October: National Bullying Prevention Month and More!

Posted on October 2, 2012 by viviankirkfield

October is shaping up to be a pretty busy month and it’s only just begun!

First of all, it’s National Bully Prevention Month.

I’m planning on spotlighting books and other resources that can help parents and teachers address this issue.

Second, I’ve signed up for 31 in 31, the brainchild of writer/artist Kathy Ellen Davis. Kathy is encouraging everyone to read a picture book every day in October.

Since this is what I would like to do 365 days a year, I decided to hop aboard. Usually, for Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday, I review the older classics. For this challenge, I’m going to pursue the best new picture books of 2011 and 2012. On Fridays, for Perfect Picture Book Friday, I’ll review the best of the seven (as long as it hasn’t appeared on Susanna’s resource list yet) that I’ve read during the week…and give a list of the others.

Third, thanks to children’s author (Annie’s Special Day), fellow 12x12er and PPBF participant Clar Bowman-Jahn (thank you so much, Clar!), I was reminded of the Muse Online Writer’s Conference in time to register last night!

I’m excited to take part in this FREE writer’s conference that is being held October 8-14. I’ll try to participate as much as possible…there are workshops and seminars and even a possible opportunity to have your work critiqued.

Fourth, Fire Prevention Week is October 7-14.

Some of you might remember the interview during Susanna Hill’s self-publishing mini-series with Patrick Milne, author of The Adventures of Lucy Snigglefritz. I’ll be spotlighting and reviewing that book during Fire Prevention Week…if you have the book, you’ll know why!

Fifth, as a participant in Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 in 2012, I’m checking in with my completed September picture book draft.

Over 400 people signed up for Julie’s challenge to try to write a picture book draft each month this year. Personally, I know that I would NOT have nine picture books drafts sitting on my desk (dining room table) if not for Julie and the inspiration I draw from the other members of this amazing kidlit community. I pitched two of the stories (The Tomato Turner and Confessions of the Tomato Turner) on Susanna’s ‘Would You Read It Wednesday’ post…and I’m busy working on my October picture book draft, the third in this series of books about how a love for tomatoes helped my son learn some important lessons.

Sixth, we have twelve lucky winners in the Show-Me-How School Initiative!

I’ll be notifying each of the twelve people as soon as possible.

Erik: L R Appleman Elementary School, Pennsylvania
Tracy C: A family who home schools
Stacy J: Banning Lewis Ranch Academy, Colorado
Milka P: Her son’s preschool, California
Jennifer B: Mt. Olive Early Childhood Education Center, Aurora, CO
Barbara P: Lyle Creek Elementary School, Conover, NC
Laura B: Montgomery City Elementary, Montgomery City, MO
Kimberley M: Hollis Elementary, Hollis, Maine
Lesley F: Friends for Mental Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

10. Monica D: McKay School, Fitchberg, MA

11. Lisa Winkler: Montessori Netivot, Edison, New Jersey

12. Barbara L: Millstream Elementary, Victoria, BC, Canada

Last, but certainly not least, October means HALLOWEEN!

Do you celebrate Halloween?

Do you buy ready-made costumes or make your own?

Do you go out trick-or-treating with your kids or do you opt for a family or community-run party?

I want to ask all of my readers to do a big favor for me…in return for which I am offering a Halloween prize package…please visit and ‘like’ the new FB page for Show Me How and leave a comment on my wall: http://www.facebook.com/showmehowbuildyourchildsselfesteem

Leave a comment on this post, letting me know you did it…or that you are already a fan of Show Me How…and I will enter your name in a drawing for the prize…it includes a box of cupcake liners and Halloween decorated toothpicks, a fun Halloween board book that uses Cheerios for interactive play…and more! I’ll announce the winner on October 15…so that I can mail out the package in plenty of time for Halloween!

Sunday Post: Favorite Spot – Wherever Loved Ones Are!

Posted on September 30, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is FAVORITE SPOT.

Horseback riding in the western hills above Steamboat Springs, CO.

FAVORITE SPOT: WITH MY HUSBAND!

Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park

Great cast into the Big Thompson River in RMNP.

A perfect autumn day in New England.

FAVORITE SPOT: WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN!

Reading with kids at Tollhouse Preschool in New Hampshire.

FAVORITE SPOT: SCHOOL VISITS!

Cooking with kids builds self-esteem, develops literacy skills and is just plain fun!

FAVORITE SPOT: IN THE KITCHEN!

FAVORITE SPOT I HAVEN’T BEEN TO YET: ITALY

I’d love to have the opportunity to travel…I’ve driven across the country twice and next spring I may have the unbelievable opportunity to speak at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore.

However, sipping wine and feasting on homemade bread and cheese al fresco under the Tuscan sun is a dream of mine.

A writer friend of mine has organized an amazing retreat for women writers in Florence, Italy. It will take place from April 7-13, 2013. I cannot attend (this time), but you might like to go. Julie has an overview of the retreat on her website, plus specific information about the Program, Faculty, Accommodation and Rates. If you do register, please let Julie know I sent you!

Speaking about Julie…today is the last day of September…time to check in with the 12×12 in 2012 Challenge. In January, children’s author Julie Hedlund issued a challenge: write one picture book draft every month in 2012. Over 400 writers answered that challenge!

The challenge has definitely inspired me to write a picture book draft each month…and I’ve enjoyed connecting with dozens of members of this amazing kidlit community. My September draft is done…I’m hoping that in the next few months, I will prepare several manuscripts for submission!

