Parents, teachers, writers looking for picture book recs? Check out the hashtag #PPBF every Friday. Thx for the head's up, @WendyGreenley!Aren't we so official now? Our little hashtag mentioned by Writer Unboxed! Do you feel famous? I do! :)
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) October 24, 2013
I am embarrassingly bad at twitter, although I'm really trying to get better at it, but now I must really make an effort to remember to use our PPBF hashtag!
Phew! That was a lot of excitement! But now it's time for today's Perfect Picture Book, a sort of Halloween-y choice since it's about witches :)
Written By: Steven J. Simmons
Illustrated By: Cyd Moore
Charlesbridge, July 1999, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 5-8
Themes/Topics: consequences, behavior (listening, what goes around comes around), perspective, good vs. bad
Opening: "Once, a long time ago, two witches lived on top of a mountain. Although they looked out at the same view, they saw things differently."
Brief Synopsis: Alice and Greta are two young witches who use their power in opposite ways. Alice helps people. Greta makes mischief. But it's important to watch out for "the Brewmerang Principle: Whatever you chant, whatever you brew, sooner or later comes back to you!"
Links To Resources: Alice And Greta Coloring Page, Alice And Greta Mystery Maze, The Master Magic Wand Maker's Guide To Creating Wonderful Wands, Classroom Guide (from the Picture Book, Teacher's Edition.)
Why I Like This Book: This book has a fun story about two little witches, and a nice message about reaping what you sow :) It's full of spells and enchantments and mischief. But it's the delightful art that takes it over the top for me. The drawings are full of fun details that kids can spend lots of time looking at and that bring the story so appealingly to life.
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
Before we all head off to read everyone's amazing picks for today and then on to our weekends, I just have to say that I'm so excited for the Halloweensie Contest which opens MONDAY!!! If you haven't written your entry yet, you still have the weekend and a lot of next week - the deadline isn't until midnight on Halloween (so appropriate, no? :)) This is one of the most fun contests we do because the entries are short, so I hope you'll all participate! (If you haven't seen the rules, mosey on over HERE.)
First Prize is a PB Critique from the amazing Corey Rosen Schwartz, author of The Three Ninja Pigs, Hop! Plop!, and the forthcoming Goldirocks, Ninja Red, and What About Moose? AND a copy of Linda Ashman's new Nuts And Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books (your choice of e-book or PDF)!
Second prize is a PB manuscript and query letter critique from talented author Heather Ayris Burnell, author of Bedtime Monster.
Third prize is a set of personalized signed picture books just in time for the holidays - Charlotte Gunnufson's Halloween Hustle, Tiffany Haber's The Monster Who Lost His Mean, and Amy Dixon's Marathon Mouse (perfect timing because NYC Marathon Sunday is next weekend!)
Please join me in thanking these very generous authors for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books for holiday purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N or anywhere else if you like them, or supporting them in any other way you can dream up :)
And now, off to read everyone's fabulous choices! PPBF bloggers, please put your post-specific link in the list below, and then tweet with #PPBF to your hearts' content! :)
Have a great weekend, everyone!!! :)
