Poetry Friday - Giveaway Winner + Tennessee

It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. Be sure to check out Reflections on the Teche to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness. 

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Hello and Happy Friday! Last week I reviewed and held a giveaway for Chris Harris' I'm Just No Good at Rhyming: and Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups.

I'm Just No Good at Rhyming:

and Other Nonsense For mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups

written by Chris Harris

illustrated by Lane Smith

And now for the winner (as picked by the random.org number generator)! Drum-roll please!!!

Dani Burtsfield

Congratulations! Please email me at slothreads1985 (at) gmail (dot) com to claim this awesome book. 

Today My family and I are driving up to Tennessee to visit more family. So I thought it would be appropriate to share The Volunteer State's official state poem. I have included a snippit from the background of the poem, also found at the link below. 

"Naval Admiral William Lawrence composed "Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee" while enduring a 60 day period of solitary confinement in a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp. Lawrence spent a total of six years as a POW during the Vietnam War. This poem describes the love and longing he felt for his beautiful home state:"

Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee

by William Lawrence

Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee

What Love and Pride I Feel for Thee.

You Proud Ole State, the Volunteer,

Your Proud Traditions I Hold Dear.

 

I Revere Your Heroes

Who Bravely Fought our Country's Foes.

Renowned Statesmen, so Wise and Strong,

Who Served our Country Well and Long.

 

I Thrill at Thought of Mountains Grand;

Rolling Green Hills and Fertile Farm Land;

Earth Rich with Stone, Mineral and Ore;

Forests Dense and Wild Flowers Galore;

you can read the rest of the poem at this link.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Book Giveaway!

The weekly post where I recap some of the KidLit books I've been reading. Ocasionally, I'll also talk about some adult fiction books as well.

Be sure to check out Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to see what other Kidlit readers are reading. Because, you know, we can never have too many books in our TBR piles.

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Happy Monday everyone! I am giving away a copy of Chris Harris' I'm Just No Good at Rhyming. Click here to enter!

Today is a post of recent books that I have absolutely loved. Have you read any of them?

Poetry

I'm Just No Good At Rhyming: 

And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-ups

written by Chris Harris

illustrated by Lane Smith

(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2017)

My family absolutely LOVED this collection of poems. I cannot recommend it enough. You can read my full review here and enter to win a copy as well!

Middle Grade

Tumble and Blue

by Cassie Beasley

(Penguin Young Readers, 2017)

This book is absolutely beautifully written. I love middle grade because I find the stories engaging. Not only is Tumble and Blue  a fun story, it is expertly written. Read my full review here.

Picture Book

Nobody Likes a Goblin

by Ben Hatke

(First Second, 2016)

Another fantastic read. This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys the game Dungeons and Dragons or just epic fantasies like The Hobbit. It takes the genre and turns it on its head. And Ben Hatke's illustrations are always wonderful.

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Poetry Friday - Poetry Book Giveaway!

It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. I am hosting the round up today, so be sure to check out the links at the end to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness. 

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Hello and Happy Friday! I am super excited to be hosting the Poetry Round Up today. I cannot wait to see everyone's contributions this week.

To celebrate, I have decided to do a book giveaway. Be sure to read to the end to find out how to win a copy!

I'm Just No Good at Rhyming:

and Other Nonsense For mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups

written by Chris Harris

illustrated by Lane Smith

I checked this one out from the library not too long ago, and my family absolutely LOVED it. I have an 8-year-old and an 18-month-old. My husband and I would each take turns reading a few poems each night before bedtime. My daughter, without fail, would beg for "just one more" poem to be read.

The poems are really funny. Like belly-laugh-my-cheeks-hurt funny. (I guess that makes me an immature grown-up? YES, I'll take it!) Not only were Harris' poems hilarious, but many of them also had a lot of heart. He does not pander to kids, but yet is able to really convey some great messages (think Shel Silverstein's "Listen to the Mustn'ts").

Another aspect of this book that was fantastic is that it begs to be read aloud. The poems were just the right length and the humor really popped when reading to the family. I especially enjoyed the poems that went back and forth between two characters because I would read one side, and my daughter would read the other.

The illustrations are great too, and add a lot to the humor. Not only do the they support the poems, but they are actually vital to some of them. I liked the banter back and forth between poet and illustrator too.

This is they type of collection that inspires me to sit down and write. The poems read so effortlessly that I think, Man, I want to write a collection of poems.  And then I sit down and try, and realize how hard it is to write something so good. But it still makes me want to keep trying! Chris Harris really is a great children't poet.

