I am multi-tasking here! I am going through a cart of books that are new to our library and there are quite a few books hot off the press! A few that are yet to be released to the public! I wish I had time to review them all, but at this point and time it's just not possible! So, below is a list of books and star ratings! Check them out, you never know which one could become your new favorite!
Metal Man, written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Paul Hoppe * * *
The ABC Book of American Homes, written by Shoulders/Brannen * *
Children of the U.S.A, written by Ajmera/Dennis/Pon * * *
What's the Big Idea? Four Centuries of Innovation in Boston,
written by Stephen Krensky * * *
Come Look With Me: Asian Art, written by Kimberly Lane * *
Our Three Bears, written by Ron Hirschi * * * *
Traces, written by Paula Fox and Illustrated by Karla Kuskin * * * *
The White Nights of Ramadan, written by Maha Addasi * * *
Wolfsnail, written by Sarah C. Campbell * * * *
What the World Eats, written by Faith D'Aluisio and photos
by Peter Menzel (better for much older children/adults) * * * *
Making Cents, written by Elizabeth Robinson and
illustrated by Bob McMahon * * * * *
Inside the Slidy Diner, written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Jaine Zollars * * * *
What Does Mrs. Claus Do?, written by Kate Wharton * * * * *
Imagine a Dragon, written by Laurence Pringle * * * *
Drive, written by Nathan Clement * * * *
Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story, written by Loreen Leedy * * * * *
Corn, written by Gail Gibbons * * * *
The Dog Who Saved Santa, written by True Kelley * * * * *
Ping Pong Pig, written by Caroline Jayne Church * * * * *
Silent Letters Loud and Clear, written by Robin Pulver * *
One is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale, written by Judy Cox * * * * *
Zip, Zip...Homework, written by Nancy Poydar
Holly's Red Boots, written by Francesca Chessa * * * *
Notes:
- All rating are based off of my opinion and are no way affiliated with the author's or publisher's of the book.
- Some of these books are not yet released so they will not be available to purchase right away. However, most of them you can pre-order.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Book Review: "Punk Wig," written by Lori Ries, Ilustrated by Erin Eitter Kono
Brown and curly, blue and fluffy, green and long... these are just a few of the many wigs that the two main characters, (mother and son), of Punk Wig try on as they search for the perfect fit for "mom."
This book, written by Lori Ries and illustrated by Erin Eitter Kono, was one that I truly feel will go far! It is a very new release (2008) and is unlike any book that I have read before. The story line is one that reaches out to children who have a parent with cancer and is undergoing treatment. The mother in this book loses her hair due to the the medicine that is "zapping the alien blobs" in her head. This is what leads her and her son to take a trip to "Harriett's Hair." In the end they find the perfect wig!
I loved this book for many reasons! As a writer, I can personally say that is very hard to write about tough topics for kids. However, Ries nailed it! She uses terms that children will easily be able to relate to and understand, inserting fun in all the right places and bringing light onto a very dark and scary situation.
Furthermore, I can look on the subject through the eyes of my 12-year-old self because that is when my mother lost her hair from the Chemo treatments for breast cancer. To have had a book like this when this was going on, or to have this book available to read to my little brothers, would have been extremely nice as it truly portrays everything in the right light.
Overall, I feel this book is an amazing addition to children's literature and will help many in the years to come. Punk Wig is touching and simply phenomenal - - a must for families balancing life with children and the burden of cancer.
This book, written by Lori Ries and illustrated by Erin Eitter Kono, was one that I truly feel will go far! It is a very new release (2008) and is unlike any book that I have read before. The story line is one that reaches out to children who have a parent with cancer and is undergoing treatment. The mother in this book loses her hair due to the the medicine that is "zapping the alien blobs" in her head. This is what leads her and her son to take a trip to "Harriett's Hair." In the end they find the perfect wig!
I loved this book for many reasons! As a writer, I can personally say that is very hard to write about tough topics for kids. However, Ries nailed it! She uses terms that children will easily be able to relate to and understand, inserting fun in all the right places and bringing light onto a very dark and scary situation.
Furthermore, I can look on the subject through the eyes of my 12-year-old self because that is when my mother lost her hair from the Chemo treatments for breast cancer. To have had a book like this when this was going on, or to have this book available to read to my little brothers, would have been extremely nice as it truly portrays everything in the right light.
Overall, I feel this book is an amazing addition to children's literature and will help many in the years to come. Punk Wig is touching and simply phenomenal - - a must for families balancing life with children and the burden of cancer.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Another Quick Note on the Topic of Agents!
