Perfect Picture Book Friday: Chicken Wants a Nap PLUS Giveaway

Posted on August 4, 2017 by viviankirkfield

YES! YES! YES!

It’s a good day to review a picture book and I’ve got a fabulous one for you!

CHICKEN WANTS A NAP

Written by Tracy Marchini

Illustrated by Monique Felix

Published by Creative Editions (August 15, 2017)

Ages: 3-8

Themes: Life on the farm, humor, dealing with frustration

Synopsis: From Amazon:

The sun is up, and a happy barnyard chicken is looking forward to a comfortable day—preferably one that includes a relaxing nap. However, every time she tries to find a good spot, something goes wrong. The sun disappears and is replaced by rain. She is driven out of the warm barn by obnoxious noises and smells. The dog is too curious for her to stay on the porch. Finally, the rain stops, and the worms come out. This is good news for the chicken—but bad news for the worms!

Why I like this book:

Simple text that draws the listener in and invites reader participation
Great illustrations that tell part of the story and marry with the text perfectly
Filled with humor and a SUPER twist at the end
Super read aloud!

Related Activities:

Make a paper plate chicken

Photo courtesy: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/chickens.htm

Paper plate crafts…I love them so much…and so do kids!

You will need: One paper plate, construction paper, markers, scissors, glue.

For detailed instructions and more chicken crafts, visit: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/chickens.htm

Author Tracy Marchini and her publisher, Creative Editions, are giving away a copy of CHICKEN NEEDS A NAP. To be entered, please don’t forget to leave a comment.

Although CHICKEN NEEDS A NAP is not launching until August 15th, you can preorder the book on Amazon or from your local indie bookseller…and don’t forget that reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are very important

And I hope you all will come back tomorrow when Tracy stops by to chat and share an AMAZING recipe with us on Will Write for ~~Cookies~~ Pizza!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: The Road That Trucks Built PLUS Giveaway

Posted on July 28, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Welcome all.

Rev up your engines..it’s time for a special Perfect Picture Book Friday.

We are on tour with the wonderful Susanna Leonard Hill….and her newest book for kids, THE ROAD THAT TRUCKS BUILT, is about to head on down the road.

Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in the giveaway – comment on ALL the blog stops of #trucksontour, and you’ll win a special prize.

And speaking about giveaways and prizes…we’ve got a copy of MARIGOLD BAKES A CAKE that the incredible Mike Malbrough is giving away. And the winner is…..

BETH GALLAGHER

Congratulations, Beth! Mika and I will be in touch to get you the book.

And now back to our regularly scheduled post.

THE ROAD THAT TRUCKS BUILT

Writen by Susanna Leonard Hill

Illustrated by Erica Strolich

Published by Little Simon (2017)

Opening lines:

“This is the traffic that’s moving too slow. Cars and buses have nowhere to go. What is the answer? I’m guessing you know.”

Synopsis:

Bulldozers, scrapers, graders, and more are hard at work making sure that every car, truck, and motorcycle can get where they’re going fast! With smooth writing by Susanna Leonard Hill and heavy-duty illustrations by Erica Sirotich, The Road That Trucks Built shows the importance and effectiveness of teamwork in a picture book that’s perfect for on the road readers.

Why I like this book:

Great read aloud!
Bold colorful illustrations. Kids will LOVE the anthropomorphic vehicles.
And they will also love the sunoke rhyme that invites participation.
PLUS, on the cover is the COOLEST wheel that spins and shows kids the various vehicles they will be reading about.

RELATED ACTVITIY:

Construction Vehicle Mobile

Photo courtesy: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/transportation/crafts.html

For detailed instructions, please go to: http://www.dltk-

kids.com/crafts/transportation/crafts.html

Take a walk with your kids…how many construction vehicles do you see on the road?

Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of THE ROAD THAT TRUCKS BUILT.

For more fun, hop over to the other blog on the #trucksontour.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Marigold Bakes a Cake PLUS Giveaway

Posted on July 21, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!

We’ve actually just passed the half-way mark in this year of reviewing as many 2017 picture books as we can. Which means we have a whole other half of a year to go. Yes! Six more months of fabulous stories to review.

But first…a word from our sponsor. Oh, wait a minute…we don’t have a sponsor here. But we DO have some prizes to give away thanks to Maria Gianferrari. She offered to give away a copy of Hello Goodbye Dog. And the winner is…

CHARLOTTE DIXON

And that’s not all…Maria also offered to give away a Picture Book Manuscript Critique. And the winner is…

SUNWALKER2013

Congratulations, ladies! I’ll be contacting you soon to connect you both with Maria.

Plus, don’t forget to leave a comment on today’s post and tomorrow’s Will Write for Cookies because our wonderful debut picture book author/illustrator, Mike Malbrough is giving way a copy of MARIGOLD BAKES A CAKE.

Marigold Bakes a Cake

Written and illustrated by Mike Malbrough

Publisher: Philomel Books (July 2017 – Happy Book Birthday!)

Ages: Preschool – Grade 2

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

For fans of Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon… series. Baking the perfect cake is how Marigold spends Mondays. Being messy, noisy, and disruptive in Marigold’s kitchen are how one finch, two pigeons, and three loons spend their Mondays!

Marigold the cat loves Mondays, for that is when he bakes cakes! With his favorite recipe in front of him, he rolls up his sleeves and gets down to it. He whips up egg whites . . . Easy. He adds a cup of milk . . . Peasy. Then he sprinkles in just a pinch of . . . of finch?! That’s not right at all! Neither are the smidgeons of pigeons or the spoonsfull of loons. Clearly a chase is in order! Yet all that leads to is a spectacularly messy kitchen. And no cake.

With a recipe comprised of equal parts humor and charm, author-illustrator Mike Malbrough has cooked up a scrumptious laugh-out-loud addition to the great tradition of interruption books. Perfect for fans of Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and David Ezra Stein’s Interrupting Chicken.

Opening Lines:

“Marigold liked everything just so.”

Why I like this book:

Great pacing and page turns!
Fabulous illustrations!
Spot on FUNNY!
Wonderful read aloud!
And who doesn’t love a cat who can bake?

RELATED ACTIVITIES

KID-FRIENDLY AND IBS FRIENDLY BRER RABBIT CARROT CAKE

Photo courtesy: http://www.food.com/recipe

I love inviting kids into the kitchen…it’s fun! And they learn so much. Science. Math. Literacy skills. Geography and Social Studies (where the foods come from).

I’ve made this recipe hundreds of times for my husband…it is his favorite cake. And because he has nothing artificial…it’s great for the kids, too. The recipe is originally from: Eating for IBS by Heather Van Vorous.

You will need:

1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder

3⁄4 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1⁄2 teaspoon allspice

1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg

3⁄4 cup granulated sugar

1⁄4 cup packed brown sugar

3⁄4 cup egg whites or 3⁄4 cup egg substitute

1⁄2 cup canola oil

2 tablespoons fresh orange zest

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1⁄2-2 cups carrots, packed finely shredded or grated

3⁄4 cup canned crushed pineapple, with liquid

Sweet Orange Icing

3⁄4 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 1⁄2 teaspoons fresh orange zest

1 tablespoon fresh orange juice

1⁄2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

For detailed instructions, please click here.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends…don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway and please come back tomorrow for:

Will Write for Cookies

With debut picture book author

MIKE MALBROUGH

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.