Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Everyone!
Coincidentally, it is also Perfect Picture Book Friday! How serendipitous!
And what do I have for you? An absolutely fabulous picture book that has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with St. Patrick’s Day! It doesn’t even feature true green on the cover.
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Hello, my friends!
After a few weeks off for the Valentiny Contest, we are finally back to Perfect Picture Book Friday!
And just in time!
This gorgeous book came out this week and requires immediate sharing 😊
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Happy New Year, Everyone!
I hope you all had wonderful holidays!
I’m thrilled to be welcoming you back to Perfect Picture Book Friday with a fantastic book I’m really excited to share by a talented author! I also love that it’s a picture book for a slightly older audience, 7-10!
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Okay. So technically it’s not Friday. Too much to do the last few days! But I didn’t want to miss the chance to share this lovely book in the last Perfect Picture Book Friday post of the year!
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Happy last Perfect Picture Book Friday before Halloween, everyone!
I apologize for the late post – family situation hopefully now under control!
Before I share my Perfect Picture Book for today, I just want to mention (apologies in advance for shouting out my own book) that I am honored that Beth Stillborn has very kindly showcased ALPHABEDTIME for her PPBF today, and there’s a little Mystery Interview to go along with it, which I may or may not have had something to do with 😊 I hope you’ll hop over and visit her because she did this specially!
Now, that that dreadful commercial interruption is over 😊, I have a delightful story to share with you today – deliciously scary for Halloween! 😊🎃🧙♀️👻 If you have a sensitive or easily frightened little one, have a look at the illustrations below so you can judge if it’s a good choice for your little pumpkin.
Title: I Want To Be In A Scary Story
Written By: Sean Taylor
Illustrated By: Jean Jullien
Publisher: Candlewick, July 2017, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 2-5
Themes/Topics: humor, scary vs. funny, interactive story (between main character and narrator)
text copyright Sean Taylor 2017, illustration copyright Jean Jullien 2017, Candlewick
Opening: “Hello, Little Monster.
What do you want to do today?
Can I be in a story?”
text copyright Sean Taylor 2017, illustration copyright Jean Jullien 2017, Candlewick
Brief Synopsis: Little Monster wants to be the star of an utterly terrifying scary story. But scary stories . . . well, they can be very scary — especially for their characters! Especially if they involve dark forests and creepy witches and spooky houses . . . Oh boy! Maybe a funny story would be better after all!
text copyright Sean Taylor 2017, illustration copyright Jean Jullien 2017, Candlewick
Links To Resources: how about a “scary” game of hide ‘n’ seek? Hide, and when the seeker gets close, pop out and say, “BOO!”; make up a scary story of your own and tell it to your family or friends in a spooky voice; talk about what makes something scary – different things scare different people – and whether you like to be scared (some people do!) or not (some people don’t!)
text copyright Sean Taylor 2017, illustration copyright Jean Jullien 2017, Candlewick
Why I Like This Book: This book is just the right amount of scary for young readers who like a little scare. Little Monster is adorable (definitely not scary 😊), and like all youngsters, sometimes what he thinks he wants turns out not to be exactly what he wants. He asks the author to put him in a scary story. The author cautions him that perhaps a funny story would be better, but Little Monster is sure! He wants a SCARY story! So the author puts him in a dark and terrifying forest. And, um, that’s a little too scary! As the story continues, the author keeps complying with Little Monster’s wishes and the story gradually becomes less and less scary until it ends up funny, a complete turn-around of what Little Monster originally asked for. But he also turns the tables on the author, which is where much of the humor comes from. The story is a little scary (maybe not for kids who are easily frightened, and maybe not the best choice for bedtime 😊 depending on your child) but it is also a story that explores setting boundaries and feeling safe within them – Little Monster is always in control and can change the rules so he knows he’s never really in danger, and it is a story after all! For writers, this is a fun title to examine. It is written completely in dialogue, and is interactive in that it is a conversation between the author and the main character.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
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! 😊
Hooray for Perfect Picture Book Friday!
I have a wonderful family fall book to share, but first, one quick note:
Perfect Picture Books are meant to be reviewed on people’s blogs and include all the relevant information (title, author, illustrator, publisher, themes, age range of intended audience, review, etc), most importantly, links to resources or ideas of how the book can be expanded on at home or in the classroom, so the links provided must go to people’s blogs. You cannot put an Amazon link to a book title. You cannot put a Goodreads link to a book title. I had to remove about 50 titles that had no reviews by the person listing it and no resources provided. This list is meant to be a resource for parents, teachers, and writers to find great books. The reviews and resources are critical. Thank you all for understanding and following the guidelines!
Now! It’s Applesauce Day! 😊
Title: Applesauce Day
Written By: Lisa J. Amstutz
Illustrated By: Talitha Shipman
Publisher: Albert Whitman (August 2017), fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: autumn, apples, family tradition
Opening: “I spy the big pot on the counter right away.
