Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends.

I am so thrilled to bring you a GREAT new picture book that launches in just a couple of days. It’s written by a dear kidlit friend of mine, one of my picture book idols, author Lori Degman. I was in Chicago in February…BC (Before Covid-19)…and Lori and I met for a wonderful dinner…last year, she came to my book launch of Sweet Dreams, Sarah, at the Andersons Bookstore in La Grange. And because she is such a sweetheart, she is offering a GIVEAWAY of a copy of TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS!

TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS

Written by Lori Degman

Illustrated by Dave Szalay

Published by Sleeping Bear Press (2020)

Ages: 5-8

Themes: Monsters, traveling, geography of the US

Synopsis: From Amazon:

Taking your monster on a road trip this summer? Or letting your favorite beast tag along on a family beach vacation? Wherever you and your monster are traveling, Travel Guide for Monsters is full of essential tips to help you both enjoy the sights from coast to coast–and avoid monster-related mishaps.

And two fabulous reviews:

Buckle up and get ready for a rollicking road trip with merry monsters. This cast of joyful monsters in bright colors with myriad different sizes, shapes, facial features, and appendages is guaranteed to make young readers giggle. –Kirkus Reviews

Degman has compiled a monstrously fun adventure that takes readers across the country, from California to New York. This silly how-to offers tips and tricks for traveling with (friendly) monsters, so that kids can make the most of their trip. Page after page of brightly colored illustrations put the monsters on hilarious display, and a map at the book s end shows all the stops on this outlandish road trip. A must-bring for any family road trips or vacation adventure. –Booklist

Why I love this book:

• Love the rhyme…love the rhyme…love the rhyme – Lori is a master rhymer!
• Fabulous illustrations bring us from coast to coast and are real page-turners!
• Filled with humor!

RELATED ACTIVITIES:

Photo courtesy: https://www.playideas.com/25-crazy-monster-crafts-kids/

WOW…what kid wouldn’t want to make some of these fabulous monster crafts! For detailed instructions: https://www.playideas.com/25-crazy-monster-crafts-kids/

And map-making might also be a great activity to extend the learning.

Photo courtesy: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/map-making

For an article on the importance of map-making for kids and lesson plans: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/map-making

I hope you are all staying safe…and keeping busy. And if you are #ShelteringAt Home with the kiddos, I hope that the activities suggested in these Perfect Picture Book posts will help. For more picture book recommendations and activities, please visit Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday page.

And to help support our favorite authors and illustrators and indie bookstores, please

• Buy their books
• Review their books
• Tell friends about their books
• Ask your local library to purchase the books for their collections

Please make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway…one lucky person will win a copy of TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS. Those monsters certainly visited lots of places in the US. Why not tell us what your dream vacation would be.