by Stacy
Here’s my selection for Perfect Picture Book Friday:
Memoirs of a Goldfish
Written By Devin Scillian
Illustrated by Tim Bowers
Sleeping Bear Press, 2010
Suitable for: ages 4-7
Theme/Topic: Feelings, Home, Friendship
Opening Spread: Day One. I swam around my bowl.
Brief Synopsis: From Barnes and Noble —
With his bowl to himself, Goldfish loves his life…until one day…
A personal account from a goldfish on life in his bowl as other intruders crowd him.
Resources: Teaching Guide. Write a memoir about yourself over 14 days. Write about what you do and how you feel.
Why I Like This Book: I checked the lists and hope I’m not a repeat. I discovered this book recently thanks to Flowering Minds. I’m not sure how I’ve missed it over the years. More proof that there are so many great books to discover. I love the format of using the days to tell the Goldfish’s story. There are lots of emotions and friends packed into this book and this bowl.
For more PPBF books, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Blog.
by Stacy
Here’s my selection for Perfect Picture Book Friday:
Friendshape
Written By Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrated By Tom Lichtenheld
Scholastic Press, 2015
Suitable for: ages 3 to 5
Theme/Topic: Friendship, concept: shapes
Opening Spread: The opening spread is the title page which introduces you quickly to the shapes.
First spread: What’s so great about having Friends?
[Triangle] We’re glad you asked!
[Rectangle] See, the great thing about friends is …
[Circle] Everything!
Brief synopsis: Friends shape who we are.
Resources: Cut out your own version of rectangle, circle, square, and triangle. A family can act out the story with the shapes featured in the book. Study the story and create images using your shapes. Use the story to discuss your favorite friendship qualities (and maybe the areas you need to work on in your day).
Why I Like This Book: Friendshape shapes (couldn’t resist) a sweet, simple message about friendships. The shapes carry the story from the jacket flap cover to The End. I also love that the endpapers are the four colors of the shapes.
For more PPBF books, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Blog.
I’ll include these links of recent blog posts at other sites … you know in case you want to read another blog post.
Contest Win Left Me Feeling a Little Deflated
Quilling in Style with Stacy S. Jensen
by Stacy
Here’s my Perfect Picture Book Friday choice:
Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great
Written and Illustrated by Bob Shea
Disney Hyperion Books, 2013
Suitable for: ages preschool-up
Themes: Friendship, Jealousy, Diversity
Opening Lines: Things are a lot different around here since that Unicorn moved in. I thought I was pretty cool when I rode my bike to school. (Oh you need to turn the page to see what Unicorn is up to! Mean I know for not telling .. I love how a little color is sprinkled into the text for Goat and Unicorn!)
Synopsis (from the book summary): Envy turns to admiration and finally friendship for Goat and Unicorn.
Link to Resources: This book is not message-y at all, but it’s a great one to use to discuss how each person has her own unique personality traits. The story opens up conversations about how you may think you know how a person feels, but their life may not be what it seems. Here’s a lesson on Being Friends.
Here’s a book trailer:
http://youtu.be/WATQSmKQ2eU
Why I Like This Book: I found Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great on a preschool reading list. We’ve read the book multiple times (and likely kept it longer than suitable from the library). It’s a fun performance book and has a few jokes (just my style) that Bob Shea can get away with! I also love the use of “pretty” in the title.
Find more PPBF at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
by Stacy
It’s Friday, so here’s my choice for Perfect Picture Book Fridays:
Smitten: A lint-free love story
Written and Illustrated by David Gordon
Based on an original concept by Susan Siegel
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007
Fiction
Suitable for ages: 2 and up
Themes/Topics: Love, Friendship
Opening Line:
One cold afternoon, a mitten sat atop a fence post.
“Sir!” Mitten called out.
A man bustled by with a basket overflowing with laundry.
Synopsis from Amazon: Sock and Mitten are both lost singles in a city full of pairs. Mitten is a left without her right. Sock is neither left nor right, but he knows how she feels. They set off on an adventure to find their other halves. But what they find instead is something much, much better: each other.
Link to resources: Match socks and mittens from the laundry. Any matching game would also work. Here’s a matching printable from the Happy and Blessed Home. Mitten also talks about being a left, so any left or right activities will go with this book.
Why I like this book: I found this book in the 12 x 12 Facebook group. Writers often ask for comparable titles or books on specific topics. Smitten was mentioned. My library didn’t have it, so I searched Amazon. I rescued this book for a penny (well, you know $3.99 shipping too). We read this and I’ve been delighted by his enthusiasm for this pair. There’s adventure and a whole lot of friendship in this book.
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday selections, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
I also need three volunteers to join me in this PiBoIdMo Blog Hop. I was late in posting this, so if you want to answer four questions let me know and I’ll tag you in the post.
