Post 1000 - Celebration! - Giveaways!

This is my 1000th published post. I would have reached this earlier but I deleted a few posts a year ago that were sign ups for book challenges I never even read a single book for. I also have some drafts that aren't ready to be published yet, they don't count.

I can't believe it! 1000 posts! I started this blog June 2007 but I started writing book reviews in 2001. I started off writing reviews on my webpage (not blog but free geocities webpage) and then added them to amazon.com so that others could see what I thought. I wanted my review to be seen. I was sick of looking at reviews for a book and finding short sentences that weren't helpful at all like:

"The book was awesome, I really enjoyed it." OR
"I didn't like this book at all."

Where were the WHYs. Knowing you liked or didn't like a book just isn't enough. I especially had trouble finding good reviews for nonfiction books. My early reviews weren't much better but I've since improved.

When I discovered book blogs in 2007 (starting with The Hidden Side of a Leaf [Dewey has since passed], PussReboots and Thoughts of Joy) I realized that putting my reviews in blog format would be a better fit. Then I could get real comments and design the site to be me. Just my reviews and no one else's!

I quickly found book challenges. The first one I joined was the 2nds Challenge hosted at Thoughts of Joy. (My second challenge was Beach Blanket Bonanza hosted at PussReboots!)

I also found book memes. I found Booking Through Thursday first and the first one I participated in was about being desperate to read when nothing much is around. Check out my first BTT post. The first book meme I found that wasn't BTT (and wasn't a weekly thing but a one time thing) is this Book Quiz. Check it out to learn more about me.

It took me longer to figure out something book related that wasn't a review, meme, challenge or a post about a giveaway or website to write about. My first OTHER post was The Obligatory Harry Potter Post which explains my thoughts on HP but also why you didn't see reviews of the books or speculation about book 7 when most other book blogs at that time were.

As for my reviews, most of my early review were for books on Paganism. My very first review from 2001 was for Celebrate the Earth by Laurie Cabot with Jean Mills. My second review, and first non-Pagan book was Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family's Triumph over Autism by Catherine Maurice. This book sparked my interest in Autism. I researched and made a report FOR FUN about it and continued to read many more books on Autism and other Special Needs. Other than the ones listed, I have one more already reviewed but not published yet and another one yet to be read.

And now for the part you've all been waiting for, GIVEAWAYS!

I really do hope you read the rest of the post though. I'm so proud of myself!

I've got four giveaways for you. I'm sorry I couldn't do more.

Here's what's up for grabs: [links for #1 are to my reviews, links for rest is to publishers book page)

Chicken, Pig, Cow and Chicken, Pig, Cow On the Move by Ruth Ohi (picture books) and some cute bookmarks to a Canadian Winner (Courtesy of Annick Press)


CPC: Pig, Chicken and Cow love the warm and cozy barn Girl made for them out of Popsicle® sticks. Even though Girl forgot to make a door, the three toy animals think their home is perfect. The only thing that isn’t perfect is Dog. He lives outside, but his drool makes it feel as if it’s raining in the barn.
CPC On the Move: Chicken, Pig and Cow are looking for a change. The popsicle-stick barn Girl built for them is great, but sometimes it gets just a little too crowded.

ROSES by Leila Meacham to a Canada/US Winner (NO P.O. Boxes) (Courtesy of Hachette Book Group)
624 Pages - another big read!

Spanning the 20th century, the story of Roses takes place in a small East Texas town against the backdrop of the powerful timber and cotton industries, industries controlled by the scions of the town's founding families. Cotton tycoon Mary Toliver and timber magnate Percy Warwick should have married but unwisely did not, and now must deal with the deceit, secrets, and tragedies of their choice and the loss of what might have been--not just for themselves but for their children, and children's children.

THE CRUSADES by Thomas Asbridge to a UK Winner (Courtesy of Simon & Schuster UK)
At 784 pages this is a big read!

In the eleventh century, a vast Christian army, summoned to holy war by the pope, rampaged through the Muslim world of the eastern Mediterranean, seizing possession of Jerusalem, a city revered by both faiths. Over the two hundred years that followed this First Crusade, Islam and the West fought for dominion of the Holy Land, clashing in a succession of chillingly brutal wars, both firm in the belief that they were at God's work.
For the first time, this book tells the story of this epic struggle from the perspective of both Christians and Muslims, reconstructing the experiences and attitudes of those on either side of the conflict. Mixing pulsing narrative and piercing insight, it exposes the full horror, passion and barbaric grandeur of the crusading era.

For an international winner (must be a blogger) the only thing I can offer you is a spot near the top of my blog for your blog button for 1 month. I hope it helps you get some extra readers.
EDIT Feb. 2 - Clarification: You do not have to have a book blog to enter this giveaway but it must be in English and not an adult site or full of hatred or discrimination.

Giveaway Open till  Feb. 3, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST

*Apologies to anyone who visited before the entry form was up.

