Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is also the third stop on the blog tour of EDMUND PICKLE CHIN – A DONKEY RESCUE STORY, written by Clara Bowman-Jahn and Susan April Elwood.
I’m honored that I get to review this wonderful brand-new picture book. Please make sure you scroll down to the end of the post – there are special prizes being offered if you visit and comment at all of the stops on the tour and you’ll also find a fun donkey craft for kids.
Edmund Pickle Chin – A Donkey Rescue Story
Written by Clara Bowman-Jahn and Susan April Elwood
Illustrated by Lynne Bendoly
Publisher: eTreasures Publishing (April 2014)
Ages: 4 and up
Themes:Animal rescue, animal abuse
Synopsis: From eTreasures
“Edmund Pickle Chin, A Donkey Rescue Story is based on a true story. Edmund, the main character, is an abused donkey who is the first of many animals to call Evermay Farm, a small rescue in central Georgia, home. Susan, Edmund’s care giver in the story, not only gives the shy donkey the time and patience he needs but gives him a new name every day of the week. The title takes on one of those nicknames she so lovingly calls him. As Susan starts to take in new critters, Edmund finds himself changing. As his name grows, so does his trust and acceptance. Edmund soon learns that he is not only needed but wanted. This confused, frightened donkey’s life changes as he becomes a hero, a babysitter, and a companion to the other residents at Evermay Farm.”
Why I like this book:
- Beautiful illustrations
- Wonderful introduction for young children to the need to care for and be kind to animals
- Helps children understand that everyone feels strange in a new place…but we get more comfortable as time passes
- Based on a true story
- When you can make a non-fiction book appealing to children, you have a winner!
How a parent can use this book:
- Talk about how people need to be responsible pet owners – what do animals need?
- How do different animals help us? How should work animals be treated?
- Visit a local animal shelter
- Older children can take part in a fundraiser for a local animal shelter
Related Activities:
PAPER PLATE DONKEY
If you visit my blog often, you’ll know that I love to use paper plates as the base material in crafts for young children.
You will need: 1 paper plate, construction paper, scissors, glue, markers or crayons.
- Color the plate gray or brown (depending on the crayon colors available or if desired, your child can paint it).
- Cut out the eyes, nose, hair, teeth and ears from construction paper and glue in place.
- Use the paper plate as a mask or puppet to role play parts of the story.
For more donkey crafts go here: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/donkeys.html
Clara Bowman-Jahn is one of the talented authors of Edmund Pickle Chin.
Clara Bowman-Jahn worked as a registered nurse for thirty two years finally trading that job for her true love, writing. Clara’s short stories have been published in three anthologies, Campaigner Challenges 2011, The ‘I’ Word and Charms Vol. 2. She is also the author of Annie’s Special Day, a children’s picture book. Her second picture book is a true story, Edmund Pickle Chin, a Donkey Rescue Story.
When Clara is not writing, she volunteers by teaching ESOL to adult students. She also likes Pilates, blogging, reading books and taking long walks with her husband. She is a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, Susanna Leonard Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic, Pennwriters, Bethesda Writer’s Center and Round Hill Writer’s Group. She lives in rural Loudoun County, Virginia with her brilliant husband, and two cats. She is the proud mother of two wonderful grown sons and a grandmother to a delightful grandson.
Susan April Elwood is the other talented author of Edmund Pickle Chin.
Susan April Elwood has worked with children for over twenty years in Northern Virginia as a preschool teacher, kindergarten assistant, and a library assistant. With her passion for animals it made perfect sense to combine the two and write an animal story for children, teaming up with author Clara Bowman-Jahn.
Susan and her husband Tom moved from Northern Virginia in 2007 to central Georgia where they founded Evermay Farm, a non-profit rescue for farm animals. This is the setting for the book titled, Edmund Pickle Chin, A Donkey Rescue Story. The story is based on Edmund, a donkey, the first of many animals to call Evermay Farm home. Susan and her husband Tom have two treasured sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law and a precious grandson. In her free time, Susan enjoys photographing animals and antiquing.
And here’s an important message from Clara…as well as the links to the other stops on the blog tour:
Thanks so much for reading Friends! For all friends of Edmund are my friends. Below please find our links and the tour. Read every post, follow the blog and comment for prizes. The reader who follows each blog and comments on each stop of the tour will get first prize. And if there are many winners, hurray!! We will deliver!
First prize is a print book of both Annie’s Special Day and Edmund Pickle Chin. Second prize is either a print copy of Edmund or of Annie…you get to pick! Finally, third prize is a copy of the ebook of Edmund Pickle Chin, a Donkey Rescue Story.
To find out more about the authors:
For Susan April Elwood:
Face book~ Edmund Pickle Chin, A Donkey Rescue Story”
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Edmund-Pickle-Chin-A-Donkey-Rescue-Story/233625116837649
Face book ~ “Evermay Farm”
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evermay-Farm/154892358148
For Clara Bowman-Jahn:
Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/cbowmanjahn
Facebook – Edmund Pickle Chin, A Donkey Story https://www.facebook.com/pages/Edmund-Pickle-Chin-A-Donkey-Rescue-Story/233625116837649
Here are the links for the blog tour…don’t miss any of them!!!!!
May 26 / animal abuse and mistreatment
Joanna –www.joannamarple.com
May 29/ author collaboration
Stacy – http://www.stacysjensen.com
May 30/ PPBF and review
Vivian – https://viviankirkfield.com/
June 2/ author interview
Erik – www.ThisKidReviewsBooks.com
June 4/ Edmund interview
Patricia – http://childrensbooksheal.com/author/phtilton/
June 9 /teacher info and guide
Susanna – http://susannahill.blogspot.com
DON’T FORGET…VISIT EVERY STOP ON THE TOUR…LEAVE A COMMENT…FOLLOW THE BLOG…WIN A PRIZE!
To read more awesome picture book reviews, please visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog: http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2014/05/perfect-picture-book-friday-red-sings.html
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
Love your review Vivian. I must have missed this one on the tour – I thought I had answered all of them. Love the paper plate face too. So much kid appeal here. Clarike has topped herself with this one. YEA!!
Book for Kids – Skype Author Visits
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