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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.

Goal-Busters: Moving Ahead in 2014

2013 was a year of change for me. I moved 2000 miles across the country to be closer to our daughter and five-year old grandson.

3 generations on new years eve

2014 will also be a year of moving closer – closer to my dream of having one of my picture book stories published.

Along this journey, I’ve met many others who share this dream – and every month this year, I’ll be turning the spotlight on them and asking them to:

  •  Reveal their goals for 2014
  • Tell us the steps they are taking to reach them
  • Share how they will reward themselves

I hope you will return every 1st Monday of the month to meet them – there will be familiar faces – and some new ones, too.

I thought it only fair for me to go first…so for today, you are stuck with me.

“IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU ARE PLANNING TO FAIL.” – Benjamin Franklin

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I believe that clever Mr. Franklin knew what he was talking about.

Success in any undertaking calls for preparation. I’ve been Continue reading →

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Tibby the Tiger Bunny

Happy New Year to all!

Today is Friday – I have a children’s book review to add to the Perfect Picture Book resource list that author Susanna Leonard Hill is building on her blog. For more wonderful reviews from authors, educators and others who contributed today, please go here.

One of my blogging buddies, author Emily Lim, has a whole series of books that address important issues that young children can relate to. One of her newest is Tibby, the Tiger Bunny.

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TIBBY, THE TIGER BUNNY

Written by Emily Lim

Illustrated by Jade Fang

Publisher: Epigram Books (October 2013)

Ages: 4 and up

Themes:

Friendship, getting along with others, being different

Synopsis:

From Emily’s blog: “All Tibby ever wanted was some friends to play with, but the other rabbits found him too strange. After all, he could pounce and roar like a tiger. But he also had long floppy ears and could hop like a bunny. Was Tibby a tiger or a bunny?”

Why  I like this book:

  • Great read-aloud for younger children…older kids will enjoy reading it themselves
  • Wonderful message about friendship, getting along with others and being yourself
  • Lovely illustrations by the talented Jade Fang

How a parent can use this book:

  • Great read-aloud
  • Opportunity for discussion about what it means to be a friend and why it is important to be yourself

Related Activities:

Arrange play-dates for your child…especially if he or she is not in preschool yet…a little socialization goes a long way towards helping kids learn how to get along with each other and discover their own strengths.

PAPER PLATE TIGER/BUNNY

670px-Make-a-Paper-Plate-Bunny-Step-7Photo courtesy http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Paper-Plate-Bunny

You will need a paper plate, construction paper, scissors, glue and markers.

  1. Cut out ears and whiskers from construction paper.
  2. Glue in place.
  3. Use the marker to add the bunny’s features.
  4. You can turn the plate over and create a tiger face on the other side.
  5. Let your child role-play with each side – how does he act and sound when he is a tiger? A bunny?

                     NEW SERIES COMING TO A BLOG NEAR YOU – GOAL BUSTERS

On the first Monday of each month, we be taking a peek at the goals we’ve made and the steps we are taking to reach them. This month, I’ll share my goals for 2014, the steps I’m taking to reach them…and how I plan to reward myself when I reach each goal! In February, author Alayne Christian will take the spotlight and in March, author Clarike Bowman-Jahn will be featured. Please join us for GOAL-BUSTERS!

 

If you write or illustrate, parent or teach…I know you have goals! Please share them in the comments or contact me (viviankirkfield@gmail.com) if you’d like to be featured in a blog post.jeremys first day at soccer made a goal 9_7‑13

2013 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 24,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 9 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Oh my goodness – 24,000 is a really big number!

  • If I traveled 24,000 miles, I could just about go all the way around the world
  • If I lived another 24,000 days, I would be over 120 years old
  • If I grew 24,000 inches, I would be 2000 feet tall

Thank you, everyone, for visiting and commenting and sharing my posts.

I’m looking forward to 2014!

  • Every Friday: picture book review and activity linking up to Perfect Picture Book Friday
  • 1st Monday of each month: Goal-Busters – a peek at how other writers  are reaching their goals and rewarding themselves
  • Other Mondays: Monday Writing Magic – tips, info and resources for the kid lit community
  • 3rd Saturday of each month: Will Write for Cookies – interview with authors/illustrators AND their favorite cookie recipe
  • Other Saturdays: Tips, techniques and tools for parents and other child-care facilitators

My wish for everyone:

  • Peace for your mind
  • Health for your body
  • Love for your heart
  • Friends to share your joys and sorrows

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

3 generations on new years eve