• friendship,  Lois Lowry,  love

    The Giver by Lois Lowry

    We were on vacation last week.  We didn’t do much, some college visits for my daughter, but mostly we have been enjoying our ‘staycation’.  The best part about it is sleeping late in our own beds.  My son and I finished The Giver over vacation.  I read it on my own a few years ago and enjoyed it.  And, it is one of the finalists in my son’s Final Four reading class (any books in the brackets that he hasn’t read, he wants to read!).  And, Lois Lowry never disappoints. The Giver is the story of Jonas and his perfect life.  He lives in a community where everything is planned. …

  • love,  Oyinkan Braithwaite,  sisters

    My Sister, The Serial Killer

    I debated about putting this book on the blog. While the title may seem ominous, the story and theme is not. My sister told me about this book.  She and I are very different in our book choices.  She tends to read romantic novels, I lean more towards realistic fiction.  She thought I might like this book. She also suggested that the books I choose might be the reason for my panic attacks.  So, I decided to read this just to spite her. It was a quick read and very enjoyable, as far as serial killings go😉.  Korede, a nurse, and the less attractive of the two sisters, is bitter…

  • Karma Wilson,  Reading aloud

    A Frog in the Bog

    I’ve told you this before, my daughter started a club at her HS called Read to Me, she and several other students go to the elementary school every week and read to the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade.  She loves it, and the teachers do too.  They are also working on getting to the Senior Center to read to them.  This girl! 😊 One of the books she read to the Kindergarten class yesterday was A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Joan Rankin.  Karma Wilson is the author of Bear Snores On – we have every single one of those books, they are still very loved…

  • education,  love,  memoir,  Tara Westover

    Educated

    Educated by Tara Westover “Education is a process of self-discovery.  It is developing a sense of yourself and what you think.” – Tara Westover in a talk with Bill Gates I am not a big fan of non-fiction, and memoirs least of all.  My husband has tried buying me some memoirs before.  I start them and then for whatever reason (insert numerous inane reasons here) I must stop.  So, when he gave me Educated for Christmas, I wasn’t thrilled. Turns out, I was wrong.  I couldn’t put it down.  I absolutely loved it.  Ms. Westover has a beautiful mind and this is portrayed throughout the book.  It is the story…

  • Authors,  friendship,  Kevin Henkes,  Reading aloud

    Happy Monday 🌼

    Did you read to your kids this weekend?  We had a bit of a crazy Friday afternoon, so that threw off our reading for both Friday and Saturday.  Friday, we didn’t get home from the kids checkup until 5:30, our son had to be dropped at school to work the Audio/Visual at one of the events, hubby and I had dinner plans with friends, and our daughter hung out here with one of her friends.  Usually, if we have plans, I will read the kids their chapter books before going out, but we didn’t have time – I guess its good to have a social life! 😊 When I got…

  • Jan Brett,  Spring

    Happy Spring!🌼🌺

    Annie and the Wild Animals Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett My daughter started a club at her HS last year called Read to Me. High school students go to the Elementary School and read to the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade classes. Most of the teachers they visit are the ones they had as young children. How great is that? Today, my daughter went to her brother’s former Kindergarten teacher, as she does every week. She read the Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett. We are big Jan Brett fans in this house. Annie is one of our favorites, we even have it signed by Jan Brett.…

  • Authors,  holiday,  St. Patricks Day,  Tomie dePaola

    Happy St. Patrick’s Day

    In honor of St. Patrick’s Day we have chosen three Tomie dePaolo books for you.  Fin M’Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill, Jamie O’Rourke and the Pooka and Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato. Fin M’Coul has always been one of my favorites since reading it to my 1st grade class over 20 years ago.  Fin and his wife Oonagh (both giants) live on Knockmany Hill, one day Cucillin the Giant comes to find Fin, as he is the only giant that he hasn’t been able to beat.  Oonagh helps Fin and they are able to outsmart Cucullin.  It’s a wonderful tale of love, mischief and adventure in Ireland.  Jamie…

  • David Barclay Moore,  Harlem,  LEGO,  The New York Times

    The Stars Beneath our Feet by David Barclay Moore

    I subscribe to The New York Times and usually on Fridays they publish an article about new books they are recommending.  I glance through it and think “this one looks good, but I have so many on my TBR lists that I just can’t put another one it.”  Before Christmas, The Stars Beneath our Feet by David Barclay Moore was in one of the Friday lists.  In the brief description in the NYT it mentioned LEGOs, I was hooked.  I made a point of writing it down immediately so I could get it out of the library.  I am always looking for books for my 12 year old son.  This…

  • Dining Room,  Dr. Suess,  House Design

    Reading is Always in Fashion

    My parents bring me Architectural Digest magazines whenever they get them.  I love to look through the beautiful houses and gardens.  I often rip pages out and save them for our “someday house”.  This month’s issue was no exception.  An article about a family with seven children in Oxfordshire, England had a picture of their dining room.  On one wall was a huge painting of a page from Dr. Suess’  Oh the Places You’ll Go.  Simply perfect!  And, this idea doesn’t have to wait for our “someday house”! Happy Reading!