GIVEAWAY COUNTDOWN!!!

We are only a few hours away from the closing of my Sylvan Dell Fall Title Giveaway!!!! If you have not yet entered, you must do so ASAP!!!! Entries close at 11:59 PM Central Time TODAY, August 31, 2009. Winners will be announced and contacted via email by tomorrow evening. For your convenience, here are the links to each of the giveaways . . .

• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan
• What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade

If you are a parent, mentor, teacher, or librarian, you will LOVE Sylvan Dell books!! I do!! :)

Literary Locals: August 2009

It's that time again to feature one (or more) of your local authors! Last month, I discovered some really great authors and added a few more books to my list!! I wonder how many I will add this month?!?! :)

What local author have I read this month? I'm going with my ol' standbye of a Montana author (or at least I think one of them is a local Montana author). We . . . let me rephrase . . . my son received this book as a gift from one of his grandparents. They always shop local and I am really going off of this knowledge that at least one of these authors are local for that reason. I tried to do a little research on the authors and the book before posting the review, but could not find a thing. I even found it difficult to find copies available to purchase. The book was published by an Arizona company, but it is set in the beautiful Yellowstone National Park. For those that do not know, a very small part of the Park is in southwestern Montana. It is an absolutely beautiful place. In fact, I'm going to share a little of this beauty with you . . . just keep on scrolling down after my review!! Oh, and before I forget . . . my review . . .

Moose, Bear and Hummingbird by Susan Tone, Gabriel D'Luzansky and Mary Delaney

Next month, I am hoping to feature a more recent local author! I haven't lived in Montana for years, so I will try to expand my horizons a little more and pass on this expansion to you next month!! Now for a little extra . . . the pictures . . .

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park (June 2009)

Canyon Falls, Yellowstone National Park (June 2009)

Bison, Yellowstone National Park (June 2009)

Check out these other local features:

• Books Gardens and Dogs features Marlene Perez, author of the Dead Is series . . . be sure to check out her giveaway as well (deadline 9/1/2009 Noon Pacific)
• TexasRed Books highlights the West Texas Book & Music Festival this month!
• Laura's Reviews features The Matters at Mansfield (Or the Crawford Affair) by Carrie Bebris . . . the fourth in the much talked about Mrs. Darcy Series!
• Missy's Book Nook interviews author Sherry Austin, author of several books from "Trixie track" to "ghostly/gothic."
• Dy's Take wraps up her Literary Locals with Candace Havens & Rick Riordan.
• The Eclectic Reader shares her reviews of local author, Katherine Howell, an author who takes a unique spin on the mystery genre.

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Support your local authors and post a review through the comment section (either via a link or directly embedded). As reviews are posted, I will update this post to reflect your local author highlights as well!

Sunday Synopsis: August 30, 2009

DISCUSSIONS:

• Re-visiting Books as Bridges: A couple of weeks ago, I posted a discussion regarding the connections we can make with books. I just wanted to share a comment made by The Book Chook on this topic simply because it hits upon exactly what I was getting at, just put much more eloquently!!: "Another thing I love about books is that they build bridges between cultures. Kids who have no way of travelling to Africa say, can read a picture book and gain an understanding of how other childrens' lives are alike or different to their own. I believe literature is a top way to increase tolerance in our society." Thanks Book Chook!!

REVIEWS:

• What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade
• Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak
• Moose, Bear and Hummingbird by Susan Tone, Gabriel D'Luzansky & Mary Delaney
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan
• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo

GIVEAWAYS: Only one day remains of this giveaway!!!!! Sign up before tomorrow, August 31, 2009 at 11:59 pm. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, September 1st.

• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan
• What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade

BOOKS RECEIVED:

• Fool by Christopher Moore (audio; library)

CURRENTLY READING:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (audio: disc 9 of 9)
• Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World by Tracy Kidder (page 116 of 301)

REVIEWS TO COME:

• Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
• The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard Weisgard
• Black and White by David Macauley
• Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
• Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts by Patti Hurst
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
• Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• S is for Save the Planet by Brad Herzog
• The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
• Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allen Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Facts in the Case of in M. Valdemar by Edgar Allen Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Sleeper by Edgar Allen Poe (Poe Fridays)

AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE:

• Kristen over at We Be Reading began an interesting conversation, Do You Discuss Unfinished Books? Me? There has only been one book that I have not finished and I truly feel that it was due to the medium (it was an e-book) rather than the book itself. I didn't discuss the book, but I did discuss e-books (click here for the conversation).
• mjmbecky over at One Literature Nut . . . asked How Many Do You Read? I tend to read/listen to multiple books at one time, depending on my location or mood. Though, there are many days that I wish I was still a one-book-woman!! :) What about you?

