Congrats to This Year BES Winners!!

The Maryland Black-Eye Susan Awards for 2015-16 go to:

Picture Book - Dog vs Cat by Chris Gall
Grades 4-6 - The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm
Graphic Novels - El Deafo by CeCe Bell
Grades 6-9 - The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
High School - The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Check out next year's books listed in the pages above!

My Summer Reading List!!

Summer is here and what better way to spend it than READING!!!! I decided that this summer, I'm reading what I want to read!! I spend the entire school year reading for a purpose. There are so many books that I want to read! This year I got smart and started to compile a list of books that I REALLY wanted to read. The chances are great that I probably won't finish the entire list, but it'll give me a opportunity to read books that folks have told me I HAD to read.

Hey, why don't you take a moment and jot down a list of your own. Look through some other lists and get a good idea of what YOU would like to read. Your list doesn't have to be long. Just about 5 books would make a perfect list! Grab the kids and make multiple lists! OR you can have a list made for you! How? Pick a series!! There are tons of really great series out there and they supply a ready-made book list! LOL

Hello!! Calling All Kids!!

Hey there! I just put the finishing touches on my newest blog - Kids' Book Speak!! This is a blog just for kids and their own book reviews. If you are interested in contributing, then hop on over and check things out! I'm expecting great things!

kidsbookspeak.blogspot.com

ADD and Reading

Yes, I probably do have ADD. I probably have ADHD because I don't sit well. I'm also an avid reader. I love it! The problem? It's hard to sit still and read. I've tried reading on the treadmill. That didn't work. It's really hard to read while walking on a treadmill. Not impossible mind you...just difficult. I would try audio books, but I don't like to be read to. I have a hard time understanding the spoken word without hand gestures and facial expressions. What is strange is that I never had this problem when I was younger. When I was younger, I could sit all day and read in a corner. Now-a-days, um...nope...got things to do!

Is anyone else like this?

Well, if you are 1) I'm sorry. It stinks. 2) I may have a help for you. Nothing says you have to sit and read an entire novel in one sitting, but a little bit does go a long way! Try chapter reading. When you wake up in the morning...read a chapter. When you're cleaning the house or doing homework...take a break and read a chapter. Before you go to bed...read a chapter. Before you know it, you will be through the entire novel in a week!!

Try it! The next time you are having a hard time staying with a book for a long time...read it chapter by chapter!

Year of the Animal Series by Grace Lin

I've never seen these books before yesterday, but they are cool looking!

 They are by author Grace Lin who also wrote Where The Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky.

Grace Lin grew up in New York to parents who were both Taiwan immigrants. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design. Ms. Lin is currently living in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Year of the Animals Series, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky are her novels. She has also written many picture and early reading books.

• The Ugly Vegetables - 1999
• Dim Sum for Everyone! - 2001
• Kite Flying - 2002
• Okie-Dokie, Artichokie! - 2003
• Olivina Flies - 2003
• Robert's Snow - 2004
• Jingle Bells - 2004
• Fortune Cookie Fortunes - 2004
• Deck The Halls - 2004
• The Twelve Days of Christmas - 2004
• Merry Christmas! Let's All Sing! - 2005
• Our Seasons - 2006
• Olivina Swims - 2007
• The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale - 2007
• Bringing in the New Year - 2008
• Ling and Ting Series
• Ling and Ting: Not Exactly The Same - 2010
• Ling and Ting: Share a Birthday - 2013
• Ling and Ting: Twice as Silly - 2014
• Ling and Ting: Together In All Weather - 2015

Lemonade War Series

What attracted me to this series? The covers!!! OMG! They are so summery looking and scream to be read! 

Jacqueline Davies (the author) started writing these books while watching her sons and their lemonade stand in the driveway in the Spring of 2005. These aren't her only creations though. Take a look at what else she has written:

• Where The Mountain Meets The Sky - 2002
• The Boy Who Drew Birds - 2004
• The Night Is Singing - 2006
• The House Takes a Vacation - 2007
• The Lemonade War - 2007
• Tricking the Tallyman - 2009
• Lost - 2009
• The Lemonade Crime - 2011
• The Bell Bandit - 2012
• The Candy Smash - 2013
• The Magic Trap - 2014

Ms. Davies also has a daughter and dog named Harley. They live in Needham, Massachusetts.

THE LEMONADE WAR SERIES: