Paula Wiseman Books | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! Here comes another book from a dear kid-lit friend, Ariel Bernstein. I met Ariel when my first book, Sweet Dreams, Sarah was supposed to come out in 2017 and I joined the Picture the Books 2017 debut picture book author group. Of course, it turned out that my book was pushed back, first to 2018 and then to 2019. But the other members invited me to stay in the group – and I did. And guess who some of those other members were: Andrea Lonely, Marcie Colleen, Katey Howes, Chana Steifel, Carter Higgins, Jannie Ho, Annie Silvestro…and so many more with long lists of award-winning books…but that was the first year for all of them! So, dear writer friends, if you are in the trenches, searching for an agent or waiting for that first book deal, please take heart…every published author didn’t have any books until they did.
And I know you are going to love this new one, YOU GO FIRST!

Continue reading →

Happy Friday dear friends! Lots of people love Friday because it signals the end of the week and for many, a couple of days off from work. But for me, it signals a chance to read and review another awesome picture book. And tomorrow we’ll be treated to an insightful Q&A with debut picture book author Ariel Bernstein.

But first, we have a copy of HELLO, MY NAME IS TIGER to give away.

And the winner is….

Elizabeth Curry

Congratulations, Elizabeth…I will contact you.

I HAVE A BALLOON

Written by Ariel Bernstein

Illustrated by Scott Magoon

Ages 4-8

Themes: Being happy with what you have

Opening Lines: “I have a balloon.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

“Owl has a red balloon. Monkey does not. “That red balloon matches my shiny red tie,” says Monkey. “I’d look fancy walking to school with a shiny red balloon. The only thing I’ve ever wanted, since right now, is a shiny, big red balloon. It would make me SO HAPPY!” But Owl does not want to give it to him. So Monkey tries to find something that Owl wants: a teddy bear, a robot, a picture of TEN balloons. Owl does not want any of these things. But then, Monkey offers him…a sock!

Hmmmmm…Owl is intrigued. Will he trade his shiny red balloon with Monkey?”

Why I like this book:

Fun text!
Fun illustrations!
A message we can all relate to, parents as well as kids! And a great opportunity to talk about wanting what we have, not having what we want.

Related Activities

BALLOON BOWL

Photo courtesy:https://diyprojects.com/homemade-balloon-bowl/

You will need: 1 balloon (inflated), colored paper, scissors, glue.

For detailed instructions: https://diyprojects.com/homemade-balloon-bowl/

Just like the characters in I HAVE A BALLOON, kids often want what others have. This book is a perfect launchpad for a discussion about being happy with what you have. Perhaps this balloon bowl can serve as a blessing bowl for your child. Help your child fill out slips of paper with things he/she is grateful for and place them in the bowl.

By the way, dear friends, thanks to debut picture book author Ariel Bernstein, we have a giveaway of a copy of I HAVE A BALLOON. Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered. And remember…the greatest gift you can give an author, other than buying their book and reading it to a child, is to write a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

Don’t forget to be back tomorrow when Ariel stops by to chat and to share a super recipe for a fabulous chocolate chip cookie recipe…this one is made with OATMEAL!

Be safe this last weekend of summer…and please join me in praying for all who are impacted by Hurricane Harvey…those who have lost everything…those who have left safe havens to help others…so many kidliters I know live RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT! Keeping you all close to my heart! Author Kate Messner has organized a KIDLITCARES auction to benefit the Red Cross Relief effort for Hurricane Harvey…please visit and bid: KidLitCares auction for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts