Category: Perfect Picture Book Fridays

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Meanwhile Back At The Ranch

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WA-HOO!  It’s March!  That means spring will be here… soon… eventually… 🙂

My Perfect Picture Book for today isn’t exactly about spring, but it does match the mood of light-heartedness that March brings 🙂

Meanwhile Back At The Ranch
Written By: Trinka Hakes Noble
Illustrated By: Tony Ross
Puffin Books, 1987, Fiction

Suitable For Ages: 5-8

Themes/Topics: boredom, hyperbole, perspective

Opening: “Rancher Hicks lived out west.  as far as the eye could see there was nothing… not even a roaming buffalo.  So nothing much ever happened.”

Brief Synopsis: Not much happens out on the ranch, so Rancher Hicks heads into town looking for some excitement.  He invites his wife, Elna, to join him, but she declines, saying she has to dig potatoes.  Off he goes to Sleepy Gulch where he sees 12 year old Wanted posters, gets a whisker trim at the barber shop, has lunch at Millie’s Mildew Luncheonette (where there is nothing but potatoes on the menu), watches a checker game where it’s considered exciting if it takes the players only two hours to make a move, and then – OH WOW! – the whole town gathers to watch a turtle cross the road.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Elna is having a completely different experience that no one would describe as boring 🙂

Links To Resources: for a fun activity, you could list things that are boring alongside things that are exciting.  What makes something boring?  What makes something exciting?  Is it simply the activity itself, or is it who you’re doing it with?  Are there some activities that some people find exciting and others find boring?  Some things are all in how you look at them.  Here is a page full of optical illusions for kids – an exercise in perspective and looking at things differently.  Make up your own story where crazier and crazier things happen.

Why I Like This Book:  Don’t you love that American Gothic look to the cover?  This book is so delightfully silly and fun and light-hearted – it’s just a great story to share.  It’s totally exaggerated and unbelievable, but each scenario is so zany that you wonder what’s going to happen next to top it!  And the best part is the end, when Rancher Hicks comes home and tells Elna about the turtle… but I won’t spoil it for you 🙂

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

Now then, I realize this may be my shortest post ever, but I’m in the doghouse with certain parties for working too much, so I’m wrappin’ it up!

PPBF bloggers, please put your post-specific links in the list below so we can all enjoy your fabulous picks (I’ll sneak over when I can :))

Have a super-fantastic spring-will-almost-definitely-be-thinking-about-coming-by-the-end-of-this-month weekend! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Betty Bunny Didn’t Do It AND An Almost Contest Announcement!

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Hurray!  It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday!  And I have a hot-off-the-presses super-fantastic book to share with you today!

Are you ready? 🙂

Betty Bunny Didn’t Do It
Written By: Michael Kaplan
Illustrated By: Stephane Jorisch
Dial Books For Young Readers, February 2013, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 3-7 (publisher says 3-5, but the text is long enough and the story entertaining enough for up to 7 in my opinion)

Themes/Topics: lying/telling truth

Opening: “Betty Bunny was a handful.  She knew this because one day she was jumping up and down in her brother Bill’s room yelling, “Play with me!  Play with me!  Play with me!” and Bill said, “Man, you’re a handful.”  She knew that she was his favorite sister, so being a handful must be very, very good.“

Brief Synopsis:  Betty Bunny has done something bad, and she doesn’t want to get in trouble.  So she lies.  But lying turns out to be a tricky thing.  Is lying worse than the thing you did that you’re lying about?  And if lying is wrong, then how come it’s okay not to tell the truth sometimes?  It’s hard being 4!

