomplished children’s book author. Inspired by her real-life adventure dog, Olive, her stories chronicle their surfing and camping escapades. Through Olive’s journeys, Kerri teaches …
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Welcome Jessieca Montgomery Riley, owner of Speak EZ for Kids and Author of the four book series on Public Speaking for Kids & Teens and “Leo Gets and Assignment” (2027 release). Jessieca Montgomery Riley will be exhibiting at our Inkandescent Kids Book Fair on August 8!
Inkandescent Kids: What advice do you have for kids who want to become writers?
Jessieca Montgomery Riley: Just do it! Remember — it’s your story, and only you can tell it. Don’t worry about being the best writer, reader, speller (even though those skills matter) or storyteller. Write everything down, then shape your ideas into a story — fiction or non-fiction. The important part is simply beginning. Many writers delay sharing their stories because they want everything to be perfect from the start. It’s never perfect in the beginning. Writing is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the experience.
Inkandescent Kids: How old …
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A note from Ellen Smith, Inkandescent Kids Editor: publishing your work is exciting! If you haven’t had the opportunity to publish before, figuring out how to submit your work can be difficult. At Inkandescent Kids magazine, we want to help young writers and artists see the process from start to finish. Let’s break down one of the most important parts of submitting work for publication: writing a cover letter.
What is a Cover Letter?
A cover letter is a short, professional letter that explains who you are, what your work is about, and why you want this opportunity. Any time you apply for a position or submit your work to be published, expect to write a cover letter! Even though many publications accept submissions through a web form, there is usually a text box to include a letter. This is a way for you to introduce yourself to the editor …
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InkandescentKids welcomes Austin Graff, a journalist and author of 111 Places for Kids in Washington That You Must Not Miss.
The book will be available for sale at the Inkandescent Kids Book Fair on August 8, 2026.
Reserve your tickets to win our grand prize.
About Austin: There’s profession, and there’s passion. Sometimes they collide. Curiosity & Connection is the collision of 14 years leading social media, digital, and influencer marketing for top brands professionally while exploring Washington, D.C. and the world personally. Growing social platforms into the millions and launching award-winning campaigns while publishing travel guides for The Washington Post, Curiosity & Connection is the accumulation of both worlds. It’s the vehicle in which Austin K. Graff harnesses curiosity to build connections for people and brands through social media consulting, writing, and publishing travel guides. Learn more: austinkgraff.com
About his co-author: Austin’s daughter Addy is a native Washingtonian and …
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Welcome Emilia Renay, a YA author who will be exhibiting at our Inkandescent Kids Book Fair on August 8!
About the author: Emilia Renay is the author of Bluejay Odyssey, a fierce advocate for the realistic representation of disabilities. Emilia draws inspiration from her own experiences overcoming medical adversity. But while her journey has been filled with incredible obstacles, Emilia is much more than her medical history. She is an avid reader, a lover of storytelling, and someone who believes in the power of imagination to change the world.
When she’s not writing, Emilia can be found painting or drawing. Creating the art seen in the series. Bluejay Odyssey is her debut series, and she’s excited to share the stories of characters who, like her, refuse to be defined by their struggles.
Stay connected with Emilia for real-time updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her creative journey through …
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A Note from the InkandescentKids editors: If it’s Friday, it’s time for our weekly spotlight on HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins, who will be sharing her insights with us. See our first post below, and be sure to follow Sarah at homeschoolot.com.
By Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L
Image: commons.wikimedia.org
Maybe you’ve experienced it too.
You ask your child to put away their shoes, grab their math book, and meet you at the table. A few minutes later, they’re staring out the window, one shoe is missing, and the math book is nowhere to be found.
It’s easy to assume they weren’t paying attention.
But what if they were listening?
Hearing and understanding are not the same thing.
A child may hear every word you say and still struggle to process that information quickly enough to act on it. By the time they’re trying to remember the …
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Meals on the bbq are summertime musts, insists award-winning Chef Kim Katz, who has been preparing heart-healthy turkey burgers for her kids, Emma and Alejandro since they were toddlers. “My kids are grown now, but one of their childhood favorites is turkey burgers on the grill topped with their favorite fixings,” says the Philadelphia-based restauranteur. In fact, Emma and Alex now whip up this family favorite for Kim. Scroll down for the recipe!
Heart-Healthy Turkey Burgers
By award-winning Chef Kim Katz Alvarez, Philadelphia PA
What you’ll need:
1 lb. ground turkey
2 T. Dijon mustard
6 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
1 onion — chop 1 t. of it to put into the patties; caramelize the rest to top the burger
1 t. chopped garlic
Here’s how:
1. Gently mix ingredients into ground turkey, but don’t mush it up too much!
2. Form into patties, and pop on the grill.
…
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A Note from the InkandescentKids editors: If it’s Friday, it’s time for our weekly spotlight by our columnist HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins, who shares her insights with us each week. Learn more: homeschoolot.com
By Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L
Image source: WikiCommons
When most people think about learning to read, they picture a child sounding out words in a book.
But reading actually begins much earlier.
Long before children recognize letters on a page, they are learning to listen. They are hearing conversations at the dinner table, singing songs in the car, listening to stories before bed, and playing with language through rhymes and word games. These everyday experiences build the foundation for literacy.
