If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s to be adaptive. It’s to roll with the punches. It’s to figure out what’s next. Our children have been the teachers of this new era. I know I’ve learned more from my own kids than anyone else this past year, and continue to do so. By now we know what these young heroes have accomplished so it’ll be redundant to mention their adaptations to virtual learning, to social distance learning, to mask wearing, to zoom friendships and more (it was redundant, but ..read more

New Blog Alert!Check out one of our 6th Grade Crackerjack's new blog "Kiki's Hopeful World"According to KV, on this blog, "I will be giving ideas to the world as to how to make the world a better place. About every week I will come up with a new way to help out the world!"We love how the pandemic and quarantine have given time, space and energy for our youth to think creatively and critically about the world around them. Keep up the good work, Crackerjacks ..read more

Just as soon as we begin healing from one tragedy, a few days (minutes?) later we are hit with another - this time the youngest being just 6 years old, a little boy who looks just like your son, your brother, your neighbor or the kid you babysit with that sweet giggle and hopeful set of eyes. At the same time we see more products like these bulletproof backpacks coming out on the market right as we start fulfilling those innocent back to school shopping lists. I've seen them on advertised on ..read more

As a parent, our job of creating a diverse world for our kids is never easy... We do our best to expose our kids to different people. We take them on exotic trips around the world, or to the museum where the world is brought to us. We stand up with pride for diversity marches on Washington. We applaud when a television show or movie introduces a more diverse cast. We urge our children to understand the politics of diversity and inclusion. We preach to them the importance of including others and ..read more

This Is My America By Mike Devassy 5th Grade (15th January2019) From the Rockies, big and bold, To Kansas country plains, In hustling New York City, In the land where freedom reigns. From the glaciers of Alaska, To the bayous of New Orleans, In the beaches of Miami, Or the fashion city Queens. This is my America From the country of our birth,  And in every nationality; The thoughts that built our nation: Now reigns Justice, Equality, and Liberty. We remember the Native Americans, And ..read more

Black History Month offers us all an opportunity to learn about, discuss and celebrate the rich African American culture, its identity (identities?) that has been crucial to the overall making and history of our nation. And while these topics should be ingrained within our minds, the sad fact is that we still need this opportunity to force ourselves to stop with our busy lives for just a moment in order to remember what is important - which is to understand one another. Because once we have ..read more

Snowman By Vishnu Juluri Snowmen are white  You can see them at night They are most glow Because they are made out of snow ..read more

Snow Day By: Crackerjack Contributor          Snow Day, Snow Day where the wind blows day Waiting til’ the sun will hide inside, so we can play and have a great ride Running downstairs, skipping breakfast to defeat ...  wait a second I forgot to protect my feet Snow Day, Snow Day frozen toes day “Now please don’t whine!”, as mom told me to come inside, while sadly I said “Fine.” Snow Day, Snow Day, Snow Day doesn’t have to end today How about I have a Netflix show day ..read more

One of the primary missions of Kind Eye Publishing is to inspire our youth to use their power of the pen. In fact, we started our small publishing company with Crackerjack: Youth Literary & Art Magazine and it remains our flagship publication. It encompasses all of the virtues Kind Eye Publishing was founded on: kindness, compassion, courage, inclusion, and creativity. With our first three publications we have seen new young authors and artists come out from behind their shadows, we have seen ..read more

I am tired of giving out meaningless gift cards to some of the most important people in my life, including my kids' teachers, my husband's hardworking office staff, my sister and my niece. After all, at the end of the day, even though gift cards can be very useful, they just aren't as fun. But giving meaningless coffee cups doesn't really strike my chord either. I want my gift to mean something. I want it to mean something to me, to them and possibly even something even MORE to people I don't ..read more