Has it been a busy summer for all of you? It definitely has been for me! In July, I attended the WOW Retreat in Georgia! Kristen Fulton organized a conference that was chock full of top notch authors, agents, and editors.

Presentations, Round Tables, One-on-One Critiques, and close up and personal attention from the faculty just about 24/7 all combined to provide a fantastic week of writing. And I even got to spend quality time with my very own agent, the incredible Essie White.

Then, earlier this month, I went to Dana Farber/Brigham Women’s in Boston for my surgery. I truly need to speak out about the power of positive thinking and prayer. When I woke up from the operation (a bilateral mastectomy), I felt great and continue to do so, without any pain medication whatsoever. Two days after the surgery, I was discharged from the hospital and stopped off for lunch at one of Boston’s  Indian restaurants with my son and daughter.

A bona fide miracle! Thank you to EVERYONE who sent healing thoughts, cards, gifts, and most of all, love. According to my surgeon who is a veritable magician, I am CANCER FREE!!!! So back to writing, back to revising, back to critiquing, and back to blogging.

But before we proceed to our Perfect Picture Book Friday review, we need to announce the winner of a copy of Pat Zeitlow Miller’s brand-new picture book, Sophie’s Squash Goes to School.

AND THE WINNER IS:

JESSICA LAWSON

Congratulations, Jessica…I loved hearing about the dead squirrel you brought to school…and thank you so much to everyone who shared their strangest school show and tell.  Jessica, please email me with your address so I can get the book right out to you: viviankirkfield@gmail.com.

 And now for today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday pick!

If a T-Rex Crashes Your Birthday Party

Written by Jill Esbaum

Illustrated by Dasha Tolstikova

Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books (August 2016)

Ages: 4 and up

Themes:

Birthdays, dinosaurs

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

You never know what will happen when a T. Rex crashes your birthday party. Sure, you’ll be super excited when he turns up at your door. But then he’ll stomp. He’ll ROAR. He’ll look at you as if he’s wondering how you taste with a little mustard. In the end, though, you just may find yourself asking him to come back next year!

Why I like this book:

• So funny…and full of tongue in cheek humor…and I’ve found, from reading hundreds of picture books with my grandson, that kids LOVE funny books!
• Great illustrations – bright, simple, and lots of color!
• Dinosaurs, birthday parties…need I say more?

RELATED ACTIVITIES

From the author’s website, an activity kit for a birthday party: http://www.jillesbaum.com/assets/t.rex-party-kit.pdf

Other reviews of this book:

https://kid-lit-reviews.com/2016/08/16/938-if-a-t-rex-crashes-your-birthday-party-by-jill-esbaum-and-dasha-tolstikova/

Interview with the illustrator and a giveaway on Jill’s blog:

http://picturebookbuilders.com/2016/08/if-a-t-rex-crashes-your-birthday-party-and-giveaway

 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 hope you all have a wonderful weekend, dear friends and readers. And please don’t forget to come back tomorrow for:

Will Write for Cookies

With

JILL ESBAUM

AND A

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!