Category: Perfect Picture Book Fridays

Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Way Home

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Wow!  What a week it has been!

Joanna’s book Snow Games was published, as was Miranda’s book Fly With Kai.  Ruth has an agent – woo-hoo! – and I have joined twitter!

(OK.  So maybe that last part isn’t in quite the same category of awesomeness.  But it gave me a good excuse to mention how happy I am for my friends 🙂  Feel free to hop over and do the happy dance with them and buy their books but then please come back for PPBF! :))

(And please stay tuned for a few important announcements after the picture book, including the April Pitch Winner!)

Now, at first glance, this book might not seem to have anything to do with spring or Mother’s Day.  That is because it is about geese migrating in the fall.  But Canada Geese mate for life, which is kind of peripherally related to Mother’s Day, and although they fly south in the fall, they come back in the spring.  And although I usually like to tease you about the endings so you’ll read the book, I’m going to tell this one so you get it 🙂

The Way Home
Written & Illustrated By: Nan Parson Rossiter
Dutton Children’s Books, 1999
Suitable For: ages 5-9

Themes/Topics: animals, seasons, migration, helping others, kindness, responsibility

Opening: “It was late in the October afternoon when Samuel and his father finished the day’s chores at the farm and set out for a walk with Ben, their yellow Lab. The sun was already behind the hills, but they had just enough time to walk around the pond before it got dark.”

Brief Synopsis:  On their walk, Samuel finds an injured goose, and he and his father take her back to the farm, hoping she will heal.  But even if she does, will she be strong enough to make the long flight south for the winter?  And will she and her mate make it in time?

Links To Resources:  National Geographic Creature Feature: Canada Geese, Kidzone – Canada Geese, Kid Video – Canada Geese, Canada Goose Coloring Page.  This story is a nice opening to discussion about disposing of trash responsibly, caring for animals, and allowing wild animals to be free.

Why I Like This Book:  Although this isn’t a true story, it almost could be.  An animal injured because of human carelessness is helped back to health by a kind, responsible family.  But they don’t try to keep her. When she’s well, they let her go back to her wild life, even though they are sad to see her go and will miss her.  Although the book’s ending would most probably not happen in real life, it is a lovely ending that brings the story full circle for child readers and will leave them feeling happy and satisfied.  The geese return to the pond in the spring, and Ben finds them, complete with a brand new family of goslings (that’s the marginally Mother’s Day part :))  The art is painted in the warm reds and golds of autumn – very appealing.  And the longer text makes it a satisfying read for older children or children with a longer attention span.

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

And now, I am pleased to announce that the winner of the April Pitch Pick, whose pitch will be sent to editor Erin Molta for review and comment, is none other than the fabulous Rebecca with her pitch for Broomstick Rodeo!  Congratulations, Rebecca!  And congratulations and thank you to all our brave pitchers – I wish you could all win!

Before we all go off to read all the other PPBs and cruise on into the weekend, let me remind you that the Birthday Contest is just over a week away (which I hope means everyone is writing busily!)

Also!!!  Phyllis terrorized had a fabulous visit to Italy, and if you haven’t had a chance to see it, it’s a must read!  Hop on over to Renee’s at NoWaterRiver!  You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Phyllis as Juliet 🙂

PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific links below.

And Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms, grandmoms, step-moms, new moms, moms-to-be, like-moms, etc. out there.  These are for you 🙂

because you make the world a better place 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Camel Who Took A Walk, And The April PPBF Prize

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Happy Friday, everyone!  Would anyone care for a donut?

Please!  Help yourselves!

For those of you who expressed concern, thank you, my sprained pancreas appears to be on the mend 🙂  But there will be no more interpretive dance for a while… 🙂

I’ve been trying to resist posting today’s Perfect Picture Book for a while because it is out of print.  But it is one of my all time favorite books ever, and since I got notification this week that one of my books is going out of print, I thought this would be a nice time to celebrate books that don’t always get as much recognition as one might hope.  This is a story my parents read to me, and that I read to my kids.  It was always a favorite in our house.  I hope you’ll be able to find a copy at your local library, or get a used one through some channel or other.  It’s really wonderful!

The Camel Who Took A Walk
Written By: Jack Tworkov
Illustrated By: Roger Duvoisin
Aladdin Books, 1951

Suitable For: ages 4-8

Themes/Topics: expectation/suspense, cause & effect/chain reaction, unexpected outcomes

Opening:  “The forest was dark and very quiet.
Not a creature was stirring.
Even the wind had stopped breathing.
Not a leaf was falling, not a blade of grass was moving.
And do you know why this was so?
Because
it was just the time between night and day,
when night was ending
and day was about to begin.”

