Today's choice is as much for parents and teachers as it is for kids!
The Busy Life Of Ernestine Buckmeister
Written By: Linda Ravin Lodding
Illustrated By: Suzanne Beaky
Flashlight Press, October 2011, Fiction
Suitable For: ages 5 and up
Themes/Topics: the importance of play, over-scheduling
Opening: "Each morning, while Ernestine ate breakfast and Nanny O'Dear prepared lunch, Ernestine's father zoomed out to work and called, 'Live life to the fullest, Ern!' And each morning Ernestine's mother zipped out to catch the bus and said, 'Make every moment count, E!'"
Brief synopsis: Ernestine's parents want her to have every experience she can, so they pack her days with sculpting and tuba, yoga and yodeling. It takes Ernestine to show them that one thing she absolutely shouldn't miss is having time to just play.
Links to resources: What I really should say here is, "No resources! Just go play!" But here are some resources that are also playing :) Coloring Page, and for activities, try making a daisy crown (or any kind of outdoorsy crown), or make clouds out of cotton or shaving cream and see what shapes you see in them, or build a fort out of sticks, or blocks, or an empty cardboard box. Use your imagination!
Why I Like This Book: Kids will enjoy Ernestine's ridiculous schedule, her amusing list of lessons, her teachers' funny names, the bold bright colors of the pictures, and Ernestine's inspired solution to her problem. As a grown-up, I appreciate Ernestine's message that while organized activities arranged and taught by adults have their place, so too does the unstructured time to be a child and simply play.
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, when I announce... that I will be vacuuming this afternoon!
Nah! I'm just foolin' with ya!
(I know you don't care whether I vacuum. Although there are others who feel differently... :))
The winner of a Michael Garland book is none other than our delightful Robyn!!! Wahoo! Yay Robyn!
So Robyn, please Email Me and let me know if you'd like Icarus Swinebuckle, Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook, or Grandpa's Tractor (which was added by popular demand :))
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and join us back here Monday for the first Oh Susanna and the December/January Pitch Pick which will have to share a post unless I boot Oh Susanna for another week. You may feel free to share your opinion on the matter in the comments - I'm happy either way :)
Also, if you have a few free minutes over the weekend, please pop round to some of the wonderful bloggers who have been so kind as to interview me and Phyllis this week :) I'll copy and paste the list from Wednesday to here for your convenience:
(From Tuesday Jan. 24): Clarbojahn's Blog: Part 2 of our interview and a giveaway of a hard cover copy of Punxsutawney Phyllis.
From Wed. Jan. 25): Sylvia Ramsey's Blog, Thoughtful Reflections. This one I'm not too familiar with. I wrote the interview for her at the beginning of September so it will be all new to me too! :)
(From Thurs. Jan. 26): Corey Schwartz's Blog, Thing 1 and Thing 2. This one is all about where the idea for Phyllis came from and will be in two parts. I'm not sure yet when part 2 will be.
Friday Jan. 27: Leigh Covington's Blog. This one is a (brief!) interview with Phyllis herself! She emerged from her burrow just because she likes Leigh. There will be a giveaway of a hard cover copy of Punxsutawney Phyllis here too!
Sat. Jan. 28: Iza Trapani's Blog, In And Out Of My Studio. A chat with one of my favorite author/illustrators who may or may not be appearing on this blog soon (I could tell you, but then it wouldn't be a secret :)) There will be a giveaway of a hardcover copy of Punxsutawney Phyllis on this one, too!
Perfect Picture Book bloggers, please remember to post your links in the list below so everyone can come see the wonderful books you've chosen this week!
