Perfect Picture Book Friday: Motor Goose…Rhymes That Go PLUS Double Giveaway

Posted on November 3, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!

This past week, I’ve enjoyed reading many of the Halloween stories entered into Susanna Hill’s Halloweensie Contest. Did you get to read some of them? They were fabulous. I’m excited to find out who the winners are…but honestly, everyone who participated is a winner. Writing and getting your work out there is the key to success. And happily, I should have some good success news for you soon regarding one of my stories.

Before we get to our wonderful picture book review, we do have some giveaways to announce.

The winner of Julie Segal Walter’s Picture Book Manuscript Critique is….

JIM CHAIZE

The winner of a copy of Annette Bay Pimemtel’s MOUNTAIN CHEF is…

CARMELA MCCAIN SIMMONS

The winner of a copy of Joy Keller’s MONSTER TRUCKS is…

RENE AUBE

BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! And thank you to the generous authors! Please email me: viviankirkfield@gmail.com

Does your child love vehicles? Do your kids enjoy nursery rhymes? Today’s Perfect Picture book has it all!!!

MOTOR GOOSE: RHYMES THAT GO!

Written by Rebecca Colby

Illustrated by Jef Kaminsky

Published by Feiwel and Friends (2017)

Ages: 3-8

Themes: Vehicles, nursery rhymes

Opening Lines:

“Little Jack Junker, broken-down clunker, surpirsed all the cars in the race. ‘Cause right from the start, he lost part after part, yet he finished the race in first place.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

In this picture book, Mother Goose rhymes are reimagined with vehicles― trains, planes, trucks, and boats!

Hey Digger, Digger
(Hey Diddle, Diddle)

Hey digger, digger,
the hole’s getting bigger.
Your shovel’s been scooping since ten.
Beware the loose rubble.
Too late―you’re in trouble!
You’d better start digging again.

Wonderful rhymes and VEHICLES! Here is a collection that every car/plane/boat/crane/digger/taxi/train-loving kid will adore. With hilarious artwork by Jef Kaminsky, Motor Goose is a must-have for readers who like things that go. And as the rhymes progress, the day winds down, making this perfect for bedtime.

Why I like this book:

I love rhymes and kids love rhymes…and these are so kid-friendly, based on well-known nursery rhymes, but totally reinvented by author Rebecca Colby!
Fabulously humorous illustrations…full color and full of life!

RELATED ACTIVITIES:

Make a race car and other vehicles

Photo courtesy: http://crystalandcomp.com

You will need: Construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, empty Pringles can or paper towel roll.

For detailed instructions: http://crystalandcomp.com/19-preschool-car-craft-ideas/

Play with rhymes with your kiddos…they love coming up with their own silly ones.

Take a walk and count vehicles. Make a list of them. Categorize: for pleasure, for work, etc.

I hope you will all be back tomorrow for our chat with picture book author Rebecca Colby. I know she has some wonderful insights to share, as well as a yummy treat recipe. PLUS…tomorrow we will also be talking about Rebecca’s newest book, CAPTAIN BLING’S CHRISTMAS PLUNDER.

Don’t forget to leave a comment today and tomorrow. Rebecca is generously offering a giveaway of copies of both of her awesome new books!

I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: MONSTER TRUCKS Plus Giveaway

Posted on October 27, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Is it just me, or does Friday come around really quickly every week? I guess it’s a good thing that I LOVE Friday because we always have a super picture book review and activity.

And today’s choice is especially perfect with Halloween just around the corner.

MONSTER TRUCKS

Written by Joy Keller

Illustrated by Misa Saburi

Published by Godwin Books – Henry Holt and Company (2017)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Vehicles, monsters, humor, rhyme

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

All monsters love the autumn air,
just right to sneak and spook and scare.
But other seasons of the year,
they shift into a different gear.

Monsters get to work―paving roads, plowing snow, hauling muck―with their monster trucks in this fun, rhyming picture book. With a gentle bedtime ending, this not-too-scary story is perfect for young monster and truck lovers.

