Perfect Picture Book Friday: MENDING THE MOON Plus Critique Giveaway

Posted on October 28, 2022 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I’m always smiling when Friday comes around because it means I get to share a beautiful new book with you. Today we are featuring the gorgeous debut picture book of Emma Pearl, MENDING THE MOON. Illustrated by Sara Ugolotti and published by Page Street Kids, this is one you won’t want to miss! And the author is generously offering a giveaway: the winner’s choice of a copy of the book OR a Picture Book Manuscript Critique! Please make sure you leave a comment and SHARE the post on your social media…I’ve noticed some people tag friends…and that’s AWESOME. I hope you can do that, too.

Continue reading →

#PPBF: Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di at the Night Safari – Teaching Cooperation with Picture Books

Posted on February 27, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday, but I have some exciting news to share first…I just completed Susanna Leonard Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic class.

I can honestly say that I learned more about writing picture books during the one month online course than I did in the last two years. More importantly, it was a hands-on experience ALL THE WAY – personally mentored by the lovely Susanna and filled with amazing comraderie and feedback from the other attendees…thank you to Jeanine, Carrie, Dana, Linda, Heather and Kirsten…for your support, encouragement and inspiration.

Don’t you love getting packages in the mail?

Yesterday the doorbell rang. The mailman had a package for me…I had to sign for it because it was from Singapore. I opened it carefully and took a deep breath, hoping I could bring back the scents of that beautiful city.

I wasn’t able to detect anything in the air, but the contents more than made up for that. TWO PICTURE BOOKS from leading Singapore author, David Seow! Hip hip hooray!

I don’t want to overwhelm you, so I’m reviewing one today and will save the other for another time. I read this one to my grandson last night…he loved it and wanted to hear it again…and we all know that is the sign that Continue reading →

Parenting Tip – How To Teach Problem Solving

Posted on April 7, 2013 by viviankirkfield

What do you get when you give two seven-year olds some construction paper, markers, scissors and tape?

You get the most amazing creations! And you get happy kids!

I encourage parents to keep simple arts and crafts supplies on hand. Paper, scissors, markers and glue are imagination enablers. Kids can spend hours, happily engaged in expressing their creativity, exercising their problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Last week, my son and his family stopped by.

Knowing that my grandchildren LOVE making things, I had put a few arts and crafts supplies on the dining room table. After we visited for a while, I asked the kids if they wanted to sit down and use the materials.

Before I had even finished the sentence Continue reading →