Thursday, April 15, 2021

Poetry Friday: Let's Celebrate SPIN A CIRCLE with a Book Review and Giveaway

 Welcome back, friends! It's been a whirlwind. I haven't been checking in regularly because I started a new job with Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. The job is fulfilling, but it's also been a lot of hard work and training. I'm thrilled to be back this week to celebrate a new book written by Raven Howell and illustrated by Ann Pilicer. Please help me celebrate, SPIN A CIRCLE.




SPIN A CIRCLE

Written by Raven Howell

Illustrated by Ann Pilicer

Published by MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing, Inc.

ISBN 9781649720548


What a delight! Each poem in this collection celebrates the activity, creativity, and imagination of preschoolers and elementary age children. From an exuberant teeter-totter ride to a colorful adventure in finger painting to a lovely lullaby and so much more in between, Raven Howell captures the simple, yet oh so special moments that make up childhood. Raven’s beautiful verse shines through Ann Pilicer’s lively illustrations. They make an unbeatable combination!

You wouldn’t think the book could be any more special until you learn that it was designed with a dyslexic font. This font makes letters easier to identify and allows children with dyslexia to read with less effort and frustration. As the parent of a child with dyslexia, I would have loved to have had books designed with this font when my child was struggling mightily to make sense of letters and words and how they came together to form sentences and paragraphs. This book should be a staple on every school, library, and home bookshelf. SPIN A CIRCLE was an absolute joy to read and experience.


Here are a few of my favorites:





My thanks to Raven Howell and MacLaren-Cochrane for gifting me with an extra copy of the book that I am happily going to gift to one of my readers. Just comment below for your chance to enter to win. The computer will randomly select a winner on Friday, April 24th.

Thank you for stopping by and helping me celebrate this wonderful new collection. The Poetry Friday Round Up is hosted this week by Jama Rattigan and her beautiful Jama's Alphabet Soup blog. Be sure to click over to enjoy all of this week’s poetry goodness.


30 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this delightful poetry book Kimberly. I love the upbeat, colorful art, it works well with the lively poems! And yes this is truly special, and inclusive to have a book that shares dyslexic fonts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michelle, thanks so much for your kind comment. Illustrator Ann Pilicer and I really DID have a colorful spin of fun creating our book, and am honored that it is already getting into the hands of the dyslexic community. Sending warm regards, Raven.

      Delete
  2. Oh this is so wonderful. I love the font's friendliness. Hooray. I have taught kids who struggle with what they see and this will help. If I win the book I would be thrilled but regardless it is on my wishlist. I love the painting poem, so nicely done! Kids will love this and I agree it should be widely shared, read and enjoyed!
    Janet Clare F.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for spotlighting Spin a Circle! Enjoyed the sample poems, and I didn't realize there was such a thing as a dyslexic font. Too cool! Congrats to Raven and Ann on the new book. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Spin a Circle looks perfect for my Kindergarten poets! Love the words and images, too. Thank you for the preview. Do you happen to know the name of the font? I've heard of such, but don't know which to use. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Christie! My publisher calls it the "dyslexie" font, but not sure if that's the official name, though I think it is. And yes - I wrote it for the Kindergarten aged child! Feel free to contact me for cute activities you can print out to pass out to the students to accompany the book. pickward@aol.com if you'd want to email me or you can message me via FB, too. Thanks for the good cheer, and sending regards your way. Raven.

      Delete
  5. Both my granddaughters have needed extra help because of dyslexia. Though they are older, I will find Raven's book for them, for fun to see what they think. It looks darling. I love the examples you gave, Kimberly!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for sharing this book, Kimberly. I wish we'd had something like it when my kids were learning to read -- I have one (now 24) who is dyslexic. What a great thing to use a friendly font for these poems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, and I couldn't agree more. I really wish this font had been available to my son when he was struggling. Though I'm super excited for all of the children it can now help!

      Delete
  7. I never heard of this font - what a great idea! The book looks lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Ruth, and yes, I hadn't heard of the font before either. It's genius.

      Delete
  8. This book looks great--love the somersaulting poem! And congrats on your new job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Buffy - thanks for your comment, and you know I don't have to tell you how much your own On a Snow-melting Day sings with joy to me! Sending kindest regards, Raven.

      Delete
  9. Thanks for sharing this fun book! Perfect for preschoolers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Rose, and I couldn't agree more!

      Delete
  10. SPIN IN A CIRCLE looks like such a fun read and what a great topic! I can't wait to get my copy and share it with a little person I know. Bravo, Raven! Thanks for sharing, Kimberly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Heidi! It was probably well over a year ago now that we both brought up "action poetry" or verse that instigates movement and creativity. I'm so happy to get the word out now, thanks! Raven.

      Delete
  11. Thanks for sharing, Kimberly--I've never heard of a dyslexic font. How amazing to be able to make a text more inclusive even with the typeface! I love that somersault poem. Congrats on your new job!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh my goodness. Those somersaults! 'Tuck your chin in.' Took me back to my childhood. I always found them a wee-bit scary. And I reckon they'd be a big bit scary if I was to try them now!!😹

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kat, my little granddaughter loves doing somersaults, which is why I think that poem was one of my favorites. I'm always reminding her to "tuck her chin" :)

      Delete
  13. Kimberly, this book is such a delightful one for toddlers like my two little granddaughters. I can't wait to share the pages with them. I did not know that there is such a thing as a dyslexic font but am so glad that it helps children with dyslexia to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol, I shared the book with my granddaughter, and she absolutely loved it! I'm sure your granddaughters will too.

      Delete
  14. Thank you Kimberly for sharing our Spin a Circle! So happy you enjoyed it. Creating the art for this and working with Raven was such a joy! It is also heartwarming to see all the wonderful comments from people for the book.-Ann Pilicer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ann, reading and sharing this book was a treat. Thank you for helping to bring it into the world.

      Delete

Thank you for stopping by and checking in. I love hearing from you.