PPBF: Bunny Loves to Write

Get out your pencils, crayons and journals – you’re going to want to write after you read this book.   It makes you feel like everyone can have fun writing a book and even illustrating!!  My Perfect Picture Book pick is…..

Title:  Bunny Loves to Write

Author:   Peter Bently

Illustrator:   Emma Foster & Deborah Melmon

Publisher: Parragon Books 2013

Genre: Fiction

Audience Age:  2-10

Themes/Topics: Creativity/Friends

Opening Sentences: One day, Buster was going out to play.  “Always carrying a book!” chuckled Mom.  “What is it this time, Buster?

Synopsis: Buster Bunny has  to write a story for school.  He can’t think of any ideas until his friends give him plenty of ideas.

Why I like it:  Mr. Bently has written a wonderful story that inspires creativity using everyday things around us.  When I read it to my grands they immediately wanted to draw and write.  Buster  and his friends write a story together and illustrate it in his journal.  The journal becomes a story within a story.  The illustrators use beautifully bright, large watercolor illustrations combined with a collage feel of photos and textures.  The journal looks like a real handwritten journal and is illustrated with line drawings.  It even inspired me with an idea for a classroom project.

 Activities & Resources:   Give your child a simple journal or blank book and let them write their own story.  Cut out some magazine pictures or textures and let your child glue them in the journal to illustrate their story.

Here is a link to some wonderful story starter pictures for young children.

Availability:  Major Booksellers.   Also available as a Nook book from Barnes & Noble.

(Susanna Leonard Hill is the originator of PPBF and you can find all the other PPB recommendations and links  on her blog.)

Enjoy the read and blessings on your creativity today!!

Laura (Grandmamiller)

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PPBF: Cats Know Best

I hope no one is allergic to cats – but even if you are….grab a kleenex and enjoy this wonderful little book.   You’ll probably have to grab it at the library – but you will enjoy the wonderful illustrations.

Title:   Cats Know Best

Author:   Colin Eisler

Illustrator:   Leslie Anne Ivory

Publisher: Dial Books, 1988

Genre: Fiction

Audience Age: 2-8  

Themes/Topics: Cats

Opening Sentences: Cats know the best places to be.  Where to stay warm…or keep cool.

Synopsis: A simple story of the sometimes silly, lazy, indifferent behavior of cats and their day complemented with beautiful illustrations.

Why I like it:  At only 103 words, it is a lovely, quick read that leaves you with a cozy feeling.  The illustrations are gorgeous.  Ms Ivory loves cats and you can tell. I’m sure I hear purring every time I read it.   The backgrounds vary from quilts and rugs and trees and barnyards to indoor parlors and china teacups to outdoor kittens and snowflakes.   Each page invites paying attention to details.  On the quilt page for instance my grandgirls have to find the hidden pictures in the quilt.   My grandchildren know this is a special Grandma’s book and they like to ask for it.  They enjoy tracking and finding all the little kittens and their particular favorite cat.  They range from tuxedo cats, to tabbys, longhair, to Siamese.  There are kittens in dresser drawers and cats in the barn.  The cats on the inside covers beg to be counted each time.  And if you want to know all the names of the cats,  those are listed under the author’s thank yous.

Activities/Resources:  Catly activities of course.  Here is a link to cat crafts, cat games, cat math, cat science and even cat treats!

Availability: This is an older book but well worth seeking out at your library or used book store.  Some used (inexpensive paperback)and new (pricey) copies are available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

 (Susanna Leonard Hill is the originator of PPBF and you can find all the other PPB recommendations and links  on her blog.)

Enjoy the read!

Laura (Grandmamiller)

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The Missing Prize Bag

Here’s a short little mystery story about helping.  I wrote it for 2 reasons.

1) for my 4th of July lesson for my Jr. Church class (it’s based on actual events that took place at our Memorial Day carnival…with a little artistic license!)

2) My friend Susanna Hill is hosting a writing  contest.

I added a few quick sketches to go along (they are not  part of the contest).    The story could only be 400 words, had to be a mystery of sorts, and had to be about the 4th of July.  To read all the other stories by my very talented writer friends, and for rules and prizes click here.

The Missing Prize Bag

Everyone was busy at the church getting ready for the 4th of July parade and carnival.   The men were setting up the bounce house while the ladies set up the welcome table.  The Sunday School classes were tying streamers to the back of the parade float.  Teens were blowing up balloons and the senior ladies were putting up military posters of men in uniform around their booth.

