Holiday Contest

Hello out there!  I haven't been actively blogging due to other obligations, but I couldn't resist Susanna Hill's 2nd Annual Holiday Contest.

Here are the rules:

"Write a children's holiday story beginning with any version of "Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh."  You may use that actual opening, or you may change it to any similar version '[Verb of your choice]ing through the [any substance you choose] in a [conveyance of any kind].'"

So here goes, to the tune of Jingle Bells. Warning: Silly and stupid story follows. 

How the Grinch Spends Christmas

Dashing through the snow

In Santa’s stolen sleigh

Over Santa’s toe

Laughing all the way. MUA-HA-HA!

Flying snowballs sting

I’m not at all contrite

How fun it is to toss and fling

The gifts into the night.

Oh, bah humbug, Christmas, ugh!

Mischief saves the day

Trouble making – Reindeer MUSH!

In Santa’s stolen sleigh

Bah humbug, Christmas, ugh!

Mischief saves the day

Trouble making – Reindeer MUSH!

In Santa’s stolen sleigh

This morning when I woke

I thought, “The fun begins,”

I’ll lick the cookies clean

Return them to their tins

Pluck festive door wreathes bare

Chop down Christmas trees

Cram stockings -- not the kind you wear --

With coal lumps to the knees

Oh, bah humbug, Christmas, ugh!

Mischief saves the day

Shelf Elf shaking, snow globe breaking

Reindeer led astray

Bah humbug, Christmas, ugh!

Mischief saves the day

Snowman baking, present taking

In the mall Santa’s toupee.

Whooshing far and near

Dropping water bombs away

Then, Santa calls his deer

And rats! They do obey

He hums a little tune

Shakes his head so slight

Nails me with the last balloon

And flies into the night.

Oh, bah humbug, Christmas, ugh!

Santa made my day

I think I saw him gloating

As he rode his sleigh away

Bah humbug, Christmas, ugh!

Mean is in my genes

I can't wait for him to find

I fed his reindeer beans.

HA! HA! HA! Merry Christmas!

Phyllis Visits Silicon Valley

We were lucky to host Punxsutawney Phyllis from Susanna Hill's picture book, April Fools, Phyllis, on her cross country, cross-continent tour.  When she arrived, it was cloudy and 71 degrees.  She noticed it was a touch humid -- uncharacteristic for the San Francisco Bay Area.


Phyllis seemed homesick (she'd been on the road for months), so we tried to make her feel at home by doing things that groundhogs like to do.


First, we took her up high to our tree fort, where she could get situated.

Then, we did some digging in the garden.

Finally, we burrowed through a tunnel.

But we also wanted Phyllis to enjoy a true Silicon Valley experience.  So, when she was ready, we brought Phyllis to do some kid -- ahem -- groundhog testing at a Silicon Valley startup called Kiwi Crate, which sells monthly subscriptions of crafts for kids.

As you can see, Phyllis had an excellent time.


This morning, Phyllis flew out on the last leg of her trip -- to visit Robyn Campbell in North Carolina.  

We'll miss you Phyllis!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Huck Runs Amuck!

I could not resist posting on today's book, Huck Runs Amuck!  It is a fun read --  with a lovable, a very distinctive main character, and lots of unpredictability.
Title: Huck Runs Amuck!

Author: Sean Taylor
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011
Fiction or non-Fiction: Fiction
Audience age: 5 to 8
Theme: Humor, Animals, Helping Others, Determination, Fun, Language Fun, Making Choices

Opening pages: 

"Here's a mountain goat by the name of HUCK. 

Do you like his trendy beard?"

Synopsis: From Amazon, "Meet Huck. He loves flowers. FLOWERS, FLOWERS, FLOWERS. And he'll do whatever it takes to get a mouthful: climb the highest mountain, walk a tightrope, even defy speeding trains! It's true, he can't resist! But when his mad dash up a church spire is mistaken for a heroic attempt to save Mrs. Spooner's flowery hat (rather than a determined effort to eat it), Huck has a crisis of conscience. Can anything deter this goat from his gastronomical bliss?"

Resources:
I could not find any activities on the web specific to this book.  However, one possible activity could be based around the idea of making choices.  Huck's choice of eating Mrs. Spooner's flowery hat v. saving it could be a discussion point, with teachers asking children to provide reasons in support of either option.  Rhyming activities and rhyming worksheets may also be included into a lesson plan based around this book.

Why I like this book:

This book is fun to read aloud -- it is fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of the three R's -- rhythm, rhyme, and repetition.  The character of Huck, insane as he is about flowers, is hilarious and lovable.  The illustrations are whimsical and depict crazy Huck perfectly.

For more Picture Perfect Books please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Six-Dinner Sid

I swear I am not a cat lover, but here I am again blogging about a cat book.

Title: Six-Dinner Sid

Author/Illustrator: Inga Moore
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1993
Fiction or non-Fiction: Fiction
Audience age: 4 and up
Theme: Honesty, Math, Animals

Opening pages: 

"Sid lived at number one Aristotle Street..

He also lived at number two, number three, number four, number five, and number six."

Synopsis: From School Library Journal, "Sid, a clever cat, has convinced six people on Aristotle Street that each is his owner so that he gets fed six different dinners every night. When the neighbors catch on, Sid moves to a new neighborhood."

Resources:
There are many lesson plans and activities on the web, most having to do with counting and math but also writing because of the story's multiple themes.

Why I like this book:

This is a simple, easy-to-follow story that is great for learning numbers (up to the number six!).  In addition, Moore does a wonderful job telling us about one cat -- Sid -- through describing his actions as six different cats -- very ironic.   

For more Picture Perfect Books please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Chester

Although I am no cat lover, I enjoyed Chester so much that I just had to recommend it.


