Rainy day reading

Rainy days are the best kind of reading days....along with snowy days, and spring days....well any day is a good reading day. ;-)

Recently, along with everything else I've been reading, I have added a new genre to my repetoire... graphic novels/comics.  

Batgirl volume 1 by Gail Simone is the first traditional comic -- with a superhero -- that I have read. I was quite surprised how much I enjoyed it. I'm going to have to watch for the second volume!

Short Film

Beautifully, bookish short film... (via Epbot)

Feed Commentary

I know all of you wanted to hear some snark today so here is a post that came through my feeds this morning.

Ha.

The utter ridiculousness of this application astounds me. Isn't this the equivalent of getting a Christmas card from your insurance company?

In other drool-worthy news: Do I have to be a celebrity to have a home library like these? I had particularly large drool puddles for Jimmy Stewart's, Julianne Moore's, & William Randolph Hearst's.

I'm so excited (and other stuff)

I finally went and ordered and eReader.  I had been waiting for one with everything I was looking for: reasonable price, eInk, long battery life, and touch screen. Then I had to make sure I wouldn't go in to debt purchasing it.

I ordered it last night and now I am spending an inordinately excessive amount of time checking the shipping status! :-P

I am also preparing for my first 4th of July picnic (x2!).  I'm having some friends over in the afternoon and my parents in the evening.  Grilling out...good food...good fellowship. 

But lots of work.

Since it is currently the hottest day of the summer so far I have decided to spend the day inside in the a/c  (I'm turning it off tomorrow night--after the heatwave!) and pulling up the last of the carpet in my house.  Hopefully.

But that will be after lunch.

Reading Woes

Sadly, I have been doing poorly on my 100+ Challenge.  Lately, I have barely had time to read during the day and fall asleep reading at night.

This falling asleep reading is baffling to me.  I never used to do that.  I could stay up till the wee hours reading without falling asleep...until recently.  I am hoping this is a sign that I am tiring myself out with activity and not that I am getting too old.

I have a huge stack of library books on my table waiting to be read and a few books that I own that are gathering dust.  I had planned to read New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherford before I went to visit the sister in October.  That is not going to happen. I'll have to read it for the next time I visit.

Airplane travel provides ample opportunity to read; and as I am going to visit the sister the first week and the brother the last week of October I will have a couple of air travel days to crack a book open.

And now I am going to go try to finish my current read without falling asleep...

Tonight I rearranged my blog to move my 100+ Reading Challenge post to it's own page. As I was rearranging I noticed I am a little behind ...

Not that I haven't been reading.  But I have not been counting books that I skim ... and apparently I have been skimming a lot of books lately.

Technically, I should have about 50 books read as tomorrow is the first of July, the halfway point. 

I have to say I do have quite the list to read:

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

My computer has died.

On Sunday, it just wouldn't wake up.

Luckily, I have been planning (and SAVING) for a new one so hopefully I will find a good deal shortly.  In the meantime, I have to resort to quick snatches over my breaks at work.

Here is an interesting post I read today during lunch -- fits me to a "T" minus the Canadian part. :-)

2010 100+ Reading Challenge

I decided to take a challenge. A reading challenge.  100 + books in 2010.

The challenge is sponsored by J. Kaye's Book Blog. I'm fairly certain I can complete this challenge.  We shall see.

The books I read for this challenge will be listed in the post below.  I will be adding as I go -- I'm working on the 1st one right now!

1. Homeplace by Dorothy Garlock (Re-read)

2. Blood game by Iris Johansen (New)

3. Fired up by Jayne Ann Krentz (New)

4. Sizzle by Julie Garwood (New)

5. Memoirs of a teenage amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin (New / Audio book)

6. Anges and the hitman by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (Re-read)

7. Hunger games by Suzanne Collins (New)

8. Blood ties by Kay Hooper (New)

9. Catching fire by Suzanne Collins (New)

10. Hacking Harvard by Robin Wasserman (New)

11. The compound by S.A. Bodeen (New/Audiobook)

12. Devil's web by Mary Balogh (New)

13. The year we disappeared: a father-daughter memoir by John & Cylin Busby (New)

14. Fantasy in death by J. D. Robb (New)

15. Summer of the midnight sun by Tracie Peterson (New)

16. Wild ride by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (New)

17. The Spellmans strike again by Lisa Lutz (New)

18. Bet me by Jennifer Crusie (Re-read)

19. Shattered by Karen Robards (New)

20. Without mercy by Lisa Jackson (New)

21. Mr. Parker  Pyne, detective by Agatha Christie (New)

22. Burning lamp by Amanda Quick (New)

23. The disreputable history of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart (New)

24. Eight days to live by Iris Johansen (New)

MOVED PAGE (please click here)

