Debbie Diesen

Yup! The GIVEAWAY: this signed book – one of three that I stood on line for outside in February for SEVEN hours. Totally worth it!!! My local indie-bookseller, Old Firehouse Books tempted its customers with a challenge: the most copies of The Ocean at the End of the Lane sold by one of five chosen indies will be the lucky host of a Neil Gaiman visit! AND WE DID IT! A shout out to all the wonderful people I chilled with – literally! And the amazing staff and volunteers that made the event FUN! Leave the number of minutes it would take for you to WALK to the nearest seller of milk in your neighborhood in a comment below by Feb 15th-12amEST to win!

Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Skottie Young
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2013
Ages: 8-12yrs
Themes: adventure stories, fathers, space and time
Opening: There was only orange juice in the fridge. Nothing else that you could put on cereal, unless you think that ketchup or mayonnaise or pickle juice would be nice on your Toastios, which I do not, and neither did my little sister, although she has eaten some pretty weird things in her day, like mushrooms in chocolate.
Summary: (from my library catalog) While picking up milk for his children’s cereal, a father is abducted by aliens and finds himself on a wild adventure through time and space.

I like this book because: it’s funny! I know, by definition, it is not a picture book, but there are pictures on every spread but one, AND I had to share it!

Resources/activities: go out for milk (or pickle juice if that’s what you’re into!) and think up your own adventure as you walk! I can walk to my neighborhood grocery store in 17 minutes – how long would it take you to get to your nearest seller of milk? Leave your answer in a comment below for a chance to win the signed copy of Fortunately, the Milk.

H, J and K: Seven hours

For more PPBF selections including resources and activities, go to Susanna Hill’s blog: HERE

Booklove picks: I didn’t have to choose books that friends wrote, but I am lucky that I can!!! Click each for a quick review on goodreads

Carrie Finison came up with the LOVE-ly idea to spread the booklove! Wanna show some booklove too? Check out the instructions on Penny Parker Klosterman’s post HERE. Be sure to include the adorable badge designed by Dana Carey. Dana is a writer and illustrator who is Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI France, and also one of the co-leaders of Sub It Club.

Author/Illustrator: Antoinette Portis
Publisher: Neal Porter/roaring Brook Press, 2014
Ages: 4-8yrs
Themes: birds, birdsong, individuality
Opening: All year long, the dogs went ‘Woof’. The cats went ‘Meow’. And the birds in the neighborhood went ‘Caw’, ‘Coo’, ‘Chip’, ‘Peep’,…
Summary: (from my library catalog) In a normal neighborhood, on a typical day, the birds chirp, the dogs bark and the cats meow. When Little Brown Bird decides she doesn’t want to sing the same old song, out comes a new tune that shakes up the neighborhood and changes things forever in this funny, innovative book that kids will love to read outloud.

I like this book because: I like birds. Just ask Debbie, or Teresa. And I really admire crows, like Whitney. And I even asked my library to purchase it before it was released! But they forgot to notify me when it came in. If I didn’t love ’em so much, well…! I love it’s beautiful graphic composition, and the spunky little sparrow/main character who entices her friends into creative disobedience! And my favorite new bird call? ‘Itsy boggen!’ Read it to see why!

Resources/activities: this book would be great in the art room, because kids should learn how to use simple shape changes to differentiate between animals of the same class. AND the story promotes creativity – booyah!; I’d even go as far as college with this, for logo development! Find a list of Portis’ awesome books – HERE; watch this full PBS documentary online: A Murder of Crows.

Perfect Picture Book Friday has lots of selections listed on a themed and alphabetized list, each with teacher/parent resources, on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.