I know I made yesterday's announcement pretty quick and with little announcement! But I had limited time and wanted to get it on there as soon as I could! I have been researching and researching and looking and reading everything I can get my hands on! Lately, I have been reading stories of other authors and their journeys and about the roads that lead them to getting published. Each and everyone so far got published with the help of an agent. Then, I read a very interesting piece by my favorite author, Meg Cabot, and she too mentioned that anymore it is next to impossible to get published without an agent. Meaning... basically... I am starting over at square one! Which about kills me, but I think it will benefit my writing career in the future. I have the name of a book that has been suggested, and the process of getting an agent is similar to that of finding a publisher. Only instead of trying to sell only my work, I am officially putting myself on the market! Ha! Kind of like single ads, only instead of a looking for a romantic guy who enjoys watching movies, talking and taking long walks on the beach.. I am looking for an agent who is determined, likes working with new (and young) authors and likes reading long manuscripts with the intent of getting them published!
I have to wait until Friday (happy dance) to order the book and then as soon as it comes in I will begin the quest! I need to put together a portfolio and compile a writing resume and about 10-million other things! But it is exciting! So here we go, one more path on the journey to becoming a writer! Keep your fingers crossed!
I have to wait until Friday (happy dance) to order the book and then as soon as it comes in I will begin the quest! I need to put together a portfolio and compile a writing resume and about 10-million other things! But it is exciting! So here we go, one more path on the journey to becoming a writer! Keep your fingers crossed!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
CHANGE IN PLANS...again
Ok, I literally am writing this with 2 minutes before the library closes! There is a new plan: forget all plans! I am going to find an agent!
PASS IT ON: The Kindness Catching Revolution
I am a part of a secret society so to say. It is all about Random Acts of Kindness. Now you may wonder... "If it's so secret, why are you telling us?" But I guess you could say that this is one secret we would like to pass on! In fact, the more people who know, the better!
For the last 6 years I have been performing Random Acts of Kindness and handing out Smile Cards! Which, in my opinion, are one of the greatest ideas in the world! I guess I was truly inspired by the movie, "Pay it Forward," a must see for all! I had done little things before... and I always enjoyed surprising others and helping out others who were in need.... but discovering the Smile cards was truly the spark that ignited my passion!
I discovered the cards while I was working on one of the projects for the volunteer group I ran, Students Taking a Responsible Step, or S.T.A.R.S. I really wanted to share the practice of Random Acts of Kindness with the kids in my group. I was researching the movie we would be watching, and somehow came across HelpOthers.org, home of the smile cards.
Since that day, I have carried around a bundle of the cards just in case an opportunity to use one came along. Today and yesterday was one of those days! I had to travel on the Turnpike to get to my families house in Ark City and then to return to my home. Yesterday, as I got off and paid at the toll booth, I gave the cashier an extra $2.50 and a smile card and asked her to pay the toll for the car behind me and to give them the card. She smiled nervously, but took the money and the card and I jetted off. As I looked in my rear-view mirror at the car behind me, the man who was in it looked down at the card that she had just given him and he smiled SO big! That is why I do it, for the smiles! That is more payment than I could ever wish for!
Toll money is not the only area I pass out cards; I come up with new ideas all the time! I do have a favorite story though!
When I graduated from high school, I received a huge bouquet of carnations; 40 to be exact! I had so many that I didn't know what to do with them. The next weekend my niece and nephew came (ages 4 and 5) and we took every single carnation and tied a smile card to it's stem. We then went to our local Dillion's Store and I gave each of them one flower at a time. I explained that these flowers would make other people smile, and then they could take the cards and do something nice for someone else! They loved the idea, but I wasn't sure if they fully grasped the idea. Furthermore, I thought that they possibly might get to shy at the last minute, but boy was I surprised! My nephew ran excitedly through the doors of the store and found the very first lady he lay eyes on! He ran up to her and handed her the flower! Her smile was so big, but his was even bigger!
In no time at all, we neared the end of our bouquet, but there were a few left. My niece took one up to an elderly lady, and then came back to me and as we were walking away she tugged on my sleeve and asked..."Did you see her smile?!" "It was really big."
We left the store with three flowers left, and went to Subway for lunch. The kids saw a woman at the counter and took a flower up to her. She smiled and turned around and said "that just made my day! Thank you guys!"
