Top Ten Books -That should be in your Beach Bag

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke & The Bookish. Each week we create a list on a variety of bookish topics. This weeks list: Top Ten Books That Should be in Your Beach Bag

My List:

1. Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie-by Alan Bradley. If you haven`t read this one then your are totally missing out, great mystery combined with one of my most favourite characters ever- Flavia!

     2.   Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, I love Twilight and I``m not afraid to type it. I re-read this book every year. (sometimes twice a year) It`s a perfect book to escape in, and great for the beach.

     3. Anything by Charlaine Harris. Though I think Dead until Dark stands out above the rest

     4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. James Fraser says it all.

     5. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley. A  lovely contemp read.

     6. Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Lousie Rennison. This is a series I truly wish was out when I was a teenager. I laughed my a** off.

     7. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. I`ve yet to read this series but its next in my pile. from the reviews I`ve read its the perfect summer beach read.

    8. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Anne Brashares. Summer + Friendship + Boys

    9.  Carol O`Connell`s Kathleen Mallory Series. AMAZING Mystery series,

   10. Harry Potter - I can not wait for the movie to come out, but I`m sad that it will be over. I plan to re- read these this summer.

Library Land - SRC

      Summer is fast approaching and so is the Summer Reading Club. The Summer Reading Club is a program which happens every year around all the libraries in Ontario. It's an incentive intiative which hopes to keep kids reading all summer long. This year's theme is:

Make a Splash-Celebrate Summer!

Here are a few of the read-alouds I plan to feature at storytimes this summer.

IMM-25

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren. Each week we feature the books we've received whether they've been bought, borrowed, or given.

This week-

I was away most of this week but I did buy a few things at the Dystopian Tour Event last week:

Purchased-

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Shine by Lauren Myracle

Divergent by Veronica Roth (I already owned this one, but I bought another at the signing)

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (I already owned this as well but I needed another copy :)

For Review:



The Emerald Casket by Richard Newsome

Sophie and the Shadow Woods by Linda Chapman

From the Library:



The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Stay by Deb Caletti

What was in your mailbox?

TGIF (2)

TGIF is hosted by the fabulous Ginger at Greads.

 Each week we answer a book related question and post our weekly recaps as well.

This weeks question:

In 2011 which new/old authors have you discovered & loved?

1. Neal Shusterman. He's a brilliant writer and storyteller and he's books always have me from the very first page. The SkinJacker Trilogy is my favourite series by him
 
2. Jeri Smith-Ready. I can not believe that Shade has been sitting there on the shelf allllllll this time and I didn't pick it up? Great book, great MC, great guys:)
 
3. Ann Aguirre. Her list of books written is really lengthy, but the first time I've read anything by her is Enclave (which I loved) If you love dark dystopian, you'll love this one.
 

The blog was quiet this past week as I was away presenting childrens programming workshops. I met some really fabulous people. It was the first time I've presented workshops and it was a scary (but wonderful) learning experience for me. I hope that I'll have the opportunity to present many more in the future.

Watch for a few new additions coming to the blog in the next few weeks.

Yay for the weekend!!!!

Dystopian Tour

What's a girl to do when Thursday night rolls around and there is no Vampire Diaries on TV?

How about head to a book store for an amazing event and meet Lauren Oliver & Veronica Roth?

Divergent and Delirium have been the two books that have stood out this year amongst all the others I've read. Exceptional reads! I loved the q & a portion, I can't believe how eloquent, intelligent and at ease they were. It was a really wonderful night! (even if there was no Damon on TV:)

Thanks to Harper Collins and Chapters/Indigo for hosting!



Song Lyrics from the Workshop today!

I did my very first workshop today where I was able to speak to 30 other children's program type people and it was scary, exciting and sooooo much fun!
I said I would post song lyrics to the songs I sang today so I'm posting them here for now until I find a more permanent place on the site for them!

Hello Song

Hello, Hello, Hello and How are you?

I’m fine, I’m fine and I hope that you are to.

Now everybody clap your hands, clap your hands, clap your hands

Now everybody clap your hands, come on and clap with me.

