Sunday Post: Deck the Halls…and all that!

This sunset was beautiful…Thanksgiving day, my brother’s backyard.

November has come, and is going. This means that we are now full force into the holiday season, and I am excited this year. Before I go on with our Christmas season plans, I would like to recap our Thanksgiving.

I have been thinking about the meaning of Thanksgiving, and the origination of this holiday. In some ways, this holiday seems a bit overblown, but yet, it is one of my favorites. The simplicity of Thanksgiving is something to revel in. There are not too many holidays that have been able to stay away from the consumerism taint, but Thanksgiving has done a pretty good job of keeping its distance. Thanksgiving is a day to reflect for all that we are thankful. I could go on with my tremendous list of thanks, but really, what it all boils down to is my family. I am extremely thankful for all those people who are in our lives that we cherish and love. I am thankful for their health and well being. We are not a perfect group of people, that is for sure, but we are there for one another. I am thankful that I was able to spend Thanksgiving with these people who are huge in our lives, and was able to spend time with my dear friend throughout the week. With all that said, I don’t have too many photos to share because I was pretty focused on obtaining individual photos of everyone to be used for a project for IJ. I will share what I have though...

Thanksgiving was great day, and much better than Robert and I thought it would be as IJ had a rough start to the day. The food was super yummy...of course. We changed things up a bit, and two tables were set - one for the kids, and one for the adults. We shared a family style meal, and had pleasant conversation. We also celebrated my Dad’s birthday…you know, us Varseks like to combine as much as we can into one event. ha. :D

All in all, we had fun spending time with family, and were glad that Benjamin, and Randie-Lynn were home from school for the week.

yep, threw this photo in because it is one of the few of Robert and I that I have liked in a while.

“Deck the Halls with boughs of holly...Fa la la la la, la la la la.. Tis the season to be jolly...Fa la la la la, la la la la”.

Yes, Christmas season is here, and Friday we spent time decking our halls. I threw on some Christmas music - we always start off with our favorite album, The Hansons, Snowed In. For us, the older children do not truly dig the whole act of decorating, but they do enjoy the final effects. GD and IJ, on the other hand, were more than willing to help, most especially GD. That girl, GD, was extremely excited about decorating. Her little hands were on just about everything she could grasp. She made decisions on how things needed to be arranged, and some of the decisions just did not jive with mine, but I bowed to her because the excitement was truly a joy. Besides, who really cares if things are not just so...no Martha Stewart in my home. Truly, GD’s enjoyment is what the decorating was about,and so ...the items stayed bunched up. IJ was a huge help in moving containers. His curiosity about many of the decorations was wonderful and cumbersome all at the same time. Only since last year has IJ shown any sense of anticipation towards Christmas, yet this anticipation factor certainly does lag behind GD’s. His interest, and enthusiasm for helping lapsed before we were done. Once the halls were decked, and the mess of decorating was cleaned up, we all then enjoyed some hot chocolate which brought out the older children’s participation. Hot chocolate made with milk, topped with marshmallows was a great way to end the day.

Our tree is not up yet, that will happen in another week, but our home is decorated, and the Christmas season has begun.

Our Advent Season:
For our advent season, we gather for a nightly reading from The Advent Book by Jack and Kathy Stockman. This book features daily reading portions of The Christmas Story, and beyond amazing illustrations. This year, my friend, Jody, and I made an advent calendar. They are not completely done, but by December 1st they will be ready to roll. These calendars are turning out to be lovely. Once it is done, I will post about it. For now, suffice it to say, after every nightly reading, we will count down to Christmas using the calendar which will also contain some sort of family activity. For the activities, Jody and I have put together a list. Well, actually, the list is not finalized, but I do have the first week. I plan, hopefully, to post a weekly update about our advent, activities list, and other ideas. If you would like to make an advent calendar, I will post the details this week. However, to get you rolling, I am going to post our first week of activities that you can start even if your calendar is not ready. There are a ton of ideas online; if you don't like mine then search out other ideas, or add your own unique flavor to the mix. Ultimately, have fun.

Click on the photos to enlarge. You can see the size of our envelope cards.