Brief Synopsis:  A very beautiful camel goes for a walk in the forest.  Unbeknownst to her, a tiger waits hidden “by leaves, flowers, vines and grasses.  He was hidden also by the darkness.”  But the tiger is not the only one waiting and watching.  Each of the creatures hidden in the forest has its own secret plan.  What will happen to the very beautiful camel?

Links To Resources: Camel Coloring Pages, Tiger Coloring Pages, Monkey Coloring Pages, discuss cause and effect, read other books where one thing leads to another, like If You Give A Pig A Pancake or Stuck.

Why I Like This Book:  For starters, the language is lyrical.  Just read that opening aloud to yourself and hear the music of those words!  The whole book is like this – simply a delight to read aloud because of the rhythm of the language.  For writers, it’s a great example of how to do language really well.  The description is also beautiful, and not the kind of thing we find so much in PBs these days:
“Night in the forest is very dark, and it creeps away slowly.”
“Suddenly the first glimmer of light trembled in the sky.“
“Her nose smelled the early morning sweetness, and her eyes took in all the blue and pink colors of the sky.”
Isn’t is beautiful?  But aside from the exquisite language, I love the way the book builds tension.  The camel approaches the hidden tiger.  She comes closer… and closer… and you just have to wonder, how will she get out of this?  The ending is deliciously unexpected!

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

Also, as you know, I like to thank all the wonderful participants in PPBF for their hard work each month by randomly selecting a blogger to receive a prize!  The winner for April is and the prize is JOANNA!!!  (And lest there be any confusion, as there was with Beth Doozenfloofer, that’s Joanna Marple :))  Please email me, Joanna, and let me know which you would like for your prize: *rummaging in my bag of goodies…* let’s see… your choice of The Writer’s Guide To Crafting Stories For Children by Nancy Lamb, Chloe by Peter McCarty (which I will be posting on PPBF next week or the week after – it doesn’t come out until May 15 but it’s really good!), or a $15 gift certificate to Merritt Bookstore (my own beloved local indie :))

Phyllis is still traveling – I hope you’ve all had a chance to keep up!  There should be posts from North Carolina and Italy, and maybe another from St, Lucia coming up soon!

I also hope you’re all hard at work on your Birthday Contest entries!  I am mulling… and hoping I’ve come up with an idea for the sample… but it remains to be seen 🙂

For those of you interested in Would You Read It (or simply in learning how to write a good pitch) there was an excellent post on Cheryl’s blog: How To Pitch Your Book.  The post uses a novel as an example, but it can easily be applied to picture books.  If you follow the basics rules, it will help you come up with a beautiful 3 sentence pitch.  Just right!

And as for NaPiBoWriWee, I’m happy to report that I’m technically ahead of schedule since as of this writing (on Thursday evening) I have already completed 4 PBs (which means I’m up-to-date until bedtime Saturday when I should have a fifth… which heaven knows how I will get written Saturday… Sunday either… hmm… maybe I’d better stay up a little longer!)  But RIGHT THIS SECOND, I’m ahead of the curve!

Now off you go to hop around the blogosphere and see all the Perfect Picture Books posted today.  PPB bloggers, please add your post-specific link to the list below.

Have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious weekend everyone!  (I’m allowed to say that because Beth has dubbed me Susanna Poppins! :))

Perfect Picture Book Friday – My Side Of The Car

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Happy PPBF everyone!  I’ve got such a good one today – I think you’re going to love it 🙂  And please stay tuned afterwards for the winner of the Lisa Thiesing giveaway, as well as the winner of the Puzzled By Pink giveaway!

OK.  Ready?  Fasten your seat belts because here we go! 🙂

My Side Of The Car
Written By: Kate Feiffer
Illustrated By: Jules Feiffer
Candlewick, April 2011, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 4-8

Themes/Topics: patience, imagination, father-daughter love, optimism

Opening:  “My dad and I are going to the zoo.  We’ve tried to go to the zoo before.  But we never get there.  Something always happens.”

Brief Synopsis:  Sadie and her dad are going to the zoo.  Their plans have been thwarted three previous times, but this time they’re really going.  Except… on the way… it starts to rain.  They can’t go to the zoo in the rain.  But Sadie’s not about to let the fact that her dad sees rain deter her.  “I look out my window, and the sun is shining on my side of the car. People are putting on their sunglasses and heading to zoos all over the world on my side of the car.” While her dad sees nothing but rain, Sadie sees people mowing their laws and eating ice cream.  Is it raining or not?  Will Sadie and her dad get to the zoo this time or will they have to wait for another day?

