PPBF: Millions of Cats and some awards

Posted on February 17, 2012 by viviankirkfield

English: Wanda Gág (1893-1946), American autho...

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Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday where I link up with Susannah Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of writers who contribute a picture book review and related resources.

My selection today is another classic picture book…this one from 1928…the author/illustrator, Wanda Gag, won the 1929 Newbery Honor Book Award. According to Wikipedia, Ms. Gag pioneered the double page spread in this book. “She used both pages to move the story forward, putting them together with art that sweeps across the entire page spread.”

Millions of Cats is the oldest American picture book still in print!

Millions of Cats

Written and illustrated by Wanda Gag

Publishers: Coward McCann (1928 original edition), Penguin (more recent editions)

Ages: 2 – 8

Themes: Celebrating the uniqueness of each individual, caring for pets, companionship

Opening: “Once upon a time there was a very old man and a very old woman. They lived in a nice clean house which had flowers all around it, except where the door was. But they couldn’t be happy because they were so very lonely.”

Synopsis: A lonely old couple want a pretty little cat to keep them company. When the husband finds a hillside FILLED with cats, he has trouble picking the prettiest…and all of the cats follow him home. “Cats here, cats there, cats and kittens everywhere. Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats.”

When the man and his wife leave it up to the cats to determine who is the prettiest, mayhem breaks out and the couple run into their house! Will the cats be able to choose who is the prettiest? Will the old couple get the cat that they want?

Why do I like this book:

The Rhyme!

The Rhythm!

The Illustrations!

The fact that this book is over EIGHTY years old and adults and children still love it and it is still in print! Kudos to Ms. Gag!

The Story! The results of the catfight are somewhat grisly…but the underdog (or should I say, undercat) wins out…through modesty and non-violence…definitely an important message for today’s world!

Related Activities:

New Hampshire Public TV has a kid-lit site where Caldecott Award winning books are read. You can hear Millions of Cats here: http://video.nhptv.org/video/1688016012/

Anita Silvey’s Children’s Book-of-Days Almanac has a wonderful review of the book and additional information about Wanda Gag and her groundbreaking picture book work here: http://childrensbookalmanac.com/2010/12/millions-of-cats/

Scholastic has a page that provides some guidance for parents and teachers on how to use the book to encourage discussions about caring for others here: http://westonwoods.scholastic.com/products/westonwoods/study_guides/millions_of_cats.pdf

Last week I shared the Valentine Boat made from a shoebox. Plain brown paper bags also make very versatile (and inexpensive) craft projects for kids. I found this awesome cat made from a paper bag here: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mbagcat.htm Dltk-kids.com a wonderful resource for craft ideas.

You will need: Plain brown (or white) paper lunch-size bag, 2 pieces of construction paper (one should probably be black for the eyes and whiskers and the other can be pink…or any other color your child would prefer), glue, scissors, crayons or markers.

1. Cut from the black paper: 2 pupils for the eyes and 6 whiskers.

2. Cut from the other color paper: 2 eyes, oval stomach, nose, 2 triangles for ears, several small circles for the paws and a small triangle for the mouth.

3. Place the closed bag with the open end down and attach the eyes, nose, ears, mouth, paw pads and whiskers with glue.

4. Use marker or crayons to draw the line from the nose to the mouth and add other lines to make the bag more cat-like.

When dry, this cat-bag can be used as a puppet for role-playing or as a snack bag for a special book-reading picnic where Millions of Cats is read aloud!

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 also wanted to thank Catherine Johnson, one of my new kid-lit picture book writing blogging friends for giving me the Liebster Blog Award and the Kreativ Blogger Award…you can see what she’s up to at: http://catherinemjohnson.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/campaign-trails-and-blog-awards/

This award comes with instructions to pass it along to others:

Bern at Momto2Postlildivas: http://www.momto2poshlildivas.com/ for her Sunday Showcase link-up that provides parents and teachers with an unbelievable array of crafts for kids.

Barbara at Spanish for Kiddos: http://www.spanish4kiddos.com/

D at Spanish Pinay: http://spanishpinaynanay.blogspot.com

Danae Farias at Believing Unbeliever: http://www.danaefarias.com/

Heather at Saved by Love: http://www.heather-riggleman.com/

PiP at Piglet in Portugal: http://pigletinportugal.com/

I hope you will take a few minutes and visit these great bloggers…they all have important things to say…and they say them very well!

Perfect Picture Book Fridays: Little Toot

Posted on February 10, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday where I link up with Susannah Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of writers who contribute a picture book review and related resources.

My selection is a classic picture book from 1939…kids love hearing it as much as they did over 70 years ago when it was first published! Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I’ve chosen a craft that parents and/or teachers might want to try with their children.

Little Toot

Written and illustrated by Hardie Gramatky

Publishers: G. P. Putnam (original: 1939, but many different editions over the years)

Ages: 3 – 7

Themes: Mastering tasks and skills, maturation

Opening: “At the foot of an old, old wharf lives the cutest, silliest little tugboatr you ever saw. A very handsome tugboat with a brand new candy-stick smoke-stack. His name is Little Toot.”