ADDITIONAL UPDATES: Just the same news as last week. More past posts being imported and hopefully, I can launch the new changes this week!!

Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo

Ride along on the adventure of a young calf with his funny friend in Moose and Magpie. Discover why the moose crossed the road, learn about the different kinds of moose hair, and become wise on recognizing the sound of a magpie (well, sort of!). A multitude of facts are shared about the two animals throughout a joke-filled year of growth. As a book published by Sylvan Dell, you and your children can go beyond the stories with activities at the back of the book and online.

Overall, I felt that the book had a great idea. I loved discovering the facts about the two animals. And, I thought the illustrations were adorable. However, I had a hard time reading this one aloud to my daughter. It felt choppy to me and did not flow smoothly. I decided to read the book again for a second time, quietly to myself. Though it seemed to be a tad more fluent when read in this manner, I still felt that it tended to be a bit disconnected. In the end, I would only give the book an average rating. I enjoyed certain aspects, but felt others were lacking. Then again, maybe I just didn't enjoy it because the jokes were meant to be directed at a much younger crowd with a different sense of humor?

If you or your child love the moose, it may not hurt to check out this book. It does have a lot of positives. To name just a few . . . 1) the illustrations; 2) the facts given about the moose and the magpie; 3) the activities associated with the story; and 4) maybe even the corny jokes! The nice thing is that you can go online for a limited time to check out the full story in an e-book version by clicking here. In fact, go there now and come back to let me know what you think. I really want to hear more opinions!

I'm having a giveaway of this book that will end on Monday, August 31, 2009 at 11:59 pm. For more information and to enter, click here.

Want another opinion?

Laura's Reviews

Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan

Do you remember Mother Goose? Of course you do!! Who doesn't, right?!?! Well, author Nolan decided to give Mother Goose a little twist and the result is Mother Osprey! Instead of a lamb, Mary has a clam! The old woman lives in a shell instead of a shoe! And, imagine sticking your little finger in a pie to find a pinching surprise!! Nolan does an amazing job of keeping the same rhythm to each of the diddies, but she puts a unique spin on each one! I was not only impressed, but as I read through it with my daughter, I found myself giggling at the author's wit!

Mother Osprey is published by Sylvan Dell; therefore, for those who don't already know, these can also be very educational books as well! Additional resources associated with the rhymes can be found in the final pages of the book as well as online by clicking here. In fact, if you would like to peruse the book, the publisher is offering a limited time e-book version here. I'm personally thankful for the physical copy that I will be able to carry with me as we visit the locations described (and there is even a map in the back to help you find your way)!

Would you like to try to win a FREE copy of this book to carry with you on your adventures? I'm having a giveaway of it that will end tomorrow, August 31, 2009 at 11:59 pm!! Click here for more information and to enter.

Looking for additional reviews?

Ready Set Read Reviews

Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk

Another Sylvan Dell Publishing book that does not disappoint!! To keep in line with the book itself . . .

Hawk's beautiful story,

Count Down to Fall,

incorporates both math and science,

taking advantage of it all!!!

With gorgeous illustrations, filled with vibrant fall colors, Fran Hawk counts down from ten, describing the different changes that occur with the trees, leaves, pine cones, and nuts. You and your child can learn more about how to identify the different trees by their leaves by not only the story itself, but also the fun-filled activities at the back of the book. In addition, don't forget that Sylvan Dell also has a multitude of other resources to accompany this book on their website (click here for the links). And, for a limited time, you can preview the full book as an e-version by clicking here.

All in all, this book has excited me for the upcoming fall months and the activities with my kids that we will be doing in conjunction with it!! I've never been knowledgeable about the different types of trees and this book will allow me to learn about them alongside my children! There is no better way to discover than side-by-side with your child!

Don't forget that I am having a giveaway of this book that is set to end tomorrow, August 31st at 11:59 pm!!!! Click here for more information and to enter.

Moose, Bear and Hummingbird by Susan Tone, Gabriel D'Luzansky and Mary Delaney

Moose, Bear and Hummingbird is a little-known children's picture book. As I was doing a little research on it before writing this review, I could not find really much on the book. Even the web address that was given in the back of the book was no longer valid. How did I get a copy of the book? My grandparents gave it to my son as a gift a couple of years ago. They only buy local authors, so my guess is that it must be VERY local!!

In Moose, Bear and Hummingbird by Tone, D'Luzansky, and Delaney, three very unlikely animals befriend each other and learn cooperation. They work together in helping to save the forest and assist Beaver in rebuilding her home. I personally found it a very sweet and easy-to-relate story. Each of the characters appreciated each other for their differences and worked towards their strengths in their fight for survival. And, I cannot forget to add that I found the illustrations to be absolutely beautiful!!

