Happy Valentine's Day - Celebrate with A Few Good Books

Happy Valentine's Day!  Instead of a Valentine's Day Card, I am sharing some of my favorite (new and older) books to celebrate the holiday. 

Here are just a few titles to celebrate the holiday, and since Valentine's Day is more than cards, and flowers and candied hearts, I have included some of my favorite friendship books, too.  Because isn't Valentine's Day really about telling a friend how much they mean to you?



Mouse and Mole, Secret Valentine by Wong Herbert Yee 
(HMH Books for Young Readers, December 2013)


Penguin in Love by Salina Yoon (Walker Children, December 2013)


Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPuchio; Illustrated by Scott Campbell 
(Simon & Schuster, 2011)


Love Monster by Rachel Bright (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, December 2013)


Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon (Roaring Brook Press, October 2013) 


Love Is In The Air by Jonathan Fenske (Penguin, 2012)


Forsythia and Me by Vincent X. Kirsch (Farrar, Straus, & Grioux, 2011)


Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers (Penguin, 2005)


(Disney-Hyperion, 2012)


Oliver by Birgitta Sif (Candlewick Press, 2012)


 What are your favorite Valentine's Day books or books about friends?

The Magic Mistake (Oh My Godmother #2) Giveaway


by Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson
Illustrated by Abigail Halpin
Disney-Hyperion, February 4, 2014


Description from GoodReads:
After becoming the most awkward fairy godmother ever, twelve year old Lacey Unger-Ware thought that her magical duties were done for good. In fact, she's just getting started. When Lacey is invited to attend the Godmother Academy it should be a dream come true. But to Lacey it means the total opposite: she'll have to be separated from her friends and family for a hundred years. Um, no thank you!

But this is an offer Lacey can't refuse. The fairy godmother Katarina knows that Lacey will be cursed forever if she doesn't complete the magical test. Now Lacey must find the true love for one special lady and arrange the perfect wedding before time runs out. With her best friends Sunny and Paige along to help, there's a glimmer of hope. But where's a fairy godmother to save the day when you need one? Oh, wait...

The second book in Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson's middle grade series is full of heart and charm, and Abigail Halpin's black-and-white illustrations are irresistible.


For a chance to win a copy of The Magic Mistake on GoodReads, enter here until February 17th.

Just for fun, I asked a few friends what they would ask from their fairy godmother:

"I would love it if my Fairy Godmother would help me keep me organized -- I used to be great at cleaning my room and staying on top of assignments (ok, maybe not really that last part--that was more my mother!) but now I am a complete disaster." - @frootjoos 


"That's a good one Alethea. Is this fairy godmother around all the time? Because I'd totally ask her to do my laundry every week if I could. Oh and do my dishes."  - @fishgirl182

"I think I would ask her to teach me how to ice skate. And sew and cook. I could go on......." - @kimberlybuggie

 "And make me a cake - preferably something with chocolate in it." - @fishgirl182

And a few more wishes...

"I would ask her to take me to the Bahamas and babysit.  By the way, does she have an assistant?" - Kathy, mom & social worker

"I would ask her where has she been all my life? And would she be my life coach, and personal assistant." - Myra, mom and drama educator

Here were the responses I got from my facebook page - a mix of light-hearted wishes to some very serious ones:

 

I then asked the resident kids at my house what they thought:

"I would ask for help with school work, and buying gifts for my family."  - Jax, Age 13

"I would ask her to help me clean my room and also, to find me some panda things." - KK, Age 7

In the comment section, let us know what you would ask of a fairy godmother.

If you live in the Los Angeles area, stop by Once Upon a Time this Sunday, February 16, 2014 at  2 p.m. for the Launch Party of The Magic Mistake. 

For more information about Barbara Brauner and James Iver Mattson check out the links below:



Enter to win one of two copies of The Magic Mistake (Oh My Godmother #2) by using the rafflecopter form below.  Winner must have an US or Canadian mailing address and be 13 years or older.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - Presidents' Day


Thank you everyone for signing up for the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2014.  It is going to be an amazing year of sharing nonfiction books with one another.

Monday is Presidents' Day and though there are a lot of picture books that feature various presidents, I only had space to share a few.  Here are 12 informational picture books that feature US Presidents.  The first three listed are recent releases.


Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything by Maira Kalman (Nancy Paulsen Books, January 7, 2014) - This is the second presidential biography from Kalman and she does a nice job dealing with Jefferson's life on multiple levels.


To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Doreen Rappaport; Illustrated by C.F. Payne (Disney-Hyperion, December 17, 2013) - Doreen Rappaport always does a nice job with picture book biographies.  I really enjoyed how she portrayed Theodore Roosevelt.


Rutherford B., Who Was He?: Poems About Our Presidents by Marilyn Singer; Illustrated by John Hendrix (Disney-Hyperion, 2013)- Singer and Hendrix have teamed up to provide readers with a poetic look at each president.


The President's Stuck in the Bathtub: Poems About Presidents by Susan Katz; Illustrated by Robert Neubecker (Clarion Books, 2012) - Katz provides a humorous and informative look at the presidents through poems that feature unique facts.


Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the True Story of an American Feud by Suzanne Jurmain; Illustrated by Larry Day (Dutton Juvenile, 2011) - There are a few picture books that focus on Jefferson and Adams.  This one can be paired with Those Rebels, John and Tom by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham (Scholastic Press, 2012).


