Spaghetti Eddie | VIVIAN KIRKFIELD

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. Before I do the review, I have a few things I need to share with you.

My little poem, Fears of the Inner Child, took second place in Marylin Warner’s February Poetry Contest. You can see all of the awesome entries on her blog: Things I Want to Tell My Mother.

It’s also the beginning of a new month…so we will be choosing the February winner of the Positive Parental Participation Reading Challenge and sending a picture book out in the next few days. I know parents are so very busy…but I hope you are reading with your children every day, even if you are not able to post a comment.

Since February has come to an end, it’s also time to check-in with the 12 x 12 group…yes…my February picture book draft is completed.

Last, but not least, today is Dr. Seuss’ birthday!!! For more information, resources and events, you can go to the official Dr. Seuss website.

Oh…sorry…one more thing! Don’t forget that March 7th is World Read Aloud Day…go to the LitWorld website to find out about planned events…or celebrate by reading aloud to kids. I just got back from reading Spaghetti Eddie to 15 Pre-K children…they LOVED it! Fifteen hands shot up when I asked “Who likes to eat spaghetti?” Next week, to join in celebrating World Read Aloud Day, I’ll be reading Julius – The Baby of the World, to 20 Pre-K kids at Keller School.

You can also visit Ella Johnson’s wonderful website to get more information about the NEA’s Read Across America program and to enter to win several books and hop from there to over 100 other blog sites that are hosting book giveaways.

And now…(drumroll please)…Perfect Picture Book Friday.

My picture book selection today is one of the hundred picture books I recommend in my book for parents and teachers, Show Me How. Julius: The Baby of the World is a veritable “baby” compared to some of the others I have picked…only twenty-two years old…but again, as relevant today as when it was published in 1990.

Julius: The Baby of the World

Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Publishers: Greenwillow Press

Ages: 3 – 8

Themes:

Sibling rivalry, bullying, celebrating an individual’s unique strengths and talents

Opening:

“Before Julius was born, Lilly was the best big sister in the world. She gave him things. She told him secrets. And she sang lullabies to him every night.”

Synopsis:

Lilly eagerly awaits the birth of her baby brother, but when Julius finally arrives, Lilly wishes that he would go away. Her jealousy causes her to resent the attention her mother and father shower on Julius, even though they continue to treat her with love and affection as well. She sings mean songs to him, tweaks his tail and draws a family portrait leaving Julius out of the picture. Her parents call Julius, the baby of the world, but Lilly wishes he would go away so that things would go back to the way they were before he was born. At a family party for the baby, her cousin begins insulting Julius. What will Lilly do…join her cousin in making fun of Julius…or defend her baby brother?

Why I like this book:

Sibling rivalry is a common occurrence. Many children resent the arrival of a new baby…and why shouldn’t they? Now they have to share the time and attention of their parents…and sharing is a difficult skill to learn. Reading this book to a young child who is in that situation would provide parents with a great opportunity to engage with their child and discuss how their child is feeling about the situation..allowing the child to express his or her feelings. The author/illustrator, Kevin Henkes, uses his amazing talent for knowing just what little ones are thinking and feeling. Lilly leans over and whispers to her baby brother, “If you were a number, you would be zero.” The book is funny and heartwarming. If I could change anything about the book, I would wish that Lilly was not such a bully as she insists that her cousin praise Julius. Perhaps this is Lilly’s persona…but I would rather end with her learning a “kinder, gentler” way to encourage others to see things her way.

Related Activities:

When I read picture books to kindergarten and Pre-K classes, I always follow-up the story with a simple arts and crafts project. Not only does this extend the learning experience, it also gives the kids a chance to talk about the story and how it relates to their own situation.

For this story, I love to make Popsicle stick puppets. The kids love this activity…and then can do role-playing with the puppets they have made…another opportunity for them to express their feelings. Parents can encourage their children to put on a puppet show with the family of puppets they have made and then join in, perhaps taking the role of the child while the child becomes the mother or father.

Popsicle Stick Puppets

You will need: Several Popsicle sticks, construction paper, markers or crayons, scissors and glue.

1. Let your child decide how many puppets to make and who they will be.

2. Draw the people (you can also use people cut out from magazines).

3. Cut out the people and paste them onto the top half of each Popsicle stick.

4. Put on a play!

The above image is from the blog of Muffin Tin Mom.