 To Enter:

Fill in the form below once for your mandatory entry. Please read carefully.

For extra entries, do the following and fill the form in again with proper information as required:

 - Tweet the following and leave link to your tweet for +1 (may be done once daily)
Post 1000 - Celebration! @callista83 - GIVEAWAYS! ~ SMS Book Reviews http://bit.ly/bWojMy

 - Post about giveaway on your blog (sidebar's fine) and leave link for +1

 - Visit one of the publishers who donated a book (whether you're entering for that book or not) and find another book you'd be interested in reading and tell me what it is (and what publisher it's from) for +1

 - *For NON-bloggers only* Email at least 3 friends about giveaway and BCC callista83 AT cogeco DOT ca for +1 (also fill out form again and just state what you did)

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Thinking About Last 998 Posts (This is post 999)

The big celebration is tomorrow so be sure to come back. I have giveaways!

For today I'd like to reminisce a little bit.

Here's how my header has changed:

SOME STATS (since the beginning)

Total Reviews: 488
5 Star: 142
4 Star: 222
Adult Nonfiction: 126
Adult Fiction: 44
Picture Books: 122
Children's Fiction: 71
Children's Nonfiction: 57

Also in 2009 my blog was listed in an e-book!

So what do I think were some of my best/most interesting posts: (In Descending Order)

1. In Memory of Books
   
2. 8 Tips for Reading More When You Have Young Children
3. Kids and Libraries
4. My Thoughts on Required Reading in School
   
5. Reading and Writing in India
   
6. Weekly Geeks #23 - Photo Tour
   
7. Chick-Lit

I'd love to have your thoughts on those posts. Please consider commenting on the old posts with your thoughts!

See you tomorrow!

Mother Reader's Comment Challenge Wrap-Up

I signed up for the comment challenge during bloggiesta. That weekend I commented on 16 blogs. A day later I commented on 11 more and then the paper I was keeping track of got buried under some books (of course!) and I didn't find it again until 2 days ago. Without my paper to remind me I forgot all about the challenge.

In fact I didn't do the Thursday check in, not even once. I totally forgot.

But I didn't want to end it saying I hadn't made 100 comments so in the last 2 days I've been commenting like CRAZY!

Jan. 27 - 23 blogs
Jan. 28 - 50 blogs (yes 50 today!)

So I just finished commenting a minute ago but I made it, 100 blogs commented. I commented on the same blog only thrice, the other times were different blogs and I found some new blogs too.

Bookie Woogie, New Horizon Reviews, Books Like Breathing and Words, World and Wings are just some of them.

I had lots of fun and found it's really not that much more work to comment. I found I commented more on non review posts. I'm going to make an effort to comment more.

The only thing I'm not as happy about is that I was hoping by signing up my blog would end up with more comments than usual but I must say everyone must have skipped my blog. I only visited a handful of the blogs signed up myself but I was hoping for more people to comment on my blog. Oh well, I still had fun!

Second Chance by Sandra J. Gerencher

Subtitle: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism & His Shelter Dog


Stars: ****

Summary: The timeless tale of a boy (with autism) and his (shelter) dog. All characters in the story are based on Sandra's real life family. 


Tribute Books (2009)
Children's Non-fiction
Ages 9-12
28 pages

This is a really sweet story that would appeal to children who adopt a dog, children with autism, parents of children with autism and parents who adopt a dog.

Instead of illustrations, the pages are filled with softly blended watercolor photos of the author's loved ones. They are blended so that you can't make out any distinguising details, just tell if it's a boy or dog or whatnot. They are the backgrounds of the entire page and the text is on top of it.

The story was beautiful, both in words and layout.

My only problem is the back of the book says:

THE STORY CONTINUES
visit
www.ChanceTheShelterDog.com

 Which made me think there was a whole website with updates on Chance the dog and photos and the like but it only links to a myspace page of the author which hasn't been updated since April 2008. 

Also a portion of the sale of this book goes towards The Humane Society.

Links of Interest: Sandra Genrencher Myspace,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy Second Chance from Amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Sand to Stone and Back Again by Nancy Bo Flood - Day Three

I interviewed the photographer, Tony Kuyper.
This is his first ever interview for this book and I'm honoured to be the one to host it.

