by Stacy
Surprise.
No time like the present to begin posting again! We’ve read a lot of great picture books in recent months.
I know the Perfect Picture Book Friday list is on hiatus for the summer, but wanted to share this book now.
This week’s selection is a book from Rocky Mountain Chapter (Colorado) SCBWI member MaryAnn Sundby. The book releases on September 27 and is from Ripple Grove Press. The book was recently mentioned by Elizabeth Bird’s blog in a post titled — Some of the Best Picture Books of 2016 Thus Far (Mid-Year Summary).
Title: Monday is Wash Day
Author: MaryAnn Sundby
Illustrator: Tessa Blackham
Ripple Grove Press, 2016
Themes/Topics: Chores, Family
Opening: Rain or shine, Monday is wash day.
Brief Synopsis: (from Amazon):
In this timeless story from a time not so long ago, Annie and her sister help Mama with washing the clothes on Monday morning. From gathering and sorting the clothes, to washing and hanging them outside to dry, to folding and putting them away, the family works together to get the job done.
“First we work and then we play.” Mama smiles but walks with purpose to the porch.
Tessa Blackham’s warm, hand-painted cut-paper collages bring the reader to a time in the Midwest when doing the laundry was an all-day family chore.
Links to Resources: Talk to your children about chores. You can create a chore chart. Here’s a custom printable one or visit Pinterest for Creative Chore Charts galore. There are several articles online about how historically there was a strict order to the household schedules like Monday was Washday.
Why I Like this Book: The story is nostalgic. At my age, I still recall my grandmother’s outhouse before indoor plumbing was installed. I’ve never participated in a wash day and neither has my son, but this book gives a glimpse into that world. We have dryers and our neighborhood doesn’t even allow permanent clothes lines. This book is a window to a different world. I’ve met the author MaryAnn Sundby at several SCBWI events and she is delightful and kind.
GIVEAWAY
Share in the comments a memory of your favorite chore or maybe a not so favorite chore. I will put your name in a drawing to win a copy of Monday is Wash Day. Names will be put in a hat and drawn on Sept. 2. The book can only be mailed to a U.S. address.
So, comment below for a chance to win your own copy of the book.
For more PPBF books, check out the list over at the incredible Susanna Hill’s website.
by Stacy
Here’s my selection for Perfect Picture Book Friday:
Baby’s Got The Blues
Author Carol Diggory Shields
Illustrator Lauren Tobia
Candlewick, 2014
Fiction
Suitable for ages: 3 to 7
Theme/Topic: Babies, Family, Siblings
Opening Spread: You think babies have it easy?
Brief Synopsis: (From Candlewick’s website)Oh, baby, wouldn’t it be grand to be a baby? No worries, no woes, the whole world doing everything for you. Like floating down easy street. . . . But wait one guitar-pickin’ minute. That’s a lie! Babies can’t talk, can’t walk, can’t even really chew. It’s enough to make the baby in this story blue, blue, blue. So get ready for a sad tale of soggy diapers, mushy meals, and sleepin’ behind bars that may make you cry, too — but more likely will make you giggle! Jamming with illustrator Lauren Tobia, Carol Diggory Shields gives a tip of the fedora to B.B. King in an ode to babyhood that’ll have readers feeling anything but blue.
Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of an infant is really like? In this bluesy story, sometimes being a baby is enough to make you cry.
Resources: There are plenty of resources about new siblings. But, this is really about the life of the baby. If you have a child dealing with the new baby blues, you could use the book as a talking point to show how their life might just be better than a baby. This book would be great paired with books like Not Yet, Rose by Susanna Leonard Hill or The Baby Tree by Sophie Blackall.
Why I Like This: I love this twist on a baby book. From this baby’s perspective, LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS GRAND. I mean check this out:
I laugh every time we read this one.
For more PPBF books, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Blog.
by Stacy
I’m as ready for Halloweensie, as I will be this year.
My entry is ready to publish here on Monday, Oct. 27.
If you haven’t read the rules, check them out on Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
You must use the words creak (or some version of it), broomstick and pumpkin in a 100 words or less. She even lets you count candy corn as one word. See, it’s a very generous contest.
I wrote a couple six-word versions among all my false starts and attempts to write a story.
Pumpkin rolled on a creaky broomstick.
{Someone kindly suggested rode instead of rolled.}
Pumpkin rode on a creaky broomstick.
{See one word makes a huge difference.}
Another one:
For sale: creaky pumpkin, rotten broomstick.
{That’s my ode to standard in six-word stories or novel attributed to Ernest Hemingway: For sale, baby shoes never worn.}
My Halloweensie story will post on autopilot this year, because I’m off for a few days.
My nephew Tucker and his dear Katie are getting married Saturday.
Since they chose a Florida location for the wedding, well, why not go see our friends Mickey Mouse and friends. We’ll be in a magical place — being with family — for several days.
My real Halloweensie story is more than six words and more child friendly.
I’m also super excited about November fast approaching, so I can participate in Picture Book Idea Month or PiBoIdMO. Tara Lazar provides lots of inspiration as thousands of picture book ideas are written down in notebooks, on smartphones and on napkins all over the world.
Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday too. While I have dozens of books to add, I’ll save those for when I can properly visit my fellow PPBF bloggers. Enjoy this Friday and check out the PPBF list for great picture books.
