Welcome to another installment of Perfect Picture Book Friday! (And that’s no April Fool 😊)
To start the day’s festivities, I’m happy to announce that the winner of last week’s book giveaway, JACKIE AND THE MONA LISA, is Stephanie M! Congratulations, Stephanie! I think you will love it! Please email me with your address (you can use the contact button in the menu bar above), and I will have the publisher mail out your copy!
Now! Let’s get to today’s book! Such a perfect little gem!
This book is actually a companion to A FRIEND IS. . .(reviewed HERE on PPBF in January 2021), and if you haven’t had a chance to check that one out, I recommend reading it too! For those of you who might live in the Mid-Hudson Valley area, you can meet today’s author/illustrator and get a signed copy of both these books at the Poughkeepsie Book Festival tomorrow! I will also be there, as will Iza Trapani, Karen Kaufman Orloff, Della Ferreri, Tania Guarino, Michael Garland, Nancy Furstinger, Marie-Therese Miller, Raven Howell, and lots of others!
But now, the book!
Title: A Family Is. . .
Written & Illustrated By: Lisa Thiesing
Publisher: Aladdin, March 8, 2022
Suitable For Ages: 4-8 (but I think younger children would really enjoy it too!)
Themes/Topics: family
Opening: “A family is. . . for “Good morning!” A family is. . .for having breakfast and for getting dressed.”
text and illustration copyright Lisa Thiesing 2022 Aladdin
Brief Synopsis: (from the publisher) “Whether big or small, a family is for reading, for laughing, for holding you tight. And, perhaps most importantly, loving you for who you are.”
text and illustration copyright Lisa Thiesing 2022 Aladdin
Links To Resources: make your own A Family Is. . . book by writing and/or drawing something family means to you on each page; make playdough families with different sized cookie cutters in the shape of people, or bears or other animals; draw a picture of your whole family; make a family tree; Family Themed Finger Plays and Action Songs
text and illustration copyright Lisa Thiesing 2022 Aladdin
Why I Like This Book: This sweet book gives young readers a lovely and very accessible description of what family means. Each page highlights ways families spend time together, from having breakfast and getting dressed to walking in the park and biking, to parties and games. But the book also reminds kids that, on a deeper level, families are about being together and belonging. As always for me, Lisa’s art takes a charming text and makes it even better. Her color palette is soft and appealing, her characters are delightful, and her depiction of family makes you want to climb right into the book and join the fun and the love. A perfect story for bed time or any time, and especially for when someone needs a little extra reminder of how much they are treasured in their own family.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday and I have a wonderful treat for you!
A great Perfect Picture Book, a little insight from the author, 3 fabulous activity pages, and the chance for one of you (US resident only) to win a copy of the book just by leaving a comment in the comment section below by Wednesday March 30 at 9PM Eastern!
I really enjoyed this book, so I hope you’ll like it too!
Title: Jackie And The Mona Lisa
Written By: Deborah Rovin Murphy
Illustrated By: Jen Brickling
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press, March 15, 2022, nonfiction
Suitable For Ages: 6-8
Themes/Topics: American History, Jackie Kennedy, art appreciation
Opening: “Jackie Kennedy loved poetry. She loved dance and music. And she loved art. In 1961, Jackie became the First Lady of the United States. And everyone loved Jackie. More than that, everyone wanted to be just like her.”
Text copyright Debbie Rovin Murphy 2022, illustration copyright Jen Brickling 2022, Sleeping Bear Press
Brief Synopsis: From the publisher: “Jackie Kennedy loved the arts. And America loved Jackie Kennedy. The first lady knew she had the country’s attention–what would she do with it? Encourage Americans to appreciate art, of course! She turned the White House into a historical site filled with some of America’s most treasured artifacts and pieces of art. She brought Shakespearean theater to the White House and ballerinas to the South Lawn. And most epically, she brought the Mona Lisa to the states (much to the chagrin of many Parisians) to encourage Americans to visit museums–and it worked! An inspiring story about one of the nation’s most influential first ladies.”
Text copyright Debbie Rovin Murphy 2022, illustration copyright Jen Brickling 2022, Sleeping Bear Press
Links To Resources: The back matter of the book has additional information about both Jackie Kennedy and the Mona Lisa. Please see below for some activity pages you can use with the book.
