Perfect Picture Book Friday – Old MacDonald Had A… Zoo?

October 13, 2017October 12, 201719 Comments

Psst! The word on the street is it’s Friday!

This may be a completely unfounded rumor.

After all, due to the holiday last Monday it doesn’t really feel like Friday yet, does it?

But let’s go with popular opinion 🙂

I have a fabulously fun Perfect Picture Book to share with you today. Get ready to enjoy! 🙂

Old MacDonald

Title: Old MacDonald Had A… Zoo?

Written & Illustrated By: Iza Trapani

Charlesbridge, September 12 2017, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 2-5

Themes/Topics: animals (farm and zoo), nursery rhyme retelling, language (prepositions)

Opening: “Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
With a moo moo here, and a moo moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo,
Everywhere a moo moo,
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.”

Brief Synopsis: Old MacDonald is tending his farm, milking his cow, minding his own business when along comes a herd of disruption! What on earth are a bunch of zoo animals doing on Old MacDonald’s farm???!!!

Links To Resources: One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others – think up groups of animals where 3 match in some way (farm, zoo, jungle, aquatic, color, pattern, food preference, feathers, fins, number of legs, tail, etc.) and the 4th doesn’t and get kids to tell you what the 3 have in common and why the 4th doesn’t match; draw your favorite farm animal and tell why it’s your favorite; what animal would YOU invite to Old MacDonald’s farm and how would your song verse go?; play Old MacDonald Says and practice the position words from the story – above, below, near, far, high, low, etc…

text and illustration copyright Iza Trapani 2017

Why I Like This Book: Everyone knows the familiar story/song of Old MacDonald and his farm…but this version takes it to a whole new level as a bunch of escaped zoo animals wander in and start making themselves at home, much to the surprise of the regular farm inhabitants and to Old MacDonald’s chagrin! The rhyme is perfect and fun to read aloud, telling a humorous story (and as an added bonus using a lot of positional words (above, below, near, far, high, low, etc.) so kids get practice in understanding the physical relationship of things.) The art is lively and full of delightful hidden details. And the facial expressions of both Old MacDonald and the animals are priceless 🙂 An all-around fun tale that will have little ones singing along!

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!!! 🙂

P.S. You may have noticed that Halloween is right around the corner, and you know what THAT means… the annual Halloweensie Writing Contest!!! Stay tuned for details, hopefully coming early next week so you’ll have time to write, polish, and perfect!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Good Night, Little Bot

October 6, 2017October 5, 201716 Comments

What a crazy whirlwind week this has been! But here we are, happily arrived at Perfect Picture Book Friday!

My mom is recovering from surgery, so I’m going to be very short and sweet today because I’m short on time. Just remember, my brevity is out of necessity, not because I don’t love you 🙂

I absolutely love today’s book, hot of the presses from my friend Karen Orloff (whom you may know from I Wanna Iguana and other awesome titles!) Check it out!

robot

Title: Good Night, Little Robot

Written By: Karen Kaufman Orloff

Illustrated By: Kim Smith

Sterling Children’s Books, October 2017, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 3 and up

Themes/Topics: robots, bedtime, language fun (rhyme)

Opening: “Little Bot, it’s time for bed.
Let’s get ready, sleepyhead.
Put down the game.
Turn off TV.
It’s almost bedtime,
Can’t you see?
Don’t say ‘NO,’ and don’t protest.
Little robots need their rest.”

Brief Synopsis: It’s bedtime, and Little Bot doesn’t want to power down! But little robots need to sip warm oil, comb their circuits, brush their bolts, and count robot sheep just like all kids 🙂

Links To Resources: Robot Activities Kids Will Love; Scholastic’s Robot-Themed Activities

Why I Like This Book: Such a fun twist on robots and bedtime! All the little robot details are delightful (powering down, sipping warm oil, combing circuits, brushing bolts, etc..) The story is told in perfectly cadenced rhyme that is fun to read aloud. And the bold, bright art and cute robots are just right for the story! Cute and clever, delightful and fun, this is one that kids will demand again and again! 🙂

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Rufus Blasts Off

September 29, 2017September 29, 201727 Comments

Tra la! It’s Friday!

