Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. Are you having a bad hair day? Never fear – THE HAIR BOOK is here!
This book is published as both a picture book and a board book!
THE HAIR BOOK
Written by LaTonya Yvette
Illustrated by Amanda Jane Jones
Published by Union Square Kids (2022)
Ages: 0-6
Themes: Inclusion, diversity, hair styles
Synopsis: From Amazon: Covered hair, Bun Hair, Party Hair… No matter your hair—YOU are welcome anywhere!
Why I Love This Book 1. If you are looking for a simple book that can appeal to the youngest of children that can help convey the importance of diversity and inclusion – this is it! Studies show that infants respond to pictures of faces – and this is a book filled with faces! 2. Bold vivid illustrations of diverse people with many different styles of hair. 3. Ultra-simple sparse text.
Please make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of this adorable new book! And to help support your favorite authors and illustrators, please buy their books, review their books, tell friends about their books, and ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.
Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I’ve been on a bit of a blogging hiatus for a couple of weeks…but now I’m back with three weeks in a row of AWESOME Perfect Picture Book Friday posts. And today’s is extra special because the author is one of my dearest critique buddies, Carrie Finison who is such a sweetheart – she’s offering a giveaway of a copy of LULU & ZOEY to one lucky blog follower!
LULU & ZOEY: A Sister Story
Written by Carrie Finison
Illustrated by Brittany Jackson
Published by Running Press Kids
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Siblings, respect, getting along
Synopsis: From Amazon: Sometimes Lulu wants to play, but her big sister Zoey doesn’t. Sometimes Zoey tries to share, but Lulu won’t. Sometimes, it is HARD to get along with a sister! But, sometimes, sisters come together and create something wonderful. This charming story follows the adventures of Lulu and Zoey as they navigate the ups and downs of sisterhood and find there is room in their hearts for each other.
Why I Love This Book: 1. I’ve got a big sister…and I really related to all of the moments of sibling interaction in this story!
2. The rhyme is so well done – this is a fabulous read-aloud – and kids will want to hear it over and over!
3. The illustrations are spot-on perfect – I love the diversity – and the action and emotion that is evident in each spread!
And here’s a lovely review from Kirkus: Readers with siblings will surely find echoes of themselves in both characters and take comfort in the fact that the story ends happily. However much these sisters might disagree or get on each other’s nerves, they will always find room in their hearts for each other.
I found this sibling craft activity on Jessi Shatley’s Pinterest board. With just paper and either finger paint or tempera paint, you can help your children create this adorable owl picture…and I think you could probably do other animal scenes as well with handprints (or even footprints)…fish swimming in a goldfish bowl or under the sea, dinosaurs, dragons – just let your children’s imaginations run free.
Please make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. And don’t forget that the best way to ensure the success of a book that you love (like THIS one!) is to buy it, review it, tell friends about it, and ask your local library to purchase it for their shelves.
For a signed copy of LULU & ZOEY: A Sister Story, please use link below to order from Belmont Books (Carrie’s local store). Request a signed copy and any personalization (e.g. child’s name) in the Order Comments field.https://www.belmontbooks.com/book/9780762473984
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I’m in Chicago – again – I guess it’s like my second home. I’m spending time with my sister and helping her go through stuff. But I’ll have my computer with me and will keep in touch with all things kid-lit.
FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE
TODAY’S GUEST
Portrait by illustrator Rahele Jomepour Bell
Sometimes a publisher or publicist reaches out to ask if I’d like to help spread the word about an upcoming book. I can’t always say yes, but when the book is a wonderful SEL story like ANGRY ME, I definitely want to tell everyone about it and the people who created it. And when author Sandra V. Feder said she’d be willing to chat with us about her writing journey, I was thrilled!
ME: Welcome, Sandra! We’re so glad you could be here. I know everyone would like to find out more about you – and so would I. Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?
SANDRA: I loved the work of Robert McCloskey. His Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal are both classics of storytelling and illustration. And I loved Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. I love how the child in the story draws what’s in his imagination, including finding his way back to his bed.
ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?
SANDRA:I wish I had known to listen more. I’ve always been a writer — first a newspaper reporter and later in my life a children’s book author. I’ve loved playing with words and thinking about text. Now that I’m more experienced, I better understand that for all types of writing it helps to have a good ear. I have learned to listen more to the world — to dialects, words, cadences, and lyricism. Now, how the words sound together, is as important to me as anything else. Listening also helps me to hear when something is working and when it’s not.
ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?
SANDRA:I learned early in life to compose on a computer and that’s still what I do. I do both my composing and editing on my laptop. I usually work in one of my grown daughter’s bedrooms, that’s now become an office. I have it decorated with framed illustrations from my picture books. Being reminded of how talented illustrators brought my words to life is very inspiring.
ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?
SANDRA: I’m definitely a “when-the-muse-strikes” type of writer. I will often walk around with an idea for a book in my head for a week or two, before putting anything into writing. Sometimes I’ll have an idea but not the story. I carry the idea with me and then see what other things I encounter that fit into or become part of that idea. For me, it’s a bit like a puzzle. Here’s the idea I want to explore. What are the supporting story, characters, setting, metaphors that I need? Sometimes those come to me in bits and pieces.
ME: Why do you write for children?
SANDRA:I write for children because I think there’s something sacred about helping children discover the world of reading and storytelling. I loved stories when I was a child — losing myself in an imaginary world. I thought it would be wonderful to try to providethat for children. I also love being a mother and loved seeing my own daughters discover new characters and new ideas through books. As a mother, I know it can be challenging for both parents and children to navigate childhood fears, emotions, and worries. I hope my books can help prompt good conversations at home, in the classroom, or in the library.
ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.
SANDRA: For aspiring writers: Find a good critique group — preferably with people a little more experienced than you are. Learn the craft and gather your writing peers and those who will champion your work. Being a writer involves lots of ups and downs, many of them solitary. Finding people who can go through it with you is very helpful. For parents, educators, librarians: Thank you for all you do to honor our children’s emotional intelligence and to help them navigate childhood by reading to and with them!
What fabulous advice, Sandra! You are certainly celebrating children and acknowledging who they are with all of your books. And I know you have a special recipe to share with us that is a celebration in itself…one of my favs…CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE!!!!
SANDRA:I used to make this chocolate chip cake for my children’s birthdays. We’d always decorate it in fun ways. It became so popular with them and their friends that soon I was being asked to make it for other kids’ birthday celebrations as well. It’s an easy recipe and has no butter or eggs. Enjoy!
Chocolate Chip Cake (A Feder Family Favorite)
1 ½ cups white flour 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1 cup cold water 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together the oil, vanilla, vinegar and water. Mix and pour the liquid over the dry ingredients. Stir well to combine. Pour the batter into a greased 8-by-8-inch pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Bake for 35 minutes. Optional: Frost with your favorite frosting.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! If you are at a library, please request ANGRY ME and other wonderful books that we feature here on Picture Books Help Kids Soar. Requesting a book at a library is one way to support your favorite authors and illustrators. Other ways are to purchase the book,review the book, and tell friends about it. And please don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to WIN a copy of this wonderful SEL book thanks to the generous publisher, Groundwood Books.