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.

Have you been caught reading lately?

Posted on May 25, 2011 by viviankirkfield

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Does your child love books?

How often does your child see the adults in your home reading?

Do you read to your child every day?

Just 15 minutes a day is all it takes to read a picture book story to your child.

IMPORTANT TIP: those might be the most important 15 minutes of your day.

Reading to children accomplishes amazing things:

Builds self-esteem!
Develops pre-literacy skills!
Engages your child in the story between the pages!
Encourages your child to relate what happens in the story to his or her own life!
Provides an opportunity for you to discuss sensitive topics with your child that may be difficult for you to talk about!
Creates a life-long parent-child bond!

Here’s a wonderful story that helps us (and our children) realize that we are all special and have unique qualities and talents to share with others.

ZARA’S HATS written and illustrated by Paul Meisel

Zara is a young girl who helps her parents decorate hats in the family hat shop. Disaster strikes when their supply of feathers is depleted and they cannot obtain any more. Zara’s father goes abroad to buy more feathers and, while he is away, Zara begins to decorate the untrimmed hats with fabric flowers and paper mache animals and fruits. Her hats are an immediate success! When her father returns without any feathers, the hat shop continues to feature Zara’s amazing hat creations.

Positive Parental Participation Note:

What lessons can we learn from this story that can be implemented with our own children to help them develop a positive self-image? Zara and her parents participated in many activities together. They allowed her to help in the shop. In addition, they encouraged her creativity and gave her positive feedback when she tried new ways of decorating the hats.

Of course, we don’t need to open a hat shop in order to build our children’s self-confidence. By focusing on their special gifts and talents, we can make our children feel special at home every day!

Do you want to choose the right books to read to your child? Pick up a copy of Show Me How! Story summaries of 100 of the best picture books every young child should hear are provided…along with an easy craft activity and a simple recipe for each book. Go to my websiteto take advantage of the 50% off sale!

Summer is coming…don’t get caught with nothing to do with your little ones. You can check out one of the latest reviews of Show Me How at The Mom Writes. You’ll see why every family with young children really needs a copy of this great resource.

Don’t have little ones of your own? Grab a copy for a friend or relative who does…they will be forever grateful.

Two for the Price of One

Posted on May 24, 2011 by viviankirkfield

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Here are two great activities for parents and/or teachers of preschoolers.

I pulled them from my award-winning book that is filled with hundreds of simple craft projects and easy healthful recipes just like these.

COOKING: DREAMY FRUIT SALAD

This makes a wonderful dessert that provides healthful fruits as the main ingredients.

You will need: 1 large package vanilla instant pudding, 1 ½ cups milk, 1 diced apple, 1 peeled navel orange, 2 bananas sliced, ½ cup blueberries, ½ cup sliced strawberries and a large bowl.

1. Mix the instant pudding and milk in a large bowl. Chill for 10 minutes.
2. Add diced apple, orange sections, bananas, strawberries and blueberries and mix together gently.
3. Makes 4-6 servings. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
4. Creative tip: use your imagination and substitute different fruits.

CRAFTING: HAT-MAKING

Kids love to play dress-up…and role-playing gives parents and teachers a wonderful opportunity for observation and discussion.

You will need: 1 circle of felt material (about 12 inches across), ribbons, buttons, silk flowers and/or other items to adorn the hat, glue and a pair of scissors.

1. Cut a hole in the center of the felt circle to fit your child’s head without slipping down over the face.
2. Arrange the ribbons, buttons, silk flowers, etc. and glue in place.

Tomorrow I’ll review the picture book story that completes this unit of activities: ZARA’S HATS by Paul Meisel.

Right now, I’m off to listen to my interview with Lisa Hein on her show, Everyday Parenting at 10am EST today on www.RadioEarNetwork.com

Top Ten Books You Were Forced to Read in School: Should You Read Them Again Now?

Posted on May 22, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Steacie Science and Engineering Library at Yor...

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On Sundays, I usually review and recommend (or not) a movie that I think parents would enjoy.

Today, I was online and happened to see some lists of the top ten in many categories.

I was intrigued by the following list: Top Ten Books You Were Forced To Read in School. Top Ten Books You Were Forced to Read in School

Scrolling through the list, it occurred to me that almost every one of them was a depressing tale of the darkest sides of man’s nature.

I’m not surprised that many high school students don’t want to read!

Here’s the list…what do you think?

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

3. A Separate Peace by John Knowles

4. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

5. Animal Farm by George Orwell

6. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

7. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

8. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

9. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

10.Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Are these great works of fiction? Yes, they most certainly are. But they portray the worst of what we can be and only a few also show the better side of human nature.

It’s been so long since I’ve read these books. Many, if not all, have been made into movies. I believe it is time for me to revisit these classics in literature. I plan to start at the top and work my way down the list. Most of these books are probably available at the local library and I’m sure the film versions are available there as well. Perhaps next Sunday, I’ll be able to give you a movie review of To Kill a Mockingbird and I’ll let you know if it was true to the story as written in the book.

I’m not sure I agree that surrounding our junior high and high school students with depressing reading material is the right path. I think I’d prefer to see some book choices for them with a more positive slant on life and our journey through it. What are your thoughts?

If you are looking for positive stories and activities for your preschoolers, please check out Show Me How!, my award-winning book. You can get a copy for 50% off right now on my website. Summer is just around the corner and this great resource will provide you with story, craft and cooking activities that are easy, inexpensive and fun!

Also, if you are local to the Colorado Springs area (Monument, Woodland Park, Denver, Pueblo, etc.), please come by on June 11 from 10am to 2pm at the PBS Kids Fun Fest in Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs and say hello to Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George and me. I’ll be doing simple craft projects with children along with many other participants.

And last bur not least, please tune in on Tuesday, May 24 at 10am EST to www.RadioEarNetwork.com. Lisa Hein, host of Everyday Parenting, will be interviewing me. We’ll be talking about many topics that are of great interest and importance to all parents.