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How to Learn While Having Fun!
Four years ago, Tampa Bay teacher
Cyndi Sue had no idea that her creation might become a beloved
preschool character that would teach children how to learn while
having fun. When her preschool class gasped in fright at the sight
of a spider crawling on the floor during circle time one day, the
inventive teacher responded with a positive thought. “What if it
was a little inky spider who wrote letters and numbers
everywhere?” The children’s reaction quickly changed from fear to
giggles and a new preschool character was created.
Later that afternoon, while her class enjoyed recess on the
playground, Cyndi Sue found herself scribbling some rhymes about
this newly conceived creature. “Inky Winky Spider crawled up the
wall one day. He took his little Inky legs and made the letter A.
He rushed across the ceiling to see what he could see, and then he
took his little legs and made the letter B. . . ” Cyndi soon
developed an entire nursery-rhymed story for the alphabet and as
she shared this “spider-spun” tale with her students, she found
them daily begging for more. Chanting along in rhyme, Cyndi Sue’s
preschoolers found themselves reciting the entire alphabet with
their beloved new friend, Inky Winky Spider! During the next few
months, Cyndi authored a second Inky Winky Spider nursery rhyme,
this time teaching numbers. Her little preschoolers eagerly
repeated along with her as they joined Inky Winky Spider on an
adventure in counting from 1 through 20, never realizing that
learning could be so much fun.
Before long, Cyndi Sue envisioned the cuddly, furry spider in
illustrated form and her growing inspiration drove her to seek out
a professional illustrator and book publisher for her work.
Despite her enthusiasm, this single mother of three found her
hopes dashed on more than one occasion. Book publishers turned her
down, one New York City illustrator took a large chunk of her
hard-earned money, and nay-sayers along the way reminded her of
how nearly impossible the odds were for anyone to succeed in such
a lofty venture. “I was so taken up with this character that, at
times, even my daughters would remind me, ‘Mom, Inky Winky’s not
real!’” One person in Cyndi Sue’s life did understand her passion.
“It was my mom. On her dying bed, she managed to tell me, ‘Cyndi,
don’t forget about Inky Winky Spider!’”
Today, Cyndi Sue’s mom would be delighted find how her final words
continue to live on. With the assistance of Clearwater-based New
Vision Entertainment, LLC, Cyndi Sue has released her first three
books (Inky Winky Spider A,B,C’s; Inky Winky Spider 1,2,3,4 . . .
, and Inky Winky Spider Colors by the Bay) along with an
accompanying musical CD. Plush toys and additional products are
soon to follow as Inky Winky Spider takes preschoolers on their
learning adventure while having fun. Check out Inky Winky Spider
at
www.inkywinkyspider.com
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