Sunday Synopsis: June 27, 2010

I cannot believe that it is already time for another Sunday Synopsis!  This week has been a fairly decent week that was topped off by a brilliant show based on one of my favorite books . . . but I will come back to that in a moment!  Let's do a quick wrap-up from this last week first . . .

• Review:  The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
• The Awesomeness of Armchair BEA
• Fairy Tale Fridays Explores Latin American Tales with The Mother of the Jungle

And, here's a quick peak at what I'm hoping to post in the week to come . . . 

• The Stand Read-A-Long Wrap-Up
• My Book Addiction
• Choose My Next Adventure
• Monthly Wrap-Up
• Review:  Only in New York Darling! by Virginie Sommet
• Fairy Tale Fridays:  An American Tale, Johnny Appleseed
• Sunday Synopsis:  July 4, 2010 . . . An Independence Edition!

Now, let's get on to my *BIG* news for the week . . . Last night, my hubby and I went out on a big date, actually in honor of an early anniversary celebration.  We went to an amazing dinner and then hit the theatre for my much anticipated show of Wicked!  The original Wicked:  The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire is one of my all time favorite books.  (I hope to re-read the book soon and will review it with much more gusto and detail in the future!)  Ever since I heard the news that this book was going to be performed on Broadway, I knew that I wanted to one day attend the show.  I was so excited to finally get the chance!

Wicked:  The Musical was filled with amazing talent, a rainbow of colors, and beautiful displays!  I was covered in goosebumps during multiple scenes, sitting in awe at seeing one of my favorite pieces of literature come to life.  The actresses who played Elphaba and Galinda (Glinda) were simply brilliant!  The voices and music were wonderful!  In fact, I am tempted to go out and buy a copy of the soundtrack this week!  All in all, it was a fabulous show that I would return to again and again . . . BUT, probably not with my husband!!  One time is enough for him, unfortunately for me!

For those that have not yet seen the musical, I would highly recommend it to any and all ages!  The difference between the musical and the book is that the musical is much more family-friendly!  However, it does not get into some of the "deep" issues that the book delves into . . . a down-side, but one that I will happily live with!  

Wicked will be bringing me a natural high all week!  And, I'm going to need it!!  What are you looking forward to this week?

Fairy Tale Fridays: A Latin American Tale

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe

This week's selection for Fairy Tale Fridays took us to Latin America and in particular, Colombia with The Mother of the Jungle.  I discovered this adorable book with some amazing illustrations at the library . . . Once Upon a Time:  Traditional Latin American Tales by Rueben Martinez.  The beauty of this book is that it is actually bi-lingual . . . English on one page and Spanish on the other.  I am far from fluent, but I still completely appreciate this book!  As for the weekly selection . . .

I would first like to share the background on this story as written by Martinez . . .

"Also known as the Madremonte, the Patasola, and the Marimonda, this mythic woman originated in Colombia, though her fame spread to other countries, including Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.  The Madreselva reminds us of the importance of taking care of Nature, and of learning to live in harmony with her."

 As you can guess from this brief history combined with the title, this is a story of the jungle.  A woodsman is cutting down the jungle to earn income and put simply, Mother Nature takes care of that problem in a flash!  As the last line states . . .

"He knew at once what had happened:  the Mother of the Jungle had come to defend the jungle from those who threatened it."

Oddly, when I selected this story, I randomly chose the tale mainly based on the artwork.  I had no idea of the theme behind it and how much it actually pertains today when in relation to what is currently going on with the oil spill in the gulf.  Seeing the multitude of pictures and hearing from those I know who are experiencing this sadness first-hand, I truly wish that Madremonte had appeared to protect this nature.  We sure could have used her this time around!  Either way, I believe that many lessons can be learned from this story, particularly surrounding our environment.  It is a very, very relevant one for our generation!

I truly enjoyed visiting a Latin American tale this week and I am strongly considering featuring another one in the near future.  Because I was unable to find the full text of The Mother of the Jungle online, I am curious if other participants read this tale or another Latin American tale.

