Perfect Picture Book Friday: Angelina’s Christmas – Reaching Out to Help Others

Posted on December 12, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Happy Friday, everyone! It’s time for a Perfect Picture Book review and craft activity. If you head over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog today, you won’t find her usual picture book link up because the 4^th Annual Holiday Contest is underway…check out the scores of incredible original stories – you are in for a treat!

Today’s picture book is especially perfect for this time of year. And I’m really excited because the author, Katharine Holabird, is going to be my Will Write for Cookies guest tomorrow.

ANGELINA’S CHRISTMAS

Written by Katharine Holabird

Illustrated by Helen Craig

Publisher: American Girl (2002 – hardcover) Puffin (2008 – paperback)

Ages: 3-5+

Themes: Christmas, friendship, helping others

Opening Lines:

“Christmas was coming and everyone at Angelina’s school was working hard to prepare for the Christmas show. Angelina and the other children stayed after their lessons to rehearse and help decorate the hall.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

“When Angelina Ballerina sees the postman, old Mr. Bell, all alone at Christmastime, she decides to bring him some holiday cheer. Cousin Henry doesn’t want to help until he finds that there’s a real Santa Claus living in their town!” Continue reading →

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Llama, Llama and the Bully Goat

Posted on November 21, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Happy Friday, everyone! It’s time for a Perfect Picture Book review and craft activity.

The book I’m recommending is one that belongs on every school library shelf, as well as in every home. It addresses the problem of bullying – an issue of concern in schools and playgrounds everywhere. In fact, I’ve prepared a kid’s anti-bullying toolkit guide with some simple action steps to take. It’s a free gift when you sign up to get my awesome quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/8pglH

Reading a picture book with your child creates a bond. It also gives you an opportunity to talk about sensitive issues like bullying.

LLAMA LLAMA AND THE BULLY GOAT

Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney

Publisher: Viking Juvenile (2013)

Ages: 3-5+

Themes: Bullying

Opening Lines:

“Llama, llama busy day.

Writing, counting, pictures, clay. Continue reading →

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Insides Out plus Craft Activity

Posted on November 14, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Do you ever feel you don’t have time to do anything – because you are too busy doing everything?

I’m feeling that way this month. I’m participating in Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo) – reading inspiring daily posts from authors and illustrators on Tara Lazar’s blog and trying to come up with at least one sparkling spark of an idea for a new picture book story. It’s going pretty well…I’ve got way more than 15 ideas – and the month is only half over.

I’m also taking Mira Reisberg’s Illustrating Children’s Picture Books because I had a crazy idea that maybe one day I might be able to illustrate my own stories!!!! Last week I had to create thumbnails for one of my stories – a kind of a storyboard with a small sketch for each scene. This week I had to develop some character sketches for my main character, a little boy who wants to catch a bug to be his pet. I’m putting my work up here to encourage every person who reads this post that it is okay to try things that are out of your comfort zone – you won’t break the world, your computer, or yourself – and you just might discover something that you love doing!