About Us
The International Children's Museum Foundation was established in 2006 by Dianne Sunda. The Foundation has served for 15 years as a unique In-Kind Foundation, raising donations of educational materials and professional teaching services of retired teachers.
Nearly all of the founder member teachers and parents have remained with the Foundation since it started. The programmes established have included: Family Saturday Art Workshops and Classes, Lectures by experts on Classical Art, Garden and Historic Building Presentations.
Mentoring and Tutoring is also an important part of the Foundation for participants of all ages. This area includes training of writers and illustrators for publishing. Through our program, several books have been published.
Assistance with scholarship applications is also provided. Our students have won scholarships to top private schools and renowned art workshops.
The Foundation Gallery will provide examples of our publications; work in progress and forthcoming programmes.
GALLERY
A selection of artwork from our children's art classes and workshops
Commemorating Remembrance Day
Design by Dianne Sunda
Our Village Art Classes Compliment the importance of Remembrance Day
QUEST ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Quest Artist, Anthony Robert Deeks, age 9, has been named Quest Artist of The Year 2022.
Click image to enlarge.
OUR FOUNDATION PUBLICATIONS
The International Children's Museum proudly shares its 2021 collection of Children's Story Books, embraced together as collections of tales about puppies, owls, Christmas stories, heart-warming letters from mother animals to their young mesmerising critters, all of which are already cherished by many readers, globally.
In addition, our stories are held in hearts to be read over and over in unforgettable occasions. Through such memorable story times you will discover a unique art of storytelling through magical mirrors of creative storytelling art that has proven to be both unforgettable and far reaching across many happy horizons.
New Release
THE CALL OF THE BELLS is a SNOWY OWL Puppy Quincy and Top Hat adventure story that embraces the highlights of the forthcoming United Kingdom Coronation of Charles III.
THE SEARCH FOR CONSTABLE'S RAINBOWS
The Search For Constable's Rainbow is the first of the Snowy Owl Art Series to provide art adventures, family and animal friendships in the most enchanting, creative and adorable ways.
SNOWY OWL
CHRISTMAS STORIES
A COLLECTION OF OF SNOWY OWL’S CHRISTMAS TALES. SNOWY OWL has shared Christmas Stories for many a year. His stories embrace The Magical Reindeer, his Animal Friends, known as the Snowy Owl Critters, The Christmas Workshop Elves and importantly, Father Christmas.
This COLLECTION of heart warming and unforgettable stories have already been read over and over, globally. They are timeless and share tidings of joy and seasonal creativity. Annually, as a Snowy Owl Story is shared with families, the story will be added to the Keepsake Collection.
Also available on its own -
SNOWY OWL
AND THE MUSICAL ECHO
PUPPY QUINCY LOVES HATS
Puppy Quincy is an entertaining story about the very unusual adventures of a young puppy, who falls in love with hats of all shapes and sizes. The story begins with the puppy's first sight of hats that are perfectly displayed in an elegant hat boutique shop window.
Like a collection of colorful presents, being unwrapped, the various adventures are based upon unusually magical sights of new animal friends and their chosen hats.
Puppy Quincy loves his new home and his new family. He makes unusual new friends in very surprising ways, which delight all with unforgettable scenes that are embellished with hats and magical movements.
You will be entertained by both the storytelling of such a charming puppy and the artistic prowess that will stay in your heart forevermore.
THE CHRISTMAS
QUEST
The International Children's Museum Foundation UK has published the 2022 Snowy Owl Christmas Story, The Christmas Quest
based on special locations in Williamstown, Massachusetts, including one of the finest Observatories in the Country.
The Story embraces adventures of children and their adorable animal companions as they discover clues that solve a Christmas Map Quest with a delightful and totally unexpected ending.
This story is the latest in the
COLLECTION OF SNOWY OWLS
CHRISTMAS TALES
SNOWY Owl has shared Christmas Stories for many a year. His stories embrace The Magical Reindeer, his Animal friends, known as the Snowy Owl Critters, The Christmas Workshop Elves and importantly, Father Christmas.
This COLLECTION of heart warming and unforgettable Stories have already been read over and over, globally. They are timeless and share tidings of joy and seasonal creativity.
This story, The Snowy Owl Christmas Quest, will be added to the Keepsake Collection.
THE BUGS THAT BUGGED THE BUGS
An adventure story that will capture your Imagination as it portrays the cleverness of winged creatures, especially the birds and the bugs, to unravel the story about a true story about a mysterious box of seeds that arrived on the docks of England from America with no names! This Story was inspired by a visit to the beautiful Painshill Park in Cobham, England. This Park was once visited by Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in 1786. They, too, discovered a Park that shared one of the most enchanting vistas and a history of mystery.