What tale did you feature this week for Fairy Tale Fridays?  What are your thoughts on this cultural perspective?

UPCOMING TALES:

Friday, July 2nd:  Rainbow-walker or Johnny Appleseed (An American Tall Tale)

Friday, July 9th:  The Lion, The Hare, and the Hyena (An African Folktale)

Friday, July 16th:  The Tiger, The Brahman, and the Jackal (Indian Fairy Tales)

Friday, July 23rd:  The Story Bag (Korean Folk and Fairy Tales)

**SPECIAL NOTE:  I have linked those stories that I can find above either in writing or as a video of the reading via YouTube.  The generic link via the country's tales will take you to a listing of additional tales or possible replacements.  Enjoy!

The Awesomeness of Armchair BEA

Sadly, this post is LLLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGG overdue!!

Armchair BEA was a week of celebrating Book Expo of America from the comfort of our own homes.  I was lucky to be one of the organizers behind the event and was so thankful to be working with an amazing group of book bloggers.  In fact, before I write any further, I am going to take a quick moment to honor these gals!  Let's give a round of applause to . . . .

• Michelle of Michelle's Masterful Musings
• Emily of Emily's Reading Room
• Florinda of The 3 R's Blog:  Reading, 'Riting, & Randomness
• Danielle (the1stdaughter) of There's A Book

There were many others behind the scenes helping out and of course, all the participants.  I owe each of you a big thank you as well!!  This was a great and fun week and it could not have been possible without the hundreds of you!!  

I also wanted to take a few minutes to highlight some of my favorite posts from the week.  There was some brilliant ones out there and sadly, I am still working on getting the remaining ones read!  I may have to do another Armchair BEA highlight post when I finally finish them!  Or, I will just add them to my Sunday Synopsis.  I will decide when I get there!  Now, without further ado, check these out . . .

• Chris at Book-a-rama Sees Dead People:  Seriously one of the most humorous posts EVER!!
• Rhapsody in Books shares how to start planning to attend BEA next year with some really helpful tips. I'm sure hoping I can make it one of these years and will definitely be keeping these in mind!
• For all my Fairy Tale Friday fans, you will definitely want to check out the Fairy Tale Dream Panel of Tales of a Capricious Reader.
• Reading Vacation writes about being different . . . and that's simply GOOD!  I loved this wonderful advice from a young reader and tween blogger!
• Michelle's Masterful Musings talks about authors' use of social media, both in advertising and in writing.
• Belles-Lettres takes on copyright law, informing and entertaining us.  Who knew copyright law could be entertaining?!?
• Chew & Digest Books showed her appreciation of Armchair BEA with some very unique and personalized thank you gifts.  (I loved, loved, loved this!)
• Last, but not least, Biblio Blogazine featured The Best Part of Your Blog is You.  I cannot agree more with this one and hope to re-visit it often!

During that week in May, I discovered so many new-to-me blogs and added a multitude to my Reader.  Maybe that is why I am so far behind?!?!  Oh well!  It was worth it!!!  :)  And, I'm looking forward to another great event again next year!!

Whew!  If you participated or read any of the posts, did you have a favorite?  If so, please share!!  

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth is Mary's World.  As the cover states,

"In Mary's world, there are simple truths.  The Sisterhood always knows best.  The Guardians will protect and serve.  The Unconsecrated will never relent.  And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village.  The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth."

Life has been this way for as long as Mary remembers . . . as long as Mary's mother remembers.  The truth is, since the Return, this is life for all that have survived.  It is not known how long this has been.  It is not known if there are other survivors.  BUT, there are these stories that Mary's mother shares with her . . . stories of an ocean, of water that spans as far as the eye can see.  And, these stories begin to plant hope in Mary.  Will hope be enough to get her through the trials that she is about to face?

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a book that sent me on a roller coaster of emotions . . . shock, frustration, love, sadness, betrayal, etc.  I really could go on and on.  By the time I got to the end, I turned off the CD (I was listening to the audio version read by Vane Millon) and just sat in silence.  I want to like it, but it is one that leaves you thinking . . . A LOT!!  Even after reading it so many weeks ago, I am still letting it soak in!