Synopsis: Little Toot spends his days “playing” in New York City harbour, getting in the way of the other tugboats that are working hard. The little tugboat enjoys sailing in figure-eights and blowing big smokeballs. While his father and grandfather,famous for their strength and bravery, work diligently, Little Toot fools around. The entire fleet of tugboats despair that Little Toot will ever learn to do the job he was born to do. However, when a big ocean liner gets into trouble during a storm, Little Toot must decide if he will continue his childish antics or rise to the occasion and save the day?

Why do I like this book:

Growing up is a difficult task. Children often hear parents and teachers exclaim, “When will you grow up and act your age?” Just like Leo the Late Bloomer, Little Toot helps parents realize that their children will mature in their own unique time. The story also gives hope to young children that they will master those tasks and skills they are challenged with now and shows them how Little Toot was able to channel his energy in a positive way.

The book is filled with Mr. Gramatky’s beautiful watercolor illustrations and the text is perfectly simple and simply perfect! The reader and listener are drawn into the drama on the high seas…will Little Toot be able to rescue the ocean liner?

Related Activities:

There is a website dedicated to Little Toot and the other works of Hardie Gramatky with teacher/parent/child activities and information: http://www.littletoot.org/

Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, how about making a Tugboat Valentine Box for your child to store all of his or her Valentine cards. My thanks to Courtney, one of my coworkers, who made this awesome Valentine Boat.

You will need: Shoebox with lid, piece of cardboard (from cereal box or men’s dress shirt), construction paper, markers or crayons, white school glue or glue stick, scissors, Valentine stickers (optional…you can always cut the out of construction paper).

1. Cut the piece of cardboard to fit the front of the bottom of the box as the “bow” of the boat. Glue in place.

2. Cut a hole in the lid for the “mail” slot.

3. Cover the outside of the box and the lid with construction paper and glue in place.

4. Cut several strips of paper and roll to form the smoke-stacks. Glue in place.

5. Add the decorations and designs with markers, crayons and stickers.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Leo the Late Bloomer…and the winner is…

Posted on February 3, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday where I link up with Susannah Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of writers who contribute a picture book review and related resources.

But first,I want to announce the January PPP Reading Challenge picture book winner. It was lovely to see everyone’s reading list…thank you all for sharing and taking the time (which I know is precious and in short supply) to add your comments. And the winner is…two winners, actually…Jennifer at Toy Box Years and Milka at Perfecting Motherhood. I’ll email you both so you can let me know where to send the books. I’m looking forward to reading the comments this month…another picture book prize for at least one lucky commenter.

And now, on to my PPBF selection: Leo the Late Bloomer

Leo the Late Bloomer

Written by Robert Kraus

Illustrated by Jose Aruego

Publishers: HarperCollins

Ages: 3 – 7

Themes: Mastering tasks and skills, maturation

Opening: “Leo couldn’t do anything right.”

Synopsis:

Leo, a little tiger cub, seems slow to mature. He cannot read, write, eat neatly, draw…or even talk. His father wonders if Leo will ever learn to do these things, but Leo’s mother tells her husband to have patience. Will Leo’s father stop watching to see if Leo is blooming? Does Leo ever catch up to his more accomplished animal friends?

Why do I like this book:

Children mature at different rates…and they all have unique strengths. This is a story that encourages and gives hope to young children who may be slower at learning to tie shoelaces or zip jackets or write their name. And perhaps it may also help those parents who worry when a child does not perform at the same level or accomplish the same things as an older brother or sister.

The text is ultra-simple! The glorious illustrations capture Leo’s father’s frustration and Leo’s joy with life itself. Check out the “snowmen” that each animal builds…young children love seeing the snow-elephant, the snow-snake, the snow-bird, the snow-owl and the snow-crocodile. Leo, of course, cannot make one and goes chasing after a rabbit. This is a story every child and parent can relate to.

Related Activities:

Daisy Chain Necklace: great for developing fine motor coordination (this project is also suitable for any holiday…just use the traditional colors, such as red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, etc.)

You will need: Strips of colored construction paper (1” x 6”), markers or crayons and a glue stick.

1. Decorate each strip as desired…flower patterns, numbers, letters, zigzags, dots, etc.

2. Put glue on the edge of one strip. Form a loop and press together. Help the child count to 30.

3. Put glue on the edge of another strip. Thread it through the loop and press. Count to 30 again. Now you have the beginning of the chain.

4. Continue until there are enough links in the chain so it will fit over the child’s head and around the neck comforably.

I’ve done this project with kindergarten children and they love making each strip unique. They also have a lot of fun counting to 30 as they press the edges together! Of course, there are always a couple of “clever” kids who count by 5’s or 10’s to get to 30 faster…the different rates of maturation of children (like tiger cubs) in action…but their edges often don’t stay stuck!