Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday where I link up with Susanna Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of picture book writers, illustrators, librarians and others who contribute a picture book review.

November is already here…to me that means:

• participating in PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month)…the guest posts alone are of such great value even if I didn’t have a picture book idea each day.
• supporting Dianne de las Casas’ Picture Book Month…My Google+ Hangout series starts this Sunday.  I’ll be addressing a different parenting problem and/or children’s challenge on each segment, sharing a picture book that provides a story solution and doing a quick and easy craft that encourages creative expression and extends the opportunity for open communication between parent and child.  Each ten minute segment will live stream to YouTube…please wish me luck! (+Vivian Kirkfield)
• continuing with my two critique groups (learning so much)
• preparing two manuscripts for submission (very scary)
• enjoying family and friends in this month of Thanksgiving.

What does November mean to you?

Our Perfect Picture Book Friday choice is a classic…I spent the thirty-one days of October reading current picture books…and although I loved many of them, I am ready to enjoy an older one again…I hope you enjoy it as well.

“Norman the Doorman”

Written and illustrated by Don Freeman

Publisher: The Viking Press (1959)

Ages: 3 and up

Themes:

Believing in yourself, courage, determination, friendship, sharing, art, ingenuity

Opening lines:

“In front of a small, well-hidden hole around in back of the Majestic Museum of Art, there once stood a mouse named Norman.”

Synopsis:

Norman the Mouse lives and works in the basement of the Museum of Art.  He decides to enter a sculpture contest and submits a wire sculpture made from mousetrap parts.  When he wins the contest, his only request is to be able to view the upstairs exhibits and then he shares his cheese prize with his visiting country relatives.

Why do I like this book:

The story is sweet…the message is powerful…the illustrations are wonderful.  Don Freeman was an artist in his own right http://donfreeman.info/

Related Activities:

WIRE SCULPTURE

Photos courtesy of artful parent

http://www.artfulparent.com/2012/03/wire-sculptures-for-kids-with-buttons-beads-feathers.html This is an amazing website for parents and teachers…please check it out!

How do we encourage creativity?

Just give a child some simple materials and your positive participation!

You will need: Pipe cleaners, a small block of foam, buttons, beads, feathers.

1. The child picks a foam block and then chooses colorful pipe cleaners (safer than wire), beads, buttons and feathers.
2. Help your child push one end of the pipe cleaner into the foam block and then let your child use his own imagination, adding beads, buttons or feathers.  The craft may turn out as a train (as in the picture) or house or any design your child wishes.
3. When your child’s creation is finished, display it in a place of honor!

This post is part of a series for parents and teachers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill.  Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities.   This is an unbelievable resource for any parent, teacher or children’s librarian.

Related articles

• “Perfect Picture Book”- Friday (thepatientdreamer.com)
• Celebrate Picture Book Month (sfxschoolnews.typepad.com)
• Perfect Picture Book Fridays: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush (loniedwards.com)
• Picture Book Month! (theartofphyllishornungpeacock.blogspot.com)
• Draft a Picture Book Every Day for a Month (onewaytowonder.wordpress.com)
• End of October Children’s Literacy and Reading News Roundup (jkrbooks.typepad.com)