Perfect Picture Book Friday: BRAVE WITH BEAUTY Plus Giveaway

Posted on August 28, 2020 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I always love writing these blog posts, but right now, this a welcome break for me…every day this week I have been sorting through stuff and clearing out closets and cabinets…the house closing is Monday. I’m also excited because I love meeting new author friends…and Maxine Rose Schur, the author of BRAVE WITH BEAUTY, was introduced to me by another author friend, Arlene Schenker. And it turns out that Maxine is also the author of several other picture books including MARIELLE IN PARIS…a story about a little mouse who is a fashion designer in Paris. Now this is where things get really interesting. My 7-year old granddaughter goes to the French school in Chicago…and loves to design clothes for her dolls and I knew she would LOVE this book. And Maxine very kindly and generously inscribed a copy for Sophie and sent it to her. Maxine is also offering a copy of her new book as a giveaway for this post.AND she’ll be stopping by tomorrow to share some insights into her writing journey and a favorite cookie recipe! We are all in for a treat! But for now, let’s find out more about BRAVE WITH BEAUTY.

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Perfect Picture Book Friday: MAC AND CHEESE Plus Giveaway

Posted on August 14, 2020 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. It’s been quite a few weeks since I did a picture book review. How did that happen? Well, I put my house on the market, but of course, before that could happen, I had to totally de-clutter it! Good news! It sold on the first day! Now I am sorting/purging/packing. The closing date is August 31 and I’ll be moving in with my daughter and her family who live only 5 minutes down the road.

Easy-peasy, you say. Hmmm…it might be, but my daughter and son-in-law wanted to find the perfect house with a separate space/separate entrance for me which their current house doesn’t have. Therefore, we’ve been house-hunting at the same time. More good news…I think we found a house that will suit us all!! So, now they’ve decluttered their home in record time and their Open House is Saturday. Fingers crossed for a quick sale so we can proceed with the house that we found.

And, to add to this busy mix, I participated in Justin Colon’s #PBChat Mentorship Program. Now I have TWO mentees (hurray for Rebecca Chester and Carolyn Fraiser), two runners-ups and four honorable mentions. And that is the best news of all. I’m really looking forward to working with all of these fabulous writers.

Today’s picture book selection is by another fabulous writer…author Jolene Gutierrez. I was lucky enough to meet her in person when I was in Colorado last summer for a book event at Second Star to the Right bookstore in Denver. Jolene was one of the kidlit folk who came out to support me…and after the bookstore event, a bunch of us walked down the street to Sushi Den for lunch…yum! And speaking of yum…how about some…

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Perfect Picture Book Friday: ODIN – DOG HERO OF THE FIRES Plus Giveaway

Posted on July 3, 2020 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! And WOW…it’s been a busy week for me. As some of you know, I’m putting my house on the market…going through years of accumulation of this, that, and TONS OF PICTURE BOOKS! I called several local critique buddies and they’ve come to the rescue…helping me sort through stuff…and leaving with this, that, and definitely some picture books!

But my copy of ODIN: DOG HERO OF THE FIRES is going nowhere…except into a box with my other treasured picture books that I am taking with me. It only came out a few days ago, but take it from me – this one is going to win lots of awards. And if you leave a comment at the end, you will be entered into the giveaway of a copy of this wonderful book…thanks to author Emma Bland Smith who is one of my fellow Storm sisters!

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