Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday. Before I share another amazing book that has JUST (April 1) hit the shelves…I want to encourage you to hop over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog where you will find a wonderful contest for ILLUSTRATORS. Susanna deserves a medal for sure…she just finished reading SEVENTY-NINE fractured fairytales in her March Madness Writing Contest…the voting for the writing contest is over…the winners have been chosen…the prizes have been awarded (I got an honorable mention for Singerella…and won a copy of Linda Ashman’s Nuts and Bolts of Writing Picture Books which I have coveted for quite a while…thank you so much, Susanna!).
Another woman who deserves a medal, and who will probably win one for this book, is the author of our Perfect Picture Book choice for today, Laura Purdie Salas. I’m excited that Laura will be the author in the spotlight for the November Will Write for Cookies.
Water Can Be
Written by Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrated by Violeta Dabija
Publisher: Millbrook Picture Books
Ages: 3 and up
Themes: Water, poetry
Opening Lines:
“Water can be a…
Thirst quencher
Kid drencher
Cloud fluffer
Fire snuffer”
Synopsis:
What can water do and why is it so important to us? Lovely illustrations and simple yet lyrical text combine magically in this rhyming book for young children. Using language that will invoke vivid imagery in any kid’s mind, the book is a journey into the world of water.
Why I like this book
• Beautiful illustrations
• Wonderful introduction into the world of poetry…each word is perfect
• Another gem from the multi-published author Laura Purdie Salas
• When you can make a non-fiction book engaging, you have a winner!
How a parent can use this book:
• Extensive back matter about what water can do with glossary and links to other resources
• Look at a map of the world or a globe and observe how much of the earth is covered by water
• Talk about how we can conserve and preserve our water
• Find opportunities to walk in the rain, jump in puddles, play with water (tip for a hot summer day…take a bowl of water and a couple of paintbrushes and sit in the shade and draw on the pavement…no muss, no fuss…and lots of fun!)
If you’d like to find out more about author Laura Purdie Sales, you can connect with her here:
• Laura Purdie Salas’ Blog
• Laura Purdie Salas’ Website
• Laura Purdie Salas on Facebook
• Water Can Be on Amazon
If you’d like to check out the wonderful illustrator, please go here:
Related Activities
Photo courtesy http://www.firstpalette.com
SPRING TIME SPONGE PAINTING
You will need: Paper, sponges, tempura paint, small bowl of water, cover-ups
1. Cover the surface you will be working on with old newspapers.
2. Cut the sponges into interesting shapes.
3. Pour a very small amount of paint into a bowl or even a lid of a discarded margarine container.
4. Wet the sponge in water, wring out and then press into the paint.
5. Now press the sponge onto the page. Sponges create beautiful designs of their own…or you can add strokes from a brush or marker to create trees and flowers for a springtime garden or fish and seaweeds for an underwater aquarium.
PLEASE COME BACK ON MONDAY FOR GOAL-BUSTERS
WITH
SHERI MCCRIMMON
Sheri is a dear friend, awesome critique buddy and a powerful writer.
I’m looking forward to seeing how her year is progressing.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
Love your post and choice for PPBF, Vivian. Love all the resources and fun things you come up with to do. Must be all that time you spend with your lovely gran-kids. Love, love this art idea with the sponges, makes me want to do it just for the fun of it…. lol. Never mind the kids!
LikeLike
Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Diane! The book is wonderful…and I’m so glad you like the sponge painting…maybe the reason Jeremy enjoys the stuff we do together is because I am having such a great time doing the crafts…he doesn’t have to beg me to sponge paint, that’s for sure. 🙂
LikeLike
Vivian! Looks like we had the same idea today. 🙂 I love your sponge painting idea – may do that with my kids one of these days. We do have April vacation coming up…
LikeLike
I loved your review of Water Can Be, Carrie! Let me know if you and your kids did the sponge painting…maybe you can post some pics. 🙂
LikeLike
Great review! I love it. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Erik! Your reviews are actually among my favorites of this entire kid lit community. 🙂
LikeLike
Can’t wait to read Laura’s newest book. Such gorgeous illustrations as well. Brilliant!
LikeLike
And so simple, Cathy…that is what impresses me most. I always try to write these complex verses…I will definitely take a lesson from Laura Purdie Salas. 😉
LikeLike
Look forward to reading this beautiful book. I especially enjoy your activities and the sponge painting.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed the sponge painting suggestion, Pat. 🙂 It looks like it was a hit with everyone…I guess we are just kids at heart!
LikeLike
I ordered this with Hi, Koo! yesterday. Can’t wait! Great post Vivian
LikeLike
Awesome, Catherine! You are going to love it..:)
LikeLike
This book certainly deserves two shout outs! So glad Laura is continuing the series!
LikeLike
Yes, that is a good tip for us…write a great book…and you can follow it with sequels. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the review, Joanna!
LikeLike
So happy to see this book reviewed not once but twice today, Vivian! Laura’s books are amazing! And thanks for the Illustrator Contest shout-out! I wonder if we will get any takers…? 🙂
LikeLike
I’m sure you will, Susanna! I’d give it a whirl, but I think you are going to get some real illustrators in your competition. 🙂
LikeLike
This book sounds so wonderful. And love the sponge-painting activity!
Congrats on Singerella’s honorable mention, as well!
LikeLike
Everyone loved that sponge painting, Beth…I think we should all have a sponge painting party. 🙂 🙂 We could do it on FB and post the results as we work. 🙂
Thanks for the congrats…I was thrilled…there were so many awesome entries! Susanna’s contests are the best!
LikeLike
Great mind think alike. It’s so nice to see Laura getting so many positive reviews.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed the review, Kirsten. It’s something to keep in mind for when our books are published. 🙂 Book blog tours or just reaching out to people you know who can post a review is a great way to promote a new book.
LikeLike
Lovely, and I’m so glad you linked to all Laura’s goodies. She really is so helpful and clever.
LikeLike
Yes, she is, Joanne…and those are great tips for all of us as well. I need to revamp my blog and add stuff for parents and kids that can be downloaded.
LikeLike
I also love the sponge painting idea. This looks like a lovely book.
LikeLike
Stacy…I’ll bet Enzo loves sponge painting…and produce painting is so much fun also….we used to make great wrapping paper with fruit and veggie prints. 🙂
LikeLike