And just in time, too!
In keeping with my theme for this week (you know, the one where I insist that spring is coming in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary :)) I have the perfect book!
Written & Illustrated By: Carin Berger
Greenwillow Books, January 2015, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8 (though I think a lot of 3 year olds would love it too :))
Themes/Topics: seasons (Spring), animals (bears), perseverance, patience
Opening: "The forest was growing cold. Mama said that soon it would be time to sleep, but all Maurice could think about was his first spring."
Brief Synopsis: Mama bear says it's time to sleep, but all Maurice can think about is spring. So when Mama goes to sleep, Maurice sets out to find it. He has never seen spring, however, so he's not really sure where to look or even what he's looking for!
Links To Resources: take a nature walk and look for signs of spring; make up a list of signs of spring and check them off as they appear - is spring here yet?; How To Make A Diorama (video); Diorama Crafts For Kids; try making your own diorama about spring; make paper flowers; how to make tissue paper flowers (video)
Why I Like This Book: Every child on earth understands impatience - how hard waiting is, and how much more fun to take action! Maurice is not deterred in the slightest by the fact that he doesn't actually know what spring is. He just looks until he knows he's found it. And he can tell he's found it because it's the most magical thing he's ever seen! Just wait until you see what it is (and no, I'm not telling! :)) The book is illustrated with dioramas and cut-paper collages and is just gorgeous - a feast for the eyes of kids and grown-ups alike. A perfect choice for those of us currently longing for spring :)
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you and see what delights you've chosen for us this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! It will be March by the time it's over! :)
It looks beautiful! I can't wait for spring either. I just want winter to go away!!!
ReplyDeletePatience isn't my strong suit so I think this is a great book theme! Forecasters have said that we will finally be above freezing on Monday! But they've been wrong before . . .
ReplyDeleteI love the cover! I think we will all be celebrating when spring arrives. It is supposed to be above freezing next week but it is going to be raining. Boo hoo!
ReplyDeleteSome of this snow will melt I guess. I worry about flooding for Boston!
I like your activity of looking for signs of spring. Our crocuses are somewhere under the snow. Can't wait. I'm impatient for spring, too. :)
I love your spring optimism you bring us here, Susanna. And I so want to see what Maurice mistakes as spring!
ReplyDeletePS I had already written today's submission before I read your suggestion on my post last week! :) I didn't find it on our lists here.
I understand Maurice's impatience. I'm eager for spring, too.
ReplyDeleteThis is the perfect book for you to share this week -- with another snow storm on its way. Looks like such a sweet book. I think we're all short on impatience. The cover is beautiful! Can't click on #3,
ReplyDeleteLovely! If we all focus on Spring at the same time every day it might just listen ;)
ReplyDeleteSo, I may be in spring denial, because at first I thought that was a penguin on the cover. LOL. I put this on my library list. You shared The Little Yellow Leaf earlier right? We loved that one too. I've added several of Carin Berger's book on my list this week. We'll see if I can get out of the snow to pick up books. Have a warm week!
ReplyDeleteI love your positive outlook, Susanna! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry, Susanna, I reposted my link as the first one wasn't working. :(
ReplyDeleteSo glad you did Joanna! This looks great. My library is striking out on several of these books. I put in two requests. I used your line about Jane Goodall in my request.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are doing this. i truly think it would be a great asset to any public or school library on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a tease - GOTTA know what "spring" actually is. Looks like a fabulous pick!
ReplyDeleteI think spring is on everyone's mind—except for those of us who haven't had enough winter, yet. Those of us on the West Coast who feel left out, parched. So when a tiny storm comes through, promising to drop a mere 4 inches on our mountains, we high tail it to the hills!
ReplyDeleteThat said, your spring PB looks perfect, and I hope the real thing arrives for you soon. We're planning to be in the Midwest for Easter, and I hope the Easter Bunny doesn't need to hide eggs inside. That's such a bummer....
I guess your PPBF pick will have to suffice for now...because other than a bit of sun which is melting a bit of the mountains of snow, I'm not sure I'll know what spring looks like if and when it finally gets here. In fact, today we are having our snow plow guy remove the several feet of snow from our roof. What good luck...we have great insulation and our heat is not being lost through our roof so the snow does not melt (although maybe it is being lost everywhere else because our propane AND electric bills are THROUGH THE ROOF. What bad luck...having several feet of snow on a roof is not a good idea...and it costs over $500 to have them shovel it off...definitely not an expense we had planned on.
