PB 14:14 – Day 6 – Character and a Whole Lot More

Posted on February 19, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Today is Day Six of Christie Wright Wild’s PB 14:14…I’d forgotten how difficult it is to do a blog post every day. But I’m loving that it is giving me an excuse to read a picture book every day. If you click on this link, you’ll be able to see what books everyone else is reading: http://christiewrightwild.blogspot.com/2015/02/day-6-imogenes-last-stand-by-candace.html

Right before I moved from Colorado, I had the opportunity to attend an indie bookstore event for author/illustrator Peter Brown. Not only did he read his newest book, but he also interacted with the audience as he demonstrated how he drew the main character, Mr. Tiger.

Title: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

Author and Illustrator: Peter Brown

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Date: 2013

Word Count: 220 estimated

Top Ten Element: Character and Plot and Pacing and Dialogue and Conflict and Theme and Beginnings & Endings and Word Play and Patterns…I think the only element missing is Rhyme Continue reading →

Top ALA Picture Books Make Great Holiday Gifts for Kids

Posted on December 5, 2014 by viviankirkfield

The gift-giving holidays are almost here. The stores, online catalogs and media are all trying to get you to spend your money – but what does a young child really need or want?

If you want to know the truth – not much! Paper and crayons or markers, some clay or play dough, safety scissors, glue, picture books – and you, of course!

On Friday, I usually review a picture book, but this is a great time of year to check out some of the top picture books of 2014 (all are on the American Library Association’s Notable Books list)…you might want to pick up a couple to put under the tree. I reviewed two of them this year – if you click the links, you’ll also find the craft activity instructions that accompanied each post.

A Big Guy Took My Ball written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Ball written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan

Bully written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Count the Monkeys written by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

Exclamation Mark written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild written and illustrated by Peter Brown

Nino Wrestles the World written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales Continue reading →

#PPBF – The Purple Kangaroo – Encouraging Imagination

Posted on May 23, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Today is Friday – I have a children’s book review to add to the Perfect Picture Book resource list that author Susanna Leonard Hill is building on her blog. For more wonderful reviews from authors, educators and others who contributed today, please go here.

I’m immersed in writing and revising picture books these days…and one of the best ways to learn to do it right is to READ LOTS OF PICTURE BOOKS that have already been published! So I came home from the library yesterday with a HUGE stack…it reminded me of when I was a little girl and couldn’t wait to go to the library to take out as many books as I could carry. I’m sure you can visualize that tiny little child, barely able to walk because of the tall piles of books in her arms.

It was hard to choose…but I did! It is one of the new variety of picture books which engages the reader by actually talking directly to him or her…a unique technique that I will have to keep in mind as I formulate my next stories.