Write for a Reader

‘Tis the season everywhere, for giving.  I have noticed alot more giveaways around the blogosphere this week and alot of Christmas spirit! 

There has also been some sadness and I want to start off with that.  If you haven’t heard, Dewey from The Hidden Side of a Leaf, passed away last week.  There has been so much discussion on this topic since we heard the news.  I myself have had a heavy heart and I had only known Dewey since right before the last Read-a-Thon.  Natasha, from Maw Books Blog started a discussion over at Book Blogs so that we, bloggers, can discuss, share memories, grieve, etc.  Thank you Natasha, from giving us all a place to gather.

What else is happening aroung the blogosphere?

Over at Booking Mama, great things are happening!  There is a new reviewer, Booking Daughter.  Check out her first review here.  She also has copies of Bobbi Brown’s Makeup Manual to give away.  You can enter until 12/8.

I got an email yesterday from The Lil’ Peanut Patch.  They are having 12 Days of Christmas at the Patch.  There is a new giveaway every day from Dec. 1 – 12. 

Have you found Books for the Holidays blog?  The goal is to promote the buying and giving of books as gifts this holiday season.  There are great posts on there with gift ideas.  You can even comment with questions and the contributing bloggers will do their best to try and help you find the perfect book for someone on your list.

Scribbit is hosting a week of giveaways this week.  Each day’s giveaway will last until Sun. Dec 7th and winners will be chosen on the 8th.  There are some great giveaways!

Another 12 Days of Christmas is happening over at Kidbits.  These giveaways run almost all month, and although you won’t have them in time for Christmas, they will be drawing the winners on the 25th. 

If you are a readergirlz follower, then you may already know this, but they have started a new blog; readertotz, in an effort to recognize the infant-toddler book as a vital addition to children’s literature.

The long lost blogger is back at And Another Book Read.  Read this post to find out how you can enter to win an ARC of Paper Towns.  Oh, and I’m mentioned in the post…I won a book!

Finally, for today, Brimful Curiosities has 3 hardcover copies of a children’s book: The Moon Shines Down (12/8) to give away.  She also has a Land’s End giveaway (12/8) and an Itty Bitty Bookworm curriculum giveaway (12/15).

I hope that you have found yourself easing back into this week after the holidays.  May you continue to enjoy a great week and have fun with all your wanderings.  Until next week…

As always, I will continue to update this post throughout the day when I find other items of interest.  If you’d like to add something, please leave it in the comments.  I love to hear from you!

 TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Well, it’s a good thing I got 2 books in the mail yesterday because I finished my current read last night.  Here’s a teaser from a brand new book that I am going to review. 

“Oh, yeah, this cool cat live here, or maybe the next house up, I can’t really remember.  Older guy; I think his name is Lew.  I was having bad flashbacks from acid, and it was weird, he kinda put me in a sorta trance and waved his hands over me.” Walking Through Walls, Philip Smith, p. 108

Do you have a teaser today?  Join us in the fun over at Should Be Reading.

I woke up this morning ready to write a Thanksgiving post.  How great it was to find that BTT had beat me to it, so I’m doing my post this way since I may not be able to post later as I have family coming over in a few hours.

Today is Thanksgiving here in the U.S.

Now, you may have noticed that the global economy isn’t exactly doing well. There’s war. Starvation. All sorts of bad, scary things going on.

So–just for today–how about sharing 7 things that you’re thankful for?

This can be about books, sure–authors you appreciate, books you love, an ode to your public library–but also, how about other things, too? Because in times like these, with bills piling up and disaster seemingly lurking around every corner, it’s more important than ever to stop and take stock of the things we’re grateful for. Family. Friends. Good health (I hope). Coffee and tea. Turkey. Sunshine. Wagging tails. Curling up with a good book.

Here are my 7 today:

1. My husband – who loves me unconditionally and does whatever it takes to take care of us.
2. My family who is healthy
3. A place to live that made it through Ike unharmed.
4. A job where I get to help children everyday
5. Health – mine and my husband’s (he is diabetic and I worry about him constantly)
6. Soldiers who give of themselves to serve so that I may be free to celebrate this day.
7. Laughter – even in these times of crisis, it’s good to laugh at books, movies, jokes, etc.

There are more that I could list, but these, on this day of Thanksgiving, are the most dear to my heart.

So, how about it? Spread a little positive thinking and tell the world what there is to be thankful for.

To see more responses, head over to Booking Through Thursday.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

What is going on around the blogosphere?  That is what I try to let you know on Wednesdays.  It’s the middle of the week and the time we start looking forward to Friday, and at times it’s the day we start slowing down in our momentum.  So, I try to give you a boost with giveaways, new blogs I’ve found, etc. 