I discovered a while back from Michelle at Galleysmith that there is a sequel called Dead Tossed Waves.  I have already ordered the book and it sits on my bookshelf soon to be read.  I cannot wait to pick it up!  (Hmmmm . . . maybe this says enough about my opinion of the book?!?!)

Have you read this title?  If yes, what did you think?  If not, would you read it? 


Want another opinion?
Becky's Book Reviews
Bookalicious
BookHounds
Galleysmith
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?
I Heart Monster
Jen Robinson's Book Page
Michelle's Masterful Musings
My Friend Amy
One Literature Nut
Park Benches & Bookends
A Patchwork of Books
Squeaky Books
Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-holic

Sunday Synopsis: June 20, 2010

Another week has gone by and I did not get as much done as I wanted once again!  Not a new story here!!  Ah well!!  BUT, on the whole, I ended with a GREAT week!!  Earlier this week, I came down with a bug or maybe a case of food poisoning . . . I'm really not sure which and really at this point, it doesn't really matter.  It took me a few days to fully recover, but come the weekend, I was back to my old self!  I had a great weekend with the family, including a FABULOUS FATHER'S DAY!  The kids and I took my hubby out for breakfast to one of his favorite local restaurants and then we hit the theater this afternoon to watch Toy Story 3.  I have to say that the movie was completely worth every minute of it!  I HIGHLY recommend it!!  It was sooooo much better than the second one!

As for on the blog this week, here is what I did get posted:

• Bloggiesta Wrap-Up
• Fairy Tale Fridays:  A Japanese Tale . . . Peach Boy

I've got a few things planned for this week and even already have a couple things written!  That is a huge step for me!!  Some of the items are a long-time coming and hopefully, I will be able to get all things posted!  

• Review:  The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
• Armchair BEA Wrap-Up
• The Stand Read-A-Long Wrap-Up
• My Book Addiction
• Choose My Next Adventure
• Fairy Tale Fridays:  Latin American Tale . . . The Mother of the Jungle
• Sunday Synopsis:  June 27, 2010

Of course, I also have a HUGE incentive this week that I will be looking forward to eagerly every single day . . . I'm going to the Wicked musical on Saturday!!!!  I cannot wait!!  It's going to be a great week!!

I hope all of you have had a great week, and of course, Happy Father's Day!!

Fairy Tale Fridays: A Japanese Tale

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe

This week for Fairy Tale Fridays, I have decided to take a spin and begin exploring tales from other countries.  Our first selection, Peach Boy or Momotaro, I discovered when my son picked out an early reader of the book from the library.  I read the story (Peach Boy by William H. Hooks) to my son, followed by the special note from the author, and knew that this was the change that I needed for this weekly feature!

Peach Boy is the title character that comes to an old Japanese couple in a peach . . . hence, the name!  He grows up to a young man of fifteen and decides that he wants to help his family and his community; therefore, he sets out to destroy the oni (a mythical monster commonly portrayed in Japanese folklore or fairy tales) that terrorizes and steals from the village people.  Before leaving, his parents present him with gifts . . . a sword and some dumplings for the road.  Thanks to the dumplings, Peach Boy makes some friends along the road . . . a dog, a monkey, and a hawk.  They all work together in defeating the oni thanks to the help of the sword and return to their home with the treasure intact, sharing the wealth with the village people.  (In the link above, some differences do exist in the story, most notably being onis being replaced by ogres and the hawk by a pheasant.)

I honestly do not know what attracted me the most to this story when I first picked it up.  I think the illustrations were the first thing that drew my eye.  Just imagine . . . a young boy coming out of a peach!  But, then, I was drawn to the young hero who wanted to give back to his community.  There was some fighting, but no death was a result in my version of the story.  And, those animals that you don't usually think of being friends unite to defeat a common enemy, and live happily ever after in friendship.

All in all, the story just leaves me feeling so very warm and fuzzy all over!  This is a definite change from many of the stories that we have read so far!  I am looking forward to discovering other country's tales.  


