Category: Perfect Picture Book Fridays

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse

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Hurray!  It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday!  And today’s Perfect Picture Book is one of my all time favorites.  (So is next week’s and really I wish I could have put them both up in one day but all in good time…!)  Assuming even 9 people besides me post books today, our archive list will be over 100 books already – isn’t that great?!  It’s becoming a real resource! 🙂  Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who is participating!

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
Written and Illustrated By:  Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow Books, 1996, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 4-8
Topics/Themes: following the rules, consequences
Opening:  “Lilly loved school.  Lilly loved the privacy of her very own desk.  She loved the fishsticks and chocolate milk every Friday in the lunchroom.  And, most of all, she loved her teacher, Mr. Slinger.”


Brief Synopsis:  (From Amazon.com Review)  Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger–until he takes away her musical purse because she can’t stop playing with it in class. Lilly decides to get revenge with a nasty drawing of “Big Fat Mean Mr. Stealing Teacher!” but when she finds the kind note he put in her purse, she’s filled with remorse and has to find a way to make things right again.


Links To Resources: Lilly Classroom Activites, Color Lilly, Lilly Maze, Lilly Dot-to-Dot, Make Your Own Purse & other activities, more Lilly activities (please scroll down past Chrysanthemum)

Why I Like This Book:  Kevin Henkes perfectly captures the excitement of having something new and treasured to share with friends and the overwhelming difficulty of staying within the rules on such an occasion.  Lilly’s exuberance feels so perfectly real.  Without preaching or moralizing this story shows the importance of behaving properly, that actions have consequences, and that it is within a child’s own power to correct a mistake – that just because she didn’t handle a situation quite right the first time doesn’t mean she can’t do it better tomorrow.

I love Lilly… 🙂

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

(And if you posted a Perfect Picture Book, please don’t forget to add your link to the list below!)

Now, then, onto a couple other things.

First, the results of the contest poll have shown conclusively that you are inconclusive 🙂  Only “No thank you I’m too busy” got only 1 vote 🙂  Since everything else was pretty evenly split across the options, including the easy-going types who were willing to do whatever worked for everyone else, I think we’ll do a contest every 2nd or 3rd month.  We’ll skip January to give everyone a rest, and then do one in February (Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day leap instantly to mind :)) and see where we go from there.  Sound good?

Second, when I started my blog last year, I did a few author/illustrator/author-illustrator interviews along with book giveaways that people seemed to like.  (Karen Orloff, Cori Doerffeld, Ryan Sias…)  I’d like to get back to doing some of those because I always like meeting the creative minds behind the picture books we all love and we can learn so much from them!  So once a month on Saturdays we’ll have someone awesome over to chat.  Of course there will be delicious breakfast items on offer (aren’t there always?)

If there are any particular questions you’d like answered by our visiting authors or illustrators, please be sure to let me know!  What are the things you secretly wonder about while browsing through the bookstore?  I want everyone to get the most they can out of the interviews, so please don’t be shy – shout your questions right out! 🙂

Have a great weekend, everyone!  (And don’t forget to post your Perfect Picture Book Link below if you have one!)

Happy 2012!

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Happy New Year Everyone!

google images

I hope you all had as wild a party as we did New Year’s Eve to ring in 2012!  Want to hear how wild it was?

Alright, then, I’ll tell you, but you might want to sit down first.  When we go wild on Blueberry Hill we pull out all the stops.

Okay.  Ready?

We played dominoes, Scrabble, and hearts in the glow of the fire and the Christmas tree lights.  We ate homemade brownies (not at the table!) and got crumbs on the rug.  At midnight we popped open a bottle of bubbly (Sparkling Cider – Stop & Shop’s Finest!) and toasted the New Year and each other.  Then we all went to bed.  The dogs slept through the entire thing.

Wild.  Times.

I told you 🙂

I hope 2012 will be full of all good things for all of you!