“Hooray!” I say. “It’s Applesauce Day!”
Hannah cheers.
Ezra bangs his spoon.”
Brief Synopsis: Each fall, Maria’s family has Applesauce Day. All together, they go pick apples. Then they bring them to Grandma’s house and all together they make applesauce in the big pot that has been in their family for generations.
Links To Resources: Make applesauce! It’s easy, fun, healthy, and delicious! HERE is a RECIPE
Why I Like This Book: The text is simple and straightforward, and tells the story of a family doing something they do every year – going apple picking and then heading to Grandma’s house to make applesauce. At first, the child telling the story doesn’t see what’s so special about the pot. It looks like a regular pot to her. But as the family washes and slices the apples, her mother tells her about making applesauce with grandma in that pot, and grandma tells about making applesauce with her mother in that pot. And suddenly, the old pot seems very special because it draws them all together. By the end of the story, when they are driving home, the girl imagines that maybe someday she will have a child and make applesauce in the same pot that she, and her mother, and her grandmother, and her great-grandmother all used. It’s a lovely story of family and tradition, and also about the joy of picking apples and making applesauce in the fall.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
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! There was a problem with the form earlier. I hope it’s fixed!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Maybe go pick some apples and make applesauce! 😊
It feels like Thursday, but somehow it’s Perfect Picture Book Friday already!
Where did this week go?
Any time there’s a holiday, the whole week just seems to speed by!
Where I live, the leaves are in their full fall finery, so it seems like a perfect day for a picture book about fall.
Are you ready for just about the cutest fall picture book ever written? Have a look at this truly Perfect Picture Book!
Title: Fletcher And The Falling Leaves
Written By: Julia Rawlinson
Illustrated By: Tiphanie Beeke
Greenwillow Books, August 2008, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: seasons (autumn/winter), nature (changing seasons), love
Opening: “The world was changing. Each morning when Fletcher bounded out of the den, everything seemed just a little bit different. The rich green of the forest was turning to a dusty gold, and the soft, swishing sound of summer was fading to a crinkly whisper. Fletcher’s favorite tree looked dull, dry, and brown.
Fletcher was beginning to get worried.“
Brief Synopsis: When the leaves on Fletcher’s favorite tree turn brown and begin to fall, Fletcher thinks something is terribly wrong. “Don’t worry,” his mother tells him. “It’s only autumn.” But Fletcher is worried. He does his best to catch the falling leaves and reattach them, but in spite of his efforts the last leaf finally falls. He promises the tree he’ll keep the last leaf safe and he takes it home to bed, still worried. To his surprise and delight, though, he wakes in the morning to a magical sight that convinces him everything is all right.
Links To Resources: Scholastic Classroom Guide; Teachers Guide (from The Picture Book Teacher’s Edition); 15 Fabulous Fall Leaf Crafts For Kids
Why I Like This Book: Oh my goodness! What is there not to like?! The story is so sweet. Fletcher is so earnest in his desire to help his tree, so dedicated to saving it, and so worried on its behalf since he’s unable to understand from his child’s-eye-view the concept of autumn, changing seasons, and the cycle of life. He doesn’t know that it’s natural for leaves to fall and that his tree is just fine and will green again come spring. It takes the magic of icicles glimmering in the morning sun to show him that his tree is beautiful (and okay!) in every season. The art is such a perfect match for the story – impressionistic water colors in soft, hazy tones of autumn brown and orange that give way to the cool blue/green and white tones of winter, and Fletcher himself is so endearing. As adults, we often take the change of seasons for granted, but this book is a gem for the way it shows the wonder of changing seasons as a child appreciates them.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
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!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
Is it just me, or has this been a crazy, busy week?
Also, an exciting week as just yesterday I got my author copies of ALPHABEDTIME! Want to see? 😊
For anyone who might be in the area, I will be at Warwick Children’s Book Festival on Saturday along with many other fabulous children’s authors and illustrators! And (fingers crossed!) I will hopefully have copies of ALPHABEDTIME, available before the official release date just for Warwick! I hope you’ll join us if you can!
But now, I have a lovely book to show you. It has been a casualty of supply chain issues and so had its release date pushed back, but that just gives you more time to preorder it 😊
Title: Teddy, Let’s Go!
Written By: Michelle Nott
Illustrated By: Nahid Kazemi
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, December 6, 2022, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-7
Themes/Topics: transitional object, new sibling, family, love
Opening: “The wavy-haired woman with love in her eyes pulled me close and whispered in my ear.
Then she wrapped me up. And I floated.”
These are the first words of the story, but it begins earlier with the art, showing Grandma at her sewing machine making Teddy.
