Talking to Kids about War: Ships in the Field

Posted on June 7, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Today is Friday – I have a children’s book to 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

My picture book pick today is another one of the treasures I scooped up in Singapore last week at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content.

Ships in the Field

Written by Susanna Gervay

Illustrated by Anna Pignataro

Publisher: Ford Street Publishers – Melbourne, Australia (2012)

Ages: 5 and up

Themes:

Family togetherness, immigrants, war, hope

Opening Lines:

“Every night, Brownie and I wait for Papa to come home.” Continue reading →

#2013AFCC – A Picture Book is Worth a Thousand Words

Posted on June 6, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Today I’d like to share the presentation I did for the Parents Forum at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore last week.

My goal was to give parents an overview of how picture books can be used as tools to

build self-esteem
develop literacy skills
strengthen the parent-child connection

With summer right around the corner, children will be looking for things to do. If you have preschoolers, kindergarteners or kids in the first or second grade, picture books can be a life-saver.

I mentioned that parents make a big investment in their children:

FOOD
SHELTER
LOVE
EDUCATION

Did you know that Money Magazine did a study in 2011 that showed it costs over Continue reading →

Why Attend a SCBWI Conference? #2013AFCC

Posted on June 2, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Why attend a SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference?

I’ve been writing picture book stories since I was a kid.

But it’s only been in the last couple of years that I have seriously pursued the craft of writing.

I joined Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 and Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo.

I participated in Susanna Hill’s various writing prompts and contests.

I even took the plunge and joined TWO critique groups whose members are all 12x12ers…a local one and an online international one (love you all, guys!).

Every month I would read about different SCBWI conferences that people in this kidlit community had attended.

New York, Los Angeles…from coast-to-coast, writers and illustrators were sharing how fantastic it was to connect with others in the field. They gave peeks inside the educational sessions. They urged people to GO!

So, I did! Last week I took a leap of faith and boarded a plane for Continue reading →