Advent Calendar - Week one activity ideas
The activities that I list are meant to be placed on the days that I think will be doable for the week which gives us flexibility. The only time I will date an activity is when it is specific to the date and no other date will do. The list will have more choices than days of the week to give even greater flexibility.

~ December 1st - Serve hot chocolate during The Advent Book reading

~ December 5 – Put out shoes for St. Nicholas Day.
(Fill shoes with traditional treats: gold coins, peppermint stick, Clementine)

~ December 6 - St. Nick's Day: Discuss St. Nick (who he is), serve treats & dinner

~ Read an entry from Letters from Father Christmas

~ Read an entry from Letters from Father Christmas

~ Write a letter to our sponsor child wishing her happy new year

~ Watch Movie: A Charlie Brown Christmas

~ Unwrap and eat a special piece of chocolate - 1 piece each

~ Printable activity: coloring pages, crossword puzzles, mazes, etc

~ Dance and sing to Christmas Music

~ Decorate Christmas placemats to use for the month (laminate them)

St. Nicholas Links:
Who is St. Nicholas?
Props and Talking Points
Things To Talk About
How to Celebrate
Main Dishes
Recipes

Can not resist…must share another sunset photo from Thanksgiving.

I wish you all a fun, and safe holiday season.

Song of the Week has been interrupted for… What is on your music list???

Christmas is around the corner, and that means gifts. Every year I have my children write up their Christmas Wish List, and this year is the first time that I decided to purposefully put my wish list to print. I actually have a few lists, and the music list is the one I am sharing here with you.

My Music Christmas Wish List:
Artist/Album is randomly ordered except for the first two which are my top wishes.

1. Bruce Springsteen: The Promise

2. Keith Urban: Get Closer (the deluxe version found at Target)

3. Bruce Springsteen: The River (need this on cd format)

4. Brooke Fraser: Albertine

5. Brooke Fraser: What To Do With Daylight

6. Brooke Fraser: Flags

7. Ingrid Michaelson: Everybody

8. Bon Jovi: Greatest Hits – The Ultimate Collection

9. Bon Jovi: Keep the Faith

10. Josh Groban: Illuminations

Tell me your thoughts on my list; good, or bad. Do you have any other suggestions for my list?

Do you have a music wish list of your own?

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Today, we are off to my brother’s home for good food, and family time with my siblings, parents, nieces, and nephew. Ben will be arriving late as he, and Randie-Lynn will make a stop with her family first.

We plan on watching, none other than, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Holidays are not the same without a good Charlie Brown show. :)

I hope your day is filled with love, laughter, food, food, food, movies, football (I guess…for those who love football), food, food, food, and of course, a heart filled with thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers, friends, and family!

Ideas for Book Gifts: Middle- Grade Reads

'Tis the season for book buying,…

When I buy books for others, I try to buy with the receiver’s interests in mind. Sometimes, if I am giving several books to one receiver, I will throw in a book that is different from their typical reading. That, at times, is a hit and other times not so much. My older children are tough to buy for because their tastes seem to change up instantly, plus a few of them are not avid readers.

Since my mind is moving around with thoughts of books that may be suited for my children, I thought I would share with you the books that I have found; ones that might interest my children, and the books that have interested them in the past. I will have three Ideas for Book Gifts posts: Picture Books, Middle-Grade Books, and Young Adult books. You may find something in these lists that may be a good gift for a child in your life.

So you know: I define middle-grade books for children ages 10-13. With that said, use your own discernment as you know what is best for your child.

The following books (series) are EJ’s (11-years old) top choices: This is in no particular order

Artemis Fowl Series
by Eoin Colfer

Amazon.com – Book one
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. With two trusty sidekicks in tow, he hatches a cunning plot to divest the fairyfolk of their pot of gold. Of course, he isn't foolish enough to believe in all that "gold at the end of the rainbow" nonsense. Rather, he knows that the only way to separate the little people from their stash is to kidnap one of them and wait for the ransom to arrive. But when the time comes to put his plan into action, he doesn't count on the appearance of the extrasmall, pointy-eared Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) Unit--and her senior officer, Commander Root, a man (sorry, elf) who will stop at nothing to get her back.

