Perfect Picture Book Fridays: Gift-Bear for the King

Posted on March 23, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday where I link up with Susannah Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of writers who contribute a picture book review and related resources.

Self-esteem has six basic components. Today’s picture book selection addresses all of them: Mastering tasks and skills, valuing one’s own strengths and qualities, feeling loved and appreciated, learning to express one’s feelings, acknowledging and coping with fears and accepting and loving oneself. I know that parents and teachers will enjoy the simple eco-friendly craft project at the end of my review.

The main character of the story loves singing and Wednesday’s guest post was from Daria, a talented musician who travels around the globe, sharing her passion for music with young children. I hope everyone will check out her post and visit her amazing websites! She provided us with several great musical instrument-making crafts and is giving away a wonderful poster that celebrates music around the world.

A Gift-Bear for the King

Written by Carl Memling

Illustrated by Lillian Hoban

Publishers: E.P. Dutton & Co (1966)

Ages: 2 – 8

Themes:

Mastering tasks and skills, dealing with disappointment, overcoming adversity, helping others, friendship

Opening:

“There was once an old man and an old woman who lived in a hut in the forest. They were very poor, but they had a little bear cub for a friend.”

Synopsis:

A very talented bear-cub is sent as a birthday gift for the king by a loving old couple. As the bear-cub travels to reach the king, he meets and helps many people. When he finally arrives at the palace, the king’s birthday is long over and the guards lock him up in the dungeon because he is so late. While in his prison cell, the bear-cub sings a sad and beautiful song about his travels. Will the bear-cub spend the rest of his days in the dungeon? Does the king ever find out about his special present? What will happen to the old couple?

Why do I like this book:

The foundations of our self-esteem are laid in the first five years of life…I love picture books that celebrate any of the six components that help a child develop a positive self-image…and this book addresses all six! Gift-Bear for the King was my oldest son’s favorite story…we both knew it by heart by the time he was four. Gift-Bear could sing, stand on his front paws and wash the dishes…he was always ready to help those in need. Young children will be singing along with the refrain before you turn the last page.

The illustrations, in Lillian Hoban’s inimitable style, are charming.

Related Activities:

There is a lovely crown craft activity here

There are quite a few crowns and other hat-making craft activities here.

There are excellent step-by-step crown-making instructions with photos here.

KING OR QUEEN FOR A DAY CROWN

The crown you help your child make can be as simple or as fancy as you like. The picture is from a kit you can buy from Oriental Trading Company. I included it to show you how ornate you can make the crown…but your child will enjoy wearing a simple one also.

You will need: Construction paper, buttons or sequins (optional) crayons or markers, glue, scissors.

1. Cut strips of construction paper and measure to fit your child’s head. Piece together with glue if necessary.

2. Cut a zig-zag along the top edge. You can make it fancy like the one above or just simple.

3. Let your child decorate with crayons and/or markers.

4. If you wish, add “jewels” cut from different colored construction paper…or buttons…or sequins. Glue into place and let dry.

5. Fit the decorated crown strip to your child’s head and glue the two ends together.

6. Important tip: Most of you are too young to remember one of the first “reality” shows, Queen for a Day, where an ordinary woman was featured and given prizes and made to feel very special. Perhaps your child can be Queen or King for a Day in your home…helping choose the dinner menu, picking the family game that will be played. Feeling loved, valued and appreciated is such an important element in building self-esteem…children who are confident are less likely to be victims of bullying.

This post is part of a series for parents and teachers called Perfect Picture Book Fridays hosted by Susannah Leonard Hill. Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities.

Blogger Awards and Some Random Thoughts About Me

Posted on June 27, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Wow! Three blogger awards from Elizabeth at Mirth and Motivation…thank you so much…she is an inspiration to all who read her posts and connect with her. If I were marooned on a desert island and could only read the posts of one blogger, hers would be the one!

According to Elizabeth, I’m supposed to list seven random things about myself, so here goes. 🙂

1. I’m really careful about what I eat during the day, but in the evening, I reward myself with a mini ice-cream sundae and then a BIG bowl of air-popped popcorn.

