Welcome

ANGELA'S NOTEBOOK is a 10-part, 30-minute children's DVD and VHS series featuring award-winning author, Angela Shelf Medearis. ANGELA'S NOTEBOOK is a perfect way to start off a creative writing exercise, or to learn how professionals write or illustrate a children’s book, or create movies for children. ANGELA'S NOTEBOOK provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at every aspect of writing from novels to sports writing to scriptwriting, and every genre in between. Almost everything springs from a written idea. Movies and songs both start out in a written format. Every part of the writing process from the research involved in writing a non-fiction novel to the inspiration behind a popular children's movie will be explored on ANGELA'S NOTEBOOK.

ANGELA'S NOTEBOOK features an African-American female author in an entertaining and educational format. The ANGELA'S NOTEBOOK program begins with a fundamental writing concept or problem that the host, Angela Shelf Medearis, and her animated sidekicks, Ms. Cocoa Muse and Mr. Penn, address in a humorous way. Angela also interviews children's writers and illustrators in their offices or studios, and explores the process they use to create their work. The program mixes animation, storytelling, and interviews with writers and illustrators to teach creative writing in a fun, entertaining and educational format for 9-12 year olds.

Children have become more and more interested in the writing process and they love the whole concept of making a book. Because of the movement in education to get way from basal readers and to introduce trade books at birth, there's a hunger to know what "real" writers and illustrators do. However, due to limited budgets, very few schools have the resources to bring in an author or an illustrator to speak to their students. ANGELA'S NOTEBOOK provides a way for children to "meet" authors and illustrators.

Mrs. Medearis often conducts writing workshops for teachers, parents and students. The workshop participants have expressed frustration about finding ways to "jump start" children to write creatively. A WRITER'S GUIDE was created to provide teachers and parents with tips on ways to explain and incorporate the subject of each show into a writing lesson for children. The WRITER'S GUIDE assists with the preparation and presentation of the writing lesson. A bibliography is also available for each show.