I asked Debbie what inspired her to write JACKIE AND THE MONA LISA, and she responded: “Growing up, art was always my favorite class. I teach second grade now (which I love) but had also dreamed about becoming an art teacher. This, combined with my love of history and museums, and my admiration of Jackie Kennedy, came together to inspire me to write Jackie and the Mona Lisa. Another reason for writing this particular story is my love for all of the “little known stories” in history or incredibly interesting stories that have been lost in time that I believe kids (and adults) would love to know. When I hear someone say that history is boring… I just think that they haven’t heard all of the interesting stories and anecdotes that correspond with all of the names, dates, and people we are taught to remember. I hope that this book can inspire children to go to museums and learn about the arts.”
A little bit about the author:
Author Debbie Rovin Murphy is a children’s book writer, teacher (of more than 25 years), and mother to two grown sons. She has loved visiting museums since her class trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art when she was in elementary school, and she was lucky enough to have seen the Mona Lisa on a trip to France. She lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Here are a few activity pages to use with the book:
Why I Like This Book: I found this book interesting, accessible, and engagingly written. I learned a lot about Jackie Kennedy’s time as First Lady and her passion for the arts. It was wonderful to have a glimpse of someone who seems so elegant searching through the White House basement! The story (without ever saying anything preachy!) clearly sends the message that if something is important to you, you can accomplish it if you put yourself into it. Young readers will really enjoy this book about everything Jackie Kennedy did for the arts in America.
Text copyright Debbie Rovin Murphy 2022, illustration copyright Jen Brickling 2022, Sleeping Bear Press
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 Don’t forget to leave a comment below by Wednesday March 30 at 9PM Eastern for your chance to be randomly selected to win a copy of this wonderful book! (US residents only – sorry!)
. . . on a blueberry-covered hill not all that far, far away in upstate New York. . .
. . .a princess lived in a little house in the woods.
(I know. You’re wondering why the princess lived in a little house in the woods. “That’s not right!” I hear you saying. “Princesses are supposed to live in castles, or be trapped in towers or dungeons!” But this is not your usual run-of-the-mill princess. . .)
This princess was a champion pogo-sticker (yes, that is too a word.) She had been training for years, doing hours of jumping, and keeping to a strict diet of Spring Beans and Garbouncebos. It was very effective. The villagers could often be heard proclaiming, “That princess sure is full of beans!” And, “Boy! Can she bounce!”
The Bouncy Trouncy Pouncy Flouncy Pogosticking Championship, the most prestigious of all pogosticking competitions in the Universe, was only days away, and the princess (whose name was Poppy – so fitting, don’t you think? due to all that popping up and down? it’s almost like her excellence in pogosticking was foreseen when her parents picked her name. . .) but anyway, Poppy passionately wanted to win the competition and the life-size golden pogostick trophy that was the prize!
There was just one small problem. . .
She was supposed to have posted the winners for the 7th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest and she had spent so much time jumping and bouncing and eating beans and various other explosive foods that she had not done it. NO, SHE HAD NOT!
So her mother said, “Poppy, there will be no Pogosticking Championship for you until you have met your obligations! I will not have shirkers in my little house in the woods!”
Well. Poppy REALLY wanted to get to that Championship! So she sat on her hippity-hop (great indoor leg strength building for bouncing and jumping muscles) and made the list of winners and honorable mentions in record time (because Poppy was all about making records, whether in pogosticking or in judging whilst hippity-hopping and continuing her bean eating!)
“I am so proud of you, Poppy,” her mother said. “Not only have you fulfilled your obligations, you have kept up with your exercise regimen and your bean eating at the same time, showing great commitment to your sport and your goals! Now, go to the Bouncy Trouncy Pouncy Flouncy Pogosticking Championship and jump the socks off your competitors!”
There will now be a short commercial break to announce the WINNERS of . . .
