PPBF: Summer in a Bowl

Posted on September 16, 2016 by viviankirkfield

The third week of every month is pretty special around here. On Saturday, we’ll welcome our Will Write for Cookies author, Joan Leotta. And that means that today, we’ll be featuring one of her picture books for Perfect Picture Book Friday. If you’d like to see all of this week’s other wonderful perfect picture book reviews, please hop on over to Susanna Hill’s blog.

With the end of the summer closing in on us, I found the perfect one.

SUMMER IN A BOWL

Written by Joan Leotta

Illustrated by Rebecca Michael Zeissler

Published by Theaq Publishing (2016)

Age: 5-9

Themes: Gardening, family togetherness

Synopsis:

From Amazon: “Summer in a Bowl” is a wonderful introduction to the joys of gardening and cooking with children. Rosa spends every Thursday helping Aunt Mary tend her garden. On this last Thursday of the season, they harvest the vegetables and cook them. Rosa finds that vegetables can be delicious and discovers a new way to preserve all of her summer fun.”

Why I love this book:

I love stories that promote family togetherness
It reminded me of the fun my children had helping me in our big vegetable garden when they were growing up…my younger son still loves to garden…and enjoys cooking with fresh vegetables all the time

How parents can use this book:

Great opportunity for intergenerational family activities
Perfect way to help a fussy eater expand his or her choices
Children will gain an appreciation for where food comes from

Related Activities

Plant an herb garden: herbs are fun and easy to grow, even in the winter…all you need is a sunny spot near a window. You can buy seeds or plant seedlings. http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/10-herbs-to-grow-inside-all-year-long

Right now, in many parts of the country, apples are being harvested. I went last year with my 7-year old grandson…he had a ball! Why not make a day of picking apples and then, when you get home, make applesauce or an apple cobbler for dessert? http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-things-to-make-with-apples.html

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.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, dear friends and readers. If you enjoyed the post, please share it on Facebook or Twitter or whatever social media channels you prefer.

And please do come back tomorrow for:

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

WITH

JOAN LEOTTA

AND ANOTHER BOOK GIVEAWAY!

PPBF: Miss Moore Thought Otherwise PLUS a Giveaway

Posted on September 9, 2016 by viviankirkfield

Can you feel the crispness in the air in the morning? We sure can here in New Hampshire. The kids are back in school. The trees are beginning to adorn themselves with crowns of scarlet and gold. But that beauty is tinged with sadness as we mourn the loss of two shining beacons in our kid lit world…Deirdre Sheridan Englehart and Anna Dewdney. They loved writing, they loved children…and we loved them.

On the writing front, I’ve been busy revising some of my manuscripts which will soon be winging their way to editors who will hopefully fall in love with them. Some of my time has been devoted to thinking about spreading the word my debut picture book, Sweet Dreams, Sarah. March 2017 is only six months away…it will be here before I know it. I would love to have a book blog tour in January and then another in March…if any of you would like to participate, please let me know. I’m also making tentative plans to attend several SCBWI conferences next year…definitely the NESCBWI in Massachusetts and hopefully, the NJSCBWI in New Jersey…and I am excited to see many of my writing friends. This year I had so much fun at the Wild Midwest SCBWI conference in Chicago.

And I also got to hug lots of writer friends at Kristen Fulton’s WOW Retreat in July.

Before I get to our Perfect Picture Book Friday review, we need to announce the winner of a copy of Jill Esbaum’s If a T-Rex Crashes Your Birthday Party. I wanted to thank Jill again for a fabulous interview…and thank all of you for your wonderful comments. You shared some incredible birthday surprises.

AND THE WINNER IS: Continue reading →

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Chrysanthemum

Posted on August 26, 2016 by viviankirkfield

The summer is winding down. Even though there is still another month until the official start of fall, I feel the crispness in the air when I go out early in the morning.

With the end of the summer comes the beginning of the new school year. As a child, that was heralded by the purchase of a school outfit, a shiny pair of shoes, and brand new school supplies. Many years later, as a teacher, I busied myself with preparing the room for a new flock of kindergarteners.

Parents…you have a difficult job…helping your child adjust to a new teacher, a new class, perhaps even a new school. And today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday selection is a great story to read, especially if your child seems to be having a problem transitioning to the new situation.

Chrysanthemum

Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Publisher: Greenwillow Books (1991)

Ages: 3 and up

Themes:

Teasing, acceptance, self-esteem

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. “You’re named after a flower!” teases Victoria. “Let’s smell her,” says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?

Opening Lines:

The day she was born was the happiest day in her parents’ lives.

“She’s perfect,” said her mother.

“Absolutely perfect,” said her father.

And she was.

She was absolutely perfect.

Why I like this book:

Kids need help dealing with the challenges of childhood…Kevin Henkes understands this perfectly and he delivers a story that every child and every parent will be able to relate to.
I love that this book provides an opportunity for open communication about what might be bothering your child.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

YouTube reading of Chrysanthemum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2pCR8YHszM

Teaching guide on Kevin Henkes website: http://www.kevinhenkes.com/book/chrysanthemum-2/

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, dear friends and readers. We will be announcing the winner of the copy of Jill Esbaum’s If a T-Rex Crashes Your Birthday Party next month…and stay tuned for lots more book giveaways because there will be one with every Will Write for Cookie post. I’m SO VERY EXCITED about the line-up of authors and illustrators for the rest of the year: Joan Leotta, Sylvia Liu, Emma Bland Smith, Jessica Lawson, and on the third Saturday in December…Duncan Tonituah. Right now, I’m putting together next year’s schedule…and I can tell you that March 2017 is going to be one busy month…with Marcie Colleen spotlighting as our Will Write for Cookies author, the #50 Precious Words Contest (oh my gosh…do you think we will have another incredible turnout…will we surpass last year’s 128 entries?), and the launch of my own debut nonfiction picture book, Sweet Dreams, Sarah.

I’m eating lots of Wheaties in preparation for all of that!!!! And I sure do hope you all join me!