Reading Kathy Chandler...................................

A wonderful romantic fantasy that quickly gets you engaged in the lives of the main characters Johnathan and Laney. As these young adults explore the idea of finding a soul mate, adventure kicks in and sends them swimming through life's lessons. With time on their side, they are able to utilize role models that span through generations and overcome unwanted hurdles that we can all relate to. An excellant read for young adults, however, all adults will feel the magic of this story and crave more "Time in Paradise."  ~ Lauri

So excited that Kathy's second book is ready for reading.  Check out Finding Kate and visit Kathy at:
http://www.kathysbookgarden.com/

Congrats Priscilla the Great - Best Books for Young Adults Nominee

Priscilla the Great Book 1

Book Blurb –  amazon.com

Did you ever want a blowtorch for a finger? Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn't hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, a mysterious organization with a mission of turning children into killing machines.

Review

With an over protective father, Priscilla keeps a fairly low profile in her hometown of River Bend, PA.  About the biggest news in her 7^th grade life is wondering when she will get her first kiss.  With her mom often traveling on business, she longs for girl time and maybe a discussion on all this hormone stuff.  At least she has her BFF Tai, the awkward science genius that she is.  Prissy doesn’t have the brains she has but she sure can stir up some heat once in a while.  As a matter of fact it’s becoming quite frequent and she really needs to find out why.  She runs to Tai with her secret of producing flames and hearing voices.  SNAP - her somewhat normal life bursts into action as she discovers she has secret powers.  With her older brother’s help, they confront mom and dad about the truth which comes with awesome responsibilities.

As a reader I like twists and turns that keep my attention and surprise my mind.  Priscilla the Great filled that role fully.  An incredible mix of young people’s drama and fast moving events keep this book rolling from start to finish.  And speaking of finish, Holy Hotdogs!  Don’t do that to me!!  Where is the next book??  Don’t worry……There are plenty more.  Check them out at:  www.priscillathegreat.com

~ Lauri Chandler

www.bookblogstuff.blogspot.com

Rating - HOT

 

Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed are strictly my own based on my personal reading experience and in no way influenced by others.  I was not compensated for this review.

Book Details

Title:  Priscilla the Great Book 1

Author:  Sybil Nelson

Format:  e-book about 276 pages

Publisher:  WorldMaker Media (December 14, 2010)

Review Source:  Snagged a copy from Member Giveaways at LibraryThing

Turtle in Paradise

My favorite summertime read so far.  A girl from New Jersey is sent to stay with her aunt in Key West for the summer.  She meets several boy cousins who have their own babysitting business and teach her about what local life is down in the Keys.  Awesome read for so many different ages.  Take it with you wherever you go this summer and you will love every minute with Turtle.

Weekend Fun

A Bit of Me from There's A Book

This Weeks Question: What is your favorite type of art? Or do you happen to have a favorite painting/artist/sculpture/etc.?

I don't consider myself much of an art person.  I think it is just because I have not been exposed to much during my life.  Then I met my husband and he is the art person in the family.  He is a photographer and I have been able to attend some art shows with him.  One was at the Durham Art Guild in Durham, NC.  He has also had a photo accepted into PhotoSpiva.  So, I better say photography is my favorite type of art :)

I like to take his photos and group them into themes.  I call this his flag collection!

Poetry Month

Spend your weekend discussing
some great poems with the kids. 

Visit us at BookBlogFun and let us know your favorite poetry books or rhyming words.
 
We also have poetry activities such as "Writing for a Rainy Day" and
"How to Write Haiku."See you at BookBlogFun!  Let's get together and share some books.

Book Review

Priscilla the Great Book 1

Book Blurb –  amazon.com

Did you ever want a blowtorch for a finger? Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn't hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, a mysterious organization with a mission of turning children into killing machines.

Review

With an over protective father, Priscilla keeps a fairly low profile in her hometown of River Bend, PA.  About the biggest news in her 7^th grade life is wondering when she will get her first kiss.  With her mom often traveling on business, she longs for girl time and maybe a discussion on all this hormone stuff.  At least she has her BFF Tai, the awkward science genius that she is.  Prissy doesn’t have the brains she has but she sure can stir up some heat once in a while.  As a matter of fact it’s becoming quite frequent and she really needs to find out why.  She runs to Tai with her secret of producing flames and hearing voices.  SNAP - her somewhat normal life bursts into action as she discovers she has secret powers.  With her older brother’s help, they confront mom and dad about the truth which comes with awesome responsibilities.

