Category: Perfect Picture Book Fridays

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Lala Salama – Celebrating Universal Children’s Day

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Today is a special Perfect Picture Book Friday.

At the suggestion of Pat at Children’s Books Heal and Vivian at Positive Parental Participation, since today is the anniversary of the date in 1954 that the UN General Assembly recommended there should be a Universal Children’s Day, we are doing our part to raise awareness of the plight of children around the globe and to promote the welfare of children in the world by posting books which focus on multicultural/multiracial issues, human rights, and/or children who have helped to change the world in some way.  (The actual date of Universal Children’s Day is November 20 – we are celebrating the day it came into being!)

I quickly discovered that the books that leapt instantly to mind in this category (Beatrice’s Goat, One Hen, etc…) have already been expertly reviewed by others for previous PPBFs.  So I chose a book for younger readers that shows a way of life very different from my own.  I hope you like it as much as I do.

Lala Salama: A Tanzanian Lullaby
Written By: Patricia MacLachlan
Illustrated By: Elizabeth Zunon
Candlewick Press, November 2011, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 3-7

Themes/Topics: day-in-the-life, bedtime, lullaby, multicultural

Opening: “Long ago, this morning, the sun rose above our house, spilling light over the hills of the Congo and the lake with the beautiful name, Tanganyika, like a song.  Lala salama, little one.”

Brief Synopsis: (From the jacket) The rhythm of the Tanzanian day inspires the melody of the evening’s lullaby in this sweet song of family life.

Links To Resources: It’s important for children to learn about the world they live in, and understand that not everyone lives the same life they do.  This book offers a wonderful opportunity for children to explore how things in their life compare to things in this book – ask, how are your clothes alike or different from the baby’s clothes?  Does your home look like the homes in the book?  How is it the same or different?  Do you take a bath the same way the baby does?  The baby’s father works on a fishing boat – what does your father do?  The baby’s mother carries him in a sling on her back – how are babies carried where you live, or are they put in strollers or swings?  This baby has monkeys and zebras nearby – what animals live near you?  The story offers a great opportunity to talk about how life is the same everywhere on some levels, and yet very different on others.

Why I Like This Book:  The language in this book is rhythmic, soothing and beautiful – just like a lullaby.  The story takes readers through a day in the life of a family on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.  The gorgeous illustrations give a glimpse of what the scenery is like, how people dress, where they live, what they do.  The story is not long – easily short enough for a very young child, but offers an idea of what life is like in another part of the world, perhaps very different from what the reader has experienced.  This is a beautiful book, perfect for bedtime!

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

PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific links in the list below.  I’m really looking forward to reading everyone’s choices for Universal Children’s Day!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

“WHAT!” I heard you gasp.  That’s it?

I realize this may be my shortest post ever, but seriously, you have not been in my house this week where life has been a three-ring circus 🙂  Plus I just realized that somebody had the bright idea of posting the Holiday Contest on Saturday the 15th which is – you got it! –  TOMORROW!  (I don’t know who is in charge around here, but apparently she has horsefeathers for brains!)  Honestly, it’s going to be pretty much of a miracle if my sample entry is ready by then, because let’s face it that’s in like 12 hours! so I might be posting the official post and putting up the list and then adding in my sample entry Sunday or Monday 🙂  Just warning you :))  But I totally can’t wait to read everyone’s entries!  I hope there are some 🙂  OK.  Really.  Happy weekend! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Rocking Horse Christmas

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Hurray!  It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday!