There are just some words that make you feel good, aren’t there? You know, like cupcake and cottage, raindrop and starlight, bakery and bookstore…and Friday! 🙂

I’ve got big plans for a fancy dinner – pizza with my favorite 4 and 6 year old – tiara NOT optional 🙂 – and a library visit for Big Truck Day. A pretty hard-to-beat weekend, if you ask me! 🙂 I could have gone to the Garlic Festival… but somehow garlic ice cream sounds less appealing to me than chocolate anything.

However, that reminds me that we did have a conversation at Book Club this week about all the local festivals which include the Garlic Festival, and of course the upcoming NYS Sheep and Wool Festival (where Iza Trapani, Nancy Furstinger, Nancy Shaw, and I will all be so I hope you’ll all come visit us and get signed books for Christmas presents 🙂 ), but did you know we also have a Pickle Festival and a UFO Festival? Seriously! I am not making that up!

Anyway, (watch how I pull this off! 🙂 ) speaking of UFOs, let’s have a look at today’s Perfect Picture Book which is about a pig in space: RUFUS BLASTS OFF! 🙂 (It took me years of practice, my friends, but it all paid off in the end. My tiara says “Segue Queen” on it 🙂 )

Rufus

Title: Rufus Blasts Off

Written By: Kim T. Griswell

Illustrated By: Valeri Gorbachev

Sterling Children’s Books, September 12 2017, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 3-5

Themes/Topics: pursuing your dreams, space, perseverance, love of reading

Opening: “Rufus Leroy Williams III had a pirate’s chest filled with books.
He loved every one.
And he read each book again anf again…and again.
One day, Captain Wibblyshins wanted a new story.
‘Arrrh!” said Rufus’s pirate mates. “A new story!’”

Brief Synopsis: In this third adventure of Rufus the pig, he has already been to school and sailed the seven seas with pirates. Now, fascinated by Mars, he wants to go to space! But Commander Luna says, “No pigs in space!” What’s a pig to do? He’ll just have to show up over and over, ready for blast off, until Commander Luna finally realizes he has the right stuff!

Links To Resources: make constellations out of pretzel sticks and mini marshmallows; Pie Plate Solar System Game; Glow-In-The-Dark Star Mobile; Moon Dust Writing Tray (for practicing letters)

text copyright Kim T. Griswell 2017, illustration copyright Valeri Gorbachev 2017

Why I Like This Book: It’s hard not to love a pig on a pirate ship. Especially one who is so devoted to his story-loving pirate audience that he’s ready to blast off into space just to get them a new story (and if he gets to explore Mars while he’s at it, so much the better!) Rufus is a delightfully determined little soul, never daunted by the repeated refusals of Commander Luna to join the crew. He just keeps coming back…and coming back…and coming back until she realizes that they really can’t go to Mars without him (though I won’t tell you why – you’ll have to read and find out 🙂 ) Rufus is charming, and the art makes him so cute that he’s irresistible 🙂

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Maurice The Unbeastly

September 22, 2017September 21, 201720 Comments

Darlings!

Right now this very second while you are reading this, I am winging my way to the Lone Star State for the North Texas SCBWI Conference!

texas
Sing with me!
“The stars at night
are shining bright
deep in the heart of Texas!”

Okay. I confess that’s all I know. But I am very excited! I have only been to Texas once before and that was a drive-thru on a family cross-country trip when I was 12. My only memory of Texas is of being forced to eat Velveeta sandwiches on white bread whilst we drove. Yuck! Seriously, whose idea was THAT?! So I’m hoping it’s going to be a lot more fun this time… if I survive my presentation… which I have been nailbiting over for weeks already! If you hear a jackhammering sound, that’s just my teeth chattering with nerves! 🙂

ANYway.