The 7th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest
~forchildren’swriters~
(don’t worry – you’ll find out what happened to Poppy after this break from our sponsors)
First of all, I want to thank EVERYONE who took the time and care to write an entry for this contest. You all did a fabulous job and provided great enjoyment for so many! As always, I was thrilled to see so many wonderful stories! It is amazing and inspiring, not to mention VERY entertaining! There is just so much talent out there amongst you all! The other judges and I are blown away anew each time!
Second, I’d also like to thank EVERYONE – writer, reader, or both – who took the time to read as many entries as you could and leave supportive comments. This means so much to the writers who worked hard on their stories. It helps them see what they did well, as well as giving them the joy of knowing that their stories were read and enjoyed. I hope you all got as much delight and entertainment out of the reading as I did! Plus, we got to meet quite a few new people which was a wonderful added bonus! 😊
Third, I want to say again how difficult it was too choose! There were so many amazing entries. Really. I could find at least something terrific about every single one. The sheer volume of entries meant that many good ones had to be cut. We chose 14 finalists, and around 35 Honorable Mentions which we also loved, and even with those 49 total there were nearly 150 entries we couldn’t list! So if yours didn’t make the final cut please don’t feel bad. You’re in good company! There was a huge amount of competition. And remember that the judging is based on the contest criteria. If you wrote a great story that didn’t showcase pride enough or that was too grown-up or not related to Valentine’s Day, you didn’t make the final cut. But that DOES NOT mean you didn’t write a great story. Everyone who plonked their butt in a chair and worked hard to write a story for this contest is a winner! You showed up. You did your best work. You practiced your craft. You wrote to specifications and a deadline. You bravely shared your writing with the world. And you have a brand new story that is now yours to expand beyond 214 words if you like and maybe submit at some point to a magazine or as a PB manuscript. So bravo to everyone who entered!
Because it was such a hard choice, and there were so many wonderful stories, before we get to the winners, my assistant judges and I would like to award bragging rights, recognition and a small prize to the following authors for the following merits:
1.ForHonorable Mention In The Competition As A Whole: (entries we truly wrestled with not including in the finalists!)
Lori Sheroan for The Proudest Pencil
Susannah Lee for Shelby’s Heartache
Claire Noland for The Valentine Surprise
Chayala Nachum for My Icky Sticky Valentine (great kid appeal too!)
Rachel Bandy for V’s For Valentine
Terri Hellard-Brown for Isabella’s Valentine
Becky Goodman for ValenTalent Show
Lauri C. Meyers for My Gummy Love
Susanne Whitehouse for The Mural
Judy Sobanski for Sloth’s Original Valentine
Laura Bower for Llama Love
Sara Kruger for The Perfect Present
2. For Great Read Aloud:
Brigid Finucane for Love Somebody (makes you want to sing and dance 😊)
3. For Great Story For Younger Readers:
Patti Ranson for Valentines Breakfast For Mom
Cindy Greene for Valentine’s Day Heartache
Tara Knox Cerven for The Purrfect Valentine
Lori C. Evans for Never Too Many Valentines
4. For Humor:
Donna Kurtz for Don’t-Let-The-Dung-Beetle-Make-The-Valentine-Brownies!
Jill Purtee for Gumballs
5. For Fun POV/Character:
Jenna Elyse Johnson for Hammie’s Valentine Surprise (dog)
Deborah Foster for Gary Groundhog Conquers The Shadow Monster (groundhog/snowhog)
6. For Great Ending:
Alayne Kay Christian for What Kind Of Cupid Am I?
Kristy Roser Nuttall for Love Inside
Mary Schultz for Taffy’s Sweet Surprise
7. ForWell-Written Story With Great Sibling Interaction:
Julianna Helt for Allie’s Biggest Heart
Armineh Manookian for Lost But Found
Erika Romero for You Make Me So Proud
8. ForBeautiful Writing:
A. Kidd for Three Hearts
Corine Timmer for It’s A Matter Of Taste (also educational and funny ending!)
9. For Best Short Valentiny Story:
Marty Findley for A Valentine For You (64 words!)
10. For Sweet Valentiny:
Heather Ferranti Kinser for Teeny Houdini
Kathy Crable for Valentine Barks
Lindsay Moretti for A Valentine For Mr. Weatherly
11. Best Story From A Young Writer:
Sophie Moore (age 10) for Detective Spot And The Search For A New Cupid (also clever and funny!)