Links To Resources: Talk about why lying is a bad idea.  Share the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.  Talk about the difference between a story and a lie.  Children’s Activities About Lying (The Lying King, Lying Masks, The Button Game, The Honesty Train), Why Kids Lie (for parents and teachers)

Why I Like This Book:  Well to start with, it’s BETTY BUNNY!  Isn’t that enough? 🙂  But this book addresses a very common and important childhood dilemma – lying/telling truth.  Betty Bunny is so believably child-like in her behavior.  When she does something wrong, to avoid getting in trouble, she tells her family the Tooth Fairy did it.  Her mother knows she is lying and expresses her disappointment.  When Betty’s brother Bill does something wrong and admits it, Betty sees how much her mother approves, so she starts telling everything she can think of that she EVER did wrong, along with a whole bunch of made-up stuff – from one extreme to the other 🙂 – until her mother makes her understand that she wasn’t proud of Bill for doing something wrong, but for ‘fessing up.  Then when Betty tries to show her father how good she is at telling the truth (by telling him he smells bad when he comes home from the gym :)) he explains that sometimes you don’t need to tell the truth if it’s going to hurt someone’s feelings!  So confusing for poor Betty!  And as always, she has her own interpretation and ends the book with her own unique conclusions! 🙂

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

Now then, my friends, it seems like it’s been a little while since we had a writing contest 🙂  And what better way to fight off winter doldrums than with some contest shenanigans?  Plus this will be a new one – we’ve never done a contest in March before!  I’m still finalizing details (read trying to decide what to do :)), but the official announcement will go up Monday, and the contest will take place in about the third week of March… if anyone thinks they’d like to do it.  What’s the consensus?  Are you up for some fun and games?  Or are you all too busy?  Or does it depend on how tempting the prize is?  Please let me know in the comments!!!  Also, let me know if there’s a particular kind of contest you’d really like to try and/or if there’s something you really want for a prize!  And we’ll take it from there 🙂

So that’s about it for this week, peeps.  PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific link to the list below so we can come see what you love this week!

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!  By the next PPBF it will be March!  And that means Spring will be here… eventually 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Meet The Dogs Of Bedlam Farm

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, everyone!

I hope you all had lovely a Valentine’s Day!  If you didn’t happen to see Renee’s (abridged) puppet show version of Romeo & Juliet you are totally missing out and I have to recommend that you scoot over there and watch it.  We’ll still be here when you get back 🙂

I have a great book to share today, and also please stay tuned afterwards for the winner of Phyllis’s Fun Photo Contest and a fun announcement!

Meet The Dogs Of Bedlam Farm
Written & Photographed By: Jon Katz
Henry Holt & Company 2011, True Story

Suitable For: ages 4-8

Themes/Topics: jobs, individuality, kindness

Opening: “In the morning after mist has cleared from the path, four dogs go out together for their first walk of the day.  They circle and sniff the wet ground carefully, listening and seeing things that only dogs can sense.  The dogs are called Rose, Izzy, Frieda, and Lenore, and they all live on Bedlam Farm.   They stay together, circling, never running off.  They are a happy group; their tails wag when they see one another.  But it wasn’t always this way.”

Brief Synopsis: Four dogs are good friends.  Each one has a job.  Rose herds sheep.  Izzy visits sick people.  Frieda guards the farm.  But what is Lenore’s job?

Links To Resources:  This book could prompt a wonderful discussion about what kids are interested in and what they are good at; about how different people (just like different dogs) are good at different things.  Talk about all the many jobs there are, (here’s a link to a job index for kids in grade K-5) and ask kids what they’d like to be when they grow up.  Have them draw a picture of themselves doing the job of their dreams, or write a short story in which they get to do that job.  What kinds of jobs can they do now?  At home or in the classroom, make a job or chore chart and let each child have a task they enjoy and can do well.  Here’s a site where kids can “try out” different jobs KidsWork!

Why I Like This Book: If you’ve spent any time at all around this blog, you know I love dogs – especially rescue dogs – so it’s not a big leap to see why I like this book 🙂  Exquisite photographs of Jon Katz’s dogs at home on their farm, doing what they do best, complement a lovely true story about how everyone has value.  Each dog’s story is told – where they came from, how they ended up on the farm, what job they do.  Three of the dogs have traditional jobs.  Lenore does not.  Lenore does not herd sheep, or visit sick people, or guard the farm.  But she teaches Rose the serious worker how to play, she is Izzy’s first friend when he comes to the farm from a sad, bad place, and she keeps Frieda company when she is lonely.  What do you think Lenore’s job is? 🙂

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

Okay everyone, have a great weekend!

What?

Oh!  You want to know who won Phyllis’s Fun Photo Contest and what the fun announcement was?