Since I didn’t post a holiday book last week, and next week we’re doing our tribute to Universal Children’s Day, this may be my only holiday title for the year.  It’s a very special one.  I hope you like it 🙂
Rocking Horse Christmas
Written By: Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrated By: Ned Bittinger
Scholastic Press, 1997, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 3-8
Themes/Topics: beloved toy, Christmas, love, tradition
Opening: “The boy found the rocking horse under the tree.  He pushed it softly and made it rock.  “I’ll call you Shadow,” he said.  Then he climbed on Shadow’s back and they took off.“
Brief Synopsis: One Christmas, a boy found a rocking horse under the tree.  He named him Shadow, and together they had many wonderful adventures.  But the boy grew up, and Shadow was carried to the attic and forgotten.  From the attic window Shadow watched and waited for his boy…
Links To Resources: HERE are some images you can print out, color, and cut out to make ornaments; have kids draw a picture of their favorite toy, or write a letter to their favorite toy telling why they love it and what makes it so special.  Discuss: do they think they’ll ever outgrow the toy? forget it? why or why not?
Why I Like This Book: This is a story that embodies the spirit of Christmas.  It’s a story about love, a little bit reminiscent of The Velveteen Rabbit, about that special bond between a child and a toy that feels so real in childhood but grows vulnerable with maturity.  On that first Christmas, the boy is delighted with his horse.  He makes him a little stall beside his bed and feeds him hay, and for years they lasso outlaws, joust with knights, go on safari, and race in the Kentucky Derby.  “Every night, before sleep, the boy touched Shadow’s mane.  ‘Ride you tomorrow,’ he’d whisper.”  Doesn’t everyone remember the toys they had that felt like real friends?  But the boy grows up, and Shadow is put away in the attic.  “Year after year, the rocking horse stared out the window, looking for his boy.”  One Christmas Eve a blizzard knocks out the window.  Shadow is covered in snow and his spirit begins to fade… until he’s discovered by a boy.  “What is it, Dad?”  The man wipes the snow from Shadow’s head.  Shadow looks into his eyes and recognizes him at once.  “He’s my oldest friend in the world,” the man said.  I cannot get past this part without tearing up.  If you can, you’re made of sterner stuff than I 🙂  And so Shadow is brought downstairs to delight a new generation, not forgotten any longer.
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
A quick reminder for anyone who might have missed the announcement: At the suggestion of Pat at Children’s Books Heal and Vivian at Positive Parental Participation, on Friday December 14, which is the anniversary of the date in 1954 that the UN General Assembly recommended there should be a Universal Children’s Day, we are going to be doing our part to raise awareness of the plight of children around the globe and to promote the welfare of children in the world by posting books which focus on multicultural/multiracial issues, human rights, and/or children who have helped to change the world in some way.  For example, Pat plans to post the picture book version of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind.  Beatrice’s Goat and Wangari’s Trees Of Peace are other examples of books in this category (although they’re already on our list.)  Please join us if you’d like to!  But of course, if you’ve already got a book in mind and would like to post a regular PPB that is fine too – all picture books are for children 🙂

Also, due to the Holiday Contest (please click HERE for details so you can start writing your story :)) and the fact that we will all no doubt be insanely busy with the holidays, there will be no PPBF on Friday December 21 – instead the finalists for the Holiday Contest will be posted that day for you to vote on.

Before we go, I just want to thank Vivian at Positive Parental Participation for giving me the positive Parental Participation Blog Award.


This award means a great deal to me because it recognizes bloggers who “encourage children to love books and reading, believe young children need to play in order to learn, and support positive parental participation” and I am honored that she feels I fit in this category.  Thank you so much, Vivian!  Vivian’s blog, and her book Show Me How, are wonderful resources for parents, and I encourage anyone who isn’t familiar with her to go see all she has to offer!


I can’t wait to see what fabulous books everyone posts this week!  PPBF bloggers, please put your post-specific link below because ready or not, here we come 🙂

Have a great weekend everybody! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – First Snow (And Some Other Odds And Ends!)

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Well, you guys are in for it today!

After several brief (for me) posts in a row, I’ve used up my ability to be short-winded and I have so much to tell you today I can’t even believe it.  I’ll try to be succinct 🙂

First, my Perfect Picture Book, because I like that to be at the top on Friday.

First Snow
Written & Illustrated By: Kim Lewis
Candlewick Press, 1993, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 4-8

Themes/Topics: kindness, helping others, friends, pets, farm life, beloved toy, loss

Opening: “Wake up, Sara,” whispered Mommy.  “Daddy’s not very well today.  I’m going to feed the sheep on the hill.  Would you and Teddy like to come?“

Brief Synopsis: To help Daddy, Mommy and Sara and Sara’s bear, Teddy, go up the hill to feed the sheep.  It’s a long climb, and while they’re up there, the first snow of the year begins to fall.  Hurrying to get home before they can’t find their way, no one notices that Sara’s beloved Teddy has been left behind.

