Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and will receive a small stipend as a participant in The Children's Book Review and Maria Castellucci Moore's Virtual book Tour. All opinions are my own.
Have you ever had a day "where you felt most alive, full of spirit, zestful, and sparkling with enthusiasm"? Today I get to share a book about enjoying one's daily activities by using their senses and truly observing their surroundings and interactions. The book is Vivienne in Paris by Maria Castellucci Moore and illustrated by Emanuela Mannello. I am also including a Paris-themed craft to go with the book and some other craft ideas for the book!
About the Book:
Vivienne in Paris Written by Maria Castellucci Moore and Illustrated by Emanuela MannelloAges 4+ | 38 Pages | Publisher: Mascot Kids | ISBN-13: 9781637551431
Publisher’s Book Summary: Vivienne in Paris follows a young Parisian girl on a journey through Paris to find what makes her tick. Join Vivienne as she discovers the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of the city that make her feel alive. What better place to explore, observe, and delight in her senses than Paris?
This book tells a story of mindfulness and insight into how the surrounding world can really move you. It unites curiosity, wonder, and marvel to enlighten, surprise, and tickle your deepest spirit. Sometimes it’s the smallest things that bring you the greatest joy.
PURCHASE LINKS
About the Author:
Owner Entrepreneur, first-generation American, writer, and mother to four children. Maria Castellucci Moore strives to bring passion and enthusiasm to all her endeavors. A lover of all things European, María has found great passion through her travels to Paris, Italy, Spain, and South America. Her affection for winemaking, foreign languages, the arts, ballroom dancing, and traveling has given María a unique and grateful perspective on life. Her love for her family and helping others through charitable giving has enabled María to thoughtfully curate purposeful life adventures.
María Castellucci Moore earned her bachelor of arts degree in finance from Dominican University on a tennis scholarship, and later pursued studying at New York University and the London School of Economics with a focus on global affairs. In 2016, with her siblings, Maria founded Castellucci Napa Family, a luxury wine and real estate brand. María runs her wine label and a family real estate development company in the greater Bay Area. She is a board member of the San Francisco Opera Guild and is enthusiastic about building opportunity and community through the arts.
María resides in Saint Helena, California, with her husband and four young children. She enjoys writing; traveling; attending the opera, ballet, and symphony; flower arranging; winemaking; ballroom dancing; and playing tennis and the piano.
For more information, visit https://mariacastelluccimooreauthor.com/.
From Me:
With the advice of her grandfather, Vivienne rides her bike on her usual Sunday route and notices what her heart and body tell her. This is the premise of the book. Vivienne shares her day with us starting with her trip to the bakery for a croissant. The adjectives in this book are wonderful. They are meant to get the readers senses going as well as describing Vivienne's. After the bakery she heads to the opera house and then the cheese shop. Then she goes to try on hats and finally the flower shop. In the flower shop is even more information about Paris and France. We learn about the national flower, the iris, and the Fleur-de-lis as well as about some of the meanings behind various flowers. Throughout the book there is the Parisian culture and a taste of what it is like to be there.
I love that this book shares the culture of Paris but also the idea of experiencing it all with our senses. Vivienne uses her sense of smell and taste as well as sight at the bakery. The book is full of description from the bumpy cobblestone streets to the buttery beauty of the croissant. Throughout the book are also French words thrown in to add to the culture and excitement of the book. The words are then written in English, but it gives the reader more of the sense of the story. So if you are ready to share a bit of Paris with young ones, this book is for you. It is the perfect book for a classroom studying other countries, cities, cultures as well as a fun story to read at home. It is also perfect for talking about adjectives, descriptions as well as one's senses. The tone of the story is so upbeat and happy. So whether you are ready to learn a bit about Paris or your senses be sure to check out this book.
Book Inspired Craft
To go with this book I was hoping to give you a Paris-themed craft round-up, but I did not get too many other bloggers to share their ideas for a round-up. I however made a craft back in 2020 for Hazel's birthday party during the pandemic. Hazel's party was Paris-themed and our set up was a bit of a Paris cafe so we could limit the number of girls at a table and social distance. I even made Paris themed masks for all the girls from a cute fabric I found on-line. We also found a light-up Eiffel Tower for the top of the cake instead of candles. After all we didn't want Hazel blowing out candles during the pandemic.
I found inspiration for this craft somewhere on-line but cannot find the original source. However I had the idea for the girls to make this, but Hazel vetoed it. I made one in case she changed her mind.
I painted a small canvas with watercolor paints. I used watercolor paints so it would dry quickly and could buy cheap sets for the girls to each use. Then after it was dry I used puffy paint to add the Eiffel Tower. The idea was for it to be a sunset. I was very happy with the outcome. Hazel liked it but didn't want to do a craft at the party. I also left out some Paris themed coloring pages and a coloring book in case they needed something to do.
For more Eiffel Tower ideas check out Tina's Dynamic Homeschool and her Edible Eiffel Tower Challenge and Artsy Craftsy Mom has a round-up of ten Eiffel Tower craft ideas. I also was thinking it would be fun to do an iris craft. There are some cute iris craft ideas at Learn Create Love and Fun Family Crafts. You can also print an iris coloring page and have kids glue torn paper onto it (or color or paint it).
Giveaway:
Enter the giveaway for the chance to win a signed hardcover copy of Vivienne in Paris and a Kindle! Good luck!
One (1) winner receives:
- A hardcover copy of Vivienne in Paris signed by Maria Castellucci Moore
- A Kindle (2022 release)
