Perfect Picture Book Friday Review and Craft Activity: Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 PLUS Giveaway

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. This is a very special time of year, when two of the world’s major religions celebrate important holidays…I wish everyone who celebrates a Happy Passover and a Happy Easter. If only the people of the world could come together like our incredible kid lit community does.

To add to the celebrations, we have books to give away. THREE OF THEM!

Last week, Linda Whalen offered to give away a copy of her wonderful debut picture book, LITTLE RED ROLLS AWAY.book cover

AND THE WINNER IS

SHERRY ALEXANDER

Congratulations, Sherry! Please contact me so I can get your mailing information to Linda.

We also have a copy of LIZZIE AND LOU SEAL to award thanks to author/illustrator Patricia Keeler. lizzie-and-lou-seal-cover

AND THE WINNER IS

VIRGINIA FRAZIER

Splish-splash! What fun. Congrats, Virginia! Let’s connect so Patricia can send you your prize.

And last, but certainly not least, author Rosie Pova is gifting a teddy bear and swag package to celebrate the book birthday of IF I WEREN’T WITH YOU. swag giveaway

AND THE WINNER IS

ZARA

Hurray! Zara, we will connect so that Rosie can send your prize.

I also wanted to ask everyone to continue to spread the word about the #50PreciousWordsforKids Writing Challenge. logoHand the flyer to teachers you know – post it on homeschool forums – we want to enable as many children as possible to participate because Magic Happens When You Make Every Word Count.

Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday also has a giveaway…so don’t forget to leave a comment. And shout outs on social media are always appreciated by the author!

book cover 1

MRS. MCBEE LEAVES ROOM 3

Written by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan

Illustrated by Grace Zong

Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (2017)

Ages: Preschool – Grade 3

Themes:

Saying goodbye, dealing with change, working together, diversity

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

Join the children of Room 3 and Mrs. McBee as they find their own ways of helping each other get ready to leave and say good-bye. It’s not just the end of the school year at Mayflower Elementary. It’s time to say goodbye to Mrs. McBee, who is leaving the school. Jamaika, William, and the other kids in Room 3 have to figure out a special way to celebrate their beloved teacher. But everyone has a different idea. How can they arrive at an agreement? Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan brings readers an amusing and touching story about transitions and the importance of observing them. With Grace Zong’s charming illustrations, the distinct cast of lively characters comes to life on the page.

Why I like this book:

  • As a former teacher, what’s not to love about a book that tells how kids are trying to do something nice for their teacher?
  • I also love seeing how the diverse characters and personalities find their own ways to say goodbye…and especially how Mrs. McBee helps each of them feel special. The author did a masterful job showing us this.
  • Great illustrations…full of color and emotion…they really help us connect with the characters.

One of the best ways we can help authors, other than buying a copy of their receives a certain number of reviews (30 or perhaps 50), Amazon gives a bit of marketing/promotion help. Click here for the Amazon link to today’s Perfect Picture Book.

I know that Gretchen appreciates every review the book receives.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Make a School or Classroom Craft

cardboard-crafts-for-kidsPhoto courtesy: http://mollymoocrafts.com/back-school-crafts-shoebox-school/

Young kids really love doing crafts. And the time they spend with a parent, cutting, coloring, creating…that is time that is well spent! It’s why I included 100 quick and easy craft activities in the parent-teacher book I wrote years ago. Why not grab an old shoe box or small shipping carton and build a school with your kids?

You will need: 1 box (shoe box, USPS priority box, even a large cereal box), construction paper or gift wrap or any paper that will cover the box OR you can paint it OR you can cover it with brown shipping tape, scissors, markers, glue.

  1. Cover the box as you and your child desire.
  2. Cut windows and doors
  3. Use markers or crayons to add details.

You can also create a classroom using a shoebox turned on its side. Line the ‘walls’ with wrapping paper as wallpaper. Cut pictures of furniture and people from magazines to glue in place.