Links To Resources:  Fun Zoo-Related Activities, Zoo Lessons And Activities, a page in the back of the book tells the true story of what happened (which is always fun :))

Why I Like This Book:  Anyone who has lived with kids knows that their perception of reality is not necessarily the same as yours… especially when they really want something! 🙂  What’s wonderful about this book is both Sadie’s determined optimism and her father’s patience and his loving understanding of how she needs to cope with her disappointment.  This book is also delightful because it’s written and illustrated by a father-daughter team about an incident that actually happened.  I’m not going to tell you whether they get to the zoo or not, though.  You’ll have to go read the book 🙂

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

Now then!

I know you’ve all been holding your breath in anticipation of the winner announcements, so I won’t make you wait any longer 🙂

The winner of a signed copy of Lisa Thiesing’s wonderful book, A Dark And Noisy Night, is Catherine Johnson!  Catherine, come on down!  Pleas send me an email with your address and who you’d like the book signed to and Lisa and I will get right on the job of mailing it out to you!

And I want to extend a hearty thank you to everyone who tried to help me with my theme struggles.  I got quite a few good examples, and also discovered that I am not alone in my inability to articulate theme in a meaningful way, so all in all, it was a good exercise 🙂  And the winner of Puzzled By Pink is Beth!!!  Thank you ALL for your help! and Beth, you’d better email me your address…. 🙂

PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific link to the list below so we can all come visit you 🙂

Have a great weekend everyone!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Bear Went Over The Mountain

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Today I am thrilled to be showcasing a truly perfect picture book by one of my favorite author/illustrators!  It’s brand new, and if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, rush right out because it’s wonderful and you’re going to love it 🙂

The Bear Went Over The Mountain
Written & Illustrated By:  Iza Trapani
Sky Pony Press, April 2012, Fiction

Suitable For:  ages 3-7

Themes/Topics: Animals, Language Fun, Nature, Seasons, 5 Senses

Opening:  “The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain,
The bear went over the mountain
To see what he could see.
He saw a dragonfly,
A bluebird flitting by,
Three fuzzy rabbits skipping,
Five happy ducklings dipping…”

Brief Synopsis:  The bear goes over the mountain to see what he can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste, and he gets a few surprises while he’s at it! 🙂

Links To Resources:  Classroom Activities, Coloring Page, Maze, Connect-The-Dots, Word Search, Bookmarks.

Why I Like This Book:  This book, like all of Iza Trapani’s books, has impeccable, fun-to-read/sing aloud rhyme, a delightful child-friendly story, and gorgeous art that makes you want to crawl right into the pages and live there 🙂  The bear goes over the mountain and experiences nature through all five of his senses, some in rather unexpected ways.  Children will learn the song quickly because it’s a familiar tune, and they will delight in singing along to the bear’s adventures.  Perfect for bedtime, story time, preschoolers learning about the 5 senses, rides in the car – another winner from Iza!

Iza was kind enough to visit us here recently, and if you didn’t get to see her interview you can read it HERE.

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

Now, before we all rush off to read the other PPBs and enjoy our weekends, I have two three other things to tell you:

First, in case you haven’t had a chance to check it out, Phyllis visited Clar in Virginia, and Melissa in Australia.  She is currently flying home from England (I wonder if she’ll have an accent :)) and arrived in South Korea yesterday which was tomorrow over there at the time 🙂  She should be arriving at Saba’s in Washington today.  And this just in, she has been to see Alison in Georgia!

Second, by overwhelmingly popular demand, editor Erin Molta’s visit to our little corner of the blogosphere will be a Q&A, possibly divided into more than one post, so please check the comments from Wednesday’s post to see the questions currently on the table, and add any additional questions here when you think of them (or email me :))  There is not yet a set date for this extravaganza, but you can be sure I’ll let you know! 🙂

Finally, on Monday we will have a visit from the fabulous author/illustrator Lisa Thiesing!  Because I know people in high places (that would be me) I have already read her interview, and I can assure you it is really good!!!  So I hope you’ll all flock over here first thing Monday morning and show her some much-deserved love! 🙂

Now then.  PPB bloggers, please add your post-specific link below, and everyone have a super-fantastic fun-filled weekend!!!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Cowgirl Rosie And Her Five Baby Bison

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Usually when it’s time to pick a Perfect Picture Book for the week, I pop into one of the kids’ rooms, scan the shelves get lost in nostalgia remembering when I used to read all those books to them and almost instantly find a beloved story.

This week, clever lass that I am, I thought to myself, “I’ll go to the library and find something new!“

So off I trotted.  I set myself down in the corner.  I read picture book after picture book after picture book.  And none of them were Perfect.

So I came home, popped into one of the kids’ rooms, scanned the shelves, and almost instantly found this VERY beloved story 🙂  Doesn’t that title just already make you want to read it? 🙂

Cowgirl Rosie And Her Five Baby Bison
Written & Illustrated By: Stephen Gulbis
Little Brown & Co, 2001, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 3-8
Topics/Themes: animals, love, responsibility, right vs. wrong, consequences

Opening: “Cowgirl Rosie lived on a ranch with her five baby bison.  They were the most handsome babies you ever did see.  Every day Cowgirl Rosie brushed each glossy black coat and kissed each shiny nose.”