Now then.  Even though you are probably still recovering from your much-wilder-than-mine celebrating, I have four things of import to mention today.  I will try to be brief, but you know me…

First, I want to thank Saba for bestowing the Superstar Blog Award upon me.  I was so honored to receive this lovely award for the first time!  In addition to thanking Saba, I am also supposed to pass the award along to 5 other deserving bloggers.  But you are all so amazing and wonderful and deserving that I can’t possibly pick just 5!!!  So my New Year’s present to you is that you may take this award if you feel it fits you as long as you pass it along to other deserving bloggers.  Look how pretty 🙂

Second, I have a very important question.  I’d love a show of hands on this.  In the form of please vote below 🙂

Here’s the question:  I’ve been having so much fun with the writing contests, getting to know everyone and reading all your awesome work.  Would you like to continue with writing contests once a month as we have done for October, November and December?  If so, I would be happy to run them!  But if that sounds like more work than fun and you don’t want to do it so often or at all, it’s best if I know 🙂  So please let your voice be heard below:


<a href=”http://polldaddy.com/poll/5804602/”>Contests? Yes Or No?</a>

I will leave this poll up until Wednesday or Thursday, depending on response time, so I can tell you Wednesday or Friday whether there will be a contest this month or not 🙂

Third, I am participating in Julie Hedlund’s 12X12 in 2012 Challenge.  (Note the gorgeous new badge in the sidebar!)  I know quite a few of you are doing this as well, and I’m very excited about being part of such an enthusiastic, supportive community.  Here’s hoping we all accomplish great things in 2012!

Last but not least, as you know, anyone who posts Perfect Picture Books is eligible for the random (and when I say random, I do mean random – you never know what might end up in the goody bag!) end-of-the-month drawing for a prize.  You get one entry for every book you post during the month (so in December, some people got 4 or 5 entries!)  I load all the entries into random.org and let it pick the winner.  Last month (November) it was Stacy.  December’s winner is Clar!!!  Clar, please contact me and let me know which prize you’d like.  This month’s goody bag contains a $10 Amazon gift certificate, a signed copy of Freight Train Trip by Yours Truly, a paperback copy of The Land Of Painted Caves by Jean Auel (which has nothing to do with children’s books but I received one for Christmas and I already have the hardcover so it’s up for grabs :)) and a hardcover copy of Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel – you may take your pick of one of those lovely items!  The rest of you, who knows what will be in the goody bag for January?  You could be the lucky winner just by posting excellent Perfect Picture Books on Fridays!  Thank you all so much for participating!

Okay.  Those are my four things of import.  Happy New Year Everyone, and see you Wednesday as we get back on track with Would You Read It!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Four Feet, Two Sandals AND The Holiday Contest Winner!

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I know.  Things have gotten just a tad out of hand this week.  Monday’s post barely made it in under the wire, and I skipped Wednesday’s altogether to give everyone more time to vote during this busy week when lots of people are off their normal schedule.  But now it’s Friday and we’re back on track with Perfect Picture Books!

(Oh.  And by the way, in case you’re interested, we’ll get around to the winner of the Holiday Contest too! :))

But no skipping ahead!  Or at least, if you do, please come back, because this is a wonderful book and I don’t want you to miss it!

Four Feet, Two Sandals
Written By:  Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed
Illustrated By:  Doug Chayka
Eerdmans Books For Young Readers, September 2007, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 7-10
Themes/Topics:  Friendship, Sharing, Refugees, Loss, Separation

Opening:  “Lina raced barefoot to the camp entrance where relief workers threw used clothing off the back of a truck.   Everyone pushed and fought for the best clothes.  Lina squatted and reached, grabbing what she could.”

Brief Synopsis:  In a place where people have very little, two girls each get one of a pair of sandals.  They could have fought, but instead they share the sandals.  As they go about their routines, waiting and hoping for their names to appear on the list for a new home, the sandals remind them that friendship is the most important thing.  And when one girl gets the chance to live in a new land, the bond of their friendship remains.

Links To Resources:  Teacher’s Guide, Discussion Guide, author’s note at back of book adds extra information.

Why I Like This Book:  This story gives children a glimpse of a very different kind of life.  For children who are fortunate, this book may help them not to take things for granted so much.  For children who are less fortunate, this book may help them see that they are not alone.  Told gently and with hope so that it is appropriate for children, this book nonetheless opens the way to important discussions about refugees, having and not having, war and peace, loss, and separation.  But the underlying message is one of love and friendship, something all children understand and can relate to.