And now for the giveaway! 

All you have to do to enter to win a copy of I'm Just No Good at Rhyming is comment on this post below by Thursday, May 24th at 5:00pm EST. You can get a bonus entry if you share this post on social media too (just let me know where you shared it--facebook, twitter, etc--in your comment). The winner will be announced next Friday. Good luck! And be sure to check out all the other Poetry Friday posts too!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 10/30/17

The weekly post where I recap all the KidLit books I’ve been reading. Occasionally, I’ll also review some adult fiction books as well.

Be sure to check out Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to see what other kidlit readers are reading. Because, you know, we can never have too many books in our TBR pile.
                                         

I am giving away a copy of Ben Hatke's Mighty Jack and the Goblin King! Be sure to enter here.

Board Books

I'm the Scariest Thing in the Castle

by Kevin Sherry

Fun board boo with bright pictures. I like the bright, bold illustrations. My daughter especially enjoys reading this to her younger brother.

Picture Books

Pssssst! It's Me...the Bogeyman

written by Barbara Park

illustrated by  Stephen Kroninger

I really enjoyed this picture book. I like the cut paper style illustrations, and they were even a bit creepy. I liked the overall story, but some of the language (namely, the different nicknames the bogeyman call the boy in the story) feel outdated. But it was still a very fun, spooky read.

Pumpkin Town!

 written by Katie McKy 

illustrated by Pablo Bernasconi

Overall, this was an enjoyable book. The illustrations are whimsical and bright. I felt like it took the story a bit to get going, but once it picked up, it was great. Good October book to read with a good message about fixing mistakes.

Triangle

written by Mac Barnett 

illustrated by Jon Klassen

This is the type of book that gets better with each reading. The characters and the story made me smile. The illustrations are fantastic. There is a lot of texture in the pictures, despite not having much color. Definitely worth a read.

Hocus Pocus, It's Fall!

written by Anne Sibley O'Brien

illustrated by Susan Gal

This is a perfect book for the season. We enjoyed the fold out spreads throughout the book. The illustrations have a lot of texture and the colors are vibrant. I liked how each page incorporated magic words, like Abracadabra and Hocus Pocus. A definite fun read.

Graphic Novels

Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
by Ben Hatke

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Together with the 1st in the series, it is a wonderful twist on an old fairy tale. You can read my full review here and enter to win a copy here.

MIGHTY JACK Giveaway + Author Interview

Buy Here

Hello everyone. It's time for another book giveaway! This month I will be giving away a copy of Ben Hatke's Mighty Jack and the Goblin King. You can read my review for it here and my review for the first book in the series, Mighty Jack, here. Seriously, these books are fantastic.

Ben Hatke was kind enough to answer a few questions, and I hope that you enjoy the interview below. Be sure to check out his other books and look him up on the social media links at the end of this post. And, as always, be sure to enter the giveaway!

An Interview with Ben Hatke

5 Favorites:

Vegetable: Broccoli! (it wasn't always this way)
Household chore: Dishes! (either with loud music, or quiet and meditative)
Candy/treat: Cow Tails!
Color: All of them.
Animal: Turtles.

5 More Questions: 

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Someone who helped people. As a gymnast, I also went through a long phase where I wanted to join a circus. But through it all I was drawing and telling stories.

What do you think makes a good story?

A clear, emotionally resonant ending that everything in the story is pushing toward. Also characters that you are rooting for who have to make difficult moral choices. Things that are no fun it real life often make great fuel for stories.

What do you like to do when you're not writing/drawing?

I like to practice archery, paddle around in my canoe, and read, read, read.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

I've been given lots of good advice over the years, but, on the subject of art it was this (from a grand old teacher with a voice like distant thunder): "Art is not in the hands. You can teach your hands to do anything. Art is here [pointing to eyes]. Teaching them to really see."

What book(s) are you reading right now?

I'm reading The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. It's about a woman who takes a job keeping house for an aging mathematician who has a brain injury that severely damaged his short term memory. His memories reset every 80 minutes. It's very good.

BOOKS BY BEN HATKE
Julia's House for Lost Creatures
Nobody Likes a Goblin
Little Robot
Mighty Jack
Mighty Jack and the Goblin King


FOLLOW BEN
Website: benhatke.com
Twitter: @BenHatke

Instagram: @heybenhatke

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Book Giveaway: Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

Castle Hangnail

by Ursula Vernon

See my full review here

***Congrats to Kathy D. for winning!***

I'm in the process of finalizing prep for Hurricane Irma, but I am so excited to be doing another book giveaway this month. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book and I know that many others will too. I hope that you'll take just a second and enter the giveaway at the end of this post. As always, it will run from Sunday (9/10/17) at midnight until 11:59pm on Saturday (9/16/17). Good luck!

