Before I get to Perfect Picture Book Friday, I have a question I was hoping someone could help me with.
I am reading an excellent book called “In Mozart’s Shadow” by Carolyn Meyer about Mozart’s sister, Maria Anna. In the book Wolfgang is called Wolferl, Maria Anna is called Nannerl, a girl named Barbara is called Waberl and there is also a Katherl and other -erls.
My question is what’s with all the -erls in the names and why are some names changed so much? I think it is a German language thing, but maybe not. I thought maybe someone out there might know (especially really talented German-speaking illustrators that may be reading this… you know who you are ).
Enough of that! Now it’s time for PPBF!!! YAY!!!
Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people. I chose this book because it encourages kids to become authors/writers.
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
32 Pages – Ages 4+Published by: Abrams Books for Young Readers on September 1, 2007Theme/Topic – Reading and writing
Opening and Synopsis– “Sam was a library mouse. His home was in a little hole in the wall behind the children’s reference books, and he thought that life was very good indeed.”
Synopsis – Sam was very happy living in the library. He had all kinds of books to read every night when the library was quiet.
Sam decided that he should write a book of his own and he wrote “Squeak! A Mouse’s Life” and put it on the shelf in the autobiography section of the library. His book was a huge hit with the kids at the library.
In fact, Sam decided to write more books. Soon after, all the kids at the library want to meet the author of the great books mysteriously showing up at the library!
Sam couldn’t let them know it was a mouse doing the writing and he hatches a plan to show every kid that they can be the author!
Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
Why I liked this book – This is a very cute book about how anyone can be an author. I love that kind of positive message! Sam is a very clever mouse.
He has a lot of common sense and a great imagination (and he loves books). I like that in the illustrations we see Sam as dressed up like the characters of the book he just wrote.
Like in his delivery of his mystery, he is dressed like a detective. It is a great book that encourages kids to use their imaginations and write their own stories!
Activities and Resources –
Mr. Kirk has a ton of great activities at his website including a make your own story activity! I think it would be a great activity to have kids write and illustrate their own little book.
Click HERE to go to Mr. Kirk’s activity page.
Visit a library and explore like Sam (just not at night, ’cause that may get you into trouble). Talk to your kids about the different books Sam wrote, (autobiography, mystery and a picture book).
Talk about what makes the books different from each other and ask what type of book your kid would like to write.
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE!