Category: Perfect Picture Book Fridays

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!!! 🙂

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! 🙂