It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday! Here’s a quick writing update before I start the review:
- I finished another query for Boys’ Quest Magazine and got it out the door. They accepted my last two submissions, so I’m hopeful.
- I have a couple of magazine stories kicking around for Fun For Kidz and Appleseeds. Work begins on those next week.
- My wonderful critique group helped me whip my latest manuscript into shape. My goal is to finish revisions this weekend so I can send out. I have a writing conference next weekend, where I’ll have a session with an editor I think might be a good fit.
- I’m working on another picture book idea! It’s been awhile, since I’ve had one come to me as a full concept versus just the subject matter.
- I signed up for a picture book workshop with one of my writing idols Ann Whitford Paul.
- I won a copy of Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel, which I will review in the coming weeks.
Unrelated: The kids are out of school for Good Friday and Easter Monday, and I’ve planned lots of fun. Today we’re headed to the Natural History Museum of LA to see the dinosaur exhibit.
Now, on to today’s review.
TITLE: The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Loreen Leedy
PUBLICATION INFO: Holiday House, 1994 (reprinted 2007)
ISBN: 978-0-08234-2074-2
SOURCE: Library
INTENDED AUDIENCE: 5 and up
GENRE: fiction
OPENING and SYNOPSIS:
“On the day of the grand opening of The Edible Pyramid restaurant, customers lined up to get inside.”
From the book jacket:
“Soup’s on at the Edible Pyramid. The feline host is serving everything a kid needs to eat for a healthy, balanced diet. There are yummy items from every group in the food pyramid and advice on getting plenty of exercise too!”
THEMES/TOPICS: healthy eating, food, exercise, science, nature
WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Loreen Leedy is a favorite. She blends factual information with comedic characters and great plots to make highly readable books. I can’t think of a better way to teach kids about healthy eating. One note: the USDA has forgone the “Food Pyramid” in favor of the “My Plate” analogy. However, the information in this book continues to be valid.
RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:
- Leedy has activities on her site, including a challenge to pick five foods and see where they fit on the pyramid.
- Or give your child a food group, fruit for example, and let him or her pick a new food to try.
- You could also serve kids a favorite food and challenge them to estimate how many servings from each food group the food contains. (MATH!)
- Have kids think about the ways they exercise and add up the minutes: recess, t-ball practice, gymnastics, dance party in the living room, for example.
- Learn more about MyPlate from the USDA.
Every Friday bloggers review “Perfect Picture Books.” Find a complete list of book reviews organized by topic, genre and blogger at author Susanna Leonard Hill’s site.
Kirsten W. Larson 
Congratulations, Kirsten, on all your acceptances! And you’ll have to let us know how Ann W. Paul’s workshop goes! Are you in a suburb of LA? We used to live in La Habra.
Hi Tina, thanks! Thanks to you, I’ve been using Nancy Sanders’ “triple crown,” which is leading to success! I am in the LA area, so I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do a workshop with Ann.
I love your writing update – sounds like all your stars are aligning! Have a great time at the museum.
Great resources to tie activities into the book for PPBF. :- )
Thanks Cathy. I’ve been a little remiss in keeping my blog up to date, so I kind of cobbled everything together in one post. 🙂
What a great and fun way to teach kids about healthy eating. Excellent resources.
Great writing update. Good luck with your workshop with Ann and your meeting with an editor.
Thank you Pat. I have Ann’s book, so she’s kind of my idol.
What a great healthy book for kids and congrats on all those irons in the fire. Good luck with editor next week.
I’m still waiting for the joy of eating healthy foods to sink in. Ha, ha.
I know what you mean. Easter isn’t helping.
The cover illo looks fun too!
I like Leedy’s style and voice. Always funny.
You are BUSY! Enjoy the weekend with your kids with healthy eating (and maybe even some treats!) this weekend
Thanks Wendy! Believe me, if they don’t eat the Easter candy quickly, I will. 🙂
Wow! like Wendy said, you have been busy. Congrats with all your acceptances and hope you enjoy your course. Excellent PB choice for the list Kirsten. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much. I am trying to be productive. Having an occasional acceptance does keep me motivated.
Sounds like you’re quite the busy lady! Hope you all have fun at the museum. The book looks pretty interesting. I don’t see many books about food. A good subject!
This is a great book about healthy eating. My kids even read it before I did. My older son was planning meals for his stuffed animals.
So many good things happening. I am so excited for you!
I am a Loreen leedy fan and know I would enjoy this as I am a big healthy-eating fan too!
Thanks Joanna. It just takes a few small things to keep me pressing forward. I love Loreen Leedy too, especially the math books. I love anything that makes math fun.
Good luck with your Boys’ Quest submission. You are on the move, Kirsten. Good for you!
The book sounds great. A good way to encourage kids to eat healthy and we certainly need that!