Links To Resources: The Working Sheep Dog (video), Sheep Herding Demonstration (video), Fun Sheep Facts For Kids, Facts About Border Collies Talk about what you could do for someone that would be nice or help them in some way.

Why I Like This Book:  I love that whole story takes place because Sara and her mom are trying to do something nice for Daddy.  As they hike, you can feel the steepness of the hill, the cold air, the first tentative snowflakes followed by the real snow.  For children who may never have been out in the real country, the book gives them a taste of it.  The sense of wanting to get back to their cottage pulls the reader along, but on the whole it’s a fairly quiet book.  The art is gorgeous.  It’s drawn in colored pencil and the little cottage where Sara’s family lives is so warm and inviting, and the vistas of the English hills so lovely it makes you want to step right into the pages of the book.  The sheep are beautiful, the border collies exceptional.  But maybe the thing I love most about the book is the understanding it shows between a child and her pet.  It is not Mommy or Daddy or Sara who recovers Teddy 🙂

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

Next, two things that kind of go together.  When Beth asked to interview me about Perfect Picture Books I was happy to do it to raise awareness of this resource that we all work so hard on (and because Beth is nice and I like her :)) but I never in a million years expected the kind of response we got.  So I wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful comments.  They meant so much to me.  I really can’t find words to tell you how much… which is bad for a writer!  But it was an unexpected gift for which I am truly grateful, and it just makes me value this wonderful community even more.  I wasn’t kidding when I said I was going to print out that post and stick it on my wall to read on days when I feel low 🙂  So thank you.

In the same vein, Randy over at Author In Training very kindly gave me the Addictive Blog Award.

In addition to linking back to him (and I hope you’ll go visit him if you haven’t because he does great writing prods and is currently writing a YA novel that you get to read a bit of every Friday and just has an all around great blog!) I am supposed to list 10 blogs I am addicted to.  But I can’t list only 10.  Especially after being reminded Wednesday of just how wonderful you all are.  So consider yourselves all recipients, and feel free to take the award badge and post it on your blog!

The next item I wanted to mention is that tomorrow, December 1 (a Saturday so I don’t post) marks my 2nd Blogiversary!!!  I can’t believe it’s been 2 years.  I have had so much fun here, getting to know you all and dragging you into all my hair-brained schemes!  Anything that’s good about this blog is good because of you, so please give yourselves all a big pat on the back and a round of applause!  Some confetti would be nice, too.  And of course, I think we should serve Something Chocolate, even though it’s not Wednesday 🙂  I would also like to give you A PRESENT!  Of course, I’d really like to give you ALL a present, but I don’t have the resources, so two (that’s 2!) lucky random commenters today will receive a packet of 5 assorted hand-drawn greeting cards by our own superbly talented  Tracy Campbell!  Here’s a little sample:

copyright Tracy Campbell 2012 used by permission

copyright Tracy Campbell 2012 used by permission

copyright Tracy Campbell 2012 used by permission

Aren’t they gorgeous?  Please click on the link to her blog and explore and you can see many other cards!

Second to last (see? there’s a light at the end of the tunnel :)), I wanted to let you all know ahead of time about a special PPBF.  At the suggestion of Pat at Children’s Books Heal and Vivian at Positive Parental Participation, on Friday December 14, which is the anniversary of the date in 1954 that the UN General Assembly recommended there should be a Universal Children’s Day, we are going to be doing our part to raise awareness of the plight of children around the globe and to promote the welfare of children in the world by posting books which focus on multicultural/multiracial issues, human rights, and/or children who have helped to change the world in some way.  For example, Pat plans to post the picture book version of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind.  Beatrice’s Goat and Wangari’s Trees Of Peace are other examples of books in this category (although they’re already on our list.)  Please join us if you’d like to!  But of course, if you’ve already got a book in mind and would like to post a regular PPB that is fine too – all picture books are for children 🙂

FINALLY (here we are! this is the end!) I’m hoping to post the rules for the Holiday Contest on Monday.  Of course, that will depend on whether I make up my mind about what it’s going to be by then 🙂  But here’s hoping 🙂