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
(For those of you also posting a Perfect Picture Book today, please remember to put your link on the list below.)
Okay, so I’ll see you all on Monday.
Oh, wait.
Hang on.
I guess a few of you are wondering who won the Holiday Contest 🙂
(You didn’t really think I’d leave you hanging, did you? :))
As you all know, the entries were outstanding.  There were several – I’d go so far as to say at least 6 (since that’s what I put in the finals :)) – that could have won.  I’m glad I didn’t have to make the ultimate decision!  But the voters have spoken clearly.  And the winner is…
DDRRRRUUUUUUMMMMMMMRRRRRRROOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!!!!!!
MIRANDA 
with ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas: Rudolph Goes Green!!!
Congratulations, Miranda!  And congratulations to all who entered!  (And Miranda, please email me and let me know if you’d prefer the gift card or the childrens writer’s market guide!)
Because we had so many amazing entries, I will mention that second place went to Penny for ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas On Mars, and third place went to Joanna for The Plight Before Christmas.
Thanks to everyone who entered.  You are all so talented, and you made the contest so much fun.  I think everyone had a great time hopping from blog to blog reading the stories (I know I did!) and everyone was so supportive of everyone else.  Maybe you made some new friends in the process too!
Happy New Year, Everyone!  I wish you all the very best in 2012 – love, health, happiness, peace, and great writing!  See you next year! 🙂
(PPB posters – don’t forget the link below!)

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated The World

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This is one of my favorite things about the holidays: getting up in the dark and turning on the Christmas tree lights, then sitting with a book (or in this case my computer as I write my blog :)), the dogs, and a cup of coffee, enjoying the beauty and peace while the rest of the house is still asleep.  There’s something lovely about having a tree in the living room 🙂

I’m going to be brief (for me :)) today, because visiting family is here, and I’m way behind on baking and wrapping, and I’m guessing you all have important people and things to get to also.  So first, my Perfect Picture Book and then just one other little thing 🙂

Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated The World
Written (Told) By: Juliana, Isabella, and Craig Hatkoff and Dr. Gerald R. Uhlich
Photographs By: Peter Griesbach, Andre Schule, Sean Gallup,  Rainer Jensen and others.
Scholastic Press, November 2007
Suitable For: ages 5 and up
Themes/Topics: animals, endangered animals, caring, environmentalism
Opening:  “One December afternoon, in a cozy, dark enclosure in a zoo in Berlin, Germany, a polar bear cub was born.”
Brief Synopsis:  This is the true story of Knut, a newborn polar bear whose mother was unable to care for him.  Thomas Dorflein, a bear keeper at the zoo, became Knut’s “foster father” – bottle feeding him, bathing him, sleeping beside him and teaching him to play and swim.  Knut was loved the world over, and helped bring recognition to the plight of polar bears, endangered by the potential loss of their habitat.

Links to resources:  Knut Teaching Resources.  This link has subsequent links to activities, video clips, articles, and other animals-against-adversity stories.  The back of the book also has lots of information about polar bears, how they are threatened, and how you can help.

Why I Like This Book:  It’s a true story, and a deeply touching one, that is also educational and informative.  The photographs are gorgeous and very appealing.  It shows that there are people in the world who care enough to sacrifice a great deal to help someone else – even if that someone else happens to be a baby polar bear.  The book brings attention to ecological concerns, the environment, and caring for all species, and lists ways kids can help.

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

(For those of you also posting a Perfect Picture Book today, please remember to put your link on the list below.)

And now, for the one other little thing.

The Holiday Contest is officially closed with a grand total of 29 fabulous entries (28 on the link list and one in the comment section.)  I will post finalists on Monday (and yes, Penny and Cathy, I will probably be needing some of that Red Bull because I was very ambitious thinking I was going to have time for this on top of all the other Christmas activities!!)  Of course, I’ve read them all already, but making decisions about which are best is going to be VERY hard. You guys have cut my work out for me 🙂

And now, Happy Holidays to everyone!  I wish you all love, health, peace and joy 🙂

The Holiday Contest Is Here!

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Grab your mug of hot chocolate and settle in for some serious fun!  The week we’ve all been waiting for is finally here 🙂
Yes, Hanukah and Christmas of course, but also the world famous Holiday Contest!!!  (Or, if it isn’t world famous yet it soon will be!)

The First Annual Holiday Contest is officially open!  Post your own version of Clement C. Moore’s traditional poem ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.  Your entry must be at least 12 lines/3 stanzas, not to exceed 40 lines/10 stanzas.  Entries may refer to any winter holiday you celebrate (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.) or to any combination of winter holidays, or no holiday – just a good winter-time story if you’re not comfortable with a holiday.  And if the idea of writing in rhyme strikes fear and loathing into your heart, you may write a prose version not to exceed 350 words (and if anyone dares suggest you’re wimping out well then you just tell them to talk to me!)

