Blog | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD – Writer for Children | Picture Books Help Kids Soar

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.

A couple of quick notes:

1. The Show-Me-How School Initiative is still looking for A FEW GOOD SCHOOLS. Please 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!

2. Heather Newman, fellow 12x12er and PPBF participant, did a lovely review of my book on her blog. If you haven’t read it yet, just click on this link. My sincere thanks to her for the wonderful things she said…and also for posting the review on Amazon. I’m really grateful to her for adding the review to the Show Me How Amazon site because I’ve recently read that getting reviews on Amazon is very good for a book that is being sold there. I believe I read that 25 or more reviews really help book sales. Over the last two years, several dozen people have reviewed the book…but I never thought to ask them to post the review on Amazon…if anyone did review the book and would like to add that review to Amazon, I would be most appreciative. If anyone would like to review the book, let me know and I will be happy to send you a copy.

3. Fall is definitely in the air and I’m so very excited because I’ve joined, not one, but TWO critique groups…one with local SCBWI members (we will meet once a month in person to exchange picture book manuscripts and chat about our progress on the road to publication)…and one with four other members of Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 group (the first manuscript exchange will be September 17…but NOT in person…as we are spread out all over the world…which is, in itself, a miracle). I’m looking forward to living my dream:

Picture books to read and write

Morning, noon and through the night.

And now, since you’ve been incredibly patient…and since it IS Perfect Picture Book Friday…I present:

TAKE A KISS TO SCHOOL

Written by Angela McAllister

Illustrated by Sue Hellard

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books (2006)

Ages: 4 and up

Themes:

Separation anxiety, overcoming fears, helping others

Synopsis:

Although Digby, a little otter, has fun during his first day of school, he is reluctant to go again. He tells his mother that there are so many things to remember (where to hang his coat, how to line up, etc.) and he is afraid he will forget some of them and be embarrassed. Digby’s mother solves the problem by filling her hands with kisses and putting the kisses in her son’s jacket pocket. During the day, whenever Digby feels uncomfortable or scared, he takes out one of the kisses and presses it to his cheek. Helping another student who is even more hesitant than he is enables Digby to forget his own fears…and Digby finds he is looking forward to the next school day.

Why do I like this book:

Many of us are anxious about having new experiences, going to new places and meeting new people. This is a lovely story that will comfort many young children who are anxious about school. Coping with and overcoming separation anxiety is a big step in a child’s emotional development and parents need to be sensitive and non-judgmental about a child’s fears. The illustrations convey little Digby’s feelings and will help young listeners relate their real life experiences to his…creating a perfect opportunity for the young listener to voice his own fears.

Related Activities:

For many children, the first weeks of school may be difficult because they don’t like eating “different” foods. Here is a fun craft activity that might help.

FOOD MOBILE

Illustration from Enchanted Learning

You will need: Construction paper, markers or crayons, old magazines with pictures of food, scissors, glue, string or yarn and a wire hanger.

1. Talk about the different food groups and why we need to eat some from each group every day.

2. Look through the magazine and cut out pictures of foods.

3. Paste each picture onto construction paper and cut out.

4. Punch a hole at the top of each picture and tie a piece of string through the hole.

5. Attach the end of the string to the wire hanger.

6. Repeat for several pictures.

7. Hang up and watch the foods wave in the breeze.

PITA POCKET SANDWICHES

In the story, Digby’s mom puts kisses in his jacket pocket. You and your child can make a lovely picnic lunch using Pita Pockets. Fill with your choice of chicken or tuna salad…or perhaps the always popular peanut butter and jelly. Inviting your child to help prepare meals in the kitchen is a wonderful way to encourage a fussy eater to try new items.

Great lesson plans, games and activities from Kinderplans: https://www.kinderplans.com/p/26/nutrition-preschool-kindergarten

Crafts with and about food from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/info-tip_8098469_crafts-food-groups.html

Lots of different mobiles from Enchanted Learning: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/mobiles/

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.

[Picture Books] Infinity and Me (laurasalas.wordpress.com)
Picture Book Review & Giveaway Day 2 (goodreadswithronna.com)
Top 100 Picture Book Authors and Illustrators – #4, Eric Carle (sonderbooks.com)
Starting a Children’s Book Career: Steps 1-3 (write4kids.com)
Picture Book Review: COLORS OF ME (nessamorris.com)
Kid Konnection: Annie and Helen (bookingmama.net)
Children’s Hour: Augustus and His Smile (lucybirdbooks.wordpress.com)
Back-to-School Bulletin Boards + Give Away! (teacherlingo.com)

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

When tragic events take place, we almost always remember where we were and what we were doing.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, the unimaginable happened…planes piloted by terrorists crashed into the Twin Towers in NYC and into the Pentagon in Washington, DC. One plane, destined to destroy the White House, was retaken by a group of courageous passengers and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, killing all aboard, but saving the target from harm.

I was at home, trying to follow up on some phone calls for my husband’s business…but no one was answering. I wondered about that and turned on the television in time to witness the horror on live TV. My first thought was to call my own children, spread out across the country, to make sure they were all ok.

Morning is a time for renewal when all things begin again. Each of us has the opportunity every day…to make changes, choose different options or follow a new path…because every day is the first day of the rest of your life.

We remember that morning eleven years ago…and pray for all who were impacted by it.

We thank the brave firefighters, police and others…many who gave their own lives.

And we pray for guidance to make the world a safer place for our children.

I’d also like to share a few important details:

If you’d like to hear my interview on Michael Scott’s Bookmark Radio Show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookmark-radio-network/2012/09/11/bookmark-radio-netwok-with-author-vivian-kirkland# (Yes, my name is spelled incorrectly…perhaps I need to change it to Kirkland…so many people seem to like it better that way.)
The Summer Short and Sweets Contest winner will be announced tomorrow on Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog…if you’d like to read the stories submitted by the six finalists (I’m honored that mine is one of them), please go here. You can even VOTE for the one you like best!
We are still looking for more nominations of schools to receive a free copy of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog post, naming the school or child-care facility that you’d like to enter in the Show-Me-How School Initiative.