Okay.  You’ve twisted my arm 🙂

I hope you all had as much fun with Phyllis’s Photo Contest as I did!  There were so many amazing entries – all so fun and creative!  I would never have been able to choose, so thank goodness I’m in charge around here and can make you guys do the choosing 🙂

When all the votes were in, the clear winner was…

DDDDDRRRRRUUUUUMMMMM  RRRRROOOOOLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!

CATHY!!!

Cathy, I think it was Phyllis upside-down in the nut bowl that did it for you.  Were you hinting that Phyllis is a nut?  I think you may be right.  There’s a lot of nuttiness around here 🙂

Congratulations, Cathy!  Please email me and we’ll discuss your prize, because I know you already have a signed copy of PHYLLIS.

A second prize for Phyllis’s Contest, consisting mostly of fame but I’m sure we can come up with something to go along with the fame, is being given at Phyllis’s insistence, and that one goes to ROBYN!  Really, it requires dedication to come up with a video of a tiny paper action figure winning a horse race.  So Robyn, kudos to you too and we’ll talk prizes privately!

And a huge thank you thank you and round of applause to everyone who took the time to color and cut and photograph and provide us all with such wonderful entertainment!  You are all the greatest!

The other fun announcement I mentioned (at least I think it’s fun!) is about Not Yet, Rose which you have seen in English…

… and Dutch…

… but now it’s available in GERMAN!

Is that fun or what?  I love having copies of my books that I can’t pronounce! 🙂  I’m thinking of making a video of myself reading my books in foreign languages to entertain you all… or at least myself 🙂

Alrighty!  That’s all the fun and games for today, folks!  PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific links to the list below so we can all come visit you!

Have a blissful weekend, everyone! 🙂

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Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot!

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Well, folks, I don’t know about you, but here on Blueberry Hill we’ve been told to expect some snow!  Down at Stop & Shop the cashiers are delightedly making dire predictions, based on the fact that, “Pawling School District is already closed and Pawling NEVER closes!” and people are buying batteries and toilet paper like crazy… because goodness knows, you can’t have too much of either in a snowstorm :)) I admit we’re getting a bit of a kick out of the headlines, for example: “Historic, Crippling Blizzard Ahead!”  (And no, I did not make that up!… although it sounds like something I might make up :))

I’ll believe it when I see it, but don’t you worry.  Our hatches are battened, the dogs are in readiness should any wild snowy romping patrolling of the perimeter be required, and we are well supplied with chocolate should we be forced to hole up for a day or two 🙂

Given the weather I feel like I should be doing a picture book about snow today, but I couldn’t think of a good one quickly that hasn’t been done already, so you’re getting this one instead 🙂

The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot!
Written & Illustrated By: Scott Magoon
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman, February 2013, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 4-8

Themes/Topics: imagination, telling the truth, consequences, unexpected friendship

Opening: “This is the story of my friend Ben and how we first met.”

Brief Synopsis: Ben likes to tell stories… so sometimes he makes them up.  All that storytelling practice makes him pretty good at it, but after a while people figure out that he’s not telling the truth… or is he?

Links To Resources: Bigfoot For Kids, Bigfoot Facts For Kids.  You could read this book along with Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella to compare Bigfoot stories, or along with The Boy Who Cried Wolf and The Boy Who Cried Ninja to compare different retellings of the same story.  Discussion topics could include the difference between a story and a lie, and the importance of telling the truth.

Why I Like This Book: I always enjoy a good retelling of a familiar tale, and this one is fun and fresh.  The text is snappy, and you will be surprised by the ending (well, if you’re an adult you might not be THAT surprised, but your kids probably will be :))  This is a great example of what a picture book should be – a perfect marriage of text and art.  The art in this book is fabulous – perfect for the story, very expressive, and full of funny details (I’m especially fond of the dog’s expressions and Ben’s unhelpful little sister :))

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

Just a quick word before we all rush off to see everyone’s great books and head into our weekends.

It’s such fun every week getting to see what books everyone chooses – always wonderful, special books that have so much to offer.  I am extremely grateful to everyone who participates and makes Perfect Picture Books what it is.

Not chronologically (because we took a break in the summer) but technically, this week is the start of Year 2.  We have over one thousand books on our list – quite an accomplishment and truly a wonderful resource.  And it exists because of all of you!  So thank you, thank you!!!  You make PPBF what it is!