Brief Synopsis:  Cowgirl Rosie has five handsome baby bison – Bigwig, Bonnie, Beefy, Butch, and Baby B – but those babies are also mischievous!  They have a way of going thisaway and thataway that leaves their little mistress plumb worn out at day’s end.  One day they head to town.  “Stay close,” says Rosie.  But by the time she reaches her destination all five baby bison are GONE!  Where could they be?  And how will she get her beloved babies back?  It’s not what you think!

Links To Resources: Activities For Cowgirl Rosie, Cowboy And Wild West Page


Why I Like This Book:  This story has the flavor of a wild west tall tale.  The art is warm and bright, full of the colors of the desert.  The baby bison are adorable.  Though they disappear, they have not actually been disobedient, and Rosie is called on to be brave and resourceful to get her baby bison back.  The story moves right along and is fun to read aloud, full of western lingo (when the bison disappear the exclamation is “Oh, calamity!” :))  The bad guy gets what’s coming to him, and it’s the girl who saves the day 🙂

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

Now, before you all rush off to read all the other Perfect Picture Books, I have a couple quick things:

First, I want to thank Cally Jackson very much for bestowing The Versatile Blogger Award upon me.  She also tagged me (as did Cheryl and Corey) in the Lucky 7 Meme, and one of these days maybe I’ll manage to squeeze that in somewhere… but not today!

Second, I’m happy to announce that my little story, Jac And The Beanstalk, (also, coincidentally, about a resourceful girl! :)) is now available from A Story Before Bed!

And third, a World Tour update from Phyllis – she has arrived at Julie’s in Colorado, so we can expect some news from there soon!  She has left Georgia for New Jersey, so I’m guessing we’ll hear something from those quarters soon as well!  Sorry to keep you all hanging, but everyone’s pretty busy this month!

PPB bloggers, please add your post-specific links to the list below, and everyone have a GREAT weekend!!!  🙂

Oh Susanna – What Should A New Author Look For/Watch Out For In A Contract?

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I am so full of happy announcements today!  I like to think I’ll be spreading joy and cheer like sunshine 🙂

I assume you all have plenty of Easter candy left over, so feel free to snack while I spread cheer 🙂

First off, I would like to announce the winner of the March Pitch Pick!  As always, all the entries were terrific, and all the entrants were so brave to put their work out there for everyone to comment on.  Thanks to you, we all learn something new each week.  It would be lovely if everyone could win, but since we have to pick one each month, the polls have spoken and this month’s winner is………

Miranda, with Reef Stew!

Congratulations, Miranda!  Your pitch has already been sent to editor Erin Molta for critique, and we will all look forward to her comments!

Next, as you may or may not remember :), I so appreciate all the work the devoted Perfect Picture Book bloggers do each week that I like to spread a little thank-you cheer by randomly selecting one person each month to win a little prize.  Bloggers get one entry for every Perfect Picture Book they post that month, so in March quite a few people got 5 entries!  In case you are wondering, this month 33 bloggers posted anywhere from 1-5 books each, resulting in 128 new books being added to the list!  I didn’t do an exact count, but we now have upwards of 450 books on the list all together.  It’s getting to be quite an impressive resource!  Hopefully, parents and teachers out there are beginning to discover it and put it to good use 🙂

But I digress… 🙂  I was announcing the March gift winner which is

… dddrrruuummm rrrooollllll…

Thank you so much, Kirsten, for your wonderful additions to the list this month, and thank you to EVERYONE who participates in PPBFs – you are all wonderful!!!

So, hmm… let me rummage around in my goody bag and see what I come up with for this month’s prize…  Kirsten, you may email me to receive your choice of one of the following:  The Giblin Guide To Writing Children’s Books, An Egg Is Quiet, or Little Bunny Foo Foo: The Real Story.

My next happy announcement is that you folks seem to like the writing contests over here – thank you so much!  Quite a lot of people voted, and the general sentiment seems to be that we should have the birthday story contest in May because April is just a little too busy.  I am happy to oblige.  I want it to be fun for everyone, not stressful :), so if more people will enter and everyone will enjoy it more in May, than May it shall be!

Next on the happy announcement list is that we should have 5 or so new Tour Posts coming from Phyllis in the upcoming week from Vermont, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Australia, and 2 from the UK… if all goes according to plan… which it doesn’t always 🙂  But do stay tuned 🙂

Also, for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, Phyllis now has her very own Punxsutawney Phyllis Face Book Page for anyone who wants to like her!  She’s very excited and hoping to become more popular than Punxsutawney Phil, who currently has 20,885 “likes”.  Phyllis currently has 48 “likes” so she has a ways to go, but she is very optimistic 🙂  Phyllis’s page is still evolving, but she will certainly be featuring a Fun Fact Friday!