Entries must be posted on your blogs or, if you don’t have a blog, copied and pasted into the comments on my blog between now and Thursday December 22 at 11:59 PM EST.  Once your entry is posted, please add the direct link of your post to the link list below.  There will be no Would You Read It, and hence no new Wednesday post this week, so this post with any entries in the comments and the link list will remain up for the duration of the contest, making it easy for everyone to read all the entries!

And the prize, lest you may have forgotten?  My lovely assistant judge and I will choose 3 finalists for you to vote on Monday December 26 (so you’ll still have something to look forward to even after you’ve opened your presents :))  The winner will receive their choice of a $15 Amazon gift card (to buy themselves whatever book they really wanted and didn’t get as a holiday gift :)) or the 2012 Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market!

We got 21 entries for the Thanksgiving Contest which was SO much fun!  Let’s see if we can beat that!

As an aside, before I post my just-for-fun sample entry, I just have to tell you that any mention of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas automatically makes me think of Larry The Cable Guy’s “‘Twas The Night Before A Non-Denominational Winter Holiday” – the supposedly  PC version of this holiday tale.  If you haven’t seen it, you owe it to yourself to check it out, but I can’t in good conscience link to it here on my child-friendly blog because it is a bit off color 🙂  (Still, if you’ve seen it or if you watch it, let me know what you think!  I confess it causes me to ROTFL :))

Okay then, boys and girls, I hope you’re ready for some truly epic poetry 🙂

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
by Susanna

‘Twas the night before Christmas and at the North Pole
The workshop was totally out of control.
And what do you think had come out of the blue
To cause all this riotous hullaballoo?
A phone call delivering notification –
The reindeer had won a Hawaiian vacation!
“Pack up your suitcases!  Do not delay!
Your splendid vacation begins right away!”
“Hawaii!” the reindeer cried out in delight.
“Palm trees and sand, not a snowflake in sight!
It’s the chance of a lifetime, dear Santa,” they said.
“That may be,” replied Santa, “but who’ll pull my sled?
All ‘round the world there are good girls and boys
Who are counting on us to deliver their toys.
We can’t let them down just so you can have fun
Swimming and surfing and soaking up sun.”
“You’re right, “said the reindeer.  “Of course we must stay.
Forget the vacation.  We’ll hitch up the sleigh.”
The reindeer went off to their work looking sad
And Santa was left feeling pretty darn bad.
“Poor Dasher and Dancer and all the reindeer.
They deserve a vacation.  They’re good every year!”
“I know!” said his wife with a smile on her face.
“Perhaps someone else could go out in their place!
But who could we get to come out right away?
Who would be able to pull that huge sleigh?”
“Great Scott!” hollered Santa, “I’ve got just the scheme!
Cousin Ira’s Alaskan Iditarod team!”
Santa knew his last minute request would be iffy
But Ira was ready to help in a jiffy.
When Santa was packed, set to be on his way,
Eight eager huskies were hitched to the sleigh.
“On Putter!  On Pookie!  On Piggy and Pup!
Good heavens!” said Santa, “who thought these names up?
And how in the world do you make these dogs go?”
“You just have to use a command that they know.
Mush, puppies! Mush!” Ira spoke to his crew.
Then up in the air and away they all flew.
And Santa exclaimed ere they drove out of reach,
“Merry Christmas, dear reindeer, have fun at the beach!” 

Now then, if that doesn’t cause fear and loathing of rhyme I don’t know what will! 🙂

I literally CANNOT WAIT! to read all your entries!  They will surely be better than that one!

So.  To the entries!  Please post the direct link to your holiday contest post in the list below or paste your entry in the comments!  Let the fun begin!!!

P.S. Although we won’t be having Would You Read It this week, we will still be having Perfect Picture Books on Friday so be sure to stop back for that!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, Plus Straight From The Editor #4 and a Surprise!