ReplyDeleteGreat picture book, Susanna...and spring will be here eventually. :)
Here in California we are hoping desperately for more winter and our missing winter rain. This book sounds really sweet. I will definitely check it out.
ReplyDeleteNo worries :) The first one had text pasted in the url box instead of link, that was all :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sick of winter. Bring on spring (I will even take the rain) Great post, Susanna!
ReplyDeleteI've got to say it, Elaine, I'm tired of winter too. I'm tired of being cold!!! It's time to splash in puddles :)
ReplyDeleteSweet is exactly the word for it, Rosi :) And it's so pretty :)
ReplyDeleteI'll take one long walk on Blueberry Hill, splashing in the puddles, please! At this rate, it will be months from now! :)
ReplyDeleteJust the name Maurice makes me want to read this book :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh! Poor you, Vivian! Our roof is so steeply pitched it's usually okay, plus the back side has full southern exposure and solar panels. I don't think our furnace has stopped running for the last 10 weeks, though, so the oil bill won't be pretty! Think spring! Believe it and it will come! :)
ReplyDeleteI saw a really funny picture on FB about the Easter bunny not coloring the eggs and just hiding them in the snow :)
ReplyDeleteIt's very cute, Joanne :) But I'm not telling...! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised the library doesn't have this one, since it won awards! Someone else posted it last week - I forget who. It's a lovely book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl! We've got to think spring until we get it! :)
ReplyDeleteHahaha! That's so funny! I love this book, and the art is beautiful!, but I have to agree, the bear does NOT look like a bear! Not on the cover, and not on the inside!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! A pooling of our combined mental powers! I like the way you think, Catherine! :)
ReplyDeleteThe snow is one thing... but it's the cold that's so hard! Morning after morning of 10 or 12 below zero is just not fun! But it's almost March. Time is on our side :) (And #3 had an error and was re-linked farther down the list.)
ReplyDeleteMe, too!!! :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone did it last week or the week before, I forget, but it's a great book well worth doing more than once :) (And I'm behind in updating... just for a change :))
ReplyDeleteOh, I LOVE crocuses! So cheerful and hopeful, the first to poke their bright faces up out of the snow! I can't wait! And I wouldn't even mind rain right now, because in order for it to rain it would have to be above zero!!! Let's all think spring together and maybe it will come soon :)
ReplyDeleteYeah... I'm not holding my breath for the forecasters - they have not impressed me so far this winter! :)
ReplyDeleteI know! But this beautiful book will banish it for a moment at least :)
ReplyDeleteHehehe :) I have to say, "Maurice" isn't the first name that would pop to my mind for a bear... which is why I like it :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait! We will have so much fun! You can bring your dog to frolic with Scout and Jemma :)
ReplyDeleteThat cover is so adorable. Makes me want to jump up and join Maurice on his adventure.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet book, Susanna. I'm looking for Spring, (my favorite season), but I can't seem to find it!! So involved in a PB Pacing class that I can't manage PPBF this month. Looking forward to Making PB Magic soon. ;-}
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very sweet book! :D
ReplyDeleteThe illustrations look amazing! What a beautiful way to talk about patience and perseverance!
ReplyDeleteYes! I just saw it, too. Hilarious!
ReplyDeleteThen you'll enjoy this too :) http://shipsnowyo.com scroll down to read all the hilarity :)
ReplyDeleteIt's so pretty, Tiffa! Especially the page where he thinks he's found spring... but I don't want to give it away :)
ReplyDeleteIt is, Erik. Very sweet. Sweet as sugar. Sweet as candy. Sweet as candy with sugar on top. Sweet as candy with sugar on top and maple syrup. Sweet as... well, you get the idea :)
ReplyDeleteAre you taking Jodell Sadler's class? How is it???
ReplyDeleteI know, doesn't it just? Although I have to agree with Stacy... he looks a little more like a penguin than a bear :)
ReplyDeleteOh, this is even more than hilarious! Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed! :) I loved the testimonials :)
ReplyDeleteI missed so many days because of travel that it was hard to keep up. But I now have 20 pacing tools to use as I edit my work, and new fellow PB writers to connect with!😊
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful!!! :)
ReplyDelete