Best Beach Reads

NPR had a poll of the Best Beach Books Ever (BTW - Didn't know about this poll so I didn't vote):

[Read] [Will Read] [Haven't Read]

1. The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling (I have never read these -- I can hear readers across the world groaning in despair. In my defense I have tried, I started the first book multiple times; I just couldn't get into the story.)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee (Read it, loved it, recommend it!)
3. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini (Nope.)
4. Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding (Not really interested.)
5. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (Read it.)
6. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells (Sadly, I watched the movie 1st -- that usually ruins the book from me.)
7. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Listened via audiobook -- I liked this this one.)
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams (Yes.)
9. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, by Fannie Flagg (Again watch the movie, didn't read the book.)
10. The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver (No.)

11. The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger (I currently have this book checked out! The roommate is reading it right now.)
12. Life of Pi, by Yann Martel (No.)
13. The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan (Watched the movie.)
14. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien (Own it, read it several times, including once for a college course.)
15. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (Read it in high school, I have been thinking I should read it again.)
16. Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell (On my CTR: classics-to-read list.)
17. Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett (I have never heard of this one.)
18. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien (See #14)
19. Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides (No.)
20. Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen (No, but on my list TRE list: to-read-eventually.)

21. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain (Yes.)
22. The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver (No.)
23. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith (TRE)
24. The World According to Garp, by John Irving (No.)
25. Catch-22, by Joseph Heller (CTR)
26. The Prince of Tides, by Pat Conroy (No.)
27. Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel (No.)
28. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman (Watched the movie. Love the movie.)
29. The Accidental Tourist, by Anne Tyler (No.)
30. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer (Yes.)

31. A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole (Haven't heard of it.)
32. East of Eden, by John Steinbeck (CTR)
33. The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant (No.)
34. Beach Music, by Pat Conroy (No.)
35. One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (No.)
36. Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier (Yes -- and watched the movie.)
37. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card (No.)
38. Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry (Yes.)
39. The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCullough (No.)
40. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon (No.)

41. Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett (N0.)
42. Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy (CTR)
43. Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice (No.)
44. Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier (TRE)
45. Empire Falls, by Richard Russo (No.)
46. Under the Tuscan Sun, by Frances Mayes (No. Saw the movie.)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas (Yes. Liked it.)
48. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, by Tom Robbins (No.)
49. I Know This Much Is True, by Wally Lamb (No.)
50. Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie (Yes. I like Agatha Christie.)

51. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott (Yes. Loved it and Little Men and Jo's Boys.)
52. The Stand, by Stephen King (No, not much of a King fan.)
53. She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb (No.)
54. Dune, by Frank Herbert (Mmm . . . probably never read this one.)
55. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (TRE)
56. Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (No.)
57. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll (Yes.)
58. Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov (No.)
59. The Godfather, by Mario Puzo (No.)
60. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith (Yes, a long time ago.)

61. Animal Dreams, by Barbara Kingsolver (No.)
62. Jaws, by Peter Benchley (No. Saw the movie though.)
63. Good in Bed, by Jennifer Weiner (No.)
64. Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner (No.)
65. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson (No.)
66. The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway (No.)
67. The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand (No.)
68. Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut (No, but Slaughterhouse 5 is on my CTR list.)
69. Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut (No.)
70. The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler (No but maybe TRE?)

71. The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway (No. CTR.)
72. The Hunt for Red October, by Tom Clancy (No. But this is one of my favorite movies.)
73. Cold Sassy Tree, by Olive Ann Burns (No.)
74. The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding (Yes.)
74. Bonfire of the Vanities, by Tom Wolfe [tie] (No.)
76. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte (CTR.)
77. Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon (Started this one.)
78. The Shell Seekers, by Rosamunde Pilcher (No.)
79. Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver (No.)
80. Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett (No.)

81. Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck (No.)
81. The Pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreve [tie] (No.)
83. All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy (Yes. I didn't really like this one.)
84. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson (No.)
85. The Little Prince, by Antoine De Saint-Exupery (Yes, a long time ago.)
86. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy (No.)
87. One for the Money, by Janet Evanovich (Yes. Yes. Yes. And every one after!)
88. Shogun, by James Clavell (No.)
89. Dracula, by Bram Stoker (No.)
90. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera (No.)

91. Presumed Innocent, by Scott Turow (No.)
92. Franny and Zooey, by J.D. Salinger (No.)
93. The Secret History, by Donna Tartt (No.)
94. Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris (Yes.)
95. Summer Sisters, by Judy Blume (No.)
96. The Shining, by Stephen King (Yes.)
97. How Stella Got Her Groove Back, by Terry McMillan (No.)
98. Lamb, by Christopher Moore (No.)
99. Sick Puppy, by Carl Hiaasen (No.)
100. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson (Yes.)

Well, I haven't read many of those. :-)

I have to say many of the titles I haven't read I really have no desire to read.

Sweet Summer

Today was the perfect summer day . . .

Mostly sunny, warm and breezy . . . perfect weather for reading.

(Although, I could argue that any day is perfect weather for reading -- I won't though. At least not today!)

Books, books, books

Working at the library, I find books I want to read everyday. A lot of books I want to read.

I have to make it a matter of priority. Which books I read that is. Despite how much I would love to get lost in a book, I realize I have a life to live, house to clean, work to do, family & friends to spend time with.

It's all about balance and priorities.

Today, I brought home a great haul of books though. And I plan on starting one before bed. I can hardly wait!

I know I've been busy when . . .

I haven't finished a book in two weeks!

I have been reading the same book for two weeks. One that would normally take me three or four days to finish. I have been loading and unloading boxes. Moving, organizing and tossing clutter. Besides the normal everyday things like eating and working.

I have been reading at bedtime and falling asleep.

I'm hoping to finish my book this week. I know I am on reserve for a couple others . . .

And I still have a big pile at home to start.


Oh dear . . .

Judging a book by its cover

These books caught my interest by their beautiful, unique, or otherwise eye-catching covers:


Title: The thirteenth tale
Author: Diane Setterfield
Pub Date: 2006

Genre: A little bit mysterious

Plot: A biographer interviews one of a famous and mysterious author-- now a recluse.

I started this book but it was on a reserve list and I didn't get a chance to finish it. It was very good up to the 10th or 12th chapter (I think it was the somewhere around there). One of these days I will get back to it . . .




Title: Garden spells
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Pub. Date: 2008

Genre: Psychological/Domestic Fiction

Plot: "In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit." (via Barnes & Noble)

Sounds good so far, huh?!? Every person I have talked to that has read this book has enjoyed it. The second book by this author -- The sugar queen -- is also on my to read list.



Title: The little giant of Aberdeen County: a novel
Author: Tiffany Baker
Pub Date: 2009

Plot: When Truly Plaice's mother was pregnant, the town of Aberdeen joined together in betting how recordbreakingly huge the baby boy would ultimately be. The girl who proved to be Truly paid the price of her enormity; her father blamed her for her mother's death in childbirth, and was totally ill equipped to raise either this giant child or her polar opposite sister Serena Jane, the epitome of femine perfection. When he, too, relinquished his increasingly tenuous grip on life, Truly and Serena Jane are separated--Serena Jane to live a life of privilege as the future May Queen and Truly to live on the outskirts of town on the farm of the town sadsack, the subject of constant abuse and humiliation at the hands of her peers. (via Barnes & Noble)

Look at that pretty cover! I find the plot of this story intriguing. Sisters, small town. Plus I want to hear more about this sadsack that Truly lives with -- I really wanted to use that word in a sentence! Heehee.



Title: Hangman blind
Author: Cassandra Clark
Pub Date: 2009

Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction

Plot: In November 1382, the month of the dead, Abbess Hildegard rides out for York from the Abbey of Meaux. This is no ordinary journey—it is a time of rival popes, a boy king, and a shaky peace in the savage aftermath of Wat Tyler’s murder—and Hildegard has embarked on a perilous mission to try to secure the future of her priory. (via Barnes & Noble)

I am a little picky on the historical fiction I read. I like my historical fiction to be a good blend of engaging storyline and historical research. I am going to try this one because it is one of loveliest covers I have seen a while!

