As I was reading to Charlotte a few days ago, it occurred to me that I have not yet featured any books that really emphasize the power of a child’s imagination. When I was a kid, my imagination ran wild. The backyard was an untamed wilderness, the bathtub was a vast ocean, and dust rags were superhero capes. So to say that I value the creativity of childhood is an understatement.
Which is why I chose to feature For Just One Day, written by Laura Leuck and illustrated by Marc Boutavant, this week. In a nutshell, For Just One Day is a rhyme that explores what nine different children would choose to be if they could be an animal for a day. One girl picks a porcupine, a little boy picks a monkey, and so on. In the end, though, the reader is reassured that even though it might be fun to experience life as a whale or a bunny FOR JUST ONE DAY, it is wonderful to be yourself too.
Pros: The last few pages will provide a child with a reminder that they are special just the way they are, something that little ears always delight in hearing. The book is colorful and filled with unique, eye-catching illustrations. And, of course, you can play the “what animal would you be?” imagination game with your own child.
Cons: None. The book is especially well-suited for toddlers and early readers in a group. Kids love talking about animals, after all!
Borrow or Buy: Buy. For Just One Day is a lovely book and I do believe that it is worth reading a time or two or four hundred. The illustrations are fun, the text encourages a child’s imagination, and young children will easily be able to pick up on hints in the book leading up to each animal.
A couple quick snaps from last night’s story-time!
Reading tip: Challenge your child, no matter how little they are. Ask questions. Identify letters and place your finger beneath words as you read them. Let them guess what will happen next in a story. You may be surprised how quickly they rise to the occasion!
What to do: You can enter this giveaway by leaving a comment below or sending me an e-mail telling me what animal, for just one day, you might enjoy being. All you need is an e-mail address. The giveaway ends Thursday evening at 9 P.M. Pacific Time and the winner will be announced Friday morning. You can leave one entry every day, for a total of up to three entries.
For extra entries: Guess what? If you leave a comment here, a book will be donated to a child in need. This is on the honor system, but if you leave a comment there (and tell me!), I will give you three additional entries.
To purchase this book: You can buy For Just One Day through Amazon.com (that link uses my affiliate code), through Chronicle Books, or locate a local retailer through Indie Bound.org.
Not completely unrelated: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! to everybody who has voted! We are ranked #13 and there has been a slight bump in traffic already, so hopefully if we keep this up we will continue to reach more people about reading to and with kids. YAY! If you like this blog enough, I would love for you to please keep voting so that we can slowly move up the front page. You can vote once each day. Thanks again!
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I would be a giraffe if I could be any animal for one day! And I love that you’re doing all of these book give-a-ways. This is my first time to enter! :)
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If I could be an animal for a day I think it would probably be a bird of some kind. I think it would be fun to fly.
I also left a comment on the books that make a difference post.
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I think that I would like to be a bird to be able to fly and see teh view from that perspective.
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i would love to be one of my parent’s cats. spoiled rotten, food available 24/7 with another can opened whenever they don’t like the fare, lazy, carefree, smattered with adoration and they have complete run of the house. my parents are their servants and their can openers. my dad actually calls my mom “the cat accommodator”. they have the LIFE, i tell you.
i will leave a comment on that link right now!
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I’d want to be a cat.
Lounge in the sun, stretch, get petted, & get to do absolutely nothing & still have the right to a ‘tude.
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I would like to be a cat for a day…It sure would be nice to catch up on some sleep
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If I could be an animal for the day, I think I would choose to be a dolphin. It would be fun to swim that fast and see the beauties of the ocean. They always look so happy and playful in the water too! What would you pick??
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I would love to be my sons new puppy. He gets so much attention and love.
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I would love to be a cat for a day. I am always longing for more sleep and our kitty does that well.
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I have been reading your blog for awhile, this is the first time I have commented..just had my daughter in Feb, love, love, love your blog, I vote everyday for you to move up….thank you for being so honest and just simply fantastic!
