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.

Monday Writing Magic – PiBoIdMo Success!

Posted on December 2, 2013 by viviankirkfield

I’m happy to say I completed Tara Lazar’s Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo).

I now have more than 30 ideas for new picture books – some good, some bad and some downright ugly!

The challenge: write 30 picture book ideas in 30 days

The inspiration: read 30+ posts by authors, illustrators and others who are successful in the field of kid lit.

Some days it was hard to make the time to read the post and comment…but I didn’t miss a day.

My family thought it was hysterical every time I jumped up from the dinner table and ran willy-nilly to grab my PiBoIdMo notebook and jot down a phrase or catchy book title.

True story: We moved to New Hampshire at the end of September. I’ve been reading AND telling my 5-year old grandson LOTS of stories. This morning, Jeremy could not find Continue reading →

Do You Know the Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Holiday Shopping With Kids?

Posted on November 26, 2013 by viviankirkfield

SHOUT-OUT ALERT!

Please check out the lovely post Barbara did this morning. Corner on Character is an awesome blog that encourages parents and teachers to help their kids develop an awareness of the importance of reaching out and helping others.

http://corneroncharacter.blogspot.com/2013/11/books-crafts-and-kids-in-kitchen.html

I loved that Barbara used the SHOW ME HOW FORMULA to combine a picture book story, craft and cooking activity for a fun time with kids.

Thanks so much, Barbara…I really appreciate you spreading the word about the HUGE HOLIDAY SALE going on right now on Amazon. ONLY $10 A COPY…and if you order 2 copies, I’ll mail them priority so you will have them in time for the holidays.

Holiday shopping can be very stressful, especially if you have little ones along for the ride. Internet shopping can make life easier…and items you find in online catalogs are only a click away. Shopping with the major retailers like Amazon gives you peace of mind…they guarantee satisfaction and will intercede if there is a problem with the transaction.

If you do have to take your children shopping, please follow these simple steps: Continue reading →

Monday Writing Magic: WordPress Family Blog Award

Posted on November 24, 2013 by viviankirkfield

In every field, there are awards that are bestowed in recognition of excellence. The Nobel Peace Prize, the Pulitzer Prize and the Oscars and Emmys are a few of the well-known accolades. Even the blogsphere has some…The Versatile Blogger, Stylish Blog, Candlelighter Award…there are dozens. One of the newest is the WordPress Family Blog Award.

All bloggers are writers…and all writers need encouragement and support. Being part of the WordPress Family, I’ve found so much support and encouragement from fellow bloggers. Some write picture books, some write memoirs, some write YA or MG, some are not trying to write a book, but are investing their talent in writing great blog posts.

Marylin over at Things I Want to Tell My Mother honored me with it the other day. One of the things I regret is that while I lived in Colorado Springs, I never connected in person with this amazing writer. In her blog, she shares the wonderful accomplishments and giving nature of her mom who now suffers from Alzheimers. Marylin supports aspiring authors with writing contests and her blog is a cornucopia of goodness and love and information…on child care, recipes, gardening anecdotes and family matters. If you don’t know Marylin, I hope you will stop by her blog to say hello…you won’t be disappointed.

When I received the award, I tried to find out a little more about it. I discovered that it was started by Shaun from Scotland: http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/word-press-family-award/

This is what Shaun said about the award:

“This is an award for Continue reading →