indigobridgebooks.com: November 2009 Archives

Tiny Hands International

By Amy on November 19, 2009 9:31 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

I first heard about human trafficking when I was an undergrad at UNL. I became very interested in this topic; a topic that does not generate much attention, yet affects people worldwide in horrific ways. I was introduced to Paul and Kasey Yates at Indigo Bridge Books, as they had become regular faces around the store. I was immediately drawn to their organization (which seeks to end sex trafficking between Nepal and India) due to my previous concern about human trafficking and since I had just recently traveled to Nepal to celebrate my sister's engagement.

This past Thursday, Indigo Bridge Books was fortunate to host Paul and Kasey as they talked about their organization, Tiny Hands International. They showed the documentary The Day My God Died and talked about their new initiative 'One Girl'. Even considering the weight of the topic, about 50 people came down to the bookstore to learn about human trafficking and the work of Tiny Hands. Paul discussed the organization's goals which include intercepting girls being trafficked at the Nepal- India border. They also have rehabilitation homes throughout Nepal where rescued girls learn to read and write, develop work skills and also learn English. Their new initiative is called 'One Girl' which involves the purchase of a bracelet and 'spiritually adopting' victims of sex trafficking. The work of Paul and Kasey, along with the concerned community that is supporting Tiny Hands International is completely invaluable when you think of each girl that is restored to safety and given the dignity she deserves.

For more information, Please visit their website: http://www.tinyhandsinternational.org/

Ivy + Bean + Indigo = FUN!

By Kirsten on November 11, 2009 11:07 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

We had a spectacular time celebrating the release of the new Ivy + Bean book on Monday night. I'd like to send an extra-big thanks to all the friends and fans who joined us for our Ivy & Bean Day party! Your smiling faces and wonderful conversation were by far the best part of the evening. Talking about books we love with friends is such a fun way to get to know each other - and a great opportunity to hear about other books we'd love, too!

Our Ivy & Bean lovers started the party off with delicious pink and orange sugar cookes, sparkling pink lemonade, and a super-fun chat around Indigo's big table. One of the most amazing things about young readers is their ability to be absolutely at ease with each other right off the bat. The children's section immediately filled with giggles as all our guests made friends, compared their favorite parts of the Ivy & Bean series, and amazed me with their high scores on the Ivy & Bean Trivia Quiz. Then, they joyfully covered Bean's nasty big sister with ooey-gooey gummy worms in a rousing game of Pin the Worm on Nancy. Is there any correlation between literacy and accuracy of aim? Because these kids all hit their target...WOW! All our little marksmen had the chance to pick their very own stupendous prize from the super-secret stash of games we keep set aside for just this type of occasion: Dominoes, Tic-Tac-Toe, Doodle Top, and tons of other cool travel-sized sets just perfect for long car rides and waiting rooms. One lucky Ivy & Beaner was the winner of our drawing for an awesome limited edition Ivy & Bean Tshirt courtesy of Chronicle Books! And everybody got free Ivy & Bean bookmarks, of course.

We finished the evening off by making our very own cootie-catchers in a fun new take on the classic folded paper fortune-teller. My apologies to any teachers who find these running around their classrooms at inappropriate times - they're just too much fun to put down! For our grand finale, we staged a terrifying performance of the Dance of the Wilis, complete with music from Giselle. Not familiar with the story of Giselle or the legend of the Wilis? Then grab a copy of Ivy & Bean: Doomed to Dance and learn along with the stars of the book! Give us a call; we'll set one aside for you. ;)

What a Wild Rumpus!

By Kate on November 3, 2009 3:08 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

It began with the tree. Walking into Indigo, light and dark green streamers covered the canvas-wrapped tree, creating a magical world for anyone. Hosting a Where the Wild Things Are party was a shot in the dark. As most booksellers know, hosting events can be a huge success or a quiet turnout. We had hope that even a few children would come dressed in their Halloween costumes with excited smiles. Little did we know what the night had in store for us!

As the clock struck 7:00, painted faces and animal costumes trickled through the door. At first, there were just ten children and we were all able to participate in the craft. We were all thankful for that, thinking this is a great turnout! But after only a few minutes of making crowns and masks, I looked around and, to my amazement, children in costumes abounded!

Joan led the craft. Children and parents worked on masks and crowns that would later be used in the Wild Rumpus. Once the children crafted their masks and crowns, they ran to the magenta colored rug and I read aloud to them. And we roared our terrible roars and gnashed our terrible teeth when the book told the story of the wild things.

After storytime, the little monsters and fairies lined up at the front of the store and Kate led the Wild Rumpus! She marched them around with a crown on her head. The children followed her as they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and went trick-or-treating through Ivanna Cone and Paint Yourself Silly. Venturing out on the last wild rumpus, I absolutely admired the reactions of other patrons as we sailed through the building like Max on his boat. My emotions get the best of me when I think about how thankful I am to Paint Yourself Silly and Ivanna Cone for contributing to this event and their continual support of our store. It was beautiful to actually see the impact smaller businesses have on a community, whatever the size.

This party was exciting for the employees and parents involved, and peering through the eyes of a four-year-old for a few hours I got a glimpse of how they felt with the ceiling that hung with vines and the walls that became the world around. That one evening where a crown toppled on my head let me explore my inner creativity and imagination, which is a beautiful gift our community and the kiddos have given me.

- Adrienne