Do you have any requests or preferences for future tales?  I will be adding more after I visit my local library again!

UPCOMING TALES:

Friday, June 25th:  The Mother of the Jungle (Traditional Latin American Tale)

Friday, July 2nd:  Rainbow-walker or Johnny Appleseed (An American Tall Tale)
Friday, July 9th:  The Lion, The Hare, and the Hyena (An African Folktale)

**SPECIAL NOTE:  I have linked those stories that I can find above either in writing or as a video of the reading via YouTube.  The generic link via the country's tales will take you to a listing of additional tales or possible replacements.  Enjoy!

Bloggiesta: El Extremo!

Early this morning, Bloggiesta came to an end.  Sadly, I did not get as much accomplished as I would have liked, but the important thing is that I did get a few very important things completed!  Let's briefly revisit what my list entailed and where I ended up with each . . .

1. Emails, Emails, Emails:  I started at 127 yesterday morning.  Today I stand at 86.
2. Google Reader:  Sadly, I did not even touch my Reader and it still stands at 1000+.
3. Comments:  I did get caught up on my own blog comments and did comment on a few of my favorite haunts.  As you can see from my Google Reader, however, I have a long way to go!!
4. Template Updates:  DONE!!!  I am really loving my new design!!  This is where I spent the bulk of my time and I think it was completely worth it!
5. Blog Posts:  I didn't get very far on scheduling blog posts either.  Oh well!
6. Sunday Synopsis: DONE!!  As you can tell I posted this last night announcing my new design!
7. Wish List:  Did not even touch!  :(
8. Index:  Did not even touch this either!  :(

To make myself feel better about my accomplishments (because I felt that yesterday was VERY productive), here is what else I was able to complete . . .

1. Laundered every piece of clothing in the house!
2. Completed compilation of Cooking with Kids recipes for The Book Chook Cook Book!
3. Reading & Relaxation!!  :)

Considering that I only spent a mere 5+ hours devoted to Bloggiesta the entire weekend, I will say that I felt I did get quite a few things done.  Thankfully, Natasha hosts this fabulous event twice a year.  I'm hoping the January date will bring more success and completed tasks!

Sunday Synopsis: June 13, 2010

Once again, I did not get as much posted this week as I would have liked, BUT I have accomplished something big!  Well, I think it is big!  A while back, I had changed up my blog design, but it never felt quite right to me.  I never really felt that it was reflective of me and I did not enjoy the colors within the design.  A lot of shades of grey were simply boring to me!  Thanks to Bloggiesta this weekend, I have created and designed a whole new header.  And, thanks to Blogger for their new template designer, I have been able to completely spice up my blog and I feel that it is now more reflective of me!  I recommend that if you are reading this in a Reader, then you need to click on over and tell me what you think!

In the meantime, here is a short list of what I did complete:

• Fairy Tale Fridays:  The Boy Who Cried Wolf
• Bloggiesta:  Vaya!

Until next time . .  which should be tomorrow to share what else I got accomplished for Bloggiesta . . . Happy Reading!!  And, if you are wondering what else there is to come this week . . . you can refer to last week's Sunday Synopsis . . . it is virtually the exact same list!

(Oh, and did you notice I also changed my signature to match?  I would love feedback on this one too!)

Bloggiesta: Vaya!!

This weekend is a Bloggiesta weekend hosted by our dear Natasha of Maw Books Blog. I have had a crazy weekend thus far, but am determined to get a lot accomplished with what I have left today. I am not sure if I am going to participate in any of the mini challenges because I simply have way too much to do on my own list of things to do, but I am definitely bookmarking a few for the future. So, what is on my list for today?