C - Callista
TK - Tony Kuyper
~~~~~~~
About the Book

C: How did you come to be a part of Sand to Stone and Back Again? Who approached you?

TK: The book came about because Nancy and I were neighbors. I was familiar with her writing and we would often discuss our creative efforts.  It was clear in looking at and reading Nancy's books that she had a lot of talent for creating stories from where she happened to be living.  Eventually I suggested that we might be able to do a book together.  She quickly agreed. There were lots of drafts, always drawing from the images I had available at that time.  The book just kept getting better with each draft. Looking back I'm really amazed at the story she put together from these pictures.

C: Who chose which of your photographs would be used?

TK: Nancy and I sat down together to select images that we felt would go with the words.  We suggested these to the publisher (Fulcrum).  The publisher then chose which ones they wanted.  I sent them large versions of each image they requested.  The designer, Ann Douden, then did the design/layout.  Nancy and I were both surprised and pleased by what she did. As a photographer I was expecting a pictures style book, but Ann took it in an entirely different direction.  I never imagined the images being used in this manner, but I certainly like the way it turned out.

C: Is this the only book your photos have been in? Would you like to work with another book in the future if you found a good match?

TK: Yes, this is my first book, but it certainly has me interested in doing another one, and with Nancy if possible.  I have lots of new pictures since Sand to Stone was published, and they're quite different in many ways from the ones in that book.  I've spoken with Nancy about maybe trying something in electronic format in the future.  That seems to be the way things are heading.

About the Photographer

C: How long have you been a photographer? Do you only photograph the Colorado Plateau?

TK: My photography started soon after I moved to Arizona in 1983.  Coming from Iowa I was in absolute awe of all there was to see out here.  Photography was a way of expressing my love for this new and wonderful place.  While my photography has changed over the years, it has always largely been concentrated in the high desert regions of the Colorado Plateau.  Sandstone truly is my passion with the camera.  It's endlessly beautiful to me and, even though I've been here for over 25 years now, I still see new places every year and find new and wonderful things to photograph.  I've tried photographing mountains, and coastlines, and trees, and such, but I always come back to the desert.

C: Do most of your sales come from those in the Colorado area who want prints of their home or do you get most of your sales from people who don't get to experience the beauty themselves?

TK: I work full-time as a pharmacist, so there isn't a lot of time to market my images other than on my website.  Sales come mainly from there, and I've not noticed any trends with regard to location of the buyers.  Mostly buyers have visited this region and have an affinity for the desert  that they can maybe see in the images.

C: Your website has tutorials on it. Could you please explain who might take interest in them and what they are for?

TK: One important aspect of photography for me is the ability to develop a personal style not only through the compositions I photograph, but also in how I develop the image after it is captured.  Photography is undergoing a big revolution right now with the improvement in digital capture technology and the accessibility of digital imaging software, like Photoshop.  The tutorials are my way of sharing my image processing techniques with a wider audience, mostly photographers looking for new techniques to develop their own style.

C: Are you a reader? What sorts of books do you read in your spare time?

TK: I used to read a lot more before the Internet came along and got me hooked on reading lots of short articles and human interest stories.  Most recently I finished reading the Harry Potter series . . . and loved it.  Stories of people finding who they are and than being able to share their special talents with others are probably my favorite type of story.  That's what life is about, and there are an infinite number of ways to tell that story.

C: Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?

TK: Probably the most important thing is to take pictures of things that you personally like.  Doing so makes it very easy to be out taking pictures, and simply being there somehow allows the light to find you.  Most of my images are unplanned, but the light just happens to be there when I make the effort to show up.  It feels almost magical how images seem to appear out of nowhere.  That's a really special feeling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other Blogs Participating in this Tour:
SMS Book Reviews, Never Jam Today, SmallWorld Reads, Our Big Earth Media Co., Whispers of Dawn, Cafe of Dreams, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, Dolce Bellezza, KidzBookBuzz.com

Buy Sand to Stone and Back Again from Amazon.com and support KidsBookBuzz!

Sand to Stone and Back Again by Nancy Bo Flood - Day Two

*This is post 995, check back in 5 more posts for some 1000th post giveaways!

Today I share with you an interview I did with the author Nancy Bo Flood. (Pictured at right)


NBF - Nancy Bo Flood
C - Callista
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the Book

C: What made you want to create this book? Were you filling a need or writing about what you like or something else perhaps?

NBF: I wrote the book because I find the desert incredibly beautiful and wondrous in its stark, rugged landscape. I hoped to bring the beauty and wonder of the geology of the desert to young readers.

