Holiday Reading

I like to read books specific to the holiday that is approaching so my children have a greater appreciation of what it all means. Christmas is the holiday with the most in our collection so far. I have Halloween books, Easter books, and 1 Thanksgiving book. I also found that by seperating them from the rest of the books it makes them special since they only appear for a short time then are put away. Lillian has a drawer in her desk that we use to store the holiday books. I pulled the Christmas books out tonight with the hope of reading 1 every night this month. Some are chunky board books for little hands and others are the classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas. One particular favorite is Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson. We also have 2 books about Dora celebrating the holiday and one with The Little Engine Who Could.

I'm hoping to expand our collection over the next few years so let's dedicate this post to finding out great holiday classics that your family enjoys. It can go beyond Christmas. I'd like to hear some great ones about St. Patrick's Day and 4th of July.

Kids and The Library

As most households, we have a plethora of books for our children to enjoy. There is a special bookcase in our house built just for these books!

Despite the many choices at home, nothing is better than a trip to the library for "new" books. There is something about the library that has confused Lillian in the way of buying and bartering. She has seen me use my library card at the library then use my debit card at Wal-mart. I can just imagine her thought process- "mom uses a similar card at both places but at one place, she is eager to take me and whip out the card. at the other, she relunctantly visits and limits what I can put in the cart. why is that?"

Now that she is 5, I think she understands the concept of "checking out books" or "renting." Her brain has made a distinction between this and "buying" at the store. When you think about it, it really is a confusing issue but I think we have finally conquered it. Visits to the library are enjoyed because we can get whatever we want FOR FREE!

Now that is something I can live with!

How I Choose Books

When I hear of a good book or someone recommends a book to me, the first thing I do is go to amazon.com and search for the title. Then, I read the reviews and the summary. If it sounds interesting, I write the title and author on my book wish list. I price the book on ebay and Amazon before making a purchase. Sometimes, the public library will have it. Even though I have an obsession with books, I don't like them cluttering up my home. I would rather borrow than buy.

Sometimes I choose a book because of it's cover. Does anyone else do that?

Comments

Readers have posted great recommendations in the comment section of my last post. Be sure to click on "comments" to hear about books others are reading!

I Can't Believe It!

Has it really been weeks since I've posted?!?! Yes, it has and I feel terrible!

I have been reading tons of young adult literature so I can recommend books to my students. I read Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson. I teach Speak by the same author and many students want to know what else she has written when we finish it.

Teenage guys are loving a series by Rick Riordan. The first book is called The Lightning Thief. It has to do with Greek gods and goddesses with constant action and heart pounding excitement. I think younger kids would enjoy this, too.

Finally, I'm previewing a memoir by Elie Wiesel called Night to possibly teach in pre-AP this year. It is his personal experience in surviving the Holocaust. It has several parts that are graphic and stomach wrenching. Do I really want to tackle this in 8th grade? Probably the most disturbing is the truthfulness of his account.

Finally, finally, I am starting the 3rd House of Night book. Back to vampires!

Anyone reading anything new and exciting? I often get stuck in a rut with certain authors or genres and hearing your recommendations really help.

On Deck

Hello, my loyal readers (even if there are only 2 of you)! Starting the school year has taken a toll on my blog updates. I've barely had time to keep up with my personal blog, let alone this one. However, I have been reading! I'm in the 2nd House of Night book called Betrayed. This is another vampire series, folks, and it's a good one! Oklahoma authors and lots of references to the Tulsa area make this one our teens will love!

The Scholastic Book Fair has been at my school this week and oh, how I drooled! I had a stack of choices a mile high before checking the pocketbook and did the responsible thing. I narrowed my choices based on the amount of cash I had and came away with 2 books. The first is an adult bestseller by Lori Lansens called The Girls. It's a story about 2 sisters who happen to be twins and who happen to be conjoined. The story is about their life. I can't wait to start it! My second purchase is a young adult novel that flew off the book fair shelves into the clamoring hands of eager junior high students wanting something cutting edge. I think they've found it. It's The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod- Eighth Grade Bytes by Heather Brewer. Critics called it "gruesome, heartwarming, spellbinding." My type of adjectives!

I did a booktalk over a book in my Top Ten- Silent to the Bone- to my classes last week. All 5 copies in the library were checked out by the end of the day and the waiting list multiplied. How I love the power of suggestion!

Students: It's Back to School Time!