Artemis Fowl delivers a spectacular fantasy story full of action and adventure. I appreciate that Eoin Colfer brings the characters - Artemis, Butler, Holly, Foley, Root and Mulch - together in a very believable scenarios...not contrived. The characters each have their own strengths and weakness as well as their own likes and dislikes.
I think this is a clever series.

Books in the Series:
Artemis Fowl (2001) (certainly can tell that this one of my first reviews)
The Arctic Incident (2002)
The Eternity Code (2003)
The Opal Deception (2005)
The Lost Colony (2006)
The Time Paradox (2008)
The Atlantis Complex (2010)

owner of this RP: Unicorn_on_Crack

Warrior Cats Series
by Erin Hunter

This animal fantasy series is about how four cat clans do what they can to survive the hardships that humans and natural disasters have placed upon their world. From Wikipedia: The series follows a kitten named Rusty who has had dreams about the forest that lies beyond the neighborhood he lives in. He discovers the dreams are from StarClan, the spirits of the ancestors of the wild cats in the forest. One day, he ventures into the forest and is invited to join ThunderClan, one of the four groups of wild cats living in the forest. He accepts the invitation, and receives the name Firepaw. To get a better understanding of this series that EJ absolutely loves take a look at Warrior Cats.

EJ has read each, and every book in this ever expanding series. The first stage of the series is called Warriors (2003-2004), and contains 6 books. If I am correct, there are four stages to the overall warrior cat experience. Don’t let the size of this series overwhelm you into not considering these books a great gift because truly a child could read book one, and go from there. One stage, Warrior, would satisfy most children…I think.
No, I have not read these books, but I am certain they are good as EJ’s older sister (EM – now 15) is the one who first brought these books into our home, and she devoured them as well.

The Queen’s Thief Series
by Megan Whalen Turner

Back Cover from Book One, The Thief:
After Gen's bragging lands him in the king's prison, the chances of escape look slim. Then the king's scholar, the magus, needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task -- to steal a hidden treasure from another land. To the magus, Gen is just a tool. But Gen is a trickster and a survivor with a plan of his own.

Another EJ favorite, and we both agree with the fact that we….
Loved, loved this series…well, at least the first three books as we still need to read the fourth book. The words within these pages mesmerized, and left me with an overwhelming thought: clever! clever! clever!

Books is the Series: linked to my reviews
The Thief (1996)
The Queen of Attolia (2000)
The King of Attolia (2006) Just realized that I need to post my review of this book. So you know, I thought this book was excellent, not my favorite, but still it was excellent.
A Conspiracy of Kings (2010)

The Graveyard (audio too)
by Neil Gaiman
Copyright 2008

Inside Flap:
He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy – an ancient Indigo man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack – who has already killed Bod’s family….

This is one fantastic book, and there is a lot to like about this read.
As I stated in my review: The story crept up on me, and then embedded itself within my thoughts.This is a rather simple story, but yet complex with all the graveyard personalities, Bod’s personality, and the reason why he was sought by an particular organization. It is a story that left me with a sincere sigh of enjoyment.

Our Full Review

Faery Rebels
by R,J. Anderson
copyright 2009

Back Cover:
As the Faery Queen's appointed Hunter, Knife alone has the courage and skill to fight the crows and other predators who threaten the Oakenfolk's survival. Yet neither she nor the Queen can do anything to stop a mysterious magical disease from claiming the faeries of the Oak one by one. But there are humans at the bottom of the garden, and a glimpse inside their House convinces Knife that they have powers and knowledge that could help her people. Still, if the human world has so much to offer, why is the Queen determined to keep the faeries away from it? Is there a connection between the House and the Oakenfolk's loss of magic? And why is Knife so drawn to the young Paul McCormick — that strangest of creatures, a human male? Knife determines to learn the truth about the Oakenfolk's relationship to humanity, no matter what the Queen might do to prevent her — a quest which threatens the growing friendship between herself and Paul, puts both their lives in jeopardy, and challenges everything Knife has ever believed about humans, faeries, and her own heart's desire. And when at last Knife discovers the secret the Faery Queen has been hiding, she is forced to make an agonizing choice between love and freedom that will change her life, and the lives of her people, forever.

