Hold onto your beach hats, dear friends! Wednesday was the first day of summer and today we’ve got the perfect book to celebrate that.
Plus, today’s post is extra-special because author/illustrator Patricia Keeler is giving away a signed copy of LIZZIE and LOU SEAL
AND
a pair of Lizzie’s favorite flip-flop earrings!
Make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway!
LIZZIE and LOU SEAL
Written and illustrated by Patricia Keeler
Publisher: Sky Pony Press (2017)
Ages: 3 – 6
Themes:
Independence, friendship, problem solving
Synopsis:
From Amazon:
What will Lizzie do when Lou Seal loses his puff?
Lizzie loves her flip-flops. They go shuffle shuffle across the rug, smack smack on the floor tiles, and thwap thwap down the stairs. Lizzie also loves her blow-up toy, Lou Seal. Lizzie and Lou Seal are off to the beach, but beach fun turns to beach disaster when Lizzie loses her flip-flops and Lou Seal starts losing air! It’s a sink or swim scenario. What will Lizzie do?
This is a beautiful book with mixed media art and a lovely retro feel, for fans of Ladybug Girl at the Beach. Children will relate to Lizzie’s independence and creative problem solving and fall in love with Lou Seal themselves. Filled with lots of fun words and sounds, this is a perfect read aloud book for parents and children alike.
Why I like this book:
- Charming, retro surroundings frame Lizzie’s seaside life.
- The text marries perfectly with the illustrations and much of the story is briliiantly told in the illustrations…kids will enjoy discovering the leak in Lou Seal way before Lizzie notices it.
- This story engages all the senses, while reeling out a picture book that is the perfect beach read as well as a great anytime read-aloud.
- A great launch pad for a discussion about water safety.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
FAUX SNOW GLOBE: On The Beach or In The Ocean?
We are so lucky. Author/illustrator Patricia Keeler has created a super fun craft for the kids!
You will need: Firm yellow heavy paper, firm blue paper, Krazy Glue, 2 clear lids from 32 oz Stonyfield Yogurt, sand, glitter & LIZZIE and LOU SEAL icon sheet below.
- Print out the LIZZIE and LOU SEAL sheet. Cut out Lou Seal and icons.
- Choose which items would most likely be found on land. Choose which items would be found in the ocean.
- Draw a circle around the yogurt lid on the yellow and blue sheets.
- In the center of the yellow circle, place sand, beach items and Lou Seal. In the circle on the blue paper, place blue glitter, ocean items and Lou Seal.
- Put Krazy Glue along the circle line. Stick the lid down and let it dry.
- SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE and enjoy!
Dear friends…have a safe and wonderful weekend, don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway…
make sure you leave a review for LIZZIE AND LOU SEAL on Amazon and…
…please come back tomorrow–Patricia Keeler is stopping by for our Will Write for Cookies Q&A!
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
I do so love a good beach story, and this looks perfectly exquisite! Can’t wait to read–
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I want to live at the beach like Lizzie! They say to write about what you know, but I think I’m writing about what I dream of, haha!
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Oh, Midge, you will love it. Such a great attitude on the part of Lizzie!
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I enjoyed this one. Well written. Quirky, fun art. And what a fun craft.
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Thank you! I’ve always loved snow globes, so to be able to make as many as I want is really fun!
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Totally, David. I was so lucky…Patricia did all the hard work of this post…she even provided the super cute craft!
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Sounds like an endearing character! And I love that it can be used as a springboard for a lesson on water safety!
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Sky Pony and I talked a lot about Lizzie having a float vest on, water wings, etc., and decided to let this story be a fantasy on all levels. A good chance to talk about water safety though!
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Right? It’sthe perfect story to read before the beach and pool season gets underway, Liz…what a great opportunity to talk with kids about water safety.
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This sounds delightful. I love books that recognise and encourage problem solving, especially for girls. The flip-flop earrings are delightful, and children would have great fun making the faux snow globe.
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I love it that you mentioned problem solving! I love books that empower little girls! And as a secret I added the stickers all around the trailer from the beginning, so she had the solution from the beginning!