C: Did you consult with other people or even experts while you wrote this book? If so, Who?

NBF: All the information in Sand to Stone is accurate. I consulted with geologists and anthropologists. Besides talking with them and also asking them to review the text, I read many books about desert geology, sandstone, the animals, plants and people that live and thrive in the high desert climate. I even read books about volcanoes because we have many "sleeping" volcanoes in this area of the desert.

C: What's your favourite part of the book?

NBF: My favorite part - "You began as one tiny cell, as small as a grain of sand. From one cell, you became two, then four. Now you are made of million of connected cells. From one tiny cell, you became a person. From one grain of sand, I became a mountain." I do love that comparison!

C: What one thing do you hope readers will take away from Sand to Stone and Back Again?

NBF: Everything in our world continues to change. Change is often a cycle of building, crumbling and rebuilding. This is true for rocks as well as people.

C: How long was it between when you first started writing this book and when you were first published?

NBF: I began writing this book five years ago after several years of hiking and camping in the desert. I love being in a steep-sided canyon with only ravens and sage brush. Such silence! Perhaps a mountain lion is watching me and following my tracks. That has happened.

About the Author


C: What kinds of books do you read in your spare time?

NBF: I read all sorts of books. I especially like poetry for children that describes nature or is funny. I like historical fiction as well as nonfiction.

C: Have you thought about your next book yet?

NBF: My new projects include an alphabet books about rocks, a silly but true book about fungi (without mushrooms our world would not survive!), and a novel about a Navajo girl whose sisters joins the army and goes to fight in Iraq. My newest and first novel just came out - Warriors in the Crossfire - a story about boys surviving the invasion of their island, Saipan, in the western Pacific during World War II.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions Nancy. I can't wait to see your rock alphabet book. I love rocks!

You can also find some teacher/student activities that go with the book at Simple Saturday (scroll down) but they will also be available at Nancy Bo Flood's website by the end of the week.

Visit Nancy Bo Flood.

Visit the other bloggers in this book tour:
SMS Book Reviews, Never Jam Today, SmallWorld Reads, Our Big Earth Media Co., Whispers of Dawn, Cafe of Dreams, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, Dolce Bellezza, KidzBookBuzz.com

Buy Sand to Stone and Back Again from Amazon.com and support KidsBookBuzz!

Sand to Stone and Back Again by Nancy Bo Flood - Day One

Stars: ***1/2

Summary: Sand to Stone illustrates the life cycle of sandstone for curious young minds. Open these pages to discover the amazing shapes, colors, and textures natural forces have left behind in the Desert Southwest.

Sand to Stone wasn't exactly what I was expecting and to be honest, at first I didn't like it. However I've had a month to review it even more and have come to realize I wasn't being fair when I read the book the first time. For one, I misunderstood the age range of the book. I sometimes forget that picture books aren't just for young children. The author's website says Ages 6-12 but Amazon.com says ages 9-12.

Unless your child is REALLY into sandstone, this book isn't one that you'd buy for your child to read on their own. This is more of a book for teachers or homeschool parents to use with their children. As you can probably tell based on the ages, this would be good for children in grades 4-7.

The author Nancy Bo Flood and photographer Tony Kuyper did and awesome job together. The text is lyrical:

"Sometimes I am a desert, a soft dune resting, or a tough old butte."

"Crash! Slabs of stone slide off cliffs, change walls into caves, alcoves, or arches."

The photographs are breathtaking as you can see from the photos included in this post. These photos are Copyright Tony Kuyper and are used with permission. These are the actual photos, before they were cropped for the book.


Links of Interest: Nancy Bo Flood (author), Tony Kuyper (photographer),

Other Reviews: (in this case, others participating in tour)
SMS Book Reviews, Never Jam Today, SmallWorld Reads, Our Big Earth Media Co., Whispers of Dawn, Cafe of Dreams, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, Dolce Bellezza, KidzBookBuzz.com


Buy Sand to Stone and Back Again from Amazon.com and support KidsBookBuzz!

Women Unbound Challenge

I meant to join this challenge when it first started 2 months ago but sort of forgot. The Women Unbound Challenge is about books on Women's studies. The blog is a wonderful resource too with guest posts and articles and other of interest posts. - goes till November 2010

I'm committing to this level: Philogynist: read at least two books, including at least one nonfiction one.

1. I am Nujood by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui
2.

2010 World Religion Challenge

Any reader of this blog has probably figured out that I like to read books on a wide variety of religions.

For all of 2010 I'll be doing the World Religion Challenge. I'm taking this path:

The Unshepherded Path (Also Known As: The Don't Tell Me What to Do Path): Read as many books as you would like about whatever religions you want.

1. Sex, Drugs and Gefilte Fish ed. by Shana Liebman
2. God is Not One by Stephen Prothero

2010 Bibliophilic Books Challenge

I love reading books about books!