Balance

well-balanced (adj) 

1. nicely or evenly balanced, arranged, or regulated 

2. emotionally or psychologically untroubled

Last year about this time I made some resolutions -- listed some changes I wanted to make in my life in the upcoming year.  Some of them I accomplished, some of them I attempted to accomplish but the result have little to be desired.

This year I am going to focus one (maybe two) changes in four areas of my life: intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual.

Resolutions for my Intellectual Life:

• Increase my vocabulary -- I have subscribed to a couple word-of-the-day websites.  I want to be able not only to learn at least one new word per week but also to be able to use it competently
  
  
  
• Read at least 5 of the classic books I have been meaning to read (the ones that are "on my list") 

Classics to read (partial list):

1. 1984 by George Orwell
   
   
   
2. For whom the bell tolls by Ernest Hemingway
   
   
   
3. The wind in the willows by Kenneth Graham
   
   
   
4. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
   
   
   
5. The catcher in the rye by J.D. Salinger (actually a re-read)
   
   
   
6. The grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck
   
   
   
7. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
   
   
   
8. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
   
   
   
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
   
   
   
10. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
    
    
    
11. Silas Marner by George Eliot
    
    
    
12. Red badge of courage by Stephen Crane
    
    
    
13. The sound and the fury by William Faulkner
    
    
    
14. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
    
    
    
15. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
    
    
    
16. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (re-read)
    
    
    
17. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
    
    
    
18. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
    
    
    
19. Gone with the wind by Margaret Mitchell (yeah, I know -- what have I been reading?)
    
    
    
20. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Ready for the weekend . . . I think

It is crazy how busy this time of year is. I have a lot on my plate this year and it seems as if something is always buzzing in my brain.

Either I'm singing through the songs for the upcoming cantata, or I'm planning the direction of the children's program, or I'm running through my schedule for the next couple weeks. My brain seems to always be a couple steps ahead of the rest of me.

I'm not sure I will catch up to it either! :-)

On to other more impressive feats: I have complete my snow shoveling (at least until this weekend when it is supposed to RAIN and then snow some more).

Yes, yes, it only took me three and a half hours over three days to complete. And towards the end of my shoveling stint, when it seemed my body might revolt and fall exhausted to the snow covered driveway -- a kindly neighbor boy (with a shovel) helped to make the last LONG 5 minutes seem a little bit shorter.

I properly rewarded him with peanut butter cups.

---

(1) Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. (2) This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. (3) And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. (Luke 2:1-3)

Census of Quirinius : The Virgin and St. Joseph register for the census before Governor Quirinius. Byzantine mosaic c. 1315

Surprise, surprise

It is amazing what I can get done when I actually DO something and not procrastinate. I got everything on my list except for mopping my kitchen floor done today!

Surprisingly enough I also had time do some of the things I would have done to procrastinate. (Namely mindless solitaire games.)

I am hoping my Wednesday goes as well as today did.

---

(16) The LORD God commanded the man saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; (17) but from the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat from it you will surely die. Genesis 2:16-17

"Tree of Life" -- Tiffany

Weekend recap part 3: the show

Saturday, I headed over to the NEIQG Quilt Show. The quilters in this guild can enter any and all quilts they would like. They do require the quilts be completed and have never been shown in this show before.

These are some of the wall quilts.


All viewers have the opportunity to vote for their favorite wall or small quilt and their favorite large quilt.

This was my small quilt choice. I like to choose among the quilts that didn't get an award already. I really like the 4-patch pattern and color choices in this quilt.


I liked this pattern too. I wasn't thrilled with the background choice but I love the stained glass effect.


And then an appliqued dragonfly, ladybug, and butterfly.


This was the grand poo-bah of the show. It won first place in it's division and was the best of show.

I liked this one too. It was all hand-quilted . . .


Look at those stitches!!!

Weekend recap part 1: The do-nothing portion

Friday was my do nothing day.

I slept in (a favorite activity that I haven't been able to do a lot lately). Then I dillydallied around on the computer for a while. Is that even a word dillydallied? I know dillydally is a word but I'm not sure if it can be made into a past tense verb. Anyway . . . I dillydallied.

I deleted old e-mails that really had no use anymore and were clogging up my inbox. I cleaned up my bookmarks a bit.

I rediscovered this website while going through some of my bookmarks.

I love bookplates -- even though I don't have them in all my books.

Here are a few that I especially liked (and downloaded for later . . .):

The first three were all done by the same illustrator.

These bears are so cute. I just want to snuggle up next to them with a book!