Finally, my last happy announcement for the day is that I get to babysit for my granddaughter today… which also means I will not be online much as she is 8 months old and crawling 🙂  So please forgive me if I get a little behind in blog post commenting!

Now that you are all hopefully feeling very cheerful, we shall move on to today’s Oh Susanna question.  Donna has a good one.  She asks:

What are some of the key things a new author should find in a “good” contract? The flip side to that would be what are some of “bad” things in a contract that should set off warning alarms for a new author to run for the hills?

Donna, my experience is that contracts are not all that different from publishing house to publishing house. I have dealt with 5 different houses, and they all seem to cover the same basic, standard things.  These include (but may not be limited to):

  • where the publisher has the right to publish your book (USA only, or foreign?)
  • your assurance that your work is original
  • when your manuscript is due in final form
  • the time frame the publisher agrees to publish the book in and at whose expense
  • when galleys and/or proofs will be delivered by the publisher and how much time you have to review them and make any corrections, as well as how much you can change the work without incurring cost to yourself
  • the amount of your advance and when and how it will be paid (full amount on signing, or half on signing, half on delivery of ms, etc.)
  • subsidiary rights (such as book clubs, audio, film rights etc.)
  • how many free copies the publisher will supply the author
  • when statements of account and royalties if they are due will be delivered (usually semi annually, and the publisher will supply the dates)
  • author’s right to examine publisher’s accounts
  • agreement by author not to publish competing work
  • reversion of rights and termination

I don’t think any reputable publishing house would try to hoodwink or cheat an author, but there’s no doubt that publishing is a business. The publisher is laying out the money to produce your book and they want to make sure it’s worth their while, so the contract will likely be written in their favor.  You as an author, especially a first-time author, may have to consider how hard you want to push for things.  Do you really need a bigger advance/higher royalties/to keep the audio rights etc. if by insisting on such things you may cause the publisher to withdraw their offer?  Many people do push.  Other’s (like me) tend to be more complacent.  This is a reason many authors like having an agent – it is the agent’s job to negotiate higher advances, better royalties etc.

I’m generalizing here to give you an idea of what to expect, but I think a typical advance to a new picture book author can be anywhere from $1000 – $5000 (depending on the book and the size of the publishing house and other factors), royalties of 5% on hardcover, 6% on paperback are common, publication in 12-24 months (but it can be shorter or longer), and 10-15 free copies of your book are typical.  I don’t know how frequently you can expect to get audio rights, or foreign rights, or things like that – sometimes I get them, sometimes the publisher does and I don’t have enough data to make a guess.

I’m not really sure what to tell you to be wary of –  certainly any situation where the publisher asks you to pay for things.  Many vanity publishers will do this, but it’s not something that should show up in a traditional publishing contract.  And I guess a contract that varied hugely from the generalities above might be something you’d want to look at pretty carefully.

I would recommend having someone look over your contract if you’re not familiar with publishing contracts.  I believe there are even resources in SCBWI for this, although I’m not sure.

So I hope that answers your questions somewhat, Donna, and I would be most appreciative of any readers who have knowledge or expertise in this area who would be willing to chime in in the comments!

Have a great Monday, everyone.  See you Wednesday for the next pitch – this one a picture book from Rebecca C!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Day The Goose Got Loose

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!  Grab a fortifying snack (perhaps a potpourri of Robin’s Eggs, jelly beans, chocolate eggs, and marshmallow peeps to get us in the mood for this weekend :)) and let’s dive into today’s wonderful selection of picture books!

My book today is actually one I’ve never read!  I’m posting a PPB from Cheryl Ashley, the children’s librarian at Verona Public Library in New Jersey.  This is one of her favorites, and I don’t know of a much better resource for recommendations than a children’s librarian so I, for one, am going to hustle on out and read this!  And what better for Easter weekend than a spring farm story?

The Day The Goose Got Loose
Written By:  Reeve Lindbergh
Illustrated By:  Steven Kellogg
Puffin, April 1, 1995, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 4-8
Themes/Topics: farm animals, chaos, mischief, humor
Opening:  “When the goose got loose
she caused a riot.
Nobody ever thought she’d try it!
There wasn’t any more peace and quiet.
The day the goose got loose.”

Brief Synopsis:  (From Scholastic website) “Just how much havoc can one goose cause? Take a gander at the chaos that results when a long-necked mischief-maker flies the coop. Soon the bull’s broken through the fence, and cows and horses are galloping all over town. The stampede will go on until dawn — and the laughter will last even longer. Full color.”


