Happy Book Birthday: Applesauce Day PLUS Giveaway

Posted on August 1, 2017 by viviankirkfield

What could be better than a birthday?

A birthday that promises a yummy snack, that’s what!

Today we are turning the spotlight on a BRAND NEW PICTURE BOOK from veteran author Lisa Amstutz. When I heard about her book, I knew I had to help her celebrate because I, too, spent many happy autumns, picking apples and preparing applesauce with my family!

Don’t they look amazing! When I moved to New Hampshire a couple of years ago, we went apple-picking with my grandson. And then, we made applesauce!

So Happy Book Birthday to APPLESAUCE DAY!

APPLESAUCE DAY

Written by Lisa Amstutz

Illustrated by Talitha Shipman

Published by Albert Whitman (August 1, 2017)

Ages: 4-8

Opening Lines:

I spy the big pot on the counter right away. “Hooray,” I say. “It’s Applesauce Day!”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

:Maria and her family visit an apple orchard and pick apples. Then it’s time to turn the apples into applesauce! Every year they use the special pot that has been in the family for generations to make applesauce. First they wash the apples. Then Grandma cuts them into quarters. Follow each step in the process as everyone helps to make delicious applesauce!”

Why I like this book:

Beautiful family-building story
Charming illustrations with a vintage feel
Wonderful launch pad for family activities with a great recipe and fun apple facts at the back of the book
Kids will see the child characters playing important roles in the applesauce making process

Related Activities:

Crockpot Applesauce

Photo courtesy: http://abeautifulmess.com

You will need:

Apples* (enough to fill your crockpot)
Cinnamon stick
Lemon juice
Water
Sugar, honey, or other sweetener
Paring knife
Potato masher or blender
Crockpot

Directions:

Peel and core the apples and put them in the crockpot.
Add a cinnamon stick, a drizzle of lemon juice, and about an inch of water.
Simmer on low for 6–8 hours or until the apples are soft.
Mash or puree the cooked apples using a potato masher or blender. The latter will make a smoother sauce.
Sweeten to taste with sugar, honey, or other sweetener. Enjoy!

* Cortland, Jonathan, McIntosh, Winesap, Transparent, Gala, Golden Delicious, and Fuji are good sauce varieties.

Dear friends…Lisa’s publisher, the wonderful Albert Whitman, has generously offered a copy of APPLESAUCE DAY as a giveaway. Please leave a comment to be entered into the drawing. We’d love to hear about your apple-picking, applesauce-making, or applesauce-eating experiences!

To find out more about Lisa and her wonderful books, go here.

A nd PLEASE, don’t forget that reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are a breath of life for authors and illustrators.

I appreicate you all spending a little of your time with us here at PIcture Books Help Kids Soar. Have a wonderful week!

Happy Book Birthday: Hello Goodbye Dog PLUS Giveaway

Posted on July 31, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Who doesn’t LOVE birthdays?

Especially BOOK BIRTHDAYS!

And when you add an energentic doggie, you know it’s going to be a lot of fun!

This month, I was thrilled to feature HELLO GOODBYE DOG on Perfect Picture Book Friday.

And then we all enjoyed chatting with author Maria Gianferrari on Will Write for Cookies.

But today, I’ve got something else REALLY special. for you! A Q&A with…

MOOSE, the dog in Hello Goodbye Dog!

ME: Down boy! There’s a good little dog. Moose is an interesting name for a dog. How did your owner come up with that name? Do you like it?

MOOSE:

I love my name, since Zara gave it to me. I think it’s because I’m a big dog.

ME:You sit very quietly when people read to you. What is your favorite thing about being a reading therapy dog?

MOOSE:

I love to listen. The stream of words relax me, like a lullaby. And I love to be with people, especially kids.

ME: What are your favorite stories?

MOOSE:

My new favorite picture book is Dogosaurus Rex, by Anna Staniszewski.

I also love It’s Only Stanley, by Jon Agee.

Another favorite book has a reading dog like me—Bonnie. That’s Lisa Papp’s Madeline Finn and the Library Dog.