I’d like to just remind some of the newcomers that what Perfect Picture Books is – what makes it different from other review sites – are the resources.  Not only to we only list terrific books that we highly recommend, we hand busy parents, teachers, home-schoolers, day care providers, librarians, etc. ready-made options for expanding on the use of those wonderful stories through nature activities, arts and crafts, cooking, role playing games, and much, much more.  Therefore, it is critically important that resources be included.  Please make sure your review contains an extension of some kind so that it will be easy for people to see how they might make further use of the books at home and in the classroom.  Also (because it is a bear of a job to update! :)) please make sure your links are post-specific and not just general links to your blog.  (If they’re general, they’re only correct until your next post goes up and then the PPBF link doesn’t work anymore.)  Thank you all for everything you do to provide this wonderful resource!

Oh, and BTW, on a completely unrelated topic, lest you be wondering, I have not forgotten about voting on Phyllis’s contest, I just haven’t had a good spot to put it in.  Yet.  But I will.  Soon.  How about Monday?  Okay.  Monday it is!

Now.  PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific link below – I can’t wait to see what makes the list this week!  If you don’t hear from me Monday, you’ll know we lost power and it hasn’t come back! 🙂  If you’re in the path of the “historic, crippling blizzard” stay safe and warm and make sure you have chocolate 🙂  Have a great weekend everyone! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Whose Mouse Is This?

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You are going to fall over in amazement at how brief I am today!

The reason is because tomorrow is GROUNDHOG DAY!!! (sorry – it’s so hard to say that quietly! :)) and Phyllis and I will be having a special post, so since we’re asking you to read and participate on an extra day, I’m trying not to talk too much today 🙂  Maybe we’ll take Monday off to give you a break.  Feel free to vote in the comments 🙂  (If you want to read about the contest so you can join in, go HERE.)  (And if you want to participate but don’t have a blog you can email me your photo and caption and I’ll add it into my post for you! :))

Oh, but I just have one more thing –  Today is the first official day of Making Picture Book Magic!  Woo-hoo!!!

Okay.  That’s all.  Really 🙂

Here’s today’s Perfect Picture Book.

Whose Mouse Are You?
Written By: Robert Kraus
Illustrated By: Jose Aruego
Simon & Schuster, 1970, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 3-7

Themes/Topics: new baby/new sibling, feeling unnoticed

Opening: “Whose mouse are you?”
“Nobody’s mouse.”
“Where is your mother?”
“Inside the cat”
“Where is your father?”
“Caught in a trap.”

Brief Synopsis: a young mouse (whom we may assume is feeling a little unimportant due to the impending arrival of a new sibling) transforms himself into a beloved family hero.

Links To Resources: activities for Whose Mouse Are You?, make your own Whose Mouse story, discussion for Whose Mouse

Why I Like This Book: So simple.  So charming.  So spot on.  Hasn’t every child, waiting for a new sibling, wondered about his importance?  And what a delightful way to show the emotion – by transforming himself into a hero, bringing his family together in time to welcome the new baby.  One of the reasons I love this book so much is because, from a writer’s perspective, it is done so well.  A meaningful story with emotional resonance is told in only 105 words!

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

So now, if you haven’t made your Phyllis action figure, there’s no time like the present 🙂  You’ve still got plenty of time to gear up for the contest tomorrow!

PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific link on the list below so we can all come see what treasures you’ve selected for us this week!

Have a great weekend, everyone!  And if I don’t see you tomorrow, Happy Groundhog Day! 🙂

P.S.  On our school visit yesterday, Phyllis was identified as a raccoon, a beaver, a hedgehog, and a BEAR before we finally got around to groundhog 🙂  I’m hoping to have pictures at some point 🙂  AND, the kids made her a new crown for her collection!  Her only regret is that she can only wear one at a time 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Will We Miss Them? Endangered Species

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, everyone!

I hope it’s a little warmer where you live than it is here! We’re on day 4 of waking up to sub-zero temperatures and frankly? I’ve had my fill.  Scout and Jemma have had their fill too.  So has Phyllis.  It’s time for drastic measures.  We’re open to suggestions 🙂

Meanwhile, my Perfect Picture Book!

