Groundhog Day – Happy 10th Anniversary, Punxsutawney Phyllis!

Posted on February 2, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Today is a very special day! Yes, I know, it is Groundhog Day. And unfortunately, I believe we are in for another six weeks of winter. Right now, we are being hit with yet another BLIZZARD here in New Hampshire.

But it is also the 10^th Anniversary of the publication of Punxsutawney Phyllis, Susanna Leonard Hill’s lovely picture book about a feisty girl groundhog.

Susanna has created a link up party on her blog.

– stop over and visit. Here is my entry for the celebration.

HAPPY 10^TH ANNIVERSARY, PHYLLIS!

ODE TO PHYLLIS – ON HER TENTH ANNIVERSARY (With many apologies to the master of poetry, Edgar Allen Poe)

Once upon a morning cloudy, while I waited, kind of rowdy,

Wanting nothing more than just to dance and sing and trill —

While I hip-hopped, in the shower, water running for an hour,

Getting ready for my party given by my uncle Phil,

Cross the window pane – a shadow – straight from Boulder, Colorado

I grabbed my robe and screamed a scream that screamers said was shrill.

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In stepped Phil who said, “You will put on your lacy frill.”

“Let’s get going, my sweet maiden; ‘cause my arms are heavy laden

with some nuts and acorns – please be careful, they might spill.

We’ve a shadow to uncover and surprises to discover

Happy Birthday, Phyllis! It’s been 10 years – what a thrill!”

I hope you enjoyed my little ditty.

Last year, a bunch of us participated in a fashion contest for Phyllis.

My entry featured Phyllis, relaxing on her beach blanket in sunny Mexico!

I also blogged about Groundhog Day and Phyllis in 2013: https://viviankirkfield.com/2013/02/02/groundhog-day-facts-and-fiction/

Stay safe and stay warm, wherever you are!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Running with the Horses

Posted on January 2, 2015 by viviankirkfield

Happy Friday, everyone! It’s time for the first Perfect Picture Book review and craft activity of 2015.

I’m going to be participating in Kristen Fulton’s 52 Weeks of Charting Non-Fiction Picture Books, so I can guarantee that quite a few of the reviews this year will be non-fiction ones. I discovered the ‘new’ non-fiction picture books when I enrolled in Kristen’s Non-Fiction Archaeology course last June…for those of you who have ever thought about writing in that genre, I urge you to check out her stellar class.

Before I took the class, my idea of a non-fiction book was based on what I had read as a kid. Back in the day, most non-fiction books, even those for kids, were BORING. But not anymore! And there are many different types of non-fiction…kids might not care, but parents, teachers and librarians might want to make the distinction.

For more detailed information, you can go here:
http://nonfictionandthecommoncore.blogspot.com/

RUNNING WITH THE HORSES

Written and illustrated by Alison Lester

Publisher: NorthSouth (2011)

Ages: 5 and up

Themes: Conquering fears, Lipizzaner horses, war

Opening Lines:

“A long time ago, a young girl named Nina lived in a palace that stood in the heart of a graceful old city. The palace was home to the Roayl Academy of Dancing Horss, where Nina’s father, Viktor, was the stable master.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon: “Nina and her father live in a beautiful riding school famous for their Lippizaners–precious, rare performing horses. Nina loves the horses that her father looks after, but she also loves Zelda, one of the old carriage horses who she sneaks out to see. It’s a perfect world for a little girl, although she has to compete with her father’s work for his attention. But a war is coming, one that will threaten their lives and the very existence of the school.

When the city is under attack, Nina and Father are in charge of fleeing with the horses to a safe place across the border, but can they pass enemy soldiers, bombed out bridges and the fearsome cold of the Alps to get there? And can Nina save her beloved Zelda, too?” Continue reading →

Contests and Stories and Prizes – Oh My!

Posted on December 1, 2014 by viviankirkfield

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving – ours was, thanks to our standby generator, a huge success. Good food, loving family and lots of old-fashioned fun. We ate and played board games and ate and talked and ate some more.

December is going to be a busy month.

I’m finishing up Mira Reisberg’s Illustrating Children’s Picture Books course – it was an amazing journey into the world of art and how it impacts picture books. Mira also has another incredible class starting in January – The Chapter Book Alchemist – I may have to write that on my list to Santa.

I managed to write two picture book drafts as part of Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Challenge…it will soon be time to register for 2015 – click Julie’s link to get on the mailing list so you don’t miss out..

I’m getting the house ready for the holidays – my son and his family are flying in from Chicago for Christmas.

I finished Tara Lazar’s PiBoIdMo challenge and have a journal FILLED with over 30 story ideas that will keep me busy throughout the long cold winter and beyond.

I’m putting together my newsletter which will go out to all my subscribers in the new year. I’d also like to give away a copy of my Show Me How book – just click and subscribe and you’ll get the newsletter, filled with picture book recommendations, quick and easy craft projects and child-friendly recipes; a one-page anti-bullying toolkit guide for kids, AND an entry for the book giveaway. What are you waiting for? (If you’ve already subscribed, you already have your golden ticket entry for the book giveaway): http://eepurl.com/8pglH

Continue reading →