If you are visiting for the first time, I welcome you! I finally added my Top 10 list on the right side of the blog. This is a changing list that I update once a year after I have had a summer of reading great young adult literature. I'll be blogging about each one of the Top 10 over the next few weeks so stay tuned. I have another HUGE list of books that used to be on my Top 10 or just missed the cut but are still fantastic reading. That list will be available soon.

Anyone read a good book lately? Leave a comment and tell me the title and author. I'm always looking for new books!

It's Here!

Today's the day! My advance purchase copy of Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyers finally arrived from Amazon. Tonight will be a long night as I delve into the fascinating conclusion to this 4 book series. Truly an epic romance!

Book Sharing

Many of my loyal readers have indicated that they are interested in reading books that I have detailed on this blog. I am a reader who doesn't spend $ on books but rather uses the local library and the generosity of friends to feed my addiction. So... if there is a book that I have mentioned that you want to borrow, please let me know in the comment section and I will gladly loan it to you. Likewise, if you have a book you think I or my children might enjoy, please share with us.

*My secret dream: to be a librarian- because I would be surrounded by the smell, feeling, and sight of books every day!*

Off The Bookshelf

I picked up this book at a library discard table and it has become one of Lillian's favorites.

Some of my other posts have centered around books appropriate for girls only. This one might just fascinate boys more than girls. Check out these lines from the book:

"If one million kids climbed onto one another's shoulders, they would be taller than the tallest buildings, higher than the highest mountains, and farthur up than airplanes can fly. If you wanted to count from one to one million, it would take you about 23 days."

The book continues with billion and then trillion. At the end, the author gives a detailed description of how he came up with the measurements and numbers. I thought that part was fascinating!

What I've Been Reading

I've sadly neglected this blog but that probably won't change since school is on the horizon. I promise to make 1 post a week but the content will be predominately young adult literature since that has to do with my job. 8th graders need as much encouragement as possible!

On my vacation last week I read Stephanie Meyer's book The Host. It is not part of the Twilight series but is just as good. It is certainly a book written in the distant future but still with the hint of romance that Meyer does so well. 700 pgs. later, I moved on to a book that was on my "on deck" list from a previous post.

Road Trip Reading

On a long road trip this past weekend, I bypassed my "on deck" books and read a new young adult novel. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a funny, sad, and real story all in one. Check out this summary from the author's website:

In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. This heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written tale, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character’s art, is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he seems destined to live.

I have been hearing about this book for a while and kept seeing it on must-read book lists. I loved it! Trickled throughout the story are cartoons drawn by the main character, Junior.

Fancy Nancy

These are Lillian's favorite books! I think they're pretty cool, too. The illustrations are beautiful and it teaches mature vocabulary like ecstatic and ensemble. Lillian has been known to use iridescent in a sentence. Wow!

On Deck

I've been on a hiatus from reading the past couple of days. I don't know why; I guess I saturated my brain with other people's lives and needed a break. The last book I finished was Honeymoon by James Patterson. If you've ever read anything by him, you know it was intense.

Here's what I have on deck:
A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving
Seasons of Passions by Danielle Steel
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Karen Kingsbury

Today's post is about my introduction to Christian fiction. My mom had read a couple of Karen Kingsbury's books and recommended them to me. I wasn't so sure because I doubted they would have the racy plots that I enjoy. Then, Mom bought me 2 books for my birthday and I decided to give one a whirl. I read A Time To Dance first and am currently reading Above the Clouds. I immediately noticed the strong spiritual connections and the emphasis on prayer. A Time To Dance is a story of reconciliation between a man and wife who have had a fairytale marriage but time, children, and jobs have wedged between the 2 and now they are facing a divorce. The story sounds just like the life of someone I might know and it is comforting to read about how the power of prayer can save a marriage.

Review of Carl Hiassen

Don't be turned off by the title! Strip Tease by Carl Hiassen didn't live up to my expectation of "hilarious" like the back cover advertised. As a result, I didn't finish the book. That is a common practice for me if the plot just isn't my thing. I feel like I shouldn't waste valuable reading time on a book I don't really like. Like I said, don't let the title turn you away. It refers to the occupation of the main character, Erin, who is morally stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to making money and getting her daughter back from her loser/thief/druggie ex-husband. I think I'll try one of his young adult books like Flush or Hoot next.