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I promised you an action-packed Friday and here it comes!  I hope you’re eating your Wheaties this morning 🙂
We’ll start with the Perfect Picture Book, so as to keep that at the top and easy to find.  But the agenda will include November’s Straight From The Editor and SUCH an awesome surprise that I will only blame you a little if you have to scroll down quickly and take a sneak peek!  Just scroll back up again so you don’t miss anything 🙂

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
Written and Illustrated By: Robert Barry
Doubleday Books For Young Readers, October 2000 (originally Random House 1963)
Fiction
Suitable For: ages 4 and up
Theme/Topics: Christmas, sharing, optimism, “waste not, want not”.
Opening and brief synopsis:  “Mr. Wiilowby’s Christmas tree came by special delivery.  Full and fresh and glistening green – the biggest tree he had ever seen.”  But to his dismay the tree is too tall!  He calls upon his butler to chop off the top, and so begins the tale of a Christmas tree that brings joy to homes of all kinds.  Over and over the top of the tree is trimmed, becoming a tree for smaller and smaller homes.  Instead of serving only one family, Mr Willowby’s tree becomes a tree for seven.  Children will be delighted when they see where the last, smallest piece of the tree ends up!


Links To Resources:  Mr. Willowby Activities, Stacking Trees, Preschool Discussion Topics, Gift Tag Activity.


Why I Like This Book:  Catchy rhyme, a charming story and a theme of generosity and making the best of whatever comes along all combine to make this a delightful holiday tale.  From Mr. Willowby right down to the last recipient, each character uses just what he or she needs and the rest goes on to someone else.  Nobody says it isn’t big enough.  Rather, they all feel overly blessed.  The art is warm and engaging, with each little home and family cozier than the last.

If you haven’t read Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, get thee to a library right quick 🙂

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

Next, it’s time for Straight From The Editor!  You will recall Dee’s pitch:

Working Title:  Hating Ric
Age/Genre: YA Verse
Pitch:  On the day of his brother, Jason’s funeral, 17 year-old Ric’s anger explodes, and he races Jason’s car through the streets, crashing and badly injuring jogger, Kate.  Ric is sent to a juvenile justice centre, where survivor guilt and grief set him on a reckless destruction course. Help comes through his music and from an unexpected source in Kate who is struggling to put her own life back together.

And here are Erin’s comments:

This needs to be short and sweet. Your long sentences are somewhat confusing and an editor would have to read it twice to figure out what you are saying. Basically, Ric is angry after his brother’s death. Did he cause it, was he with him? Is that why you’re implying survivor’s guilt? Be more to the point. You want the reader to be intrigued, not guessing. And don’t be afraid to use cliché’s. Sometimes they can get the point across quickly and in fewer words. Can you say Kate is battling her own demons? Something like that. I think an editor will be intrigued if it’s more direct and to the point.

I find Erin’s comments very interesting and helpful, and I hope you all do, too!

And now… duhn duhn duhn… the moment you’ve all been waiting for… duhn duhn duhn….  THE SURPRISE!!!

This is really for all of you, so I hope you like it!  Think of it as my little holiday gift to you 🙂

Presenting, the Perfect Picture Book Badge!  LOOK!
Badge designed by Loni Edwards

Is it just me, or does everyone totally love it?  I just can’t get over how cute that little guy is, reading a perfect picture book to his little buggy friends! 🙂  Anyone who participates in Perfect Picture Book Fridays may lift this badge for their blog.  It would be super fantastic if you could link the badge back to Perfect Picture Books.  It will soon be appearing in my sidebar, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise this morning 🙂

So now I must tell you about the extraordinarily talented artist who created this badge.  I know this will come as a shock to you – especially those of you who have had the opportunity to witness my unrivaled drawing skills (tee hee) but I did NOT draw this.  I know.  Nearly impossible to believe 🙂

This gorgeous badge was designed for all of us by the incomparable Loni Edwards.

Loni, please be so kind as to tell us a little about yourself!

Loni:  I am a digital artist, although I have been known to dabble in watercolor, acrylics and pen & ink.  The core of my art is digital though.  It is created by using Photoshop techniques and a Wacom tablet.  I sketch out my idea, then scan it into Photoshop where I ink and color.  Influences are Charles Schulz, Jim Davis, Walt Disney Studios, and many artists that I have come into contact with mostly through social networking.

I attended the Art Institute of Seattle where I had the opportunity to take a class with William E. Cummings, a Pacific Northwest painter.  His use of color and movement influenced me greatly.  I love to use bright, bold colors in my art.  It is rare that you see me do anything else.  I also like to incorporate joy and humor in my art.