As a reader I like twists and turns that keep my attention and surprise my mind.  Priscilla the Great filled that role fully.  An incredible mix of young people’s drama and fast moving events keep this book rolling from start to finish.  And speaking of finish, Holy Hotdogs!  Don’t do that to me!!  Where is the next book??  Don’t worry……There are plenty more.  Check them out at:  www.priscillathegreat.com

~ Lauri Chandler

www.bookblogstuff.blogspot.com

Rating - HOT

 

Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed are strictly my own based on my personal reading experience and in no way influenced by others.  I was not compensated for this review.

Book Details

Title:  Priscilla the Great Book 1

Author:  Sybil Nelson

Format:  e-book about 276 pages

Publisher:  WorldMaker Media (December 14, 2010)

Review Source:  Snagged a copy from Member Giveaways at LibraryThing

Membership

Visit Book Blogs

Monday 4/11/11

Book Journey says - It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!

I would say that my post for this Monday falls under the anything in between categorie.  I decided to do something a little different for this It’s Monday What Have You Been Reading?  It goes back a little further then a week, however I thought it was worth sharing.

It started with Granny Torrelli – Grandma role models in juvenile literature

This was not planned at all but over the last few months I have been on an adventure reading stories that revolve around tween age girls and their wonderful relationships with their grandmothers.  It started with Granny Torrelli makes soup by Sharon Creech.  Granny Torrelli was there to talk with her granddaughter when she needed it most.  I was not lucky enough to have a relationship like that with a grandmother and I began thinking how wonderful it must be. 

I went about my book selecting as usual.  I have been trying to read some Newberry Award winners and Battle of the Books selections that I did not get to read in prior years.  Next came Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles.  Ruby’s grandma is the world to her.  When grandma has to leave the state, they communicate in writing.  They maintain an open, honest relationship that every girl should get to experience. 

Grandma fights for what is right in Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan.  While raising her granddaughter, this feisty grandparent teaches culture, heritage and moral values. 

Another grandmother that must look after her granddaughter is found in Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech.  She is somewhat like Granny Torrelli as she spends time traveling with her granddaughter and wants to hear all that the girl has to tell, plus more. 

These coming of age books belong on the TBR pile of our daughters and granddaughters everywhere. 

I have now just started The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly which was recommended by a friend.  I am listening to this on audio and have gotten just far enough to discover that this story involves a granddaughter and her relationship with her grandfather. 

Have any others to add to my list? 

Just finishing: Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson  

Just into: Following My Toes by Laurel Osterkamp   

Next up:  Ain't No Sunshine by Leslie DuBois 

Poetry Friday

Yesterday I browsed the shelves to see what I could find,

With April here already I had some poetry in mind!

This is it, here's my pick.  Should last me for some time,

But wait, I'll browse again today.  A new genre of mine.

~ Lauri Chandler

Book Review

Book Blurb  (from amodernwitch.com)

Can you live 28 years without discovering you’re a witch?

Lauren is downtown Chicago’s youngest elite realtor.  She’s also a witch.  She must be - the fetching spell for Witches’ Chat isn’t supposed to make mistakes.  So says the woman who coded the spell, at least.

The tall, dark, and handsome guy sent to assess her is a witch too (and no, that doesn’t end the way you might think).  What he finds in Lauren will change lives, mess with a perfectly good career, and require lots of ice cream therapy.

Review

Chapter one shows just how modern these witches are with Jamie inside a website and Nell testing programming code.  Even though I am not a “techy” type person at all, I was able to get through words like “sniffer cookie” and understand what was going on.  As a matter of fact, I loved what was going on.  This modern witch family put a spell on me and pulled me right in – as was their plan!  With such a deep devotion to their heritage of witchcraft, Jamie, Nell and some other more senior witches “seek the ones who share their gifts.”