First this week is a new blog I found during the Comment Challenge: Melissa Walker: The Blog.  Every Wednesday on her blog she does Win-it Wednesday.  Well this week, because of Thanksgiving, she is extending last week’s giveaway of How to be Popular by Meg Cabot.

Over at Lesa’s Book Critiques, she has a post about Giving Thanks.  Today it is about her book related world and tomorrow she will talk about her family and books.  What are you thankful for this year?

My Friend Amy has some Thanksgiving fun going on at her blog today.  Even though she is out of town for the holidays, her posts continue.  Head over and figure out: What Part of Thanksgiving are You?  Amy is mashed potatoes.

Do you participate in Wordless Wednesday?  Many around the blogosphere do.  Check out the picture over at A Novel Menagerie.

I have been loving all the great gift ideas over at Bookroomreview’s Weblog.  Not only are there gift ideas, but giveaways as well.  If you haven’t been entering, you need to get over there and get it done!  Today there is a Gadget Gift Guide and Giveaway.

EDITED TO ADD:  Just found these two great giveaways.  Hurry and enter because they end soon!  I’m Dreaming of a Red Christmas – holiday blog makeover and 4 blog designs for 2009 and 12 Days of Christmas giveaways – lots of prizes!

THIS JUST IN:  5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a Sleep Number Bed!  Contest is open until Dec. 19th.

That’s all I have for this week.  I hope that each and every one of you has a blessed Thanksgiving full of fun, food, and family!  I am so thankful for all of you who visit Write for a Reader.  I have made many new friends since I’ve started this blog and I’m thankful for those friendships even though I’ve not met you personally.  Anyone who can create buttons?  I am in need of one for this weekly post. 

If you would like to let readers know about other happenings that you have or have found as you “wander” around the blogosphere, please leave it in the comments.

Our librarian is so good about pulling seasonal books for the kids.  I saw this one on the table and just had to snag it!  The cover looked so appealing.

Thanksgiving Day at Our House: Thanksgiving Poems for the Very Young, by Nancy White Carlstrom, is full of poetry written from a child’s perspective.  It is just the cutest!  I am sharing just one of the poems today.  There are 15 poems in the book, some serious but mostly funny.

The poem I’ve chosen is call The Day Before.  I chose it because it deals with the day before Thanksgiving at school.

The Day Before

All kinds of turkeys

are strutting in the halls.

Finely feathered gobblers

are squawking out their calls.

Pilgrim people rush around

losing capes and hats.

Indians with their harvest feasts

are dropping them on mats.

The day before Thanksgiving

I really wouldn’t miss.

We don’t have any homework

so let’s give thanks for this!

This poem just really isn’t the same without the pictures.  I encourage you to check it out!  Find all of the other poetry today over at Holly Cupala’s blog, Brimstone Soup.

Suggested by JM:

I receive a lot of review books, but I have never once told lies about the book just because I got a free copy of it. However, some authors seem to feel that if they send you a copy of their book for free, you should give it a positive review.

Do you think reviewers are obligated to put up a good review of a book, even if they don’t like it? Have we come to a point where reviewers *need* to put up disclaimers to (hopefully) save themselves from being harassed by unhappy authors who get negative reviews?

I have not been reviewing very long, but my policy from the beginning has been honesty.  Why would I pick up the paper to read reviews if I was going to be lied to?  That’s what I feel about my blog.  Readers come to me looking for my thoughts and feelings about books…not what I think the author wants me to tell them.  I haven’t read a book for my blog, so far, that I haven’t liked.  I’ve been lucky I guess!  But, if I did, I wouldn’t lie about it.  I wouldn’t put the author down or be ugly, but I would give my honest opinion about the book.  I think it’s only fair to my readers.  Did I like it?  Yes or no.  Why or why not.  It really is only my opinion and others may read a book that I didn’t like and love it.  That’s the beauty of having opinions, likes and dislikes. 

To read others’ thoughts on this question, visit Booking Through Thursday.  What are your thoughts about this?

Happy Humpday!  That’s the message I got from my Secret Pal when I walked into my office this morning.   It’s so nice to get treats, especially when they are unexpected!  Along with the message were 4 colored pens and some cute notecards.

Wednesday Wanderings this week will be sparse as I am trying to catch up from being at a writing training all day yesterday.  I have happened on some things that I want to share with you. 

Bloggy Giveaways has something new everyday that you can enter to win, but I wanted to let you know about a giveaway at her other blog:  Blogging Basics 101.  She is giving away an Epson Artisan 800 Printer.

Found a new blog – Brain Burps by author, Katie Davis.   She has started something new called Freebie Fridays.  Go check it out!