Hidden Treasure

While the kiddos were gone, I had the chance to visit a used bookstore that I have wanted to see for ages. I think it's called Cash for Books and , if you live in the area, it's on 2nd street in Edmond. They have over 40,000 used books and half the store has books for $1. Heaven! When I walked in, the helpful owner told me that in the $1 section you get more free books the more you buy. If you buy 5 books, you get 6; if you buy 10 books, you get 15, etc. I looked for 2 hours and barely made a dent but I did come home with some great choices. I found a vintage book by Margaret Wise Brown that was printed in 1939. I also picked up more paperbacks to add to my growing stack of "must-reads." All in all, it is now my favorite used book store. For any teachers out there: On Saturdays from 10-12, you can get 10 free books by showing some kind of school ID. I may have to hit that really soon!

Carl Hiassen

I have never read anything by this author, but I just picked up a book by him at the library. I am familiar with his young adult books, Flush and Hoot, and was surprised to find that he has several adult books as well. Based on his website, Carl Hiassen writes about environmental and political issues where his main character tackles a problem with great odds. With witty humor and clever plot, the story moves quickly. I think this is an author I will enjoy very much!

After searching his website, I'm curious about the book Team Rodent: How Disney Devours the World.

Off The Bookshelf

Before she was 1 year old, Lillian loved this book about a dog named Carl. This is a picture book with words on the first and last page only. The watercolor-like illustrations allow for creative storytelling. Now, Lillian can tell the story in her own words. I picked it to "read" tonight and she had a big smile on her face when we finished.

We read this for the first time tonight. The story line is a little lengthy but the idea is that a young pig named Owen wants to send a hug to his Granny through the mail. Each person involved in mail delivery- the postman, airplane pilot, truck driver, etc- must pass the hug from person to person. It ends with Granny sending Owen a great big kiss right back through the mail. Cute idea!

The Giving Tree

During our weekly trip to the library, Lillian chose the usual books about spiders, bugs, and other disgusting things. But, she also picked a classic children's book called The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Anyone with children should own a copy! It begins with "Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy." It is a sad story but one of loyalty and giving that is a lesson for any age. Lillian liked the simple black and white pictures.

Another great choice was The Twin Princes by Tedd Arnold. It has a riddle to solve, puns on every page, and the classic battle of hero vs. villian. It's a "featherbrained fairy tale" that is irresistible fun!

What I'm Reading Now

I usually read more than one book at a time. I know, I know... how do I keep the plots seperate, don't I get the characters confused, etc. I've heard it all before. I really don't know why I do it. I think it might have to do with the fact that I need a break from a book but not from reading so turn to something else then go back to the original. Anywho, besides the Secrets novel by Jude Deveraux, I started the final book in a series by James Patterson. I must have a thing for books in a series! The Final Warning is supposed to be a conclusion to a somewhat sci-fi story involving a girl named Maximum Ride. She is no ordinary girl (would you be with a name like that?!) because she has the ability to fly. She and 5 other kids like her were raised as an experiment in a horrible place they call the "School." Now her life is in danger as the scientists try to eliminate the "flock." This one is about half the length of the first 3. I'm curious if the story will tie up loose ends or leave me hanging (again!). The short chapters and cliff hanger endings make this series a must read if you like young adult literature.

The Tiniest Mermaid

Lillian and I read this delightful story tonight. I remember buying this book because the main character is named Lily. A mermaid named Delphi is injured in a storm and Lily finds her stranded on a beach. Through beautiful pictures, the story of an unusual friendship unfolds. When Delphi must rejoin her mermaid friends, she leaves a special sea shell for Lily to always remember her.

House of Night

I hope to use this blog as a way to recommend books, find books, and discuss books. Reading is a joy in my life. I have always loved the thrill of starting a new book and the immersion into a world that is often not like my own. As I create this blog, I want to reach my students through discussion and sharing of what I love. I will blog about what I am currently reading as well as keep a running list of what I want to read. Let's get started!

I just finished the first book in the House of Night series, Marked. It certainly pushes the bounds of respectability when it comes to religion and vampires. I was intrigued by the plot because it is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is written by a mother/daughter team who live in our great state. The teenager voice comes through with language that is abrasive but true to that generation. I was surprised at the sexuality of the book and thought it to be unneccessary. Despite the language and sexuality, I can't wait to get my hands on Betrayed and Chosen. If you want to start with a vampire book, I recommend Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. There is romance, blood, and vampires all wrapped up in one lovely story.

So... now you know what I'm reading. Let's here from you. Any good vampire novels out there that you want to recommend? Leave a comment and let me know

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