Congratulations to all of you for fantastic elements of your stories! Please email me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com subject line Prize Winner to collect your award badge and prize, which is five dollars in a format that can be emailed for you to put toward something you’d like at a large online store (and I’m being cryptic because when I’ve done this for previous contests I got a ton of problematic spam mail because of the way I worded the post, but hopefully you can figure it out. The store starts with the letter A 😊) I know it’s not much, but hopefully it will come in handy for something!
And now…
…the moment you’ve all been waiting for…
The announcement of the WINNERS OF THE 2021 VALENTINY CONTEST as voted on by you, our devoted readers!!!
rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat
DDDRRRUUUMMM RRROOOLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!
In First Place…
Winner of the whole shebang…
who gets first choice of all the prizes…
Michaela Almeida for A Change Of Heart!!!
Congratulations, Michaela! Terrific job 😊
In Second Place
Daniella Kaufman for Sweet Valentine
Congratulations, Daniella! You get to pick your prize after Michaela.
In Third Place
Katie Brandyberry for Valentine Delivery – Part II
Congratulations, Katie! You get to pick your prize after Michaela and Daniella.
In Fourth Place…
Jesse Anna Bornemann for Showdown In Smoochalot
Congratulations, Jesse! You get to pick your prize after Michaela, Daniella, and Katie!
In Fifth Place…
Allison Strick for Percy’s Performance
Congratulations, Allison! You get to pick after Michaela, Daniella, Katie, and Jesse!
In Sixth Place...
Katie Palazzola for Oog Love Rock
Congratulations, Katie! I’m sure you get the idea of how the prize picking goes by now 😊
In Seventh Place…
Sarah Meade for V-Day!
Congratulations, Sarah! You get to pick next 😊
In Eighth Place…
Amy Leskowski for Cupid’s Confidence
Congratulations, Amy! You get to pick after Sarah 😊
In Ninth Place…
Laura Bost for Flicker’s Valentine
Congratulations, Laura! You get to pick after Amy! 😊
In Tenth Place…
Kate Thompson for The Valentine’s Cake
Congratulations, Kate! You get to pick after Laura! 😊
In Eleventh Place…
Sara Petersohn for Valentine Wins
Congratulations, Sara! You get to pick after Kate! 😊
In Twelfth Place…
Kimberly Shrack for The Perfect Valentine
Congratulations, Kimberly! You get to pick your prize after Sara! 😊
In Thirteenth Place…
Emily Keener for Special Delivery
Congratulations, Emily! You get to pick after Kimberly!
In Fourteenth Place…
Zach Schloss for Hoppy Belated Valentine
Congratulations, Zach!
All the winners should email me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com with the subject heading Prize Winner so we can work out details for you to receive your prizes! (The sooner the better!) And for your convenience, the whole prize list is included at the bottom of this post.
Congratulations again to all our winners – it was a stiff competition!! – and congratulations to EVERYONE who wrote and entered a story in the contest. You all deserve a huge round of applause and a gigantic chocolate heart… or lots of little chocolate hearts… or both… really, you can never have too much chocolate 😊 .
Oh! And as a special reward I will tell you that Princess Poppy went to the Bouncy Trouncy Pouncy Flouncy Pogosticking Championship and pogoed with astounding energy, bouncing and jumping as, one by one, all the other competitors fell victim to Jelly Legs and toppled off their pogo sticks, and she was so impressive that not only did she win the competition and the life-sized golden pogo stick trophy (“That’s my girl!” her mother said proudly), they also named a brand of beans after her, so now you can buy Princess Poppy Beans – Beans That Pop With Flavor and Will Make You Jump For Joy! They are high in fiber and an excellent source of protein so you really can’t go wrong! Try some with your chocolate! (er… or maybe that WOULD be wrong 🤣)
Thank you to everyone who helped make this contest SO MUCH FUN, whether by writing an entry, reading people’s stories, leaving comments for the authors, and/or voting in the finals. It’s because of all of you that this contest was such a success, so many, many thanks from the bottom of my heart!