Other books by Ursula Vernon:

Dragonbreath (Puffin Books)
Hamster Princess (Dial Books)
Nurk (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Follow Ursula:

website: http://www.redwombatstudio.com/
twitter:@UrsulaV

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Poetry Friday - Thoughts and Alligators

It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. And be sure to check out A Journey Through the Pages to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness. 

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I am giving away a signed copy of Rodzilla, written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Dan Santat. Enter here!

Like so many others, I am speechless, baffled and horrified by all the hate in the world. I've tried to wrap my head around it and I just can't. Hatred is so insidious and vile and it has been left to fester for so long. How can I even begin to make a difference as an individual?

While pondering all this, something that my daughter said a few months back came to my mind. I wrote a longer post about the encounter, which you can read here, but what she told me just blew me away. She said "love is stronger than strong." And it is. How do we combat hate? By opening our hearts and showing more empathy and compassion. It certainly is a start.

Now on to something a little more lighthearted. For those wondering, my daughter's and my pedicures went fabulously. She, of course, got sparkly pink toes, while I'm now sporting dark purple on my digits. 

This week I drew some inspiration from a not-so-little reptile friend. As an aside: did you know that alligators are more closely related to birds than to other lizards? Crazy! 

Anyway,  there is a golf course near our house where I often see an alligator basking in the sun. He just plops himself down and relaxes. It got me to thinking about summer days and how animals spend their free time. So I came up with this little poem.

Sunbathing

He lumbers

Over the weedy bank,

Dragging his scaly belly 

through cool mud.

Summer rays

Warm his armored back

While egrets and herons

Fish nearby.

One quick CHOMP!

Is all it would take. 

But even old gators

Need lazy days.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 8/14/17

The weekly post where I recap all the KidLit books I’ve been reading. Occasionally, I’ll also review some adult fiction books as well.

Be sure to check out Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to see what other kidlit readers are reading. Because, you know, we can never have too many books in our TBR pile.
                                         

I am giving away a signed copy of Rodzilla, written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Dan Santat. Enter here! (It is really quick to enter) 

Picture Books

School's First Day of School

Written by Adam Rex

Illustrated by Christian Robinson

My daughter goes back to school today, so I thought that this would be a good one to read. She picked it up and read it a few days ago, and then, when I grabbed it to read to her, she said "Ooo! This one is a really good one." It goes through all the 1st day jitters in a funny, creative way. Definitely worth checking this one out.

Not Quite Narwhal 

by Jessie Sima 

Very cute illustrations with a good message. I think a lot could be discussed with a child using this book. Not only does it deal with feeling different, but the nervousness that can come with talking about how you feel. Will your friends accept you anyway? Do you have to only be a part of one group or another? Can you only be friends with one type of person? Overall a really good book.

Dragons Love Tacos
Written by Adam Rubin
Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

I've been wanting to check this one out for awhile. It's been on the NYT Bestseller list for like 180 weeks. It did not disappoint. The illustrations are fantastic and the text is snarky and funny. My daughter laughed out loud at the end. We will be reading this one again. 

Me...Jane

by Patrick McDonnell

Jane Goodall was a huge hero of mine when I was a kid. I wanted to be just like her. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot as a child. My daughter liked it. I always like to see books that show kids that they can do things now to make a difference. 

Families, Families, Families
by Suzanne Lang and Max Lang

This is a cute book that explores all the different options for families. My daughter's best friend is adopted, so she sometimes asks questions about how that works. I like the different animal pairings. For example, 2 sheep adopt two wolf pups. It is told with simple, straight forward language, and emphasizes that love is what makes a family. 

 Spork
Written by Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

Cute, engaging illustrations. The story is fun too. It touches on trying to fit in, finding your place, and family dynamics. I liked the idea that there was one job that only little Spork could do. I also liked that Spork tried to change who he was, but ultimately it didn't help the situation, or himself. I think this could be a great talking point with kids.

Graphic Novels

Roller Girl
by Victoria Jamieson

Full disclosure: I used to play roller derby, so the sport will always have a place in my heart. That definitely played a part in how much I enjoyed this book. With that said, you do not need to know anything about roller derby to enjoy it. It is an all around great coming of age story. The main character is 12, on the cusp of junior high, and is dealing with all the emotions and friend drama that often times accompanies this stage in life. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, engaging story.