That’s it!  Go forth!  Run free!  Go see all the wonderful picture books that have been chosen this week!  And have a GREAT weekend! 🙂

(PPBF bloggers, please remember to add your post-specific link below!  And don’t forget, 2 lucky commenters will win beautiful cards, and the winners will be chosen totally by random.org and not at all based on how nice the things you say about me or my blog are :))

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Gone Riding

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I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mine was lovely, and since my kids are all out of school and I have family visiting, I am doing the unthinkable and taking the day off.  I know.  Shocking and shameless 🙂  But if you want me, this is where I’ll be:

Gone Riding 🙂
(yep that’s me and my borrowed steed, Velvet – thank you Nancie :))

Come join me if you like 🙂

Anyone who managed to get their PPBF post done in this hectic week, please add your post-specific link to the list below and we will all come visit.  Including me… as soon as I get off Velvet and give her a carrot… or two 🙂

Have a great weekend everyone! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Pirate’s Parrot

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In case you’re wondering, I had a lovely chat with Santa on Wednesday at the Brick Church Holiday Fair in New York City and you are all on the Nice List!  (So you can breathe a sigh of relief – I know some of you were a little worried that all that chocolate might have tipped the scales, as it were, to the Naughty side, but you’re good :))
I also sat next to a pile of Jamie Lee Curtis’s books – but not, as it turned out, Jamie Lee.  (She probably heard she’d be sitting next to a groundhog and a sheep, not to mention a relatively unknown author, and that violates some clause of her appearance contract.)  But her illustrator, Laura Cornell, was happy to sit with us and she was delightful!  I was very glad to meet her and have her company for the three hours or so that we were in attendance.  I did not take any pictures because I wasn’t kidding when I told you this was a fair of epic proportions.  We’re talking Park Avenue glitz.  I was afraid you might sustain eye damage from all the glitter 🙂
Anyway, look how far down the page I am without a single mention of Perfect Picture Books!  That just proves how dazzled I was from that fair – I haven’t recovered my senses yet 🙂  But now… it’s time… for Perfect Picture Books!!!  (I’m feeling the need for theme music – anyone want to sing?)
The Pirate’s Parrot
Written By: Lyn Rossiter Mcfarland
Illustrated By: Jim Mcfarland
Tricycle Press, March 2004, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 5-8
Themes/Topics: pirates, doing a job well, defying the expected, being different
Opening: “When Captain Cur’s parrot died, he thud-thumped and tapped on his wooden leg all night long until his crew thought they’d go mad.
Then at dawn, he tap, tap, crunched!
“Mr. Bellows!” he roared.  “I’ve stepped on me monocle!”
Quartermaster Bellows rushed to his captain’s side.
“I have no bird,” snarled the Cur.  “I have no monocle.  Me near vision’s a blur, and me mood is bad and getting worse.  So what are you going to do about it?“

Brief Synopsis:  The First and Second Mate are dispatched to solve the problem, but they make a slight error… the parrot they bring back is actually a teddy bear.  Unwilling to face the Captain’s wrath, the crew tell him it’s a parrot (and without his monocle he can’t see well enough to tell the difference!) and they teach the bear to be a pirate’s parrot.  Not until they board the Sea Weasel, ship of the dreaded pirate Captain McDagger, do they find out what a good job they did!
Why I Like This Book:  To start with, it has pirates in it, and I love books with pirates 🙂  But beyond that, how can you not love a book where a scurvy crew puts one over on their Captain by giving him a teddy bear instead of a parrot because he can’t see well enough to tell the difference?  And then names said bear Barr and teaches it to swagger and squawk, swashbuckle and spit.  This book carries a message of believing you can do a job well even if you’re not the usual type of person (or animal or thing) to do it, but it’s also just plain, flat out fun!  And Barr’s got another secret as well… but you’ll have to read the book to find out what it is 🙂

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

Now, since last week’s Friday post was long, you are excused early today 🙂

Please join us Monday when Clara Bowman-Jahn shares the story of the idea behind her debut picture book – Annie’s Special Day!

And PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come see what fabulous books you’ve selected this week!

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Marathon Mouse AND Giveaway Winner AND Hallloweensie Contest Winner!!!