This is the last day for nominations to give a dozen free copies of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cookingto schools or other childcare facilities. Nominate your child’s school, or your own school if you are a teacher, in the Show Me How School Initiative by leaving a comment and telling us why you’d like that school or classroom to have this book. If you don’t have young children, but know people who do, please tell them about the free book their child’s school can receive! On Friday, we will use Random.org to choose 12 lucky schools.

You can purchase a copy of this award-winning resource on Amazon (only $19.95) and on Amazon Kindle (only $9.95). This award-winning book is a great gift for parents, grandparents, teachers, daycare providers and every young child (ages 2-8) that you know! Get started on your holiday shopping…no batteries required…powered by a child’s imagination and a parent’s positive participation! Check out this wonderful review from a kid’s point of view.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

SUNDAY POST : Favorite Spot – RoadTrip (rfljenksy.wordpress.com)
SUNDAY POST : Favorite Spot (jakesprinters.wordpress.com)

PPBF: Swimmy…Group Dynamics with an Awesome Upstander

Posted on September 28, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday where I link up with Susanna Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of picture book writers, illustrators, librarians and others who contribute a picture book review and related resources for parents, teachers and children.

Before we begin the picture book review, here are some IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. The Show-Me-How School Initiative is still looking for A FEW GOOD SCHOOLS. We only have a couple of days left for you to leave a comment on this post, telling which school or other child-care facility you would like to nominate to receive a free copy of Show Me How! In the first week of October, we will pick 12 lucky schools via Random.org

2. Show Me How! has received another lovely review…this time from Beth Stilborn, fellow 12x12er, and PPBF participant. If you’d like to see what Beth had to say about it, please click this link. If you’ve never been to her blog, By Word of Beth, hurry over…you’ll be glad you did…her posts are funny, informative and not-to-be-missed!

3. Earlier this year I connected with a children’s author in Singapore, Emily Lim. It was just before their big Asian Festival of Children’s Content, where kidlit publishers, editors, writers, illustrators, educators and all who are involved in helping kids become loves of books and reading meet for conferences, workshops and fun. As Emily and I chatted via email, she mentioned that she wished I could be part of the conference. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I opened my email yesterday morning and saw an invitation from her (she is on the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference Committee) to speak at the conference! What a great honor…I don’t know if I will be able to attend…but I hope we can work it out.

Is it Perfect Picture Book Friday yet?

You’ve all been so patient…so to reward you, you will be getting TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

October is National Bully Prevention Month! I’ll be highlighting some amazing books and other resources for the next four weeks.

I’ll share my picture book choice in a minute, but first I’m thrilled to tell you about a new anti-bullying app: AWESOME UPSTANDER. Here’s the link: http://www.awesomeupstander.com

Did you know that 13 MILLION kids…over one-third of all school-age children, are bullied every year?

Awesome Upstander, developed by HealthTeacher:

Empowers children to take action
Reinforces positive respectful behaviors
Teaches children to intervene by getting help from adults
Emphasizes group dynamics
Shows kids how to gather a group together to counteract the bully’s plan
Encourages kids to help when they see bullying

I encourage anyone who is involved with kids to visit the website at http://www.awesomeupstander.com. There are free downloadable info sheets for parents and teachers that address positive action plans for kids and adults. You can follow Awesome Upstander on Twitter or on Facebook. You can also purchase the download for iTunes or Android.

The game identifies the participants to a bullying problem…the bully, the target and the bystanders. The key to the game (and perhaps an important key to putting an end to bullying in real life) is to turn the bystanders into ‘Awesome Upstanders”…people who get actively involved to help the target or victim and stop the bullying.

This concept of group dynamics brings me to…FINALLY…my Perfect Picture Book Friday pick.

SWIMMY

Written and illustrated by Leo Lionni

Publisher: DragonFly Books (1973)

Ages: 4 and up

Themes:

Bullying, helping others, overcoming fears, self-esteem, creative thinking, cooperation

Synopsis:

From the Amazon website: “Deep in the sea there lives a happy school of little fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding . . . until Swimmy comes along. Swimmy shows his friends how—with ingenuity and team work—they can overcome any danger.”

Why do I like this book:

Let me count the reasons:

1. Written by one of my favorite author/illustratos, Leo Lioni

2. Winner of a Caldecott Honor Award

3. Amazing illustrations of the underwater world

4. Teaches the power of positive group dynamics

5. Encourages creative thinking and problem solving

Related Activities:

Watercolor Wash Picture

Photo from artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com

You will need: 1 piece of construction paper, crayons or markers, blue food coloring and a brush.

1. After reading the story, let your child draw a picture depicting his favorite underwater scene.

2. Mix a drop or two of blue food coloring (you can use non-toxic blue watercolor paint) with some water.

3. Your child can brush the watercolor wash over the entire picture…when it dries, it will have an underwater look to it.

4. Hang it up in a place of honor in the house!

You can also make a fish mobile…with a bunch of little red fish and one little black fish.

More simple under-the-ocean activities from : http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com/2008/10/draw-your-own-underwater-scene.html

Great arts and crafts activities from eHow here: http://www.ehow.com/list_6729112_underwater-art-activities.html

Some parent/teacher materials on Scholastic here: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/swimmy

This post is part of a series for parents and teachers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill. Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities. This is an unbelievable resource for any parent, teacher or children’s librarian.