Nell and the other witches are excited when the fetching spell they designed grabs Lauren in Chicago as she sits on her comfy couch with her laptop and pretty much calls it a normal evening.  The slight intuition Lauren was used to feeling in her life definitely enhanced her career, but could it be more?  She agrees to go through the witch screening process and when Jamie comes to do some basic testing they encounter a wide-open mind witch experience.  As you can imagine, Lauren’s life becomes not so normal anymore. 

If you enjoy the notion of witchcraft, intuition and precognition, you’ll want to start downloading now. Not only to experience the intrigue of super natural powers but a story of strong family ties and finding the “circle” of friends you belong with.  Although I look for a few more twists and turns in a story, A Modern Witch by Debora Geary got me close to the characters, made me laugh and kept me engaged with its originality.  Looking forward to book two in the series so that I can hang out with this “circle” of friends a little more.~ ~ ~Lauri Chandler           

Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed are strictly my own based on my personal reading experience and in no way influenced by others.  I was not compensated for this review.

Book Details

Title:  A Modern Witch

Author:  Debora Geary

Format:  e-book about 300 pages

Publisher:  Fireweed Publishing (March 12, 2011)

Review Source:  Snagged a copy from Member Giveaways at LibraryThing

Book Bloggers are Great

So I click on Book Journey by Sheila to link up my list, because it's Monday, and I see my name as last week's winner.  WOOOOOHOOOO !



I got to visit her Reading Cafe and select a prize.  Thank you so much Sheila!
Visit Sheila's blog and link up to It's Monday!  What are you reading? for a chance to win as well.

What I am Reading -

This week I read:

The Best Yard Sale by Mercer Mayer                                                                       

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

What’s in the Egg, Little Pip? By Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman

Bark George by Jules Feiffer

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! By Mo Willems

Henry the Dog with No Tail by Kate Feiffer

There’s a Wocket in my Pocket! By Dr. Seuss

The Great Gracie Chase, Stop that Dog! By Cynthia Rylant

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein

The College Student’s Research Companion 5^th edition by Arlene R. Quaratiello

Getting Started On:

Savvy by Ingrid Law - nominated for the National Homeschool Book Award. 

Visit BookBlogFun for more info.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by

Jacqueline Kelly - audio

It's Monday...What are you reading?

By Sheila at Book Journey.  She says: It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! 
                                      This week I read:

Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan                                    
Airhead by Meg Cabot              

Just started:
 A Modern Witch by Debora Geary

Hope to get to: 
The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

A Bit of Me - Cartoon Characters

Every Saturday There's A Book posts a question for bloggers to get to know each other a little better.

This Weeks Question: What cartoon character describes you the best?

I don’t know which cartoon character describes me the best.

 

I used to feel like this . . . . . . . . . .

I wish I felt like this . . . . . . . . . . .

I have never been into cartoons much.  I did look around at some and even took the quiz that you all talked about.  It said I was Tweety. 

I said to my husband, “I’m not Tweety!”

But then I looked at the picture.  Right now in my life, this is me. 

This is exactly me!

Well, maybe without the cat slippers.  Just picture crocs instead.

A Bit of Me

A Bit of Me is sponsored each week by There's A Book

My Dream Job

My dream job would be to work for a nonprofit organization that supplies free books to people.  I would drive all over and deliver these books to all ages.  Not too big of a bookmobile, but just comfortable enough to drive.

This is a picture of the bookmobile at the Hunterdon County Public Library in New Jersey where I grew up.  According to their website, it is still going.

JOG and BLOG

Let's get moving!!

We can all benefit from fresh air, sunshine and exercise.  Get out those audio books and join me for Jog and Blog 2011.  Dedicate some time to walking, running or jogging while listening to that next great read on your list. 

Hit the gym or the track and then don’t forget to come back!

Gather here during the month of April to share your Jog and Blog experiences.  As I get older, I need some extra motivation to get myself out for a jog.  A good book can help!  I also use audio books to get me through that dreaded chore of grocery shopping – ugh!!

Follow my blog to keep up with the Jog and Blog activity and you will be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card in April.