The imagination of the faery world drew me in. Their society was different, their structure was followed with out question by all the faeries. Ahhh...but one wee little mite questioned what the outside world had to offer. She was Byrony and as she grew she became Knife for she grew in strength, courage and smarts. She did her duty with complete loyalty but fate would bring her into the human world.
This book is endearing.

Our Full Review

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The following are books that we have greatly enjoyed, but were not chosen as EJ’s top 5 because well…5 is a very limiting number…not enough space for more books because otherwise most of these books listed below would be her top choices.

Greener Grass
by Caroline Pignat
copyright 2008

Back Cover:
Kit Byrne’s family struggles as the Great Famine enters its second year. Landlords raise rents and tumble cottages leaving thousands homeless and overcome with hunger and disease. When her family is slated for eviction, fourteen-year-old Kit will do anything she can to help her family. But will is cost Kit her soul?

This is a fantastic historical fiction. It truly swept EJ and I into the story; the lives of Kit Bryne and her family.

My Review

Ranger’s Apprentice Series
by John Flanagan

Book One’s Description:
They have always scared him in the past - the Rangers with their dark cloaks and mysterious ways. Folks in the village claim that Rangers have the power to become invisible at will.
A skill...
Will's heart had been set on Battleschool, on becoming a hero to the Kingdom. But Will is small for his fifteen years, to small to be a warrior. He possesses other skill, though - a Ranger's skills.

This is a great series, especially for boys, but not limiting to boys.
I really love how this story progresses from book to book. Yet, each book (except for one) can pretty much be a stand alone read.
My reviews for books 1-6 can be found here, but currently the series does contain 10 books.

You can win the first book, The Ruins of Gorlan. Check out my Nearly New Books For You giveaway post for details.

When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
copyright 2009

Inside Flap:
By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.
But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:
I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.
The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

A smart, smart book which really has the reader think. EJ and I both loved this book: a simple story, yet complex. A great story, and one not to miss. It blew my mind away.

Meshing of Minds Full Review.

The Chronicles of Narnia
by C.S. Lewis

What child can go through life without reading at least one Narnia book? None should. The Chronicles of Narnia are the tales that take the reader on many amazing adventures through the eyes of young children; siblings. They enter the land of Narnia through a wardrobe, and various other routes. Each book in this series can be a stand alone read, but, to truly enjoy Narnia, the first book that should be read is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Books in the Series:
The Magician’s Nephew (1955) – my review linked
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (1950)
The Horse and His Boy (1954)
Prince Caspian (1951)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) – my review linked
The Silver Chair (1953)
The Horse and His Boy (1954)
The Last Battle (1956)


My miscellaneous Narnia reviews are here, & here.

Dimwood Forest Series
(The Poppy Stories)
by Avi

The Poppy stories follows a family of mice while they live in Dimwood Forest. The stories takes us through many adventures as we get to know the family and their forest friends, & enemies: porcupines, horned owls, red foxes, beavers, deer,
fishers, voles, badgers, skunks, bats, and a cinnamon brown bear.

EJ loved reading The Poppy Stories. She devoured them during the winter of 2008-2009 when she was 9 years old. The Poppy Stories are delightful, endearing, & entertaining. They are fun, fun reads.


Books in the Series:
Poppy (1999) – our review is linked
Poppy & Rye (1998)
Ereth’s Birthday (2000)
Poppy’s Return (2005)
Poppy & Ereth (2009)
I found a fantastic free teacher’s guide that has discussion questions, and an extension activity.

Is It Night Or Day?
by Fern Schumer Chapman
Copyright 2010

Inside Flap:
Twelve-year-old Edith has lived a protected life in the tiny German town of Stockstadt am Rhein. Now, as brutal acts of anti-Semitism explode in Hitler’s Germany, she is about to travel thousands of miles over land and sea to a place that seems as foreign as the moon: Chicago, Illinois. And because her parents can’t get permission to leave Germany, she is traveling alone. Haunted by losses, Edith must adjust to life in a country where everyone she meets tries to define her with a single phrase - German, Jew, enemy alien. And as she struggles to uncover who, in her heart, she really is, the answers arrive from surprising places. Inspired by Fern Schumer Chapman’s own mother, one of twelve hundred children rescued from the Holocaust by Americans as part of the One Thousand Children project, this dramatic first-person story asks the chilling question that all immigrant children who flee alone must answer: What is left when everything is taken?

