If Waffles Were Like Boys

If Waffles Were Like Boys

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Here’s my selection for Perfect Picture Book Friday:

If Waffles Were Like Boys
Written by Charise Mericle Harper
Illustrated by Scott Magoon
Balzer+Bray, 2011
Suitable for: ages 4-8
Theme/Topic: Comparison, Adventure


Opening Spread: If waffles were like boys … [page turn]
breakfast would be a BATTLEFIELD!


Brief Synopsis: From Amazon.com description—
What if everything were just like boys?


If shopping carts were like boys . . . grocery stores would be racetracks!
If pillows were like boys . . . bedrooms would besuperhero hideouts!
Perfect for bedtime, this funny and tender celebration of boyhood will have everyone seeing their world in a whole new way.


Resources: Create your own story with different objects. Use the construction like in Charise’s story: If ____ were like boys/girls … _____(what would happen). It’s sort of an if … then construction. For example… If zombies were like boys … brains would be fast food. (Or something silly like that.) Several books with a similar format include:  Miranda Paul’s book Water is Water (we discuss this a lot on foggy or wet days), Jim Averbeck’s Except If, and Sean Taylor’s When a Monster is Born (which offers two possibilities for every scenario). Lots of possibilities to compare and contrast with this book. You can also discuss whether you agree with the ending of each line or not?


Why I Like This Book: We found this book while researching a publisher. The side benefit is that Enzo and I had a fun time exploring the different scenarios in the book. “If shopping carts were like boys …  grocery stores would be RACETRACKS!” The story obviously generalizes some boy behaviors. And, many of them fit into my boy’s mindset, so he liked the book.  Since we read this book, we’ve added several more of Charise’s books on our library list. She has a really cool FAQ – kid focused – on her website.


For more PPBF books, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Blog.



 

Halloweensie: Behind You!

Halloweensie: Behind You!

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Here’s my 2014 entry into Susanna Leonard Hill’s annual Halloweensie contest.
The entries must be 100 words or less and contain the words pumpkin, broomstick and creak (some version of creak). Rules can be found here, if you are interested.
 

Behind You!

By Stacy S. Jensen

Milo scratched under his pumpkin costume.

An itchy breath tickled his neck.

The step creaked at his neighbor’s door.

“Trick or Treat!” he yelled, but the neighbor stuttered, “B-behind you!”

Milo saw a monster-sized Tag.

The monster chased him as he ran home.

Milo wiggled out of his costume.

He hit the monster with a broomstick.

He tried to rip the monster off with his teeth.

His bare hands couldn’t tame the monster.

Nothing worked, until Milo found his special weapon — blue scissors.

With one snip, the monster Tag vanished.

Word tells me this is 90 words without the title.
Please visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog, because there will be dozens if not hundreds of fun and scary short stories for Halloween.