A Boy Named FDR: How Franklin D. Roosevelt Grew Up to Change America by Kathleen Krull; Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010) - A nice introduction to FDR for young readers.


Looking at Lincoln by Maira Kalman (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012) - Kalman's first presidential picture book biography.


Jack's Path of Courage: The Life of John F. Kennedy by Doreen Rappaport; Illustrated by Matt Tavares (Disney-Hyperion, 2010) - Rappaport provides young readers with a strong introduction to JFK.


George Washington's Birthday: A Mostly True Tale by Margaret McNamara; Illustrated by Barry Blitt (Schwartz & Wade, 2012) - Through humor, readers learn facts and myths about George Washington.


Big George: How a Shy Boy Became President by Anne F. Rockwell; Illustrated by Matt Phelan (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2009) - Rockwell and Phelan provide young readers with a solid introduction to George Washington.


Lives of the Presidents by Kathleen Krull; Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (Harcourt Children's Books, 2011) - Krull's Lives of... series is always informative and in this installment, she provides readers with a brief introduction to all of the presidents.


So You Want to President? by Judith St. George; Illustrated by David Small (Philomel, 2004) - A humorous and entertaining way of providing facts and information about the presidents.

For more book recommendations, you may also want to check out Edward Sullivan's GoodRead Page for US Presidents.  I started following Sullivan on GoodReads because he reads amazing amounts of children's literature and I find that his ratings are often very in-line with my ratings, which means I will often check out new books that he has positively rated.

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On a separate note, Cathy Mere at Reflect & Refine and some friends are hosting Nonfiction Event #nf10for10 next Wednesday, February 19th.  They are asking everyone to post 10 nonfiction books you can't live without.   I am planning on joining in and hope some of you will too.  Click here for more information.
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Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews and thank you for participating in the challenge.

Slice of Life - One Little Word - #slice2014


Last summer, I was hoping to participate regularly in the Slice of Life challenge at Two Writing Teachers.  Then life got in the way.  I keep hoping to post regularly.  At this point, I seem to post when I have something that feels important.  If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here.
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For over a year now, I have noticed friends posting One Little Word posts.  I decided to explore more about this and purchased the book, One Word That Will Change Your Life, Expanded Edition by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page.  I decided to give it a whirl and see what word would be my word.


The perfectionist in me struggles with something like this.  I know I need to unplug and focus and yet my mind seems to fill up.  I panic and generate several dozen words. I am blown away when I share the book with a close friend and her kids come up with really powerful choices for their own words in no time at all.  And all through it, I keep thinking that it will be July before I find a word.

I am pretty certain that it shouldn't be this hard.

Tonight, I gathered in the living room with two of my good friends. We decided that we would embark on this journey together and be a support to one another.  I listened and commented on what each of these women had to share.  We asked questions, and offered encouragement.  As we talked, I pulled out my journal and the list of words that I have been fretting over. I admitted that I had no idea where to start or what I needed. My friends started asking questions. Slowly, clarity came.  Where at first, I could see only a bunch of words, some patterns arose.

Along with a pattern came a heartfelt concern.  A few months ago, I wondered if I was suddenly plucked out of the current time continuum would anyone notice? Did my life have any significance or did it really matter? As I shared my concerns with my girlfriends, I became pretty emotional. Maybe I did have a word and just didn't know it.  Was purpose my word? This still didn't seem quite right.  One of my friends said that it seemed like perspective was an issue.  Then I began to cross out words that seemed less connected and started to see what was left. A cluster of words began to form.  I started to look up the definition of the words matter, significance, and meaningful.  Not so surprising all of them were connected.  This felt right.  It also meant that no matter which of those words I selected they were somehow connected to one another.  

Though I will be sitting with these words for a bit, I suspect that my one little word is the word - meaningful. Now to see what happens when I let this word sink in and grow and transform.   

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 2/10/14


It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey.  Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers have adapted it to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

This past week was kind of busy, but I did get in a stack of picture book and a few other titles.  There are a couple that I will post on Wednesday for Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday and one I will post on Friday for Valentine's Day.    

Here is what jumped out of the pile...


Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Random House, 2011) This one an ALEX Award a couple of years ago, and we read it this week for Book Club.  Interesting discussion.


When the Beat was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop by Laban Carrick Hill; Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III (Roaring Brook Press, 2013) - I was trying to catch up on a few of the books I missed out before ALA Youth Media Awards.  Finally, found and read When the Beat was Born.  Excellent job.  Really enjoyed this book.

Maria Had a Little Llama/María Tenía Una Llamita by Angela Dominguez (Henry Holt and Co., 2013) - Here was another book I missed out on before the Youth Media Awards.  I loved that it was already translated into English and Spanish.


Baby Bear by Kadir Nelson (Balzer & Bray, 2014) - It's Kadir Nelson.  Do I need to say more?

Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate (Candlewick, 2013) - And one more that I find that I missed out on. Definitely must be read over several sittings.


Time for Flowers, Time for Snow: The Re-telling of the Legend of Demeter and Persephone by Glen Huser; Illustrated by Phillippe Beha (Tradewind Books, 2013) - For fans of Greek Mythology, this is an interesting re-telling of Persephone and Hades, and Demeter.

 So, what are you reading?