Today, I’ve chosen Bless This House for Perfect Picture Book Fridays.
Bless This House
Written and Illustrated by Leslie Staub
Harcourt, Inc., 2000
Suitable: Ages 2 to 4
Theme/Topic: Prayer, Environment, Rhyme
Opening: Bless this house and bless this room.
Bless the big bright blue-white moon.
Brief Synopsis: Part of the editorial review on Amazon from the American Library Association says, “With simple chant and bright oil paintings, a bedtime ecological prayer connects a child in his room with all the animal life on the planet… .”
Link to Resources: I think an easy one to do day or night is to look out your child’s window and talk about the environment outside. Even in a planned subdivision, there are sometimes unexpected animals like coyotes and deer roaming the paved streets.
Baby Center has a Bless this House poem/prayer to say with your children.
The PBS Kids Lab has a Build Me a House activity.
The site eslflow.com has some environmental lesson plans. I found an endangered species vocabulary & speaking worksheet with pictures.
Why I chose this book: I found this book at a library book sale, because it had a torn page or two. With a little tape, I fixed it up.
The simple language is good for any age as the illustrations add so much to the story. The opening line reminds me of Goodnight Moon a bit. The story takes its reader outside of his own world at his house and takes him into a world filled with wonderful creatures “even the bugs.”
I hope you are able to find a copy at your library. I noticed Amazon had a few used copies including a “bargain price” for a new hardcover at $5,555.51. Used copies were much cheaper.
To find more picture books and resources, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’sblog and look for the Perfect Picture Books page.
This book sounds utterly lovely. Thank you for introducing us to it.
Beth, It is lovely. While not readily available new, I thought it worth sharing.
I agree with Beth, what a lovely book. Thanks Stacy.
Thanks Catherine.
Yet another good one. Though I’m not sure it’s worth the heavy price tag! 🙂 I shared to Twitter and my Fb.
Karen, It’s a sweet book and you are very kind to share the post. Thank you.
Well, at that bargain price I’ll be snatching it up 🙂 This book sounds lovely, Stacy. I thought of Goodnight Moon right away from the opening sentence too. It sounds like a perfect bedtime read, but also great for learning about the environment. Thanks so much for sharing!
Susanna, There is also a very clever line about blessing one’s parents “even when they make us mad.”
I’m going look out for this one. I like the sweet rhyming books and so do my two little girls. Thanks for sharing Stacy!
Jennifer, I hope you can find it.
I’ve never heard of this one before, but it sounds great. We’re always on the lookout for new picture books in my family!
Emily, we are too.
You picked a great book today! (You always do though) But, oh my Stacy! $5000.! Hubby would not like that. Ha! I’ll try to find it at the library or a used copy. Here’s hoping. The rhyme sounds so lovely and easy to read. Thanks girlfriend! You are the best! Mwah! xoxo
Robyn, Yep. I doubt anyone’s hubby would like that price. It was comical to see it.
I like the idea of an environmental picture book that is aimed at really young children! Great prick, Stacy!
Joanna, This is one that totally fascinates Enzo.
Beautiful cover — it grabbed me along with the theme. Nice to start teaching kids these concepts young and how they are connected to life. Really enjoy your choice!
Pat, It has very nice illustrations — easy on the eyes and the ears.
I found your blog listed on the A to Z Challenge. I’m trying to start visiting everyone early since there are a ton of blogs! I’m your newest follower. *smile*
Giggle, Laugh, Cry
Kerrie, So nice of you to stop by. I’ve been working on my posts. Perhaps, if I finish early I do some early stalking. I’m glad I already follow a number of blogs. I’m off to check yours out.
Leslie Staub is a familiar name. Hmm… I’ll have to Google her.
Thanks for the book recommendation! We’re headed to the library this afternoon. I’m going to see if this is available to check out.
She has several books, but I was surprised at how little I could find about her online.
Hi Stacy,
I think we have this book somewhere hidden in my son’s piles of books. The cover looks very familiar.
BTW…when you have the chance, post your email in my blog comments or email me at hatfield98us(at)yahoo(dot)com, and I will send you the Smashwords coupon. Thanks for sharing!
Susan I sent you an email. I hope you have the book. Who knows you could have that $5k one?
I had the same thought–that it reminded me of Goodnight Moon. One of my favorite books.
~Debbie
Debbie, It’s very similar, but the illustrations are more vibrant and fun than Goodnight Moon.
The cover art is lovely and I really like the sound of this book. I’ll try to find it at the library since Amazon is a little out of my budget.
Heather, My fingers are crossed you’ll find one at the library. There are used ones for much, much less at Amazon.
I don’t think I’ll ask my parents to buy the hard cover…I am going to check if our library has this book. I like books that talk about helping the environment. Thanks for telling us about it!
Erik, Good call not to ask the parents for this one. I enjoy books that talk about helping the environment too. I’ve found several through PPBF.
This sounds like a great book. That cover is wonderful. Thanks for sharing about this book.
Susanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER
The art is great throughout the book.
I love lyrical books like this one, and the art looks beautiful! Thanks, Stacy!
An “ecological prayer” book! How cool is that? I think it’s so important to get our kids thinking about the environment at a young age. Thanks for sharing!
Barbara
Grade ONEderful
This is a wonderful book on so many levels, Stacy! I’m convinced that reading aloud to children is critical to their later development of writing skills, because they have learned what good writing sounds like long before they can read on their own.
I like the sound of this one and the cover looks beautiful.
This sounds like a perfect book to read for Earth Day. I’ll have to check the library for this one! Thanks for sharing!