Book Blogger Hop

 

 

Book Blogger Hop is hosted each week by

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.

 

This week's question is:

You're volunteering to read a book to a group of young children at a library. What scary themed book for kids would you read to them?

 

 

 

My answer is:

 

 

 

From Goodreads:

In Georgie, readers are introduced to the gentle little ghost, who happily haunts Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker's house -- creaking the loose board on the stairs and giving the parlor door a little squeak every night -- until his world is turned topsy-turvy and he must find a new house to haunt.

 

first published in 1944

republished in 1959 by Children's Book of the Month Club

 

From Me:

I had almost forgotten about this little book.  I loved Georgie when I was little!

AND---I have the book!

My mom saved all of our books from when we were little and gave them to us eventually, so I have a pretty big children's library upstairs.

I love it and so do my grandchildren.

I'm bringing Georgie out today.  I'm taking it to Arizona later this month when I go visit a couple of those grandchildren!  I'm so excited.

(Aw man--it doesn't take much to excite me!)

This was a fun question---Georgie had completely slipped my mind.

 

One that has not slipped my mind is Bunnicula.

A fun, slightly scary, mystery for older readers.

 

 

From Goodreads:

It looked like an ordinary bunny to Harold. But Harold was a dog by profession, so his judgement wasn't reliable-as he was the first to admit. But Chester, Harold's good friend and house-mate, was a very well-read cat and he knew there was something strange about Bunnicula. For one thing, he seemed to have fangs. And the odd markings on his back looked a little like a cape. But when Chester started finding white vegetables drained dry, with two fang marks in them, he was sure Bunnicula was a vampire bunny.

So it was up to Chester-with Harold's help- to alert the members of their household before another carrot was lost. Because as Chester warned, "Today vegetables, tomorrow the world!"

 

From Me:

 Loved reading it to my boys in the 90's and can't wait to read it to my  grandkids soon!

 

Truth is that I used to get paid to read aloud to children at a library

 (elementary school librarian) 

But now, I would do it for free anytime!

 



 

It's Monday -- Where the Red Fern Grows

Today is Monday!

What are You Reading?

I just finished this:

I had to  do it.  I had to read this one.  I jumped on it because after asking 2 of my book clubs members, to name "Memorable Animals in Literature"

This book and Old Dan and Little Ann, were mentioned more than any other animal character.

(even more than the giant squid in Twenty-Thousand Leagues under the sea.)

(that's a silly joke)

Everyone loved these 2 hound dogs and the story of

Where the Red Fern Grows.

Except.....for...... maybe..... me.

I only LIKED it.

From Goodreads:

Billy, Old Dan and Little Ann -- a Boy and His Two Dogs...

A loving threesome, they ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains -- and Biesome, they ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains -- and Billy had the will to train them to be the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too. And close by was the strange and wonderful power that's only found...
An exciting tale of love and adventure you'll never f them to be the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too. And close by was the strange and wonderful power that's only found...

An exciting tale of love and adventure you'll never forget!''ll never 

From Me:

Geez, I am going to catch a lot of flack I know!

I didn't love it.

I liked it ... well enough.

And it's a classic.

But...as my friend Robin says:

It's about trapping, hunting and dogs that die. It's fun for everyone

I will give this book 3 stars.

I have nothing against hunters.. at all.

Some of my best friends are hunters.

On one level the book was all about trapping and   hunting and killing.

But it's also about the love between a boy and his dogs. (no one can resist a good dog story, right?)  On another level  is a story of perseverance (waiting and saving for over 2 years to get something you really want) and hard work (again waiting and saving and working towards that),  family love and respect, and growing up. 

If I had read it in the 4th grade, I would have fallen in love with it.

I would be putting my hand to my heart and saying  "oooohhh,  Old Dan and Little  Ann" just like everybody else.

But as an adult-- I just didn't love it.

It didn't have enough of a story for me.

It was hard for me to finish-- well, not hard, it's a fast book... I guess I just didn't care about the story much so I had to force myself.

It felt boring to me. 

Lots and lots of  hunting down raccoons and then killing them.

Lots of that.

Am I being cynical?

Was I expecting too much?

I'm sure this Children's classic will stand the test of time and be on many people's treasured story shelf.

It just wasn't for me.

At this moment in time.

************************

And then  (and here I am being very, very nit-picky), the dogs on this cover below and on the cover at the top of this post

ARE NOT COON HOUNDS!!

They are Labs.

And this is bugging me.

I have a tad bit of OCD, but it only comes out at weird times.

I KNOW in the scheme of things that this is not a big deal.

BUT why? WHY? would you put the wrong kind of dog on the cover???!!!

