Lorraine Jean Hopping • Hopping Fun Creations

I'm an author, writer, editor, and board game inventor. (Photo: Leisa Thompson)

Recommendations

“Lorraine has written several books for becker&mayer! Each book required extensive research, a high degree of creativity, and the ability to meet ridiculous deadlines. She is a professional who writes to the age group, gets her facts straight, and makes dry material fun. I hope she'll write many more books for us!”
—Betsy Pringle, Manager, Juvenile Editorial Group, becker&mayer

"Lorri is a force to be reckoned with. She has so many ideas, angles and original products, it's amazing! She does a masterful job of balancing ideas and enthusiasm with experience in such a way that her process and products are realistic and engaging. Highly motivated and creative. She's a natural collaborator."
—Alison Austin, program coordinator at Washtenaw Literacy

Just a Joke

This isn't me.

Q: How many creative types does it take to change a light bulb?
A. That depends: What do you want to change it into?

Q. How many editors does it take to change a light bulb?
A. Three. One to change it. Two to change it back.

Q: How many writers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Tell me again, "Why do we have to change it?"

E-mail me

Greetings!

I'm glad you stopped by.

I've written nonfiction and fiction in a range of media—books (50+ titles!), magazines, websites, radio scripts, and software scripts.

Paleontologist Jorge Calvo gave me a hands-on tour of his massive dinosaur dig in Patagonia, Argentina. (Photo: Sergio Stinco.)

My company, Hopping Fun Creations, creates and develops board games, card games, puzzles, and jazzy online content.

Editors, publishers, and other interested folks please take a look at successful projects and satisfied clients, including Scholastic, Sesame Street Workshop, Penguin, WGBH (PBS affiliate), Silver Dolphin, Aristoplay, Grolier, SEED, and others. Contact us to discuss our prototypes in development or your project needs.

Teachers and Other Educators

See what games and fun educational activities Hopping Fun Creations has created just for you. As you browse the site, look for Freebie word searches, math puzzles, and topical quizzes to download, print out, and use on the spot.

KIDS!

Have you read my books or played my board games? Find out who I am and why it's fun to be a writer.

All the material on this website is copyright © 2000-2010 by Hopping Fun Creations. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to visitors to download, print, and use the "Freebie" reproducibles free of charge for educational use only. Reproduction, reposting, or distribution in any form or media is prohibited without the written permission of Hopping Fun Creations.

My Books and Games

Children's Books

Choose Your Move Adventures!
COMING LATER THIS YEAR: Adventures of a Crater Creature, The Stormy Voyage of Captain Reckless, and the Lost Pirates of Waylay Bay!

Chief Joseph: The Voice for Peace
COMING SEPT 2010, it's the sad, moving tale of the Nez Perce leader who lost his land, many of his people, and his life-long fight to keep the peace with settlers and soldiers. (Click for "Freebie" history puzzles.)

Bone Detective: The Story of Forensic Anthropologist Diane France
Is it possible to fall in love with bones? Try not to, after you read about Diane France's true-life science adventures, searching for and examining skeletons. A 2006 Outstanding Science Trade Book "Selector's Choice" (NSTA/CBC). Starred review in Booklist. 2007 Finalist, SB&F "Young Adult" science books!

Space Rocks: The Story of Planetary Geologist Adriana Ocampo
How did a young Argentine with an endless imagination make her dream of exploring space come true? Adriana Ocampo found her path to science adventure through space-traveling robots and crashing asteroids and comets! (Click for "Freebie" science quizzes.)

Crime Science
Autopsies/The Body as Evidence and Crime Scene Investigation!

Sports Hall of Fame
Venus and Serena, Peyton Manning, Michelle Kwan, and others for ages 6-9. (Click for "Freebie" sports quizzes.)

Today's Weather Is . . . A Book of Experiments
Outdoor fun for 6 to 9 year olds.

Wild Weather! Wild Earth!
Tornadoes! and Hurricanes! are my two best-selling books.

A NEW GAME!

Letter Perfect English
Coming soon, it's a must-have card game set for English language teachers and tutors. (Click for Freebies.)

Teacher's Books

Language Arts Games
Packed with ready–to-go, lively games and activities for teaching grammar, vocabulary, and dictionary skills. (Click for "Freebie" word search puzzles to download.)

25 Math Board Games!
This is my top seller for teachers. (Click for "Freebie" puzzles.)

Creative Approaches to Social Studies
15 Primary Source Activities: American History and American history games, both co-written by a middle school social studies teacher.

Game

Mars 2020
Race from Earth to Mars, an orbiting target, by fixing malfunctions and answering intriguing science questions. Or play the fast-paced, alternate version: a flat-out race, no questions asked.