Perfect Picture Book Friday: IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP is on a Book Blog Tour Plus Giveaway

Posted on April 20, 2018 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!

I’m really happy because today we are part of author Jackie Azur Kramer’s book blog tour! If you’d like to check out the other stops: https://www.jackieazuakramer.com/iwfa-blog-tour

Before we get to today’s wonderful book, I have THREE important announcements.

We have a copy of TERRIFIC TONGUES by Maria Gianferrari to give away. And the winner is…

DEE KNABB!

Congratulations, Dee. I’ll connect you and Maria so she and her publisher can get a copy of her fabulous book to you

2. #50PreciousWordsforKids is coming SOON! I’ll be inviting children in grades K-6 to write a story in 50 words or less. You all know how much fun that is! Last year we had a wonderful response – 15 states and 4 foreign countries participated! So, please spread the word to teachers, parents, homeschools. This is an activity that perfectly aligns with National Book Week…and there will be SEVEN AUTHOR SKYPE visits as prizes. I do need more volunteers for those…please contact me if you’d like to offer one or if you have any questions: viviankirkfield@gmail.com. And if you want more details, take a peek at Darlene Jacobson’s blogpost: https://darlenebeckjacobson.wordpress.com/2018/04/19/vivian-kirkfield-presents50-precious-words-for-kids-contest

3. I’ve got a gift pack of several picture book advance copies that I’d love to share…one of them is today’s wonderful story…please leave a comment on today’s post and you might be the lucky winner!

IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP

Written by Jackie Azua Kramer

Illustrated by Lisa Brandenburg

Published by Clavis (2018)

Ages: 4-6

Themes: Bedtime routines, sleep problems

Synopsis: From Amazon:

It’s bedtime, but Little Mouse isn’t sleepy. He has tried reading, and snacking, and snuggling, but nothing is helping him fall asleep. Maybe Mama Mouse can help? If you want to fall asleep, what do you do? A wish and a hug and it’s finally time to dream.
A lyrical bedtime story for sleepy little mice ages 4 and up.

Why I like this book:

Most kids have trouble winding down…I love this rollicking adventure that is sure to help them do that. And if it doesn’t, it is sure to entertain them while they are up!
The illustrations are bold, vibrant, and filled with humor.
We always need fresh new bedtime stories.

RELATED ACTIVITIES:

Paper Plate Mouse

Photo courtesy: http://www.dltk-kids.com

Most of you know how much I love crafts made with paper plates. And here is a new one, a perfect extension activity after reading IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP.

For detailed instructions: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/m-plate-mouse.htm

For more picture book reviews, why not hop over to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday link up.

Thank you for stopping by, dear friends! Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the book giveaway. And please share the upcoming #50PreciousWordsforKids info as well.

Happy Weekend to All!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: TERRIFIC TONGUES Plus Giveaway

Posted on April 13, 2018 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!

Today I’m sharing a brand-new book by one of my favorite kidlit authors, Maria Gianferrari. You’ve met her before when she stopped by last summer to chat on Will Write for Cookies about her then new book, HELLO GOODBYE DOG. And now she has another one that just launched last week!!! And she is offering a copy as a GIVEAWAY! But before we get to our review and activity (which is going to be so much fun!), I need to make a few announcements.

The winner of a copy of SHARK NATE-O is…

SUSANNA TERPLEY.

Congratulations, Susanna! I’ll connect you and author Tara Luebbe.

And the winners of copies of SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING are:

GINGER WEDDLE

VIRGINIA RINKEL

DANIELLE HAMMELEF

Congratulations, ladies…I will connect with all of you to make arrangements to send you the books so that you can present them to your local libraries in honor of National Library Week.

