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  • GHOUL STUFF — A Halloweensie Story

    By Beth | October 27, 2017

    I’m posting next Monday’s post early, because today’s the first day of Susanna Hill’s wonderful Halloweensie Writing Contest and I couldn’t wait to join in the fun! The rules, in brief, are (quoting from Susanna’s blog): Write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included…

  • Falling Over Sideways by Jordan Sonnenblick — Book Recommendation

    By Beth | October 23, 2017

    Title: Falling Over Sideways Author: Jordan Sonnenblick Publisher: New York: Scholastic, 2016 Genre: Upper MG, Lower YA Fiction Audience Age: 10 to 14 Themes topics: Parental illness, stroke, family problems, school problems, dance, music Opening Sentences: I’m waiting in the wings, watching all of the fathers dancing onstage. Well, all of the fathers except mine.…

  • Dream

    By Beth | October 9, 2017

    Quite some time ago, Langston Hughes wrote a poem called I Dream a World. Despite some non-inclusive language (it was from another era) it resonates with me. It begins   I dream a world where man No other man will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn… That is a…

  • Caring. Connecting. Changing.

    By Beth | October 2, 2017

    Until earlier today, I was planning a different blog post. I didn’t get it written over the weekend, but was planning to write it first thing today. Then, this morning, I read the news about Las Vegas, and my plans changed. Last night, I attended an annual event in my city at which seniors are…

  • The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond — Picture Book Recommendation

    By Beth | September 27, 2017

    Title: The Blue Whale Author/Illustrator: Jenni Desmond Publisher: Brooklyn, NY: Enchanted Lion Books, 2015 Genre: Picture book, NON-FICTION Audience Age: 4-9 Themes/Topics: Whales, endangered species, reading Opening Sentences: Once upon a time, a child took a book from a shelf and started to read. He read that the blue whale is a mammal of gigantic…

  • Anywhere Farm — Perfect Picture Book Friday

    By Beth | September 22, 2017

    Title: Anywhere Farm Author: Phyllis Root Illustrator: G. Brian Karas Publisher: Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2017 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 4 to 8 Themes/Topics: Nature/Gardens, Neighbors Opening Sentences: For an anywhere farm, here’s all that you need: soil and sunshine, some water, a seed. Synopsis: In simple, delightful verse and equally simple, delightful illustrations,…

  • Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day by Tameka Fryer Brown — Book Recommendation

    By Beth | September 18, 2017

    Title: Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day Author: Tameka Fryer Brown Illustrator: Charlotte Riley-Webb Publisher: New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 4 to 8 Themes/Topics: Neighbors, diversity, sharing food, friendship Opening Sentences: Blue sky, no clouds, Summer heat, side street, Whirling, whizzing feet. Everyone is out to play…

  • The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

    By Beth | July 15, 2017

    This is a riveting historical novel, just published in June, by Kate Quinn. It is the intertwined stories of a young American woman who is searching for a missing cousin in the aftermath of the Second World War, and an older, embittered, broken English/French woman who was a spy in the First World War. It…

  • My List of 100 Memorable Novels. With a Few Memoirs.

    By Beth | July 4, 2017

    A list of 100 favorite/impactful/memorable novels — Nathan Bransford did it. So did Becky Levine. I’m going to do it, too, and pop on to my blog long enough to post it, so you can think about your 100 favorite books (and perhaps find a few on my list, or Becky’s, or Nathan’s, that you…

  • Book Recommendations for Your Summer Reading

    By Beth | May 29, 2017

    Summer is coming! Among other things, that means it’s time to take a blogging break for a while. I’ll pop in from time to time for a quick “What I’m Reading” post, but regular posts will be on hiatus until fall. When I was growing up, one of the things I enjoyed about summer (besides…

  • A Strong Right Arm by Michelle Y. Green — Book Recommendation

    By Beth | May 22, 2017

    I’ve been impatiently waiting until my planned alphabetical posts were complete so that I could share this book with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Title: A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Author: Michelle Y. Green Publisher: New York: Scholastic, 2002. Genre: Middle Grade biography Audience…

  • The Ziegfeld Club, Inc.

    By Beth | May 15, 2017

    You may have heard of the impresario Flo Ziegfeld (Flo was short for Florenz.) You may have heard of the Ziegfeld Girls from the early days of movies. You may be wondering why I’m posting about them today. It turns out that the Ziegfeld Follies aren’t the only thing that the Ziegfelds were involved in.…