Happy Book Birthday: Hello Goodbye Dog PLUS Giveaway

Posted on July 31, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Who doesn’t LOVE birthdays?

Especially BOOK BIRTHDAYS!

And when you add an energentic doggie, you know it’s going to be a lot of fun!

This month, I was thrilled to feature HELLO GOODBYE DOG on Perfect Picture Book Friday.

And then we all enjoyed chatting with author Maria Gianferrari on Will Write for Cookies.

But today, I’ve got something else REALLY special. for you! A Q&A with…

MOOSE, the dog in Hello Goodbye Dog!

ME: Down boy! There’s a good little dog. Moose is an interesting name for a dog. How did your owner come up with that name? Do you like it?

MOOSE:

I love my name, since Zara gave it to me. I think it’s because I’m a big dog.

ME:You sit very quietly when people read to you. What is your favorite thing about being a reading therapy dog?

MOOSE:

I love to listen. The stream of words relax me, like a lullaby. And I love to be with people, especially kids.

ME: What are your favorite stories?

MOOSE:

My new favorite picture book is Dogosaurus Rex, by Anna Staniszewski.

I also love It’s Only Stanley, by Jon Agee.

Another favorite book has a reading dog like me—Bonnie. That’s Lisa Papp’s Madeline Finn and the Library Dog.

And Zara’s going to read A Dog Like Daisy, by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, to me next!

ME: In the cafeteria, I noticed you were looking at Zara’s cookie. What are your favorite snacks?

MOOSE:

I love dog biscuits hidden in my KONG toy and plain yogurt. Zara lets me lick the yogurt containers.

ME: I can see it must be time for your snack, Moose. I’ll let you go. But thank you so much for stopping by to visit. You are welcome back anytime!

And for my dear readers, the lovely Maria Gianferrari is giving away ANOTHER copy of HELLO GOODBYE DOG. Please leave a comment to be entered into the drawing. And if you haven’t left a review on Amazon or Goodreads, please do. Reviews are the best way we can say thank you to incredible autors who write wonderful books for children.”

Plus, don’t forget we are stop #7 on the HELLO GOODBYE DOG book blog tour…hop over and visit some of the other posts when you can.

HELLO GOODBYE DOG BLOG TOUR!

GIVEAWAYS EVERY DAY!!

*Monday, July 24^th: Pragmatic Mom + THREE book giveaway!

*Two for Tuesday, July 25th: Librarian’s Quest

Reading for Research

*Wednesday, July 26th: Homemade City

*Thursday, July 27^th: Kid Lit Frenzy

*Friday, July 28^th: Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook

*Monday, July 31^st: Picture Books Help Kids Soar

*Tuesday, August 1^st: Bildebok

*Wednesday, August 2^nd: The Loud Library Lady

*Thursday, August 3^rd: DEBtastic Reads!

*Friday, August 4^th: Mamabelly’s Lunches with Love

*Monday, August 7^th: Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

EXTRA: August 25^th: Kidlit411—Interview with Patrice Barton

Please come back TOMORROW, for ANOTHER SPECIAL BOOK BIRTHDAY POST for…

APPLESAUCE DAY by Lisa Amstutz

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Marigold Bakes a Cake PLUS Giveaway

Posted on July 21, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!

We’ve actually just passed the half-way mark in this year of reviewing as many 2017 picture books as we can. Which means we have a whole other half of a year to go. Yes! Six more months of fabulous stories to review.

But first…a word from our sponsor. Oh, wait a minute…we don’t have a sponsor here. But we DO have some prizes to give away thanks to Maria Gianferrari. She offered to give away a copy of Hello Goodbye Dog. And the winner is…

CHARLOTTE DIXON

And that’s not all…Maria also offered to give away a Picture Book Manuscript Critique. And the winner is…

SUNWALKER2013

Congratulations, ladies! I’ll be contacting you soon to connect you both with Maria.

Plus, don’t forget to leave a comment on today’s post and tomorrow’s Will Write for Cookies because our wonderful debut picture book author/illustrator, Mike Malbrough is giving way a copy of MARIGOLD BAKES A CAKE.

Marigold Bakes a Cake

Written and illustrated by Mike Malbrough

Publisher: Philomel Books (July 2017 – Happy Book Birthday!)

Ages: Preschool – Grade 2

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

For fans of Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon… series. Baking the perfect cake is how Marigold spends Mondays. Being messy, noisy, and disruptive in Marigold’s kitchen are how one finch, two pigeons, and three loons spend their Mondays!

