It’s finally Friday! Hooray! That means I finally get to show you Marathon Mouse! Also, I will be announcing the winner of Monday’s giveaway signed copy of Marathon Mouse at the end of the post (I know – so much excitement!) so stay tuned!
Oh, and there is one other thing… halloween related… 🙂
But first things first, and you know the Perfect Picture Book always has to go at the top of Friday’s post. Those are the rules. And the person in charge around here made the rules so I really have to follow them 🙂
Marathon Mouse
Written By: Amy Dixon
Illustrated By: Sam Denlinger
Sky Pony Press, October 2012, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 3-8
Themes/Topics: Running, Marathons, Goals, Believing In Yourself, Determination
Opening: “Every New York City mouse dreamed of living under the bridge bewteen Brooklyn and Staten Island. There, they didn’t have to dodge taxi cabs or escape hungry sewer cats. And when they wanted to visit, the bustling city was just a hop, skip, and a scamper away. But there was one day each year that their life under the bridge was not dreamy…“
Brief Synopsis: Preston Mouse lives beneath the Verrazano Bridge and dreams of running the New York City Marathon. “Mice were not made to run,” says Papa. “A mouse could get crushed,” says Mama. “You? Run 26.2 miles?” his sisters tease. With this lack of faith, Preston trains secretly, but train he does because he believes he can do it. At least, he wants to try.
Links To Resources: Teacher’s Guide from author’s website. Also I think reading this story gives an excellent opportunity to discuss with kids what they dream about – what do they think they can do? what do they hope to accomplish? Younger kids can draw pictures of themselves working toward or achieving something that matters to them. Older kids can write a story about it. Discover Marathon Kids. And a little about the first marathon and some related activities HERE.
Why I Like This Book: Ah, so many reasons 🙂 First, it’s really well written, a captivating story told with gentle humor and warmth. Second, this is the only picture book I’ve ever seen about running/marathoning, so it’s a new, fresh topic and one I think kids will love. Third, I don’t think there can ever be too many books that encourage kids to work hard toward something that’s important to them, believe in themselves, and follow their dreams. Finally, when Preston gets out there to run, I dare you not to cheer him on, and I think you’ll be surprised and touched by how the story ends 🙂 And seriously, how cute is this little guy? 🙂
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| Preston Mouse from Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon & Sam Denlinger |
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
And now that you’re all just desperate to own a copy, I’ll tell you who won Monday’s giveaway 🙂 And I would just like to say that I so enjoyed reading about all the things you guys have accomplished (which was what you had to tell us to qualify for the drawing) – what an amazing group! If you didn’t happen to read the comments from Monday’s post, hop over and have a look – you’re in impressive company over here! But I digress… 🙂
Cue the trumpets!
The winner of a signed copy of Marathon Mouse is…
Please email me (by using the handy button on the side or by actually, physically, manually typing in susanna[AT]susannahill[DOT]com) and tell me your address and (never mind, Jarm – I have it from the PPB book mark mailing!) how you’d like Amy to sign it, and we’ll get it straight out to you!
So, have a nice weekend everyone!
What?
Oh, you think I forgot something?
Tee hee 🙂
Okay. You twisted my arm. I’ll tell you who won the Halloweensie Contest. And let me just say – it was quite the nail biter! But the voters have spoken!
And the winner is…
Oh. I guess we better have trumpets AND a drum roll this time.
Okay. The winner is…
Wait! Maybe we should also throw some confetti, wouldn’t that be nice?
Okay, really. The winner is…
Cake, anyone? Something festive and Halloween-y?
Okay, really and truly. The winner is…
Congratulations, Julie, for a fun story that even included the term halloweensie!!! and was artistically presented in the shape of a cat 🙂 (At least, it looks like a cat to me, but I suppose it could be a halloweensie mouse :)) Julie, you are the lucky recipient of the 5 signed picture books from our generous and talented fellow authors. You will receive Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon, The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz, Puzzled By Pink by Sarah Frances Hardy, Flap! by Alison Hertz, and The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber! Please email me and let me know how you’d like them signed and we’ll all get on the case 🙂 You are also the distinguished recipient of the incredible fame that comes with winning a contest of this caliber. You can now hold your head high and proudly tell everyone you see that you won the Halloweensie Contest! Not just anyone can say that! (In fact, at the moment, only one other person in the world can say that – Cathy who won last year :)) Fame, I tell you! 🙂
Second place and a $25 Amazon gift card goes to Laura R for Jack O’Lantern!
Third place and a $15 Amazon gift card goes to Nancy for Halloween Drives Me Batty!
Congratulations to all the winners!
But I’d like to say again how fabulous ALL the entries were, and congratulate everyone who entered. You all did a great job, and I know how hard it is to put your work out there, so BRAVO!!! I know I speak for everyone when I say how much we all enjoyed reading ALL the entries!