I have yet to read this book, but EJ finished the read this month. She thought the book was fabulous. Once she was done with this book, EJ went on to read Motherland: Beyond the Holocaust: A Mother –Daughter Journey to Reclaim the Past which was written by the same author. EJ liked that book as well. Is It Night or Day? is my next read.

I have many more books that I could suggest, but little time to do so. I will end our list here. While I have a few books in mind for EJ, if you have any suggestions for me then please leave a comment. Thanks.

Check out this post for more details about Nearly New Books For You giveaway which features a few of the books in this post. Ends on December 13, 2011.

Movies I Have Watched: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

Last Thursday night, err…early Friday morning…I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. My avid Harry Potter fan, aka ED (13 year old), begged me to take her to the midnight showing. This begging started many weeks ago, and since I like Harry Potter I figured…why not? Tickets were bought, 5 total. My mom, EJ (11 year old), ED’s friend and I all made our way to theater, candy in hand, at the ungodly hour to watch a movie. In reality, the hour was not so ungodly, we arrived at 11pm, but truly, to watch a show from 12 am-2:30 am is insane, but an awesome insane it was.

I was not a Harry Potter fan when the books where first released. My oldest son read & listened to a few, but the series did not take off in our home. I know, the horror. What brought me in as a fan were the movies, and the movie that started my plunge into reading the books was Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. When Deathly Hallows book was released, I devoured, and loved the read. ED has read the whole series, and the movies…well…we have had a Harry Potter movie fest going on in this house over the summer, and then the last few weeks.

Onward to the actual movie….

I loved the movie!! I think the movie did a fantastic job staying pretty close to the book, or at least from what I remember. I loved how the movie opened; it fed straight away into my emotions. I loved the action scenes; intense indeed, but not overly so. I loved the settings, and costumes. I loved the images that were flashed in front of my eyes. Some of the scene transitions were not dead on, but you know what…I did not care because I was very much engrossed in the movie.

What impressed me most about this movie was the acting. I really think all the actors did a great job. I loved how Helena Bonham Carter portrayed Bellatrix – none other could play that character as well. Ralph Finnes was amazing as Voldemort; such an evil character. Every time Voldemort appeared on screen, I would cringe. For sure, creepy and evil exudes from Voldemort. The evil that Harry faces is frightening. One of my favorite characters is Severus Snape. He has always been a favorite, and I am certain that I owe the movies for that sentiment because I think Alan Rickman does a superb Snape. Too bad Snape was not seen much in this movie; there is the next movie.

Who does not love the bond that Harry, Ron, and Hermione share? The Deathly Hallows does a fantastic job with their friendship and bond. It was satisfying to see the growth in these characters; the growth in the actors. This is what I absolutely loved best about the movie. The friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione has deepened on the screen, and moments of stress was certainly felt. A thought would run through my mind, every so often, and that was… “we will not see these characters anymore in another Harry Potter movie after part two.” That thought saddened me because I do adore strong friendships where each person has a part, a role to contribute to the bond. I do adore Harry, Ron and Hermione, and I have thoroughly enjoyed their onscreen presence. I must also add, I do indeed see why the younger audience has a fascination with Daniel Radcliffe, and why not? He plays an absolutely amazing character which I am certain has become apart of his allure.

The ending is certainly a cliffhanger. We all know that there would be one, but still, I did have mixed feelings about the exact end point. It was great, but it was abrupt. It still reels an image in my head; I cannot forget it, but part of me wanted a smoother ending. Upon reflection, I am okay with the ending, and it only adds to my already enthusiastic desire to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,Part 2.

Folks, this is why I like Harry Potter so much…a boy who grows, matures, finds courage, gives and receives respect…a boy who finds a way to fight off evil. Not only does he fight off evil, he also is surrounded by great and fabulous friends. Through the help of his friends- their encouragement, loyalty, and love – Harry is able to conquer. The movie, ultimately, is awesome because it does an amazing job translating the book into fantastic onscreen images, emotions, and story. Perfect? Nope, but awesome indeed.