Then we have the frog-themed bookplates. I don't know exactly why I liked these -- maybe it has something to do with the frog prince? Who know what goes on in my brain sometimes.

This last one is by this illustrator . . .

And that pretty much was my Friday. Heehee.

5 fun read-aloud children's books

Ha! I found a way to combine my Bookspot and 5 things Friday post . . . tada!

I have been on a children's book kick lately. I think it is because of excessive exposure to these books during the library's summer reading program.

Sooooo . . . I have five books that are some of my new read-aloud favorites:

1. Olivia . . . and the missing toy by Ian Falconer. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2003. (ISBN 9780689852916)
   
   Also by this author:
   Olivia
   Olivia saves the circus
   Olivia forms a band
   Olivia helps with Christmas
   
   
   A day-in-the-life of Olivia, an adorable pig who lives with her mom, dad and two little brothers. In this book Olivia loses her "best toy."
   
   Kid factor:
   The illustrations are great. Ian Falconer is not only the author but the illustrator and he does a great job! The illustrations have lots of little things going on in them but the overall picture is uncluttered and easy on the eyes.
   
   Adorable pig . . . enough said.
   
   Adult factor:
   I have to say the illustrations again. Love them!
   
   The adorable, independant, special pig . . . Olivia is truly one-of-a-kind.
   
   Readability . . . this book is easy-to-read but challenges a child to expand their vocabulary and phraseology.
   
   
2. Do like a duck does by Judy Hindley. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2002. (ISBN 9780763632847)
   
   A mother duck challenges a furry stranger to imitate a duck and proves he is not a duck but a fox.
   
   Kid factor:
   Great beginning reader book! The story is in rhyme and repeats words and phrases.
   
   Uses fun words like 'flop,' 'hup,' 'yum,' and 'plop!'
   
   Ducklings!
   
   Adult factor:
   The story is in rhyme and easy to read-aloud and the kids interact well with the story.
   
   Humor: it is amusing to see the mother duck get the best of the sly fox.
   
   
3. Clink, clank, clunk by Miriam Aroner. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2006. (ISBN 9781590782705)
   
   A group of animal friends ride to town in a car that clinks, clanks, and clunks.
   
   Kid factor:
   Counting . . .
   
   Animals . . .
   
   Fun words . . .
   
   What could be better!
   
   Adult factor:
   Ditto! :-)
   
   
4. Hello, goodbye window by Norton Juster. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. (ISBN 9780786809141)
   
   2006 Caldecott Award Winner
   
   A girl's perspective of her relationship with her grandparents, revolving around the "hello, goodbye window."
   
   Kid factor:
   Wonderfully illustrated.
   
   Story is from a child's perspective.
   
   Adult factor:
   Reminded me of the special times I had at my grandparents house.
   
   Snippets of childhood wonders.
   
   
5. Skippyjon Jones and the big bones by Judy Schachner. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2007. (ISBN 9780525478843)
   
   Also by this author:
   Skippyjon Jones
   Skippyjon Jones in the doghouse
   Skippyjon Jones in mummy trouble (personal favorite)
   Skippyjon Jones and the treasure hunt
   
   Skippyjon Jones, a Siamese cat who imagines himself as a superhero Chihuahua, imagines the neighbor dog's bone to be a dinosaur fossil.
   
   I saved the best for last!
   
   Kid factor:
   Imagination is a huge theme in this book. I mean a Siamese cat who imagines himself to be the superhero Chihuahua dog, "El Skippito Friskito?" What kid wouldn't love this book!?!
   
   The book has colorful illustrations.
   
   And each book includes a CD with the author reading the story! Bonus!
   
   Adult factor:
   Four words . . .
   
   La cucaracha . . . Spanish accents!

Once upon a time . . .

I love storytime at the library! I think all adults should attend a storytime -- whether they have kids or not.

This morning I was working the circulation desk during the story hour and I laughed and smiled the whole time.

The kids really got into some of the stories -- they laughed and smiled a lot!

I think that a lot of people -- once they consider themselves adults -- discount children's or young adult books. Personally some of my all-time favorites would not be considered 'adult' books. I also like the juvenile non-fiction better than some of the adult non-fiction books. They are easy to understand and have lots of pictures!

For my bookspot this month (last Friday of the month) I am going to focus on children's books . . . I'm excited.

In the meantime, I think I will do a little reading . . .