Will We Miss Them? Endangered Species
Written By: Alexandra Wright
Illustrated By: Marshall Peck III
Charlesbridge, 1992, Non-Fiction

Suitable For:  ages 5-8 – I might skip the sentence about poachers for younger readers.  The rest of the book is completely appropriate.

Themes/Topics: animals, endangered species, conservation

Opening: “This book is about some amazing animals that are disappearing from Earth,  Some are becoming scarce because poachers (people who hunt illegally) kill them for their horns, tusks, skins, or fur.  Others are vanishing because they cannot compete with people for space, water or food.  Will we miss these animals?  Can we help save them?  The first step is to learn who they are.”

Brief Synopsis: This book introduces young readers to a number of animals that are considered endangered, with the idea that the first step toward helping them is learning about them.

Links To Resources: Endangered Species Activities, Kids Planet website, Endangered Animals Study Guide for Primary Classrooms, Classroom Guide for grades 6-8

Why I Like This Book:  I love animals, and always like books about them, especially endangered species who need our help.  The coolest thing about this book, though, is that it was written by an 11 year old girl!  Isn’t that amazing?  Not only is the book full of interesting facts presented from the perspective of an 11 year old, I think the fact that it was written by such a young person and published is very inspiring!

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

And now, since everything around here, including my brain, is frozen, that’s all folks!

PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific link on the list below.  Looking forward to seeing what everyone picked this week.  Have a great weekend, everyone! and stay warm! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – A Is For Musk Ox

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I would just like to start today by saying that it’s only 15 days until GROUNDHOG DAY (in case anyone besides me and Phyllis is counting :))

illustration copyright Jeffrey Ebbeler 2005

Also, Phyllis’s FB page is feeling unloved (because I never do anything with it :)) so if anyone wants to go chat with her she would love that.  You’re going to have to work hard to beat out Cathy as her number one fan though 🙂  Phyllis says comments on what makes groundhogs lovable would be a good start…  She also loves groundhog jokes, so if you know any, please share 🙂

Okay!  Are you ready for today’s Perfect Picture Book selection?

Given my well-documented love for silly alphabet books and the title of today’s pick, I’m sure you can already tell it’s tons of fun!  Just wait until you hear about it – I DARE you not to go straight to the library! 🙂

A Is For Musk Ox
Written By: Erin Cabatingan
Illustrated By: Matthew Myers
Roaring Book Press, October 2012, Fiction

Suitable For: ages listed variously as Preschool – Grade 4, and ages 5 and up.  I would go with 5 and up – I think some of the humor might fly over the heads of the littlest ones.

Themes/Topics: alphabet, humor, animals (musk oxen), consequences

Opening: (Well, you’ve really got to start with the cover… which he has eaten through! :))  “HEY! Hey you, Musk Ox!  Did you do this?  Did you eat that apple?”
“Who me?  I can’t remember.“

Brief Synopsis:  After Joseph the musk ox eats the apple that “a” is supposed to be for, he proceeds to make the entire alphabet be all about him much to Zebra’s annoyance!  But Zebra has the last laugh 🙂

Links To Resources:  Musk Oxen Pictures And Facts, Eco Field Guide – Musk Ox, Musk Ox Print Out, Coloring Page 1, Coloring Page 2

Why I Like This Book:  SO FUNNY!  Every letter is for musk ox except the odd one here and there…  P is for Wolf, T is for headache, (you’ll just have to read it to follow that logic!) and my favorite, M is for apple… because he feels bad about eating it at the beginning 🙂  Musk ox is just a bit pushy in his insistence, and in the end gets his comeuppance, which is just a bit fair 🙂  This book may not be terribly helpful in teaching the alphabet, but it’s sure to tickle the funny bone.  The art is particularly hilarious.

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

Now then, please don’t keel over with shock, but that is the end of today’s post.  I KNOW!  So brief!  But the truth is, I’m under the gun to get all the details squared away for my new writing course after the announcement leaked out a little ahead of schedule last week – nose to the grindstone and all that – and you know how me and technology get along… we DON’T… so enough said!  Wish me luck with my email template!

