I can't believe I just haven't written anything in so long. And I'm sad, becuase there have been so many AWESOME books (and a few flops) that T and I have borrowed, haven't written down and will probably not remember when we want to take them out again. Poo!
Well, we've relocated and live VERY close to a library. We love this library- especially on rainy days, which we've had our fair share of lately- and really hot days, which we've had a few of too. This library is HUGE. It reminds me of a college library due to the size and all the computers, but it has a kids room. An entire wing/room just for kids, full of books, movies, small tables, computers and toys. Yup, toys. We go and play for hours until I realize it's time for lunch and naps. The boys love it.
Our first few books from there weren't loves. Detective Dinosaur is the only one I can remember the name of. We liked it but T often asked for his own books to be read, not that one. I'll admit, a few times I actually begged him to read it with me. The book has 3 stories in it where he is solving mysteries: 1. he lost his hat and is on the hunt for it. 2. his shoe squeaks when he walks and is trying to find out what the cause is. 3. he's on night patrol and hears some loud noise come from an alley, then sees a large shadow and tries to determine what it is.
This time around- Huge Hits! Firefighters in the Dark is about a little girls dreams of the firefighters, all their bravery and causes of fires. At first I was nervous T would be scared of a few pages, but he loved it- asked for it a second time before we even finished the book, then continued to look at it while he laid in bed for nap. We'll all go exploring is another book we enjoy. It's about a few friends who explore through the trees of various areas and what they will see. Flap your Wings is a Cat in the Hat book- The author takes the reader through the journey of a mysterious egg in a birds nest. I think it has a great meaning in it. Mr. Bird insists they take care of the egg, even though it's not theirs. Then it hatches and he continues to insist they take care of the 'bird' that is clearly not one of them, and teaches him to fly... or does he?
We'll be doing a lot of reading this Summer!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
On to book #3 for the year
This seems like a sad number to me but I have to remember I have limited time to read.
We had our first book club meeting this week. It was my first ever book club meeting and it was fun to meet new people and enjoy some good conversation about a book. Problem is, I tend to finish a book and forget the details of the story within a week or so. Maybe I need to start writing a more thorough book review on here and reviewing it before I meet up with everyone.
So the next book in our club was decided to be The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I called the library first thing the next day to have it reserved so I don't have to be on a waiting list. (The Help apparently has a super long waiting list, according to a few of the ladies in the club) Tyler decided to return his Diary of a Worm since we didn't really read it much but begged to keep Fireflies Fireflies Light my Way and Goodnight Lulu. He picked out two new books: My Truck is Stuck and Otis.
My Truck is Stuck is about just that, a stuck dump truck. Tyler loves trucks and cars and 'fix it' sort of stuff. We red this one in the library before bringing it home and at first he didn't want it, but then snuck it into his bag. The story is about a dump truck driven by a delivery dog who is making a large delivery of bones. Some sort of animal (which we call dogs because we aren't really sure what they are but they like bones) digs a hole in the road and the truck gets stuck. The delivery dog flags down a variety of vehicles to help pull him out, but who will help? In the end, he is freed by a tow truck but has a surprise in his delivery!
Otis is about a tractor on a farm who becomes friends with a calf. The tractor is replaced by a big shiny new tractor and forgotten about. The calf becomes stuck in Mud Pond and the farmer tries a number of ways to save the calf, but no one can save it. That's when Otis reappears from the back of the barn. He digs his way out of the weeds that have grown over him and cleverly saves the calf. The farmer then realizes his farm is much more productive with the presence of Otis. It's a happy ending for all.
We've only read the two children's books once, but they were enjoyed and asked to be read again. Unfortunately, it was past his bedtime and the answer was 'no'.
I've only read about 10 pages of The Kite Runner but I've was interested from the first page. It's captured my attention and I feel like all I want to do is read. Now if I could only get my children to allow me to do so in peace....
Happy Reading!
We had our first book club meeting this week. It was my first ever book club meeting and it was fun to meet new people and enjoy some good conversation about a book. Problem is, I tend to finish a book and forget the details of the story within a week or so. Maybe I need to start writing a more thorough book review on here and reviewing it before I meet up with everyone.
