Yay!!!


I looked at my counter and
I've gone over the 3,000 mark.
Right on!

Please be patient!

I have been so busy with so many projects, I haven't had the time I would like to devote to my blog.
Over the next few weeks, there are lots of fun things coming up, such as some author interviews you won't want to miss and a couple giveaways. So, please keep checking back. You won't be disappointed.

Children's Book Week

May 11 - 17, 2009

In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children’s books. He proposed creating a Children’s Book Week, to be supported by publishers, booksellers and librarians.

He enlisted Frederic G. Melcher, the editor of Publishers Weekly, and Anne Carroll Moore, the superintendent of children’s works at the New York Public Library.

With their help, the Good Book Week was created in 1916 through the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association, in cooperation with the Boy Scouts.

At the 1919 ABA convention, a commitment was procured for an annual Children’s Book Week. A few months later, the official approval of the ALA was also secured during its first Children’s Librarians session.

In 1944, the newly established Children’s Book Council assumed responsibility for administering Children’s Book Week. Last year, it was moved from November to May and responsibility was transferred to Every Child a Reader, the philanthropic arm of the children’s publishing industry.

Children’s Book Week is celebrated in school, libraries, bookstores, clubs, homes … any place where they are children and books. In some areas, the week includes storytelling, parties, author and illustrator appearances and other book-related events.

“The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats is one of the books I regularly shared with my children when they were little. In fact, I think they all eventually knew it word for word without even looking at the book.

It features a little boy named Peter who is exploring his neighborhood after the first snowfall of the season. With wonderful illustrations and a simple storyline, it’s a treat not only for children but also for the adult reading it to them.

In 1963, “The Snowy Day” received the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book for children in 1963.

Do you remember a special book you read as a child or one you shared with your own children?

To learn more about Children's Book Week, visit the official Web site at www.bookweekonline.com.

My First Award!

What a surprise! Kristi at Books and Needlepoint gave me this wonderful award. She has a great blog I visit often and I hope you will all check out what she's written.

Now that I have accepted the award, there are certain rules to follow:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.

2) Pass the award on to 15 other blogs you've newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

These are my choices for the award in no particular order:

1. Maryann at It's Not All Gravy
2. Delia at The Melody Within
3. Joy at Joystory
4. S. Krishna at S. Krishna's Books
5. Wendy at Wendy's Minding Spot
6. Mo at Unmainstream Mom Reads
7. Wendi at Wendi's Book Corner
8. Dawn at She Is Too Fond Of Books
9 Lori at Lori's Reading Corner
10. Bermudaonion at Bermudaonion's Weblog
11. JM at The Book Stacks
12. Katrina at Stone SouP
13. J. Kaye at J.Kaye's Book Blog
14. Drey at Drey's Library
15. Mishel at Mis(h)takes

I can think of lots and lots of people I'd love to give this award to, including Kristi. Thanks, everyone, for supporting my blog. Keep visiting because I plan to add more features in the near future.

Updated Blog List

Scroll down the right-hand side of this page to the links to blogs to check out. I've updated the list and added quite a variety. These are all really fun places to visit. They all have to do with books and include reviews and, often, contests to win free books. Check them out!

Starting 2009 on the Right Page!

Happy New Year!!!
I hope everyone has begun 2009 on a positive note.
Not typically one who resolves to do this or that, I have set some specific goals for the coming year.
First, I intend to be more conscientious about keeping this blog up to date. I have been pretty lax the past couple months and I plan to change that bad habit.
Secondly, I have made it a personal goal to organize my home office. Since I've gotten to the point where I get seriously frustrated every time I try to do any writing because I can't find that one piece of paper I need, I've had to set this goal. It won't be easy. Not only do a write for a number of Web sites and newspapers, I am also involved in several local non-profit groups and my notes from meetings are getting mixed into the mess.
Third, I plan to set more specific reading goals for 2009. I had goals last year and I reached most of them within the first few months. After that, I found myself slipping into old habits of finding a quick read just to clear certain books off my shelves. That meant I was neglecting those bigger novels and those that are more difficult to read in a day or two. I have to change that habit and read some of those classics and award winners that are also gracing my bookshelf.
Last, but not least, I want to keep my shelves more up-to-date on Goodreads. I've made many friends on that site and I feel as if I've neglected them by forgetting to mark a book as "read" and commenting on it.
I'd love to hear from my readers about their plans for 2009. Do you make resolutions? Or do you prefer, like me, to set more specific goals?