Do you know about the Picnic Basket?  It’s a blog for teachers, librarians, and other gluttons of good books.  You can request review copies of children’s books to use and review.  Thanks to Deborah from Jacket Flap for giving me the link.

Have you seen Becky’s new reading challenge?  It is called the Centuries Reading Challenge.  I’m in; are you?

One last thing:  Bookroomreviews Weblog is hosting Holiday Gift Guide 2008.  Everyday there is a new item reviewed that might make the perfect gift for someone on your list.  Also, there are giveaways!  Today’s is Connection Bracelets.

I am so excited about everything that is going on right now around the blogoshpere – freebies, gift ideas, new books, and lots of comments on each others’ blogs.  Join in the fun and spread a little love this holiday season.  Until next week…

I found the cutest book when I was searching in the library this week.  It is a book of poems for children; Shout! Little Poems that Roar.  

It would make a great gift for a little one who likes poetry, or even one that you want to introduce to poetry.  The rhymes are short, funny, and sing songy (is that a word?).  Each poem is told from a child’s point of view and many of them have to do with school.  I have chosen one that I liked.

ALPHABET BOOGIE

I can do it,

Yes-sir-ee,

I’m as smart

As I can be.

A…Yes.

B…Yes.

C…Yes.

Deeeeeeeeeeee!

I can do it!

Yes-sir-ee!

E-F-G!

H-I-J!

Wait, there’s more,

Don’t run away.

Here’s a K

With an

L-M-N-O-P!

Q-R-S

And a T-U-V!

Next come W,

X-Y-Z.

I’m as smart

As I can be!

Put that pencil

In my hand.

I can do it,

YES I CAN!

I just loved this poem and many of the others too.  The illustrations add so much as well.  Enjoy!

The round-up this week is at Yat-Yee Chong’s.  Head on over for some great poetry.

I’ve asked, in the past, about whether you more often buy your books, or get them from libraries. What I want to know today, is, WHY BUY?

Even if you are a die-hard fan of the public library system, I’m betting you have at least ONE permanent resident of your bookshelves in your house. I’m betting that no real book-lover can go through life without owning at least one book. So … why that one? What made you buy the books that you actually own, even though your usual preference is to borrow and return them?

If you usually buy your books, tell me why. Why buy instead of borrow? Why shell out your hard-earned dollars for something you could get for free?

I don’t buy alot, but when I do, it’s because I’m not good at remembering to return the books to the library on time.  Not because I don’t get them read, just because I forget to take them back.  Also, it is not usually in my schedule to go to the library, so I’d rather just pick up what I want at the store.  Lots of times I’m not the one buying though.  My mom buys alot of the books I read and then just passes them on to me when she’s done.  I also thank God for my school library because I can get books from there without worrying about the deadline.  Teachers are excused from that, as long as it’s turned in by the end of the school year.

Another reason I buy is for my classroom.  Those are books that I want the kids to be able to read again and again, so borrowing them is not really feasible.  I do get some from the library, but don’t like to keep them too long because other teachers may need them.  So, I buy at every book fair (2X a year), from Scholastic, and Half Price Books.  I do have books in my library that were donated, but for the most part, I have bought them all.

Okay, so I do buy, but usually not adult books.  If I just have to have it RIGHT NOW, I’ll buy it; otherwise, I’ll wait and borrow it from someone.

What are your thoughts on this?  See all the comments at Booking Through Thursday.

You can really get into the holiday spirit just by jumping around the blogosphere!  There are so many blogs doing holiday “things” that it is just fun to be a part of it all.  Check out some of the activities going on, join in the swaps, enter the giveaways, and get in the holiday spirit!

Over at My Friend Amy, we have been challenged to buy books for the holidays.  Who on your list would like a good read?  I’ve already found some for people on my list!  Click here to join in!

Were you aware that there is a comment challenge going on?  Those of us in the Kidlitosphere are trying to comment on at least 5 other blogs a day.  We are doing this for 21 days in order to create a habit.  Do you comment or just lurk?  Why not add to the conversation the blogger is having?  Go on; it’s fun!  Thank you to Mother Reader and Lee Wind for putting this together.

There are bloggy swaps going on!  What are bloggy swaps, you say?  Have you heard of Secret Santa?  Well, we are doing that, blog style.  Head over to Things Mean a Lot or The Hidden Side of a Leaf and see what it’s all about! 

I’ve also found lots of holiday giveaways at these sites.  Be sure to check them out!

5 Minutes for Mom

Parent Reviewers

3 P’s Mama Says

Have fun!  What else is out there that you want people to know about for the holidays?  Leave it in the comments.