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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? 🙂

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…

JARM!!!
(who it just so happens rode a camel to the top of Mt. Sinai and after sunrise walked all the way down! which is not why she won the book – that was just random.org – but I really thought you should know! :))

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…

Julie with Hallow‘s Eve!!!

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!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – All The Places To Love, And A Teensy Halloweensie Update

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You know me.  Planning is not my strong suit.  I’m definitely a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda gal.  But for today, I planned.  I had a book in mind.  I was all set.  I ordered my copy well in advance.  Unfortunately the release date was shifted.  Fortunately, it still shipped in time.  But… thanks to Sandy… delivery has been delayed, so today’s book, which was supposed to have been Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon, just in time for the NYC marathon and in advance of her interview here on Monday, ain’t happenin’.  Sad face.  Apparently I am not destined to be a planner!

So instead, in the aftermath of Sandy when so many have lost so much, I’ve chosen a book I dearly love.  I know.  This makes two quiet books in a row.  But after the craziness of this hurricane week it seemed like a good choice.  I dare you to read it without feeling touched 🙂

All The Places To Love
Written By: Patricia MacLachlan
Illustrated By: Mike Wimmer
HarperColllins, 1994, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 3-8

Themes/Topics: appreciating what you have, love, family, new baby

Opening: “On the day I was born my grandmother wrapped me in a blanket made from the wool of her sheep.  She held me up to the window so that what I first heard was the wind.  What I first saw were all the places to love…”

Brief Synopsis: Everyone in Eli’s family has a favorite place – Mama loves the blueberry barren, grandmother loves the river, grandfather loves the barn.  “Where else,” he says, “can the soft sound of cows chewing make all the difference in the world?”  Eli knows that no matter where he goes in the world, all the places to love are right here, connected to his family, and always to be cherished.  Then one day, Eli and his grandfather wait together in the barn until grandmother holds someone new up to the window, wrapped in a blanket made from the wool of her sheep – Eli’s sister Sylvie – and he looks forward to sharing his joy, showing her all the places to love including his favorite, which is revealed in the end, but I won’t spoil it 🙂

Links To Resources:  here is a nice Teacher’s Guide, but I also think this book lends itself perfectly to discussion of the places YOU love and why.  Draw a picture of a place you love.  Make a list of places you love.  Talk about why you love them, what makes them special.

Why I Like This Book: I don’t just like this book – I absolutely love it.  The language is poetic and lyrical with a rhythm that makes it wonderful to read aloud.  The art is warm, loving, and so appealing.  The story is all about love, appreciation, and family.  It’s a quiet book, just right for bedtime or those moments when children need to settle down.  It brings all the warmth and comfort of love and family to the surface, giving children a model whereby they can revel in their own experience of the people and places they love.  I read this book many, many times to my kids and after all those readings, even now, it makes me teary every time (in a good way :))  Simply a gem.

Here’s the only other picture that was available on the internet for a glimpse of the beauty inside:

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

And now, before you all rush off to read everyone’s wonderful offerings for today, a teensy Halloweensie Contest update.  We had an INCREDIBLE turn-out – 37 entries at the time of this writing (and I did say I’d extend the deadline to the end of today to help people who lost their power and couldn’t post or link up.)  If you haven’t had a chance to read them, please go HERE and have fun following the links and checking the comment section for the 6 that were entered there.  All these writers worked so hard, and produced such wonderful, entertaining stories I’d hate for you to miss any of them.  And a couple got added late and I’m worried they didn’t get many visitors 😦 so please, if you’re looking for a little light reading over the weekend, check them out!

Now, if all you amazing PPBF bloggers would kindly leave your post-specific links below, we’ll all come visit you with a piece of paper and a pencil so we can make extensive library lists 🙂  OH!  And don’t miss Monday’s post – with Amy Dixon, author of Marathon Mouse, and the vote for the Halloweensie Contest Winner (assuming my assistant judge and I have any luck narrowing this unbelievable field!)

Have a great weekend, everyone, and GOOD LUCK to anyone who is running the NYC Marathon (and that includes my better half! :))!!!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Silence

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Remember on Monday when I was feeling all flibbertigibbetty?