Have a great weekend, everyone!  And PPBF bloggers, please put your post-specific links in the list below – I can’t wait to see what you picked this week!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Jimi Sounds Like A Rainbow

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!

Let’s jump right in, shall we?  I’m in a rush today because I’m going to be pretty busy this morning being nervous for my interview on the Take Your Talent To The Bank Virtual Conference – being nervous is incredibly time-consuming and I only have a few hours! 🙂
I have a great book to share today!
Jimi Sounds Like A Rainbow: A Story Of The Young Jimi Hendrix
Written By: Gary Golio
Illustrated By: Javaka Steptoe
Clarion Books, October 2010, Fact-based Fiction
Suitable For: publisher says ages 6 and up, I think maybe 7 or 8 and up
Themes/Topics: music, art, creativity, perseverance, pursuing dreams
Opening: “Seattle, Washington 1956.
Electricity ripped through the air.  A lightning flash lit up the room.  Thunder rocked the house.
     Jimmy’s hand jumped, and a rainbow of colored pencils went tumbling to the floor.
     Outside, the rain began trickling off the roof and plinking into the metal gutter.  Drops bounced onto the windowsill.  A breeze rippled the glass chimes on the porch.
     For a moment, Jimmy thought he head a woman’s name being blown on the wind.”
Brief Synopsis: Jimmy Hendrix (before he was Jimi :)) grew up in a boarding house in Seattle with his father.  In everything around him, Jimmy heard music – children’s laughter sounded like a squealing clarinet, a truck backfiring sounded like a bass drum, a rake on the sidewalk sounded like a snare.  “With every sound, a color glowed in Jimmy’s mind.”  He wanted to reproduce the things he heard and saw as music – to paint with sound – even though he owned nothing musical but a one-string ukelele and his voice.  He heard and saw the world differently from everyone else, and he wanted to color the world with his music.
Links To Resources: the back of the book has a list of resources about substance abuse (really only appropriate for older readers) and a fascinating illustrator’s note about how the illustrations for the book were researched and created which everyone can enjoy.  There is also a bibliography and a list of selected discography, CDs, videos, and DVDs.  Again, much of this would be appropriate only for older readers than the usual picture book audience.  Younger readers could try drawing what they think the sound of a song or piece of music looks like, or how it makes them feel.  You could discuss what color a tuba, a flute, or a guitar (or any other instrument) sounds like to you.  Why?  What instrument or group of instruments would be a good choice to represent bird song? Traffic?  Water? (or anything else you’d like to try :)) Why?
Why I Like This Book:  To be honest, I picked up this book because I was wondering how the author would manage to turn the Jimi Hendrix experience into a children’s picture book 🙂  The answer?  Very well indeed!  He focused on Jimmy’s early years, his creativity and passion, how his humble beginnings didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams.  The story is very inspiring.  The language is lyrical and musical, conveying beautifully the way Jimmy saw and heard the world.  “Notes spun from the strings, flickering in the air like fireflies.”  And the art is the perfect match for this story – wild and kaleidoscopic and colorful – the visual representation of Jimmy’s difference and creativity, and with young Jimmy very much in the forefront of every illustration.  The book ends with the lines: “Dressed in the colors of the rainbow, he played for audiences far and wide, joining fiery sounds with tender feelings and painting the world with his songs.”  It does not address his drug addictions or his tragic end, but the back matter of the book does.  So while the story is appropriate for younger readers, much of the back matter is really only suitable for an older audience, but for more mature readers, it’s good that it’s there.  The illustrator’s notes are fascinating for everyone.  The combined text and art make this book a terrific read!
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
Now, I have some serious being nervous to do, so I will wish you all a happy weekend!  PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific link to the list below.  I can’t wait to see what everyone else picked this week!  So many great books out there! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Step Gently Out AND Virtual Conference Info!

