Groundhog Day – Happy 10th Anniversary, Punxsutawney Phyllis!

Posted on February 2, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Today is a very special day! Yes, I know, it is Groundhog Day. And unfortunately, I believe we are in for another six weeks of winter. Right now, we are being hit with yet another BLIZZARD here in New Hampshire.

But it is also the 10^th Anniversary of the publication of Punxsutawney Phyllis, Susanna Leonard Hill’s lovely picture book about a feisty girl groundhog.

Susanna has created a link up party on her blog.

– stop over and visit. Here is my entry for the celebration.

HAPPY 10^TH ANNIVERSARY, PHYLLIS!

ODE TO PHYLLIS – ON HER TENTH ANNIVERSARY (With many apologies to the master of poetry, Edgar Allen Poe)

Once upon a morning cloudy, while I waited, kind of rowdy,

Wanting nothing more than just to dance and sing and trill —

While I hip-hopped, in the shower, water running for an hour,

Getting ready for my party given by my uncle Phil,

Cross the window pane – a shadow – straight from Boulder, Colorado

I grabbed my robe and screamed a scream that screamers said was shrill.

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In stepped Phil who said, “You will put on your lacy frill.”

“Let’s get going, my sweet maiden; ‘cause my arms are heavy laden

with some nuts and acorns – please be careful, they might spill.

We’ve a shadow to uncover and surprises to discover

Happy Birthday, Phyllis! It’s been 10 years – what a thrill!”

I hope you enjoyed my little ditty.

Last year, a bunch of us participated in a fashion contest for Phyllis.

My entry featured Phyllis, relaxing on her beach blanket in sunny Mexico!

I also blogged about Groundhog Day and Phyllis in 2013: https://viviankirkfield.com/2013/02/02/groundhog-day-facts-and-fiction/

Stay safe and stay warm, wherever you are!

#PPBF: Tiny Creatures – The World of Microbes

Posted on January 30, 2015 by viviankirkfield

The snow is falling…again! Here in Amherst, New Hampshire, we were clobbered by a huge blizzard just a few days ago and, as I look out my window, it seems Mother Nature is giving us an encore.

So it’s nice to be inside, cozy and warm, sharing my Perfect Picture Book Friday review with you.

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes

Written by Nicola Davies

Illustrated by Emily Sutton

Publisher: Candlewick Press (2014)

Ages: 5 and up

Themes: Science, health, the world around us

Opening Lines:

“You know about big animals, and you know about small animals…but do you know that there are creatures so tiny that millions could fit on this ant’s antenna?”

Synopsis:

From Amazon: “All around the world — in the sea, in the soil, in the air, and in your body — there are living things so tiny that millions could fit on an ant’s antenna. They’re busy doing all sorts of things, from giving you a cold and making yogurt to eroding mountains and helping to make the air we breathe. If you could see them with your eye, you’d find that they all look different, and that they’re really good at changing things into something else and at making many more microbes like themselves!.” Continue reading →

#PPBF – Skit-Skat Raggedy Cat – Ella Fitzgerald

Posted on January 23, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Yay! Double Yay! I’m continuing my non-fiction picture book review journey with an awesome book that came out in 2010.

But first I wanted to share a really fun blog series that a friend of mine, Penny Parker Klostermann, is doing. Every week, on her blog, a penny and her jots, she and her great-nephew collaborate – she writes a little poem and he draws a picture to go with it. AND GUESS WHAT???? Penny invited me and my six-year old grandson to participate – TODAY! So if you have a minute, please click on the link and enjoy A Sweet Dessert.

It was lots of fun working together with Jeremy – kids totally enjoy the time they spend with you…especially if you are enjoying the time as well. Do you love to cook or bake? Your child would love to help. Is walking through the woods more your style? Take your kids with you and see the world with fresh young eyes again. Crazy about music? Turn up the rock, pop, jazz, classical or whatever gets you moving…your children will dance their socks off.

And speaking of music, here’s our Perfect Picture Book for today.