A Bit of Me

Share A Bit of Yourself each week at:
There's A Book                              

I C Dead People 

This might sound a little weird but if I could pick a super power, I would want to be able to talk with those on the other side.

When I was a child, I remember asking my Mom if she would come back and tell me what it was like after she died.  I get drawn in by fiction related to this topic.  One of my favorite Orson Scott Card books deals with this subject.  You can read the first chapter of Treasure Box on his website.

Join us for World Read Aloud Day

Join us from March 1st through March 9th at BookBlogFun to celebrate World Read Aloud Day!

A Bit of Me!

 

This Weeks Question: What is the single best trip you’ve ever taken?



Last summer we took our kids on a trip to Hershey Pennsylvania.  We stayed at  Hershey Lodge which has amazing accommodations, recreational activities, mini golf and three pools.  We visited Chocolate World and Hershey Park.

It was 4th of July weekend and very, very hot but we lounged around the pools and played in the water park.  The entire town was filled with the aroma of sweet milk chocolate...mmmmmmm! 

I had been to Hershey Park on my 8^th grade class trip and remember having tons of fun with my friends.  This family trip was a Christmas gift given to us by my Mom who knew we needed a nice family vacation last year.

The Lunch List

We all have a book that we carry around trying to read a few pages while sitting in a waiting room, standing in line, or on our lunch break.

If the book you are carrying around happens to be for middle graders, share with us on our website for kids.  Visit BookBlogFun and click on the tab for 3rd through 6th graders.

Post a comment on the blog and share what you are reading on your lunch break.

Authors/Illustrators/Publishers - You can also make a suggestion what we might want to read next.

What I read this week.

This fabulous weekly recap is hosted by Shelia of One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.


I love reading with my daughter!

 

My daughter is at a great age for discussing books.  She definitely has her opinions about what she likes and what she doesn’t like.  There is an excitement between us when we read a book together.

She came home with a book from her school library called The New Girl, Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls by Meg Cabot.  I was leaving to get on a plane when I saw it in her backpack. 

I said, “Oh, Meg Cabot, can I read that?” 

She said, “Mom, I’m going to read it this weekend.” 

I said, “You will be busy with your friends this weekend, I know you will not have time to read it, let me take it.” 

She said, “When will you be back because I have to return it on Wednesday.” 

I said, “Tell your librarian that I have it, she knows me, she won’t mind.” J

Anyway, I never read it while on my trip either but since I have been back we have been taking turns reading it.  She read the first half and then I caught up with her.  Now she is on the last two chapters and I will follow.

Allie Finkle is a girl in fourth grade who has just moved and starts a new school.  Allie deals with many things that young girls can relate to such as worrying about her underwear showing as she hangs upside down on the playground.  And hmmmm……  on her first day of school there are only little kids on the playground.  Is she getting to old to be seen on the jungle gym?  But she can deal with it.  She has rules in her mind that make things easier.  Girls will want to know these rules to help with friendship, family and school. 

So I asked my daughter, “What do you think about Allie’s Rules?”

She said, “Weird!”

I said, “Why, which rule is weird?”

She said, “Her rule that says: Always ask old people what to do because they know everything.”

I said, “What’s so weird about that?”

She said, “Nobody knows everything – only God.”

I said, “What do you think is Allie’s best rule?”

She said, “The rule that says: When you are starting your first day at a new school, wear something good so people will think you are nice.”

I said, “I made up a rule for Allie.”

My daughter looked at me like, you can do that?

I said, “My rule is: Always have your Queens with you.”

My daughter said, “yeah!”

You will have to read this book to find out who “The Queens” are.  Better yet, read it with your daughter!!

We also read BOO-HOO MOO by Margie Palatine.  Visit BookBlogFun for our review!

A Bit of Me

Black is Beautiful!
Funny story about color. When my daughter was three we lived in North Carolina and she was invited to a yoga birthday party with lots of little girls. They each rolled out their mats and the instructor asked them to go around the room and say their name and their favorite color. All the parents were watching as the girls took turns saying pink, purple, red. When it got to be my daughter’s turn she said so proudly…. My name is Faith and my favorite color is Black! That’s my girl.


Share a bit of yourself with other book bloggers at: There's A Book   

Books we don't want to read..................