I’m thrilled beyond measure to be sharing this fabulous book today, written by the very talented Amy Dixon. Such fun! I love it! I hope you love it 🙂

Maurice

Title: Maurice The Unbeastly

Written By: Amy Dixon

Illustrated By: Karl James Mountford

Sterling Children’s Books, September 2017, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 3-7

Themes/Topics: individuality, being true to yourself, monsters, humor

Opening: “Maurice was not like the other beasts. His voice was as sweet and refreshing as dandelion lemonade on a hot day.”

Brief Synopsis: Maurice the beast is a misfit, about as un-beastly as they come. His worried parents enroll him in the Abominable Academy For Brutish Beasts, hoping to help their son be more like he should. But Maurice is just different… and maybe that’s not a bad thing!

Links To Resources: make a collage of pictures that represents who you are; make a list of at least 5 words that describe you; draw a picture of yourself doing something you love to do; write a poem about someone who makes you feel valued; draw a picture of the animal you feel is most like you and make a list of at least 5 words that explain why you are like that animal (e.g. brave, pretty, strong, fast, etc..)

Why I Like This Book: Maurice is delightful! He is so gloriously and humorously un-beastly, with his melodious voice like “dandelion lemonade on a hot day”, his love for organic kale, and his smile which makes him “ridiculously photogenic”. And when it comes to “messy meat eating” he asks for “the vegetarian option” 🙂 You’ve got to love a character who is so much himself in spite of how different he is from his peers. And this is a message so many kids can benefit from, because we should all be true to ourselves. The art is perfect for the story in shades of muted rust, green, and black with touches of red and white, and includes fun details like the Academy sign with the slogan “Hear us roar. Hit the floor. We’re the mighty carnivore!”, and Maurice pictured with birds and flowers. A humorous, entertaining but also sweet read!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

And please wish me luck in Texas!!!!!!!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Daddy Depot

September 15, 2017September 15, 201710 Comments

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!

In my typical yes-sure-I-was-totally-organized-ahead-of-time! fashion 🙂 I am writing this post on an airplane on my way home from California. We are somewhere over Utah experiencing the kind of turbulence that makes people gasp and clutch their arm rests, and I’m busily typing away hoping the internet actually works and this post will post! Who can tell? I guess if you’re reading this it worked!

First things first!

The lucky winner of Penny Klostermann’s fabulous new picture book, A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale, from last week’s giveaway is ANGELA VERGES!!! Congratulations, Angela! I will put you and Penny in touch! And thank you, Penny, for offering the giveaway!

Now then! I have a terrifically fun yet sweet book to share with you today about the special relationship between dads and kids – in this case, specifically, a daughter. I think it’s a book you’ll want to share with your little ones 🙂

Daddy Depot

Title: Daddy Depot

Written By: Chana Stiefel

Illustrated By: Andy Snair

Feiwel and Friends, May 2017, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 2-5 (according to publisher info, but I think 3-7 works)

Themes/Topics: family relationships, appreciation, love

Opening: “Lizzie loved her dad, but he was always watching football.
‘Dad! Check out my new ballet twirls.’
‘You’re a star, Lizzie… TOUCHDOWN!'”

Brief Synopsis: (from the Amazon description) “Lizzie loves her dad, but he tells the same old jokes, falls asleep during story time, and gets distracted by football while Lizzie does her ballet twirls. When she sees an ad for a store called Daddy Depot, she decides to check it out―and finds dads of all kinds!”

Links To Resources: draw a picture of yourself and your dad; cut a piece of paper into the shape of something your dad loves (a football, a motorcycle, YOU 🙂 ) and write a note to him telling him what you love about him; things for dads and kids to do together; invent your own “perfect dad” – draw him on paper, or use felt or cut foam, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, glitter, cotton balls, whatever! – maybe he’s different from your actual dad… or maybe he’s just the same 🙂

Why I Like This Book: I’m guessing pretty much every kid has wished for a different mom or dad at some point along the way! It’s a very grass-is-always-greener kind of feeling 🙂 The idea of a megastore that sells dads is such a fun concept! So many possibilities! Rocker Dad, Astro Dad, Chef Dad… Surely there’s someone out there who will make a better dad for Lizzie then her football-obsessed, boring-joke-teller, often embarrassing dad! But though they all look good at first, in the end none of those dads are for Lizzie. The story is a humorous and sweet reminder that sometimes what we have is just right 🙂 The art is bright and cheerful – I love that Dad makes pancakes while wearing a monkey hat 🙂 – and suits the story nicely.