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Awesome! I missed the trailer – will have to look again. 🙂
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This is definitely a book that was really well thought out, Norah…Patricia’s comments are so valuable in pointing out her process and why she drew what she drew and wrote what she wrote. Thanks for stopping by, Norah!
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What a fun summer book. Love the use of sounds in the book. Really great illustrations! Thanks I know someone who’d enjoy this book!
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So good to hear! It was written so that the black font is read by an adult and the child repeats and acts out the handwritten words. I wrote it that way, but haven’t done it with a child yet. I’m really looking forward to sharing it with a child!
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Yes, I love all the sound words, Patricia. Kids love those, too.
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Oh my goodness, this book looks and sounds like so much fun. Can’t wait to read it.
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Thanks! It was really written as a kind of mystery where the reader discovers Lou Seal is loosing her puff ahead of our intrepid Lizzie! Also, the solution is in the stickers which can be found on the first page spread!
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It is so much fun, Kathy…and I love how Patricia shared so much of her process with us.
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This books sounds adorable–so imaginative and fun! : )
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Thanks so much! It actually took two years to write. At first Lou Seal was a small toy and it was about the flip-flops, but as Lou Seal got BIG everything changed!
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So much fun, Sarah! Glad you stopped by to enjoy the review and craft!
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It seems so many of the books I’ve been checking out at the library lately have had something to do with water. I’m happy to add this imaginative book to my list for today. And as always, your craft idea for the snow globe is a child-pleaser!
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I’m really drawn to water. I live along the Hudson River and have to walk there every day! Also, I’m heading to the beach on Monday, so will actually get to jump in!
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Patricia was so very good to me..she took care of the entire post content…including the craft activity. I’ve done the traditional snowglobes…this one is so creative, Leslie.
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I wasn’t going to enter the giveaway, but I just HAD to say how sweet this book is going to be and how much I ADORE that craft! Thanks, Patricia and Vivian
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I’m so glad you left a reply! It’s fun to connect, especially through a picture book. So glad you like the snow globe. In my younger days I made ‘artistic’ snow globes with tiny fans on the bottom blowing twirling paper sculptures and bits of flying paper!
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And you are so sweet to stop by, Joanne! Glad you enjoyed the review and craft…hope you’ll be back tomorrow for the Q&A. 😉
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I can’t wait to add this to my shelf of mentor books.
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I love the idea of L&LS being a mentor book! I’m going to start using that word when I promote Lizzie. She’s been called a wild child, but I think she makes a plan and carries it out, whether that’s taking Lou Seal to the beach or fixing her holes! A good example for even the youngest child!
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Yes, you are right, Julie…it will make a super mentor book.
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Love the craft ideas and the cookie recipe. Can’t wait to watch Patricia’s video on her work process!
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Thanks! The studio video was my first attempt at You Tube. I have to learn not to say ‘um’ so much! But seeing my own studio, work on the board, and the layout of my tools helped me get an overview of my workspace. I can see where I can improve it!
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I think a lot of us will learn so much from Patricia’s video, Mary! And I just visited your blog…where is your adventure taking you?
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The artwork alone has me hooked!!!
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So true…it fresh and alive, Cheryl!
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I was told Lizzie’s hair looked like Lesley Stahl, and that wasn’t a good thing, but I think she wouldn’t look right with long hair . . . And I think Lizzie’s hair looks more like Pink’s hair!
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Love the onomatopoeia, art, and quirky story 🙂 I can’t wait to read your book, Patricia!
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Patricia definitely has a winning combination, Charlotte. And yes, the sound words are fabulous!
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Thanks so much! It’s written so the black words are read by an adult and the hand lettered sounds are repeated by the child. Actually, what I imagine is that the child and adult share the sounds while acting them out! Can’t wait to try that out!
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Great story & I too love beaches.And Vivian, combining beaches and snowglobes! How totally ingenious.
Since PPBF is hiatus, I am linking up here with my review of PANDORA – http://www.mariacmarshall.com/single-post/2017/06/23/Pandora—Perfect-Picture-Book-Friday-PPBF
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Hurray…thanks for stopping by, Maria…I know you were away…glad you got back in time and happy you linked up your Perfect Picture Book Friday post here. 😉
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