#PPBF – My Love For You Is The Sun

Posted on September 27, 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. If you are a mom, teacher or librarian, please check out Susanna’s amazing Perfect Picture Book page with over 1000 categorized picture book reviews and activities.

I love reviewing picture books! It gives me the perfect excuse to read them myself, just in case I can’t find a willing child-listener. But most of all, I love reviewing picture books written by my friends! Julie Hedlund, founder of the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, has a beautiful new picture book out – and I just had to tell you about it.

MY LOVE FOR YOU IS THE SUN

Written by Julie Hedlund

Illustrations by Susan Eaddy

Publisher: Little Bahalia Publishing (2014)

Ages: 0 and up

Themes: Parent-child love, unconditional love, nature

Opening Lines:

“My love for you is the sun,

Rising to your tender heart.

It shines on you when we’re apart.” Continue reading →

#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?

Whistle for Willie…Building Self-Esteem

Posted on January 17, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Perfect Picture Book Friday…I missed a couple of weeks while I was out of town…I’m happy to be back joining Susanna Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of picture book writers, illustrators, librarians and others who contribute a picture book review.

Whistle for Willie

Written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats

Publisher: The Viking Press (1964) Puffin Press has a newer 1977 edition

Ages: 4 and up

Themes:

Self-esteem, parental support, growing up, coping with failure

Synopsis:

Little Peter wants to learn how to whistle so he can call his dog, Willie. He keeps trying until, one day, he can do it. His parents support him and encourage him throughout it all.

Why do I like this book:

Classic Ezra Jack Keats…need I say more?

The bold illustrations captivate…the simple text brings home the message of ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’. Every child needs to hear this story at least once…and I guarantee every child will want to hear it again and again.

Related Activities:

Kids love making music, whether they are whistling, beating on a drum or shaking maracas. There are many instruments that you can help your child craft…and try these water glass chimes…the tones created by the different glasses will amaze everyone.

Water Chimes

Illustration and instructions courtesy http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_6.html

You will need:

8 glasses
teaspoons
water

Directions:

Line up eight glasses of about the same size and shape.
Fill the first glass about 1/8th full of water for the high note, the second glass should be 1/4 full, the third glass should be 3/8ths full for the next note, and so on.
Each glass should sound like a note on the music scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do). You may need to tune your music scale (add or remove water with teaspoon) until each note rings true.
Have the children use a metal teaspoon to gently tap out the scale and any other melodies they know (Mary had a Little lamb, Twinkle Twinkle).

Hints for Water Chimes

Don’t use expensive crystal glasses to make water chimes.
Add a bit a food coloring to help children identify which glass is which sound.
Changing the amount of water will change the musical note. The amount of water in the glass changes the pitch of the sound wave.

Here are a few more sites that provide music craft-making instructions.

http://www.greatschools.org/students/activities/248-activity-make-music-in-the-kitchen.gs

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/musicalinstrumentsartscraftstideashandmadekids.html

http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2009/07/how-to-make-a-paper-whistle.html

Lesson plans for Whistle for Willie and other sites with additional activities:

http://school.familyeducation.com/reading-instruction/resource/30357.html

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/whistle_for_willie.php

http://westonwoods.scholastic.com/products/westonwoods/study_guides/whistle_for_willie.pdf

If you are looking for a great resource that will give you 100’s of picture book summaries, easy matching crafts (even a couple of musical instrument projects) and healthful child-friendly cooking activities, purchase a copy on Amazon of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. At $24.95, this book makes a PERFECT gift for any parent or teacher of children ages 2-8…as well as for daycare providers and grandparents. No batteries required…powered by a child’s imagination! Buy your copy today and start the year with educational self-esteem building activities that are quick and easy and lots of fun.