Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday – I review a picture book, provide a simple fun craft you can do with your kids and then I link up with dozens of other writers, moms, librarians and other lovers of picture books on Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

I enjoy reading the classic picture books that I grew up with – but I also love finding brand-new ones that will be classics one day. So I was excited to receive a copy of today’s selection from the publisher…and I’m really thrilled to be presenting it to you – hot off the press!

MILLIE FIERCE SLEEPS OUT

Written and illustrated by Jane Manning

Publisher: Philomel Books (May 29, 2014)

Ages: 3 and up

Themes: Expressing feelings, appropriate behavior, camping out, overcoming fears

Opening Lines:

“Being good wasn’t easy. But Millie knew that being fierce ruined parties, and made people mad, and even made them cry. So Millie had kept herself fierce-free all summer long.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

“Little girls can be strong and fierce and brave—and sometimes their ferocity is just the thing they need to save the day.

Millie is strong. Millie is fierce. But Millie has learned to keep her fierceness in check. And since she’s been sweet all summer long, Millie gets to have a sleep-out with her friends. One where she promises to be well behaved. But things don’t go as Millie planned, and our fierce little heroine is not happy.  Still, she tries her best to keep her fierceness inside. But when the scary dog from next door howls at the girls’ tent, Millie’s ferocity saves them all!”

Why I like this book:

• Bold vivid illustrations- congratulations to Jane Manning – job well-done!
• Wonderful message about learning to express our feelings, control our behavior, make our weakness into a strength and figuring out when it is okay to let go!
• A super strong-girl story!
• Reminded me so much of Where the Wild Things Are – kudos again to Ms. Manning!
• I read it to my grandson – he LOVED it – and then wanted to turn the pages and read it to himself by looking at the pictures – kids are extremely tough critics…they will honestly let you know when they like or don’t like something. I know this is a book he will want to hear again and again.

How a parent can use this book:

• Talk about feelings and behavior.
• Role play different scenarios when it would be appropriate to be fierce.
• Plan a camp-out – depending on your situation, it could take place outside in your backyard…or even in the living room.
• Do shadow play with your child – turn down the lights, get a flashlight and see what animals and shapes you can portray on the wall.

Related Activities:

HOMEMADE BINOCULARS

Photo courtesy http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/toystomake/a/blbinocr.htm

All you need are two empty toilet paper rolls, construction paper, glue, scissors and markers.

1. Cut construction paper so that you can lay an empty toilet paper roll on each end.
2. Glue each tube and then roll towards each other.
3. Glue in place, leaving a small space for the ‘nosepiece’.
4. Decorate with markers.
5. Look through your homemade binoculars…objects will seem closer and clearer.

Lots of great summer crafts here: http://tinkerlab.com/11-classic-summer-camp-crafts/

To learn more about the book, Millie Fierce Sleeps Out, go here: http://www.milliefierce.com/

To visit the other stops on Jane’s TLC book blog tour, go here: http://tlcbooktours.com/2014/04/jane-manning-author-of-millie-fierce-sleeps-out-on-tour-june-2014/

To learn more about author/illustrator Jane Manning’s other books, go here: http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/12438