2. I love the sound of the washing machine, dryer and dishwasher all going at the same time…my husband HATES the noise, but for me it says, “Stuff is getting done!”

3. When my children were young and wanted to give me flowers as a gift but they had no money to spend, I would go to the store with them and have them point out the bunch of flowers they would choose. I would go over and smell them. Then I would hug and kiss the kids and tell them, “Thank you, I love them.”

4. I’m not good at going places I’ve never been…I have to print out the directions on MapQuest…both going there and coming back…otherwise I will probably get lost.

5. When I was a child, I would go to the library and take out so many books, you could hardly see me behind the stack of books as I walked home. I would read them one after another and then go back and get more. I guess I haven’t changed. 🙂

6. I was a very fussy eater when I was young…when my family would go to the Chinese restaurant, it cost my parents 25 cents for my empty plate on which I piled white rice and crispy noodles.

7. I’d rather make several right turns and go out of my way a bit to avoid making a left where there is lots of on-coming traffic and no light.

So, there are seven random things about myself…hope you enjoyed them. Did you laugh at some…or roll your eyes…or perhaps nod your head in agreement or recognition. Do let me know. 🙂

What’s In Your Child’s Bookcase Wordy Wednesday: YES WE CAN! and the Versatile Blogger Award :)

Posted on March 23, 2011 by viviankirkfield

Image via Wikipedia

It’s been a most wonderful week so far! I want to share some good news before I review the picture book I choose for today’s post.

Of course, every coin has a flip side…and I guess we all decide which side of the coin we will focus on. Sunday afternoon, I pulled my back out and was in quite a lot of pain. No, that is NOT the good news. 🙂 Then, on Tuesday, I went to my doctor who did an adjustment of my back (OUCH!) and when I went to the parking lot to get in my car, I noticed I had a flat tire! No, that is still NOT the good news. 🙂

The GOOD news is that one of my fellow bloggers, Eliz of Mirth and Motivation presented me with the Versatile Blogger Award…an honor coming from the best blogger I know out there. She asks that I pass along the “good vibrations” to other great bloggers out there…so many of them were on her list already. 🙂 But, when I get back from my trip to the east coast, I will try to send it out to some of the people whose blogs are so very helpful to so many. 

The other GOOD news is that Jamie of Avant Garde Parenting selected me as Parent of the Week and I’ve posted that button on my sidebar. You can click on her link to read the article.

Oh yes, and there is still more good news! I leave on Friday for New Hampshire to spend a LONG weekend with my daughter and her family…I am really excited to see them…I know my 2 ½ year-old grandson has grown so much since I saw him in October. I’m excited to be reading, crafting and cooking with him and I’ll definitely try to do a post while I’m there…but, if you don’t hear from me for a few days, you’ll know why.

This week, I’ve been concentrating on the theme of companionship and, in SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING, I found the perfect picture book to review, Yes We Can! by Sam McBratney.

YES WE CAN

Written by Sam McBratney

Illustrated by Charles Fuge

Little Roo, Country Mouse and Quacker Duck start to make a giant pile of leaves, but stop to rest. While they are resting, they start making fun of each other for what they don’t do well. Roo’s mother suggests that each show what they CAN do best. Little Roo jumps over a log. Quacker Duck floats on a puddle. Country Mouse chases and catches his own tail. The friends agree that each one is special and has unique talents and qualities.

Little Roo’s mother found a creative way to teach her son and his friends to appreciate their own special talents without envying those of others. Being a good friend and companion does not always come naturally. As parents, we need to encourage our children to value their own strengths and qualities, as well as the strengths and qualities of others. We make a start by recognizing their uniqueness and by supporting their creativity, even if it veers in a different direction from ours.

If you are looking for 99 other MUST READ picture books, please visit my website where you can purchase a copy of SHOW ME HOW!…a unique resource that pinpoints and summarizes 100 picture books every young child should hear and provides a matching craft project and cooking activity for each recommended title. Leave a comment here about why you would like to win the Crafty Easter Basket for your preschooler or fill out the contact form on my website. At 50% off the cover price, this MUST HAVE BOOK is now a CAN HAVE BOOK.