For all of 2010. I'll be trying for the bookworm level (Bookworm: Read three books) but will be reading some picture books about books and reading too which will be extra, they won't count towards those three.

Books Read for Challenge:
The Book of Knowledge by David Michael Slater


Picture Books Already Read:
Born to Read by Judy Sierra
That Book Woman by Heather Henson
Too Many Books by Gilles Tibo
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind


EDIT Jan 23/2010 - I'm adding a list of possibilities. I don't own ANY of these, they are all ones I found recommended by other bloggers

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Leave me alone, I'm reading by Maureen Corrigan
So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson
Book Lust by Nancy Pearl
More Book Lust by Nancy Pearl
13 Ways of Looking at the Novel by Jane Smiley
The Book Club by Mary Alice Monore
The Camel Bookmobile by Marsha Hamilton
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafrsi
A Year of Reading by Elizabeth Ellington
1001 books to read before you die
Why We Read What We Read by John Heath and Lisa Adams
Every book its reader : the power of the written word to stir the world By Nicholas Basbanes
The book that changed my life : 71 remarkable writers celebrate the books that matter most to them by Nicholas Basbanes
A Passion for Books by Harold Rabinowitz
Book by Book by Michael Dirda
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee
An Alphabetical Life: Living it Up in the World of Books by Wendy Warris
Reading in Bed by Steven Gilbar
A Passion for Books edited by Dale Salwak
The Reading Zone by Nancie Atwell
The Rights of the Reader by Daniel Pennac

ARC Reading Challenge 2010

Teddy Rose from So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is holding the ARC Reading Challenge again. I'm still hopelessly behind as you'll see when you see my enormous list but anyway....

So there are three different levels:

Level Bronze: .[I fall into b] b. All of us who have or will have more than 12 ARC's must read and review 12.

Level Silver: Read 24 ARC's
Level Gold: Read 25 or more ARC's

I'm going for level Gold because I NEED to get through these books!


Books that are linked are linked to my review


Magus of Stonewylde by Kit Berry
Life Against All Odds by Alfred Cave
Millionaire Babies or Bankrupt Brats by Jim Fay & Kristen Leatherman
Straight from the Horse's Heart by R.T Fitch
Stuffed by Hank Cardello
Watching Jimmy by Nancy Hartry
The Angry Smile by Jody E.Long, Nicholas J. Long and Signe Whitson
Chanda's Wars by Allan Stratton
My Goodness: My Kids by Nesta A. Aharoni
My Buddy Butch by Jeff Marginean
Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton with Erin Torneo
Till Sex Do Us Part by Dr. Trina Read
The Side-Yard Superhero by Rick D. Niece
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
The Man's Book by Thomas Fink
In Ectasy by Kate McCaffrey
Nibbling on Einstein's Brain by Diane Swanson
What is Your Self Worth? by Cheryl Saban, Ph.D.
The Mirror Effect by Dr. Drew Pinsky
Without Sin by J. Tomas
The Circle of Friends Book III by L. Diane Wolf
Finding Anyone, Anywhere, Anywhen by Noel Montgomery Elliot
The End of Overeating by David A. Kesller, MD
The G Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Two to Six by James P. Cornelio
The Shifter by Janice Hardy
Secret Society by Tom Dolby
The Amanda Project: invisible i by Stella Lennon
The NDD Book by Dr. William Sears
Do the Web Write by Dan Furman
Daughter of Dust by Wendy Wallace
Obsession by Gloria Vanderbilt
The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman
Healthy Child, Whole Child by Stuart H. Ditchek, M.D. & Russell H. Greenfield, M.D.
Daughters of the Sea: Hannah by Kathryn Lasky
The Book of Knowledge by David Michael Slater
Famous Figures of Ancient Times by Cathy Diez-Luckie
Dinosaurs on the Move by Cathy Diez-Luckie
Runaway Devil by Robert Remington
Stolen Voices by Ellen Dee Davidson
Ruined by Paula Morris
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman
When the Sun Goes Down by Betty Breuhaus
The Sibley Guide to Trees by David Allen Sibley
My Ambulance Education by Joseph F. Clark
Gifts From the Child Within by Barbara Sinor, PhD
Addiction by Deborah McCloskey, CADC and Barbara Sinor, PhD
Tell Me a Story 3: Women of Wonder by Amy Friedman (AUDIO)
Move Over, Rover by Kyra Kirkwood
Kidding Around the Kitchen by Lisa Elaina
Awakening Consciousness - A Boy's Guide by Robin Marvel
How to Be a Mentsh (and not a Shmuck) by Michael Wex (started but not finished)
Oral Sex is the new Goodnight Kiss by Sharlene Azam
Sex, Drugs & Gefilte Fish edited by Shana Liebman
Musical Chairs by Jen Knox
The Great Behaviour Breakdown by B. Bryan Post
Cowboy & Wills by Monica Holloway
The Psychiatrist Who Cured the Scientologist by Aaron David Gottfried
Nasty, Brutish and Short by Pat Senson
Mia the Magnificient by Eileen Boggess
The Talking Baby by Jeremy and Karina Sweet
How to Steal a Car by Pete Hautman
Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti
I May Frustrate You, But I'm a Keeper! by Ray W. Lincoln
The SuperStress Solution by Roberta Lee, M.D.
I Am an Emotional Creature by Eve Ensler
Growing a Garden by Mari Schuh
Duck Goes Potty by Michael Dahl
Bunny Eats Lunch by Michael Dahl
Camouflage Clues by Megan Cooley Peterson
Birthday Parties and Celebrations by Sarah L. Schuette
Hip Hop Dancing by Kathryn Clay
Big Mouths by Catherine Ipcizade
A Polar Bear's World by Caroline Arnolds
Giant Pandas by Lyn A. Sirota
You Can't Afford to Break Up by Stacey Nelkin and Paul Schienberg, Ph.D.
Critical Care by Theresa Brown
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
I Am Nujood: Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui
Obesity Free Forever by Georgene Dana Collins
Step on a Crack: Overcoming Depression - a memoir by Jill Byrne with Michael Ransom
At Home With Laurie Ann by Laurie AnnMcMillin Ray
