#PPBF: Belches, Burps and Farts – Oh My!

Posted on September 12, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Welcome, everyone! Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday – I review a picture book, provide a simple fun craft you can do with your kids and then I link up with dozens of other writers, moms, librarians and other lovers of picture books on Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

I hope all of you have had a great summer. I stepped back from blogging to work on my vegetable garden and focus on picture book writing. I took Kristen Fulton’s Non-Fiction Archaeology class in June, Renee LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab in August, and attended a writing retreat at Squam Lake in New Hampshire just last weekend. It’s definitely been a rewarding summer.

Back in June, I did a review of Peter Panda Melts Down by Artie Bennett. My grandson loved that book! So I am really thrilled to be reviewing Artie’s newest picture book, Belches, Burps, and Farts – Oh My!

BELCHES, BURPS, AND FARTS – OH MY!

Written by Artie Bennett

Illustrations By Pranas T. Naujokaitis

Publisher: Blue Apple Books (2014)

Ages: 5 and up

Themes: Facts about belches, burps and farts and how to deal with them, humor, body functions

Opening Lines:

“On these pages, we’ll explore some body sounds we can’t ignore! No, not the sneeze, the wheeze, the sigh, but belches, burps and farts, oh my!”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

“Young readers will discover many fascinating facts about burps, belches, and farts. Real science and zany rhyme combine to teach kids the how, why, and where of gas-tastic eruptions made by people and animals, such as:

• why we can’t burp while on our backs
• which animals can’t “cut the cheese”
• how fish communicate via burp bubbles
• why soda and burps go together
• who farts more—boys or girls”

Why I like this book:

A fun way to learn about a topic most people are embarrassed to talk about – I learned a bunch of stuff I didn’t know
I read it to my grandson – he thought it was hilarious and was really interested in the facts
I love the mix of humor and nonfiction which is very appealing to reluctant readers and perfect for classroom units on body science

How a parent can use this book:

Talk about belching, burping and farting – they are natural functions of our bodies – but we can be polite and say excuse me
Have fun with the book with your kids

Have you seen Artie’s other books? They are hilarious!

If you’d like to find out more about the author and his books, please visit: ArtieBennett.com

Related Activities:

Cartoon Drawing for Kids

Photo courtesy: http://artforkidshub.com/how-to-draw-a-raccoon-cartoon/

Kids love cartoons. And they are really easy to draw. Click the link above to find detailed instructions for drawing the raccoon and many other animals.

And a big thank you to Artie for the final picture…quite appropriate for the END of this post, wouldn’t you say?

#PPBF: Peter Panda Melts Down – Dealing With Temper Tantrums

Posted on June 12, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday – I review a picture book, provide a simple fun craft you can do with your kids and then I link up with dozens of other writers, moms, librarians and other lovers of picture books on Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

I recently connected with the author of today’s selection…Artie Bennett is super funny and super talented…so it’s not surprising that his new book is super awesome as well! My grandson was repeating the refrain after the first couple of pages…and gave the book an enthusiastic thumbs up.

PETER PANDA MELTS DOWN!

Written by Artie Bennett

Illustrations by John Nez

Publisher: Blue Apple Books (2014)

Ages: 3 and up

Themes: Expressing feelings, appropriate behavior, temper tantrums

Opening Lines:

“Let’s meet the Pandas. Here’s Peter. He’s three! And Mama, who calls, “Climb down from that tree!”

Synopsis:

From the author:

“Uh-oh. Here it comes. Here comes that frown. Peter Panda melts dowwwnnn!”

Poor Peter Panda. He’s only three and filled with frustration. And when things don’t quite go his way, he’s apt to throw a tantrum—in the car, in the library, in the supermarket, in the . . . He’s the most meltdownable panda we know. Continue reading →

#PPBF – Millie Fierce Sleeps Out

Posted on June 6, 2014 by viviankirkfield

I enjoy reading the classic picture books that I grew up with – but I also love finding brand-new ones that will be classics one day. So I was excited to receive a copy of today’s selection from the publisher…and I’m really thrilled to be presenting it to you – hot off the press!

MILLIE FIERCE SLEEPS OUT

Written and illustrated by Jane Manning

Publisher: Philomel Books (May 29, 2014)

Ages: 3 and up

Themes: Expressing feelings, appropriate behavior, camping out, overcoming fears

Opening Lines:

“Being good wasn’t easy. But Millie knew that being fierce ruined parties, and made people mad, and even made them cry. So Millie had kept herself fierce-free all summer long.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

“Little girls can be strong and fierce and brave—and sometimes their ferocity is just the thing they need to save the day.

Millie is strong. Millie is fierce. But Millie has learned to keep her fierceness in check. And since she’s been sweet all summer long, Millie gets to have a sleep-out with her friends. One where she promises to be well behaved. But things don’t go as Millie planned, and our fierce little heroine is not happy. Still, she tries her best to keep her fierceness inside. But when the scary dog from next door howls at the girls’ tent Continue reading →