Text copyright Chana Stiefel 2017, Illustration copyright Andy Snair 2017

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale PLUS A Giveaway!!!

September 8, 2017September 8, 201747 Comments

HELLO EVERYBODY!!!

I hope you have all had wonderful, relaxing, enjoyable, sun-soaked, family-filled, back porch cookout, hammock-lounging, s’more-making, firefly-chasing, star-gazing, memorable, happy summers!

I know the return of Perfect Picture Books means summer is over, but isn’t it wonderful to see each other again?! I have missed you all!

We have so much to look forward to this fall! Would You Read It will be back next week. We have finishing prizes for the blog tours. There will be episodes of Oh Susanna (if anyone sends in questions!) and Short & Sweets. The annual writing contests are just around the corner. Wow!

But Rome wasn’t built in a day! 🙂

So for now, let’s just do Perfect Picture Books!

I know many of you continued PPBF throughout the summer, so anyone who would like to add their summer titles with post-specific links to this week or next week’s PPBF list is MOST welcome to! It would be great to have them ALL on the master list!

But now, without further ado, I am absolutely thrilled to present today’s Perfect Picture Book, brand new from my talented friend, Penny!

Cooked-Up Fairy Tale

Title: A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale

Written By: Penny Parker Klostermann

Illustrated By: Ben Mantle

Random House Books For Young Readers, September 5, 2017, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 3-7

Themes/Topics: fractured fairy tale, perseverance, humor, cooking

Opening: “Although William lived in the magical land of fairy tales, he preferred pastries to princesses, kitchens to kingdoms, and recipes to the Royal Reporter.”

Brief Synopsis: William struggles to fit into the magical land of fairy tales, more interested in cooking up fabulous dishes than fantastical stories. Will he find his happily ever after?

Links To Resources: invent, cook & serve your own magical fairy tale recipes using fairy tale ingredients (Snow White’s apple, Cinderella’s pumpkin, the Three Bears’ porridge, etc.); set up a fairy tale restaurant (like The Brick House and The Three Bears Bistro in the story) with a colorful sign and beautifully set tables and serve your customers; write articles about fairy tale characters or interview famous fairy tale characters or create recipes for the Royal Reporter; read this book with other fractured fairy tales like Little Red Writing by Joan Holub, Hensel And Gretel Ninja Chicks by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca Gomez, and The True Story of The Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and discuss the different ways the authors fractured the tales; write your own fractured fairy tale!

Why I Like This Book: This story is creative and entertaining, full of fun language and delightful details. While most fractured fairy tales are a new twist on one familiar tale, this story plays cleverly with a whole bunch, including The Three Bears, Snow White, Cinderella, The Gingerbread Man, Jack and The Beanstalk and others, tying them all together with a boy who loves to cook and create recipes. Young readers will relate to William who means well and whose heart is in the right place, but who still manages to do the wrong thing! Haven’t we all been there?! 🙂 The art is colorful, engaging, full of fun details and a perfect complement to the story. All around a delicious treat of a read…(spoiler alert :)) topped off with a happily ever after!!!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

AND!!! This just in!!! The lovely Penny is offering a giveaway of a copy of A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale! Leave a comment below by Sunday September 10 at 5 PM Eastern and you will be entered in the totally random raffle for the book!!! 🙂

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

(I’m out of practice with this, so here’s hoping I didn’t mess it up!!!)