An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor
Sewing a Friendship by Natalie Tinti
Horrid Henry's Joke Book by Francesca Simon
Is There a Monster Over There? by Sally O. Lee
Sexaholics by Pynk
The Tighty Whitey Spider by Kenn Nesbitt
WOW: A Handbook for Living by Zen Ohashi and ZonoKurazono
No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution by Elizabeth Pantley
How Do You Read to a Rabbit?
Chicken, Pig, Cow and the Purple Problem
God is Not One by Stephen Prothero
Hailey Twitch is Not a Snitch by Lauren Barnholdt
The S.T.A.R. Powered Twins by Dorothy A. Lecours
Animal Snoops by Peter Christie
Our Days are Numbered by Jason I. Brown
Mr. Choli's River Trip by Chris Wardle
The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons
C'mon Papa by Ryan Knighton
HYPERtheticals by Chuck Klosterman (not really a book)
U.N.I.Q.U.E. by Debra J. Slover
U.N.I.Q.U.E. Kids by Debra J. Slover
The Triumphant Child byy Dr. Olson Huff and Nicole Rawson-Huff
Anger Busting 101 by Newton Hightower
Plus-Sized Yoga by Donald Keith Stanley
Jamie's America by Jamie Oliver

A Jewish Holiday ABC by Malka Drucker

Stars: ****

This is a book for preschoolers about some common Jewish Holidays in ABC format. The following holidays are covered (some more than once):  Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shabbat, Lag B'omer, Purim, Simhat torah, Yom Ha'Atzma'ut and Shavuot.

The illustrations are by Rita Pocock and look like paper ripped into shapes and placed in the proper spot. I've seen this format below (Anyone know the name for it?) and I like it.

Here are some quotes:

"E: Each time Minnie eats lunch in the sukkah, she sniffs the sweet etrog and shakes the tall lulav."
"P: On Passover, Raffy sings the prayers he learned in Hebrew School to the family sitting around the table"
"S: On Saturday Morning, Minnie says, "Shabbat shalom" to everyone she sees."

Links of Interest: Malka Drucker,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy A Jewish Holiday ABC at Amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Books Won Reading Challenge 2010

Teddy Rose is hosting the Books Won Reading Challenge to help us read those books we won in giveaways. I stopped entering most giveaways because I haven't read any of the ones I've won. It's not that I didn't really want them and just took them away from others, it's more like now that I own it I don't have to rush to read it so it keeps getting bumped by other books. I even have a book I won at Teddy Rose's blog!

This is an all year challenge (Jan-Dec) and I am doing the Honourable Mention level meaning I must read 1-3 books.

Some of what I may read:

Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris (Won at My Friend Amy)

Lost & Found by Carolyn Parkhurst (Won at So Many Books, So Little Time)

In Tongues of the Dead by Brad Kelln (Won at The Book Mine Set)

Walking Through Walls by Philip Smith (Won at Musings of a Bookish Kitty)

The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine (Won at Printed Page)

Do Over! by Robin Hemley and The Nine Lessons by Kevin Alan Milne (Won at Book Dads)

Memorable Memoir Reading Challenge 2010

Read at least four Memoirs from January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010.

I love memoirs and read them all the time. In fact I have a few on my TBR pile so this shouldn't be a problem.

More rules and join up here: The Betty and Book Chronicles.

1. I am Nujood: Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui
2.
3.
4.

Born to Read by Judy Sierra and That Book Woman by Heather Henson

Stars: ***1/2

Knopf - Division of Random House (2008)

In this book, illustrated by Marc Brown (Think Arthur) a little preschool aged boy shows us how he loves to read and be read to and the many ways reading can come in handy.

The story starts when Sam is a baby and goes till he's four or five years old. Sam helps his father read street signs, helps his mother do the shopping, decides to sign up for a race and more. It's a cute book for ages 3-5.

Related Links: Judy Sierra,

Other Reviews: Well-Read Child,

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Stars: ****

Atheneum - Imprint of Simon & Schuster 2008

That Book Woman tells the tale of Pack Horse Librarians from American History. They helped bring books to children who otherwise may not have seen them or even read at all.

Cal can't understand why this woman would risk riding her horse in heavy rain, snow and up the mountainside just to bring books to his sister every few weeks. He thinks she must be foolish until one winter day he decides he should figure out what's so special about books that this woman would do this.

This book is designed for ages 4-8 and I thought it was a really lovely story. You get a peek at life in the past and learn a little about early librarians. This would be a good story to read to someone (especially a boy) who isn't really interested in books too much. I don't know if it would help but at least the boy could identify with Cal at first.

Related Links: That Book Woman Reading Group Guide, Heather Henson Books,

Other Reviews: The Reading Zone, Lesa's Book Critiques, Kids Lit,

Buy That Book Woman at Amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Three Klutz Kits (Review)

Juggling for the Complete Klutz and John Cassidy and B.C. Rinbeaux
Stars: ***

This is actually the 30th Anniversary edition of Juggling for the Complete Klutz. It comes with three Juggling beanbag squares and a small book of information.

You'll find some good information in this book, not only on how to do the moves but also some information on how your brain gets confused when you are learning juggling.

After you learn the basics, you'll find information on juggling with more than one person, juggling with other objects, circle juggling and a few other fun ideas.

