Authors, illustrators, and publishing company publicity departments often reach out to bloggers to see if they can feature upcoming picture books. I try to do as many as I can – because I LOVE reading them and I LOVE sharing them with parents, librarians, teachers, and all of my kidlit friends. Sometimes I get a chance to read them to my six-year old granddaughter over Skype…and, when she asks me to read the book again and again and again, I know we’ve got a winner.
That’s what happened with today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday selection. Sophie absolutely loves I AM A THIEF…and I think you will also. PLUS, the author and publisher are donating a copy of the book as a giveaway AND…the illustrator is offering a picture book manuscript CRITIQUE to one lucky winner. Make sure you leave a comment at the end.
But before we get to the review, we have a giveaway to announce.
Several weeks ago, the lovely Shannon Stocker, author of CAN U SAVE THE DAY? was featured on my blog and she offered a Picture Book Manuscript Critique. And the lucky winner is:
ELEANOR ANN PETERSON
Congratulations! I will be contacting you shortly and putting you in touch with Shannon.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
I AM A THIEF
Written by Abigail Rayner
Illustrated by Molly Ruttan
Published by NorthSouth Books (2019)
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Honesty, courage, family
Synopsis: From Amazon:
When Eliza Jane Murphy—line leader, captain of the worm rescue team—impulsively pockets a sparkly green stone from her classroom’s “Exploring Green” display table, her heart crumples.
My heart stopped singing. My letters went wonky. I was too heavy to swing!
I wanted to put it back . . . But what if someone saw?
But when she discovers that nearly everyone in her family took something once in their lives—from her baby brother and mom, to her nana with her sausage-stealing dog—Eliza overcomes her shame to make things right.
A hilarious and heartfelt story about stealing and finding the courage to do the right thing.
Why I love this book:
- Filled with heart and humor – from the first page to the last!
- So relatable for all children
- Fabulous illustrations that move the story forward to its VERY satisfying ending
RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Make a Family Tree
Photo courtesy: https://thecraftingchicks.com/my-family-tree-crafts/
So many ideas for family tree activities. For detailed instructions: https://thecraftingchicks.com/my-family-tree-crafts/
Thank you, my friends, for stopping by to visit. Please don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of I AM A THIEF and for the picture book manuscript critique. We will have two winners…one person will get the book and another person will receive a pb critique! And if you get to read the book and love it, why not post a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Your interview makes me want to pick up this book and look inside! Love the family tree too! Thanks Vivian for sharing this wonderful book!
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Hi!! Thank you so much for this opportunity , I’m sure my niece would enjoy this book 🙂
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This sounds like such a great book! So very relatable, and the illustrations are outstanding companions to the story, judging by the example. Thanks very much for the chance to win a copy, and for giving me another book to add to my “Holiday Gift List”.
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I love this kind of read! Can’t wait to get my hands on it!
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I love this!! Such an excellent review!! I want to read the book!!
I absolutely love the idea/message behind the book. It’s such a great conversation starter with kids and i look forward to sharing this with my sons. The illustrations are wonderful too. So vibrant and warm. I absolutely love the little bandit eye masks!!
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Thanks Vivian! This book sounds great. I’ll have to take it – from the library!
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What an important subject and a fabulous looking book!!! This one will definitely be in my bag for school. 😊
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It sounds as if this book tackles a fairly common occurrence in a wholesome way. A good book for families, schools, pre-schools, and daycares! Thanks for telling us about it, Vivian!
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Another amazing recommendation. Can’t want to check this one out!
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I’ve been looking forward to reading this new #PB by Abigail Rayner – she writes with such humor and heart. A terrific review & I love that your granddaughter enjoyed reading it with you, too.
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❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Thank you, Patricia, for your kind words. Hope to see you soon ❤️
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This sounds like such a fabulous read, I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
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Congratulations, Abigail! Great topic handled so well. I remember doing the same thing as a child and needing to confess. Wonderful idea!
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I love your choice of topic, Abigail! I can’t wait to read it!
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Oh, such a relatable topic! I think nearly every child has at least one episode of ‘taking’ something they really like or want. Can’t wait to read this book! Thanks, Vivian, for sharing! Congratulations, Abigail!
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Abigail, I Am a Thief is definitely on my “Gift List” for the holidays! What a classic topic for children! I remember the rumbling turmoil I felt for weeks after stealing a sucker from the local candy store! I couldn’t even take a lick from that sucker. After Mom and I had “the talk,” I humbly walked the crumpled sucker back to the store with sobbing apologies. So glad that you introduced me to a fun read for kids, Vivian. Thank you!
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This sounds like such a great book! I think kids and adults will relate to it easily. Thanks for the wonderful review!
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I’ve seen this book before and really want to read it even more now. Thanks for the chance to win a copy, but please do not enter me for a critique as I’m no where ready for one yet, even though they are so priceless.
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I was lucky enough to read this book in the North South building in Zurich during the SCBWI Europolitan. And guess what…I love this book too. Definitely one to read again and again.
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I AM A THIEF is such a great idea for a picture book! Thanks Vivian for making us aware of this PB and to Abigail for writing it! I would love to “steal away” with a copy and a PB manuscript critique.
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Aggghhh! Such a great topic and I really want to read this now! I once stole a truck from a friend’s house when I was four, and I can completely relate to the feelings the child is having in this book! Thank you for sharing!
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I love hearing about I AM A THIEF! Accidently taking something happened often in my classroom. Many times students were nervous about returning the item. I think we can all relate to this story. I can’t wait to read it!
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What a great idea for a picture book! I think we can all relate to this story. I can’t wait to read I AM A THIEF!
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Such a great idea and important book for kids and parents. Congratulations and I can’t wait to read it. My one thing I took was a bandaid at the store.
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I’m planning to pick this one up. And maybe I’ll read it to my son who used have 5-yr-old kleptomania, LOL. I’ll never forget finding his stash of white-out bottles that “disappeared” from his kinder classroom…..
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Who hasn’t been tempted to take something that didn’t belong to them? This looks like a book that would appeal to children and adults. Thank you for featuring I Am A Thief!, Vivian. I can’t wait to read it.
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I still feel guilty about the roll of stickers that got stuck in my hair at the sticker store (it was the 80s!), and I unwittingly stole. I may need this book!
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That cover is a show stopper! I love it and the title. So many kids will relate to this one. I look forward to reading it and sharing it with great grandchildren.
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Oooh…this does sound like a good one!! I think my daughter will want to read this over and over, too! (And me, too!)
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Great themes! Such a relatable topic, also! Love it!
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Such thoughtful comments. I’m so happy that so many people can relate to this book ❤️ Thank you, Vivian, for hosting Eliza, Molly, and me! 💚💚💚💚💚💚
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It was my pleasure, Abi. It’s lovely to ‘meet’ you – and I look forward to connect with you at a conference or other book event sometime down the road.
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I can’t wait to read this book to my grandchildren and kindergarten class.
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I can’t wait to read this- such a great topics!
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I’m anxious to read this one! What a unique topic and lovely art–and I can’t wait to see what happens!
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What a show stopping cover. This sounds like a fun book and I’m sure many adults as well as kids will relate. It reminds me of when as a kid wandering down the road to home I dragged a piece of string behind me knowing full well there was a kitten living in the hedge up the road. No way would Mum or Dad want a kitten at home so I hid it behind our garage. Till it got found and I had to return it.
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I’m not sure I would have picked this on my own but what a wonderful review. Every kid I know will find this book relatable. I know I would have. Look forward to reading it.
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Looks like such a cute book! Thanks for doing this great book review. 😊
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