Have a marvelous Wednesday, everyone! 😊
The Prizes: Swoonworthy! As always, we are so fortunate to have an abundance of wonderful prizes donated by our very generous friends in the kidlit community! Just look at all these goodies!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Read & Critique from agent Mary Cummings of Great River Literary, “an agency devoted exclusively to representing authors and author/illustrators of books for children and teens. Strong relationships with editors have resulted in a rapidly growing list of sales of board and picture books, chapter books and novels to such publishing houses as Knopf; Philomel; Viking; Nancy Paulsen/Penguin; Balzer & Bray; Walker; Little, Brown; Henry Holt; Holiday House; Feiwel & Friends; FSG; Running Press; WorthyKids; Abrams; Random House; Wiseman S & S; Chronicle; Candlewick; HarperCollins and many others.”
⭐️ 1/2 Hour Zoom Picture Book Manuscript Critique or Mentoring Session with authorLynne Marie!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Rebecca Gardyn Levington author of BRAINSTORM! (Sleeping Bear Press, Summer 2022), I WILL ALWAYS BE…(HarperCollins, Spring 2024) and a contributor to the delightful anthologyHOP TO IT: POEMS TO GET YOU MOVING (Pomelo Books, October 2020)
⭐️ Personalized Signed Copy of Winner’s Choice of any available Susanna Leonard Hill picture book
Please join me in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for birthday, holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, or anywhere else if you like them, recommending them for school and library visits, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
How have we gotten to Perfect Picture Book Friday again so soon? Where does the time go?!
I was hoping to post the winners of the Valentiny Contest today. I know who they are! But life continues to be a bit nuts and I haven’t had time to finish figuring out the Honorable Mentions or make any of the badges, so I thought it would be better to wait another day or two and hopefully get those done than skip them. But you guys can tell me. If you just want to know the winners and skip the rest I can put that together pretty quickly.
Meanwhile, the first day of spring is only 2 days away, so I have chosen one of my favorite books for today. It is so beautiful and so nature-oriented it makes me think of spring 😊
Title: 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. Story Time Resources: Step Gently Out
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 its imagery as the photography is. This book is a feast for eyes and ears and hearts!
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
So glad you’re here for Perfect Picture Book Friday!
In my dreams, I managed to actually post a perfect picture book for this week, but in reality. . . not so much. I’m afraid my time problems are continuing as in, I don’t have enough. If my car would kindly handle all the driving to and from my dad’s rehab center every day without my participation, I could get some significant work done in that time, but alas, my car doesn’t appear to be that gifted! (But please don’t tell her I said so – I don’t want to hurt her feelings! It’s not her fault she has the driving skills and navigational savvy of a box of hair 😊)
So let’s start by finding out who the randomly chosen lucky winner is of last week’s Perfect Picture Book Friday giveaway, HOW TO DRESS A DINOSAUR by Robin Currie!
And the winner is . . .
Emily Durant!
Emily, please email me (you can use the handy contact button in the menu bar) so I can set you up with your prize!
Thank you, Robin, for the giveaway! Such a treat!
Now, I am hoping all you lovely people will add your Perfect Picture Books to today’s list which is provided below.
If a miracle occurs, I will update this post with a book of my own, but don’t hold your breath! 🙃🙃🙃
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
I’d like to start by apologizing for my absence lately, and for making you all wait so long for the results of the Valentiny Contest. I’m afraid a family medical situation has been demanding most of my time and, burn the candle at both ends as I might, I can’t seem to find time for everything. But I am making my way through the entries – wonderful, AMAZING entries, really! You guys all did such a good job! – enjoying every minute of reading, dreading having to narrow the field to 12, and I hope to have your results soon! Thank you all for your patience. I so appreciate it. You have been so kind about the wait!
Meanwhile, I have a treat for you today! A wonderful new book I know you’re going to love, plus a few words from the author and some wonderful activities she has provided, AND she’s offering a giveaway!!! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Wednesday March 9 at 9 PM Eastern and you’ll be in the running to be randomly selected to win a copy of today’s delightful book!
So let’s have a look, shall we?
