Hurray! It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday!
And not a moment too soon! 🙂
Today’s choice is as much for parents and teachers as it is for kids!
And busy, busy life is how I feel this week!, so, the perfect picture book 🙂
Title: The Busy Life Of Ernestine Buckmeister
Written By: Linda Ravin Lodding
Illustrated By: Suzanne Beaky
Flashlight Press, October 2011, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 5 and up
Themes/Topics: the importance of play, over-scheduling
Opening: “Each morning, while Ernestine ate breakfast and Nanny O’Dear prepared lunch, Ernestine’s father zoomed out to work and called, ‘Live life to the fullest, Ern!’ And each morning Ernestine’s mother zipped out to catch the bus and said, ‘Make every moment count, E!‘”
Brief synopsis: Ernestine’s parents want her to have every experience she can, so they pack her days with sculpting and tuba, yoga and yodeling. It takes Ernestine to show them that one thing she absolutely shouldn’t miss is having time to just play.
Links to resources: What I really should say here is, “No resources! Just go play!” But here are some resources that are also playing 🙂 Coloring Page, and for activities, try making a daisy crown (or any kind of outdoorsy crown), or make clouds out of cotton or shaving cream and see what shapes you see in them, or build a fort out of sticks, or blocks, or an empty cardboard box. Use you imagination!
text copyright Linda Ravin Lodding 2011, illustration copyright Suzanne Beaky 2011
Why I Like This Book: Kids will enjoy Ernestine’s ridiculous schedule, her amusing list of lessons, her teachers’ funny names, the bold bright colors of the pictures, and Ernestine’s inspired solution to her problem. As a grown-up, I appreciate Ernestine’s message that while organized activities arranged and taught by adults have their place, so too does the unstructured time to be a child and simply play.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Susanna, I think even adults would do well to remember to slow down and take time to do fun things and PLAY with their kids. We are too over scheduled, too. Time outside to wander and wonder is for us all. I am looking forward to reading this one! Thanks.
Your choice Susanna looks like a fun read. Arr that we should all take Ernestine’s lead. 🙂 Have a great weekend.
Love this book!!!
A great choice, Susanna! I was shocked to see that it was published in 2011. Seems to be a perfect reminder for today’s family, too! Enjoy a relaxing weekend, with plenty of playtime!
Such an important book for parents and kids to read together. Play time and dreaming is just as important. I have seen this similar important theme in other books recently. Great choice and reminder of what is important.
What a clever book! And definitely one that hits home for many families. It amazes me how many activities some kids are signed up for. Whatever happened to lying on the grass, looking up at the clouds, and imagining? Thanks for pointing this one out, Susanna. And it’s a great fun title!
I love this book – and yes, it is a great reminder that adults need to slow down, too!
This is one of those keepers, for those children who do everything, a reminder for us to SLOW down and BE where our feet are!
This books speaks to so many kids and parents in our overscheduled world. I’m a huge fan of being bored. Kids learn how to be resourceful and creative while having fun. As an adult, I have to say that I’m never bored. My mind is always thinking and imagining! And I see that happening with our son, too. Yay! Thanks for a great recommendation, Susanna!
Oh my goodness! This book is definitely one that reaches all audiences. The concept is so clever.