Have a wonderful wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂 So glad to be able to say, “See you all next week!” 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Summer Nick Taught His Cats To Read

June 16, 2017June 15, 201715 Comments

Look at this, dearies!

Summer has arrived! I know this because the mountain laurel is out.

So it’s time for a Perfect Picture Book hiatus.

I always feel a little sad to put PPBF on hold for the summer 😦 But summer is a busy time for all of us – hard to keep up with reading and writing blog posts – and I always have grand ambitions of getting lots of other stuff done…

Just because I haven’t managed before doesn’t mean it can’t happen this year! 🙂

We will still be here for Would You Read It Wednesdays, Oh Susanna on the first Monday of the month and Short & Sweets on the third Monday of the month, and there are going to be a couple of VERY exciting blog tours coming up (starring your friends and mine, LION, ELEPHANT, and TRUCKS) as my three new books step out into the world.

So don’t worry!

There will still be plenty of fun (and chocolate!) around here! 🙂

And as we head into summer, I have the perfect Perfect Picture Book to share with you!

Nick Cats

Title: The Summer Nick Taught His Cats To Read

Written By: Curtis Manley

Illustrated By: Kate Berube

A Paula Wiseman Book (Simon & Schuster), July 2016, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: reading, perseverance, creativity, imagination

Opening: “Nick had two cats, Verne and Stevenson.
They spent summers doing everything together.
But when Nick sat down with a book, the cats had their own ideas.”

text copyright Curtis Manley 2016, illustration copyright Kate Berube 2016

Brief Synopsis: Nick loves to read. His cats do not. Every time Nick opens a book, Verne sprawls across the pages and Stevenson sits on a stack of books scowling and cleaning his paw. So naturally, Nick decides to share his love of reading with them by teaching them how. Verne is amenable and learns quickly. Stevenson shows all the behaviors of a reluctant reader…until Nick finds just the right way to pique his interest.

Links To Resources: read as many books as you can this summer! Keep a list to show your progress! Put a star or a sticker beside your favorite titles. Swap one of your favorite books with one of a friend’s favorites and see if you like the same kind of books or if your friend’s tastes introduce you to something new! Make your own book club. Give it a name! Choose a time and a place and a snack for meetings 🙂 Talk about the books your read with your friends. Enjoy reading!

Why I Like This Book: Curtis is a likable boy with a genuine and infectious love of reading as well as obvious love for his two cats. I love the silliness of the concept of teaching cats to read…and the fact that they learn 🙂 Verne is an easy-going amenable type who learns quickly and embraces reading as Nick does. Stevenson, however, is a challenge – one that any reluctant reader will identify with. But it turns out that Stevenson is an artist! Nick turns Stevenson’s art into a story about Stevenson…and suddenly reading seems a little more interesting… 🙂 The story is imaginative and fun. The art is cozy and warm. This is a delightful book that budding readers, writers, artists…and cat lovers :)…will love.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

See you on Monday for Short & Sweets (assuming, of course, that I can think up something fun for you…! 🙂 )

Oh! And Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Lost In The Woods

June 2, 2017June 2, 201712 Comments

Happy June, Everybody!

It seems we’ve had rain forever. It’s so bad that the farmers can’t get enough rain-free days in a row to cut the hay, and it’s now well past time for first cutting. Wednesday evening we had a violent thunderstorm with tornado warnings and hail that turned my porch garden into a cuisinart special.

But yesterday morning, as if to welcome June, we had a gorgeous clear sunny morning – the kind that makes you glad you’re alive to be out in it.

My daughter and I went for a walk. We saw Mama and Papa Goose out on the pond with their 6-gosling flotilla (I tried to get you a video but they were too far away!) And upon our return to the driveway we found a tiny fawn – not quite newborn, but pretty close, maybe a couple weeks old. The fawn and our two dogs came face to face. They were all the same size, looking at each other, and for a moment no one knew what to do! Then I called the dogs off (they did not listen!), and the fawn bleated for his mama who was quite nearby and came running, and I panicked lest the dogs hurt the fawn or the mama deer hurt the dogs! and there was a bit of chaos! But in the end I got the dogs in the house and the fawn and her mama scampered safely off into the green woods.

