by whiskymac www.flickr.com A squirrel is certainly a maniac–especially when a boxer puppy is chasing it up a tree. Happens in my yard all the time! On this Maniac Monday, I thought I would act a bit like a maniac myself and do some shameless plugging of an on-line writing course I am teaching for [...]

*Tween (or young adult) fantasy *Peter Pan and Molly as main characters *Rating: The last book in the trilogy of the sequel to Peter Pan. I am still enjoying it on audio book, and I think Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson did an exceptional job with this one! Short, short summary: Book three is more [...]

I still remember my copy of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume from when I was a girl. It had a purple cover and a picture of a blonde girl. I loved, loved, loved this book, and I would talk about it with all my friends. “Oh my God,” I would [...]

So, I have received the Superior Scribbler Award from Cathy Hall, and I am just so honored. Thank you so much for thinking of me, Cathy! Here is some info about the Superior Scribbler Award: 1. Each Superior Scribbler, must in turn, pass the Award on to 5 most-deserving bloggy buds. 2. Each Superior Scribbler [...]

by szlea www.flickr.com *Picture book for preschoolers through second graders *7-year-old boy as main character Rating: Bright illustrations match the cute text in this tennis tale that might just make you want to go to the court with your classroom or your child. Short, short summary: Tennis, Anyone? tells the story of a 7-year-old boy [...]

My husband picked a number between one and seventeen, Heidi’s name was written next to number 17, and so, she is the winner of the copy of The Secrets of the Cheese Syndicate by Donna St. Cyr. Congratulations to Heidi S. I sent you an email, so respond and send me your snail mail address [...]

Leave a comment by 8:00 p.m. CST on Sunday, August 23 for a chance to win a copy of The Secrets of The Cheese Syndicate! photo by cwbuecheler www.flickr.com *Middle-grade novel, fantasy *13-year-old boy as main character Rating: The Secrets of the Cheese Syndicate is a wild ride through a cheesy world mixed with mythology [...]

On this Timeless Thursday, I would like to honor Margret and H.A. Rey, the beloved creators of Curious George. I saw that in Overland Park, Kansas at the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education, they are having an exhibit called “Saving the Little Brown Monkey: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey” from October [...]

In honor of the way I feel today (which is not so great), I thought I would write about one of my very favorite wacky poems–”Sick” by Shel Silverstein. I remember this poem from my first grade teacher, Ms. Bauer, when she shared Where the Sidewalk Ends with us. As soon as I became a [...]

by Phyllis Root www.flickr.com *Picture book for preschoolers through second graders *Paula Bunyan (Paul Bunyan’s sister) as main character *Rating: Paula Bunyan is a clever, cute picture book with a twist on the old classic Paul Bunyan tale. Phyllis Root has thrown a little environmental education in there, too. Short, short summary: Did you know [...]