-repeat using different actions i.e-stomp your feet, wave hello, tap your knees.

from the CD – Love my Baby –Created by The First Three Years Organization

Mac-a-lena

Refrain: Mac-a-lena, mac-a-lena, Rubenstine Walk-a-dime

Hokey Pokey Loca was her name.

Tune: Short’n’ Bread

Verses

1. Draw a circle for her head. Only draw the body part that I have said. Who?

2. She had two hairs on her head. One was Curly and the other was dead. Who?

3. She had two eyes in her head. She goes both ways when she’s looking ahead. Who?

4. She had one ear on each side. One was narrow and the other was wide. Who?

5. She had a nose on her face. It wasn’t very pretty but it took a lot of space. Who?

6. She had two teeth in her mouth. One pointed north and the other pointed south. Who?

7. She had a neck like a ten foot pole. And right in the middle was a great big mole. Who?

8. She had two arms long as a door. And when she walked they touched the floor.

9. She had two hands with ten fingers. Those long skinny things were real humdingers. Who?

10. She had a tummy as round as a ball. She bounced right back when she took a fall. Who?

11. She had two legs shaped like and s. Oh my goodness, they were a mess. Who?

12. She had two feet as flat as a mat. Oh I wonder how they got like that. Who?

13. This is the story that has been told about mac-a-lena and her heart of gold.

Activity is from “If the Shoe Fits-Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom”

By Carol Chapman

Name Game Chant

Hickety-Pickety Bumble Bee
Will you play your name for me?
Car-ter (tap out syllables on the drum)

Walking Along Song – (source unknown)

Walking, I’m just walking along,
I’m just singing my walking song,
I’m just walking along....

Swaying, I’m just swaying along,
I’m just singing my swaying song,
I’m just swaying along.
(repeat using other actions)

Closing Chant

Hey, Hey, What do you say?
What did you like about story time today?


Looking forward to more workshops!

Did I Mention?

how unbelievably excited I am?

Want to know why???????

The authors of these two fantastic books (my favourite reads of the year) are doing a signing near me this week...

   

(Click here and here to see my reviews....)

I just hope I don't blubber like an idiot. I remember when I met Stephenie Meyer at a signing of Eclipse and I just stood there going on, and on and on like some lunatic. So....Lauren Oliver and Veronica Roth-

I apologize in advance -

I just get a bit awe-struck when I meet amazing people who have 

 huge amounts of talent. :)

In My Mailbox- 24

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Each week we blog about the books we've received whether by mail, by library, by friend or by store.

This week-(links go to Goodreads)

For review:

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

Published by Scholastic Press



Purchased:

A Visitor's Guide to Mystic Falls

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Borrowed:

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

my review

What was in your mailbox?

Enclave by Ann Aguirre -Review

Enclave (Razorland #1) by Amm Aguirre

Published April 2011 by Feiwel & Friends

259 Pages

Reviewed from Library Copy

Summary GoodReads

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.
As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.
Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth.


As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.


 Wow, this is a much darker dystopian than many I've read before, and Deuce's life seems almost hopeless  (almost). Ann Aguirre, builds a believable world suffering after the "Apocalypse" although we aren't privy to the cause other than a nameless disease. The rules Deuce must live by in her society are harsh as is their belief that "only the strong survive", weakness is not tolerated is punished by banishment which eventually leads to death.

  The story paints a bleak future filled with every man for himself mentality and where 24 is considered old age. But Deuce and Fade are the glimmer of light their world needs, even if they are the only ones to see it.  I love characters who don't conform because they are told they must, instead they trust their instincts and create their own path even though its often harder -actually it's always harder.

  Enclave has been compared to The Hunger Games but I don't think that's necessarily accurate other than they are both in the "Dystopic" genre with strong female protagonists. I think Enclave would be better recommended to those who loved (like me) The Forest of Hands & Teeth by Carrie Ryan. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. Definitely Recommended.

Story Time with To Market To Market by Anne Miranda

I plan  to make Story Time at Lost in the Library a weekly feature where I post a  picture book I love along with suggested activities to do with the book. I'd also love to have a few guest posters....you don't need to be a story teller or librarian, you can just write about your favourite picture book and I'll add an activity or you can do the whole post if you'd like. If you are interested in participating just send me an email and we'll work out the date. Thanks.

Ok, so on to this week's book:

To Market, To Market by Anne Miranda

Illustrated by Janet Stevens

Published by Harcourt Childrens 1997

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig ... What's a poor shopper to do when her groceries have a mind of their own?

To market, to market is a nursery rhyme from my (much) younger days. I love the twist in this one where every item-in this case animal, gets up to mischief in the woman's home. I love her exasperation, the kids love pointing out where the animals are and what they are doing. Eventually the woman becomes so fed-up that she just makes soup for lunch. The illustrations are fantastic and there is high contrast between the black and white photograph like backgrounds and the bright colours in the animals, food and people. It's a favourite to share because the possiblities are endless for extension activities.

A few things you could try that have worked for me:

Art: we've done soup can art like Andy Warhol

Game: I've brought in (toy) food items and have set up a grocery game where the children "buy" the groceries to make their lunch.

Craft: I've provided clipings from flyers of different types of foods. The children glued their food choices to a paperbag template.

Songs: We've shared the tradition to market rhyme as well as the circle song "We're going to the Market"

Science: We've looked at the characteristics of the animals in the book-where they live, what they eat.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

I've got a new look and I'm loving it!!!!

What do you think?

Top Ten Tuesday - Book Jerks

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week we list our "Top Ten" on a variety of book related topics. This week's list is the Top Ten Jerks in Books or the ones we thought were jerks who ended up not being so bad after all.

My List:

1. Stephen Clayworth from Clarity by Kim Harrington. He starts off as a jerk and then there are a few moments where you think he might redeem himself. Maybe he's just misunderstood?.... nope.....total jerk. 
2.  Wesley from The Duff by Jody Keplinger. He's a womanizer- thinks he's God's gift to women (I hate guys like that) He's the reason I stopped reading the book, though I'm told I should give it another try. Does he redeem himself?
3. Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter. We loved to hate him, though I think deep down underneath there was a good guy just waiting to come out.
4. Linay from Plain Kate by Erin Bow. He appears when Kate has lost almost everything only to convince the village she's a witch. I spent most of the book furious with him, but in the end we see his motives were tainted by terrible grief.....maybe I can forgive him. (but not yet)
5. President Snow from The Hunger Games Trilogy. Nothing redeeming here.
6. Kyle Kingsbury from Beastly by Alex Flinn. This guy is so jerky, he needs to be turned into something hideous to be taught a lesson.
7. Will from Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare. He charming, then he isn't. Maybe he likes you, then he doesn't. These types of guys are the worst. They play on your emotions-drive you crazy- but we just can't help liking them anyways.

 Only 7 off the top of my head. . .who did I miss? 

A Few Fractured Fairytale Favourites

I have always loved fairytales. They are layered with meaning and often history. The language is rich and they fulfill a part of the reading experience that no other type of book can even touch.


I also love having the opportunity to share them with the children and families that attend my programs at the library and I’m always surprised at how many are not familiar with these stories. I think it’s important that we continue to share them and their various versions so that they do not become forgotten.

I really enjoy sharing “fractured” fairytales in my Reading Buddies program. Reading Buddies is a program we offer for children in grades 1-4 who are reluctant or struggling readers. We offer them time to practice, and learn some new reading skills but my main goal is to show them that books and reading can be fun.

A few of my favourites to share:

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

            In this story we find out the “real” story. The wolf has been framed and is really not the bad guy.

Little Red-A Fizzingly Good Yarn by Lynn Roberts

“Little Red is happily taking a basket of ginger ale to his grandmother when he stops to gather apples in the woods. Who should grab his red cape, but none other than the wily wolf, who runs immediately to the grandmother's house to devour her and wait for Little Red to be next! With a new, happily-ever-after spin on the story, the boy tricks the wolf into gulping down the entire ginger ale at once, which triggers the wolf to hiccup his grandmother out of his belly” –good reads

I've read this story a few times to different groups and it always gets huge laughs from the kids and volunteers.

