Yep. I scoured the perfect picture book lists and not only found themes for my special selection but found it hasn’t been reviewed before. *Yay* So starts my series on Books By First Authors For Cheerios and Spoonfuls of Stories and General Mills. Cheerios has led a contest for the past several years for unpublished authors. All the books I am going to feature for the next two months have been translated into Spanish.and are found in Cheerios boxes In fact after I learned there were picture books in Cheerios boxes, I bought eight boxes just for the books. I was lucky in that it was over Easter and I could give all the boxes of cereal to my niece for her teen boys to eat. lol. And of course I kept the books.
Title: Peeny Butter Fudge
Written by: Toni Morrison and her son Slade Morrison
Illustrated by: Joe Cepeda
Appropriate for: Ages four to eleven, fiction from Simon and Schuster, 2009
Resources: http://books.google.com/books?id=kNYonbKlwdoC&pg=PA131&lpg=PA131&dq=Peeny+Butter+Fudge+teacher+guides&source=bl&ots=BktxurcUDf&sig=6hzJ7zyB0z8C56z7LWJs4XODjl4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=A9GhT6aGIq7M6QG76OX0CA&sqi=2&ved=0CHcQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=Peeny%20Butter%20Fudge%20teacher%20guides&f=false for discussion guides on who can’t eat peanut butter to what does your grandmother do when Mommy’s not home. There’s this one http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Peeny-Butter-Fudge/Slade-Morrison/9781416983323 and even this one for more teacher guides are here: http://authors.simonandschuster.net/Slade-Morrison/18922951
Themes: family, grandparents, grandmother, grandchildren, parenting, food, recipe, common childhood experiences, Love, working together, Team work, self-esteem, cooking, relationships, Play and playtime,
First three sentences: Snuggle, Snuggle. Time for rest. Nana joins us in her nest. Nap time, Nap time not so long when Nana sings a sleepy song.
Brief Summary: This is an amusing and humorous story of what it’s like to have grandmother around when the parents are away. This rhyming story tells how one grandmother changes the instructions mother left for her own about what she thinks the children should do.
Why I love it: Because I’m a grandmother and this is all about being one. I even got validation on some of the things I do when my grandson visits. This is from a grandchild’s point of view showing the reader how special time with “Nana” is. Mother leaves instructions on the frig but Nana does her own thing. She reads stories, plays interactive games like doctor, she sack races around the town, she makes a yummy lunch and best of all she passes along a recipe for Peeny Butter Fudge to her grandchildren that when Mommy comes home remembers making with “Nana” when she was small. This is a rhyming story and of course is by African American authors. I love the humorous twist at the end which I’m not telling. And best of all there is a recipe at the end of the book for Peeny Butter Fudge that one can make with their own children. Or if you’re a grandma like me, with your grandchildren.
Do you think you will want to read this book? Why? Weigh in at the comments.
For more books with resources please visit Perfect Picture Books at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog. And if you’d like to be whisked away through cyber space to the resource page and the list of more marvelous recommended perfect picture books just click on the perfect picture book badge on the right.
I will be featuring an author of the Spoonful of Stories Contest on my blog the third Tuesday in May so stay tuned.
Related articles
- Cheerios Puts Six Million Children’s Books Inside Cereal Boxes (readersread.com)
- Cheerios Includes 6 Million Children’s Books in Cereal Boxes! (susanheim.blogspot.com)
- Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories Announcement: donations to First Book (roxieh.wordpress.com)
- Perfect Picture Book Friday / I Need My Monster (clarbojahn.wordpress.com)
Maybe one day I’ll be a Gramma, too!
LikeLike
I hope so Suzicate. It’s a special privilage. My grand son is from my step daughter and even that is a very special gift. I hope I do it justice.
LikeLike
I’m not a Gramma but I still would like that Peeny Butter Fudge recipe…lol. I laughed at your comment of buying eight boxes!! This sounds an hilarious story to read. Thanks Clar!
LikeLike
The humor in the book is subtle not funny ha ha but never the less there.
Yes, all those boxes of cereal went to a good cause, feeding teen boys. My niece was grateful. Some how I’ll have to make it up to the five year old. lol
LikeLike
That sounds like a fun book breaking the rules and having lots of fun. Thanks Clar!
LikeLike
Yeah, Gramma is a rebel and her charges love her for it. 🙂
LikeLike
I would definitely read this. Anything by Toni Morrison is welcome here! Thanks Clar!
LikeLike
So glad to find a fellow Toni Morrison lover. 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds cute. Makes me think of how my mom plays with my son.
LikeLike
aaww. so cute. 🙂
LikeLike
She sounds like a very fun grandmother! I had no idea Toni Morison had written a picture book – how cool. Love that you’ve shared this one, Clar! Thanks!
LikeLike
Yes, she’s multi talented isn’t she? 🙂
LikeLike
I would read this. I like generational books and there are still nowhere near enough picture books out there with African American characters. This looks well illustrated and a fun read.
LikeLike
It is both well illustrated and fun, Joanna. You would love it. 🙂
LikeLike
This book looks delightful! I wish I could still eat peeny butter! Grandmas are the best babysitters. They can be persuaded that a kid always gets to have a glass of orange Tang before bed, even when the jar (yes, jar!) is waaaaay up on the highest shelf…
I wish our Cheerios boxes had books in them!
LikeLike
lol, Beth. You crack me up!
Look in the chocolate cheerios. You may be surprised. 🙂
LikeLike
I would have loved this as a child. Grandma’s are special and mine did things her own way! I found this book review so much fun and charming! Toni Morrison is great and I’m glad you chose this one today!
LikeLike
Thanks, Patricia. I hope you get a chance to read it. 🙂
LikeLike
This book looks really funny, nice and down-right cool! I think the illustrations are wonderful! I would love to read this book! 🙂
LikeLike
You’ll love it, Erik. Maybe even down to the recipe. You could probably do it without your mom helping. 🙂
LikeLike
Love Toni Morrison’s writing – especially rhyme. This looks like one of her best yet. Nice to have a son to share the honor as well. My son would not know where to begin!! Sigh.
BOOKS for KIDS – Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
LikeLike
I’m sure my son would love to write a book with me but neighter one has kids so it would be hard for them to put themselves in a kids shoes. And then they are so busy.
Toni must have powers of persuasion beyond ours, huh?
You’ll love this book. 🙂
LikeLike
This sounds like a wonderful book from an amazing author. I didn’t realize she wrote children’s books as well. You learn so much from blogging! I have 4 grandchildren and we get up to all sorts when we are together. It is so much fun.
LikeLike
OH you are blessed to have so many. Spread the love around. 🙂
LikeLike