We all have books we don't want to read.  Somehow the required reading from high school and college comes to mind when we think of this subject.  Unfortunately, many kids experience this and they get turned away from reading all together. 

My daughter has always loved reading.  I was working on my masters when she was born and was lucky enough to take a children's literature class with Kay Vandergrift at Rutgers University.  This required me to read many children's books and I read many of them with my daughter (she was just a few months old).  While taking that class, a YA class and Adult fiction class I rediscovered my love of fiction.  I had lost it somewhere in elementary school and only read fiction sporadically throughout college. 

Now my daughter is in a 2/3 GT class and is required to read quite a bit.  They read together as a class and also must do 2 fiction book reviews per month as well as a research project every few months.  There is a real difference in her when she is reading a book she enjoys opposed to reading a book that she must read for an assignment.  The book that is read together with her class is assigned to her.  She must read that book and complete literature questions.  She gets to pick the books she wants to review for her 2 fiction reviews per month.  I never want her to get discouraged about reading.  I have explained it as we all have to do some work that we don't want to do, but have fun picking the books that you love for your book reports.

I try to expose her to a mix of well known authors and pop fiction and let her choose.  My heart is so full when I see her in bed reading just one more chapter of that book that has really grabbed her.  Recently her school held a parent/child book club.  The book was chosen by the librarian and parents were invited to read with their children and then come discuss the book.  I read the first chapter out loud to our family and then my husband took the book and finished it right away.  I offered to read more to my daughter and also put the book by her bedside thinking that she might just grab it.  She had no interest.  I ended up finishing the book because I felt an obligation to the librarian at the school.  It turned out that I did really like the book and told my children about different parts that I found interesting.  However, in my daughters own little library by her bed, she chose the babysitting club books rather than Wing Nut by MJ Auch.  In my book, it was OK.  She was reading what she wanted. 

We went to the school book club meeting and I could tell that my daughter was uncomfortable that she had not read the book.  She did not know the characters and didn't have opinions on the questions that were being discussed.  I told her that it is OK to say that you did not finish the book.  I want kids to know that it is OK if you don't like a book.  We all know that feeling.  Sometimes if we hang in there with a book it gets better but sometimes it is not our style or we are just not in the mood.

BookBlog Thoughts

I started BookBlogFun for a few reasons.  First, to connect with my daughter who has shown me an amazing ability to read and enjoy reading.  Second, to reach out to parents and other children besides mine with an enthusiastic attitude about reading books and having fun sharing books.

After 8 months of BookBlogFun, I began to venture out to see who else is out there blogging about books.  I had visited Jen Robinson's Book Page a few times but began to go back more often and then I actually made some comments.  From Jen's page I visited KidLitosphere and the Cybils and it was amazing to me to see this community of book enthusiasts other than the library association members I was used to.  They even have their own book awards and conventions.  I wanted to learn more and see what these bloggers talk about.  Lucky for me, on my 45th birthday, I came acrossed the MotherReader Comment Challenge 2011.

The comment challenge opened my eyes to the tremendous amount of book bloggers out there.  Each with a slightly different twist or focus but many talking about children's books.  Just a few actually included the children themselves in the process of discussing these books.  I want to keep the focus of BookBlogFun on the kids.  Getting them involved with reading and blogging and sharing their ideas about books.  Yes the parents/teachers/adults in their lives are very much a part of motivating the kids.  Not just motivating but exposing kids to books as a hobby as a sport as a recreational activity.

I also very much enjoy discussing literacy issues and ideas with those who are out there exposed to this field.  My library science degree is part of who I am and I hope to remain active in the discipline.  However, it is important for me to seek, keep and fine tune my thoughts, attitudes and focus around reading and books.  I have to admit that some librarians can be soooooo stuffy and that is just not me.  The KidLitosphere community is a place I have discovered that brings an alternative option to communicating and relating about books. 

So, I am now kicking off this blog as my area to discuss issues, associations, and ideas that revolve around reading.  BookBlogFun will remain the space I use to get parents and kids involved in reading.  I have debated and have added more issue related content to BookBlogFun at times but I really feel that it takes away from the focus of the kid's involvement.