 “Mama, what can I do to help?” asked little Jilly.  She wanted to help with something important, but everyone kept telling her she was too little.

“Just sit right there and be good while I set up the bake table,” said Mama.

Jilly frowned.  That’s not really helping she thought, but she obeyed.  Then suddenly they heard a shriek and a loud “OH, NO!”

It was Mrs.DeMoss one of the senior ladies.  She was nearly crying, “The bag of prizes is gone! I’ve searched everywhere.   The whole bag of red, white, and blue necklaces and pins is missing.  They are thank you gifts for people who donate for the military Care Packages.  It’s the special part of our 4^th of July carnival!”

People were gathering around asking questions, ‘”Where did you last have the bag?  What color is the bag?   Pastor came over and said in his big voice, “Let’s stay calm. Mrs. D last had the  bag when she was helping paint carnival signs in the gym. God will help us.  Let’s spread out and look.”

Jilly asked her mom, “Can I help?  I’m a good looker even if I’m little.”  Her mother smiled, “Yes, you can help.”

It was getting close to parade time and the prizes had not been found.  Jilly asked, “Mama, why doesn’t God just make the bag appear?”

“Sometimes God needs us to help,” Mama said as they went in the supply room. Mama looked around, and sighed, “Not in here, I guess.”

But Jilly noticed a tiny piece of blue plastic sticking out from a bottom shelf between bottles of red and blue paint.  “Mama, look!” she said as she
pointed.

They moved bottles of paint and brushes aside.  There, stuck to the shelf  was the bag of prizes!   They grabbed it and went running to Mrs. DeMoss.   She hugged Jilly and said, “The littlest one found the prize bag!”

Jilly smiled and said, “No God did, I just helped!”

#  #  #  the end

My class which ranges in age from 4 yr to 6th grade did not know much about our forefathers who wrote the Declaration of Independence.  So I gave them a little history and explained that one person could not have accomplished what they did together.

Together they shared the burden.   Galatians 6:2 says “Bear ye one another’s burdens.”  We all become stronger working together.

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Perfect Picture Book Friday: Curious Kitties

While I was deciding which picture book to recommend for this final week before summer break, I seemed to develop a headache between my eyes.  It was then I noticed the cat had come into the den and was sitting on the piano bench (which she never does).  She was decidedly staring at the spot between my eyes.  I tried rubbing, no good.  It was then she (the cat) seemed to communicate, ‘You’ve written about  dogs, the rabbit (multiple times-ugh), and not at all about cats!  What gives?’   More thudding between my eyes.   I could take a hint……  So this weeks pick, not at all influenced by any outside source is:

Title: Curious Kitties, A colors book

Author:   Sam McKendry

Illustrator:   Melanie Mitchell

Publisher: Piggy Toes Press (don’t you love that name?) 2005

Genre: fiction

Audience Age: 2-5

Themes/Topics: Colors, Kittens

Opening Sentences: “Curious kitty playing on the floor.  Do you know what the yarn is for?”

Synopsis: A litter of kittens discover different colors of yarn while playing.  A fun book to learn colors.

Why I like it:  This large board book has a delightful feature.  As you open each page a new string of yarn appears and runs from the left to right.  Each successive page an additional  string appears in a new color (6 altogether).

The kitties have their own story about guessing what the yarn will make.  The story itself is done in rhyming couplets without mention of the colors, which is left to you to name.  The final page has a fun pop-up of all the kitties rocking in a basket with mama kitty.

The art, by Melanie Mitchell, has cute kitties with a soft fuzzy pastel appearance.  The background colors change to match the new yarn color.

This book has a place on “Grandma’s Shelf” of picture books (those special books that we want to preserve.) Curious Kitties  has been in our family for about 3 years and is now on its 4th grandchild.    The grandkids love turning the pages and touching the strings of yarn.  They  like to turn to their favorite color page and as they get older they start counting the number of yarn strings.  Myself – I’d like to take the book apart just to see how they cleverly got all the strings to work.  But I can’t do that because it goes on the ‘special shelf.’