1. Emails, Emails, Emails:  As I write this, I am currently at 127 in my inbox.  I need to drastically reduce this!
2. Google Reader:  Sadly, I am once again behind on my Reader with 1000+ posts to read.  Need to drastically reduce this as well!
3. Comments:  I really, really need to get caught up on my blog commenting!  I am talking about replying to comments on my own site as well as on the many others that I follow.  This should go very well with my first two tasks.
4. Template Updates:  With Blogger's new template designer, I am going to see if I can finally get a design for my blog that I love.  I have already spent of bit of time playing with it, but we will see what I can do.
5. Blog Posts:  I have a long list of things to get posted from reviews to a few wrap-up posts.  I am hoping to get at least a few written today.
6. Sunday Synopsis:  I can't forget to post my weekly wrap-up before heading to bed today as well!
7. Wish List:  I desperately need to update my wish list!  It's really getting out of hand!!
8. Index:  I have not updated my alphabetical index in ages and really need to do this as well!

That's my LONG list and with my limited time of only today, I am not sure if I am going to even get very far.  I am going to start at the top of my list right now!

Are you bloggiesta-ing this weekend?  How successful have you been so far?

Fairy Tale Fridays: The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe

This week's selection for Fairy Tale Fridays is The Boy Who Cried Wolf or what was originally known as The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf by Aesop.  Because Aesop is so very short and to the point, I am going to copy the full text for you below to enjoy right here and now . . .

A shepherd boy, who tended his flock not far from a village, used to amuse himself at times by crying out "Wolf!  Wolf!"  His trick succeeded two or three times, and the whole village came running to his rescue.  However, the villagers were simply rewarded with laughter for their pains.

 One day the wolf really did come, and the boy cried out in earnest.  But his neighbors thought that he was up to his old tricks and paid no attention to his cries.  Consequently, the sheep were left at the mercy of the wolf.

Even when liars tell the truth, they are never believed.

I really do not know if it is pure coincidence or if it was part of a master plan for me to be reading this story and discussing it here at this time.  I have been struggling the last couple of weeks with my preschooler in telling lies.  I understand that it is common for this age group, but I have still been racking my brain on what to do with this kid in getting him to simply tell the truth!  In walks a perfect example of bibliotherapy . . . well, in a sense!


My personal copy of this story is actually not illustrated or kid-friendly.  I have decided that I must find myself a good illustrated copy from the library to share with my preschooler.  It is times like these that no matter how many times I tell the kid . . . "Mommy does not like being lied to." OR  "I feel so bad when you do not tell me the truth."  OR  "It is important not to lie so that people will trust you in the future." . . . These comments are simply not getting through to him.  Books can get through to him usually.  Books can be a great way to share a life lesson such as this, particularly through illustrations, with a child of varying ages.  This is one Aesop fable that I can get on board with!


What other tales or stories do you know that you have found to work in helping to teach your child about morals?


UPCOMING TALES:

Friday, June 18th:  Peach Boy or Momotaro (A Japanese Folktale)  

Friday, June 25th:  The Mother of the Jungle (Traditional Latin American Tale)

Friday, July 2nd:  Rainbow-walker or Johnny Appleseed (An American Tall Tale)
Friday, July 9th:  The Lion, The Hare, and the Hyena (An African Folktale)


**SPECIAL NOTE:  I have linked those stories that I can find above either in writing or as a video of the reading via YouTube.  The generic link via the country's tales will take you to a listing of additional tales or possible replacements.  Enjoy!

Sunday . . . Monday . . . Tuesday Synopsis: June 8, 2010

Wow!  Where did the week go?!?!  I had such high hopes of getting more things posted, but unfortunately, it just did not happen.  In fact, due to complications with Blogger and then my monthly book group last night that I hosted, I am even behind in posting my weekly wrap-up!  Not the best way in bringing back this feature, huh?!?

However, on the positive side, this is what I did actually get posted . . .

• Winners of the 3 Years, 3 Giveaways . . . two of the three prizes have already been shipped or received and the third is on its way tomorrow!
• Literary Locals:  June 2010 . . . focusing on Laura Ingalls Wilder and the homes where she wrote the classic Little House books!
• Fairy Tale Fridays:  Strega Nona . . . a welcome change to this weekly feature and a shift in the focus for the next few weeks!