It is just so sad that I could not find more about the book or the authors. It could be a great book to share as a family, through a friendship group, or in the classroom!

Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak

Pak's first novel, Wait Until Twilight, is accurately portrayed on the cover description . . . "A hauntingly strange and powerfully affecting debut novel that heralds the arrival of a unique and captivating literary voice."

Haunting? Yes.

Strange? Definitely.

Powerful? Absolutely!

Pak's novel is simply bizarre . . . but not in a negative way! Pak and his character Samuel had me so enthralled that I did not want to put the book down and I could not stay away long when I did! I cannot even tell you why! Maybe it was the accuracy of the teen character? Maybe it was the darkness that can face each of us at some point in time in our lives? Maybe it was because it made me think about what kind of person I am and want to be? I can only speculate because I truly do not think it is any of these . . . but yet it IS all of them at the same time. Wait Until Twilight is a book that will stay with you long after you read that final word.

For those of you who want to be captivated, here's a teaser from the cover . . .

Not long after his own mother's death, sixteen-year-old Samuel discovers a set of deformed triplets hidden behind closed doors in his sleepy Georgia community. The babies -- whose shut-in mother believes they were immaculately conceived and whose menacing brother is a constant threat -- take control of Samuel's every waking and sleeping thought. His only escape, he realizes, will be to save the monster children. But to do so, he must rein in his darkest impulses as he undergoes a profound transformation from motherless boy to self-defined man -- because sometimes the most terrible monsters are those that live inside us all.

Want more opinions on this title?

Missy's Book Nook

What's New At The Zoo: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade

You can discover an animal expedition with a little math along the way in What's New at the Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade. Slade's book is yet another published by the educational and much-loved Sylvan Dell Publishing, in which you can find additional resources on their website (click here!), including teaching activities, related websites, a limited time access to the ebook version, and so much more.

So, what did I think about the book? I loved it!! I loved the illustrations by Joan Waites! I loved the concept! I am always a fan of the activity pages in the back and the access to the online resources. But, what I loved the most is how this book incorporated the subject of math! It doesn't make the kids "feel" like they are doing math, a subject that many can often have negative feelings about or try to avoid. The math is incorporated into a rhyming story, keeping the child(ren) engaged and wanting to count and add some more!

My son, a preschooler, asked me to read this book to him multiple nights in a row! He kept coming back to it again and again! We would even finish reading the story and he would immediately want to go back to the first page to re-live the adventure!! This alone is a demonstration of the power of this book! Afterall, the only reason he quit asking for it was because I put it up so that I would remember to write this very review! Now, I'm off to add it back to our shelves, where I know it will end up right back in my child's hands!

Do you want to share the joy of math with a child through a story? I'm having a giveaway of this book ending August 31, 2009. Click here for more details and to enter to win!!!

Sunday Synopsis: August 23, 2009

This has been an absolutely crazy week, as my synopsis will prove!! I didn't get a lot done, but have high hopes for the week to come!!

Discussions: None

Reviews: Only one!

• Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Giveaways: The Sylvan Dell Publishing Fall Title Giveaway is still going on! It's not too late to enter and get your name in the running for one of these four amazing books!

• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan
• What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade

Books Received: None

Currently Reading:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (audio)
• Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World by Tracy Kidder (page 76 of 301)

Reviews to Come:

• Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak
• Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
• The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard Weisgard
• Black and White by David Macauley
• Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan
• What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade
• Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts by Patti Hurst
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
• Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• S is for Save the Planet by Brad Herzog
• Moose, Bear and Hummingbird by Susan Tone, Gabriel D'Luzansky, and Mary Delaney
• The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
• Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allen Poe (Poe Fridays)
• The Facts in the Case of in M. Valdemar by Edgar Allen Poe (Poe Fridays)

Around the Blogosphere:

• I received the Super Comments Award from Alexia's Books and Such this week (click here to see her post)!!! It came at a great time because I happened to be feeling down from a crazy week of gearing up for students to begin classes, an overbooked week, and a family member spending more time in the hospital (and me nowhere close to be able to visit). I will make a more official post later this week, but wanted to give a shout-out to my giver here as well!! THANK YOU!!
• As I have been reading posts throughout this week, I have seen that some bloggers have been announcing that they have been nominated for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. CONGRATULATIONS to all those nominated!! I've very excited to see the full lists of those that are up for vote!! Unfortunately, I did not receive a nomination. I'm a bit bummed, but not surprised. I have not been as consistent in posting as I would like this past year with all that has been changing in my neck of the woods. I hope to improve for next year though to earn a nomination for at least one category! If not, I still have every intention of sticking around!!

