Happy Book Birthday: PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT Plus Giveaway

Posted on September 29, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Welcome, dear friends! It’s always a pleasure to celebrate the launch of a new book with a Happy Book Birthday post. And today, my joy is unmeasurable…since the new book is actually one of mine!

When my editor asked me to write a sequel to the popular PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE, I was thrilled. And with talented illustrator Jill Weber on board again, I knew the book would be magical…and I was not disappointed! Every page bursts with color and action!

Join Pippa’s generous friends and neighbors as they come together as a community in this joyful companion to Pippa’s Passover Plate.

Filled with rhymes and repetition, this is a perfect title to share and read aloud as you celebrate your own Hanukkah festivities! Pippa loves everything about her Hanukkah latkes—making them; eating them; and most of all, sharing them! But when her ingredients go missing, Pippa’s dinner guests become Hanukkah helpers as she searches the whimsical winter landscape.

When a surprise twist brings the latke ingredients and new guests to her table, Pippa is thrilled to have gathered the most important ingredient for any holiday meal: a community to enjoy it with.

An end note explains the origins and meaning of the holiday—with special attention to everyone’s favorite traditions like chocolate gelt (chocolate coins wrapped in foil) and the game of dreidel (spinning top).

Just in time for Hanukkah, this joyful story will bring smiles to our youngest story lovers…and by following the illustration clues, kids will be eager to solve the mystery of the missing potatoes.

Please help this story about community, compassion, and kindness become a success.
You can:
Buy the book (the link is from Bookshop.org, but you can purchase it on Amazon or from your local indie bookstore)
Review the book (on Amazon or any other review site)
Tell friends about the book (share on your social media and TAG 2 friends)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

To enter the giveaway of a signed copy of PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT, please do at least ONE of the above…and in the comments, let me know what you have done. If you do more than one, you’ll receive extra chances in the giveaway hat.

And, if you didn’t get a chance to see the unboxing video on Facebook, here it is.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: CHRISTMAS AHOY Plus Signed Book Giveaway

Posted on November 3, 2023 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! Today’s book launched during the summer, but I thought November would be a great time to tell you all about it – the perfect NEW Christmas book for this year’s holiday season.

CHRISTMAS AHOY

Written by Erin Dealey

Illustrated by Kayla Stark

Published by Sleeping Bear Press (July 14, 2023)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Boats, counting, Christmas

Synopsis: From the Amazon sales page:
Ahoy! A spectacular Christmas boat parade is underway! Count up to ten as the dazzling crafts bob pass . . . but wait! Where is Santa and his reindeer? Surely, they aren’t missing the parade? Never fear, little mariners, Santa simply has a surprise in store. With backmatter on the bevy of boats featured!

Why I Love This Book:
1. I love that this book has so many layers – it’s a counting book, a book about boats, a holiday book and it’s in rhyme…wow!
2. The text has a smooth flowing rhythm and rhyme that makes it a perfect read-aloud!
3. The illustrations are GLORIOUS!!! I love seeing all the different types of boats and different cultures portrayed.

And guess what? Author Erin stopped by to share a little bit about the path to publication and beyond:

ERIN: Thank you so much for sharing CHRISTMAS AHOY! The journey is always a bit crazy with a holiday book, as publishers like to release them in summer or early fall to get the word out so bookstores will have them by the holidays.

CHRISTMAS AHOY’s Book Birthday was in July (!) so we celebrated at Fine Arts Camp where I teach in the summer, and then “launched” it at Face in a Book in September.

Then there’s that unwritten rule that no one should talk about Christmas —let alone decorate—until after Halloween! (Full disclosure—I am one of those people who watch Christmas movies in October. )

Needless to say, I am thrilled to see CHRISTMAS AHOY! on Independent Book Store lists, especially in areas where they have lighted boat parades! We can’t wait to celebrate with family at the one in Santa Cruz, CA.

And we are thrilled to see CHRISTMAS AHOY, too!!! Thank you so much for sharing that, Erin.

RELATED ACTIVITIES
Make a boat…or two…or three!

Photo courtesy: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/56539/boat-crafts-kids-make/

For detailed instructions on 18 different boat craft activities for kids: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/56539/boat-crafts-kids-make/

Are you getting your holiday shopping lists ready? Please don’t forget that books make the BEST gifts for kids – and we can give a present to our favorite authors and illustrators by doing at least ONE of these things:
Buy their books
Review their books
Put their books on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about their books (you can share this post on social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

And make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win the wonderful giveaway of a SIGNED COPY OF CHRISTMAS AHOY!

Thank you for spending your precious time with us. I hope you all have a beautiful weekend!

Happy Book Birthday: THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW Plus Giveaway

Posted on August 15, 2023 by viviankirkfield

It’s time to sing Happy Birthday to a brand-new book again! Hurray for THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW, illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg and launching TODAY from Sleeping Bear Press!!! I connected with the author, Sue Heavenrich, many years ago when I jumped into the kidlit community – like me, she was participating in Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday posts, and like me, she was hoping to be a published author one day. And now she has a fabulous list of STEM and STEAM books!