Links To Resources:  Fun At The Farm Teachers Guide

Why I Like This Book: (from Cheryl):  This longtime favorite was written in 1990 and is available in paperback today.  The story of the dreadful day the goose got loose is told in near perfect rhyming that will have youngsters bopping their heads keeping time.  The text almost needs to be sung, it is that rhythmic.  Among other mischievous deeds, goose ate the hens grain, frightened the sheep, enraged the ram,inspired the horses to get up to no good, made the cows tense, provoked the bull named Spence, annoyed Dad and upset Mom.  The pictures are a riot.  This silly story is a feast for the eyes, ears and funny bone.

Thank you so much for sharing your recommendation with us, Cheryl!

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

Still got some jelly beans left?  Good.  Because we have a few more items of interest.

If you haven’t had a chance to vote on the March Pitch Pick, please hop over HERE and vote for which pitch should get a read and critique from editor Erin Molta.

In World Tour News, Phyllis had a delightful visit to Debbie in South Dakota where she made friends with a bison and was interviewed by a very cute dog named Sherlock!  She is currently with Melissa in Australia and on her way to Alison in Georgia.  She is also lost in the UK somewhere between Rebecca and Clare… I have no idea…!  She has also been to Vermont, and that post will be up sometime this weekend from Kathy!  Be sure to check back here to the Tour Page, and I will also post any new links on Face Book as soon as I get them!

In contest news, I’m still on the fence, so I’m going to let you decide with the click of a button!


<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/6112976/”>Contest?</a>

I’m very democratic around here 🙂  You can vote until 5 PM EDT on Easter Sunday, April 8.

(Oh, and this just in at the eleventh hour!  Goodies have arrived from Saskatchewan and New Zealand!!!  A package!  And a box!  Par Avion!  Also a postcard from Rebecca in the UK!!!  I will share… but not now because as I am writing this it is past my bedtime :))

Now, off you go to enjoy everyone’s picture book recommendations!  For those of you who celebrate, have a wonderful Easter, and everyone have a great weekend!  PPB bloggers, please add your post-specific link to the list below 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Flap Your Wings

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Buenas Dias, Peeps!

(You didn’t know I was multi-lingual did you!  I am just always full of surprises.  Although, if we’re being honest, that is my complete knowledge of Spanish except for ola which I don’t know how to spell… and no, which is pretty much the same in any language… )

Where was I?

Oh, yes!  It’s PPBF!  How fun is that?  I declare this morning’s snack (since we never picked an official one) to be surreptitiously snitched Easter candy (you know, from those bags of jelly beans and chocolates that you bought yesterday and have stowed away in the closet ready to make Easter surprises for your kids, and that you really shouldn’t be raiding but it’s there, so maybe just a few…?  Or is that just me… :))

so pretty 🙂  also tasty 🙂

Got a handful of jelly beans?  Okay then, here we go!

Flap Your Wings
Written & Illustrated By: P.D. Eastman
Random House, 1969, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 3-8
Themes/Topics: assumptions, non-traditional family, unconditional love, responsibility
Opening: (this is actually the first three pages.)
“An egg lay in the path.
A boy came down the path.  He saw the egg.  “Someone might step on that egg and break it,” he said.
He looked around.
He saw flamingos and frogs, and turtles and alligators.  “Whose egg is this?” he called.  But no one answered.”

Brief Synopsis:  A little boy finds an egg.  He doesn’t want it to get damaged, so he looks around until he finds the nest and carefully puts it back.  When Mr. and Mrs. Bird come home, they are surprised to find an egg in their nest… it wasn’t there when they left!  But Mr. Bird says that if an egg is in their nest it must be their egg, so they must take care of it.  So they do… with very surprising results!

Links To Resources:  Ideas And Activities For Guided Reading, Incubation & Embryology Activities, use with An Egg Is Quiet (from PPBF link list), talk about what kind of animals, insects and reptiles lay eggs and how the eggs are the same and different.

Why I Like This Book:  This book is fun to read as a picture book, but is also an I Can Read type book that is very accessible to new readers.  The pictures are delightful – Mr. and Mrs. Bird’s expressions are very entertaining.  But I really love the story because it doesn’t go where you would expect.  It’s funny.  And it’s a great example of what agents, editors and reviewers mean when they talk about re-readability.  This book delighted me as a child, and delighted my children in their turn.  I’ve read it so many times that even now, years since I last read it to my kids, I can recite almost the whole book.  It’s fun every time 🙂

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

I would like to take this opportunity to remind all you fabulous PPB bloggers (especially anyone who is new to PPBF) to please check the comprehensive alphabetical list on the PPB tab as well as the previous week’s list (because I am sometimes (ahem, like this week!) behind updating – it takes a while!) before selecting your book for the week.  Although we do have some double-ups, our goal is not to repeat books, but to always be adding new ones.