Well, I decided I’m not the only one who feels that way.  Life is crazy! 🙂  So for today’s Perfect Picture Book I chose some balm for the flibbertigibbeted soul 🙂

Silence
Written & Illustrated By: Lemniscates
Magination Press, March 2012, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 3-8

Themes/Topics: listening, taking time to notice yourself and your world

Opening: “In the silence I can hear the waves crashing and the wind playing with my kite.“

Brief Synopsis:  A child takes different moments of peace and quiet throughout the day, in different seasons, and in different locations, to see what the world has to say.

Links To Resources:  I think the best activity for this book is to do exactly what it says: listen!  What can you hear in the quiet of your room?  What can you hear if you listen quietly outside?  What do you notice when you take the time to absorb what’s going on around you?  Try just being quiet for a few minutes 🙂

Why I Like This Book:  Let’s face it – life is busy!  Even for kids.  This lovely, peaceful, quiet book reminds children and parents to pause for a few minutes, listen. and reflect.  The book is filled with lovely lines like, “In Spring, I can hear the bees loving flowers” and “When I listen I can hear  my feet when dancing my heart when running…”  This book may be as close as you can get to meditating with the under 6 set 🙂  I find it very peaceful 🙂

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

Since we’re talking Perfect Picture Books today, let me just say that I’m pretty excited that the Perfect Picture Book book marks arrived this week!  They turned out beautifully!  I have the following packaged up and ready to send out to the wonderful people who are taking it upon themselves to help spread the word of our endeavors here:

Beth – 200
Vanessa – 100
Patricia N. – 100
Donna – 100
Darshana – 50
Kirsten – 50
Heather B. – 50
Laura M. – 50
Julie R-Z – 30
Kim Mac. – 30
Clar – 25
Penny – 25
Stacy – 25
Vivian – 25
Jennifer R. – 25
Joanna – 20
Pat – 15
Jarm – 15
Alison – 10

If you asked for book marks and don’t see your name here, please let me know!  Saba and Amy both said they would like some but I need to know how many.  Vanessa, Patricia N,. and Donna – I’m happy to send you more if you need them – please let me know – but I only had 1000 to start.  ONLY!  I can’t believe we used them ALL!

If anyone else would like book marks to pass around to local libraries, schools, teachers, parents, day care providers, preschools, etc., please let me know.  If you email your address and let me know how many, I’m going to order some more and I’ll send them along!

And now, a quick reminder before the weekend, when some people might be able to find a few spare minutes to work on it…  The Halloweensie Contest is next week! – Wednesday October 31 to be exact!! – tons of fun and a great prize (as well as incredible fame should you happen to win :))!!!  So whip up those 100 words!  For complete details, please see HERE.  And can I just say, I don’t know what’s up with the weather, but after saying I hoped we wouldn’t get 2 feet of snow that knocks out the power and the internet like last year, would you believe we have a HUGE storm predicted for Tuesday into Wednesday?  I am going to do my best to get the post written ahead (Stop that!  I hear you rolling around on the floor laughing!  I didn’t promise, I said I’d TRY!) so that everyone will be able to add their links and such even if I can’t get on to read.  By planning ahead, I’m hoping to scare the storm away altogether.  I am that powerful.  But in case the worst happens, we will still have our contest whenever the power comes back on!

PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific links to the list below.  I can’t wait to see what shows up this week! 🙂

Have a great weekend, everyone! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Sacajawea Of The Shoshone And a Few Extras!

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As promised, today I’m excited to share Sacajawea Of The Shosone for Perfect Picture Book Friday.  If you didn’t have a chance to read the interview with author Natasha Yim, please go HERE – I think you’ll enjoy it 🙂  And I want to thank Natasha from all of us for taking the time to visit repeatedly, respond to people’s comments, and answer with lots of additional very interesting information!  Thank you, Natasha!  After the Perfect Picture Book, I will announce the winner of the giveaway from Monday, so stay tuned 🙂

Sacajawea Of The Shoshone
Written By: Natasha Yim
Illustrated By: Albert Nguyen
Goosebottom Books, September 26, 2012, Non-Fiction

Suitable For: ages 9-12

Topics/Themes: American History, Sacajawea, Lewis and Clark Expedition, Native Americans, real princesses

