Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! One of my fondest memories is of going to Coney Island – the famous beach in Brooklyn, New York. I’d build sandcastles as the water lapped at my creation, eat hot dogs from Nathan’s, slathered with mustard, and skip along the boardwalk, hoping my parents would buy me a cone filled with soft-serve ice cream – vanilla, of course! But one of the things I loved best of all was when I got a chance to ride the carousel. Round and round we’d go…my gallant steed bringing me ever so close to the machine that dispensed brass rings. If you were able to grab one, you got a free ride! I’d stretch out my arm, lean as far as I could, and…usually miss. But I can guarantee that if you grab today’s selection at your favorite indie bookstore, you will definitely be a winner – of SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS!

SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS

Written by Rajani LaRocca

Illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

Published by Lee and Low Books (2020)

Ages: 5-8

Themes: Indian folktale, ingenuity, math

Synopsis: From Amazon

In this clever, convivial picture book, an Indian boy untangles a mathematical conundrum to win a place at the Rajah’s court.

In ancient India, a boy named Bhagat travels to the Rajah’s city, hoping to ensure his family’s prosperity by winning a place at court as a singer. Bhagat carries his family’s entire fortune–a single coin and a chain of seven golden rings–to pay for his lodging. But when the innkeeper demands one ring per night, and every link snipped costs one coin, how can Bhagat both break the chain and avoid overpaying? His inventive solution points the way to an unexpected triumph, and offers readers a friendly lesson in binary numbers–the root of all computing.

Why I love this book:

1. I love when old stores are made new.
2. My favorite stories when I was a child were folktales – I wish I knew where my copy of Baba Yaga was…it probably fell apart from overuse.
3. The illustrations are fabulous…rich and vibrant (and we’ll be meeting illustrator Archana Sreenivasan next week on Will Write/Illustrate for Cookies.
4. The text is filled with heart and humor (and never fear – we’ll also get to chat with author Rajani LaRocca) – and also cleverly incorporates a math lesson.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Photo courtesy: https://www.craftykidsathome.com

Paper plate gold rings

For detailed instructions: https://www.craftykidsathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/goldrings2.jpg

These rings are made with paper plates and, according to the directions, the plate is painted with gold paint and then the various baubles glued or tied on. For a less involved project with younger children, you can glue the baubles onto the plate ring and then sprinkle gold glitter over all of it. Be sure to work with newspaper or other protective coverings on your tables, chairs, floor – or glue and glitter will be EVERYWHERE. But oh, what fun!

The book launches on October 20th – but you can preorder it on Bookstop, Amazon, or at any of your local indie bookstores. Please support your favorite authors and review their books, share on social media, and ask your library to purchase a copy for their collection.

And don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, thanks to author Rajani LaRocca! Why not share about your favorite amusement park ride.

For more picture book reviews and activities for the kids, please visit Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday post.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend – please stay safe and well.