So after that, there was no doubt about what Perfect Picture Book I would share today!

I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do!

Lost In The Woods: A Photographic Fantasy

Written By & Photographed By: Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick

Published By: Carl R. Sams II Photography, June, 2004, Reality Based Fiction

Suitable For: ages 5 and up

Themes/Topics: Animals, Patience, Seasons (Spring), Trust

Opening: “The Spring frogs sing-singing with a thousand trilling voices were silenced by the rising sun. New life came into the woods before the sun touched the tops of the trees. He slept quietly in the tall grass on the north edge of the meadow where the trees start the forest.”

Brief Synopsis: The woodland creatures are worried that a newborn fawn might be lost. “Mama said to wait right here,” the fawn whispers. “She will come back.” But the other animals aren’t convinced and offer their advice and help. Does the doe come back? What do you think? 🙂

Links To Resources: The book itself is a resource. Page after page of gorgeous photographs of woodland creatures will introduce children to animals and birds they may never have seen, especially if they live in the city. The very last page of the book challenges readers to look back through the pictures and see if they can find a number of hidden animals. Activity pages, Lesson Plan. If you’re lucky enough to live in a rural area, go for a “deer drive” in the evening, cruising slowly along back roads, and see how many different animals and birds you can spot 🙂

Why I Like This Book: I love this story! It’s simple and sweet. On the first page where the fawn appears, he is a tangle of fragile limbs. His spotted fur helps him blend into the forest floor. By the last page, he has mastered those rascally legs and can be seen bounding through the meadow grass with such joy you can’t help but smile at his airs above the ground. But the best part is the photography. It’s breathtaking. Absolutely stunning! The fawn’s fur looks like you could reach out and touch it. You can see his eyelashes! And there are so many other animals pictured – chipmunk, goslings, a tree frog whose camouflage is amazing!, cardinal, red-winged blackbird, raccoon, and many others. I know I’m an animal lover (and therefore biased :)) but I think this book is exquisitely beautiful and one that anyone would enjoy!

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂 I hope to see lots of you at the NJSCBWI Conference!!! And please tune in Monday for the next installment of Oh Susanna!

Also, just a heads up that we will have 2 more weeks of Perfect Picture Books – Friday June 9 and Friday June 16 – and then go on hiatus for the summer!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Tuesday Tucks Me In

May 26, 2017May 26, 201714 Comments

Good Morning, Everyone!

It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday…and it’s the front end of a long weekend (at least here in the US)… and it’s the psychological beginning of summer (which technically goes from June 21 – September 21, but really seems to be more measured by Memorial Day to Labor Day! 🙂 ) So that’s a pretty extra-special good Friday, wouldn’t you say? 🙂

Since it’s Memorial Day weekend, my choice for today is on a more serious topic, but the book is well written – on a level that kids can understand and appreciate without it being scary/upsetting in any way – and I hope you’ll enjoy it and find it a useful addition to your libraries.

Title: Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond Between A Soldier And His Service Dog

Written By: Luis Carlos Montalvan & Bret Witter

Photographs By: Dan Dion

Roaring Brook Press, May 2014, Nonfiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: service/therapy animals, military life, photographic book, love, nonfiction

Opening: “In the morning, every morning, my friend Luis wakes up to . . . this.”

Brief Synopsis: After tours in Iraq left him wounded and distressed, Captain Luis Montalvan returned home to a life he was no longer comfortable living. He reached a point where he was afraid to leave his apartment. But a service dog named Tuesday changed everything for him. Tuesday helps Luis with daily tasks, and he calms and comforts Luis by always being there for him. Tuesday has made it possible for Luis to live a rewarding life.

Links To Resources: Facts About Service Dogs for Kids; Wayside Elementary Schools Special Needs Awareness Program (SNAP) (video); discuss how animals make you feel and what they do for you; discuss whether you have veterans in your family, or members of your family currently serving in the armed forces – how does that make you feel?