Recently, I spoke with literacy expert Melanie Jeffrey about the early building blocks of reading. One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was the reminder that before children can connect letters to sounds, they first …
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A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, creator and publisher, InkandescentKids.com — It is an honor and privilege to invite you to join us on August 8 at Elaine’s Literary Salon in Alexandria, VA, where we host our grown-up literary salon events promoting and supporting authors everywhere! Click here to reserve your free ticket on Eventbrite: inkandescentkids.eventbrite.com
Everyone is welcome at the Inkandescent Kids Book Fair! Neurodivergent friends, we have written a social story so you can preview the space and get an idea of the sensory information that will be at the event. You can view, download, and print the social story as needed: Inkandescent Kids Book Fair 2026 Social Story.
All adults had big dreams as kids! We envisioned ourselves growing up to write a book, become a journalist, an artist, an illustrator, a photographer, a videographer, or pursue other creative careers. Many of us realized that ambition. …
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Say hello to Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, an occupational therapist, homeschool mom, author, and founder of HomeschoolOT. With more than 17 years of experience supporting children and families, she helps parents understand how learning, movement, sensory processing, executive functioning, and daily life skills work together.
Since beginning her own homeschool journey in 2017, Sarah has combined her professional expertise with real-life experience, helping families create learning environments that honor each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Through HomeschoolOT and The OT is IN podcast, she shares practical strategies that help parents move beyond curriculum choices and better understand how their children learn best.
Sarah believes that homeschooling is not about recreating school at home. It is about helping children grow into capable, confident learners while building strong family relationships along the way.
Learn more: homeschoolot.com
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A Note from Hope, publisher, Inkandescent Kids magazine — It has been a year since I watched my son Dylan walk across the graduation stage at Harvard in May 2025. And what a year it has been! In August, he landed his first big job at the New York City-based architecture firm Thomas Phifer and Partners. On August 8, I launched Inkandescent Kids magazine.
So it’s only fitting that we host a giant first birthday celebration! Please mark your calendar for August 8, 2026, when from noon to 4pm at Elaine’s Literary Salon in Alexandria, VA, we’ll be bringing more than a dozen children’s book authors in to share their work. We’ll also be featuring student musicians and artists — and there will be a photography booth with our Inkandescent videographer and photographer Anna Gibbs, craft projects, and a buffet of delicious kid-friendly food from Elaine’s …
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A Note from Ellen Smith, editor, Inkandescent Kids magazine —There are some cookbooks in my kitchen that are still in pristine condition. But the best cookbooks are stained, wrinkled, and held together by packing tape. These kitchen staples won’t become family heirlooms–I’m not even sure these tried-and-true volumes will survive another decade! When my kids are in the kitchen with me, though, I hope that I’m passing down all the things I love about cooking.
Naturally, my kids have amassed several of their own cookbooks. Pictured here are three of their favorites:
Turkey Burgers are an easy, healthy meal kids can make with their parents! Add any toppings you love. Recipe by Chef Kim Katz, mom of Emma and Alejandro
Don’t be fooled by the picture: …
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From Popular Mechanics magazine — “It might be surprising to learn that then-12-year-old Brenden Sener of London, Ontario was enthralled by Ancient Greek concepts. It makes more sense once you find out which legend grabbed him,” writes journalist Tim Newcomb in an article this month in Popular Mechanics. “Experts have credited the mathematician Archimedes with a weapon that could concentrate sunlight onto enemy ships: the death ray. And Sener wanted to know whether that story could hold up in the classroom.”
Tim notes that Sener, now 13, has earned multiple medals for his attempt to bring the ancient device to life, as described in his 2024 paper published in the Canadian Science Fair Journal.
Brenden’s experiment tested whether mirrors could concentrate heat—not whether ancient Syracuse fielded a working solar weapon. And there’s no archaeological evidence that proves that the death ray—also known as a heat ray—was ever used. …
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A Note from Ellen Smith, editor, Inkandescent Kids magazine
Dear Readers,
I am thrilled to join you as the editor of Inkandescent Kids magazine! Here at Inkandescent Kids, we are all about empowering young people. In our magazine, kids will learn to “think like a journalist” and have opportunities to share their ideas with the world.
I am grateful to begin this position in April, also known as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. I began my career as a special education teacher and often worked with kids on the autism spectrum. That was where I learned about writing social stories.
Social stories were first introduced by Carol Gray in 1990. Carol was a special education teacher, too. Carol noticed that writing stories for her students on the spectrum helped them understand social information. Since then, social stories have become an internationally recognized tool used in classrooms and across the community.
…
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by Ellen Smith, editor, Inkandescent Kids magazine
“Building connection through stories.” That’s how Carol Gray speaks of the social stories she introduced for her students in 1990. As a special education teacher, Ms. Gray worked with children that were on the autism spectrum. She began writing short narratives that explained social information that her autistic students might not understand. By sharing this information in a narrative style, Ms. Gray’s students knew what to expect and how to participate.
Since then, social stories have been used all around the world! Social stories are usually meant to convey information clearly to people on the autism spectrum so they will know what to expect. Social stories are also helpful for people with many other needs.
You might see a social story on an event website or at a popular attraction. As a kid reporter, you might also notice a situation where a social …
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