What's on tap for this week?  Well, to be honest, I am having a crazy, crazy week!  For those who are not aware, I do work full-time at a local university and I am currently in the midst of new student orientations.  It's a fun time of year, but I often get home later than usual and am exhausted from talking all day long!!  I am also in the midst of organizing for a garage sale on Saturday morning.  With these things in mind, I am going to try to take it a bit easy, work on more housekeeping issues thanks to Bloggiesta, and of course, read!  Much of what you can expect here this week will cover much of what I missed last week . . . 

• Armchair BEA:  Wrap-Up Post & Personal Highlights
• The Stand Read-A-Long:  The True Wrap-Up
• Review:  The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
• Fairy Tale Fridays:  The Boy Who Cried Wolf by Aesop
• Sunday Synopsis:  June 13, 2010

I can't wrap-up the week without highlighting a couple of items from around the blogosphere . . . 

• I discovered a new blog through a comment on one of my own Armchair BEA posts . . . The Bumbles Blog.  And through this blog I discovered another idea or technique on coming up with content for your blog or on trying to cure writer's block.  I encourage you to click on over to check it out!!
• Have I mentioned that Susan from The Book Chook has released Literacy Lava 5 yet?  You have got to check out this FREE e-zine filled with tons of great tips and ideas for every parent, teacher, educator, grandparent, etc.
• Lastly, did you hear that Susan and I extended the deadline for The Book Chook Cook Book!  I am getting some fabulous recipes for Cooking with Kids, but there is still time to submit your's!!  This is going to one delicious read!!  

That's it for now!!  Hope you have a great rest of week and I will see you back here soon!!

Fairy Tale Fridays: Strega Nona

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe

This week for Fairy Tale Fridays, we are taking a bit of a spin on our choices and exploring an old tale that a favorite children's author was recognized with the elite Caldecott Honor Award for . . . Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola.  I actually reviewed this book in detail almost a year ago, so I would like to invite you to visit that review by clicking on the link above.  However, I am going to add a few thoughts here as well in honor of our weekly feature!


Strega Nona (aka "Grandma Witch") is talked about all over town . . . well, whispered about really . . . but, they all relied on her for her magic touch.  Despite the fact of her special gift, she still needed some help around the house because she simply was getting old.  This is where Big Anthony comes into the picture.  Strega Nona hires Big Anthony to help out around the house, but she swears him off from her magic pasta pot.  When he sneaks a peak and discovers the secret of that pot, he has to try it on his own and soon gets his chance to do a little magic himself.  Unfortunately, he was careless and the town is soon taken over by pasta . . . lots and lots of it!


Our little family loves this story!  It is simply fun, imagining the noodles taking over the city, carrying Big Anthony along with it, and sending the townspeople running and the convent sisters praying!  It is perfect to be paired with a BIG spaghetti dinner!  However, as a parent, the thing that I like the most about this story is that it is not violent and it sends a message that I love to children who read or hear it . . . Your actions have consequences and they are typically not drastic as often told in the fairy tales that we have visited thus far.  Instead, in Strega Nona's words . . . "The punishment must fit the crime."


I still do not have my own copy of this tale, but I will someday!  It's worth every little word and every illustration to have in a personal library!


What did you think of this week's tale?  Are you feeling like noodles tonight?!?


UPCOMING TALES:

Friday, June 11th:  The Boy Who Cried Wolf by Aesop
Friday, June 18th:  Peach Boy or Momotaro (A Japanese Folktale)  

Friday, June 25th:  The Mother of the Jungle (Traditional Latin American Tale)

Friday, July 2nd:  Rainbow-walker or Johnny Appleseed (An American Tall Tale)

SPECIAL NOTE:  I've decided to take a different turn in my selections of our future tales!  I've visited my local library and picked up some great books featuring tales from other countries to explore how they compare to the traditional tales!  As I do so, I know that some of these may be more difficult to find; therefore, I encourage you to explore two options . . . (1) Support your local library and determine if you can find the story if it is not available online.  If I can find a copy of the tale online, I will begin linking to it in next week's selection.  OR (2) If you are unable to find the specific story mentioned, then I encourage you to find a tale that is still from this country or culture.  These can often by found easily with a google search, but I will also try to post links for alternatives as well.