Read/Write/Think has a lesson plan for Julius the Baby of the World.

You can find lots of quick and easy instructions for Popsicle stick puppets at ehow.com here

Education.com also has great puppet-making instructions here.

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.

Seeing a new picture in picture books (mummumstheword.wordpress.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Today is Friday…my day to review a picture book and link it to Susannah Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday.

Before I get to the review of Spaghetti Eddie, I wanted to share with you an amazing resource for authors. Whether you have published many books already or are just thinking about writing a book, Sandra Beckwith’s Building Book Buzz workshop is a must! You know, it’s very rewarding to write a book…even more rewarding to see it in print. But once your book is published, you don’t want the books to sit in their shipping cartons…you want them in the hands of your target market. So how does that happen? How do you write a press release about your book? What social media should you use…Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+? As the cartoon personality Cathy would say…AAACCKKKK!

If you are planning to self-publish, then taking this course is, without a doubt, the best $199 you will have ever spent. (Sandy has some discounts available) But even for those who are published by major houses or have many published books under their belt, it is still usually up to the author to do the lion’s share of marketing and promotion….unless, of course, you are a famous celebrity or politician. In those instances, the publishing house may ante-up with bigger dollars for advertising and publicity to insure a return of the big advance they probably paid. Sandy has a blog and she just did a post on how to get free publicity that may make a big difference in how your book is perceived. She is always providing free tips in the articles she writes.

I hope that anyone who is thinking about getting a book out there will take a look at Sandy’s online workshop…the information will help you know what you have to do…before, during and after the publishing process…and will give you more confidence in your own marketing ability…and her personal attention and expertise are priceless.

And now…on to the review of Spaghetti Eddie.

Spaghetti Eddie

Written by Ryan SanAngelo

Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic

Publishers: Boyds Mills Press

Ages 2 – 7+

Themes:

Valuing one’s own strengths and qualities, creative problem-solving, helping others.

Opening:

“This is Eddie. He eats spaghetti every day except Sundays. On Sundays, he eats ravioli.”

Synopsis:

When Eddie’s mom sends him to the store to buy frosting for his father’s birthday cake, Eddie takes his ever-present bowl of spaghetti and meatballs along. As he walks to the store, Eddie meets several neighbors and he suggests ingenious spaghetti-solutions to their problems. For example, one friend has a broken shoelace and Eddie offers a strand of spaghetti to replace it. As Eddie approaches the grocery store, a robber runs out, holding a bag of stolen money. Will Eddie be able to do something to save the day? (Hint: you will stand up and cheer for Eddie when you find out)

Why do I like this book:

What a hilarious story! I loved this book because I was a very picky eater when I was little (unfortunately, I LOVE EVERYTHING now) and I was able to identify with Eddie, who loved spaghetti so much that he had it every day. Young children will also appreciate Eddie’s peculiar eating habits… many children have stages where they love or hate a certain food. Eddie’s ingenious use of his bowl of spaghetti and meatballs will encourage kids to open their creative minds and see new possibilities in the commonplace. The book is just plain funny…and the illustrations truly capture the spirit and voice of the story.

Related Activities:

Pasta-Covered Treasure Box

Most children have a stash of small keepsakes…a special pebble, a shiny coin, a super-friend’s ring. Here is a perfect container to keep those items in. This project also makes a lovely gift for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.

You will need: 1 clean container with lid (a one-pound margarine or cottage cheese container works well), white glue (glue stick won’t work), dry pasta (spaghetti, macaroni and/or other interesting shapes), markers. Depending on the age of the child, you may want to cover the outside of the container with craft or construction paper and decorate the lid with pasta. Older children may have the patience and dexterity to put pasta on the outside of the container.

1. Spread white glue on the top of the lid and press pasta shapes in desired design.

2. Spread white glue on the outside of the container and cover with paper or pasta.

3. When the glue is dry, you can use marker to color some of the pasta. Optional: the pasta can be painted with non-toxic tempera paints.

This post is part of a series for parents and teachers. Perfect Picture Book Fridays is hosted by Susannah Leonard Hill. Click on her link and find lots of other picture book suggestions with summaries and activities.