Additional Updates:

• I will continue to be uploading past posts in the hopes of launching my new changes by the first of next month! I've decided to set that date and put it in writing, not only as a motivator, but also because it is my pay day!! I may be able to get some things up before then, but will make the official announcement one week from Tuesday!!
• My final update is actually a question for all of my readers . . . I am curious to hear how all of you feel about my blog. What do you currently enjoy? What would you improve? Do you have any suggestions or comments for me to become a better blogger?

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Where the Wild Things Are is one of the true children's classic picture books. It has been around so many years and the adventures shared by many generations. When I look back to my own childhood, I honestly do not ever remember reading this book or having it read to me. It seems that my first discovery of the book happened in my early twenties when I worked in a bookstore. People kept asking me where to find this book that I finally felt that I should check it out for myself.

One way to determine its greatness is the high honor of receiving the Caldecott Medal in 1964! In my opinion, the artwork is absolutely superb!! You truly get wrapped up in Max's adventures where he "sailed off through night and day / and in and out of weeks / and almost over a year / to where the wild things are." The depiction of the wild things is child-like, but complex. The artistry is detailed and simply amazing! I can literally sit down with the book myself for hours just examining each of the pictures! And, the commentary . . . doesn't it sound like a child narrating? Sendak really has nailed this one!!

Susan over at Booklights recently shared a different perspective on the artwork of the book . . . the design . . . the way the pictures start out small and grow before our eyes. It's funny . . . I never even realized the format that she discusses!! BUT, I felt the effects!! I always feel that I just fall into the story every time I read it, creating a "wild rumpus" of my own.

Warner Brothers has now made the book into a movie (click here for the official movie site) that is set to be released October 16th. I personally have mixed feelings about this! I'm worried that the movie will not do Sendak's vision justice. I wonder if my interpretation of the wild rumpus will be what is portrayed on the big screen. BUT, you have to admit . . . the cinematography does look pretty cool!!

All in all, this is one my all-time favorite children's books! I can now say that I own my very own copy that I enjoy sharing with my own kids. And, it is not uncommon for us to bring the "wild rumpus" to life!!

Have you shared this book with a new generation? Are you looking forward to the release of the movie?

Movie poster courtesy of Wikipedia entry on Where the Wild Things Are

Want another opinion?

Maw Books Blog

Sunday Synopsis: August 16, 2009

Discussions:

• Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme
• Remember a Moon Made Out of Cheese?
• Books as Bridges

Reviews:

• Poe Fridays: Bridal Ballad

Giveaways: My current giveaways are awesome children's books from Sylven Dell Publishing! You do NOT want to miss out on these!!

• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan
• What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade

Books Received: This is my list of books that I have received, all from a variety of sources. I have noted the sources in paratheses.

• Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (library)

Currently Reading:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (audio)
• Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World by Tracy Kidder (page 9 of 301)

Reviews to Come:

• Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak
• Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
• The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard Weisgard
• Black and White by David Macauley
• Mei Li by Thomas Handforth
• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan
• What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade
• Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts by Patti Hurst
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
• Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• S is for Save the Planet by Brad Herzog
• Moose, Bear and Hummingbird by Susan Tone, Gabriel D'Luzansky, and Mary Delaney
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
• Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allen Poe (Poe Fridays)

Around the Blogosphere:

• Kristen has officially launched her Re-Read Challenge over at We Be Reading!!!!! For all of you who are like me (i.e., love to own every book s/he reads, but may never read it more than once!), now is your chance to appreciate and love those books one more time! I will have an official post coming soon. I'm very, very excited about this one!!
• Over at Alexia's Books and Such, she started the conversation, Reviews: Short & Sweet or Long & Detailed? It made me begin thinking about what my readers prefer! I tend to go more for the long side, but will occasionally write shorter versions. (Maybe this is why I'm so stinkin' behind in my reviews these days?!?!) I encourage all you fellow bloggers to join in the conversation! Besides, I'm curious what you have to say as well!
• My Friend Amy educated us and confessed her own love in My Name is Amy and I Read YA. Do you read YA? I do and love them!!

Additional Updates:

• Yep, once again, my updates have not been posted! I made a decision this last week that will affect the way they are launched and therefore, created more work for myself!! For all of you subscribers out there, I want to apologize upfront. I am going to be importing some information this week and posting some things from past dates. You may become inundated with posts when I do this, but please bear with me. All this talk is enough! It's time to walk the walk!!
• I have decided to make this a weekly post. It helps me to motivate and organize myself. If you would like to join in, please feel free to do so. Just remember to comment so I don't miss out on your weekly synopsis!

Books as Bridges

Portland, 2008: Picture taken by my husband on his trip last year

Why this picture? Because it is my favorite city and the home of my favorite bookstore!

