About viviankirkfield

Writer for children - Reader forever - Mom of 3, educator, author of FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN: AN ANIMAL COUNTING BOOK (PomegranateKids, PIPPA'S PASSOVER PLATE (Holiday House), SWEET DREAMS, SARAH (Creston Books); MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD: THE INSPIRING FRIENDSHIP OF ELLA FITZGERALD AND MARILYN MONROE (Little Bee Books); FROM HERE TO THERE: INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD MOVES (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jan 19, 2021); PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER: Annie Londonderry, First Woman to Bike Around the World (Calkins Creek/Astra, Feb 20, 2024) picture book junkie, lover of travel, hiking, fly-fishing, cooking, and playing Monopoly with my grandson.

Picture Book Review and Activity: LONG MAY SHE WAVE plus Giveaway

Posted on May 19, 2017 by viviankirkfield

I’m always happy when Friday rolls around – because it means it’s time for Perfect Picture Book Friday. And today’s book is amazing. In fact, it was just selected as a Fall 2017 Junior Library Guild selection!!!!

But first, some blog housekeeping. BTW, did you know this is blog post #700 for Picture Books Help Kids Soar? Where has the time gone?

Last week, Chana Stiefel offered a copy of her debut picture book, DADDY DEPOT. And the lucky winner is…

PATRICIA NOZELL

Congratulations, Patricia…let’s connect and I will put you in touch with Chana so she can get a copy of the book out to you!

Today’s book is close to my heart for two reasons. I am a lover of nonfiction picture books…it’s what I love to write…and the author is actually the guru of writing nonfiction picture books. In June of 2014, I took Kristen Fulton’s Nonfiction Archaelogy class and it was a life changing experience for me. Kristen, who will be here tomorrow on Will Write for Cookies, is offering a copy of the book. So, if you’d like to be entered in the giveaway, please don’t forget to leave a comment.

LONG MAY SHE WAVE

Written by: Kristen Fulton

Illustrated by Holly Berry

Publisher: Simon and Schuster (Margaret McElderry Books – 2017)

Ages: Preschool – Grade 3

Themes:

U.S. history

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

Discover the story of the girl who sewed the American flag that inspired the lyrics of the National Anthem in this beautifully illustrated celebration of our country’s iconic symbol for freedom.

Caroline Pickersgill came from a family of the best flag makers in Baltimore. She and her family proudly stitched the grand flag that gallantly whipped in the wind over Fort McHenry.

But when the British attacked Baltimore on September 12, 1814, would those broad stripes and bright stars still wave strong? Would America still be free and remain the home of the brave?

Why I like this book:

Exciting action-packed text marries perfectly with bold illustrations.
Wonderful read-aloud!
Kids love books where the main character is a child.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Photo courtesy: http://www.thecraftycrow.net/fourth_of_july/

Lots of fun crafts and project at: www.thecraftycrow.net/fourth_of_july

Or how about a sponge painted flag at http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/07/happy-fourth-of-july.html

Please don’t forget to leave a comment to qualify for the giveaway of a copy of LONG MAY SHE WAVE.

And Kristen and I will see you here tomorrow for her Will Write for Cookies Q&A.

Will Write for Cookies: Chana Stiefel PLUS Giveaway

Posted on May 13, 2017 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS

TODAY’S GUEST

CHANA STIEFEL

TA-DA!!! I’m so happy to roll out the red carpet for today’s Will Write for Cookies author. Chana is part of the debut picture book author/illustrator group, Picture the Books 2017.

But although DADDY DEPOT is a debut picture book for her, it is NOT the first book she has written. Chana Stiefel is the author of more than 20 non-fiction books for kids about stinky castles, exploding volcanoes, and other wild stuff. Chana is currently writing a book about creepy critters for National Geographic Kids (Fall 2018). WAKAWAKALOCH, Chana’s semi-autobiographical picture book about a cave girl who wants to change her unpronounceable name, will be coming out from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2019. More great news coming soon! Visit Chana at http://www.chanastiefel.com and her blog for authors kidlittakeaways.com, which she writes with her critique partner, Donna Cangelosi.

Welcome, Chana! We’re so glad you stopped by today!

ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

CHANA:

Robert McCloskey, BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL

P.D. Eastman, ARE YOU MY MOTHER? & GO DOG, GO! (Can you spot my wink to this book in DADDY DEPOT?)

Virginia Lee Burton, MIKE MULLIGAN AND HIS STEAM SHOVEL

Patricia Lee Gauch, CHRISTINA KATERINA & THE BOX (I still have my original copy with my name spelled backwards)

ME: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started writing for children?

CHANA:

The warmth and support of the kid-lit community is extraordinary! When I went to my first NJSCBWI conference in 2013, I was terrified that it would be very cutthroat, with everyone vying for the attention of agents and editors. I was worried that published authors would be pushing out the newbies. But it was the opposite. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and supportive. During a Round Table, I met Donna Cangelosi, who became my critique partner, co-blogger, and soul sister. I also met dozens of other authors who have become dear friends. And I met my awesome agent at a four-minute pitch! All that in two days! Since then, I’ve joined many online kid-lit groups, like Storystorm, 12 x 12, ReFoReMo, KidLit411, Picture The Books (go 2017s!), and many more. Day or night, whatever you need—writing advice, critiques, comp titles, shoulders to cry on, comic relief, and political support—these people are there for you! And I think everyone will agree that one of the most supportive authors out there is right here…. Thank you, dear Vivian, for all you do to lift up and encourage everyone around you. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review and Activity: DADDY DEPOT plus Giveaway

Posted on May 12, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!

I hope all of you have scrolled through yesterday’s #50PreciousWordsforKids post. There were 57 wonderful stories written by kids in grades K-6. Children in six countries and thirteen states participated. And honestly, I read the makings of several awesome picture books. Many of the parents said their children wanted to know when the next challenge would be. I’m thrilled to have created a platform for our future authors. I’ll be reaching out to the friends who generously offered to donate a mini-Skype author visit – I’ll randomly pick one name from each grade level and that child’s class will receive the author visit.

Before we get to our wonderful picture book, we have a giveaway to take care of. Last week, Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum generously offered a copy of TRAINS DON’T SLEEP.

And the winner is…

KIM CHAFFEE.

Congratulations, Kim…let’s connect and I will put you in touch with Andria so she can get a copy of the book out to you!

Today’s picture book review is another of our fabulous 2017 debuts and I know you are going to love it! And the author, Chana Stiefel (who will be here tomorrow on Will Write for Cookies), is offering a copy of the book. So, if you’d like to be entered in the giveaway, please don’t forget to leave a comment.