And here’s a little heads up. I’m not running the Thanksgiving Contest this year. I think it’s just too much with everything else going on in November and having just finished the Halloweensie Contest. But I WILL be running the Holiday Contest during the week of December 19-24. And I’ll tell you right now that there are 5 (that’s FIVE!) Picture Book Manuscript Critiques up for grabs to the winners of that contest!!! And maybe some other good stuff too! So start thinking holiday thoughts. Make some notes. And be sure to keep your calendar open enough to participate! The reason there are 5 fabulous prizes is because we got so many entries for that contest last year, which gave me the impression (possibly misguided :)) that it was popular. So I hope people will enter, and please spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested. I will post the contest rules in the first week of December… hopefully… 🙂
Okay. Now for real, go have a nice weekend 🙂 PPBF bloggers, please remember to add your post-specific link to the list below!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Yahoo! Jarm, Julie, Laura and Nancy! Have a super special weekend !
Thanks, Susanna for getting this really cute little guy to us; been waiting for him ever since you first mentioned he would be here 🙂 Can't wait to lay my hands on a copy. It'll be at least months before the book comes to my children's school library next year.
Congrats, Jarm and Julie and Laura & Nancy!! I'll be over for story time with a plate of cookies and afghan to share. Well, we'll share the cookies – you have to get your own afghan. Hats off to you, Susanna, for organizing the give-a-ways.
Cute book! I LOVE the illustrations in Marathon Mouse! Books that tell kids to believe in themselves are great. :)Congrats Ms. Zoch! This is your lucky week (Tic Tac Toe, Three in a row!)! Congrats to all the winners too! 🙂
Congratulations to all the winners! “Marathon Mouse” is on my list of books to order for Christmas 🙂
Congratulations to Jarm for winning Marathon Mouse!!!
Congratulations to Julie for winning Halloweensie!! Julie, you are on a roll. First you win the 12 x 12 critique and now this contest!! But there is a huge difference in the two wins. The 12 x 12 was luck…random.org or something similar. The Halloweensie win is pure talent. Your entry was awesome…and this is a well-deserved win!!!!
I can't wait to read Marathon Mouse. It is on my Christmas list, too.
Glad you like Marathon Mouse, Erik! In case you couldn't tell, I love it! 🙂 And yes, Ms. Zoch is having quite the week, isn't she?! 🙂
Maybe we can figure out a way to smuggle you one ahead of time, Richa 🙂 Glad you like it!
Congrats to all the winners! I'm so honored to be among them. This is a first for me! Not a bad place to start in my journey to publication 🙂 Thank you, Susanna, for organizing all your fabulous writing contests. I definitely write better with a goal in mind. And I can't wait to read Marathon Mouse. Sounds like a fun book and it fills a niche. Even better!
I want cookies too, Laura!!! (In case you're wondering, my preference is oatmeal raisin… :)) And really, hats off to our generous contributing authors 🙂 Aren't they awesome? 🙂
You will love it! And I'm sure you just made Amy's day 🙂
Oh, gosh! I hope Amy comes over here and sees how many people are putting MM on their xmas lists! 🙂 ANd congratulations to you , too, Penny, for a GREAT entry! 🙂
It's a wonderful book, Laura – I'm sure you'll like it! And CONGRATULATIONS! Your story was a great twist! And just to keep you in gear, you can have the Holiday Contest as a goal before too long 🙂
Congrats to Julie, Jarm and all the others. I loved all the entries. Halloweensie is a great exercise for a writer and a reader to see how a complete story can be told in so few words.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Stacy! And I really enjoyed your entry as well – it was terrific. And so was that great digital picture you made! 🙂
Congrats to Jarm, Julie, Laura and the rest of the winners. You did an awesome job! 🙂
Marathon Mouse sounds like a great book for all kids and all occasions and I will be sure to add it to my list of must read books.
Thanks, Susanna for sharing the winners with us and for providing a platform to show case our talent in the form of these fun contests. 🙂
Marathon Mouse is great – I highly recommend it! And you are most welcome, Clar! I'm so glad if you find the contests fun and useful for stretching your writing muscles 🙂 I really love them. I'm always so amazed by how talented you all are, and what a wonderful and varied job you all do with the same set of parameters!
This is just toooooo much! After such an awesome week I…I…I can't tell you how stunned I am! Thanks to everyone who enjoyed the story but most of all thanks to the other participants – because that's what makes me feel great – to be up there with all of you!!! And to all the generous authors whose books I get to pour over – and share!
CONGRATULATIONS, JULIE!!! Well deserved 🙂 🙂 🙂
Congratulations, Jarm and Julie!
Marathon Mouse sounds wonderful. I hope to be able to get a copy soon! (or even sooner.)
I may not be able to visit everyone's PPBF post today, as I have a scramble of a day ahead, but I've posted my link, and I've scheduled my post for next Friday, and life will get back to normal after that!
Congrats to Laura R and Nancy, too!
Congratulations to the Halloweensie winners!!!!
