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Book Review and Giveaway: Sunny Numbers and The Handkerchief Quilt. Ends 31 August


Sunny Numbers: A Florida Counting Book

written by Carol Crane and illustrated by Jane Monroe Donovan

 

Journey across Florida with Sunny Numbers, a captivating book of fun facts and figures on the Sunshine State. Take your children from simple counting to multiplication, and teach them even more than math – they’ll learn about Florida landmarks, wildlife, sea life, history and harvests.

My Review: I like that this book takes a child on a journey across Florida, exploring Florida’s landscape and history while they learn about alphabet, how to count and multiply. Read about the Florida’s first Lighthouse built to protect the nation’s oldest seaport at St. Augustine to twelve Wild Monkeys brought to Silver River Isle.  Highly recommend for family and classroom teaching, with beautifully, detailed illustrations by Jane Monroe Donovan.  

The Handkerchief Quilt by Carol Crane and illustrated by Gary Palmer

For many years, Monday through Friday, Miss Anderson has walked toParklandSchool, eager to begin her day’s work in her classroom. She is a devoted teacher, beloved by the many children she has taught over the years. The school and her students mean everything to her. After one holiday weekend,ParklandSchoolsuffers a devastating flood. Burst pipes send water pouring into classrooms and the library. The school must close for repairs. But it’s not just the building that has been damaged. New supplies and materials, especially books, are needed. But there isn’t enough money to do it all. Miss Anderson cannot bear to think of her beloved school closed and her students left without materials. What can she do to help? And when the answer comes to her, Miss Anderson knows what to do and whom to ask for assistance. This story was based on a true event from the author’s own family history.

My Review: The Handkerchief Quilt by Carol Crane is based upon a true story from her mother’s life in the 1950s. It tells how a devoted teacher saved her school from closing down due to burst pipes and lack of finances to repair the damages. She decided to use the handkerchiefs given to her by her students over the years to make a handkerchief quilt to raise money for books and supplies. This story is relevant today as it was then, it should inspire us to come together and help our community. Great artwork and use of watercolor by Gary Palmer, highly recommend for classroom reading.

 Ages: 4- 8

Hardcovers: 40 & 36

FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.

Free Giveaway (US Only) 

Comments like these would be deleted –  Great contest, Please enter me, Love to win this!, This is so cute! 

Mandatory: So leaving a helpful comment relating to this book would be appreciated and valid to the giveaway.

Mandatory: Leave your comments about the Author on the link below

 https://mymcbooks.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/interview-with-author-carol-crane/#respond.

All Mandatory must be completed or entry will be disqualified.

 

Author is giving a signed copy of her book to 2 lucky winners

1st Winner – Sunny Numbers

2nd Winner -The Handkerchief Quilt 

Giveaway Ends August 31st @ 12 noon

 

This Giveaway Has Ended!

August 15, 2011 - Posted by | Book Review, Free Giveaways | , , , , , , , , , , ,

22 Comments »

  1. My sister is a retired teacher, who taught first grade for 34 years. She loved her job and received many
    awards for her tireless effort working with students and their parents. I have never heard of The
    Handkerchief Quilt before, but it is very inspiring, and would make a wonderful gift for me sister…
    Also, I would love sharing Sunny Numbers with my great-niece and great-nephew who have been
    to Florida quite a few times!
    Many thanks to you…Cindi

    Comment by Cindi | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  2. These are great books to start the school year with! Every year schools are needing to raise funds for the class parties and field trips. Handkerchief Quilt would give teachers and students inspiration. Thanks for sharing this review and giveaway.

    acvanslyke@gmail.com

    Comment by Cassandra | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  3. The fact that the Handkerchief Quilt is based on a true story adds a thrilling touch to tell the child reading the book. I think my grandchildren would really enjoy this story. Especially since that was when Grandmaw was in school!
    kathleen,bianchi@gmail.com

    Comment by KATHLEEN BIANCHI | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  4. I love the illustration on the cover, these books are perfect for the impending school year. My nieces and nephew would love this! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom

    Comment by krystallarson | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  5. We have several of the ABC books and love how they go along with the states. Great to use in homeschooling on individual state studies. I also just love any book quilt related. My best hobbby is quilting and love to see it in books for kids
    Melanie
    melanieinoh2003 at yahoo dot com

    Comment by Melanie | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  6. Showing children nowadays that it is a wonderful thing to pull resources and give back to their communities is a good thing and i thik that this story, “The Handkerchief Quilt” would definitely be one to share and show that. Sometimes you think that there is nothing you can do to help, but in times of need, even the smallest things count.