In my previous post, I mentioned how my cousin and I have grown apart over the years. We used to be fairly close, but have gone our separate roads in many ways. However, there has always been one constant between the two of us . . . books and reading!! Both of us are HUGE bookworms and we love to share our favorites with each other.

Throughout my need to find one of our childhood favorites (see Remember a Moon Made Out of Cheese?), I have discovered that books can truly be a bridge . . . a connection . . . something that can help many of us relate despite our differences. In this instance, it has helped my cousin and I to stay connected and always have a reliable topic to talk about. However, I have also experienced through my lifetime that it can be a positive way to connect in so many other ways. Here are just a few examples . . .

1. Working within an elementary school as an intern, I often used picture books as a form of bibliotherapy. Examples include Simon's Hook by Karen Gedig Burnett, How to Lose All Your Friends by Nancy Carlson, Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and Tara Calahan King, among many others. (Friendship issues were a common topic!)
2. Working at the post-secondary level, I had the opportunity to teach elective courses for fun called Dinner and a Book OR Book and Discussion. I was able to connect with students on a more personal level as well as cover a wide area of majors/areas of interests with such books as Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling.
3. In past job interviews when the topic of books comes up, I am immediately put at ease. It establishes a connection with the possible future employer and can sometimes be very revealing regarding your choice of books to discuss!
4. I have moved around a lot lately due to my husband pursuing a second career. It is always hard to move to a new place where you do not know anyone. Meeting new friends is tough and I always find myself using books as a launch into starting conversations.
5. FINALLY, books have brought me to the book blogging world! This has been so good for me, providing me a constant where there are few sometimes in my world of change!!

Books have been my connections to friendships, jobs, and students in my career field. They have created bridges to many things in my life. I'm curious . . . What bridges have you built with books?

Remember a Moon Made Out of Cheese?

Growing up, my cousin and I were always encouraged to read. We were read to often (especially by our grandparents), but we also were found hiding in all sorts of nooks and crannies reading ourselves or to each other. We both were early readers and still can be found with our noses in a book even today! Our love for reading has not failed us and despite our growing apart over the years, this has been one of our constant similarities and topics of conversations that will never die.

My cousin and I were recently discussing some of our favorite books growing up. One such book that came up was a book that we remember our Grandmother reading to us and it was one that we often went to on our own. Since then, we have both been searching for the book, but have had no such luck. The problem is . . . we cannot for the life of us remember the title!!!! We have asked our Grandmother as well as everyone else we can think of who would know . . . still no luck! So, I am turning to all of you in the hopes of a reunion!!

What do I remember about the book? Not much!! I remember mice being the main characters and I remember something about the moon being made out of cheese. The mice eat the cheese and viola! . . . the moon is now a crescent moon instead of a full moon. I remember the artwork as being primarily black and white with maybe a little yellow? That's about it!! Can you remember any children's picture book about a moon made out of cheese? If so, please share with me!! I'm in the mood of sharing this little snack with my own children!! :)

GIVEAWAY: What's New At The Zoo? by Suzanne Slade

If you love animals as much as we do, you will LOVE What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade. My son had so much fun with the math concepts, he did not want to go to bed until the book was complete!! Click here for the ebook version. My full review is coming soon!

How to Enter: Comment on THIS post with a valid email address. To receive an additional entry, you can do one or more of the following:

• Subscribe to my blog! If you are already a subscriber, please let me know in your comment. If you are not, go subscribe and come back to let me know you did! Blogger Following will also count here.
• Follow me on Twitter! You can find me at tiftalksbooks. Be sure to also note this in your comment or come back to let me know.
• Tweet about it! Don't forget to mention @tiftalksbooks in the tweet for reference!
• Spread the word on your blog! Just remember to give me the direct link to your post to get the extra entry!

Last day to enter will be on August 31st at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. I will notify and announce the winner on September 1st. Good luck and spread the word!!

GIVEAWAY: Mother Osprey by Lucy Nolan

Enjoy a sea-faring twist to some of our most memorable childhood rhymes with Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan (hardcover edition). Click here to view the ebook version. My review is coming soon!!

How to Enter: Comment on THIS post with a valid email address. To receive an additional entry, you can do one or more of the following:

• Subscribe to my blog! If you are already a subscriber, please let me know in your comment. If you are not, go subscribe and come back to let me know you did! Blogger Following will also count here.
• Follow me on Twitter! You can find me at tiftalksbooks. Be sure to also note this in your comment or come back to let me know.
• Tweet about it! Don't forget to mention @tiftalksbooks in the tweet for reference!
• Spread the word on your blog! Just remember to give me the direct link to your post to get the extra entry!

Last day to enter will be on August 31st at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. I will notify and announce the winner on September 1st. Good luck and spread the word!!

