Perfect Picture Book Friday: Hello, My Name is Tiger PLUS Giveaway

Posted on August 25, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday selection is coming just at the right time!

But before we get to the review, we have TWO giveaway winners to announce!

I feel blessed that our author guests and their publishers have been so generous this year.

The winner of a copy of CHICKEN WANTS A NAP by Tracy Marchini is….

INGRID BOYDSTON

And the winner of a copy of A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY by Sara O’Leary is…

LILY ERLIC

CONGRATULATIONS, dear ladies. I will contact you ASAP.

And now for our Perfect Picture Book!

School is just around the corner for many kids…and it may have already started for some. Whether it’s the first ever day of school, the first day at a new school, or the first day in a new class, kids often have a lot of anxiety. Will they make new friends? Will other kids laugh at them? Will they find their way around? Will they like their new teacher?

HELLO, MY NAME IS TIGER

Written and illustrated by Jen Goldfinger

Published by HarperCollins (2016)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: first day of school, anxiety, be yourself

Synopsis:

From Amazon

A reassuring picture book for back-to-school jitters!

Toby likes being a cat more than he likes being a boy. So when it’s time to go to school, he becomes a timid kitten. But when Toby finally gathers the courage to join in with the other kids, he finds out that everything is more fun with friends.

Why I like this book:

Wonderful text
Bold bright colorful illustrations
Super message for kids

Related Activities

Photo courtesy: http://www.dltk-kids.com

Paper Plate Tiger

If you’ve visited my blog before, you probably know I LOVE paper plate crafts for kids. They are quick, easy, and inexpensive…plus kids really enjoy making them and they can be hung up and displayed proudly or used for role playing or children’s theater.

You will need: Paper plate, markers or crayons, scissors, glue, construction paper.

For detailed instructions: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/metiger.html

And one of the best things we can do for our children when they are anxious about something is to LISTEN, really listen.

Thank you so much for stopping by today…I hope you’ll be back tomorrow when author/illustrator Jen Goldfinger is in the Will Write for Cookies house with an eye-opening Q&A and a yummy original take on the classic Toll House Cookie recipe.

Dont forget to leave a comment to qualify for Jen’s giveaway of a copy of HELLO, MY NAME IS TIGER.

For more wonderful picture book reviews you will find hundreds on Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book site.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: A Family is a Family is a Family PLUS Giveaway

Posted on August 18, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!

The summer is winding down. School has already started for some kids. And I’m thrilled to feature a picture book today that belongs in every preschool and early elementary classroom.

When I grew up, most kids I knew came from two parent families…a mom and a dad…and often, it was the dad who went out to earn money while the mom stayed home and took care of the children. But these days, there has been a tremendous shift in that cookie-cutter type family. We desperately need more books that portray the various family units that exist. Thanks to author Sara O’Leary and illustrator Qin Leng, we have the perfect one!

Groundwood Logos Spine

A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY

Written by Sara O’Leary

Illustrated by Qin Leng

Published by Groundwood Books (2016)

Themes: families, diversity

Opening Lines:

“We were talking about families at school. The teacher asked us what we thought made our family special. I went last because I wasn’t sure what to say. My family is not like everybody else’s.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all.

One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One is full of stepsiblings, and another has a new baby.

As one by one, her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them — family of every shape, size and every kind of relation — the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, her family is special.

Why I like this book:

Talk about diversity. Not only do we find a varied array of family units…we also find characters of all sizes, shapes, and colors!
Very simple text will appeal to young listeners and early readers!
The illustrations are fabulous!

Related Activities:

Popsicle Stick Puppets

30-popsicle-stick-crafts-KAB

Photo courtesy: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com

What a super bunch of Popsicle crafts for kids here! Take your pick of several that highlight the family. Why not help your child make a puppet for each member of the family and role play various situations. Let the fun begin!

You will need: Popsicle sticks, markets, scissors, glue, photos of family members or construction paper to draw your own pictures.

For detailed instructions: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/58976/childrens-crafts-with-popsicle-sticks

Dear readers, thanks to author Sara and her publisher, Groundwood Books, we will have a giveaway of a copy of A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY. (U.S. or Canadian addresses only). Please make sure you leave a comment to be entered. If you get to read the book, remember that reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads are the best gift you can give to an author. I just posted my review of the book on Amazon.

And hurry back tomorrow for a super Will Write for Cookies Q&A with author Sara O’Leary who is sharing awesome insights and an AMAZING Ginger Shortbread recipe with us…and oh, how I LOVE ginger!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Picture Book Review and Activity PLUS Giveaway: TRAINS DON’T SLEEP

Posted on May 5, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Right now, I am in Chicago, visiting family! Thank goodness for being able to schedule posts in advance.

It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday and I’m thrilled to present another 2017 debut picture book.

I also wanted to remind everyone to continue to spread the word about the #50PreciousWordsforKids International Writing Challenge. There are only a few more days for teachers and parents to email the stories to me – it’s a wonderful activity for schools who want to celebrate Children’s Book Week or for parents who enjoy providing creative projects for their kids. I’m grateful to everyone who shared on social media or who contacted teacher and parent connections.

Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday also has a giveaway…so don’t forget to leave a comment.

TRAINS DON’T SLEEP

Written by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum

Illustrated by Dierdre Gill

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Ages: Preschool – Grade 3

Themes:

Trains, travel,

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

Puffing, chuffing, never yawning

Climbing hills as day is dawning.

Trains don’t sleep, they

CLANG and HOOT

Cross bridges and canyons, plow through snow, charge down mountains, and meander across fields filled with sheep. And when it is time to rest and dreams are just ahead, never fear—trains don’t sleep so that you can.

With the feel of a classic and vivid artwork that captures the power and majesty of trains, this is a fast-paced rhyming ode to the locomotive.

Why I like this book:

Debut picture book author Andria Rosenbaum has nailed the rhythm and rhyme – I love the pacing that enables the reader/listener to feel like they are on a train.
Beautiful illustrations…with a slightly muted dreamlike quality!
And even though this is a book about how trains don’t sleep, I think it would make a perfect bedtime read for young kids because of the wonderful rhythm and circular story.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Photo courtesy: http://craftulate.com/2016/03/train-crafts-art-ideas.html

Make sure you chuga-chuga choo choo over to this website…they have the best train crafts for young kids: http://craftulate.com/2016/03/train-crafts-art-ideas.html
If you live in the city, hop on a train with your child – if you live in the suburbs, check the train schedules and take a ride.
Visit a train museum if there are any in your region.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends…don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway of a copy of TRAINS DON’T SLEEP.

And please come back tomorrow for:

Will Write for Cookies

With debut picture book author

ANDRIA ROSENBAUM

And I hardly wait for May 11^th when I post the #50PreciousWordsforKids stories!

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.