For the giveaway I would be a dog, my dogs are always the kings of the house and just so very loved…what a day to be a dog!
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You know I work at a Zoo, right? So this is like the.most.impossible.question.EVER. Gosh, if I got to be an animal for one day - I would get specific - and say a giraffe - in Africa - on a sanctuary. With that neck long enough to truly take in the scenery. And, I would feel rather confident approaching varied species due to my friendly disposition. However, I could pick an animal a day if asked….lol.
Can you say, “more than you asked for?!?!“
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Funny, I was thinking a cat because she gets so many naps, and I see someone else was thinking the same thing!
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I would be a eagle, because then I could fly gracefully along and have the best view ever.
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I think it would be fun to be a really cute little puppy for a day, people get so silly around cute little puppies.
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I would like to be a gibbon for a day. Yes, a gibbon. I worked at the zoo a few summers ago and we had a gibbon. During my talk at the exhibit I was required to talk to the gibbon. Not in words, but in gibbon noises. It was quite embarrassing, but fun. So, there you have it - I would be a gibbon for a day.
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Dog. My dog, if possible. He is spoiled, loved, exercised, fed, spoiled some more…and he gets to cuddle in bed with us at night. I think he lives the life!
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Today, I would like to be my dog. Bathing in the sun after a two hour walk.
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I might enjoy being one of my dogs since they nap most of the day! Sounds like a fun book!
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I would like to be a Sarcastic Fringehead. Seriously. These fish live in whatever they can find…cans, bottles…and fight relentlessly over real estate. They are ugly and grumpy and look like they take themselves very seriously. Sooooo hilarious.
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I would be a cat. All the napping would be heavenly.
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I would be dog so I could just lie in a pile and nap with all the people I love every day.
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I would like to be a cat…spoiled rotten all day long…sleeping and stretching and eating and being loved on all day long. Sounds good to me!
I voted for you on the mommy blog site, and I left a comment on the books-that-make-a-difference link.
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maybe a butterfly….would love to fly and the seem so calm and peaceful
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a bee. flowers and honey all day sounds lovely.
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I’ve always wanted to be an Otter ever since I did my 3rd grade report on them. Shell fish. Lying on my back floating away while eating fresh sea food. Playing with my mates. Being super cute.
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A cat - napping in the sunshine!
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Lovely! I can’t wait to read this book, it looks fantastic and my kiddos would absolutely love it!
If I had to choose, I would be a bird, I’ve always wanted to be able to fly and that would be so much fun!
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I would love to be a wild horse for the day. Just to run in the sun as fast as I could and have the ultimate feeling of freedom and independence. No rules to follow and no worries about college and money. Just running and getting warmed by the sun in the countryside.
I would love to comment on the other site, but don’t have a URL… I guess I should start blogging or something.
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I would be a dog - my own dog, because he is spoiled rotten!
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hmmm….maybe an octopus…I could use the extra arms! :-)
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Hands down I’d be some type of bird. I always have weird dreams where I’m able to fly.
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Definitely a cat… we have two, and I am always wondering what the heck they are thinking! Besides, they get to relax all day long, we feed them and are at their beck and call… sounds like the good life to me :-)
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I would love to be a sloth. What a curious creature.
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Your daughter is just BEAUTIFUL! Sounds like a good book too.
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Ha, being a monkey would be kinda fun - getting to bug people and zoom through the trees!
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I think I would choose to be a cat for the day. Since they sleep for about 18 hours a day, I think it would be nice to catch up on a small portion of the sleep I’ve lost since having a kid! Oh to dream.
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Oops, I forgot to say that I left a comment on the blog that’s donating books per comment. Don’t want to miss out on those extra entries!
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hmmm… maybe an elephant. Don’t ask me why, I just think they’re cool.
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Maybe a dog, mine just runs around for fun, eats, and naps :)
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Blue Bird!!!
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I would be my great dane Stella… I would love to know what she’s thinking, just for one day!