Opening: “Clouds of dust swirled across the plains, kicked up by galloping horses.  Screams shattered the autumn air.  Arrows arced across the crisp blue sky, sprung from Shoshone bows….“

Brief Synopsis: From the book jacket: “One minute Sacajawea was picking berries and the next her Shoshone tribe was being attacked by another tribe. As she ran for her life, she was scooped up and taken far away from her village and family—and into history. When Lewis and Clark happened upon her living amongst a new tribe and chose her to accompany them, they greatly benefited from her skills as an interpreter and guide. From her mountain home to the banks of the Missouri River, over the majestic Rockies to the pounding waves of the Pacific, Sacajawea traveled farther than any American woman of her time.“

Links To Resources: Shoshone Facts For Kids, make a map of the route Sacajawea took when leading the Lewis and Clark expedition, How To Draw An Easy Teepee, Goosebottom Books Resources (there isn’t a resource listed yet for Sacajawea, but resources are listed for the other titles in this series so I expect a link will show up soon!) try a basket weaving or bead work activity.

Why I Like This Book:  As you know, this book is a bit of an aberration for me – it’s a non-fiction picture book for older readers, and my usual choices lean toward fun fiction for fours and fives 🙂  The fact that I have chosen it as today’s PPB is a testament to how much I liked it.  The text is clearly written and includes a lot of information I didn’t know about Sacajawea and the Lewis and Clark expedition.  I especially loved the side bar type sections which gave extra interesting information about certain things, like the spelling of Sacajawea’s name, what she ate, and how she got chosen for the Lewis and Clark expedition.  The art is beautiful – a combination of painting and photography that works very well.  And I like that this book is a title in the Thinking Girl’s Treasury Of Real Princesses and includes a bibliography of sources.

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

Now that you TOTALLY want to read Natasha’s book, I will announce the winner of the giveaway, which was randomly drawn at random by random.org 🙂  And the winner is:

VIVIAN!!!

Congratulations, Vivian!

Natasha and I thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s creativity and all the wonderful titles that were submitted, but she wanted readers to know that she especially loved:

What to Expect When You’re Exploring with…White Men (Elizabeth)

Helping your Teens Deal with Mean Squaw Bullying Without Resorting to the Use of the Tomahawk (Delores)
Reasons Why You Should Always Let a Woman Lead the Expedition (Robyn)

I would add to that list my two additional favorites (because you guys know I can never stop at 3 :)):

Buffalo Again? How To Get Your Kids To Eat It Every Night (Coleen)
Nodding And Other Techniques To Make Your Travel Companions Think They Are Really In Charge (Katie)

You guys were all great!

I’d also like to announce that so many of you wonderful Perfect Picture Book bloggers have offered to spread the word far and wide about PPBF that I have ordered and will soon be mailing out to you, 1000 book marks!  Isn’t that fabulous?  Thank you all for all the hard work you put into PPBF!  I think it’s a great resource, something that serves people well and will also help make parents, educators, and publishers see the great value in picture books and the continued need to keep them coming!  Anyone who didn’t ask for bookmarks yet but would like some, I have plenty so see me after class 🙂  (Let me know in the comments or email susann[at]susannahill[dot]com)

And, as if we weren’t on fun-overload already, on a non-PPBF theme, I have to thank my sweet, four-legged friend, Cupcake, who bestowed the One Sweet Blog

and Super-Sweet Blogging Awards

on me.  I think she saw all the chocolate treats and donuts and other goodies that find their way onto these pages 🙂  I am truly honored to have been chosen by Cupcake who is one of my favorite people 🙂 As you all know, I am truly terrible at awards, but I’ll give this one a go because it involves dessert 🙂

The rules are, you have to:
1. Give credit to the person who chose you (the lovely Cupcake as mentioned above :))
2. Answer the 5 Super Sweet questions below and,
3. Nominate a Baker’s Dozen (13 blogs)

1. Cookies or Cake? YES!
2. Chocolate or Vanilla? BOTH!  gosh, these questions are easy 🙂
3. What is your favorite sweet treat? Oh.  Not SO easy… Would it be cheating if I said cookiescakepie?  Yes?  Hmm… Well, I do love a really good oatmeal raisin cookie… 🙂
4. When do you crave sweets the most?  All day, every day 🙂
5. If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be?  Hmmm…. Superwoman doesn’t really count as sweet…  How about Piecake?

