Perfect Picture Book Friday - Marathon Mouse AND Giveaway Winner AND Hallloweensie Contest Winner!!!

It's finally Friday!  Hooray!  That means I finally get to show you Marathon Mouse!  Also, I will be announcing the winner of Monday's giveaway signed copy of Marathon Mouse at the end of the post (I know - so much excitement!) so stay tuned!

Oh, and there is one other thing... halloween related... :)

But first things first, and you know the Perfect Picture Book always has to go at the top of Friday's post.  Those are the rules.  And the person in charge around here made the rules so I really have to follow them :)

Marathon Mouse
Written By: Amy Dixon
Illustrated By: Sam Denlinger
Sky Pony Press, October 2012, Fiction

Suitable For: ages 3-8

Themes/Topics: Running, Marathons, Goals, Believing In Yourself, Determination

Opening: "Every New York City mouse dreamed of living under the bridge bewteen Brooklyn and Staten Island.  There, they didn't have to dodge taxi cabs or escape hungry sewer cats.  And when they wanted to visit, the bustling city was just a hop, skip, and a scamper away.  But there was one day each year that their life under the bridge was not dreamy..."

Brief Synopsis: Preston Mouse lives beneath the Verrazano Bridge and dreams of running the New York City Marathon.  "Mice were not made to run," says Papa.  "A mouse could get crushed," says Mama.  "You? Run 26.2 miles?" his sisters tease. With this lack of faith, Preston trains secretly, but train he does because he believes he can do it.  At least, he wants to try.

Links To Resources: Teacher's Guide from author's website.  Also I think reading this story gives an excellent opportunity to discuss with kids what they dream about - what do they think they can do?  what do they hope to accomplish?  Younger kids can draw pictures of themselves working toward or achieving something that matters to them.  Older kids can write a story about it.  Discover Marathon Kids.  And a little about the first marathon and some related activities HERE.

Why I Like This Book:  Ah, so many reasons :)  First, it's really well written, a captivating story told with gentle humor and warmth.  Second, this is the only picture book I've ever seen about running/marathoning, so it's a new, fresh topic and one I think kids will love.  Third, I don't think there can ever be too many books that encourage kids to work hard toward something that's important to them, believe in themselves, and follow their dreams.  Finally, when Preston gets out there to run, I dare you not to cheer him on, and I think you'll be surprised and touched by how the story ends :)  And seriously, how cute is this little guy? :)

Preston Mouse from Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon & Sam Denlinger

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

And now that you're all just desperate to own a copy, I'll tell you who won Monday's giveaway :)  And I would just like to say that I so enjoyed reading about all the things you guys have accomplished (which was what you had to tell us to qualify for the drawing) - what an amazing group!  If you didn't happen to read the comments from Monday's post, hop over and have a look - you're in impressive company over here!  But I digress... :)

Cue the trumpets!

The winner of a signed copy of Marathon Mouse is...

JARM!!!

(who it just so happens rode a camel to the top of Mt. Sinai and after sunrise walked all the way down! which is not why she won the book - that was just random.org - but I really thought you should know! :))

Please email me (by using the handy button on the side or by actually, physically, manually typing in susanna[AT]susannahill[DOT]com) and tell me your address and (never mind, Jarm - I have it from the PPB book mark mailing!) how you'd like Amy to sign it, and we'll get it straight out to you!

So, have a nice weekend everyone!

What?

Oh, you think I forgot something?

Tee hee :)

Okay.  You twisted my arm.  I'll tell you who won the Halloweensie Contest.  And let me just say - it was quite the nail biter!  But the voters have spoken!

And the winner is...

Oh.  I guess we better have trumpets AND a drum roll this time.

Okay.  The winner is...

Wait!  Maybe we should also throw some confetti, wouldn't that be nice?

Okay, really.  The winner is...

Cake, anyone?  Something festive and Halloween-y?

Okay, really and truly.  The winner is...

Julie with Hallow's Eve!!!

Congratulations, Julie, for a fun story that even included the term halloweensie!!! and was artistically presented in the shape of a cat :)  (At least, it looks like a cat to me, but I suppose it could be a halloweensie mouse :))  Julie, you are the lucky recipient of the 5 signed picture books from our generous and talented fellow authors.  You will receive Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon, The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz, Puzzled By Pink by Sarah Frances Hardy, Flap! by Alison Hertz, and The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber!  Please email me and let me know how you'd like them signed and we'll all get on the case :)  You are also the distinguished recipient of the incredible fame that comes with winning a contest of this caliber.  You can now hold your head high and proudly tell everyone you see that you won the Halloweensie Contest!  Not just anyone can say that!  (In fact, at the moment, only one other person in the world can say that - Cathy who won last year :))  Fame, I tell you! :)

Second place and a $25 Amazon gift card goes to Laura R for Jack O'Lantern!

Third place and a $15 Amazon gift card goes to Nancy for Halloween Drives Me Batty!

Congratulations to all the winners!

But I'd like to say again how fabulous ALL the entries were, and congratulate everyone who entered.  You all did a great job, and I know how hard it is to put your work out there, so BRAVO!!!  I know I speak for everyone when I say how much we all enjoyed reading ALL the entries!

And here's a little heads up.  I'm not running the Thanksgiving Contest this year.  I think it's just too much with everything else going on in November and having just finished the Halloweensie Contest.  But I WILL be running the Holiday Contest during the week of December 19-24.  And I'll tell you right now that there are 5 (that's FIVE!) Picture Book Manuscript Critiques up for grabs to the winners of that contest!!!  And maybe some other good stuff too!  So start thinking holiday thoughts.  Make some notes.  And be sure to keep your calendar open enough to participate!  The reason there are 5 fabulous prizes is because we got so many entries for that contest last year, which gave me the impression (possibly misguided :)) that it was popular.  So I hope people will enter, and please spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested.  I will post the contest rules in the first week of December... hopefully... :)

Okay.  Now for real, go have a nice weekend :)  PPBF bloggers, please remember to add your post-specific link to the list below!