Writing for Children | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD

Are you ready for some fun?

It’s time to be hoppin’ happy!

It‘s time for THE CHILDREN’S AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR BLOG HOP!

I was tagged by Emily Lim, one of Singapore’s most popular and prolific picture book authors. We connected over a year ago through blogging – I linked one of my posts to one of her posts – she came to visit, left a comment – and the rest is history. What is so super cool is that this past May, I got to meet Emily in person when I went to Singapore for the Asian Festival of Children’s Content, a week long celebration of exceptional children content creators – with two days of SCBWI conferences and dozens of presentations by authors and illustrators from around the globe.

Her first book took the reader along on Emily’s journey as she coped with Continue reading →

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Several weeks ago, children’s author, Susannah Leonard Hill, announced a contest: write a children’s story, in poetry or prose, about unlikely Valentines.

To tell you the truth, ever since the second week in January when I decided to participate in Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, I am never without a piece of paper and a pen because I never know when a picture book idea will suddenly descend upon me. Often, in the wee hours of the morning, a picturesque phrase pops into my head…and if I don’t write it down immediately, it disappears. Of course, reading what is on the paper in the light of the morning is sometimes impossible…my handwriting is not the best and writing in the dark definitely does not improve it.

So here is my entry into Susannah’s Valentine’s Day Contest…as I read each verse, I can visualize the illustrations that might accompany this story. I hope you all enjoy it and I welcome your feedback and constructive criticism…but please, be gentle…today is my birthday!

A Story of Unlikely Valentines

Whom Do I Love? by Vivian Kirkfield

Whom do I love?

Quizzed the cloud-covered moon.

I love the dish that ran off with the spoon.

Whom do I love?

Posed the run-away dish.

I love the silvery stream-swimming fish.

Whom do I love?

Slurped the shimmering trout.

I love the rock-hopping toad that jumped out.

Whom do I love?

Croaked the hip-hopping toad.

I love the waddling duck on the road.

Whom do I love?

Quacked the web-footed duck.

I love the pig on the rusty farm truck.

Whom do I love?

Oinked the curly-tailed pig.

I love the floppy-eared dog that can dig.

Whom do I love?

Barked the diggity-dog.

I love the bee in the hollowed-out log.

Whom do I love?

Buzzed the bumblely-bee.

I love the mouse that lives under the tree.

Whom do I love?

Squeaked the scurrying mouse.

I love the curly-haired boy in that house.

Whom do I love?

Asked the sweet little lad.

I love my momma and I love my dad.

I’m excited to read the other entries that link up to Susannah’s Valentine’s Day Contest…we learn so much when we share our thoughts and encourage and support one another.