
Giveaway Contest for Farm to Film, a children’s alphabet book written and illustrated by Hannah Miles Pierrou (ended Sunday, Dec. 5)
November was Family Literacy Month, a topic close to my heart. I have seven granddaughters (ages 6 – 13) and feel strongly about that topic, which also was the focus of my grad studies. The girls have been leaving love notes, drawing pictures, and writing stories and songs since they could hang onto their own crayons. They’re able language users. They speak, listen, read, write, and reason in creative ways. And they can convincingly argue their ways out of most situations.
So, what practical things can you do to encourage literacy at home? Here are a few ideas. Teach your children and others to use literacy as a tool to understand how the world around them works (for example, encourage them to keep a whiteboard calendar to organize their lives). At home, read to them; have them read to you. Install a reading light next to their bed so they can get a chapter or so in before they fall asleep. Keep reading aloud to them even when they’re proficient readers themselves. Use reading and writing in practical ways. Keep writing and art supplies where kids can get to them without asking.
Connect reading and writing to enjoyable activities (such as visiting a farm, learning about a new sport, learning about a new pet, or making or creating recipes). Take your children shopping with you; let them read labels and pick out the vegetables and products. Lots of words surround us in our daily environment. Ask children to read them, talk about them, and use them. And have lots of conversations with your children and teens, too.
The author/illustrator, Hannah Miles Pierrou, gave me her Farm to Film children’s book to use as a book giveaway. I thought of how nicely it connected to children’s lives, especially during Family Literacy Month. And it arrived wrapped in beautiful paper created from the artwork inside the book, perfect for gift-giving during the holidays.
Young readers will be captivated by this debut alphabet book. It tells the visual story of discoveries the young girl sees at Pop and Gram’s farm (“Pop’s OLD CAMERA makes the perfect eye to view the WORLD”) through Grandpa’s antique camera lens. Pierrou’s inviting artwork includes pictures of an alpaca, bee, cow, deer, eggs, fox, goat, gardening produce, and farm activities. These beautiful illustrations form the centerpiece of each double-page spread and complement Pierrou’s representations of rural life. The written text is fun to read aloud, too. The unique watercolor illustrations are created in a soft nature palette of warm pastels, and many of them are filled with geometric designs. Readers, young and old, will enjoy this breath-of-fresh-air alphabetical adventure. Stay tuned for other giveaway contests in the future. — Keep reading! Nancy
Enter a comment below telling me what you would do with the book if you won it. If you’re the winner, I’ll mail the book to you in time for the holidays!
I would donate this beautiful book to Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens for use in their Wednesday morning child’s reading program.
Thank you, Toni, for entering! — Nancy
It is important to get children to only only read but enjoy it. FARM TO FILM will certainly do this.
Thanks, Mary, for entering–and I agree!– Nancy
This would be lovely for my granddaughter! Thanks so much for the giveaway.
Michelle–thanks for entering!–Nancy
IF i won this book, I would read it with my granddaughter. She loves to read .
Anne Marie–thank you for entering (and reading with your granddaughter is a priceless memory!).–Nancy
Anne Marie–You won! I’ve mailed the book to you. Did you receive it?
I grew up on a farm and think this book is adorable! I would take it to school with me and read it to students when I substitute teach! Students would enjoy it.
Thank you for the opportunity!
Colleen–You can probably relate to this book more than almost anyone else! Thanks for entering (winner to be chosen on Dec. 5).–Nancy
If I won this book I would put it in my neighbor’s sidewalk library to share with my community! There are lots of kids in our neighborhood who enjoy this book ❤️
Hi, Heather! Thank you for joining this book contest (and so good to see you “here”!). I’ll be choosing the winner with an app tomorrow and will let you know if you win …