Perfect Picture Book Friday: Sit In

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I’m so excited about this weekend!

First off, today is Perfect Picture Book Friday. My book choice was inspired by the Picture Book Summit presentation of Andrea Davis Pinkney. Her picture books address sensitive topics like prejudice and discrimination and segregation in a way that even young kids can grasp.

sit in

SIT-IN: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down

Written by Andrea David Pinkney

Illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2010)

Ages: 6 and up

Themes: Civil Rights, racism, courage, believe in yourself

Opening Lines:

“It was February 1, 1960.
They didn’t need menus. Their order was simple.
A doughnut and coffee, with cream on the side.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:
“This picture book is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the momentous Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in, when four college students staged a peaceful protest that became a defining moment in the struggle for racial equality and the growing civil rights movement.

Andrea Davis Pinkney uses poetic, powerful prose to tell the story of these four young men, who followed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words of peaceful protest and dared to sit at the “whites only” Woolworth’s lunch counter. Brian Pinkney embraces a new artistic style, creating expressive paintings filled with emotion that mirror the hope, strength, and determination that fueled the dreams of not only these four young men, but also countless others.”

Why I like this book:

  • Andrea Davis Pickney is an artist with her words…they paint the images in our minds as vividly as her husband paints the illustrations.
  • This is a powerful book about a sensitive topic – more than fifty years have passed since the incident and we still have a long way to go with respect to treating everyone with dignity, equal opportunity, and respect. Perhaps if we read stories like this to our children, they will understand the need to stand up (or sit down) for what is right.

 

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Make a place-mat

placematscraftsforkids_html_20e4dccf

Why not help your child make some place-mats. Then invite a friend or two over to share a meal or snack. A child’s social skills improve with practice.

You will find detailed instructions for this and many other place-mats here: http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/placematsartscraftideaskids.html

I started off saying how excited I was about this weekend.

Saturday is my grandson’s seventh birthday. We are going apple picking—it’s autumn in New England—and that means brisk mornings, glorious fall foliage, and crisp juicy apples.

Hubby’s favorite dessert is apple crisp, so I’ll be sure to bring home plenty of fruit.

On Sunday, Jeremy will have his birthday party at a local bowling alley. I’ve always been a fan of bowling and have many happy memories of bowling with my dad—it was his favorite sport.

And then comes Monday—it’s Columbus Day and our local indie bookstore is hosting a book signing for me and another author friend, Mary Jo Beswick. She’ll be reading her debut picture book, Lonely Lola Ladybug, and I’ll be doing a paper plate ladybug craft with the kids. There will be ladybug sugar cookies for everyone and a lovely gift basket with books and craft supplies for one lucky winner.

Toadstool bookstore gift basket

If you know anyone who lives in the Amherst/Milford/Manchester/Nashua area, please tell them about it. The event takes place at the Toadstool Bookstore in Milford, New Hampshire, on Monday, October 12th from 1-3pm. http://www.toadbooks.com/event/milford-vivian-kirkfield-mary-jo-beswick-present-their-books-children-parents-and-education

I hope if any of you are in the area, you will stop by and say hello!

And if you are looking for more great picture book reviews and activities, please stop over at: http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2015/10/perfect-picture-book-friday-leahs-pony.html

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend!

18 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday: Sit In”

    • After the Picture Book Summit presentation by Andrea Davis Pickney, I couldn’t wait to get some of her books. And thanks for the good wishes for the weekend…I’m hoping for clear skies and mild temps. 😉

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    • Thanks, Iza. There will certainly be less time for reading, but I know it will be a fun weekend. And all too soon, the snows will be here and I’ll be staying home a lot more. 🙂 I’m not a fan of driving in the snow. Fingers crossed for a milder winter than the last two…you all were pretty badly hit also, I think.

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    • Thank you, Tracy…I will pass along your good wishes. It’s going to be a fun time…although right now, after several days of perfect weather, it is POURING…hopefully it will rain itself out by tomorrow. 😉

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  8. This book is on my list: Andrea’s presentation was magical, and I can’t wait to hear that magic coming through the words of her stories. Sounds like you have a wonderful weekend planned. Good luck on Monday!

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