GIVEAWAY: Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk

Celebrate the fast-approaching fall season with Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk (hardcover edition)! Click here to view the e-book version. My review is coming soon!!

How to Enter: Comment on THIS post with a valid email address. To receive an additional entry, you can do one or more of the following:

• Subscribe to my blog! If you are already a subscriber, please let me know in your comment. If you are not, go subscribe and come back to let me know you did! Blogger Following will also count here.
• Follow me on Twitter! You can find me at tiftalksbooks. Be sure to also note this in your comment or come back to let me know.
• Tweet about it! Don't forget to mention @tiftalksbooks in the tweet for reference!
• Spread the word on your blog! Just remember to give me the direct link to your post to get the extra entry!

Last day to enter will be on August 31st at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. I will notify and announce the winner on September 1st. Good luck and spread the word!!

GIVEAWAY: Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo

Want to learn a little something about the majestic moose? Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo (hardcover edition) is for you!! Click here to view the e-book version. My review is coming soon!

How to Enter: Comment on THIS post with a valid email address. To receive an additional entry, you can do one or more of the following:

• Subscribe to my blog! If you are already a subscriber, please let me know in your comment. If you are not, go subscribe and come back to let me know you did! Blogger Following will also count here.
• Follow me on Twitter! You can find me at tiftalksbooks. Be sure to also note this in your comment or come back to let me know.
• Tweet about it! Don't forget to mention @tiftalksbooks in the tweet for reference!
• Spread the word on your blog! Just remember to give me the direct link to your post to get the extra entry!

Last day to enter will be on August 31st at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. I will notify and announce the winner on September 1st. Good luck and spread the word!!

GIVEAWAYS!!!!!!

Thanks to the crazy postal service, I have stumbled upon an AMAZING opportunity for a MUST-ENTER GIVEAWAY!!!! For all of you who love Sylvan Dell Publishing (a FABULOUS publisher in the field of educational children's books!!), you are going to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my upcoming giveaways! I am uploading them all within the next few minutes, but I wanted to make one big post here announcing them all in one place in one post! I will include the links to each of them as I make them live. Just a couple of notes regarding the technicalities . . . .

1. You must comment on each of the individual posts to enter into the giveaway. Unfortunately, due to my strapped pocket book, I can only open this to US residents at this time. (Sorry to my international readers! Please know that I still love ya!!)
2. If you are wondering if these books are for you and/or your children, don't forget about my recent post (Sunday Synopsis) announcing the FREE access to ebook versions of each of these. Click here to view the book in an electronic format. You just need to hit enter and a whole virtual pile of books will appear. Find the titles that I am offering for my giveaway (or even browse the other great books) and enjoy!
3. Each of these books are hardcover editions!

Now, off to get these individual giveaways posted!! Oh, and I will be reviewing each of these later this week! I've currently read three of the four and absolutely love them!!! Without further ado, here's the list and the links are to come shortly!

• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan
• What's New At The Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk

Poe Fridays: Bridal Ballad

A couple of weeks ago, Kristen over at We Be Reading, posted the weekly Poe Fridays meme, with the chosen selection being Bridal Ballad. Because this one is so short, I decided to just duplicate it here this time around.

Bridal Ballad

The ring is on my hand,
And the wreath is on my brow;
Satins and jewels grand
Are all at my command,
And I am happy now.

And my lord he loves me well;
But, when first he breathed his vow,
I felt my bosom swell--
For the words rang as a knell,
And the voice seemed his who fell
In the battle down the dell,
And who is happy now.

But he spoke to reassure me,
And he kissed my pallid brow,
While a reverie came o'er me,
And to the churchyard bore me,
And I sighed to him before me,
Thinking him dead D'Elormie,
"Oh, I am happy now!"

And thus the words were spoken,
And thus the plighted vow,
And, though my faith be broken,
And, though my heart be broken,
Behold the golden token
That proves me happy now!

Would God I could awaken!
For I dream I know not how,
And my soul is sorely shaken
Lest an evil step be taken,--
Lest the dead who is forsaken
May not be happy now.

The poem, written from a women's perspective, seemed to me to have a bit of a story behind it. I almost felt that the narrator was trying to prove to the reader her happiness, almost as if she was asking permission to experience this emotion. According to Kristen's research, the "woman . . . has married after her first lover died in battle. She feels she has betrayed him and is worried that her infidelity to their eternal love will make his soul unhappy. Yet she wants to be happy with her husband because he is kind and wealthy." Now the poem makes more sense! I guess my feeling was correct in some way!

Next Week: Mesmeric Revelation

Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme

In anticipation for the upcoming Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW), I have decided to join in the fun by doing this little meme and answering three questions! There are actually two sets of three questions for this meme . . . one for those that participated last year in the first ever BBAW and those that did not. I fall into the latter category and therefore, will be answering the following questions . . .