Why I Like This Book: Every day, men and women risk their lives overseas for our freedom and way of life. When they return home, it is often difficult to readjust, and to carry on with a life so at odds with what they’ve seen and survived. This book gives kids a glimpse of the difficulties a soldier might face upon coming home at an appropriate and accessible level. It also shows how the love and care of a therapy animal has the power to change a life. It’s written from the point of view of the dog, which makes it friendly and non-threatening. For kids who have a relative or family friend who is a veteran, this book could be very helpful in understanding what they might be going through and in opening a discussion. For any child, this book can encourage empathy and understanding.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

Perfect Picture Book Friday – My Name Is Not Isabella

May 19, 2017May 18, 201715 Comments

Let’s see.

Yesterday (according to my reckoning) was Thursday…

Tomorrow is Saturday (I’m pretty certain this is true, because I’m going to be at the Millbrook Literary Festival along with Iza Trapani, Karen Orloff, Nancy Furstinger, and lots of other wonderful authors, illustrators and friends – you should come join us if you’re in the neighborhood! – we’d love to see you!)…

But wait a second… Where was I?

Oh yeah. Yesterday Thursday, tomorrow Saturday, calendar currently saying “FRI”… all of which signs lead me to believe that today is indeed Friday! Perfect Picture Book Friday!

I love Friday, don’t you? 🙂

So here’s my Perfect Picture Book for the day and then it’s officially the weekend and you should feel free to lie in the hammock with a good book and an iced tea and a large plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies while the kids and the dogs run amok and unsupervised because that’s what weekends are for 🙂 (Alternatively, if it’s as unseasonably warm at your house as it is on Blueberry Hill – 92 degrees on May 17 and 18 I kid you not! – feel free to turn on the sprinkler and run amok through it along with the kids and the dogs 🙂 )

Isabella

Title: My Name Is Not Isabella

Written By: Jennifer Fosberry

Illustrated By: Mike Litwin

SourceBooks Jabberwocky, September 2010, fiction

Suitable For Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: careers, imagination, dreams, self-identity, girl power

Opening: “‘Good Morning, Isabella,’ the mother said. ‘It’s time to get up and out of bed.’
‘My name is not Isabella!‘ said the little girl.
‘Then who has been sleeping in my daughter’s bed?’ asked the mother.”

Brief Synopsis: A little girl goes through her day imagining herself as women she admires for different reasons – an astronaut, an activist, a doctor, etc. – and decides by the end that she is herself but possesses some of the qualities of all these women she looks up to.

Links To Resources: the back matter of the book is an excellent resource with information about all the accomplished women Isabella admires as well as definitions of all their careers; discuss what YOU want to be when YOU grow up!; draw a picture of yourself as the person you imagine becoming; write a poem or a story about yourself as the person you imagine being.

Why I Like This Book: I’m very fond of this book because of its strong girl power theme, the women it celebrates, and the encouragement it gives girls to dream big. I also like it because, years before it was published, I wrote a similar kind of book, though mine was more imaginative and not focused on famous women 🙂 Still, I like to think great minds think alike 🙂 This book is a great introduction for kids to a number of very accomplished women, and the art brings their fields of endeavor visually to life in a very appealing way. A great read to foster a discussion of “what I want to be when I grow up”! 🙂

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 🙂

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

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! 🙂

Susanna Leonard Hill

Children's Author

Tag: picture book

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Old MacDonald Had A… Zoo?

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Good Night, Little Bot

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Rufus Blasts Off

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Maurice The Unbeastly

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Daddy Depot

Perfect Picture Book Friday – A Cooked-Up Fairy Tale PLUS A Giveaway!!!

Perfect Picture Book Friday – The Summer Nick Taught His Cats To Read

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Lost In The Woods

Perfect Picture Book Friday – Tuesday Tucks Me In

Perfect Picture Book Friday – My Name Is Not Isabella