Title: How To Dress A Dinosaur
Written By: Robin Currie
Illustrated By: Alycia Pace
Publisher: Familius, March 1, 2022, fiction (board book)
Suitable For Ages: 2-5 years
Themes/Topics: humor, getting dressed, dinosaurs
Opening: “Roar! Oh no – You turned into a dinosaur!”
Brief Synopsis: Every parent knows the struggle of getting a child dressed and out the door. But with a cast of hilariously coiffed dinosaurs to teach toddlers how to stomp their feet into pant legs and reach their claws into shirts, getting dressed becomes a game.
Links To Resources:
First, a few words from author Robin Currie! It’s always interesting to know where a book came from 😊
Back Story (or the Tail of the Dinosaur)
The original inspiration for this story was in the fall of 2014 when my youngest grandson was 3 years old and had many things on his mind to do with dinosaurs but few with getting dressed. James was in the dinosaur phase where he can’t pronounce “Spaghetti” but can say “Pachycephalosaurus” and correct my mispronunciation. He also owned dinosaur-themed shirts, hats, socks, jackets, and underwear. And hundreds of plastic painful-to-step-on in-the-dark dinosaur figures.
A brain burble became first a badly rhyming text – what rhymes with Diplodocus? (Hopped aboard a bus? Was oozing green pus? Super-flu-i-us?). Now I am pleased to introduce you to 14 chewable pages of How to Dress a Dinosaur! If you are counting, that is a total of 8 years for a board book! Always believe that the best ideas out there will find a home! Even if it seems to take longer than the Pleistocene era!
Dino Breakfast Starts The Day!Dino Feet!Thumb Dino!Populate the jungle with Handy Dinos!
Why I Like This Book: If you’re a parent, you’ve had the showdown at the getting dressed corral! This book makes getting dressed so much fun kids will probably want to do it extra times each day 😊 How can you not love a story that will make a necessary chore fun for everyone involved? But to make it even better, young readers will learn a little bit about dinosaurs. The art is adorable. All those cute baby dinos are irresistible. (My personal favorites are diplodocus and triceratops 😊) A fun story to read aloud, a way to make getting dressed something to look forward to, a little info about dinosaurs, and appealing illustrations – what’s not to love?
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor, in library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again! How to Dress a Dinosaur is available now! How to Dress a Dinosaur – Familius.com Shop
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 (And don’t forget to leave a comment by Wednesday at 9PM so you can be in the running to win a copy of this delightful book!)
It’s the first Perfect Picture Book Friday of February, and we get to celebrate by being part of Laura Sassi‘s “Bunny Hop” for her brand new book!
What could be better in the midst of ice, snow, and freezing rain than an adorable bunny and a little glimpse of springtime and hope?
I’ll tell you! We have a wonderful activity to do with the book designed by Laura herself AND a book giveaway! One lucky reader will win a copy of this sweet book! All you need to do is have a US street address (sorry no PO addresses, and USA only) and leave a comment on this post by Monday February 7 at 5 PM Eastern to qualify for the random drawing (which I will do on Monday February 7 at 5 PM Eastern 😊.) The winner will be announced on Tuesday February 8 because there is no one up for Tuesday Debut that day so we can just celebrate. Maybe we’ll have cake 😊 (I would have posted the winner with PPBF next week, but we won’t be having it because the VALENTINY WRITING CONTEST will be underway! If you haven’t written your entry yet, click HERE for details!)
So let’s have a look at this wonderful book!
Title: Bunny Finds Easter
Written By: Laura Sassi
Illustrated By: Ela Jarzabek
Publisher: Zonderkidz, February 1, 2022, fiction
Suitable For Ages: baby – 4 years
Themes/Topics: holidays (Easter)
Opening: “Bunny wakes. Hip hip hooray! Let’s celebrate – It’s Easter Day!
But what is Easter?”
text copyright Laura Sassi 2022, illustration copyright Ela Jarzabek 2022, Zonderkidz
Brief Synopsis: From the publisher: “Coloring eggs, wearing a lovely bonnet, joining in the fun of an egg hunt, and attending church with family are special things that are a part of Easter! But the most important thing about this holiest of seasons is remembering the reason we gather to celebrate and focusing on Jesus most of all.”
text copyright Laura Sassi 2022, illustration copyright Ela Jarzabek 2022, Zonderkidz
Links To Resources: We are so lucky to have resources provided by the author herself! Thank you, Laura!