For more great online crafts: http://mollymoocrafts.com/back-school-crafts-shoebox-school/

Another activity: Teachers work so hard for our children. Why not sit down with your child to write a thank you note to include with the end of year gift. I can guarantee the teacher will treasure that note long after the flowers die or the candy is eaten. I know I still have notes from the children I taught.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends…don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of MRS. MCBEE LEAVES ROOM 3…and please come back tomorrow for:

 

Will Write for Cookies

Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan

_Logo final BB2 1 inch 300dpi

This post is part of a series for parents and teachers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays hosted by Susannah Leonard Hill. Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities.

28 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday Review and Craft Activity: Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 PLUS Giveaway”

    • The topic is hitting home. My former principal says it’s the gift she’s always needed for teachers leaving the school. The whole staff will sign the book to say good-bye! I think the topic is important for kiddos too, especially those who are surrounded by other’s cheers about the end of school when they feel like crying.

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  4. I can remember loving some of my teachers as much as the kids love Mrs. McBee! Teachers can have such a profound influence on a child’s life. I’m excited to read Gretchen’s book and see Grace’s lovely illustrations. Thanks for sharing this gem today, Vivian!

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    • Thanks, Judy! Please check to see if your public library has a copy of Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 to check out. If not, would you make a patron request for one? I’d really appreciate it!
      Hugs from me and Mrs. McBee

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    • Thanks, Tracy. I love the art too! I want to cozy into that McBeehive hug.
      Please check to see if your local library has a copy of the book to check out for me. If not, would you be willing to make a patron request for the book so that it’s available for little kiddos?
      Hugs from me and Mrs. McBee.

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  6. Love this book. Got to meet and spend time with Gretchen recently. She is a special person and I really like this book. Thanks for highlighting it. Look forward to your interview of her, as well.

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    • Thanks, Sherri! The marketing folks at Peachtree really liked that title, so I’m glad it drew you in.
      I’m hoping that libraries all over the states are shelving the book. Would you be willing to check your library and if Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 isn’t on order yet, make a patron request? I’d really appreciate it.

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  8. I love this book because of its warm and cuddly cover. What a moving theme for kids to deal with. And adults will stir up memories for adults. I remember when a few of my teachers retired — a happy and sad time. My daughter’s teacher left because she was having a baby. My son ‘s favorite teacher died in an auto accident. This is a very much needed book.

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    • Thank you, Patricia. The book is all about the bittersweet of saying good-bye. I wanted kids to have “bittersweet” in their emotional wheelhouse. There is so much bittersweet in life!
      We didn’t specify why Mrs. McBee was leaving in the book so that her leaving could apply a lot of circumstances. You and your family have experienced quite a few of them.
      Would you be willing to check your library to see if Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 is on order? If not, I’d really appreciate if you’d make a patron request for it.
      Thanks again.
      Hugs from me and Mrs. McBee.

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  9. Saying good-bye can be a tough thing to do for all of us, but kids need a little extra help, I think, to learn how to deal with this kind of emotional change. Thanks for highlighting this book, Vivian!

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    • Thanks Jilanne.
      I agree with you completely! I wanted to give kids the word “bittersweet” so that they’d have that in their vocabulary and be able to recognize, label and accept their feelings. There is a lot of bittersweet in life, but that’s my favorite kind of chocolate!
      Would you be willing to check your library for my book and make a patron request if it’s not on order?
      Hugs from me and Mrs. McBee

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  11. I love the cuddly warm cover of this book. Saying good-bye is hard any time and more so for kids. I remember being devastated saying good-bye to my teachers. After a special piano teacher left for Uk, Mum could not bear to get another music teacher. She thought it was too heart-renching for me should they leave. This story would have been ideal. Hope to see it in our libraries soon.

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    • Thanks, Diane!
      I remember being devastated too! I wish I’d had the vocabulary to deal with all the bittersweet good-byes in my childhood.
      I hope you weren’t so heartbroken that you gave up piano!
      Imagine yourself in that cover hug! Mmmmm.

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    • It’s the perfect retirement book. My former principal has a stack on hand, ready to say good-bye to us babyboomers.

      Would you mind seeing if the book is on order in your district and public libraries for me? Patron requests rock!

      Enjoy your retirement and hugs from Mrs. McBee!

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