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.

PB 14:14 Day Two: Top 10 Picture Book Story Elements – Beginnings and Endings

Posted on February 15, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Today is Day Two of Christie Wright Wild’s PB 14:14…I had fun yesterday, hopping around to several other blogs to read the other entries

If you are just tuning into the challenge, you can follow this link to find out all about it: http://christiewrightwild.blogspot.com/2015/02/pb-1414-in-2015-day-one-with-vivian.html

Do you ever wonder why you love certain books, while others leave you wanting more? Every book needs to be strong in certain elements in order to capture…and hold your attention.

For me, the beginning of a story – the hook that grabs me…and the ending of a story – the finish that leaves me feeling satisfied, are crucial. Love, Twelve Miles Long is a perfect example of a picture book that succeeds in both of these.

Title: LOVE, TWELVE MILES LONG

Author: Glenda Armand

Illustrator: Colin Bootman

Publisher: Lee & Low

Date: 2011

Word Count: 1200 est.

Top 10 Element: Beginnings and Endings

This book stands out for many reasons, but the beginning absolutely grabs you.

The scene is set in a Continue reading →

PB 14:14 – Top 10 Picture Book Story Elements – It’s Time for Rhyme

Posted on February 14, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Today is the first day of Christie Wright Wild’s PB 14:14…fourteen days of immersing ourselves in picture books – probably the best Valentine’s day gift I could ever get!

I was honored to guest-post on Christie’s blog today: http://christiewrightwild.blogspot.com/2015/02/pb-1414-in-2015-day-one-with-vivian.html

And I’m thrilled to be participating in this challenge – examining ten different elements that make a picture book sing. Here is the list Continue reading →

Perfect Picture Book Friday & Book Love Blog Hop: LOVE, TWELVE MILES LONG

Posted on February 13, 2015 by viviankirkfield

It’s been a beautiful week – my birthday was on Wednesday – filled with loving messages from friends and family – and yummy chocolate and colorful flowers from hubby and daughter and grandson. Oh yes…and lest I forget…more snow from Mother Nature…because obviously, we haven’t gotten enough.

Since today is Perfect Picture Book Friday and tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and because I’m participating in Carrie Finison’s Book Love Blog Hop and Kristen Fulton’s 52 Weeks of Charting Non-Fiction, here’s my review of Love, Twelve Miles Long.