BOOK-THEMED CRAFT: Make Your Own Bunny Ears
by Laura Sassi
Inspired by Ela Jarzabek’s whimsical Easter egg patterns in BUNNY FINDS EASTER, here’s a colorful version of bunny ears for little ones to make and wear after they read the book so they can go on an Easter hunt just like Bunny does in the book.
You will need:
one strip of heavy paper (card stock weight) for the band. (approx 2” by 24”)
one pair of bunny ears cut from card stock for each child. (approx 2” by 8” – rounded at the top)
an assortment of crayons, markers, stickers, etc.
tape or glue
Instructions:
After reading BUNNY FINDS EASTER, take a moment with your child to hunt for all the Easter eggs in the book. Together, name the colors you see and count how many patterns you can find.
Next, set out the precut bunny ears and have your child decorate with colorful patterns inspired by the book.
Glue or tape the finished ears to the precut paper band. Test for size by placing it on your child’s head. Tape accordingly.
Play a game: Hide ten jelly beans (or other Easter treats) around the room. Then, have your child put on their ears so that, just like Bunny, they go on a hunt to find out what Easter is all about. Afterwards, as they enjoy their treats, remember together what Bunny discovered – that Easter is about Jesus!
And click HERE to download an Activity Guide created by Zonderkidz to go with the book!
Why I Like This Book: With simple text told in engaging rhyme, and adorable pictures that will delight any child, this lovely book reminds us what Easter is all about. Yes, there are hot cross buns, egg decorating, pretty bonnets, and Easter egg hunts, but at the heart of it all is the gift of love, hope, and faith that Jesus gave to everyone. Without being heavy-handed, this book is a just-right introduction for little ones that Easter is about more than jelly beans. The art is bright and friendly, with plenty for pre-readers to look at and engage with while they listen to the story.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
text copyright Laura Sassi 2022, illustration copyright Ela Jarzabek 2022, Zonderkidz
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 Stay warm and dry, and think of spring 😊
Welcome to my little Perfect Picture Book Friday reading corner! I’m so glad you stopped by! 😊
I know it’s not quite Valentine’s Day, but it’s coming soon and I found this lovely, engaging book that is also not quite Valentine’s Day, but could certainly qualify as an everyday Valentine 😊
Wait ’til you see!
Title: The Shape Of My Heart
Written By: Mark Sperring
Illustrated By: Alys Paterson
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA, December 2015, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-6
Themes/Topics: concepts (shapes), typical day, love, language (rhyme)
text copyright Mark Sperring 2015, illustration copyright Alys Paterson 2015, Bloomsbury USA
Opening: “This is the shape that we are. The shape of you and me. This is the shape of our eyes. And these are the shapes we might see.”
Brief Synopsis: In the course of a typical child’s day, the story gives a glimpse of the many kinds of shapes that make up our world.
text copyright Mark Sperring 2015, illustration copyright Alys Paterson 2015, Bloomsbury USA
text copyright Mark Sperring 2015, illustration copyright Alys Paterson 2015, Bloomsbury USA
Why I Like This Book: This is the kind of book I used to look for when my kids were little. It has a simple but elegant rhyming text that explores the many shapes in our world in fun language – not these are birds, but “and these are the shapes that chirp and tweet. . . and flitter-flutter by.” (So much more enjoyable! 😊) The story takes the reader through the day from the shape of the sun “coming up to brighten the day” to “This is the shape of the moon. And these are the shapes of the stars. . . And this is the shape I love you with. This is the shape of my heart.” (What an ending. So sweet!) The art is bright, colorful, and engaging and provides the perfect opportunity for young readers to explore every part of the page. They can identify vehicles and animals. You can ask them to point to the umbrella or the popsicle, or ask them what sound a truck or a lion makes. The text invites them to make connections (“something savory” they can see is cheese, and “something sweet” they can identify as strawberries, and “this is the shape we come back to at the end of every day” encourages them to supply that it’s home.) A delightful read for any time of day when kids want to interact and participate, but also a sweet and soothing recap at bedtime that ends with the gentle reassurance of how much they are loved. This one is a keeper 😊
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Stay warm and safe from the snow! 😊
But every now and again I read one that is just so perfect, so magically written and illustrated, that it takes my breath away and makes me whisper to myself, “Man! I wish I’d written that!”