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Second entry - can I choose another animal? I’d like to be an African Elephant because they seem so wise yet still get down and roll in the mud and splash in the water.
Also, I left a comment on the Books Make A Difference page!
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Second entry - aside from being a cat (my first entry), I’d also like to be a giraffe. It would be interesting to see the world from so high up!
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I would be a giraffe. so tall and graceful.
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A giraffe would be my second choice as my daughter loves giraffes.
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I would be an otter. When I would go surfing I was always super envious of them frolicking in the waves around me. And they are super cute so that is a plus.
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i would want to be some kind of bird. or a fish. oh! or a whale!
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Maybe a kangaroo, so I can have a built in pouch :) Commented.
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I would be a dog, a well-loved and cared for dog, who gets head rubs and taken on long, leisurely walks.
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I would want to be an otter. When visiting a zoo, there was a pair of otters. They were floating together and holding hands. It reminded me of me and my husband.
Then again, if not an otter, a dove. They are so awkward. Their nesting abilities are haphazard and they symbolize peace and love. Love, I have, as I married my soul mate and I strive for peace, because I barely get that in a day! As far as nesting, well, my house says it all.
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Second entry- my second choice for an animal would be an elephant.
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I would also like to be a Manatee… :)
They are bottom feeders…literally and their nipples are in their armpits (flipperpits). So awesome…lol.
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I would be a bird! I often dream of flying!
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Many people have already said this, but I’d love to be a bird. The feel of the air beneath wings, soaring over everything. That would be awesome. Or maybe a dolphin, or whale… Those would be neat too.
I have to say, Sarah, that I really hope I get this book. My sister &nd;I grew up with large imaginations. The swingset was a spaceship, or a boat. We got in trouble numerous times for tying sheets in the tree in the front yard. (we were making an awesome trehouse!)
I hope that my daughter experiences the same thing… And that I don’t complain about having sheets hung in trees. Lol.
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Third entry - and I voted again—you’re #10!!!
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I would love to be a dolphin or a fish. To be able to experience and understand the underwater world has always been a fascinated of mine.
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Third entry!
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Third entry and I voted. :-)
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I think I would be a monkey. I just think they are cute little animals! I love this giveaway!
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I would be an octopus so I could have many multi-tasking arms to hold my baby, cook dinner, and read your blog all at the same time. :)
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entry number two. this time i will say that i want to be a cat. a spoiled house cat. that’s the mood i’m in today.
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I think I would be a bird so I could fly. I used to dream of being a bird when I was a kid.
Side note: Got the book today and LOVE it! Grayson says thank you and Jax grunts one too. Must say THE CIRCUS SHIP is a must own!! Thanks again!!
http://www.jaimeystarkeybuquet.blogspot.com(79)
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The following individuals also receive two additional entries each for having become fans of Chronicle on Facebook several weeks ago during a different giveaway. Fret not; that opportunity will be repeated with the next Chronicle giveaway.
Stephanie from Casa de Kaloi - (80 and 81)
Natalie - (82 and 83)
Krista from Not Mommy of the Year - (84 and 85)
Cambria from Minimal Mom - (86 and 87)
Tracy - (88 and 89)
Elin from Not Sew Much - (90 and 91)
Momma Bear from Reflections Beneath the Texan Sky - (92 and 93)
Mailis of the awesome legwarmers - (94 and 95)
Stephanie, Jr’s Mama - (96 and 97)
Natalie P - (98 and 99)
Lauren from In Da Pudding Club - (100 and 101)
Cynthia from She Put Her Quiet Hands in Mine - (102 and 103)
Jane V - (104 and 105)
Sara, Ninja Panza - (106 and 107)
Leah F - (108 and 109)
Jenn from Jenn, Kiffen and Jayden - (110 and 111)
MJ - (112 and 113)
Missy H - (114 and 115)
By on May 04, 2010
I think I would be a bird if I could choose.
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