Since this is the 30th Anniversary the back two pages of the book is a little scrapbook with cover art from the first 5 editions of the book, some old photographs and letters and news clippings although you don't get to read them all.

There is at least one typo, "Road that last line again," but overall it's a cute and helpful book.

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Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual by Editors of Klutz
Stars: ****

Summary: 45 savory samples of kid-do-able kitchen crafts and cuisine, including Giant Soap Bubbles, Not So-Sloppy Joes, Frozen Bananoids and lots more.

This cute book/kit is listed as for ages 5 and up but with proper parental help/supervision (which is needed for a 5 year old too) you could do at least some of these with a 3 or 4 year old. The book is made of thick, wipe-able pages and comes with a set of plastic measuring spoons.

The book has 5 sections: Breakfasts, Lunches/Snacks, Dinners/Salads, Desserts and Not to Eat. The Not to Eat section includes play dough, face paint, finger paints, giant soap bubbles and Fido's fabulous people crackers.

After some kitchen rules, you'll find Metric Conversion Tables. The recipes are in Imperial but with the aid of the charts, those who use Metric can easily follow the recipes. Each recipe has illustrations of ingredients, methods and some just for fun illustrations too. Each recipe lists prep time, bake time and total servings. The illustrations are a nice touch. This is a good book that the kids will enjoy looking at too instead of just listening to the instructions from their parent/guardian.

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The Encyclopedia of Immaturity Volume 2 by the Editors of Klutz
Stars: ****

Are you a kid in no hurry to grow up? Or an adult who wishes he/she was still a kid? Then this is the book for you? This book has ALL kinds of crazy activities (or shenanigans as it says on the cover.) Here is just a short list of possible fun:

• Air Guitar
• Dog Couture
• Frozen Underapnts
• How to Bark Like a Dog
• How to Fake a Cold
• How to  Make a Lasso
• How to Make Bird Poop
• How to Play the Spoons
• Make a Juice Box Straw Rocket
• Slappy Games
• History of Flip-Flop Mail
• World's Funniest Joke
• and MUCH MUCH MUCH more!

Some of the activities don't need anything special, some come with what you need in the book and others you have to find things around your house. There are quick and easy activities and longer ones that need practice before you show others. 

I'm not sure about a few of them though, ones I wouldn't want my child trying to do but they really are pretty much harmless. However each parent is different with what they are okay with so I suggest checking this book out in a store if you are unsure so you can see exactly what they'd be getting first.

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Related Links: Klutz Website

The Road to Oz by Kathleen Krull

Subtitle: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum
Stars: ****

Summary: The biography of the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz books, in illustrated format, meant for children but enjoyable by adults as well. With beautiful illustrations by Kevin Hawkes that compliment the story and make you feel like you are truly watching his life unfold.

I picked up this book at the library. I love the Wizard of Oz movie and have read the original Wizard of Oz book as well. As I state in that review, I'd love to read them all but my library isn't very helpful. I've also read The Boy on Fairfield Street by Kathleen Krull (biography of Dr. Seuss)

I learned some interesting points about L. Frank Baum's life that I didn't know. He had a rough life. He always enjoyed writing but he was quite far into his life when he finally stumbled upon a book that was a best seller.

This book would appeal to anyone, child or adult who is interested in the Wizard of Oz and wants to know a bit about the author.

Links of Interest: Kathleen Krull's Website, I.N.K. - Interesting Nonfiction for Kids (a blog of which the author contributes to.)

Other Reviews: Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (focus on illustrations more),

Buy The Road to Oz at Amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Reading My Name Challenge 2010

I decided to host this one again this year with a small change and I intend to actually COMPLETE it this time.

When: January 15, 2010 - June 15, 2010

Read at least two books by authors that share your name or part of your name OR book titles with your name in them.


Check out the Reading My Name challenge Blog for clarification on what counts.


My possible list: (although you don't have to make one)


 - as finished you'll find it linked to my review.



The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps and Triumphs in the life of L. Frank Baum by Kathleen Krull
The Book of Rock Stars by Kathleen Krull
Acedia & Me by Kathleen Norris
The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Two Short Scholastic Press Picture Book Reviews

A Friend Like you by Tanja Askani
Stars: ****

Scholastic Press (December 2009)

This is a beautiful photo book with real photographs of unlikely animal friends (Like dogs and birds, cats and rats, rabbit and coati, hedgehog and rabbit...) Accompanying each photo is a few words about friendship, so that read together it seems like a poem (Something just tells me we are going to get along, we'll share adventures....)

Also at the end of the book is a short paragraph of facts about the friends. e.g. names, how they met, where they live, their owners etc....)

My favourite photo is the small rabbit and hedgehog because the rabbit has it's tongue sticking out at the hedgehog, it's so funny. This is a great picture book for any animal lover, young or old. It's a children's picture book but could easily be a coffee-table book as well.