The book cover I had in the middle of this post --- has hound dogs on it.

Hound dogs have long ears.

I KNOW THAT I'M WEIRD, okay?

Don't hate me.

But seriously?

A hound dog has long ears because when they track something  and their nose is to the ground... their ears stir up the scent, making it easier to smell.

That's why hound dogs have long ears!!

Labs retrieve something and bring it back.

Like when a hunter shoots a duck.

YES I know that dogs can do more than one thing--you just have to train them, but...

It just seems weird to me to not have the  right dog on the cover!!

OKAY!

I feel a bit better now. 

Thank you for listening to my weirdness and still liking me.

Kid Konnection

We have been busy cleaning out my parents home over the last few months.  While a sad and sentimental journey for sure, it's also been kind of fun discovering and 're' discovering things from our childhood, our parent's childhood and even our grandparent's childhood.
Bibles?  I think I now have the biggest Bible collection in the known world.  I mean, how can you throw away an old family Bible that has your ancestor's name in it?  Along with old letters, newspaper clippings, etc?
I cannot.

Anyway, that is a story for another time. For now... Look what I found!
(bad photos---taken on the guest bed---sorry)

I remember these books from when I was little. They were  not mine, but my mother's and my grandma's books.   LITTLE JANIE'S CHRISTMAS!!!   It is one that I always loved.   I am so glad my mom didn't throw it away.    It is Christmas to me.  Just look at the picture!   Santa across the night sky.
I always thought it was just like that.
In the book,  Janie writes a letter to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve and he ends up coming and taking her in his sled, where they go back to the North Pole and she visits his workshop.   The photos are gorgeous and very old-fashioned.
This book was published in 1946, and you can find it on e-bay for around  $15. 
It was much more fun finding my mom's.

A Lonesome Dolly---my grandma received this from her uncle. There is an inscription inside the front cover.  There is no year or date, but I am thinking it was the late 20's. From now on, I am going to sign and date every book I give to someone.  I usually try to do so, but from now on it's a mandate for me!

And finally, this one I shouldn't be so happy to have.   But I am.  Only for the sake of nostalgia---I have  replaced it for my own children (or grandchildren) with   "The Boy and the Tigers"  Which sounds much better than "Little Black Sambo".

In my mother's trunk there were these few books  and a handful of others.

I wonder what I will choose to keep and what I will choose to give away?

That will be a hard decision for me when the time comes, but then again, does it really ever have to come? 

I have a a whole two shelves full of children's books and juvenile novels. I love having that 'library' for my grandkids... and also sometimes my friends children.

But, is it more fun discovering a handful of treasured books or bookshelves full of all kinds of books?

I am linking up with Kid Konnection at Booking Mama.

It's Monday

I have so much to say because I've been missing in action for a month, but for now I'm just going to do a  MONDAY post---then I'll catch up in another post. (to be honest it was hard to  know how to begin... It's like apologizing,  how to begin?)  BUT, for now,  what am I reading?

It's Monday,  What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  A fun place to pop into every Monday to see what is on everyone's reading list.

I find my best books from these people who participate!

I just (this morning with my coffee, in fact) finished "The Reading Promise" by Alice Ozma.

It was amazing for me because, it's a memoir about growing up, coming of age, and most of all, reading aloud with a child! While I've always loved the idea of bedtime stories...and sharing books with my own kids and grandchildren, Alice Ozma renewed my passion for this! I loved her stories about her relationship with her father and I loved the books they shared. I want to do a reading streak of my own! Now...how to work that into a streak when my grandchildren all live away? There must be a way.

 Great Book!

When I got to work this morning, I had a package waiting for me and in it was:

The Read-Aloud Handbook, 7th edition

I am in heaven!  I loved reading to my kids---and I love reading to my grandchildren.  I love reading aloud, and this book just reinforces how important it is.

Of course, I was seduced into reading aloud to my kids when I read Trelease's 2nd edition and saw him in person some years ago. 

I have bought every edition since.

This edition only received 5 stars on Goodreads!!

I've been reading about reading!

Nerd alert!!

Kid Konnection

It is apparent by reading past Kid Konnection posts from other bloggers, that I am the old one. 
Hey, hey now.....I didn't mean I'm the old lady, but rather in what books I post about.   Someone needs to champion older GREAT, well-loved books, don't they? 
I appreciate the  Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Judy Moody, The Dork Diaries and Fancy Nancy books of today, but.....but..... what's the matter with  Thank you Jackie Robinson?