THE DINOSAUR AND THE DORMOUSE
An adorable Dormouse falls from up high and is rescued by a fish eating Baryonyx Dinosaur! Baron Dinosaur shares with Dori, the Dormouse an unforgettable adventure around a picturesque Park, which includes a Grotto Island, a Waterwheel Restaurant with wheel paddles, a stunning Turkish Tent and the largest Cedar Tree ever! The old fashioned Ice House also becomes a must to see and colour! You will really bring this delightful story to life!
Ockley Dinosaur:
Our Fish-eating Dinosaur was influenced by the Ockley Dinosaur:
THE PANDA THAT SAVED THE ZOO
THE PANDA THAT SAVED THE ZOO is the most heart warming story about
a Zoo that was being looked after by all its hard working animals; all worked very hard to share their special Zoo with visiting families and with each other.
All had a role to play, except for the Zoo’s Panda Bear! Snowy Owl, the team leader, and his friends simply could not think of a role for the adorable Panda Bear that simply loved to sleep!
Following an interesting turn of story-time events, Panda becomes the most entertaining creature in the special Zoo that brings out the best in all that want to help Panda find a role to play! Panda Bear, as a surprise to all, accidentally shares the most unbelievable hidden talents that will endear so many visitors to Snowy Owl’s Zoo!
LETTERS FROM THE ANIMALS
LETTERS FROM THE ANIMALS is an endearing story book, comprised of Letters written by Mother Animals to their young. The stories are full of witty yarns to teach the young bravery, respect for the past, understanding of others and how to respect survival. In some letters, the animals even dance to their habitat music!
Inspired by the work of the late artist, Brayton Gifford, the Master Quilt Designer, Carol Wagner, artist Georgia Hamp and the story writer, Dianne Sunda, this creative storybook will warm your hearts. All ages will want to read it many times, over and over again.
MONTHLY GARDEN ARTICLES
A list of published garden topics will be forthcoming for free download
All Books are available in text and CD format
Please see contact page for details to obtain copies of publications.
EXHIBITIONS
SPRING 2024 EASTER DESIGN EXHIBITION
2023 HARVEST DAY EXHIBITION
Our village Art Group chose the sunflower to sketch and colour to celebrate Harvest Day
Did you know:
The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine.
Some sunflowers can grow to a height of 120 inches.
Each flower is a disc made up of tiny flowers and they have proven to be excellent attractions for polinators.
The majority are yellow in colour and there are varieties in other colours, including orange, red and purple!
Sunflower seeds are a great source of protein and work hard to enhance good health.....
We are very happy to share our colourful works of art.
Designed by Dianne Sunda for The Community Mural Competition
SUMMER FLORAL DESIGNS 2022
Ages 8-11
STUDY OF TREES SPRING 2022
Preparation for Summer 2022 EXHIBITION
REMEMBRANCE DAY EXHIBITION 2021
HISTORY OF THE CRAYON EXHIBITION
Our Saturday Art Class Succeeded
THE FOUNDATION'S HARVEST DAY EXHIBITION 2021
OCKLEY, OKEWOOD & FOREST GREEN
SUMMER FLOWER SHOW 2019
LIFE-SIZED DINOSAURS
Foundation Artists made two life-sized Dinosaurs at Painshill Park and at The American Community School U.K.
Was also exhibited at our Okewood Hill, Ockley, Forest Green Flower Show Art Tent!
CHILDREN'S ART EXHIBITION 2016
PAINSHILL ART & DANCE DAY 2005
LAUNCH EXHIBITION 2005
Painting by Francois Edouard Finet
HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
It was founded in 2006 by Dianne Buckley Sunda. Dianne grew up in Nyack, NY, Royalston, MA and Old Bennington, VT. She studied Art and World Literature at the University of Louvain (Leuven, Belgium) and at Williams College.
As a believer in life long learning, she earned an additional degree at Skidmore College (Saratoga, NY) and she also completed Master Programs at St. Lawrence University and Graduate Research at the London School of Economics. Her professional experiences have included working in the design department at Schumacher (NY and Paris) and in Educational Television. In addition, she has served colleges and universities as a liberal arts faculty member and as provost in America and in England. Dianne’s research and writings for the Development of Liberal Arts Curriculum (World Literature, Art, Music and Dance) has served many teacher training programs and ongoing publications, including LETTERS FROM THE ANIMALS. In addition, she is the founder of The International Children’s Museum Foundation (a unique in-kind sponsorship foundation). She, along with retired teachers, teach Saturday classes for families and they mentor aspiring writers and artists.
Dianne has written Christmas Snowy Owl stories for village children for many tidings in Britain.
FIRST BOOK
THE BUGS THAT BUGGED THE BUGS
Published 2006, reprinted in Summer 2021.
Children's Art Work submitted from America.