Children's Books
Poetry for Kids: Suzie Bitner was afraid of the Drain
There's something I don't think I've shared with our faithful Role Mommy readers - I'm a poetry fanatic. In fact, I've been reading and writing poetry since I was in the third grade and I truly appreciate great poems written just for kids. Which is why when I discovered @SuzieBitner on Twitter and learned she was actually the name of a poem written by illustrator and poet Barbara Vance, I had to find out more.
After a quick twitter exchange, Barbara and I connected and she sent me her book to read and I have to say, I've been smiling ever since. Even more exciting, I've shared her poetry with my 8 and 11 year old and she's got them laughing too. Here's a cute verse, that's short and sweet and had us chuckling (especially since we're suckers for penguins):
A Penguin's Perspective
Said one penguin to another
"This cold weather's not for me.
If it weren't for my egg here,
I'd be off in Waikiki!"
There are 124 poems in the illustrated book that is bound to tickle the funny bone of kids of all ages. Read them with your kids and laugh or your older ones can curl up with Suzie Bitner and read it before they head for bed. If your kids are just learning to write poetry, this is a great way to get them immersed in content that they can connect with and enjoy as they learn the art of rhyme!
To order a copy of Suzy Bitner was afraid on the Drain, visit Amazon today and if you'd like to find out more about Barbara Vance, visit her at the Suzie Bitner website.
Posted in: Blog, Children's Books on 06/09/2010
Bobbi Brown Gives Her Dad the Ultimate Gift
Here at Role Mommy, we celebrate parents who have managed to do what they love while raising a family. And today, we're featuring one woman who managed to give her dad the ultimate gift. And it's none other than make-up guru Bobbi Brown. We recently got the chance to interview Bobbi and her dad Joe, who reinvented his own life after Bobbi surprised her dad on his 70th birthday by publishing stories he had written when she was a child. After sharing the book with friends and family, Joe decided to pursue his passion for writing and today, his latest book, Race to the Rescue: Flights of Marceau was recently published by Scholastic.
Listen in to our interview and find out how Bobbi got her start in the beauty industry and hear how her dad predicted she'd be the next Estee Lauder! To find out more about The Flights of Marceau, click here.
Posted in: Blog, Blog Talk Radio, Children's Books on 01/10/2010
New Section...Kids Book Reviews!
From one of our new favorite website, the Lollipop Book Club comes children's book reviews! Here's their first pick - enjoy and if you have books to recommend, let us know!
For every mom who has a picky eater at home, The Seven Silly Eaters is a must-read that will have you and your kids laughing out loud. As moms, we fully embrace our responsibility to nourish our children. But "short-order cook" is not necessarily what we had in mind when we signed up for this job. Despite valiant attempts at serving one meal to everyone at the table, some of us ultimately succumb to our finicky feeders and their special dietary requirements.
Such is the case with Mrs. Peters. With her first baby boy, she agreeably heats his milk to the perfect temperature- not too hot, not too cold. She is equally as obliging with the next child's request for homemade lemonade. With her five subsequent children, the demands become increasingly ridiculous- applesauce only, triple-strained oatmeal, soft and squishy homemade bread, and yummy eggs for two (one poached, one fried!). All the while, she is careful never to allow any of these foods to touch or mix, for a gargantuan meltdown of seven silly eaters would ensue!
Then the night before Mrs. Peters' birthday, she retires to bed exhausted. The children decide to make their respective food of choice for the next morning's breakfast. This is to be a special surprise for their mom. Readers can easily predict the disastrous mess in the kitchen, but the final outcome is a clever twist that will put a smile on every mommy's face. Maybe, just maybe, all of our culinary efforts are not in vain!
Mary Ann Hoberman never stretches her perfectly rhyming verse, making this book a delightfully fun read-aloud. The illustrations are equally as noteworthy, capturing the cluttered chaos of a very busy household. Bathroom doors ajar (with little occupants inside), topsy-turvy lampshades, and laundry galore are just some of the many accurate and funny details to explore.
The Seven Silly Eaters is a book that moms and their picky eaters will enjoy immensely!
Karen Gallagher
www.LollipopBookClub.com
Posted in: Blog, Book Club, Children's Books on 01/17/2009