Once Upon a time, the End. (Asleep in 60 seconds)

By Geoffrey Kloske

Once upon a time, there was a grown-up looking for a book with very short bedtime stories for a kid who wouldn't go to sleep. So the grown-up picked up this book and read this flap and took the book home and read it out loud and they both laughed and fell fast asleep fast. Just like you. The end.
-goodreads

I LOVE this one it's great to share with the school-age crowd, they enjoy picking out all the parts the dad has cut out of the various fairytales.

Do you have a favourite fairytale that has worked for you in programs, story times or maybe just one that you have loved to read?

IMM Vlog Epic Part 2

In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, where we highlight the books received in the week. Below is Part 2 of my VLOG and I'm happy to say that it only took me an hour this week to do it instead of six (like last week) (yay me) & thank goodness for my 10 year old whose willing to film it for me:)



Books mentioned:

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

Ten Things We Did (and probably shouldn't have) by Sarah Mylnowski

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

Magnificent 12- The Trap by Michael Grant

Department 19 by Will Hill

Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Blogs mentioned

The Makeshift Bookmark

What was in your mailbox?

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Published by Atheneum (Simon & Schuster)May 2001

228 pages

Reviewed from ARC provided by the publisher.

Summary from Goodreads

Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . .

In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared.
While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax.
Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.

    It took me a while to get through this one. It's not a plot driven book like many YA are, though I have to say the last few chapters had me holding my breath. This story is more about the characters and I find I read books like this much more slowly.
   Cullen is a genuine and likable character, his journal of Book Titles was hilarious. I adored his best friend Lucas and admired his loyalty to Cullen. The story seemed real. Like I was there beside him watching him go through the motions of daily life after his brothers disappearance. His guilt, his fear, his pain- all of it.
  But it's not just Cullen's story. There's another story weaving in and out and you are given just subtle glimpses of the how stories intertwine as you read along. The author does an absolutely fantastic job of the connecting the lives of all the characters in the book and that had me thinking about the impact (or lack of impact) I might make in the lives of people I have known, or are yet to know. Where Things Come Back is a powerful read. One that will leave you appreciating what you have and thinking about what you can do for others. Highly recommended.

WoW Post- Dark Fall

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we highlight the books we just can not wait to read.  I just saw the release date for this one and I can not wait:

Dark Fall by Janice Hardy

Book 3 in the Healing Wars Series

To be Published October 4th 2011 by Harper Collins

I loved (LOVED) the first two in the Series

The Shifter & Blue Fire

I am looking so forward to reading more about Nya and where her story goes.

Here's a neat post from Janice Hardy's blog about the cover.

What are you waiting for?

Happy Release Day!

I couldn't let today go by with out mentioning my excitement that Divergent is out today.

I loved this book. I'll be getting my copy today- will you?

Here's my review

And the Winners Are. . .

Thank you to everyone who stopped by with well wishes or sent me lovely emails, it means so much.

I have two winners to announce. Each winner will be able to choose either Divergent or If I Stay which I'll order from the Book Depository as soon as they contact me with mailing addresses:)

Thanks to everyone who entered:

The winners were selected by Random.org

And the winners are:

Rhiannon from The Diary of a Bookworm

&

The Badass Bookie

Congrats!!! And thanks again everyone!!!!



IMM - First VLOG Part 1

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Each week we highlight the books we've received. This week was a huge week in the way of books for me so I decided to try doing a vlog. So 6 hours of tried and failed uploading, reformatting and tears of frustration (I'm not kidding by the way 6 hrs!) here it is. My goal is that next week the vlog will only take me 3 hrs. (sigh)

Books mentioned:

For Review:

True (sort of) by Katherine Hannigan

Switch by Tish Cohen

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Eve by Anna Carey

Big Nate on a Roll by Lincoln Peirce

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver

A huge thank you to my book fairies from Harper, Scholastic and Simon & Schuster

What was in your mailbox?