    I love the cover on Sunny NUmbers. The illustrations and colors make it feel like a really beachy book and I think the kids would love learning about their numbers as they explore across sunny Florida.

    countrysunset40 (at) aol dot com

    Comment by Tracy Smith | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  7. I have recently decided to home school my 5 y/o for a year of pre-K due to some learning disabilities and ADHD, and this book would be so great to have to use to teach him! He has trouble with numbers, so I could start him out learning that, and then as he learns, I could use the book to go even further with it. I could also use it for social studies class to teach him about Florida, so it is definitely a win-win book for me! Thanks for the awesome giveaway:)
    jwitt33 at live dot com

    Comment by Julie Witt | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  8. Great books, my daughter would love them

    Comment by jessica edwards | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  9. We love books about sea creatures, and adding in the learning of mathematics is a wonderful idea! They both sound like wonderful books!!

    Comment by lisa | August 15, 2011 | Reply

  10. Carol Crane has over 40 years experience in children’s literature.

    Comment by Stephanie Barmann | August 16, 2011 | Reply

  11. I love she blends education with vibrant children’s books to make learning fun. What child doesn’t like sea creatures?
    theremustbmore@aol.com

    Comment by Stephanie Barmann | August 16, 2011 | Reply

  12. I hope to win the Sunny Florida book. The math skills could help my daughter out, the ABCs for my youngest, and history for my oldest. Don’t think I could find such a well rounded book anywhere!

    Thanks for the great giveaway Ella!

    Comment by Larissa Brunken | August 16, 2011 | Reply

  13. These books will get students in the right frame of mind to read and learn at the start of school. Great choices for classroom teachers.

    Comment by heartfeltwords4kids | August 16, 2011 | Reply

  14. I would love to receive The Handkerchief Quilt. The story sounds inspiring. I love old book and I would love to see more of the books illustrations. Watercolor pictures are some of my favorite. The book would make a wonderful edition to my grand daughter’s growing library.

    Donna
    mylife.onestoryatatime@yahoo.com

    Comment by My Book of Stories | August 16, 2011 | Reply

  15. I like true stories, especially those that show how real people are heroic in their everyday lives. The handkerchief quilt sounds great for those reasons.

    lovelydomesticdiva (at) gmail (dot) com

    Comment by domestic diva | August 16, 2011 | Reply

  16. This is the first I’ve seen a state-related ABC book. What a great idea! I’d love to win Sunny Numbers. :o)

    Comment by Beth Reinke | August 16, 2011 | Reply

  17. Sunny Numbers would be a wonderful book to introduce my grandkids to the state of Florida. We have promised them each a trip for their 10th birthdaus and they all picked Florida to go to see the wildlife, Walt Disney World and swim with dolphins. They would appreciate it more knowing about the state before they travel there.

    The Handkerchief Quilt sounds like an inspiring story of helping your community. I hope my grandchildren develop a sense of generosity like Miss Anderson.

    tmyoung at rochester dot rr dot com

    Comment by Teresa Young | August 17, 2011 | Reply

  18. I am a high school mathematics teacher who could use the book “Sunny Numbers” in the teaching of some of my students. It would also be something that I could use in after school programs where I volunteer my time.

    I have not heard of the book “The Handkerchief Quilt.” Thank goodness that I was never placed in a situation at school where all of my school supplies were lost. (I did have a long-term substitute who stole many of my treasures and school supplies including two pictures that I had made in high school.) I know that over the years, I have spent a large amount of money supplying things for my classroom. I was always afraid that businesses might suddenly close for the day when they saw me coming as they knew that I was looking for items that they might donate for my students. When it came to getting things for my students, I could be considered as a total “mooch.” This book sounds like the 50’s version of what I have to do today. I would truly love to have it for my library.

    Comment by Christine W | August 27, 2011 | Reply

  19. I immediately went to the Sleeping Bear Press website and was discouraged to read that Carol Crane had not yet written a book about Oklahoma. Maybe this comment will serve as a hint. I am also a teacher workshop junkie and agree that there is so much to learn and share at these events. I understand about her best writing time being at 4 AM as that is the time that I find best suited for studying. I really like books that have to do with the different states but just wish that more of them could be about Oklahoma. There are so many stories associated with each state that no one person could write a book about all of them. Her book about “The Handkerchief Quilt” reminds me of those touching stories about teachers that help us to remember why we are in this profession.

    Comment by Christine W | August 27, 2011 | Reply

  20. I left a comment on the link provided! She is an inspiring writer! ❤

    Comment by Anneke | August 28, 2011 | Reply

  21. she has a ton of experiance in childrens literature and seems like an amazing woman. Thanks for this opprotunity

    Comment by Taylor | August 28, 2011 | Reply

  22. The Handkerchief Quilt sounds like an interesting read. Especially with it being a true story from one of the Author’s family members. What a great story of inspiration . Thanks for the chance.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    Comment by Carol L. | August 30, 2011 | Reply


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