Side note: I love the movie poster. I think it really does show the movement of the movie. Some images beckon me to look at them over, and over again. This image beckons me.

It turns out that I was sick all last week.. I sincerely doubted that my stamina would hold out to see the midnight show, and even worse…that I would not be able to wait until 3 am to hit the bed. Fear not…I popped a few Motrin as well as some Sinus medication combined with the air of excitement, and the help of Mountain Dew…I was awake, and actually could not fall asleep once we arrived home, but I did pay for this late night adventure, the whole entire next day I felt like my body was run over by a truck. Ugh. By the way, for all you Mountain Dew lovers, I do not know how you do it. I admit, the stuff packs a mean caffeine punch, but the taste has much to be desired. By the way, the theater only had a choice between Pepsi and Mountain Dew for caffeine pops. Umm…neither of them do I like, so I went with what I thought was the lesser evil. In a way, it was…little did I need to drink to get the energy pump!

Have you seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1? If so, how did you like it? If not, do you want to see the movie?

Ideas for Book Gifts: Picture Books…

‘Tis the season for book buying, well, actually for me it seems that book buying is always in season. Only one of my children, no, make that two children get excited about books, and the excitement is there when they are gifted a book. While I do love buying books for all my children, I must keep in mind that some will grump about the gift, and set it aside. I try to buy a book with their interest in mind. As these book receiving grumps become older, the choices become more difficult. This year, I may not buy them any books…I may not.

I thought I would share with you the books that I have found that might interest my children, and the books that have interested them in the past. I will have three Ideas for Book Gifts posts: Picture Books, Middle-Grade Books, and Young Adult books. You may find something in these lists that may be a good gift for a child in your life.

Princess Baby Night-Night
by Karen Katz
Copyright 2009
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

Goodreads Description:
Poor Princess Baby. It’s bedtime, but she isn’t sleepy. After all, there is so much a princess baby needs to do. PJs need to be put on, toys need to be put away, the perfect book needs to be chosen, and her beloved subjects need to brush their teeth! It’s a very busy time in Princess Baby’s room. Young readers will want to climb into their own beds when our pint-sized heroine finally pulls up the covers and goes “night-night.

My now 4-year old daughter loves this book. We still read it, but not as much as we use to do when she was younger. The illustrations and rhyming of the words capture her attention.
This book is featured on my blog here.

Hedgie Blast Off!
by Jan Brett
copyright 2006
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

From Goodreads:
More than anything Hedgie wants to be an astronaut and travel into space. He gets his chance the day the geyser, Big Sparkler, starts to sputter and fade, disappointing all the alien tourists, who fly to the tiny planet of Mikkop to throw coins into Big Sparkler and look at the strange flowers that survive on its sparkles…..With an amazing gatefold illustration of Hedgie bursting out of Big Sparkler this is not only one of Jan Brett’s most inventive books, but it’s one of the funniest. Fans will love the unusual setting as they laugh along with a wild cast of characters, including comic aliens, canine scientists and bird reporters.

This book totally rocked IJ’s world. Our copy is actually starting to fall apart a bit due to IJ’s use. This is one of the very few books that first captured his attention. Her illustrations are magnificent, and I say that because his eyes are glued to the pages each time the book is read. Of course, certain pages are liked better than others. The story is lovely, but truthfully, I had to and still need to paraphrase because his attention span will not stick if I read word for word. His favorite illustrations are of when the rocket is in space.

Fool Moon Rising
by Kristi and T. Lively Fluharty
copyright 2009
Published by Crossway Books

Back Cover:
It’s a crime of cosmic proportions: the moon is stealing the sun’s glory! This rhyming, rollicking tale teaches children about the importance of humility and the dangers of pride.

What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why do you boast as though it were not a gift?
1 Corinthians 4:7, NLT

Fantastic book that captured IJ. Again, for IJ, illustrations are huge, and this book has fabulous illustrations. Not only are the illustrations absolutely wonderful, the storyline is very creative. We are still reading this book a few times a month.
My full review can be found here.