Loni’s picture for Project Smile
illustration copyright Loni Edwards

I have participated in a lot of volunteer events, such as Heroes4Haiti, Art4Japan, and the Ripple Project. One that is special to me is the Project “Smile”.  It is based in Poland.  The exhibit collects picture/art smiles and autographs.  It is then toured in children’s hospitals exhibiting around the world.  My piece was included in the exhibit that was seen in Cairo, Egypt.  It is a wonderful exhibit, and I hope someday soon it makes its way to the United States.


I have also participated in a number of artistic challenges, including PiBoIdMo 3 years in a row.

Thanks so much, Loni, both for sharing all that and for creating this beautiful badge that we will all be able to proudly display on our blogs!
For those of you who are as impressed as I am with Loni’s art – who might be looking for someone with artistic talent to help you with any number of projects – Loni is available for book cover design, children’s book illustration, spot illustrations, character design, greeting cards, and private commissions.  I hope you’ll take a few minutes to visit her website and blog and see what she has to offer!  You can also “Like” Loni on Face Book and follow her on twitter @LoniEdwards.  Here are a couple other samples of her art, one in the holiday spirit, and one to show that she does draw people too 🙂

illustrations copyright Loni Edwards
illustrations copyright Loni Edwards

PHEW!  You’re going to be needing another bowl of Wheaties after all that!  Sorry it was so long, but everything just piled up onto today!  I hope you like the badge and enjoyed meeting Loni!

So now, go have a great weekend everyone, and remember, the Holiday Contest opens bright and early Monday morning!  (Please scroll down that link to see the rules.)  I can’t wait to read all of your stories!!!
(And don’t forget, if you posted a Perfect Picture Book, please put your link in the list below!)

Would You Read It Wednesday – The 20th Pitch

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HINT For Beth’s Birthday Hunt Clue #11

ths   s    hnt
this is a hint

If you still don’t get it, email me 🙂

Well, folks, I’m sorry to report that there’s still no news from the Editor, and today I can’t dawdle because I won’t be able to post later.  So Straight From The Editor will have to wait for Friday – which looks like it’s going to be totally action-packed because I have SO much to share then.  But we’ll get to that in a second 🙂

Before I forget, for those of you who might not have seen it, the wonderful Abby from Something To Write About had me as a guest on her blog yesterday.  Please pop over if you’d like to read the interview (or just to show Abby some bloggy love)!

And check out this excitement!  Beer Is Zo Moe! (my Dutch book which, for our English-speaking audience (I’m assuming that’s most of us) is Bear Is So Tired!) made an appearance at the Antwerp Book Fair in Belgium!  Look at it, up there with all those other books, so famous 🙂  I’m going to go out on a limb and guess “kinderboeken” means “kids’ books” but you’ve got me on “jeugdboeken” – some other kind of book is as close as I can get!

What?  You can’t see it?  How about if I zoom in a little 🙂

Ah, that’s better.  And look how much more pronounceable of a title it has than some of those others 🙂

Also, Nicole made a coloring page to go along with it.  Want to see?

Isn’t it cute?

Okay.  Enough of that.  Go get your coffee/tea/hot chocolate/steamer/mulled cider or whatever you’re imbibing this morning and your Something Chocolate (it is Wednesday!) – I’ve got a lovely pan of freshly baked brownies on my kitchen counter for my daughter’s study group this evening – they probably won’t notice if one’s missing – and I think a brownie would make an excellent breakfast 🙂 – but I digress. Get your snack and settle in.  It’s time for Would You Read It!

Today’s pitch comes to us from Vicki, a French teacher who can count to 10 in 7 languages and has forgotten how in 3 others 🙂  She writes MG and YA fiction and blogs at All The World’s In Words.  Here is her pitch:

Working Title:  Finding Sophie
Age/Genre:  YA
The Pitch:  When Sophie is forced backward in time to 1895 Paris, she takes the identity of a missing Jewish girl and falls for a young Zionist. As the window home closes, Sophie must decide whether to unlock a mysterious heirloom’s secrets and return to her own life of a potential prima ballerina, or live as someone else in the past and lose herself forever.


So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest.  If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Vicki improve her pitch.  Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome.  (However, I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful.  I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks!  For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on the Would You Read It tab in the bar above.  SIDE NOTE:  Would You Read It is booked only through January, so there are lots of openings ahead.  Please send pitches and spread the word to your writerly friends 🙂
Vicki is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch!

