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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