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Wow!  Between the Holiday Contest and the holidays themselves, I’ve missed a few PPBFs!  I’m excited to show you today’s book, though.  I hope you’ll love it!  And I think it fits very nicely with the idea of the beginning of the new year – the concept of stepping out and looking closely at what’s around you 🙂

Step Gently Out
Written By: Helen Frost
Photography By: Rick Lieder
Candlewick, March 2012, Fiction

Themes/Topics: nature, insects, taking time to look closely, poetry

Suitable For: ages 2-7

Opening: “Step gently out,/ be still, and watch a single blade of grass.“

Brief Synopsis: (From the Booklist starred review) “Nature’s miracles are often small and hard to capture, but in a syncopated harmony of text and image, Frost and Lieder manage to depict tiny moments as seen through a bugs-eye-view of the world… Moving from day to night, the poem makes for a soothing bedtime lullaby that includes a reminder to children about the book’s small creatures: “In song and dance / and stillness, / they share the world / with you.”“

Links To Resources: the back of the book includes lots of information on all the insects pictured – a resource all in itself.  In addition, here are some Insect Coloring Pages.  Try taking some photographs of your own.  Try writing a short poem about an insect.

Why I Like This Book:  I am always in favor of books that encourage kids to go outside and look closely at the real world around them, really observe it, think about it, be part of it.  I’m not an insect lover per se :), but this book is amazingly beautiful.  I cannot stress enough how absolutely exquisite the photography is.  Such detail!  Here’s another little sample:

It’s breathtaking, isn’t it? and I think kids and adults alike will thoroughly enjoy looking at it, especially in combination with the poetic text which is as gorgeous in it’s imagery as the photography is.  This book is a feast for eyes and ears and hearts!

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

Before we all run off for to read everyone’s book choices for today and then head out for our weekends, I’d just like to thank everyone who took the time to visit Donna’s blog Wednesday for my guest post, and also tell you a little more about something I might be able to offer you.

Patricia Morrison, who is a creativity coach (as well as a singer/songwriter) is starting a new website/blog called InnerFireOuterLight and she has put together a virtual conference for next week, January 8th – 11th entitled Take Your Talent To The Bank: Go From Starving Artist To Creative Rock Star.

Here’s a little blurb Patricia prepared to give you an idea what it’s all about:

The Take Your Talent To The Bank Virtual Conference in just one week away, on January 8th-11th!

You can attend the entire power-packed conference with EIGHT brilliant and successful creatives from the comfort of your home, for FREE! 

This [FREE] virtual conference is designed for brilliant, creative professionals and those who just might be ready to take a leap into sharing their creative voices and gifts in a bigger way.  Successful creatives who have been where you are share their struggles, tips, tricks and strategies for taking your talent to the bank and going from starving artist to creative rock star!

You’ll hear from:

  • An internationally touring performer, playwright, screenwriter & more
  • A best-selling author & photographer
  • An acclaimed children’s picture book author of nearly a dozen books (you might recognize this one :)) 
  • A top 5% earning actor with NY & LA careers
  • A multi-6-figure creative business coach & actor
  • A celebrated visionary fiber artist and painter, author, editor & more
  • One of the most sought after Marilyn Tribute artists in the world today 
AND MORE
Ready to escape the starving artist mentality (and reality) and get the recognition, fans, and income you deserve? 
Share your creative gifts with a world hungry for vision, beauty and meaning AND make a grown-up living!
Click here to register and get all the details, including the time of my interview.
Looking forward to having you join us!

Okay, well the blurb was longer than that but I think that’s enough to give you the general idea and the link to sign up! 🙂  And I’ll save you the clicking for the time of my interview which is on Friday January 11th at 11 AM PST/2 PM EST.  I will likely sound like a somewhat confused and very frightened guinea pig since public speaking of any kind to grown-ups is not my forte, but one can hope for the best 🙂

Please feel free to share the word to anyone you think might be interested!  And if you have any questions about it, ask away in the comments… I may or may not be able to answer 🙂

And now, enjoy all the PPBs and have a wonderful weekend!  PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific links in the list below!

Perfect Picture Book Friday

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Happy Friday Everyone!

As I mentioned in my extremely late post Wednesday, I’m not posting today.  Instead, I will be going skating with my kids and nieces and nephews (an outing which I know would be VERY entertaining for you to witness – too bad there’s no streaming video! – Michelle Kwan I am not! :))

For anyone who has more time than I do and wants to post and visit, here’s the list.  Have fun!  See you all next week, probably Wednesday.

Have a nice weekend and Happy New Year!!! 🙂