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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.

The 4th of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest

There’s been lots of traveling in the last few months…new grand-baby…Singapore…family visits.

4th of Jul Secret Mystery Writing Contest

I’ve missed my regular blogging and social media connections – but I’ve had so much fun!

To get back on track, I’m going to try a new blog schedule:

Monday will be geared towards picture book writing – sharing helpful articles and links for other writers as well as contests, submissions and highlights from my works in progress.

To kick this off, I’m thrilled to post my entry to children’s author Susanna Leonard Hill’s 4th of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest. Contests are a great way to exercise your writing craft and connect with other writers…and Susanna’s contests are super cool. Please click on the link to get the details and find out what GREAT prizes she is offering. There is still time to enter!!!!

The Fourth Of July Secret Mystery Writing Contest!

We were asked to write a children’s story with any July 4th setting, 400 words or less, in which there is a mystery is solved or a secret is revealed. Here is my 199-word story…I hope you like it!

THE MONSTER FAIR or Why Christmas Is Celebrated in July on Gollywhomper Square Continue reading →

BEA 2013 – Part 2

 

Book Expo America - New York City

This morning, I had a lovely comment from blogger I didn’t know.

Blogging etiquette demanded that I go and visit her blog.

I am SO glad I did.

BermudaOnion is an awesome writer who blogs about books, movies and food. She just attended the BEA (Book Expo America) in New York City and her post about it made me feel I was right there with her, rubbing shoulders with well-known authors and enjoying the amazing food that is one of the highlights of any trip to the Big Apple.

I had to share this post and hope you will visit her blog to read this and also Part 1 of her BEA adventure.

 

BEA 2013 – Part 2.

Stellar photo courtesy of: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/photography/photo-tips/color-palette-simply-beautiful-photos/new-york-skyline-richardson/

 

Emma’s Elephant: Picture Book Review and Activity

Emma's Elephant: Picture Book Reivew and ActivityI’m adding another wonderful story 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.

Emma's Elephant: Picture Book Review and ActivityPlease let me share some good news first! Starting now, the price of the Kindle Edition of Show Me How! will be ONLY $2.99 for the ENTIRE SUMMER. I wanted to make it more available to parents, teachers, VBS, summer playground groups and homeschooling families. This is a SUBSTANTIAL discount off the regular $9.99 price. The activities (100 crafts and 100 recipes and 100 picture book summaries) will definitely help provide fun and educational projects for the kids.

 

 

 

In the spotlight today is another one of the treasures I scooped up in Singapore at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content.

Emma's Elephant: Picture Book Review and Activity

Emma’s Elephant

Written by David Seow

Illustrated by Enrico Sallustio

Publisher: Bonnie Books (2013)

Ages: 3 and up

Themes:

Friendship, animal conservation, family, overcoming fears

Opening Lines:

“Hello, I’m Emma and I have an elephant. Her name is Ella. She has one long trunk, two floppy ears, four big feet, one tiny tail. And she is invisible! But if she likes you, she’ll let you see her. Can you see her?”

Synopsis:

Ella, a young elephant is so scared by hunters that she becomes invisible, except if she likes and trusts you. She seeks help from a little girl named Emma. Emma joins the elephant on a journey to see if they can make the jungle a safer place for all of the animals.

Why  I like this book:

  • Great read-aloud
  • Wonderful message of hope and family togetherness
  • Bold, bright illustrations
  • I attended the book launch for Emma’s Elephant at the 2013 Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore and had a chance to chat with the author, David Seow, and the illustrator, Enrico Sallustio. They both signed my copy of Emma’s Elephant (which I will be giving to my new grand-daughter, Sophie) and it was a pleasure to chat with this talented multi-published duo.

Emma's Elephant: Picture Book Review and Activity

David Seow on the left, Enrico Sallustio on the right and happy me behind them.

How a parent can use this book:

  • Lovely read-aloud
  • Talk about animals in the wild and how we can protect them and their habitats
  • Take a trip to a zoo to see some of the animals mentioned
  • Talk about how Ella reacted when she was afraid…how do you feel when you are afraid? What do you do?
  • If you make the craft, your child can role play with her elephant.

Related Activities:

PAPER PLATE ELEPHANT

Emma's Elephant: Picture Book Review and Activity

  • I love simple crafts for kids.
  • Paper plates are inexpensive and easy to work with.
  • This one is painted…but you can use markers or crayons.
  • Cut pieces of construction paper or material scraps for the legs, trunk, tail, ear and eye and glue in place.
  • Just a few minutes of your time, participating with your child…that’s all it takes…the long-term rewards are amazing!

You can connect with the author and illustrator.

Bonnie Books Publisher

David Seow’s Website and Blog

David Seow’s Facebook

Enrico Sallustio’s Website

Enrico Sallustio on Goodreads