Picture Book Review and Activity: LONG MAY SHE WAVE plus Giveaway

Posted on May 19, 2017 by viviankirkfield

I’m always happy when Friday rolls around – because it means it’s time for Perfect Picture Book Friday. And today’s book is amazing. In fact, it was just selected as a Fall 2017 Junior Library Guild selection!!!!

But first, some blog housekeeping. BTW, did you know this is blog post #700 for Picture Books Help Kids Soar? Where has the time gone?

Last week, Chana Stiefel offered a copy of her debut picture book, DADDY DEPOT. And the lucky winner is…

PATRICIA NOZELL

Congratulations, Patricia…let’s connect and I will put you in touch with Chana so she can get a copy of the book out to you!

Today’s book is close to my heart for two reasons. I am a lover of nonfiction picture books…it’s what I love to write…and the author is actually the guru of writing nonfiction picture books. In June of 2014, I took Kristen Fulton’s Nonfiction Archaelogy class and it was a life changing experience for me. Kristen, who will be here tomorrow on Will Write for Cookies, is offering a copy of the book. So, if you’d like to be entered in the giveaway, please don’t forget to leave a comment.

LONG MAY SHE WAVE

Written by: Kristen Fulton

Illustrated by Holly Berry

Publisher: Simon and Schuster (Margaret McElderry Books – 2017)

Ages: Preschool – Grade 3

Themes:

U.S. history

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

Discover the story of the girl who sewed the American flag that inspired the lyrics of the National Anthem in this beautifully illustrated celebration of our country’s iconic symbol for freedom.

Caroline Pickersgill came from a family of the best flag makers in Baltimore. She and her family proudly stitched the grand flag that gallantly whipped in the wind over Fort McHenry.

But when the British attacked Baltimore on September 12, 1814, would those broad stripes and bright stars still wave strong? Would America still be free and remain the home of the brave?

Why I like this book:

Exciting action-packed text marries perfectly with bold illustrations.
Wonderful read-aloud!
Kids love books where the main character is a child.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Photo courtesy: http://www.thecraftycrow.net/fourth_of_july/

Lots of fun crafts and project at: www.thecraftycrow.net/fourth_of_july

Or how about a sponge painted flag at http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/07/happy-fourth-of-july.html

Please don’t forget to leave a comment to qualify for the giveaway of a copy of LONG MAY SHE WAVE.

And Kristen and I will see you here tomorrow for her Will Write for Cookies Q&A.

Picture Book Review and Activity: DADDY DEPOT plus Giveaway

Posted on May 12, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!

I hope all of you have scrolled through yesterday’s #50PreciousWordsforKids post. There were 57 wonderful stories written by kids in grades K-6. Children in six countries and thirteen states participated. And honestly, I read the makings of several awesome picture books. Many of the parents said their children wanted to know when the next challenge would be. I’m thrilled to have created a platform for our future authors. I’ll be reaching out to the friends who generously offered to donate a mini-Skype author visit – I’ll randomly pick one name from each grade level and that child’s class will receive the author visit.

Before we get to our wonderful picture book, we have a giveaway to take care of. Last week, Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum generously offered a copy of TRAINS DON’T SLEEP.

And the winner is…

KIM CHAFFEE.

Congratulations, Kim…let’s connect and I will put you in touch with Andria so she can get a copy of the book out to you!

Today’s picture book review is another of our fabulous 2017 debuts and I know you are going to love it! And the author, Chana Stiefel (who will be here tomorrow on Will Write for Cookies), is offering a copy of the book. So, if you’d like to be entered in the giveaway, please don’t forget to leave a comment.

DADDY DEPOT

Written by: Chana Stiefel Continue reading →

Picture Book Review and Activity: WAY PAST BEDTIME

Posted on April 28, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Friday! I’ve got a wonderful Perfect Picture Book for you today, but I wanted to share a bit about the NESCBWI conference.

I’m still processing the experience and I urge all of you who are writers or illustrators, but aren’t yet members of SCBWI, to please, run, don’t walk, and become a member.

It is an organization that supports all writers and illustrators and the conferences are the best. The keynote speakers, like Jane Yolen and Melissa Sweet, provided inspiration and information by the bucketful. The accommodations and food were great. But truthfully, the best part of the weekend was getting to hug old friends

and make new ones.

I also wanted to remind everyone to continue to spread the word about the #50PreciousWordsforKids Writing Challenge. This morning a teacher at the Birchwood School in Cleveland, Ohio emailed to say that her 5^th grade class is going to participate. Woo-hoo!

I’ll be putting up a post on Sunday, April 30 because the challenge starts May 1, but we may have international participants and on the other side of the globe they are many hours ahead of me. All entries should be emailed to me by either a teacher or parent. This is going to be GREAT FUN!

And before we get to today’s book, we need to giveaway a copy of Jackie Azúa Kramer’s THE GREEN UMBRELLA. And the winner is…

YVONA FAST

Congratulations, Yvona! Please email me so I can connect you and Jackie.

The author of today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday pick is well-known to most of this kidlit community. She’s the founder of Storystorm (formerly PiBoIdMo) and a force to be reckoned with.

Way Past Bedtime

Written by Tara Lazar

Illustrated by Rich Wake

Publisher: Aladdin (2017)

Ages: 4-7

Themes:

Mystery, ingenuity, bedtime

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

Little Joseph turns into a bedtime super-sleuth as he tries to solve the mystery of what happens after the lights go out in this fun spin on classic bedtime stories.

Bedtime is Joseph’s least favorite time of day. When his parents tuck him in at night, Joseph imagines all kinds of things that he’s missing out on: big parties, hot-fudge fountains, exotic animals, and more.

But there is only one way to find out if what he imagines is actually true—and bedtime super-sleuth Joseph is determined to discover what happens way past bedtime.

Why I like this book:

This book is a whole lot of fun…and kids will love sleuthing along with Joseph. I bet lots of kids wonder what goes on while they are sleeping.
Great cartoon-like illustrations…and that’s not a bad thing because I think it will encourage some kids, especially boys, to pick up the book and keep turning the pages…and that’s what it’s all about!
Oh, and did I say it was funny? Well, I’ll say it again…kids LOVE funny!

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Photo courtesy: http://www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/spy-school-kids-activities/

Start a secret agent spy school with the downloadable forms from http://www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/spy-school-kids-activities/
Set up a scavenger hunt with clues…my 8-year old grandson thinks being a detective is the coolest thing. I know I have to get a copy of this book for him!
Talk about how codes have been used to deliver secret messages: http://www.mathsweek.ie/2012/puzzles/code-breaking-for-young-secret-agents
Try writing a message in code and decipher it.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends…I hope you’ll visit tomorrow for:

Will Write for Cookies

Anna Forrester

(we reviewed her BAT COUNT book a couple of months ago)

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.