And Zara’s going to read A Dog Like Daisy, by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, to me next!

ME: In the cafeteria, I noticed you were looking at Zara’s cookie. What are your favorite snacks?

MOOSE:

I love dog biscuits hidden in my KONG toy and plain yogurt. Zara lets me lick the yogurt containers.

ME: I can see it must be time for your snack, Moose. I’ll let you go. But thank you so much for stopping by to visit. You are welcome back anytime!

And for my dear readers, the lovely Maria Gianferrari is giving away ANOTHER copy of HELLO GOODBYE DOG. Please leave a comment to be entered into the drawing. And if you haven’t left a review on Amazon or Goodreads, please do. Reviews are the best way we can say thank you to incredible autors who write wonderful books for children.”

Plus, don’t forget we are stop #7 on the HELLO GOODBYE DOG book blog tour…hop over and visit some of the other posts when you can.

HELLO GOODBYE DOG BLOG TOUR!

GIVEAWAYS EVERY DAY!!

*Monday, July 24^th: Pragmatic Mom + THREE book giveaway!

*Two for Tuesday, July 25th: Librarian’s Quest

Reading for Research

*Wednesday, July 26th: Homemade City

*Thursday, July 27^th: Kid Lit Frenzy

*Friday, July 28^th: Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook

*Monday, July 31^st: Picture Books Help Kids Soar

*Tuesday, August 1^st: Bildebok

*Wednesday, August 2^nd: The Loud Library Lady

*Thursday, August 3^rd: DEBtastic Reads!

*Friday, August 4^th: Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love

*Monday, August 7^th: Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

EXTRA: August 25^th: Kidlit411—Interview with Patrice Barton

Please come back TOMORROW, for ANOTHER SPECIAL BOOK BIRTHDAY POST for…

APPLESAUCE DAY by Lisa Amstutz

Happy Book Birthday Plus Giveaway: LIZZIE AND LOU SEAL

Posted on April 5, 2017 by viviankirkfield

ARE YOU READY FOR MORE KIDLIT GOODNESS?

2017 IS A BANNER YEAR FOR PICTURE BOOKS!

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WISHING A

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

This book is definitely a celebration! Just look at the main character! She’s really something special! What a great role model for little girls! Independent. Creative. Smart. I love the books that Sky Pony Press puts out. Lucky for us, author/illustrator Patricia Keeler stopped by to give us the inside scoop on Lizzie.

PATRICIA:

Lizzie is created from all the feisty little girls I’ve known. The littlest girls who don’t want to comb their hair. They barely have the patience to climb into a bathing suit, but they can’t wait to go swimming, or to slip on their new flip-flops.

Lizzie is the “Don’t help me, I want to do this myself.” kind of girl. But Lizzie, like the other feisty girls, has a favorite toy animal she loves, loves, loves and drags everywhere. Sooner or later, the animal gets dirty or torn or lost. This is what’s in store for Lizzie and her blow-up beach pal, Lou Seal.

Lizzie may be little, but she’s smart and plucky. When she figures out she has a problem with Lou Seal, (can the reader spot the problem before Lizzie?) she sets out to solve it herself. It’s a sink or swim scenario! What’s Lizzie to do?

WOW…thanks, Patricia, for giving us all the low-down on your main character, Lizzie. I think I can already see a series about this feisty little girl!

To find out more about Patricia and her wonderful books, you can connect with her:

www.patriciakeeler-author-illustrator.com

Facebook – PatriciaKeelerBooks

Instagram – @patriciakeeler

Twitter – @patriciakeelerbooks

And if you’d like to qualify for the copy of LIZZIE AND LOU SEAL that Patricia is giving away, please leave a comment and, if you can, share the post on your social media.

Patricia will be back to celebrate the summer with us when she is my guest on Will Write for Cookies on June 24. There is sure to be lots of splishing and splashing!

And the 2017 picture book goodness keeps rolling along when LITTLE RED ROLLS AWAY, by Linda Whalen, rolls in for Perfect Picture Book Friday this week. See you all then! Thank you so very much for spending time with us.