Please join us on Friday for Perfect Picture Books, AND (pretend this is flashing neon!) something SO EXCITING it’s going to knock your socks right off!  I wish I could show you now, but it’s not quite ready, and it has to be perfect, so you’re just going to have to wait until Friday!

I can’t wait to share it!  🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Little Beaver And The Echo

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HINT For Beth’s Birthday Hunt Clue #8

A = Alpha
B = Bravo
C = Charlie
D = Delta

etc… 🙂

If you still don’t get it, email me 🙂

Hurray!  It’s Friday!  Not only is the weekend nearly here, but it’s time for Perfect Picture Books 🙂  Today’s story was a birthday gift which became a favorite:

Little Beaver And The Echo
Written By: Amy MacDonald
Illustrated By:  Sarah Fox-Davies
Puffin, September 1998 (Original printing Putnam, 1990)
Fiction
Suitable For: ages 4-8
Themes/Topics: Friendship, Loneliness, Animals, Echoes
Opening And Brief Synopsis:  Little Beaver lived all alone by the edge of a big pond.  He didn’t have any brothers.  He didn’t have any sisters.  Worst of all, he didn’t have any friends.  Little Beaver cries out in his loneliness and hears that someone across the pond is lonely too.  His kind heart doesn’t want anyone to be sad, so he sets out to find this other lonely creature and solve both their problems.

Links To Resources:  Little Beaver Activities  Little Beaver will fit nicely into discussions of friendship, the natural world, animals, understanding echoes.

Why I Like This Book:  Little Beaver And The Echo is a simple, sweet story about friendship.  The story line is quiet.  The illustrations are warm and engaging.  To me, this is everything a picture book should be – pleasant, comforting, entertaining, and beautiful.  It interests me that School Library Journal panned this book when it came out.  They called it didactic, neither realistic nor convincing, confusing, flat, precious, and predictable.  Ouch!  And yet this book has been successfully in print for over 20 years, and is a story my children asked for again and again that I was happy to read.  It just goes to show different people react to books in different ways!

Please click here to see the complete list of books with resources Perfect Picture Books.

I’d be interested, if any of you have read Little Beaver, to know what your take on it is!

Now I’m off to read everyone else’s Perfect Picture Book.  In only 4 weeks I have come to look forward to Fridays to see what books people choose.  I am finding out about so many wonderful books.  I hope you’re all enjoying Perfect Picture Books, too, and finding lots of material to read to your kids, use in your classrooms, study your writing craft, or all of the above!  Don’t forget to add your link to the list below if you’ve posted a Perfect Picture Book!  (And readers, the links to all the books are below the Holiday Contest!)

While you’re enjoying your weekend, don’t forget about the Holiday Contest – only one week away!  Here’s a refresher in case you haven’t seen it:

Write your own version of Clement C. Moore’s traditional poem, ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas!  Entries must be at least 12 lines/3 stanzas, not to exceed 40 lines/10 stanzas (although I realize the original is 56 lines/14 stanzas, but I’ll have to read them all during the week before Christmas :))  Entries may refer to any winter holiday you celebrate (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.) or to any combination of winter holidays, or no holiday – just a good winter-time story if you’re not comfortable with a holiday.  I chose a rhyming challenge because so many people seem keen on it, but if the idea of rhyme strikes fear and loathing into your heart, you may write a prose version not to exceed 350 words 🙂
Entries must be posted on your blogs, or copied and pasted into the comments on my blog between Monday December 19 and Thursday December 22.
3 finalists will be chosen for you to vote on Monday December 26.  The winner will receive their choice of a $15 Amazon gift card (to buy themselves whatever book they really wanted and didn’t get as a holiday gift :)) or the 2012 Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market!
Have a great weekend, everyone! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Mole Music

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The Thanksgiving Contest is now officially closed.  We got WAY more entries than for the Halloweensie Contest, and they’re all so imaginative and fun that my assistant judge and I are going to have our work cut out for us selecting three finalists.  But never fear – we will do it even if we have to print them out, throw them on the living room floor and see which three the dogs step on first 🙂  The finalists will be up for you to vote on Monday.  And now for Perfect Picture Books (and I’m obviously behind this morning because I see at least three people have already posted theirs :))