I also wanted to mention that the #50PreciousWordsforKids International Writing Challenge is coming up at the end of this month. It coincides with Children’s Book Week, April 30 to May 6. The official challenge post will go live on Monday, April 30th. And author Darlene Jacobsen is going to give the challenge a shout out on her blog on Thursday, April 19…I’ll post the link here and on my social media. Please, friends, start getting the word out to teachers and parents of kids in grades K-6. Although every child who participates is a winner, I would love to select one class per grade level and one homeschool family/group to receive a mini-Skype author or illustrator visit like we did last year. I’m hoping to get EIGHT authors or illustrators who would be willing to donate those. So please contact me if you’d like to participate: viviankirkfield@gmail.

And now for today’s Perfect Picture Book!

TERRIFIC TONGUES

Written by Maria Giaferrari

Illustrated by Jia Liu

Published by Boyds Mill Press (2018)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Nonfiction animal info about tongues, humor

Why I like this book:

Funny! Funny! Funny! Kids will love the humor.
Fabulous word play and nonfiction info about animals and their tongues.
Bold vibrant illustrations – and the expressions on the monkey who travels throughout the book are hilarious!

RELATED ACTIVITIESPhoto courtesy: https://iheartcraftythings.com/50-zoo-animal-crafts-kids.html

Lots of fun monkey projects! For detailed instructions, please go here: https://iheartcraftythings.com/50-zoo-animal-crafts-kids.html

And to add a funny tongue to any of these monkey crafts, just cut a long strip of construction paper, roll it up, and glue one end to the monkey’s mouth.

Enjoy the back matter in Maria’s book…so many amazing fun facts about animals and their tongues.

For more picture book reviews and activities for kids, hop over to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday link up.

Please remember that book reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and other review sites are the best way we can thank authors for their wonderful stories.

And leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of TERRIFIC TONGUES.

And don’t forget to pass the word around about #50PreciousWordsforKids and email me if you’d like to donate a mini-Skype author visit.

National Library Week PLUS a Giveaway

Posted on April 8, 2018 by viviankirkfield

I woke up this morning and realized it was the first day of:

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK!!!

I’ve been a fan of libraries since I was a little girl. I couldn’t get enough of books…and going to the library was like being set loose in a candy story.

To help celebrate, why not visit the library with your children…and make it a habit to go often. Does your child have a library card yet? Find out how old your child has to be…if he doesn’t have one yet and is old enough, help celebrate National Library Week by signing him up. A CHILD’S LIBRARY CARD CAN BE A PASSPORT TO LEARNING ABOUT THE WORLD. And libraries are one of the last free resources in our communities…they provide so much more than books…check out the programs they have available for children and adults of all ages.

In honor of National Library Week, I’m again donating THREE copies of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. Wouldn’t it be awesome to present a copy of this valuable parent/teacher resource to your children’s librarian? Just subscribe to my mailing list. Three names will be chosen by Random.org at the end of April. Already subscribed? No worries…your name is already entered. And if your library is one of those which doesn’t accept book donations, please pass the book on to a local women’s shelter or childcare facilitator.

Many libraries are very limited in what new materials they can buy for their collections because of reduced revenues. Help your library receive a resource that will be used by parents and teachers for their kids. Just click on this link and subscribe to my mailing list.

Do you tweet on Twitter? Are you a fan of Facebook? Have you pinned anything on Pinterest yet? Please help me spread the word about the Show-Me-How Library Week Giveaway by tweeting, posting and/or pinning.

And while I have your attention (hopefully I do), I want to mention that the #50PreciousWordforKids International Writing Challenge is just around the corner. Many teachers and homeschooling parents are looking for activities to help celebrate Children’s Book Week which runs April 30 to May 6. And encouraging kids to write their very own story in only 50 words is a super cool way! Stay tuned for more information later this month or email me for details: viviankirkfield@gmail.com. I know that teachers need time to plan activities like this around their already overloaded curriculum requirements, so please reach out to any teachers you know. Last year we had one prize per grade level of an author Skype visit…if you would like to participate by Skyping with a winning class or school, please let me know.