Thank you Jackie Robinson by Barbara Cohen
Sam and Davy come from different races, religions, and generations, but they have one thing very much in common – they both love the Brooklyn Dodgers and baseball. When Davy has a heart attack, Sam is determined to show Davy how much their friendship means to him by getting Davy a baseball signed by their mutual hero, Jackie Robinson.



Thank you Jackie Robinson was published in 1988, but it's a timeless story of  friendship, race, personal sacrifice and death.  Pretty big issues for any kid huh? 
But, Cohen handles the situations with grace and empathy and makes it a good read...alone or as a read aloud.  I love the read aloud, since it's a great time and situation to  (without lecturing) talk to your kids or grand kids about these heavy issues.  And Cohen make history fun!  And interesting.  And there is baseball involved...it's the time of year for baseball.  (another little hook there for boys if you have trouble finding something they like to read).

It's a short little post, but that's my  "old" pick for Kid Konnection this week.
Kid Konnection is hosted every Saturday by Booking Mama.


PS  my grandson is here today and we went to the library this afternoon.  We brought home:
Captain Underpants  ---3 books
Goosebumps
Bunnicula
Lawn Boy
Hatchet

Good stuff for a Saturday afternoon.

Kid Konnection

Every Saturday,  Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books.
I have participated a couple of times in the past.  I don't always have the time  (mostly because I am a horrible procrastinator and it's Saturday before I know it and I've run out of time), but I love to read the reviews and opinions about all the great children's and YA books there.

I thought I'd write about "Gentle Ben" by Walt Morey today.     It's an oldie, but a goodie.  (Just like the music I like to listen to.)  Seriously tho,  Gentle Ben was one of my boys favorite stories when they were little--a long time ago.  I was just now browsing thru my  children's book closet and saw it, and thought...why not?

Gentle Ben is a classic.
Gentle Ben is an 'outdoorsy' adventure type of book that might appeal to boys.
It's about the friendship between Gentle Ben, an American Black Bear, and a young boy named Mark.
Walt Morey (the author) was a guest at the Grammar School I was working at as the  school librarian  in 1991 and he was very amusing.

But let me for a minute, go back to the 'boy' thing.   We all know statistically, that boys  need to see men reading to (um...what's the word?)  connect?  Imprint?  with books.  Whatever the word is....it's really needed.

My daughter in-law told me a story about my 2-year old grandson Eli.  He is just beginning to talk and the other day  she told me...
well....her  exact words were:
One of my favorite things about Eli is that he feels the need to point to everything in our house and either label it as "mama" or "dada"

For example books = mama's (I told Marcus he needs to read more so Eli doesn't associate books as something belonging only to females).

Perhaps association was the word I was looking for.  Yes...boys need to see Men reading!    I could go off on that tangent, about role modeling to raise readers!  But I won't  (I just thought it was a cute story about Eli.   And I'm always up for sharing a cute story about my grandchildren!  He also says "mama" when he sees Dr. Pepper too.  ~laughing~  )

My point?   Do I have a point today?   Ahhh... Walt Morey.  He wrote Gentle Ben.  And when he came to talk to the school, (4th and 5th grades only) his stories were so filled with adventures and many near-dangerous exploits, that any 5th grade boy would love him.  And girls too....I am not trying to gender-ize (is that a word?) books/stories.  Any child would love this outdoors book.  It's just sometimes harder to get boys interested in the more passive act of reading, so adventure is sometimes the key. (as are sports stories)
Morey talked of living in the Pacific Northwest and being a nature lover for most of his life.    He was kind of a fussy, eccentric  old man when he came to the school, but very nice and amusing.  At one point in his story telling he was talking about a bear and he said,  " He was the meanest  son-of-a....(wait for it )  Son of a ......gun" there ever was.
We (the teachers and I) had sat on pins and needles for a moment because in our minds, we could hear him say  "son-of a bitch"  like it was nothing.
All the kids were on the edge of their seats!  I think they thought he would say it too.
Walt Morey was a fun 'male' role model who loved books, the outdoors, bears and could tell a whopping story!

But back to Gentle Ben.  Gentle Ben is a great book for boys AND girls.  It's a great Read-A-Loud too.  Written in 1965,  Gentle Ben was Morey's first book for young readers and won the  Dutton Junior Animal Book Award, the Sequoya Children's Book Award and was a ALA Notable Book.   Gentle Ben was made into a motion picture and a television series.  (the book takes place in Alaska, but they changed the TV series to Florida. Although I loved the television series when I was a kid, as an adult, it seems strange that they would have changed the setting to Florida.  But I guess in Alaska they couldnt' show those cool scenes of driving the swamp buggy to the rescue  )

I found this quote at Pop-Cult.com:
Not often brought up these days (except when a pop-culture show like The Simpsons or Family Guy needs a bear reference), Gentle Ben was the sort of kid-safe, family-friendly adventure series that was terribly popular during the 1960's, where jewel thieves and smugglers could be outwitted by a kid and his ginormous pet.


