Poppy’s Best Paper

Written by: Susan Eaddy

Illustrated by: Rosalinde Bonnet

Ages : 5 – 8 years

Publisher: Charlesbridge, MA

Theme: procrastination, frustration, being the best, ambition

Opening Lines: Poppy loved books. “I might be a writer when I grow up,”she told her best friend, Lavender.

Synopsis: (from Amazon)   More than anything, Poppy wants to be a verrrry famous writer. She’s sure Mrs. Rose will pick her paper to read to the whole class! Trouble is, she has tall ambitions but is short on effort, and her jealousy takes over when her best friend’s paper is chosen instead. In the end, Poppy discovers that she has to get out of her own way if her big dreams are going to come true. Rosalinde’s adorable, expressive illustrations make memorable, quirky Poppy a real star!

Why I like it: Ohhhhh on so many levels I loved this story. From the cute expressions on Poppy’s face to the clever text, which, and this is if I’m being totally honest, gives a very good view of what many of us writers come up against from time to time, Procrastination! Yep that big word just popped right out. Imagine being asked to write a paper, on anything, and for some reason life gets in the way. Or in Poppy’s case time for breaks, time to sharpen the pencil, time to play, time for dinner, time for bed, and before you know it, there is no time left. It’s also about not only having no time left but what Poppy writes onto her paper. Does one or two sentences really cut the mustard? Was there any effort put into it? Mmm I think we have all been down that road. But I love when she finally gets an idea. Not only an idea but writes about something she knows only too well. Ha, you will have to read the story and then you’ll get to read her paper. The best part of course was her paper finally getting to be read out in class. So there is a great moral to this story for both kids and, “cough” writers alike. When you take the time and effort, and write what you know, who knows, it could become a winner.

It wasn’t till I read the back flap that I realised Susan Eaddy also illustrated my dear friend and 12×12 creator’s book – “My Love for You is the Sun.” Poppy’s Best Paper is the first book  Susan has written and I loved the way she set the scene in her first couple of sentences. Her sentences are short and snappy taking us through the days and hours Poppy spends writing her papers. The distractions and the time she spends at school and her feelings towards her friend, Lavender. Kids will love this book and see themselves in the soft coloured illustrations and connect easily with Poppy. I did.  🙂

Resources/Findings:  : Here is a YouTube trailer of the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHpbSCY1e0g

Teachers – After reading the story children could write down as many things they could remember that distracted Poppy. What other things could be distracting? What is the name of Poppy’s teacher? What was the first writing topic for the class? Choose a topic for the class to write on one sheet of paper. A topic could be “If I had one wish.”

Since we just had Poppy day and celebrated ANZAC Day last Monday – Australian and New Zealand Army Corp – remembering those who died at the landing at Gallipoli during World War 2. Here is a You Tube on how to make paper Poppies –   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe0uqc6ImgQ

Here is Susan’s website… http://www.susaneaddy.com/books/

And Rosalinde’s….   http://www.rosalindebonnet.com/

I’m always pleased to be able to bring you some more special books that have come my way and be able to share them with you and join other great writers over at Susanna’s Blog, where there are literally hundreds of book reviews to view.  So pop over  and visit the lovely author, Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books.    Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with books reviewed by many authors