So the next book in our club was decided to be The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I called the library first thing the next day to have it reserved so I don't have to be on a waiting list. (The Help apparently has a super long waiting list, according to a few of the ladies in the club) Tyler decided to return his Diary of a Worm since we didn't really read it much but begged to keep Fireflies Fireflies Light my Way and Goodnight Lulu. He picked out two new books: My Truck is Stuck and Otis.
My Truck is Stuck is about just that, a stuck dump truck. Tyler loves trucks and cars and 'fix it' sort of stuff. We red this one in the library before bringing it home and at first he didn't want it, but then snuck it into his bag. The story is about a dump truck driven by a delivery dog who is making a large delivery of bones. Some sort of animal (which we call dogs because we aren't really sure what they are but they like bones) digs a hole in the road and the truck gets stuck. The delivery dog flags down a variety of vehicles to help pull him out, but who will help? In the end, he is freed by a tow truck but has a surprise in his delivery!
Otis is about a tractor on a farm who becomes friends with a calf. The tractor is replaced by a big shiny new tractor and forgotten about. The calf becomes stuck in Mud Pond and the farmer tries a number of ways to save the calf, but no one can save it. That's when Otis reappears from the back of the barn. He digs his way out of the weeds that have grown over him and cleverly saves the calf. The farmer then realizes his farm is much more productive with the presence of Otis. It's a happy ending for all.
We've only read the two children's books once, but they were enjoyed and asked to be read again. Unfortunately, it was past his bedtime and the answer was 'no'.
I've only read about 10 pages of The Kite Runner but I've was interested from the first page. It's captured my attention and I feel like all I want to do is read. Now if I could only get my children to allow me to do so in peace....
Happy Reading!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Book Reviews
I finished The Help a few weeks ago. Overall, a good read. I think it was hyped up a bit for me so I didn't LOVE the book and felt slightly let down, but only slightly. The book is thought provoking, at least it was for me. I couldn't help in thinking, "what would I have been like back then in this sort of situation?" I'd like to hope that I'd be most like Skeeter, and nothing like the other girls- either a complete b!tch or followers of one. Everyone alway says back then things were simple and easier- I think this book makes perfect sense that it wasn't- or maybe it was if you were white and wealthy. The ones that seemed to be the richest were the ones in the black community. They came together in times of need and joy, and prayed together regularly.
Grade: A
Now a review of the kids books:
In the Diner:
Not a favorite but fun to look at the pictures and do a 'I Spy' sort of game together. We probably won't get this one again. When I ask Tyler if he liked it: "No"
Chicka Chicka 1-2-3:
A much liked book. Tyler was really getting to know his single digit numbers with this book. It counted from 1-20, then by tens up to 100. He was a pro at knowing the number 0. We will borrow this book again and put it on a gift list. Tyler enjoyed this book.
The Bickleby's Bird Bath:
LOVED this book. This book was requested often and when it wasn't requested, I was begging him to read it with me. I liked it that much. The book shows a sequence of events that occured to cause the mailman to fall into the Bickleby's bird bath. Each page tells the story of what happened from the final event to the first things that happened and gives a picture clue to the next page. If that makes sense? Anyway, this is on the gift list too. We read it so much I know most of it by heart: "This is the mailman who fell in the Bickleby's bird bath. This is the goose that chased the mailman who fell in the Bickleby's bird bath. This is the moose that scared the goose that chased the mailman who fell in the Bickleby's bird bath." And so on :)
I returned those books and borrowed a few more books. This time, Tyler asked to stay home with daddy so it was just me. At the recommendation of a friend, I borrowed Half Broke Horses. It was said to be a quick read, and though it's a shorter book, I just can't get into it. I think I've read the first 3 'chapters' (they aren't identified as chapters in the book, but separated as though they are). I probably won't read this one this month. Book club meets Tuesday and we'll chose a new book to read so I'll just jump to that one.
The books I picked out for Tyler included Diary of a Worm. Fireflies Fireflies, Light My Way. and Goodnight LuLu. So far, the last two are hits and requested often. The worm book may be just a bit old for him, or just not that interesting. I personally don't love it.
What are you reading this week?
Grade: A
Now a review of the kids books:
In the Diner:
Not a favorite but fun to look at the pictures and do a 'I Spy' sort of game together. We probably won't get this one again. When I ask Tyler if he liked it: "No"
Chicka Chicka 1-2-3:
A much liked book. Tyler was really getting to know his single digit numbers with this book. It counted from 1-20, then by tens up to 100. He was a pro at knowing the number 0. We will borrow this book again and put it on a gift list. Tyler enjoyed this book.