Now, about those nominees, this is the part I really can’t do because I love you all and hate to choose.  So consider yourselves all nominated.  (I know, taking the wimpy way out!)  But this time I do have one person who must be recognized because she is supplying us with sweet photographs of sweet food.  So Stacy Jensen, come on down!  I pass these along specially to you! 🙂  Oh, and someone else has had a very hard week in which her sweet tooth underwent root canal, so Robyn, you get special mention as well 🙂  Now that I think of it, Natasha was very sweet to visit so much and respond to everyone!  So Natasha, you get them too 🙂  So let see… how am I doing…
1. Stacy
2. Robyn
13. Natasha

I did it!  13!  A Baker’s Dozen!

Phew!  That turned into a long post with lots of goodies, but hopefully pretty much fun too what with all the award winning and passing around!  PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific links to the list below so we can all come visit you!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – How The Moon Regained Her Shape

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I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking I should just start Fridays off by going to the library.  Then I could fire up my computer, read all these wonderful posts, and be right in the library to snatch up every picture book that strikes my fancy 🙂  Except the library in these parts doesn’t open until noon on Friday… and that’s way too late to get started 🙂

Today’s Perfect Picture Book serves two purposes: it’s a great story – one with that folktale flavor I love – but it also carries an anti-bullying message and as such is a wonderful choice for this month which is National Bullying Prevention Month.

How The Moon Regained Her Shape
Written By: Janet Ruth Heller
Illustrated By: Ben Hodson
Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2006

Suitable For: ages 4-8
Themes/Topics: Native American folktale, phases of the moon, kindness, bullying, friendship
Opening: “Once the moon was round and full, proud of her gentle light.  She did not fear the darkness around her.  She danced across the sky, laughing as she twirled her skirts.“
Brief Synopsis: The happy moon is deeply hurt by cruel words from the sun.  She takes them to heart and the resulting sadness causes her to shrink away.  Fortunately, her kind friend Comet is worried and sends her to Round Arms who helps her see her true worth, how loved she is, and that one should never listen to the mean words of a bully.  Her confidence restored, she once more graces the sky.

Links To Resources: The back of the book itself has a “Creative Minds” section which lists information and activities related to the phases of the moon and how to deal with bullies, a List Of Related Websites from Sylvan Dell, Teaching Activities from Sylvan Dell, Comprehension Quiz from Sylvan Dell, Math Quiz from Sylvan Dell.

Why I Like This Book: The book is written in the style of a Native American folktale.  It is both a story about how bullying can hurt someone and an explanation for the phases of the moon.  The two are woven beautifully together.  The art has a southwestern feel to it and suits the story perfectly.  This book has won a number of awards, including a 2006 Book Sense Pick, a 2007 Children’s Choice, a Benjamin Franklin Award for art in 2007, and a Gold Medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards 2007, all with good reason!  It is a lovely, gentle story with a subtle, important message.

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

Before we all go off to read all the other wonderful entries today, I’d like to announce that the Perfect Picture Book Book Mark design is complete, and I’m ready to order them!!!  So exciting, isn’t it?  Here’s what they’ll look like:

Sorry you have to twist your neck this way and that to see!
I’m not tech-savvy enough to turn these around 🙂

If you would like some to hand out to local librarians, teachers, parents, day care providers, preschools, friends and relations – anyone you think would enjoy the resource and benefit from it, please let me know.  You can mention it in the comments and/or use the handy Email Me button in the right sidebar to let me know how many you’d like and the address to which I should mail them.  You can also email me at susanna[at]susannhill[dot]com if you have trouble with that button!  Help us spread the word! 🙂

Now, if all you lovely PPBF bloggers would kindly leave your post-specific link in the list below, we will all come visit you and see what fabulous offerings you have for us this week!

Have a wonderful weekend, and don’t forget to tune in Monday for an interview with Natasha Yim and a giveaway of her new book, Sacajawea Of The Shoshone!