1. What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?
2. What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?
3. What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

Without further ado, my answers . . .

1. What has been one of the highlights of blogging for me? As I have mentioned in one of my previous posts, I have actually been blogging for a little over two years; however, it has only been within the last year that I have discovered that an entire book blogging community even existed. If I had been asked this question last year at this time, I would have said the every-so-often comments from my few readers!! However, over the past year, I would have to go more global and say the community in general. Since this discovery, I have found more fellow bookworms to discuss my favorite topic, I have received more comments and more traffic, and have received some great ideas to improve my own site! Who would have known that I could have loved blogging more this year than last?!?!
2. What blogger has helped me out by answering questions, linking to me, or inspiring me? I truly believe that my biggest shout out should go out to J. Kaye over at J. Kaye's Book Blog. I started my Literary Locals highlight in January of this year. I received a little interest, but it really did not take off as I had hoped. Then, J. Kaye to the rescue!! She discovered my little meme, highlighted it on her site, and I have had overwhelming support this past month. I have already discovered some "locals" and cannot wait to see what the future may bring! Thanks J. Kaye!! :)
3. What one question do I have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer? Since I missed out on the community for way too long in the beginning, I really don't want to miss out on anything more! How can I be sure not to miss anything? And, if my time becomes limited (which is VERY possible with my many other commitments), what must I make a priority during that week?

Sunday Synopsis

This week has not been a good one for me in regards to blogging! I have a huge list of things that I've been wanting to write about and just have not had the time. I've decided to begin doing a little week-in-review to wrap up and summarize what I have done, what I still need to do, and to highlight a few things around the blogosphere that I have found and want to share with my own personal readers. (Is there a meme that currently does something like this because I need to sign up!! If not, then consider this my first one!!) I'm hoping that this will help me to be a little more organized and be more active about getting things done!

So, what have I been up to this week?

Discussions:

• What's Your Favorite Re-Read?
• How Well Read Are You?

Reviews: NONE!! How pathetic is that?!?! Especially considering my stack that I need to review (see below for the full list)!!

Books Received: This is my list of books that I have received, all from a variety of sources. I have noted the sources in paratheses. For the record . . . this is the most review books that I have received since the beginning of my blog . . . definitely the most in one week, but probably the most overall!! Looks like my review request status is going back to being on hold!

• Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker (review by author)
• Creative Thinking for the Speed of Life by Jude Treder-Wolff (review by publicist)
• A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi (review by author)
• Legacy by Cayla Kluver (review by publisher)
• What's New at the Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade (review by publisher)
• Moose and Magpie by Bettina Restrepo (review by publisher)
• Count Down to Fall by Fran Hawk (review by publisher)
• Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls by Lucy Nolan (review by publisher)
• The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard Weisgard (library)
• Black and White by David Macaulay (library)
• Mei Li by Thomas Handforth (library)
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (audio; library)

Currently Reading:

• Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (page 338 of 363)
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (audio)

Reviews to Come:

• Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rocky Mountain Snow Ghosts by Patti Hurst
• Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
• I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
• Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary
• Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Survival of the Fittest by Jonathan Kellerman
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• S is for Save the Planet by Brad Herzog
• Moose, Bear and Hummingbird by Susan Tone, Gabriel D'Luzansky, and Mary Delaney
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
• Bridal Ballad by Edgar Allen Poe (Poe Fridays)
• Mesmeric Revelation by Edgar Allen Poe (Poe Fridays)

Around the Blogosphere: I also seem to have fallen behind on my Google Reader! Some of these may have been written prior to this last week, but they are still very worthwhile in checking out!

• Sylvan Dell Publishing has recently launched FREE access to their new generation of ebooks! It is a 90 day trial to 45 books for FREE!! Simply click here to access this trial to an amazing library of books. For the full details, check out Sara Dobie's Blog (Public Relations for Sylvan Dell). My personal favorite is Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann (reviewed earlier this year here). I just received a few others (listed above) for review and upon my first flip-thru, I think I may be adding a few more favorites to my list!
• Susan over at The Book Chook had a great post on how to Be a Pirate Parent, plundering the blogosphere for children's literacy resources, from games to worksheets to songs and so much more . . . ALL perfect for the current state of the economy because they are FREE!!!
• I've also decided to sign up for another challenge . . . The Banned Book Challenge hosted by bibliobrat! I know . . . what the heck am I thinking?!?! I will have more information coming with an official post soon.
• Last, but definitely not least, this is the last week to submit nominations for Book Blogger Appreciation Week! If you have not yet done so (like me), you had better give yourself a little kick in the rear and get with the program!! (This is a little pep talk to myself as well!!) I'm hoping to have the BBAW meme completed soon too!!

