Perfect Picture Book Friday: Leo the Late Bloomer…and the winner is…

Posted on February 3, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday where I link up with Susannah Leonard Hill’s fantastic group of writers who contribute a picture book review and related resources.

But first,I want to announce the January PPP Reading Challenge picture book winner. It was lovely to see everyone’s reading list…thank you all for sharing and taking the time (which I know is precious and in short supply) to add your comments. And the winner is…two winners, actually…Jennifer at Toy Box Years and Milka at Perfecting Motherhood. I’ll email you both so you can let me know where to send the books. I’m looking forward to reading the comments this month…another picture book prize for at least one lucky commenter.

And now, on to my PPBF selection: Leo the Late Bloomer

Leo the Late Bloomer

Written by Robert Kraus

Illustrated by Jose Aruego

Publishers: HarperCollins

Ages: 3 – 7

Themes: Mastering tasks and skills, maturation

Opening: “Leo couldn’t do anything right.”

Synopsis:

Leo, a little tiger cub, seems slow to mature. He cannot read, write, eat neatly, draw…or even talk. His father wonders if Leo will ever learn to do these things, but Leo’s mother tells her husband to have patience. Will Leo’s father stop watching to see if Leo is blooming? Does Leo ever catch up to his more accomplished animal friends?

Why do I like this book:

Children mature at different rates…and they all have unique strengths. This is a story that encourages and gives hope to young children who may be slower at learning to tie shoelaces or zip jackets or write their name. And perhaps it may also help those parents who worry when a child does not perform at the same level or accomplish the same things as an older brother or sister.

The text is ultra-simple! The glorious illustrations capture Leo’s father’s frustration and Leo’s joy with life itself. Check out the “snowmen” that each animal builds…young children love seeing the snow-elephant, the snow-snake, the snow-bird, the snow-owl and the snow-crocodile. Leo, of course, cannot make one and goes chasing after a rabbit. This is a story every child and parent can relate to.

Related Activities:

Daisy Chain Necklace: great for developing fine motor coordination (this project is also suitable for any holiday…just use the traditional colors, such as red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, etc.)

You will need: Strips of colored construction paper (1” x 6”), markers or crayons and a glue stick.

1. Decorate each strip as desired…flower patterns, numbers, letters, zigzags, dots, etc.

2. Put glue on the edge of one strip. Form a loop and press together. Help the child count to 30.

3. Put glue on the edge of another strip. Thread it through the loop and press. Count to 30 again. Now you have the beginning of the chain.

4. Continue until there are enough links in the chain so it will fit over the child’s head and around the neck comforably.

I’ve done this project with kindergarten children and they love making each strip unique. They also have a lot of fun counting to 30 as they press the edges together! Of course, there are always a couple of “clever” kids who count by 5’s or 10’s to get to 30 faster…the different rates of maturation of children (like tiger cubs) in action…but their edges often don’t stay stuck!

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.

2012 Positive Parental Participation Reading Challenge Comment Page for February

Posted on February 2, 2012 by viviankirkfield

English: Children working on the phonogram mov...

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It’s hard to believe that January is already behind us.

Thanks to everyone who participated last month and left comments and told us about the books they were reading with their children.

I’ve got to get ready for two school programs…in the morning, I’ll be at Freedom Elementary, reading Oliver Button is a Sissy. What a great story that encourages kids to be true to themselves!

In the afternoon, I’ll be at Buena Vista Montessori, reading one of my very own picture book stories, The Balloon Man. Life sometimes puts obstacles in our way and we need to be prepared with creative solutions…this is a story that helps children think outside the box.

I’ll be using Random.org to pick the winner of the picture book…to be announced in the Perfect Picture Book Friday post.

Anyone who wants to join in the Reading Challenge for February, please use this post leave your commnets and books read.

12 x 12 in 2012 Picture Book Writing Challenge: 1 down…11 to go!

Posted on January 31, 2012 by viviankirkfield

The blogosphere is full of challenges this year.

One of the ones that struck a chord in me was Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 in 2012. Julie is a talented writer, inspired blogger and generous spirit. I’ve never met her, but if you visit her blog, you’ll see what I mean.

Badge by Linda Silvestri

When my children were little, I always had a pad of paper and pencil and pack of crayons wherever we went. Bored children? Write a story! Cranky children? Write a story! Happy children? Write a story!

You get the picture!

The original mock-up for The Balloon Man

Sad to say, many of those stories were tossed during different moves we made over the years. Others languished in taped-up boxes, forgotten in the shadowy corners of a closet.

My children are grown now, with families of their own…but my passion for picture books remains fresh!

Of course, I am fortunate in that I get to read picture books with a new generation of children when I present the Show Me How Story-time with Miss Vivian programs to library groups, kindergartens and Pre-K’s. And I do have the opportunity to read to my grandchildren when I visit them.

But one of my dreams is to write a picture book story that children love and want to hear over and over and over again.

And that’s why, when I saw Julie’s 12 x 12 Challenge, I knew I had to participate. Write twelve picture book drafts in a year…one each month.

January has come to a close…and I’m proud to say that I’ve completed my January assignment!

I know it needs a LOT of work…it’s just a rough first draft.

The tentative title:

Caroline’s Hat…or Caroline’s Flower-Sprigged Hat.

The story:

Little Caroline is out in the garden. She forgets her hat when her mother calls her in for lunch. While she is gone, several garden animals help themselves to parts of her hat so that when she returns, it is not where she left it. As Caroline searches the garden, she discovers her hat is being used by the animals for their own purposes.

The opening lines:

“The soft summer breeze tousled Caroline’s’ curls,

As she lay in the tall green grass.

On a blueberry bush, the red ribbons waved,

From the brim of her flower-sprigged hat.”

I think we all have secret dreams…would you like to share yours?

Today is the last day of the month, so our 2012 PPP “Read to your Child Everyday” Challenge ends for January. In the next few days, I’ll be posting the name of the January winner of a picture book.