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The Children’s Bookshow is an organisation that arranges an annual tour across England of children’s authors, poets and illustrators. It’s a fantastic opportunity to take entire classes to see an author, poet or illustrator live, with the added bonus that if you buy tickets to one of the Children’s Bookshow events, you will have the opportunity to book a free school workshop with an author/poet/illustrator. If you are successful in bidding for a free school workshop the Children’s Bookshow will gift the attending children a book to keep.

This year Bernardo Atxaga, Patrick Benson, Kevin Crossley-Holland, Benji Davies, Daniel Morden, Marie-Aude Murail, Catherine Rayner, Rachel Rooney, Michael Rosen, Jessica Souhami and Kit Wright are taking to the stage, everywhere from London to Leicester and Stafford to Snape Maltings. Events take place from September to November, but if you want to be sure of places for the kids you teach and in with a chance of winning a free author/poet/illustrator workshop, early booking is strongly advised.

Booking is now open and you can find full details at The Children’s Bookshow website: http://www.thechildrensbookshow.com/arts-award.html

One of this year’s participants in the The Children’s Bookshow is Rachel Rooney, shortlisted for the CLPE Poetry Award. In conjunction with The Children’s Bookshow Rachel is running a super poetry competition for kids (9 and under, and 9-11). You can find out full details here:
http://www.thechildrensbookshow.com/competition.html

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I seriously do not know where this week has gone!  Wasn't it just Sunday afternoon?!

And here it is Perfect Picture Book Friday again!  Where does the time go?  I think there's a time thief around here somewhere.  I'm going to have someone look into that at once.  I can't afford to be having entire weeks stolen right out from under me! :)

But for right now, I have the cutest, sweetest book to share with you.  I dare you not to fall in love with this baby elephant :)  His name is Raju... in case you were wondering :)

Title: Soon
Written By: Timothy Knapman
Illustrated By: Patrick Benson
Candlewick Press, February 2015, Fiction

Suitable For Ages: 2-5

Themes/Topics: patience, family relationship (mother/son), adventure, bedtime

Opening: "Very early one morning, Raju and his mother set out on a great adventure.  It was cold and dark.  They walked for a long time.  "When can we go home again?" asked Raju.  "Soon," said his mother."

Brief Synopsis:  A little elephant and his mother go on an adventure which the little elephant is not sure about.  "When can we go home?" he keeps asking.  But when the adventure is complete, all he wants to know is, "When can we go again?"

Links To Resources: discuss what you think the qualities of an adventure are, and what you would like to do for an adventure; talk about ways that your mom and/or dad makes you feel safe; go on an adventure walk; make up your own adventure story.

Why I Like This Book:  First and foremost, oh! I love the art!  Soft pastel colors, the cutest baby elephant you ever saw, and such expression in the elephants' faces and body language.  The story is sweet and tender, the mother leading her baby on a special outing, keeping him safe from every danger along the way (crocodiles, snakes, tigers) and in so doing teaching him how to keep himself safe.  In the same vein as The Camel Who Took A Walk (1967) (reviewed HERE for PPBF), there's not a lot of rootin' tootin' action, but the story is just lovely, and perfect for bedtime.

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 wonderful books you've chosen this week!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

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I'm missing picturebooks on this blog! Colour and playfullness! Which makes me wonder - are we endorsing the message: picturebook writers have still to ‘grow’ into YA writers? As an art teacher in another life, I see picturebooks as the foundation for developing an early aesthetic - line, tone, texture, colour, imagery, flights of fancy, hidden meaning, pattern and rhythm are all there to be unknowlingly absorbed by the child.


So here are my favourite 5 PICTUREBOOK BEASTIES. Classic beasts like Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, Antony Browne’s Gorilla and Munro Leaf’s Ferdinand are givens, (5 is an impossibly small number!) so I’ve tried for some really small beasties, one imaginary one and one jungle beast. You probably have plenty more favourites to add. No vampires or dinosaurs allowed!



1. THE FROGS AND THE CAT (see top of blog) by Kazanari Hino illustrated by Tokao Siato published by Fukuinkan Shoten won the IBBY Honours Book in 2004 for Japanese Illustration.

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