Additional Updates: I've been talking about my upcoming changes for quite some time now, but I have yet to launch them! By the time I finally do, the whole excitement will probably be lost in all the hype!! I did get to work on them this last week, but do not feel that I am at the point yet where I can make them official. I'm hoping that this week will be the week!! As soon as I have completed them, I will be shouting out the news . . . let's just hope I don't get the same response as when Peter cried wolf! :)

How Well Read Are You?

I found this little quiz over at One Literature Nut and had to try it out for myself! I always find it interesting to see these types of lists and see where I stand on them. Sometimes I end up with a decent number, other times I don't. Let's see how I end up this time around!

-----------------------------------------

How well read are you? Well, at least how well read are you as according to the BBC? The BBC believes that most people will have only have read 6 out of the 100 books on the list below. This intrigued me, so I thought I'd see how I stacked up! How do you think you will do? Have you read six or more?

Instructions: Copy this into your NOTES. Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (--)

2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (X)

3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (--)

4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (X)

5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (X)

6 The Bible (--)

7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (X)

8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (--)

9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (--)

10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (--)

11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (--)

12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy (--)

13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller (--)

14 Complete Works of Shakespeare (--)

15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier(--)

16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (--)

17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk (--)

18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (--)

19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (X)

20 Middlemarch - George Eliot (--)

21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell (--)

22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (--)

23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens (--)

24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (--)

25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (--)

27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (--)

28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (X)

29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (--)

30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame (--)

31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (X)

32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens (--)

33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (--)

34 Emma-Jane Austen (--)

35 Persuasion - Jane Austen (--)

36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (X)

37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hossein (X)
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres (--)
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (X)
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne (--)
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell (X)
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (X)
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (--)
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving (--)
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins (--)
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery (--)
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy (--)
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood (--)
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (--)
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan (--)
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel (X)
52 Dune - Frank Herbert (--)
53 Cold Comfort Farm (--)
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (--)
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth (--)
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon (X)
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (--)
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (--)
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Mark Haddon (X)
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (--)
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck (--)
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov (--)
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt (--)
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold (X)
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (--)
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac (--)
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy (--)
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding (X)
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie (--)
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville (--)
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens (--)
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker (--)
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett (X)
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson (--)
75 Ulysses - James Joyce (--)
76 The Inferno – Dante (--)
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome (--)
78 Germinal - Emile Zola (--)
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray (--)
80 Possession - AS Byatt (--)
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (--)
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell (--)
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker (--)
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro (--)
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert (--)
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry (--)
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White (X)
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom (X)
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (--)
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton (--)
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad (--)
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery (--)
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks (--)
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams (--)
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole (--)
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute (--)
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas (--)
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare (X)
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl (X)
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (--)

The results . . . 21!! Well, it is more than the 6 that BBC predicted, but definitely less than mjmbecky over at One Literature Nut (click here for her results)!

How well read are YOU?

(Please forgive the formatting mess! I could not figure out how to fix the little quirks and am too tired to keep trying tonight!!)

What's Your Favorite Re-Read?

Last weekend, Kristen over at We Be Reading began the conversation "Why Do You Own Books?" Though this conversation or something similar has been going on in various parts of the book blogging world, our conversation ending up taking a turn into the topic of re-reads. From that, two things have resulted!!

First, this post!! As the title suggests, I'm curious about your favorite re-read! Do you have a favorite? Is there a book or series that you find yourself going back to over and over again?

For me, I do have a few books that I love to repeatedly read! I sometimes just get a little bug that tells me it's time to pick up one of these books again! Sometimes I think it is because I love getting lost in the imaginary world, but other times I believe that I just need a reminder of the lesson learned from the story or I simply cannot get the book out of my head! Anyways, without further ado, here is my favorite re-read list:

• Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
• Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Then, there are the books that I would love to re-read . . .

• Life of Pi by Yann Martel
• Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
• The Inheritance Cycle (Eragon, Eldest, Brinsinger) by Christopher Paolini

Really, the list could go on and on! That's where the second result comes in!! I suggest that you be watching Kristen's blog (click here again for the link) for an upcoming re-read challenge! (It wouldn't hurt for you to just click on over anyways because she has made some changes and her new look is amazing!!) I already have my re-read list started. How about you?

Narwhal Winner Announced!!!

And, the winner of Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea is . . .

ossmcalc!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!! I have sent you an email. Please reply with your mailing address and I will get your book sent on for your enjoyment!!

All giveaway winners are chosen by random. I create a worksheet with a number assigned to each entry by the order in which it was received. I then use random.org to generate the winning number.