The final two flowers went to the waitresses at the restaurant! Both of which were really excited to receive flowers. Later, as we were setting and eating our lunch, one of the waitresses came up to the kids with two giant chocolate chip cookies! She said that they were for them and that she really liked her flower! As they gobbled down the cookies my niece and nephew looked at me with the biggest chocolate covered smiles I had ever seen. My nephew said "being nice is fun!"
It turned out being a great day, not only for myself and my family, but for 40 other random people. We spread a lot of smiles, and the kids learned an important lesson in the process. In fact they couldn't wait until the next time they got to come and visit!
In the last 6 years, I have had so much fun, and seen smiles that I will never forget. I know this is something that I plan to continue as long as I am alive! I have seen the way if affects others, and I have been affected as well. The simplest things can make the biggest difference to someone. You may never know how big of a difference you have made, but I can promise you, it IS made!
I write about this because it is one of my passions; and it is human kindness that serves as one of my inspirations to life, and to my writing. Life is one big story of which we all play a part. Each day is a new page, and it is written as we go along. Why not become a part of another's story? Why not spread a smile? Why not Pass It On? In fact... I dare you!
For the last 6 years I have been performing Random Acts of Kindness and handing out Smile Cards! Which, in my opinion, are one of the greatest ideas in the world! I guess I was truly inspired by the movie, "Pay it Forward," a must see for all! I had done little things before... and I always enjoyed surprising others and helping out others who were in need.... but discovering the Smile cards was truly the spark that ignited my passion!
I discovered the cards while I was working on one of the projects for the volunteer group I ran, Students Taking a Responsible Step, or S.T.A.R.S. I really wanted to share the practice of Random Acts of Kindness with the kids in my group. I was researching the movie we would be watching, and somehow came across HelpOthers.org, home of the smile cards.
Since that day, I have carried around a bundle of the cards just in case an opportunity to use one came along. Today and yesterday was one of those days! I had to travel on the Turnpike to get to my families house in Ark City and then to return to my home. Yesterday, as I got off and paid at the toll booth, I gave the cashier an extra $2.50 and a smile card and asked her to pay the toll for the car behind me and to give them the card. She smiled nervously, but took the money and the card and I jetted off. As I looked in my rear-view mirror at the car behind me, the man who was in it looked down at the card that she had just given him and he smiled SO big! That is why I do it, for the smiles! That is more payment than I could ever wish for!
Toll money is not the only area I pass out cards; I come up with new ideas all the time! I do have a favorite story though!
When I graduated from high school, I received a huge bouquet of carnations; 40 to be exact! I had so many that I didn't know what to do with them. The next weekend my niece and nephew came (ages 4 and 5) and we took every single carnation and tied a smile card to it's stem. We then went to our local Dillion's Store and I gave each of them one flower at a time. I explained that these flowers would make other people smile, and then they could take the cards and do something nice for someone else! They loved the idea, but I wasn't sure if they fully grasped the idea. Furthermore, I thought that they possibly might get to shy at the last minute, but boy was I surprised! My nephew ran excitedly through the doors of the store and found the very first lady he lay eyes on! He ran up to her and handed her the flower! Her smile was so big, but his was even bigger!
In no time at all, we neared the end of our bouquet, but there were a few left. My niece took one up to an elderly lady, and then came back to me and as we were walking away she tugged on my sleeve and asked..."Did you see her smile?!" "It was really big."
We left the store with three flowers left, and went to Subway for lunch. The kids saw a woman at the counter and took a flower up to her. She smiled and turned around and said "that just made my day! Thank you guys!"
The final two flowers went to the waitresses at the restaurant! Both of which were really excited to receive flowers. Later, as we were setting and eating our lunch, one of the waitresses came up to the kids with two giant chocolate chip cookies! She said that they were for them and that she really liked her flower! As they gobbled down the cookies my niece and nephew looked at me with the biggest chocolate covered smiles I had ever seen. My nephew said "being nice is fun!"
It turned out being a great day, not only for myself and my family, but for 40 other random people. We spread a lot of smiles, and the kids learned an important lesson in the process. In fact they couldn't wait until the next time they got to come and visit!
In the last 6 years, I have had so much fun, and seen smiles that I will never forget. I know this is something that I plan to continue as long as I am alive! I have seen the way if affects others, and I have been affected as well. The simplest things can make the biggest difference to someone. You may never know how big of a difference you have made, but I can promise you, it IS made!
I write about this because it is one of my passions; and it is human kindness that serves as one of my inspirations to life, and to my writing. Life is one big story of which we all play a part. Each day is a new page, and it is written as we go along. Why not become a part of another's story? Why not spread a smile? Why not Pass It On? In fact... I dare you!
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