Today’s selection is one of those 😊
My Perfect Picture Book today is all about that most coveted of childhood days – the peaceful, happy, special perfection of snow days 😊
Title: Before Morning
Written By: Joyce Sidman
Illustrated By: Beth Krommes
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, October 4 2016, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-7
Themes/Topics: seasons (winter), snow, snow days, invocations, language fun (rhyme, word choice)
Opening: “In the deep woolen dark, as we slumber unknowing, let the sky fill with flurry and flight.” (These few words actually cover 5 spreads, some of which are wordless.)
Brief Synopsis: Although there is much going on in the busy, busy world, a small child wishes for just one day to be a delightfully snow-covered pause.
Why I Like This Book: Oh my goodness! What’s not to love? This book is beautiful in every way! The rhyming text is written by Joyce Sidman (you know what a huge fan I am of Red Sings From Treetops!) and it is gorgeous and poetic and spare. How can you not love a book that begins “In the deep woolen dark”?! 😊 The entire book is 66 words, so expertly chosen and crafted together that as a writer I can only feel awe. And the art is scratchboard and watercolor, exquisitely done, showing the little girl’s hopes that while she sleeps the world will turn white, allowing for a hushed, snow-covered morning that keeps her family home for a leisurely breakfast, some extra time together, the chance to go sledding and make snow angels, and come home to dry wet mittens. It is everything we all love about snow days, and every child’s prayer for one to come to their house!
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
text copyright Julia Durango 2017, illustration copyright Bianca Diaz 2017, Charlesbridge Publishing
Opening: “‘One day,’ said Wilson, ‘I will paint your house orange and yellow like the sun.’ Gigi smiled. ‘I will like that. But today, you are all the sunshine I need,’ she said.”
Brief Synopsis: Gigi’s house needs fixing up, and Wilson wants to help make it cozy, safe, and beautiful – a nice place for his beloved grandmother to live. But he can’t do it alone.
text copyright Julia Durango 2017, illustration copyright Bianca Diaz 2017, Charlesbridge Publishing
Links To Resources: the back of the book has an Author’s Note about ways to help in your community including Labor of Love, Habitat For Humanity, and United Way, encouraging children who want to do something to reach out and find things that they can do, from smiling or saying hello to helping repair someone’s home; Little Ways Kids Can Make A Big Difference In Their Community; 10 Fun Community Giving Ideas (includes both “kitchen table” suggestions and “out in the community”)
text copyright Julia Durango 2017, illustration copyright Bianca Diaz 2017, Charlesbridge Publishing
Why I Like This Book: This story is lovely on so many levels. Wilson has a loving and generous heart and wants so much to make his Gigi’s home a better place for her to live, from painting it a cheerful color, to keeping her safe and warm, to making sure she can have a friend, and beauty, and music. He doesn’t let the fact that he is one young boy get in the way of his plans. A poster for “Build Up Neighbors” catches his eye and he gets him thinking. Gigi, meanwhile, is ever appreciative of Wilson’s ideas, but always grateful for what she has, never expressing any kind of dissatisfaction. I like that idea, she always says, but always follows it with, you are all the sunshine, or company, or warmth I need. Wilson shares his ideas with other members of the community – the ice cream man, passing neighbors, the librarian etc. – and they are all encouraging and supportive. No one tells him it’s too much for a boy to do. The art is warm and engaging, and includes such things as Wilson’s calculations for boards and nails needed, a diagram for how he thinks he can clean out the chimney, and what he’ll need to tune the piano. And of course he gets a stack of books from the library to aid his research. When Wilson is finally able to follow through with his plans, all the people from earlier in the book are present. This is a real feel-good story that showcases all the best things about people and community, and that models the concept that even little kids can do a lot to help out. A treasure for home, classroom, or library, and an empowering story kids will enjoy!
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
You must be logged in to post a comment.