Monthly Archives: January 2014

Perfect Picture Book Friday-The Kite Princess

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Today I am flying high! Yes…up in the air! Why? Because I’m reviewing . . .

The Kite Princess

Written by Juliet Clare Bell

Illustrated by Laura-Kate Chapman

Barefoot Books 2012

Audio CD by Imelda Staunton

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Individuality, Being yourself

Synopsis: (from Barnes & Noble) Princess Cinnamon Stitch is a tomboy who has no interest in courtly life. To her parents’ dismay, she cartwheels through puddles and dances with flea-ridden cats. Discover how she succeeds in teaching the king and queen that there are more important things in life than decorum and show. Laura-Kate Chapman’s eye popping artwork makes this rhythmic text soar.

Opening: There once was a princess called Cinnamon Stitch.
Her parents were stuffy and terribly rich.
They liked to parade her around their fine land,
With Cinnamon looking exceedingly grand.

They thought if they bought her  best clothes and pearls,
Their daughter would be the most happy of girls.
They gave her fine ribbons and dresses galore…
Then called for the seamstress, who made her some more.

Resources: In the back of The Kite Princess are instructions for building your own kite. I found a Kite Themed Mini Unit at First Grade with Miss Snowden has activities for everything from contractions to fact families…pages of activities with a kite theme. HERE are some activity sheets created by the author, Juliet Clare Bell.

Why I Love This Book: First of all, the Kite Princess is written in rhyme and you know how I love a good rhyming picture book 🙂  I fell in love with Cinnamon Stitch (is that not the cutest name?) and her tomboy ways. I like how she remains a dreamer even the king and queen think she is conforming. The story ends perfectly as Cinnamon’s influence rubs off her parents and they trade in their stuffiness for a little fun!

The book is accompanied by a CD of the story, read by Oscar-nominated actress, Imelda Staunton.

To find more perfect picture books, head on over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and check out all the fantastic selections! Each book is reviewed by a picture book -lovin’ reviewer, AND includes activities to go along with the book. You will find a handy list right HERE.

Perfect Picture Book Friday-123 versus ABC

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OK! Raise your hand if you love counting books! Now raise your hand if you love alphabet books! Wait! You raised your hand both times. Don’t you have a favorite? OK! Let’s try again. Counting. Alphabet. You did it again. Well, if you can’t choose then you’re going to double-love . . .

123 vs abc123 versus ABC

Written and Illustrated by Mike Boldt

HarperCollins 2013

Ages: 4-8
Themes: 123! No, ABC! No, 123! No, ABC! 
“Now, stop it you two! I am in charge of this blog!” said Penny.
Themes: Numbers AND letters!

Synopsis: (from publisher’s website) Numbers and Letters both want to be the stars of this book! And when one alligator (that starts with an A!) and two bears (2 of them!) and three cars (1, 2, 3! A, B, C!) begin to show up, the havoc that ensues is as joyous a romp as a counting book . . . that is, an ABC book . . . has ever been. With vivid illustrations from author-illustrator Mike Boldt, this fresh and funny picture book plays with numbers and letters in the most imaginative way.

Instead of posting the opening text of the book, I have the book trailer. It includes the opening text and will surely lure you to the library or the bookstore.

Resources: ABCya.com is an excellent site for practice with numbers and letters. Just click on a grade level and you’ll find the game categories. With these ABC coloring pages  and these number templates, kids could make their own 123 versus ABC book. And…this would be wonderful for a classroom book. Each student could be assigned a number and letter (just like in the book 1 would go with A, 2 would go with B, etc.) and design their page. Then all the pages could be bound together as a big book for the classroom. I found the blog of a first grade teacher who has a lot of posts about classroom books. HERE is the link.

Why I Like This Book: I know you couldn’t see…but I raised BOTH hands to counting books and BOTH hands to alphabet books. I do love them both. Let’s face it, number and letter books have been done over and over again and there are a lot of choices out there. So in order to rank among my favorites, they have to be unique. Mike Boldt nailed unique and made 123 AND ABC stars of this funny and entertaining book. His illustrations are colorful and lively. The expressions on the faces of the numbers and letters add such personality. I love the way he used blue to denote number-related text and orange to denote letter-related text. So clever! Bottom line…I double-love this book and I think you will, too!

To find more perfect picture books, head on over to Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and check out all the fantastic selections! Each book is reviewed by a picture book -lovin’ reviewer, AND includes activities to go along with the book. You will find a handy list right HERE.