Also, and this is Very Important, the whole point of PPBs is the resources.  They don’t have to be online links.  Lots of you think up GREAT activities and discussion questions etc…  But the book you post must have at least one good resource of how to expand on its use at home and/or in the classroom in order to be added to the comprehensive list.  And it must be self-explanatory and applicable – by which I mean, saying a book can be used for finger rhymes or a math activity doesn’t help a reader who doesn’t know any.  That’s why they come to PPB – to find out exactly what they can do.  So please tell us which finger rhyme and how to do it, or what math activity etc.  Thank you so much!

I would also like to add that Tracy (aka A2Z Mommy) started writing up PPB every Friday in her local online newspaper, MyVeronaNJ!  For the past several weeks, she has chosen a few books she especially liked and added their titles and links to her article, so a number of you have been mentioned and linked!  Thank you so much, Tracy, for helping to get the word out to people who can really make use of the work we all do for PPBFs!!!  Here are links to the last couple articles:  March 23, March 16, March 9.

Finally before we all head off to check out today’s fantastically fun picture book offerings, I know you’ll want to be sure not to miss any of the high jinx and shenanigans that Phyllis’s amazing hosts have kindly and very creatively written up!

She had an Amazing Visit to Maine with Heather N (there’s a whole homeschool unit in this post!)

She visited Mrs. Hembree and her 2nd Grade Bulldog Readers in Seattle, WA on her School World Tour!

She was also Visited A Ghost Town In Washington with Heather B!!!

And you can catch up on anything you might have missed on the Official World Tour Page 🙂

AND!!!  Big News!!!  It looks like I’m finally going to get that map I wanted of the World Tour.  Stay Tuned!  Maybe Monday!!!

PPB bloggers, please add your post-specific link to the list below, and everyone, have a great weekend!  (and that’s no April Fool :))

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Kiss The Cow!

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Hurray!  It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday once again.  If you’re casting about for a little smackerel to go with today’s story, I would have to recommend chocolate milk 🙂

(And please stay tuned after the book for an update on Phyllis’s World Tour and a fun activity for kids!)

Kiss The Cow!
Written By: Phyllis Root
Illustrated By: Will Hillenbrand
Candlewick Press, 2000, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 4-8

Themes/Topics: curiosity, behavior (stubborness), gratitude, kindness

Opening:  “Mama May lived where the earth met the sky, and her house was as wide as the prairie.  It needed to be.  Mama May had so many children she couldn’t count them all.  Among Mama May’s children was one called Annalisa. She wasn’t the youngest, and she wasn’t the oldest, but she was the most curious and the most stubborn.”

Brief Synopsis: Every day, Annalisa watches her Mama milk Louella the magic cow.  Magic words make Louella’s milk flow.  More magic words make it stop.  And always, always, Mama finishes by kissing the cow.  Annalisa begins to wonder.  What would it be like to milk a magic cow?  Before you know it, her curiosity has gotten the better of her.  Against her mother’s wishes, she milks Louella.  But she forgets the kiss with disastrous results!

Links To Resources:  Here are some Facts About Cows, All About Cows For Kids with links to video clips on cheese and butter making as well as printables, songs and poems, stories and more, and Pictures Of Cows along with links to information of all kinds.

Why I Like This Book:  This book is very reminiscent of Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola in its plot and structure.  As such, they are a great pair to read together so kids can see the similarities and differences.  Both offer lessons in not taking things for granted.  This story has a delightfully stubborn main character (if you have kids, you’ve probably met her :)) who learns that generosity must be repaid with gratitude and kindness, but she comes around in her own way and her own time.  The art is very bright and engaging – who could resist that cow with her gorgeous long eyelashes?  The rhyme of magic words is fun to read and say.  Just an all-round fun book!

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

Now, before you all rush off to your weekends, I just want to let you know that everyone’s favorite groundhog has been a busy girl this week!  I hope you saw her visits with Beth in Saskatchewan and Erik in Philadelphia earlier this week.  And in case you might have missed it since it was a non-posting day for me, she was in both Abilene, Texas with Penny and Nice, France with Joanna yesterday!  Rumor has it she is back in California with Elizabeth today, as well as on her way to Maine and another location in California (apparently she loves The Golden State – she may never come home :)) so more fun posts should be on the way next week!  (Especially because she is also journeying to New Zealand and Italy and who knows when she’ll get there – it could be any time!!!)  Here’s a little sampling of the fun:

Phyllis trying to convince Beth to let her drive the John Deere in Saskatchewan
Phyllis trying to convince Erik to let her ring the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia
Phyllis trying to convince the street player to let her have a turn with the accordion in France during her stay with Joanna
Phyllis having convinced Penny to let her ride off into the Texas sunset on an armadillo 🙂

For any teachers who might be reading this post, there is a Phyllis dress-up activity on my website which can be printed on paper or card stock (for free download.)  The Phyllis figure can be colored and cut out (don’t worry about the dress up extras for this activity) and makes a perfect, easily portable (or mailable) Phyllis!  She can travel with students when they go on Easter break soon, or be mailed to a pen pal class, or students’ relatives all over the USA and the world to gather weather reports, photos, or any other fun activity you and your class can dream up (a la Flat Stanley.)  If you do anything with her, please let me know!  I’d love to share it here with other teachers.  (And if you are a parent, please feel free to suggest this idea to your children’s teachers!)

PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific link to the list below, and I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and get to enjoy this lovely weather 🙂  See you next week with more exciting adventures from the marmot queen 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Quiltmaker’s Gift Plus Straight From The Editor #6

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Boy has his week flown past!  It may have something to do with trying to keep up with a certain wanderlust groundhog who is cavorting about the globe in a way that suggests time has no meaning 🙂  But before we catch up with Phyllis, let’s relax for a moment with today’s Perfect Picture Book.

The Quiltmaker’s Gift
Written By: Jeff Brumbeau
Illustrated By: Gail de Marcken
Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers, 2000, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 4-8 (publisher’s rec, but text-heavy so maybe preferable for older end or kids with a good attention span.)

Themes/Topics: generosity, greed, helping others

Opening: “There was once a quilt maker who kept a house in the blue misty mountains up high.  Even the oldest great, great grandfather could not recall a time when she was not up there, sewing away day after day.  Here and there and wherever the sun warmed the earth, it was said she made the prettiest quilts anyone had ever seen.”

Brief Synopsis:  A kind-hearted quilt maker makes the most beautiful quilts the world has ever seen, but rather than sell them she gives them away to the poor.  When a greedy king wants one, he must learn the joy of giving before he can hope to receive.

Links To Resources: The end papers of the book show numerous quilt patterns by picture and name, and the inside of the dust jacket has a fabulous illustration where kids (and grown-ups :)) can search for all the items given away by the king – the ultimate hidden picture!  Here is a Teacher’s Guide suitable for upper elementary.  And here is The Quiltmaker’s Gift Website which is full of great resources including puzzles and games, stories of generosity from around the globe, and many other things – even a book on how to make the quilts pictured.

Why I Like This Book:  Although this book got rather luke warm reviews, I love it, and my children all loved it.  It’s one of an increasingly rarer breed of picture book these days – the kind with more than 500-1000 words.  As such, it’s better suited to the older end of the picture book age group (or good listeners) and I love picture books that fall into that category.  The language is lyrical, the pictures are gorgeous and full of details, and the story has a nice message about what is really important in life.

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

Next up is our latest Straight From The Editor with Erin Molta.

Here’s what Erin had to say:

This seems like it will be cute. Just a couple of minor suggestions.
(Original pitch): Three frolicking baby giraffes try to find a place to play on a hot and crowded savannah. They find it isn’t an easy task. They run into a troop of baboons, a dazzle of zebras, and a pride of lions. At last, they turn to the river, only to be confronted by hippopotami. Our giraffes find fun and friendship at the end of a long a grueling day.
Confronted indicates confrontational and doesn’t provide quite the right lead-in to, “Our giraffes finding fun and friendship . . .”  so you need to say something like, “Finally, the giraffes find fun and friendship. . .” or mention what it is that the giraffes did to change the hippos’ minds so that they are welcomed rather than confronted. It would also be cool if you added the group name for hippopotami (bloat, herd, pod?)

I hope everyone finds something helpful to take away!

Finally, I hope you’ve all been keeping up with that whirlwind Phyllis!  I can’t believe how wonderful all her hostesses have been so far!  They have been showing her SUCH a good time.  She is seeing the sights and learning all about the USA – geography, history, fashion 🙂 (yes, leave it to Phyllis to try to figure out how to wear her sombrero and her coonskin cap at the same time!)  If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out Phyllis’s World Tour on the tab above, as well as Kirsten‘s, Natalie’s First, Second and Third, Kelly‘s, and Hannah‘s posts detailing Phyllis’s visits to California, Texas, Florida, and Colorado!  They have all taken Phyllis to wonderful places, and been so creative, and posted such fantastic photos, I urge you all to take a look when you have a spare minute.  Phyllis also left for New Zealand and the UK this morning, and arrived in Missouri around noon.  It would seem the space-time continuum does not apply to her 🙂

Keep your eye on Phyllis’s World Tour tab which will be updated even when it’s not a posting day here, and tune in next week for more adventures.  Also, on Monday, instead of Oh Susanna, we will have a visit from the delightful Iza Trapani for our monthly interview which promises to be amazing!

PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific links to the list below!  Have a great weekend everybody!