Activities/Resources: 1)You could play I spy with your child, naming the color they need to find.   2)Name a color and see how many things you can think of that are that color.  Also here is a wonderful resource page that has multiple color lessons and even other color related books.   http://www.perfectlypreschool.com/Preschool-Lesson-Plans/Colors/index.php

Availability:   Major booksellers

(Susanna Leonard Hill is the originator of PPBF and you can find all the other PPB recommendations and links  on her blog.)  We will all be taking a summer break from PPBF and will be back in the fall.

Well that’s all for this week….hmmm…my cat seems satisfied–she left the room….and I think my headache is going away……

Blessings and enjoy the book!

Laura (Grandmamiller)

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Doodle Day May #29, 30, 31 & Can’t Sleep Without Sheep Ebook Release

Two things Today:

The First Thing not to be forgotten, my friend, Susanna Leonard Hill, has a

release of Can’t Sleep Without Sheep in Ebook format for only $4.99.  She held a contest earlier with lots of fun/silly promos, the complete list of all the creativity and links  is here and my entry is here just for more fun.  I bought my Kindle copy and the grandgirls gave it 3 baa-baa-beautifuls. The places to find her wonderful  ebook are here:

iTunes (for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch)

Amazon (for all versions of Kindle)

Barnes&Noble (for Nook)

And secondly –  an opportunity to post the last of my Doodle Day May drawings, I mean doodles.  I posted to the Facebook Page, just didn’t have a chance to chronicle here as we were out of town.   And of course I know you’re all dying, to see them here (ho-hum, I’m probably talking to just myself and my mom…er…I think my mom reads my blog…)  Anyway, the last doodle post was #28….so pencil drum rol-l-l-l-l-l-l…

Day #29  Ribbon

Day #30 Shell

and   Day#31 Wave – and a final goodbye to Doodle Day May the way I say goodbye to people I love…like YOU.

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Perfect Picture Book Friday: Dewey There’s A Cat In the Libary

I’ve been playing catch up all week from being gone last weekend (that’s why I couldn’t do PPBF).  If you didn’t know, my hubby received his Doctorate in Ministry from Newburgh Theological Seminary in Indiana.  We drove down to Evansville and attended the ceremonies. His mom was also able to attend with us.  Here’s a picture of Tom and I after the event.

“Dr.” Tom and Me

Tom did not announce his calling into ministry until late, he was 37. [I guess that’s customary in our family…I didn’t pursue this career until Sept of 2011 (at age 57).]  He has continually studied.  He got his bachelors in religious education, then a master’s in Divinity and then another master’s in religious education.  His studies have never stopped.  And he’s already planning, researching and praying about what comes next.

I think that’s why I love Perfect Picture Book Friday so much.  It’s like studying and research, with beautiful pictures and THERE’S NO TEST!!!  And I have all of you as fellow friends and students.  And here’s my research for this week…

Title: Dewey (There’s A Cat In The Library) 

Author:   Vicki Myron and Bret Witter

Illustrator:   Steve James

Publisher: Little Brown & Co. , 2009

Genre: Fiction

Audience Age: 2-8

Themes/Topics: Cats, Library, Kindness

Opening Sentences: Every night, people left books in the return box of the library in the small town of Spencer, Iowa.  Funny books, big books, truck books, pig books – they left them all.  But one night, on the coldest night of the year, someone left a strange surprise…A tiny kitten.

Synopsis: A tiny shivering kitten left in the book drop box becomes a library cat.  He warms not only stacks of books, but the hearts of all the visitors.  But how does he adjust to the children who like to chase him, pull his tail and squeeze too tight?

Why I like it:  Having read the original “Dewey,”  a true story written for adults, I was thrilled to find this adaptation for children.  The story of an abandoned kitten who becomes the town’s library cat is wonderful at any age and better with gorgeous illustrations.  Cat lovers will appreciate his antics especially when he has to get a shy little girl to warm up to him.   Dewey also has to adapt to a few problems, like being pulled and poked and carried upside down,  which he manages to figures out on his own.   The illustrations, by Steve James,  are beautifully done in Corel Painter X.  They have the appearance of soft pastels so it looks like you can pet Dewey’s soft fluffy fur.

Activities/Resources:  Dewey has his own website, and you can find some  related activities for kids based on  Dewey.  And if you’d like another Dewey book check out my Christmas review of  Dewey’s Christmas At the Library.

Also discuss the problem of people abandoning animals.  Talk about the importance of being responsible with pets and caring for them.  Also talk about animal rescues and adopting animals like the library adopted Dewey.

Availability:  Major Book Sellers

(Susanna Leonard Hill is the originator of PPBF and you can find all the other PPB recommendations and links  on her blog.)

Enjoy the book and blessings on your day!

Laura (Grandmamiller)

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Doodle #21-22 and Perfect Picture Bk Fri: Big Red Tub

Still having lots of fun with Alison Hertz‘  Doodle Day May.  The subjects today are ‘ shoes’ and ‘design a font.’  I dedicated the Circus font to Alison (if you don’t know why – you need to read her bio/look at facebook pics.)   The shoe doodle made me think of my little girls growing up.

Circus font

I sketched Circus first, then colored it in Photoshop.  I used colored pencils & ink on the shoes.

Shoes

Now on to my pick for Susanna Hill‘s  Perfect Picture Book Friday.

This book reminds me of when my girls were little and it was bathtime. When dad supervised it was always lively with lots of giggling, shrieking and splashing.  The walls were dripping, the floor was submerged and the bubbles were everywhere.  (When I supervised – somehow it never seemed as much fun.)

Title: Big Red Tub  (Note: Released as Big Red Bath in UK) 

Author:   Julia Jarman

Illustrator:   Adrian Reynolds

Publisher: Orchard Books, 2004

Genre: Fiction

Audience Age:  2-4

Themes/Topics: Bathtime, Imagination

Opening Sentences: Stan and Stella in the big red tub.  I splash! You splash!  Splash! Splash! Splash!

Synopsis: Dad is supervising bathtime. The children have lots of fun  especially when all kinds of animals join in.  Dog, lion, kangaroo, duck and even a hippopotamus!  And bathtime ends up going beyond the walls of the house….

Why I like it:  It’s  sudsy fun and the rhythm and rhyme are a rollicking good time.  The illustrations are big and bright.  Matter of fact they are so bubbly and soapy you either need a raincoat or a scrub brush.  When I read this to my grands they immediately wanted a re-read.   This is for a younger audience, but definitely a lively selection.  (You probably won’t want to read it at bed time, tho’ it is such a romp the kids get excited.)

Activities/Resources:   Ms. Jarman has a coloring page from her website here.   And an activity sheet .

 I could recommend something about hygiene, but that’s not fun…. how about   B U B B L E S ?  (Click and scroll down the page to find a dozen bubble activities.)

Availability: Barnes & Noble, Amazon

(Susanna Leonard Hill is the originator of PPBF and you can find all the other PPB recommendations and links  on her blog.)

Have fun enjoying the book.  Stop by tomorrow for another Doodle update.  Blessings on your day!

Laura (grandmamiller)

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Doodle #16 and Perfect PB Friday: Baby Brains & Robomom

Space

For Doodle Day May #16 our topic was SPACE.  Alison (the creator of Doodle Day May) put no constraint on our imaginations for this doodle.   I decided to doodle this in photoshop.   I’m still familiarizing myself with it’s features so this was a good practice.  Several things in this that I would change, some proportions (those tiny images were hard with the wacom).  I would probably do the skyline in pencil and paper and scan it in next time – but I was at 30 minutes – so I made myself stop.

Short funny story about comets-My husband and I love star gazing (as long as the mosquitoes aren’t too bad, or it’s not too cold.)  The last time Haley’s comet was around our youngest was an infant.  We bundled her up and drove into the country away from light pollution,  and sat for 2 hours in the middle of the night trying to see the comet.  No luck – the only thing we got was a wide awake baby when we got home.  A couple weeks later – my husband worked nights at the time – about 3 in the morning, hubby comes home,  wakes me up and says – you have to get up you can see Haley’s comet plain as day!  So bleary eyed and staggering I got dressed…socks…boots…extra layers…it was COLD…Tom kept urging me to hurry….mittens….scarf…..’C’mon, you’ll miss it’…..stiff-walked into the back yard, squinting at the sky…. “Where is it??   I don’t see it,” I said.   Several yards from me my dear, loving, considerate husband shouts, “APRIL FOOL’s!!!”

Anyway…  on to my Perfect Picture Book pick for the week.