Funny....
but I'm talking about the book, NOT the TV show.  And the book is always better.    But don't just trust my opinion.  I found this review on Amazon:  (from Ian in Florida--5th grade)
I love this book! I have read 7 books but I only liked 2. And this is one of them. This book is a great book for 4th-7th graders. The vocabulary is very hight. The srory brings tears in your eyes but laghfter to your heart!I recomend this book to very parent or child.

Now, that's a good review!  And I would agree....tears to your eyes  (how can any book with an animal not bring tears to your eyes)  and laughter to your heart. Through books you get stories of life experiences you  aren't otherwise  introduced to.  Think about how great of an experience that is for kids!

Jim Trelease, author of the Read-Aloud-Handbook says  of Gentle Ben:
A young boy adopts a huge bear and brings to his family in Alaska all the joys and tears such a combination might invite.  Though the struggle to save animals from ignorant, but well-informed human predators is one that has been written many times over, Morey's handling of characters, plot and setting makes this an original and exciting tale.  He supports the pace of his story with many lessons in environmental science, from salmon runs to hibernation.
me:  and this was in 1965!!  

It is cold and windy on this Saturday, June 4th, here in Northern Nevada ( we think Mother Nature is going thru menopause and taking it out on us!!  It's just all wrong!  Weather, that is),  so I just might call up my 9 year old grandson and ask if he wants to come over for an afternoon of book reading.  I'll introduce him to Gentle Ben.  And make chocolate chip cookies.
*****************
Before I go, I just want to throw in this link to a great website I found called Guys Read.  It's a collection of  books that  'guys' like!
Welcome to the Guys Read Virtual Vault of Good Books. This is the place to come if you’re looking for something to get a guy reading. We’ve collected recommendations from teachers, librarians, booksellers, publishers, parents, and guys themselves.  These are the books that guys have said they like.  We’ve gathered and grouped them to make them easier to find. 

If you have boys, love boys, know boys  (and girls too)  go check it out for something good to read.

What's Outside My Kitchen Window? Library Loot and a fun meme

What's Outside My Kitchen Window?

Well, that's looking just as it did last week....nothing new.  Our springs  here in the "high desert" are sometimes cold, sometimes hot.  One never knows.  This year it is cold.  We had snow and hail and rain and sunshine all in one day.
This day.

I was leaving my house to walk down the street to the park, where my grandson had his first baseball game of the season.
I had on a hoodie (we used to call them hooded sweatshirts) and a coat and gloves. And I carried an old quilt.
I am no dummy.

While sitting on the cold--very cold--metal bleachers, I noticed there was blue sky between the fluffy white clouds and the dark menacing rain cloud drifting over us.
Can you see it?

Those little ball players were T-Ball players, younger than my grandson... we were on the cold--very cold---metal bleachers on the other side of the park.  We have a "real" baseball diamond.
And see those cars parked there?  I so very much wanted to be the kind of grandma who sat in her car and just HONKED when my grandson and his team  made a good play.
But I just couldn't do it.  I felt if I did so,  I'd have to be the kind of grandma who had her slippers on and curlers in her hair, so, um, no, I braved the cold--freezing, fridgid cold with the parents who had to be there.
I am still trying to thaw out.
And that rain cloud?  It never really did much but give a little mist to  us towards the end of the game... that is, until the Handyman and I had to walk home.   Then it let loose and poured.

so, not my kitchen window, but that's what's outside my window of life....

**********************************

Library Loot!  I love Library Loot, but have  taken out way too many book in the past few weeks, so I only have  a couple to share with you today.

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva at  at "A Striped Armchair"  and Marg at "Adventures of an Intrepid Reader"  that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!

What did I get?

Christmas on Jane Street.
You are probably asking yourself why?  Why a Christmas book?
Well, because I read a little review on it and thought if it was any good, I might buy one or two as gifts next Christmas.  But it has to be good, so this is my way of checking that out.

And these two...

This Dame's for Hire, Too Darn Hot, by Sandra Scoppettone.
Because...I'm always on the lookout for some good characters!  Usually I find them  (characters I want to follow) in mystery books.  I've never read any by this author, so we'll have to see.