Literary Locals: June 2010

For this month's Literary Locals, I am going to take a little trip back in time!  I am going to travel back a few years when I was able to visit the home of one of my all-time favorite author's as a child . . . Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Growing up, I read Little House in the Big Woods over and over and over again.  I watched religiously Little House on the Prairie on TV, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert.  When I had the opportunity to visit the home of Wilder, the place where The Little House books were written, I could not pass up the opportunity.  And, it also just so happens to be the summer in which my son and I created an Adventure Book . . .  a little scrapbook detailing weekly adventures that we took that summer.  Here are a few of the pictures and highlights from our literary adventure taken straight from C's Adventure Book . . .

On Friday, June 15, 2007, my son and I took a little road trip to Mansfield, Missouri.  It was in Mansfield that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her Little House books.  Her homes are now preserved and a museum has been established in her memory.  This is the home that Laura and Almanzo built (and expanded on) after leaving De Smet, South Dakota.

The white house is where Laura wrote all but the first four books in her Little House series.  Did you know that Laura stood no higher than five feet tall?  Because of this, Almanzo built all of the cabinets and counters to fit his beloved wife.  I am much taller, so walking through the home made me feel like I was walking through a child's play room!  Other things that I enjoyed seeing were Laura's own personal library (still completely intact I might add!) and Pa's fiddle (actually located in the museum next door)!  Can you imagine how I felt when I saw that fiddle?!?!


I have also included some pictures of the information plaques located outside of each of the homes for your enjoyment!  This is kind of cheesy that I take pictures of these everywhere I go, but they sometimes contain some great information that I will never remember (or even think to google when I get home).

We then drove down the road a bit to find the second home of Laura . . . what was known as Laura's Rock House.  It was her daughter Rose that had this little modern home built.  Laura and Almanzo only lived in this house for 8 years, while Rose lived in the original home.  When Rose moved out of the white house, Laura and Almanzo moved back to the original because they were homesick!  The Rock House is where the first four Little House books were written.  It is located in a very wide open area and has some beautiful architecture.

An interesting story to go along with the Rock House . . . In the back of this home there is the garage, built to match the home.  When Rose had this home built for her parents, she also bought them a car.  Funny thing is . . . Laura and Almanzo did not know how to drive!!  Rose had to teach them!!

Before hitting the road to continue our weekend adventures (but with the addition of my hubby), I had to make one last stop . . . at the cemetary.  I pulled up as close as I could to the resting place of Laura, Almanzo, and Rose (without being disrespectful, of course).  I took a quick couple of minutes to pay my own respects, thanking this amazing family for the lessons that Laura in particular passed on to me while growing up.

As I reflect on this trip, I truly believe that it is my favorite literary destination to date!  Who knew that this little pioneer girl could have such a lasting impression on children of my generation and beyond?  These are true classics and I cannot wait to share Laura's adventures with my children someday!

If you are interested in learning more about Laura and her homes in Mansfield, Missouri, I recommend that you visit Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum Website.

What literary locals have you visited (or featured) this month?

Winners of 3 Years, 3 Giveaways!!!

It is time to announce the winners of 3 Years, 3 Giveaways!!!!!  Let's get to it . . . .

Giveaway #1:  $25 Giftcard to Powell's Books 

(Open to U.S. Residents ONLY)

Michelle Shannon

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Giveaway #2:  $15 Amazon Giftcard 

(Open to Everyone)

Sarah Emmerson

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Giveaway #3:  A Book from the PRIZE BOX 

(Open to U.S. Residents ONLY) -- New books have been added to the box, so be sure to click on the link to see your latest options!

Carol Mintz

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Congratulations to all the winners!  

I have emailed each of you with further details.  You have 48 hours to contact me with the requested information to claim your prize.  Those unclaimed after Thursday will be re-drawn.

Winners were chosen at random using random.org.