Congratulations Jarm, Julie, Laura and Nancy! I JUST got my copy of Marathon Mouse yesterday. Haven't even had a chance to read it yet, but can't WAIT!
This is indeed quite a week for you! 🙂 Many congratulations.
I think you will love it, Julie 🙂
And congrats to you too, Delores, for a great entry!
We know you are with us in spirit, Beth, even if you can't get to the computer 🙂
So many congratulations in order!!! First to Susanna…for providing the framework and inspiration! Next, to JULIE…whoo-hoo…even without the presentation, your Halloweensie poem was amazing! And to Laura and Nancy (Nancy, it's such fun to see your name in the comments these days)…wonderful entries! And to Jarm…oh my goodness…up Mt. Sinai on a camel…and down on foot…Marathon Mouse is the PERFECT book for you. 🙂
I am eagerly looking forward to the December contest, Susanna…what fun!
I'm still so amazed at how you still have breath at the end of the day, Susanna, with so many things going on. Congrats to the winner of Marathon Mouse and to the winner and runners-up to the Haloweensie contest.
Never give up – that's a good thing to remember. I'm far from a Justin Beiber fan, but his song, “Never say never” is quite appropriate for that them.
Thanks for all your enthusiasm, Vivian! 🙂 And glad you're considering the Holiday Contest! Now I guess I'd better get to thinking up exactly what it will be…! 🙂
Thanks, Angela! I don't know if I have breath… I feel a little like a lunatic hamster half the time 🙂 But I'm glad if people have fun when they come over here 🙂
I'm so honored and excited to have won “Marathon Mouse”…thank you, Susanna! Since my grandson's father is a marathon runner himself, I would love to have the book signed to “Andrew” (grandson)…thank you, Amy.
And congrats to Julie for winning the Halloweensie contest!
I echo what Angela said . . . you sure keep things moving around here, Susanna! It's like a Marathon for writers. 🙂
And, now, I'll say YAY!
Playing along with the Halloweensie contest was FUN. Reading all the submissions was ENTERTAINING. And winning third
place (with a cash prize, no less) is the ICING on the cake! Yay! x 3!!!
Thanks so so so much, Susanna. You rock!
Oops . . . I got so excited, I forgot my manners. Congrats to Jarm, Julie, and Laura too! Yay x 3 again!!!
Thanks, Vivian ~ for letting me know about the contest (and its outcome). Tons of fun. I might have to keep my eye out for the December contest too. 😉
I loved your submission! Congrats on winning all those delicious picture books.
Congrats, Laura! I echo your thoughts. What a fun week. 😀
Ooh, how perfect! I hope you all enjoy the book! 🙂
Aw! I'm just glad if you have fun over here, Nancy! And CONGRATS on your placing! It was a stiff competition!
I HOPE YOU WILL!!! 🙂
nrhatch (unregistered) wrote, in response to Vivian Kirkfield:
Thanks, Vivian ~ for letting me know about the contest (and its outcome). Tons of fun. I might have to keep my eye out for the December contest too. 😉
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What a marathon of a post, Susannah! Congrats to Amy – can't wait to read Marathon Mouse. Working hard to follow our dreams – a wonderful lesson at any age.
Congrats to the Halloweensie contest winners, too. And I have marked my calendar & sharpened my pencil for the Holiday Contest. Susannah, I hope you can relax & recharge a bit over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Sorry for the marathon – I guess it was a bit lengthy 🙂 Thank you for seeing it through to the end! So glad you're up for the Holiday Contest! I guess I better think it up 🙂 And relax over Thanksgiving? heeheeheeheehee – not gonna happen 🙂
Sounds awesome – and I'm always looking for more perseverance-and-goals-themed books for my character collection!
I think you'll like this one, Barbara – it's really good!
I was so hoping I might win this book. I enjoyed your review and it makes me want to buy the book. We have runners in our family. Congratulations to Amy for writing such an inspiring book and to Jarm for winning the copy. Even though it may seem you are the last stop as I read reviews, I'm actually the last stop. I don't even read my comments until I've commented on everyone's great selections.
Congrats!
So much fun to come over here and see all the lovely comments about Marathon Mouse! Thank you! AND so honored to be on all these Christmas lists, and to be on the Perfect Picture Book list is best of all. Thanks Susanna for your support! And congrats to ALL the winners in this post! I love all the fun activities and contests that you host here, Susanna, and am hoping once the craziness dies down that I will be able to join back in on the festivities!
Lots of winners here! Congratulations on a fabulous book, Amy. And Jarm for winning Marathon Mouse, and to Julie for her fantastic Halloweensie story- well deserved!
So much fabulosity here – Amy's wonderful book about Preston 5 I think there were several of us who wanted to review this one today!!). Yay! The three Halloweensie winners and Jarm!
Congrats to the winners! And another great review for PPBF!
I'm sorry you didn't win, Pat 😦 I hope you;ll still get to read it. And I'm just glad whenever you show up – I never think about what time it is 🙂