*************************************************
And finally.....
Thanks to TeacherNinja for this fun meme.


Which Ones Have You Read?
So which of the Top 100 Children's Novels have you read? I put mine in bold. I've read quite a few....because I've been around for quite a while.  ~smiles~


100. The Egypt Game - Snyder (1967)
99. The Indian in the Cupboard - Banks (1980)
98. Children of Green Knowe - Boston (1954)
97. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - DiCamillo (2006)
96. The Witches - Dahl (1983)
95. Pippi Longstocking - Lindgren (1950
94. Swallows and Amazons - Ransome (1930)
93. Caddie Woodlawn - Brink (1935)
92. Ella Enchanted - Levine (1997)
91. Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Sachar (1978)
90. Sarah, Plain and Tall - MacLachlan (1985)
89. Ramona and Her Father - Cleary (1977)
88. The High King - Alexander (1968)
87. The View from Saturday - Konigsburg (1996)
86. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Rowling (1999)
85. On the Banks of Plum Creek - Wilder (1937)
84. The Little White Horse - Goudge (1946)
83. The Thief - Turner (1997)
82. The Book of Three - Alexander (1964)
81. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Lin (2009)
80. The Graveyard Book - Gaiman (2008)
79. All-of-a-Kind-Family - Taylor (1951)
78. Johnny Tremain - Forbes (1943)
77. The City of Ember - DuPrau (2003)
76. Out of the Dust - Hesse (1997)
75. Love That Dog - Creech (2001)
74. The Borrowers - Norton (1953)
73. My Side of the Mountain - George (1959)
72. My Father's Dragon - Gannett (1948)
71. The Bad Beginning - Snicket (1999)
70. Betsy-Tacy - Lovelae (1940)
69. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Stewart ( 2007)
68. Walk Two Moons - Creech (1994)
67. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher - Coville (1991)
66. Henry Huggins - Cleary (1950)
65. Ballet Shoes - Stratfeild (1936)
64. A Long Way from Chicago - Peck (1998)
63. Gone-Away Lake - Enright (1957)
62. The Secret of the Old Clock - Keene (1959)
61. Stargirl - Spinelli (2000)
60. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - Avi (1990)
59. Inkheart - Funke (2003)
58. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Aiken (1962)
57. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Cleary (1981)
56. Number the Stars - Lowry (1989)
55. The Great Gilly Hopkins - Paterson (1978)
54. The BFG - Dahl (1982)
53. Wind in the Willows - Grahame (1908)
52. The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007)
51. The Saturdays - Enright (1941)
50. Island of the Blue Dolphins - O'Dell (1960)
49. Frindle - Clements (1996)
48. The Penderwicks - Birdsall (2005)
47. Bud, Not Buddy - Curtis (1999)
46. Where the Red Fern Grows - Rawls (1961)
45. The Golden Compass - Pullman (1995)
44. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Blume (1972)
43. Ramona the Pest - Cleary (1968)
42. Little House on the Prairie - Wilder (1935)
41. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Speare (1958)
40. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Baum (1900)
39. When You Reach Me - Stead (2009)
38. HP and the Order of the Phoenix - Rowling (2003)
37. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Taylor (1976)
36. Are You there, God? It's Me, Margaret - Blume (1970)
35. HP and the Goblet of Fire - Rowling (2000)
34. The Watson's Go to Birmingham - Curtis (1995)
33. James and the Giant Peach - Dahl (1961)
32. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH - O'Brian (1971)
31. Half Magic - Eager (1954)
30. Winnie-the-Pooh - Milne (1926)
29. The Dark Is Rising - Cooper (1973)
28. A Little Princess - Burnett (1905)
27. Alice I and II - Carroll (1865/72)
26. Hatchet - Paulsen (1989)
25. Little Women - Alcott (1868/9)
24. HP and the Deathly Hallows - Rowling (2007)
23. Little House in the Big Woods - Wilder (1932)
22. The Tale of Despereaux - DiCamillo (2003)
21. The Lightening Thief - Riordan (2005)
20. Tuck Everlasting - Babbitt (1975)
19. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Dahl (1964)
18. Matilda - Dahl (1988)
17. Maniac Magee - Spinelli (1990)
16. Harriet the Spy - Fitzhugh (1964)
15. Because of Winn-Dixie - DiCamillo (2000)
14. HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Rowling (1999)
13. Bridge to Terabithia - Paterson (1977)
12. The Hobbit - Tolkien (1938)
11. The Westing Game - Raskin (1978)
10. The Phantom Tollbooth - Juster (1961)
9. Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery (1908)
8. The Secret Garden - Burnett (1911)
7. The Giver -Lowry (1993)
6. Holes - Sachar (1998)
5. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Koningsburg (1967)
4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Lewis (1950)
3. Harry Potter #1 - Rowling (1997)
2. A Wrinkle in Time - L'Engle (1962)
1. Charlotte's Web - White (1952)