Why I like this book:

Fabulous rhyme filled with heart and humor
Super cool bold and colorful illustrations
Great addition to Halloween, monster, and/or vehicle shelves

RELATED ACTIVITY

Popsicle Stick Monster Trucks

Photo courtesy: http://www.gluedtomycraftsblog.com

Do you have a monster truck lover at your house? Give this craft activity a try…the kids will have a ball!

You will need: Popsicle sticks, glue, markers, construction paper or poster board, scissors.

For detailed instructions: http://www.gluedtomycraftsblog.com/2016/04/popsicle-stick-monster-trucks-kid-craft.html

Take a walk in the neighborhood and see how many different types of trucks you can identify.

Play a rhyming game with your kids. Read the story and leave off the last word of the rhyming verse…see what words they come up with.

Debut picture book author Joy Keller is offering a copy of MONSTER TRUCKS, so please remember to leave a comment. Also, she is stopping by tomorrow to chat on Will Write for Cookies, and another comment there will give you another entry. PLUS, on Sunday, I’ll be posting my entry into Susanna Hill’s 7th ANNUAL HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST. Have you heard about it? Have you ever entered? It is one of the most fun filled writing challenges around..I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Here in New England, we’ve had a ton of rain and the fall foliage has to fight hard to hold on. If you are planning on going out Trick or Treating with the kids, stay safe. I know many neighborhoods organize Halloween parties so kids can come to one location to have fun. We used to do it at our church and the parishoners would dress up and take up residence in the many classrooms and offices and then the kids would parade through the halls, knocking on each door. There were games and prizes for costumes and lots of good food and safe fun.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: I HAVE A BALLOON

Posted on September 1, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Friday dear friends! Lots of people love Friday because it signals the end of the week and for many, a couple of days off from work. But for me, it signals a chance to read and review another awesome picture book. And tomorrow we’ll be treated to an insightful Q&A with debut picture book author Ariel Bernstein.

But first, we have a copy of HELLO, MY NAME IS TIGER to give away.

And the winner is….

Elizabeth Curry

Congratulations, Elizabeth…I will contact you.

I HAVE A BALLOON

Written by Ariel Bernstein

Illustrated by Scott Magoon

Ages 4-8

Themes: Being happy with what you have

Opening Lines: “I have a balloon.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

“Owl has a red balloon. Monkey does not. “That red balloon matches my shiny red tie,” says Monkey. “I’d look fancy walking to school with a shiny red balloon. The only thing I’ve ever wanted, since right now, is a shiny, big red balloon. It would make me SO HAPPY!” But Owl does not want to give it to him. So Monkey tries to find something that Owl wants: a teddy bear, a robot, a picture of TEN balloons. Owl does not want any of these things. But then, Monkey offers him…a sock!

Hmmmmm…Owl is intrigued. Will he trade his shiny red balloon with Monkey?”

Why I like this book:

Fun text!
Fun illustrations!
A message we can all relate to, parents as well as kids! And a great opportunity to talk about wanting what we have, not having what we want.

Related Activities

BALLOON BOWL

Photo courtesy:https://diyprojects.com/homemade-balloon-bowl/

You will need: 1 balloon (inflated), colored paper, scissors, glue.

For detailed instructions: https://diyprojects.com/homemade-balloon-bowl/

Just like the characters in I HAVE A BALLOON, kids often want what others have. This book is a perfect launchpad for a discussion about being happy with what you have. Perhaps this balloon bowl can serve as a blessing bowl for your child. Help your child fill out slips of paper with things he/she is grateful for and place them in the bowl.

By the way, dear friends, thanks to debut picture book author Ariel Bernstein, we have a giveaway of a copy of I HAVE A BALLOON. Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered. And remember…the greatest gift you can give an author, other than buying their book and reading it to a child, is to write a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

Don’t forget to be back tomorrow when Ariel stops by to chat and to share a super recipe for a fabulous chocolate chip cookie recipe…this one is made with OATMEAL!

Be safe this last weekend of summer…and please join me in praying for all who are impacted by Hurricane Harvey…those who have lost everything…those who have left safe havens to help others…so many kidliters I know live RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT! Keeping you all close to my heart! Author Kate Messner has organized a KIDLITCARES auction to benefit the Red Cross Relief effort for Hurricane Harvey…please visit and bid: KidLitCares auction for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts