Author: Anna Kemp Illustrator: Sara Ogilvie Publisher: Random House, 2012 Ages: 3-7yrs Themes: princesses, dragons, stories in rhyme Opening:Once upon a time, in a tower near you, lived a lonely princess – the Princess Sue. Summary: (from my library catalog) Lonely Princess Sue longs to leave her castle tower, but when her prince finally rescues her, she realizes she is destined for a less traditional partner.
I like this book because: first of all, I love how the opening line tells us we’re in for some great humor! The rhyme frolics sprightly without hurrying – and gosh, who can resist a princess in chucks intent on adventure? And for those who know me, the ART!
Resources/activities: check this Pinterest board for fun dragon activities; make an egg box dragon like THIS one; check out A Might Girl’s list of books featuring independent princesses HERE
And now for the WINNERS, 100% teen-disregard guaranteed, of a copy of BAD APPLE”S PERFECT DAY by Edward Hemingway – read the GIVEAWAY post HERE
Wendy Wahman
Edna Hokunaauao Cabcabin Moran
Kirsten Williams Larson
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE
BONUS! Interview with the author/illustrator below!
Author/Illustrator: Edward Hemingway Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2014 Ages: 3-5yrs Themes: apples, worms, friendship Opening:The sun was rising. The crickets were chirping. And Mac and Will were getting ready for the perfect day. Summary: (from the publisher) Mac the apple and Will the worm set out for a perfect day at the watering hole, and although little goes as they plan, friendship, imagination,and a sense of fun make everything turn out fine.
I like this book because: thesetwo charming buds are back with a sequel (Check out my recommendation HERE). I am crazy for the end papers in this one (above), and for the color palette – simply sumptuous! The story promotes all my favorite things: creativity, imagination, story-telling and looking on the bright side of a rainy day. Living in Colorado I actually miss rain (yep!) but this year has been the moistest in the 16yrs I’ve been here. Still, there is nothing like a slate colored sky against green leaves – and apples if you’re lucky!
Resources/activities: read together with Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship; go apple picking at an orchard nearby (for help finding one, click HERE); have your own Perfect Day Picnic; watch the book trailer below
Edward was kind enough to answer a few questions too:
JRZ: I’m going to skip the proverbial ‘what comes first for you as an author-illustrator’ question (unless you’d really like to answer that!), but would you share a bit of how Bad Apple came to be?
EH: I tend to come up with simple ideas/ titles first, and with Bad Apple it was no different. I was trying to convince my friend Brian Floca to come out to an orchard with me and my friend Sara Varon. I told him, “It could be inspirational. You could write a book about the tractors on the orchard, Sara could write a book about the goats, and I could write a book about a…bad apple.” It just came to me like that, and then I said to myself, hey, that’s not a bad idea. Then I started to think about what a “bad apple” could be. I decided it didn’t have to be bad, just misunderstood, and the story flowed from there.
JRZ: Do you use critique partners for your manuscript drafts, illustrations or initial ideas?
EH: Yes. It’s important to have artists and readers in your life with a critical eye, who aren’t afraid to give you honest, constructive criticism. I also like to put work away and come back to it after a week or so and approach it fresh.
JRZ: As you like to paint in oils, how difficult is it if there is an editorial change?
EH: By the time I am working on painted finishes, there is often little room for editorial change, as my sketched finishes are always very detailed. But I have been known to bring a brush to the offices and touch up pages at the request of and in front of my art director…
JRZ:Would you share one piece of advice you have received on your journey that stands out?
EH: ALWAYS be working on your NEXT project. Thanks Maira Kalman for giving me that advice!
JRZ: Is there something else that you do, a hobby perhaps, that you feel influences your writing or illustrating?
EH: I love reading and going to films, what better way is there to hone one’s own storywriting skills than by appreciating others?
*Read an extensive interview with the author/illustrator on Seven Impossible Things – HERE
AND we’ve got THREE copies of Bad Apple’s Perfect Day(courtesy of G.P. Putnam’s Sons) for a GIVEAWAY! Please comment below with your full name – by 12pmMST on Sept.18th – to enter. I’ll have a random couch potato teen – with earbuds – pick 3 names from a hat (rest assured, full attention will NOT be paid to the picking!) and reveal the winners next Friday, Sept.19th.
Perfect Picture Book Friday is BACK! There are still plenty of selections on a themed and alphabetized list, each with teacher/parent resources, on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
Author/Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers Publisher: Philomel Books, 2012 Ages: 4-8yrs Themes: moose (or meese if you’re being silly), pets, ownership Opening:Wilfred owned a moose. Summary: (from my library catalog) A young boy learns that moose do not always follow the rules of proper pet behavior.
I like this book because: it got me. Some books just do that. Was it the wry humor, the fun character drawings, the use of existing landscape art in collage? Can’t quite pinpoint, but I keep coming back to this book.
Resources/activities: ask students what makes a suitable pet and discuss why some don’t; make collages with magazine pages of landscapes and drawn characters placed in them. For a GREAT poem, in a GREAT new series from Penny Parker Klostermann, AND a moose – click HERE!
Listen to this:
Perfect Picture Book Friday is still on hiatus for the summer (back next week! Come back for a GIVEAWAY!), but there are still plenty of selections on a themed and alphabetized list, each with teacher/parent resources, on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
“Books to the ceiling, Books to the sky, My pile of books is a mile high. How I love them! How I need them! I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.” - Arnold Lobel
julie rowan-zoch 