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Crow Call by Lois Lowry
Stars: *****

Scholastic Press (2009)
Ages 4-8

This is Newbery Award winner (and author of my favourite book) Lois Lowry's first picture book. She couldn't have done a better job.

Lois Lowry is the author of The Giver along with many other young adult and children's books. I'd like to share what Lois Lowry says on her website about the book:

"This is my first-ever picture book, a true story about a day I spent with my father after he returned from World War II. The illustrations were beautifully done by artist Bagram Ibatoulline. He had a photograph of me at age 9, wearing the too-large plaid shirt that is described in the story. Looking at his pictures is like looking into a magic telescope and seeing myself as a child."

The story is absolutely beautiful. Daddy buys her a special gift to remember him by before he goes to the war. When he returns, the two of them go out on a autumn morning, share some pie and they continue to Pennsylvania farmlands to hunt crows together. Liz (the girl) is unsure about hurting the birds but doesn't want to disappoint her father. She learns to call the crows and about how they wreck the crops but she's still not sure. I won't spoil the ending but I do want to say no crows are harmed in this book.

Now I was worried about this book as I don't like the idea of hunting so I was glad of the ending. I don't think I'll be reading it to my children personally but it was a very sweet story and is deserving of 5 stars. I must say though that I'd put the ages at 6-9 instead of 4-8.

You can see what the middle spread of the book looks like at Lois Lowry's blog.

A month after this book was published it was named Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year for 2009.

Other Reviews: PussReboots, A Garden of Books, Kiss the Book,

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The Bears We Know by Brenda Silsbe

Stars: ***

Annick Press (2009)
9781554511662
32 pages Ages 4-7
Illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen

I got this book for review from Annick Press. The idea behind it is to show how much people sometimes make up about people they don't know. No one's ever SEEN the Bears but they (the narrators) know all about who they are and what they do. I think the idea was to introduce children to the mistaken belief that we can possibly know who people are and what they do without having met them or gotten to know them well. However I don't think it quite worked as well as it should have.

The beginning, after describing the house, goes like this:

"We have never seen the bears, but we know they are there. And we know what they do."

and at the end it goes like this:

"People ask us how we know so much about the bears when we've never seen them. Well... some things you just know."

The rest of the book is the narrators (whom we never learn anything about nor see but sounds like the voice of a child) explanation of the bears and what they look like and what they do. Things like sleeping late, getting old furniture from the dump, eating potato chips, singing, making a mess etc.... Not once does anyone suggest that these assumptions may be false. I think we're supposed to figure that out for ourselves, but I don't believe a child 4-7 would get it.


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Three Short Annick Press Picture Book Reviews

Wiggle Giggle Tickle Train by Nora Hilb and Sharon Jennings
Stars: ***1/2

Annick Press (2009)
26 pages
Age 2-4

This is a unique book. It's not a story but real photographs with illustrations beside them of preschoolers imitating what's in the photograph. The illustrations are accompanied by silly rhymes.

For example: Photo of small pony, illustration of girl riding on daddy's shoulders and this rhyme:

"Hold on to the saddle, pony might prance. Bucking and frisky, he's roaming the ranch. Giddy-Up!"

It's a neat idea, but I didn't even see that the children were doing something related to the photograph until I read the back of the book. Also this book didn't hold my children's attention much.

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Chicken, Pig, Cow On the Move by Ruth Ohi
Stars: ****

This is the sequel to Chicken, Pig, Cow by Ruth Ohi.

Annick Press (2009)
29 pages
Ages 2-5

In this sequel, Chicken, Pig and Cow, the clay creatures made by a little girl feel cooped up in their little house and decide to go exploring for somewhere better to live.Pig finds a slipper but it's too linty. Cow goes under a chair but it's too noisy (vacuum!) Chicken finds the perfect home!

My children love the Chicken, Pig, Cow books. The watercolour illustrations are beautiful and the text is fun and light. I think the Chicken, Pig, Cow books are great for preschoolers.

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Together by Hazel Hutchins
Stars: ****

I've also reviewed Mattland by Hazel Hutchins.

Annick Press (2009)
20 pages
Ages 2-5

This is a sweet little book about things that go together.

e.g. What keeps my shirt together, happy over my tummy? Buttons.
e.g What keeps my coat close and snug all over? A zipper.

Actually all but the last one are about fasteners of some kind. The last one is about what keeps a family together and is a very spectacular ending. I had our playgroup teacher read this to the group (0-6) and the kids loved it. Some of the preschoolers were trying to shout out answers.

I'm a little unsure about my second example up there. I assume the author meant close as in close to her body but I think for a zipper it should have said closed.

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