Brief Synopsis: My’s beloved Teddy Bear goes with her everywhere. Through her early childhood he is a constant companion and friend. As she grows older, she relies on him less, but he still holds a special place in her heart. So special that when her little brother comes along, she knows just what she must do.
Links To Resources: Make a teddy bear for yourself, a new sibling, a friend, or anyone you love
Why I Like This Book: This is such a sweet story! So many children have transitional objects, those loveys they carry with them everywhere to lend strength and comfort. This little girl has a Teddy who was made with love especially for her by her grandma. From her crib to camp, Teddy goes with her, always listening for her words: “Teddy, let’s go!” And he always goes. As she grows older, he goes less and stays home more. She doesn’t need him all the time, which is as it should be, but she still needs him sometimes. Then things begin to feel different around the house. In the art, preparations are being made. A mom whose shape is changing. A crib with a mobile. And then, one night, a small voice cries, and the girl takes her beloved Teddy to their first bed and tucks him in next to her brand new little brother. (Moms and Dads, I dare you not to tear up 😊) Young readers will relate to this love for a special stuffed animal or blankie, as so many of us have had something like that, to the comfort it brings, and the love with which it is bestowed. And maybe one day some of them will pass their loveys on to a new sibling, too.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
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! 😊
Just a smidge behind with the post this morning (oops! 😊) but woohoo! It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday!
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a book I thought was gorgeous on this level. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I highly recommend finding a copy because it is not to be missed!
Let’s have a look, shall we?
Title: Brown Is Warm, Black Is Bright
Written By: Sarah L. Thomson
Illustrated By: Keith Mallett
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers, August 30, 2022, lyrical fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: Brown, Black, natural world, dreams
Opening: “Brown is crisp. . .
crunch and crackle,
catch me as I fall.
Black is splash. . .
Spray! Splatter!
to send a puddle flying.”
Brief Synopsis: From the publisher: “Have you ever paused to savor the power and beauty of brown and black? Brown is strong as a tree and sweet as honey in tea; black is the hopeful promise of a seed and the grace of a bird in flight… and the quiet space where dreams begin.”
Links To Resources: what do Black and Brown (or other colors) mean to you? How do they make you feel? Draw a picture of it, or write a haiku or a poem about it. What do you think of when you think of Black or Brown (or other colors)? Recipes to make? Make them! Flowers or vegetables to plant? Plant them! What is one dream you have? Is it something you’d like to share? Or something to hold in your heart just for you?
Why I Like This Book: This book is a perfect example of what picture books should be – a beautiful marriage of text and art. It is a celebration of Black and Brown, but also of love and hope and wonder, strength and dreams and play, warmth and safety, and the beauty of the natural world. The words are lyrical and evocative, and the art is warm and lush and gorgeous. It makes you feel the text. And Keith Mallett’s skill with facial expression is remarkable. A lovely read that will create a feeling of calm and safety and encourage children to explore all that the world has to offer outside, and all the dreams they may have inside.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
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! 😊
Hi, Everyone!
Are you ready for this week’s list of Perfect Picture Books? I am! And I have such a sweet one to start you off with!
Title: The Little Bear
Written & Illustrated By: Nicola Killen
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, June 28, 2022, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: first day of school, apprehension
Opening: “It was the night before school started and Ollie was feeling nervous.
She filled her little bear backpack, ready for the morning, and had one last practice lesson on the way to bed.”
Brief Synopsis: [From the publisher] “The end of summer can be a bittersweet time, and Ollie isn’t sure if she’s ready to go back to school. But the night before her first day back, Ollie dreams about a magical schoolhouse in the woods full of friendly little animals who make learning an adventure. When Ollie wakes up, she can’t wait to go to school!”
Links To Resources: 15 Fabulous Icebreaker Games for Preschoolers; 20 Creative Friendship Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers; if you were going to write a recipe for friendship, what would it be? A teaspoon or kindness? a sprinkle of fun? two heaping cups of great ideas? What do you think are the essential ingredients of friendship?
Why I Like This Book: I am such a fan of Nicola Killen’s books. They are all lovely, sweet, friendly, and comforting, and this one is no exception. Ollie is excited about school, but a little nervous. The night before school begins, she dreams that she follows an owl on a magical journey into the woods, where she finds a little school house filled with friendly animals. A little bear is standing outside looking nervous. Knowing exactly how he feels, Ollie suggests they go in together. One fun activity follows another and everyone has a wonderful day. When Ollie awakens in the morning, she is excited and ready for her first day! The story makes school look so fun and friendly that any young reader who is feeling anxious about school will feel encouraged to give it a try with a positive attitude. The art is charming – so appealing! – with a little cut-out like a magical door at the beginning and end of the journey, and highlights of shiny foil here and there to add sparkle. A sweet, quiet read that will reassure anyone who is apprehensive about their first day of school.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
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! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
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