book reviews | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD – Writer for Children

Darcy Pattison is hosting an amazing blog event: Random Acts of Publicity

The main idea is to spread the word about a book that you think is worth talking about….as long as it is not your own book!!!!

In addition, I just realized that Perfect Picture Book Friday starts up again this week…Hurray! So, since I am in New Hampshire and don’t have my own computer or the time availability to post another story review (my four-year old grandson feels it is more important for me to be reading the stories to him, as opposed to reviewing them), I’m going to have this wonderful picture book do double duty.

I’m thrilled to share a debut picture book by fellow 12x12er and Perfect Picture Book Friday participant…Clara Bowman-Jahn.

Annie’s Special Day

Written by Clara Bowman-Jahn

Illustrated by Claudia Wolfe

Age: 4-8

Themes: Time/Clocks, Birthdays

Synopsis: A little girl celebrates her birthday with an adventure every hour. It is a basic concept book about time and clocks. We learn what Annie does throughout the 24 hours of her birthday.

Why I like this book: The main character is an enthusiastic little girl with a positive attitude towards life. The wonderful illustrations help bring her character to life. Young children are fascinated with clocks…and learning about time (and time-management) is a skill kids need to master.

Activities/Resources

Make a construction paper clock and use a metal paper fastener to attach the hands so that the child can change the time.

Annie’s Special Day is published through eTreasures Publishing. I hope you will check it out.

I’ll be flying to New Hampshire tomorrow morning…and spending the next couple of days reading, crafting and cooking with my four-year old grandson…my daughter says he has been marking off the days on the calendar and can hardly wait till I get there…neither can I!! I think I will download a copy of Annie’s Special Dayso that I can read it to him…maybe we will make one of those clocks out of construction paper.

As a child, I loved books in all shapes and sizes.

I remember the summer between third and fourth grade, I would go to the library and take out piles of books…and sit reading in the back yard…all day long! Black Beauty, Little Women, Nancy Drew…as soon as I turned the last page, I would start another book.

About two years ago, there was a controversy about “chapter” books…are they replacing picture books for young children and when should parents encourage their kids to read them. I have to admit that I wasn’t quite sure what they were talking about…were “chapter” books some new electronic age phenomenon?

Luckily, I met children’s author Marty Mokler Banks at a local SCBWI meeting last weekend.

And now I know all about chapter books because she wrote one.

And it was just published.

And she graciously gave me a copy so that I could review it.

And I LOVED it.

And I remembered those wonderful classic stories I had read years ago…the forerunners of today’s “chapter” books.

And here’s something awesome for all of you…other than my wonderful review, that is.

The author is offering a FREE DOWNLOAD of The Adventures of Tempest & Serena for the entire weekend (Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26). Just click on the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tempest-Serena-ebook/dp/B008SV7UZG/ref=la_B004OB10M8_1_1_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1345468668&sr=1-1

I know you won’t want to miss reading it…and then you can click over to where the paperback copy is for sale on Amazon…believe me, this book is a GREAT gift for any young boy or girl…the holidays are coming sooner than you think and it’s all about encouraging children to READ!

And after you read this review, I know you will want to pick up several for your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or any kid age 7 and up.

The Adventures of Tempest & Serena

Written by Marty Mokler Banks (she also did the inside illustrations!)

Themes:

Sisters, courage, valuing one’s own strengths and qualities, friendship, bullying/teasing, magic, adventure, travel.

Synopsis:

From the Amazon site: “Wild, brave Tempest wants summer to last forever. Her calm, timid sister, Serena, can’t wait for the start of the new school year. On the first day, Tempest decides to skip fourth grade, seek adventure by using magic to sprout wings, and fly away to exotic places. As she waves good-bye, Serena promises to save her sister’s seat on the bus. Will Tempest make it home? Can Serena keep her promise? As each sister battles bullies, disasters, and loneliness, they discover they’re more alike than they know.”

Why do I like this book:

I don’t only like this book…I love this book! It kept me turning the pages and wanting to find out what would happen next…I couldn’t put it down once I started it.

A number of timely topics such as girl empowerment and bullying and teasing are addressed. In addition, the story takes us to distant lands and enables the reader to see how the various characters face their fears and conquer them. Children need great roles models and they will find them in Tempest and Serena and some of their friends.

Author Banks has certainly stepped up to the plate with her debut chapter book…with The Adventures of Tempest & Serena, she has hit a homerun, right out of the park and into the hearts of her readers!

The Adventures of Tempest & Serena is available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tempest-Serena-ebook/dp/B008SV7UZG/ref=la_B004OB10M8_1_1_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1345468668&sr=1-1.

If you’d like to know more about children’s author, Marty Mokler Banks, you can visit her website at http://martymoklerbanks.com/index.html.

And if I may impose on your patience another minute, I need to mention three quick items of importance:

1. Please don’t forget we are accepting nominations for your favorite school or classroom to win a copy of Show Me How! All you have to do is leave a comment on one of my posts…telling which school should get a copy. At the end of September, we will select a dozen winners using Random.org.

2. On Wednesday, I watched the LIVE Google+ broadcast of The Happy Mommy Handbook with Susan Case and Katie Norris. It was lots of fun…and I joined the after-hangout chat when the program was over. I don’t know if any of you have done Google+ Hangouts…it was kind of like Skype…real-time face-to-face interaction. All three of us agreed that we’d like to do a program together…perhaps addressing the subject of bullying. I’ll let everyone know when that will happen.

3. Regarding bullying…I will be interviewed on the 9News morning show on Monday, August 27^th at 8:20am (Mountain Time). If you click on their link, I think it will be able to see it…unless, of course, you are in Denver and get that channel and can watch on your TV. We will be talking about the Subtle Signs of Bullying and what steps parents can take. This is an important topic, especially with school just starting. Let’s stop bullying in its tracks! I’ll be doing an article about it next week.