 Amulet: The Stonekeeper

by Kazu Kibuishi

Apparently, I have been living under a rock. I just heard of this graphic novel this past week. I have been craving a graphic novel series. There are many many stand alones, which is fine and great. But I've been wanting to find a series. And--ta-da!--I discovered Amulet. The illustration style took me a bit to get into, but I was hooked from the get-go with the story. I can't wait to check out the next one.

Non-KidLit

American Gods 
by Neil Gaiman

I started listening to this as an audiobook and then finished reading it after the TV series was done for the season. I was highly disappointed in the TV show. I know, given the reviews of the show, that I am in the minority. The book was fantastic. I could write a whole post on it, and perhaps I will. I loved the language, the characters, the land. It was just wonderful and thought provoking. I did not see the ending coming either, which is unusual for me. If you like Gaiman's style, pick it up. If you didn't like the show, try the book. If you liked the show, try the book too--it's better. 

Rodzilla - Book Giveaway + Author Interview

Update: Congrats to Jeff K. for winning this month's book! Watch out next month for another great book giveaway!

Buy Here

Rodzilla

Written by Rob Sanders

Illustrated by Dan Santat

I am so super excited to kick off this month's book giveaway! It is the wonderful picture book, Rodzilla, written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Dan Santat. I am fortunate enough to have met Rob Sanders at a few writing conferences here in Florida, so I couldn't wait to pick this one up. I actually did a quick review of it last month, which you can see here.

My whole family really enjoyed Sander's eye-witness account of the rampaging dinosaur toddler. We have a toddler of our own who is just starting to crawl and get into all sorts of mischief, so this was perfect.

Every time I have seen Rob in person, I am always so impressed by his willingness to help fellow writers on the journey. He really is just a great guy. I was able to ask him a few questions recently which he was kind enough to answer below for your reading pleasure.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post! The contest runs from Saturday, August 12th at midnight EST to Saturday August 19th at midnight.

An Interview with Rob Sanders

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I’m an elementary language arts teacher, so that takes a lot of my time. I also critique manuscripts, lead and participate in critique groups, and serve as the Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI Florida. I enjoy growing succulents, spending time at the beach with family, and helping to care for Angel—the world’s largest Yorkie.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be everything I saw on TV. Now keep in mind, I was a child of the 60s and 70s so I wanted to be (in no particular order) a cowboy, an astronaut, Johnny Quest’s brother, or a singer and dancer (like on The Carol Burnett Show and other variety programs). I also loved art, and thought I might be an artist. By the time I was in high school, my interests had switched to music—especially opera and musical theater. Ultimately, in college (and through volunteer work I was doing), my interests changed again and I switched my major from music performance to elementary education. During graduate school I began writing religious education curriculum materials and within six years was working for that publishing company. Another switch!

What do you think makes a good story?

Stakes. Tension. Pay off. Something has to be at stake for the main character—a problem, a situation, something. Then the action (or tension) must rise to keep the reader turning the pages. And there must be a pay off—an emotional impact, a satisfying ending, and a reason to want to read the book again and again and again.

What is your favorite childhood book?

I had (and still have) tons of Little Golden Books that were read to me again and again when I was young. My favorite elementary teacher (and current Facebook friend), Mrs. Janet Henley, read the Laura Ingalls Wilder series to us, one chapter a day. She also took us on a field trip to Laura’s home in Mansfield, Missouri. Of course, I loved those books. Another favorite, which I still have, was a nonfiction book entitled Illustrated Minute Biographies: 150 Life-Stories of Famous People.

What book(s) are you reading right now?

I’m getting ready for a new school year to begin, so I’m reading lots of teacher-ly things. However, some of my favorite picture books that I will use to begin the school year (besides my books, of course), are: The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade (Roberts/Robinson), School’s First Day of School (Rex/Robinson), Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White (Sweet), The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus (Bryant/Sweet), I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark (Levy/Baddeley), She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World (Clinton/Boiger).

BOOKS BY ROB SANDERS

Cowboy Christmas (Golden Books/Random House)
Outer Space Bedtime Race (Random House)
Ruby Rose—Off to School She Goes (HarperCollins)
Rodzilla (Margaret K. McElderry Books)

COMING SOON

Ruby Rose—Big Bravos (HarperCollins, August 2017)
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag (Random House, 2018)
Stonewall: The Uprising for Gay Rights (Random House, 2019)
Ball and Balloon (Simon & Shuster, 2019)

FOLLOW ROB

Website: www.robsanderswrites.com
Blog: www.robsanderswrites.blogspot.com
And find me on Facebook!


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