Mole Music
written and illustrated by David McPhail
Henry Holt & Co, March 1999, Fiction
Suitable for:  Preschool – Grade 2 (ages 4-8)
Themes/Topics:  how music makes us feel, power of music to harmonize and heal, practice makes perfect, sometimes we don’t even realize how our actions may effect others.
Opening and brief synopsis:  “Mole lived all alone underground.  He spent his days digging tunnels.  At night he ate his supper in front of the TV and then went to bed.  Mole liked his life, but lately he had begun to feel there was something missing.”  Mole longs to create beautiful music, but little does he know the effect his music will have on others.
Links to resources:  This story is perfect for a discussion of how music makes us feel, the power of music to harmonize and heal, as well as the idea that it takes practice to become good at something.  Activity Guide, Discussion questions, Supplemental Lesson Plan (Film)
Why I Like This Book:  One story is told in words, but there is a whole other story shown in the illustrations.  Mole works hard learning to play the violin.  He does it for himself, with no thought of trying to impress anyone.  He achieves his goal  – and so much more without ever being aware of it.  His simple goodness and desire to make something beautiful bring more beauty to the world than he knows.
For more books with resources please visit Perfect Picture Books!

And now, so that you don’t all go into a depression because Uncle Spike finished ALL the pumpkin pie and little Jimmy made the most awful grape juice stain on your favorite table cloth and how will you ever get it out and it’s Black Friday and you have so much shopping to do and the mall is a horror at this time of year etc, I will lift your spirits by telling you that on Monday – yes, only a couple days away! – I will have a fun little surprise for you.  I hope you’ll like it!  So keep your chin up as you jockey for parking spaces and plow through the crowds – more fun is coming 🙂

Have a happy weekend!

(Please add you Perfect Picture Books to the link list below.)

Perfect Picture Book Fridays Begins! – Llama Llama Misses Mama

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It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!  I’m off to a school visit this morning and….!

Welcome to the new feature – Perfect Picture Book Fridays!  I’m so excited about this!  I’m hoping it will become a really great resource for parents, teachers, homeschoolers, writers, and gift-givers 🙂  Here and on all the linked blogs, you will find highly recommended picture books along with fantastic ideas for how you can use them at home and in the classroom, often including links to classroom guides and activity pages, hopefully making life easier for parents and teachers and giving writers great examples of craft to study.  The books will be archived in the Perfect Picture Books tab above, organized alphabetically by age and subject, making it easy to find an age-appropriate book on a given topic for home, classroom, or gift.

(For those of you posting your own Perfect Picture Book, please add your link to the link list at the bottom so people can come over and find your recommendations and the resources you’re offering!  For details on how to post, please click here.)

Without further ado, let’s jump into our very first entry 🙂  There are so many wonderful books out there it was hard to choose, but we’ve got to start somewhere 🙂

Llama Llama Misses Mama
written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney
Viking Juvenile, March 2009, Fiction
Suitable for:  Preschool – Kindergarten (ages 3-6)
Themes/Topics:  first day of school, separation, missing a loved one.
Opening and brief synopsis:  “Llama Llama, warm in bed.  Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead!  Llama school begins today!  Time to learn and time to play!”  Llama Llama is excited for his first day of school, but when it’s time for Mama to leave, Llama Llama doesn’t feel so sure.
Links to resources:  Activity Kit, Llama Llama in the classroom, Same and Different Activity (click on “assets” then pdf)
Why I Like This Book:  Llama Llama’s uncertainty and sadness over Mama leaving him at school are portrayed genuinely, and the story is told with such warmth and reassurance that children experiencing separation anxiety of their own are sure to feel comforted.  School is shown to be happy, engaging place.
For more books with resources please visit Perfect Picture Books!

I’m excited for Monday, the opening day of our Thanksgiving week contest!  I hope you’ve all got your stories ready to go (or will have them ready after the weekend :))  I can’t wait to read them!!!

Before we go, here’s our Farewell Fun Friday Foto.  Our final theme is THANKSGIVING, so here’s mine:

my Thanksgiving 🙂

Now, whether you’re looking for something fun to read with your child, a great book to add into a lesson plan, the perfect gift for your niece, or a shining example of picture book writing craft, click on the links below for some Perfect Picture Books!  I’m off to visit PK-3s!  Have a great weekend 🙂