The Bickleby's Bird Bath:
LOVED this book. This book was requested often and when it wasn't requested, I was begging him to read it with me. I liked it that much. The book shows a sequence of events that occured to cause the mailman to fall into the Bickleby's bird bath. Each page tells the story of what happened from the final event to the first things that happened and gives a picture clue to the next page. If that makes sense? Anyway, this is on the gift list too. We read it so much I know most of it by heart: "This is the mailman who fell in the Bickleby's bird bath. This is the goose that chased the mailman who fell in the Bickleby's bird bath. This is the moose that scared the goose that chased the mailman who fell in the Bickleby's bird bath." And so on :)
I returned those books and borrowed a few more books. This time, Tyler asked to stay home with daddy so it was just me. At the recommendation of a friend, I borrowed Half Broke Horses. It was said to be a quick read, and though it's a shorter book, I just can't get into it. I think I've read the first 3 'chapters' (they aren't identified as chapters in the book, but separated as though they are). I probably won't read this one this month. Book club meets Tuesday and we'll chose a new book to read so I'll just jump to that one.
The books I picked out for Tyler included Diary of a Worm. Fireflies Fireflies, Light My Way. and Goodnight LuLu. So far, the last two are hits and requested often. The worm book may be just a bit old for him, or just not that interesting. I personally don't love it.
What are you reading this week?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Joined a Book Club!
I've joined a book club! And I've also vowed to not buy a single book for myself this year. I have at least 3 libraries within 15 minutes from my house. I must utilize these and get the boys into it as well. Ben is still too young to understand, but I'll share the books I read and the books Tyler picks out for himself. Hopefully a few people will read this blog and get some ideas for themselves and/or their children.
I'll start this blog with the book I just finished (not part of the book club, but I'll suggest it for future reads). We went to the H library and borrowed Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah. It's about a family that isn't close but endures a loss and learns a lot about themselves and each other. It took me a little bit to get into the book because "Mom" shares a fairy tale, which just didn't capture my full attention until it took a hold of the story. The book brought tears to my eyes in parts. I recommend.
Tyler (3 years old) took out Tap Tap Bang Bang, a book about tools and the sounds they make and what you can build with each tool- HUGE hit. Dinosaur Train was also a hit, a book about a little boy who loves dinosaurs and trains and has a great imagination.
Now... onto the next library visit. We went to OP library. Much better than the H library. Tyler loved that they had miniature couches to play and move around and sit and read. I don't like that they aren't near the adult section at all so he just wants to stay over in the kid section where I can't see him when I'm looking for books. We'll work on that.
I borrowed the last copy of The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It's the first book for the Book Club. I had to get it in large print so I feel like I'm reading a book that is written for a kid to read. I haven't started it yet, but I know it has gotten awesome reviews.
Tyler borrowed Chicka Chicka 1-2-3, In the Diner, and The Bickleby's Bird Bath. So far, they're enjoyed.
I'll start this blog with the book I just finished (not part of the book club, but I'll suggest it for future reads). We went to the H library and borrowed Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah. It's about a family that isn't close but endures a loss and learns a lot about themselves and each other. It took me a little bit to get into the book because "Mom" shares a fairy tale, which just didn't capture my full attention until it took a hold of the story. The book brought tears to my eyes in parts. I recommend.
Tyler (3 years old) took out Tap Tap Bang Bang, a book about tools and the sounds they make and what you can build with each tool- HUGE hit. Dinosaur Train was also a hit, a book about a little boy who loves dinosaurs and trains and has a great imagination.
Now... onto the next library visit. We went to OP library. Much better than the H library. Tyler loved that they had miniature couches to play and move around and sit and read. I don't like that they aren't near the adult section at all so he just wants to stay over in the kid section where I can't see him when I'm looking for books. We'll work on that.
I borrowed the last copy of The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It's the first book for the Book Club. I had to get it in large print so I feel like I'm reading a book that is written for a kid to read. I haven't started it yet, but I know it has gotten awesome reviews.
Tyler borrowed Chicka Chicka 1-2-3, In the Diner, and The Bickleby's Bird Bath. So far, they're enjoyed.
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