Title: Baby Brains and RoboMom    (Note:  in the UK it is RoboMum)

Author/Illustrator:                        Simon James

Publisher: Candlewick Press (2008)

Genre: Fiction

Audience Age: 4-8

Themes/Topics: Problem Solving, Family

Opening Sentences: Before Baby Brains was born, Mrs. Brains ate lots of fish and nuts, which are good foods for brains.

Synopsis: The smartest baby in the world builds a robot mom to give his tired mommy a break from the chores, but things don’t go as planned.

Why I like it:  This was my introduction to ‘Baby Brains.’  which is actually the third book in the series. The others are Baby Brains: The Smartest Baby in the Whole World and Baby Brains: Superstar.    I definitely plan to find these first two to enjoy.  The Brains parents seem to be an average, loving  and hard working couple who have the smartest baby around.  They patiently hold pencils while Baby sits at the drafting board planning and creating his newest invention… like a remote-controlled, self-rocking cradle or a motorized stroller.   Baby notices how tired his mommy is so he lovingly creates RoboMom.  The busy metal mom hustles to do all the chores and then some.  However, we see Baby Brains missing the human touch and the parents perplexed at how to intervene.   When an explosion occurs (don’t worry everyone is safe–well almost everyone)  the problem resolves itself and Baby Brains learns to be a little more careful with his inventions.

Despite the difference between Baby’s extreme intelligence and his average parents you are able to discern the family’s love for one another.  The parent’s acceptance of their unique child and his desire to help give his parents a much needed rest and provide the heart of the story.  James’ illustrations are delightful sketchy, watercolor and ink.  One comment I read said they have a Quentin Blake (Big Friendly Giant) quality to them and I agree.

My granddaughters  (almost 3 and 4 1/2) liked the story and were really intrigued by Baby’s inventions, wanting to know what he was doing at the drawing board and how he could make those things.  It was also a requested re-read.

Activities/Resources:   Mr. James has an awesome website (check it out), a demonstration page on Youtube and he has colouring pages available.  There is one of Baby Brains where Mr. James leaves it to you to draw in YOUR picture of Baby’s invention. (I ran off one for myself  🙂 )

There are sooo many online resources about inventors and inventions.  Start by talking about what an ‘invention’ is.  Ask your child if they can think of something to invent that would help around your house.  Perhaps a machine to put away the toys.  What would they make it out of?   Have then draw a picture of what it would look like.  Here is a simple lesson plan  to help spark creativity using boxes, pipe cleaners, glue tape and all kinds of scrap material.

Availability: Major book sellers.

(Susanna Leonard Hill is the originator of PPBF and you can find all the other PPB recommendations and links  on her blog.)

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Doodle Day May #15: Heart

Doodle: heart

I went back in time to draw this ‘heart’.  I was chatting with Gayle Wing O’Donnell and Kathryn Ault Noble (both of whose  art work I admire) and found out we all graduated high school within a year of each other. We started laughing about flower power.   So this doodle is for them.  (See if you can guess what year….but be kind.)

I brought out the bell bottoms, love beads, peace signs and granny glasses just for them.

This is part of Alison Hertz’ s Doodle Day May Challenge which has been so much fun to do.  I’ve met new artists, found inspiration, and laughed a whole lot too.

And this is the last day to vote for your favorite jingle promoting her e-book at  Susanna Hill’s  .  Lots of prizes for the winners.  You can check it out here.  Voting  ends Thursday, May 16th at noon EST.

Thanks for stopping by and blessings on your creativity.

Laura (grandmamiller)

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Doodle Day May #14: Sun

The Sun

WoW!  I can’t believe I just drew that.    This was all done in a very old version of Photoshop Elements.  It took about 30 minutes.  The hardest part was the hand, because I did not pre-draw on paper.  I’m still not very good freehanding on the wacom tablet.  I have never tried to do something like this before.  I’m usually much more restrained and traditional.  Thanks, Alison, for helping me loosen up.

I have never just doodled in Photoshop!  But there have been several people from Alison Hertz’ s Doodle Day May Challenge who have inspired me to try some new things.  A new acquaintance,   Gayle Wing O’Donnell, especially.  She is amazingly talented and awesomely creative.  Visit her facebook page and you will see what I mean.

And….Don’t forget to stop by Susanna Hill’s blog to vote on your favorite jingle promoting her e-book.  Lots of prizes for the winners.  You can check it out here.  Voting  ends Thursday, May 16th at noon EST.

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