Perfect Picture Book Friday: EGYPTIAN LULLABY

Posted on November 10, 2023 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I love books that bring me to a place I’ve never been…and today’s featured book definitely does. More than that, EGYPTIAN LULLABY provides us with a window on life in Egypt through the eyes of a young girl – and because of the fabulous text and gorgeous illustrations, we are immersed in the culture with every page turn!

EGYPTIAN LULLABY

Written by Zeena M. Pliska

Illustrated by Hatem Aly

Published by Roaring Brook Press (April 18, 2023)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Culture of Cairo, multigenerational, family

Synopsis: From Amazon:
A rich, beautifully layered ode to the great city of Cairo, Egypt, its people, and culture.
Every night, my Ametti Fatma sings the sounds of Egypt to me as I fall asleep.

This is the Nile,
that flows through the city.
Swish, swoosh, swish.
This is the boat,
that glides on the Nile,
that flows through the city.
Swish, swoosh, swish.

Each night, a young girl’s Auntie Fatma puts her to bed, singing a lullaby filled with rich imagery of her home in Egypt. As Auntie Fatma sings, we are given a glimpse of modern Cairo, from boats making their way down the Nile to gentle calls to prayer from the mosques to young children joyfully playing soccer in the streets.

Join Zeena Pliska and Hatem Aly on a vibrant journey to Cairo in this gorgeous, layered song.

Why I Love This Book
1. The lyrical text – it wraps around me like a blanket – comforting and warm.
2. The engaging illustrations give me a sense of being right there – this book serves as an important window and mirror and sliding glass door for every child reader.
3. I love the intergenerational aspect of the story that we see through the eyes of the child character and her grandmother.

RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Write in Hieroglyphics

Photo courtesy: https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/egypt-activity-for-kids/

For detailed instructions and other cool crafts that tie in with Egyptian culture: https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/egypt-activity-for-kids/

No matter what language we use, it’s important to help new books to succeed. You can:
Buy them
Review them
Place the title on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about them via social media – even sharing a book cover helps
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

Thank you for spending your precious time with us. Have a wonderful weekend!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: CHRISTMAS AHOY Plus Signed Book Giveaway

Posted on November 3, 2023 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! Today’s book launched during the summer, but I thought November would be a great time to tell you all about it – the perfect NEW Christmas book for this year’s holiday season.

CHRISTMAS AHOY

Written by Erin Dealey

Illustrated by Kayla Stark

Published by Sleeping Bear Press (July 14, 2023)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Boats, counting, Christmas

Synopsis: From the Amazon sales page:
Ahoy! A spectacular Christmas boat parade is underway! Count up to ten as the dazzling crafts bob pass . . . but wait! Where is Santa and his reindeer? Surely, they aren’t missing the parade? Never fear, little mariners, Santa simply has a surprise in store. With backmatter on the bevy of boats featured!

Why I Love This Book:
1. I love that this book has so many layers – it’s a counting book, a book about boats, a holiday book and it’s in rhyme…wow!
2. The text has a smooth flowing rhythm and rhyme that makes it a perfect read-aloud!
3. The illustrations are GLORIOUS!!! I love seeing all the different types of boats and different cultures portrayed.

And guess what? Author Erin stopped by to share a little bit about the path to publication and beyond:

ERIN: Thank you so much for sharing CHRISTMAS AHOY! The journey is always a bit crazy with a holiday book, as publishers like to release them in summer or early fall to get the word out so bookstores will have them by the holidays.

CHRISTMAS AHOY’s Book Birthday was in July (!) so we celebrated at Fine Arts Camp where I teach in the summer, and then “launched” it at Face in a Book in September.

Then there’s that unwritten rule that no one should talk about Christmas —let alone decorate—until after Halloween! (Full disclosure—I am one of those people who watch Christmas movies in October. )

Needless to say, I am thrilled to see CHRISTMAS AHOY! on Independent Book Store lists, especially in areas where they have lighted boat parades! We can’t wait to celebrate with family at the one in Santa Cruz, CA.

And we are thrilled to see CHRISTMAS AHOY, too!!! Thank you so much for sharing that, Erin.

RELATED ACTIVITIES
Make a boat…or two…or three!

Photo courtesy: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/56539/boat-crafts-kids-make/

For detailed instructions on 18 different boat craft activities for kids: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/56539/boat-crafts-kids-make/

Are you getting your holiday shopping lists ready? Please don’t forget that books make the BEST gifts for kids – and we can give a present to our favorite authors and illustrators by doing at least ONE of these things:
Buy their books
Review their books
Put their books on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about their books (you can share this post on social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

And make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win the wonderful giveaway of a SIGNED COPY OF CHRISTMAS AHOY!

Thank you for spending your precious time with us. I hope you all have a beautiful weekend!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: I SHIP: A Container Ship’s Colossal Journey Plus Critique Giveaway

Posted on October 6, 2023 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! Every new book is special…but this one is extra special to me because #50PreciousWords is part of its story and author Kelly Rice Schmitt shares what happened:
KELLY: I Ship really began with what will be the second book in the series, which unfortunately isn’t announced yet. I had been struggling with how to simplify a complex concept for kids. Enter Vivian’s #50preciouswords contest. I challenged myself to distill this topic using only 50 words. Brevity gave me the idea to narrate the story in first person. Fast Forward a few months – I have a story draft about a container ship getting stuck in the Suez Canal (sound familiar?) but my critique group thinks it needs a better angle. They suggest reframing it to be in the voice of my #50preciouswords story… and I Ship was born! Thank you, Vivian, for inspiring all of us to try to be extremely INTENTIONAL with our words. For me, it launched a whole book series!