While researching picture books that break the fourth wall, I came across Chester, a picture book about an ego-centric cat who hijacks his owner's picture book with his own red marker.  

Title: Chester

Author/Illustrator: Mélanie Watt
Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd., 2007
Fiction or non-Fiction: Fiction
Audience age: 4 and up
Theme: Competition, Fun, Humor

Opening page: 

"Once upon a time there was a mouse. He lived in a house in the country.

Then the Mouse packed his bags and went on a trip very, very far away and we never saw him again!"

Synopsis: From Kids Can Press, "Chester is more than a picture book. It is a story told, and retold, by dueling author-illustrators. 

Mélanie Watt starts out with the story of a mouse in a house. Then Mélanie's cat, Chester, sends the mouse packing and proceeds to cover the pages with rewrites from his red marker, and the gloves are off. Mélanie and her mouse won't take Chester's antics lying down. And Chester is obviously a creative powerhouse with confidence to spare. Where will this war of the picture-book makers lead? Is it a one-way ticket to Chesterville, or will Mélanie get her mouse production off the ground?" 

Resources:
I couldn't find any resources for this book, but one fun activity could be picking out a picture book, reading the first few pages to use as a jumping off point to tell your own story.

Why I like this book:

Chester breaks the fourth wall and it does so one hundred percent.  In fact, "Chester" has red inked the cover and inside jacket flaps of the book as well as every page in between.  Author/Illustrator Mélanie Watt is so committed to "Chester" and his larger than life personality, that the character actually does come alive for me. I really enjoyed the out-of-the book experience, the feeling of spontaneity, and how the story takes on a life of its own. 

For more Picture Perfect Books please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: How I Became a Pirate

I am back after taking last week off to prepare for and celebrate my daughter's birthday. I spent hours in the kitchen and have to admit that I was beyond relieved when there were no more birthday celebrations left (don't tell her I said that).

So, back into the swing...here is my choice for Perfect Picture Book Friday. 

Title: How I Became a Pirate
Author/Illustrator: Melinda Long/David Shannon
Publisher: Harcourt, 2003
Fiction or non-Fiction: Fiction
Audience age: 3 and up
Theme: Adventure, Imagination, Separation

Opening page: 

   "Pirates have green teeth -- when they have any teeth at all. I know about pirates, because one day, when I was at the beach building a sand castle and minding my own business, a pirate ship sailed into view.  I knew what it was, because its flag had a skull and crossbones on it and because I could hear the pirates singing, 'Hey, ho, blow the man down.' 

   They were a little off-key."

Synopsis: From School Library Journal, "Jeremy Jacob is building a sand castle when a pirate ship lands nearby. His parents are preoccupied with other chores, so he takes off for an adventure on the high seas to help the men bury their treasure chest. He learns that buccaneers don't bother with manners or bedtimes, which is just fine with him, but it also means no bedtime stories or being tucked in. He tries to teach the pirates to play soccer, at least until the ball gets swallowed by a shark. When a storm hits, forcing the crew to return to shore, Jeremy solves the dilemma of where to bury the treasure-in his own backyard. He even makes it home in time for soccer practice."

Resources:
In addition to Harcourt's activity kit, which includes a word find, maze, coloring page, and thinking exercise, I found a wonderfully in-depth enrichment guide, which includes a section on stranger danger, made in support of the "How I Became A Pirate" show put on by First Stage, a theater company in Milwaukee, WI.

Why I like this book:

Pirates are fun.  Argh!  Parents everywhere will love to read this book aloud, just for the opportunity to talk like a pirate on a day other than International Talk Like A Pirate Day.  The story provides a fun-loving and amusing description of pirate life and the reasons why it might appeal to children like Jeremy Jacob.  While the pirates are wacky and entertaining, I love the reasons why Jeremy Jacob decides that pirate life is not for him after all.  Finally, David Shannon's over-the-top and rich illustrations are a perfect complement to this imaginative swashbuckling tale. 

For more Picture Perfect Books please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

Perfect Picture Book Friday - Owen

For a period of time, whenever we went to the library, my daughter would beg to borrow any and all mouse-based books by Kevin Henkes. We read Julius; Chrysanthemum; Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse; Sheila Rae, the Brave; Chester's Way; A Weekend with Wendell; and last but not least, Owen.  Even though we read them a zillion times (as preschoolers like to do), I never tired of any of these stories that are so full of character, humor, and universal childhood themes.

Title: Owen
Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1993
Fiction or non-Fiction: Fiction
Audience age: 4 and up
Theme: Treasured possessions/security blankets, common childhood experiences, determination, compromise, problem solving
Opening page: "Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket. He'd had it since he was a baby. He loved it with all his heart."

Synopsis: From Amazon.com, "Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket. 'Fuzzy goes where I go,' said Owen. But Mrs. Tweezers disagreed. She thought Owen was too old for a blanket. Owen disagreed. No matter what Mrs. Tweezers came up with, Blanket Fairies or vinegar, Owen had the answer. But when school started, Owen's mother knew just what to do, and everyone -- Owen, Fuzzy, and even Mrs. Tweezers -- was happy."

Resources:
Download a wonderful Kevin Henkes-themed picture book guide which includes discussion questions and activities for many popular Kevin Henkes' books including Kitten's First Full Moon, Chrysanthemum, Owen, and Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse.  

Why I like this book:
This story applies to many children who are still attached to their "blankies" including my daughter. What I love about this book is the character of Owen. While his actions are a source of humor in the story, his determination and problem-solving skills make him a great role model for preschoolers.  In addition, I love Kevin Henke's unique writing style; I even imitated it in my very first manuscript.


For more Picture Perfect Books please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.