Marigold the cat loves Mondays, for that is when he bakes cakes! With his favorite recipe in front of him, he rolls up his sleeves and gets down to it. He whips up egg whites . . . Easy. He adds a cup of milk . . . Peasy. Then he sprinkles in just a pinch of . . . of finch?! That’s not right at all! Neither are the smidgeons of pigeons or the spoonsfull of loons. Clearly a chase is in order! Yet all that leads to is a spectacularly messy kitchen. And no cake.

With a recipe comprised of equal parts humor and charm, author-illustrator Mike Malbrough has cooked up a scrumptious laugh-out-loud addition to the great tradition of interruption books. Perfect for fans of Mo Willems’ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and David Ezra Stein’s Interrupting Chicken.

Opening Lines:

“Marigold liked everything just so.”

Why I like this book:

Great pacing and page turns!
Fabulous illustrations!
Spot on FUNNY!
Wonderful read aloud!
And who doesn’t love a cat who can bake?

RELATED ACTIVITIES

KID-FRIENDLY AND IBS FRIENDLY BRER RABBIT CARROT CAKE

Photo courtesy: http://www.food.com/recipe

I love inviting kids into the kitchen…it’s fun! And they learn so much. Science. Math. Literacy skills. Geography and Social Studies (where the foods come from).

I’ve made this recipe hundreds of times for my husband…it is his favorite cake. And because he has nothing artificial…it’s great for the kids, too. The recipe is originally from: Eating for IBS by Heather Van Vorous.

You will need:

1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder

3⁄4 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1⁄2 teaspoon allspice

1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg

3⁄4 cup granulated sugar

1⁄4 cup packed brown sugar

3⁄4 cup egg whites or 3⁄4 cup egg substitute

1⁄2 cup canola oil

2 tablespoons fresh orange zest

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1⁄2-2 cups carrots, packed finely shredded or grated

3⁄4 cup canned crushed pineapple, with liquid

Sweet Orange Icing

3⁄4 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 1⁄2 teaspoons fresh orange zest

1 tablespoon fresh orange juice

1⁄2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

For detailed instructions, please click here.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear friends…don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway and please come back tomorrow for:

Will Write for Cookies

With debut picture book author

MIKE MALBROUGH

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.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: LIZZIE AND LOU SEAL Plus GIVEAWAY

Posted on June 23, 2017 by viviankirkfield

Hold onto your beach hats, dear friends! Wednesday was the first day of summer and today we’ve got the perfect book to celebrate that.

Plus, today’s post is extra-special because author/illustrator Patricia Keeler is giving away a signed copy of LIZZIE and LOU SEAL

AND

a pair of Lizzie’s favorite flip-flop earrings!

Make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway!

LIZZIE and LOU SEAL

Written and illustrated by Patricia Keeler

Publisher: Sky Pony Press (2017)

Ages: 3 – 6

Themes:

Independence, friendship, problem solving

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

What will Lizzie do when Lou Seal loses his puff?

Lizzie loves her flip-flops. They go shuffle shuffle across the rug, smack smack on the floor tiles, and thwap thwap down the stairs. Lizzie also loves her blow-up toy, Lou Seal. Lizzie and Lou Seal are off to the beach, but beach fun turns to beach disaster when Lizzie loses her flip-flops and Lou Seal starts losing air! It’s a sink or swim scenario. What will Lizzie do?

This is a beautiful book with mixed media art and a lovely retro feel, for fans of Ladybug Girl at the Beach. Children will relate to Lizzie’s independence and creative problem solving and fall in love with Lou Seal themselves. Filled with lots of fun words and sounds, this is a perfect read aloud book for parents and children alike.

Why I like this book:

Charming, retro surroundings frame Lizzie’s seaside life.
The text marries perfectly with the illustrations and much of the story is briliiantly told in the illustrations…kids will enjoy discovering the leak in Lou Seal way before Lizzie notices it.
This story engages all the senses, while reeling out a picture book that is the perfect beach read as well as a great anytime read-aloud.
A great launch pad for a discussion about water safety.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

FAUX SNOW GLOBE: On The Beach or In The Ocean?

We are so lucky. Author/illustrator Patricia Keeler has created a super fun craft for the kids!

You will need: Firm yellow heavy paper, firm blue paper, Krazy Glue, 2 clear lids from 32 oz Stonyfield Yogurt, sand, glitter & LIZZIE and LOU SEAL icon sheet below.

Print out the LIZZIE and LOU SEAL sheet. Cut out Lou Seal and icons.
Choose which items would most likely be found on land. Choose which items would be found in the ocean.
Draw a circle around the yogurt lid on the yellow and blue sheets.
In the center of the yellow circle, place sand, beach items and Lou Seal. In the circle on the blue paper, place blue glitter, ocean items and Lou Seal.
Put Krazy Glue along the circle line. Stick the lid down and let it dry.
SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE and enjoy!