If you See a Fairy Ring
Illustrated by: Susanna Lockheart
Copyright 2007

Back Cover:
Step into fairyland with William Shakespeare, Robert Graves, Laura Ingalls Wilder and a host of other classic poets. Susanna Lockheart’s irresistible watercolors accompany this beautiful collection of poems, making them accessible to even the youngest audience. The changing magic windows in the book’s charming illustrations cast a further spell and add an extra touch of enchantment to verse meant to be read aloud, to be learned, and to be treasured.

I am so glad that we purchased this book for GD. This is a book that we definitely keep on our short-list of books to buy for other little girls.
My full review can be found here.

All Things Bright and Beautiful
by Cecil Frances Alexander
illustrated by Bruce Whatley
Copyright 2001
Publisher: HarperCollins

Goodreads Description:
Cecil Frances Alexander's timeless ode to nature calls everyone to celebrate the wonders of life, great and small, seen and unseen.Now Bruce Whatley offers a fresh interpretation of this classic for the whole family to enjoy. Through his lush paintings, we join a little girl's country ramble and share her appreciation of the beauty around her: A flower, the wind, a mountain view, all gives her reasons to pause and praise--and inspire us to do the same.

We do not own this book, but I would love to. The illustrations are simply amazing. GD and IJ really enjoyed the time we spent reading this book.
My full review is here.

Angelina’s Special Week
by Katharine Holabird
Copyright 2010
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
First published in 2005

This is a lovely book that follows Angelina every day through her busy week. Sweet and simple. What is neat is that at the end of the book, there is a pullout days-of-the-week poster and stickers for the young reader (child) to track what she did throughout her week. I think GD will really love that aspect of this book.

Nope, GD has not had this book in her possession yet; it will be sitting under our Christmas tree awaiting her delight. My older girls loved Angelina Ballerina especially the 11-year old. This means that we had plenty of Angelina books, and stuffed toys for GD. She has latched onto them, and greatly enjoys Angelina.

E is for Eiffel Tower: A France Alphabet
by Helen Wilbur
Illustrator: Yan Nascimbene
Copyright 2010
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

From Goodreads:
From its achievements in architecture (Chartres Cathedral), science (Louis Pasteur), and literature (Marcel Proust), the country of France has had a profound impact on the world. E is for Eiffel Tower: A France Alphabet explores its venerable history and cultural heritage.Young readers can experience the treasures of the Louvre Museum, play hide-and-seek in the gardens of Versailles Palace, or get a bird’s-eye view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower. The achievements of Claude Monet and Victor Hugo come to life alongside stunning monuments, breathtaking scenery, and history-in-the-making moments.

E is for Eiffel Tower is apart of Sleeping Bear Press’s Discover the World series. I learned about this series of books from Carrie at Reading to Know. Between Carrie’s post and the information that I have gathered from Sleeping Bear Press, I think this series sounds fabulous. My only question is; which books shall I order first? For sure, I will go with E is for Eiffel Tower, but after that one, I am not sure as I would like to bring them all into our home for GD and IJ to browse, and read.

G is for Gladiator: An Ancient Rome Alphabet
by Debbie and Michael Shoulders
Illustrator: Victor Juhasz
Copyright 2010
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

From Goodreads:
According to Roman legend, what famous twins were raised by a she-wolf? Who wrote the epic poem, The Aeneaid? What famous leader brought law and stability, yet was stabbed to death by a group of senators? Life in ancient Rome was certainly not for the faint of heart! In G is for Gladiator: An Ancient Rome Alphabet, readers are given an A-Z introduction to ancient Rome, including its social, political, and civil customs and practices. Husband-and-wife writing team Debbie and Michael Shoulders explore topics such as Roman law, architecture, mythology, and of course, the ultimate “fight club” (gladiatorial combat). From the relaxed surroundings of the public baths to the rigid codes of the military legions, Rome`s ancient civilization is unveiled.

I just mentioned with the prior book that I am not certain as to which books I should order first in Sleeping Bear Press’s Discover the World series.
I just read Carrie’s post that featured this book, and I am strongly thinking that IJ would go for the illustrations in G is for Gladiator.

Bella: The Fairy Ball
by Mandy Stanley
copyright 2010
Publisher: Tiger Tales

From Goodreads:
While exploring the world outside of her burrow, Bella, the bunny meets a fairy. The fairy shrinks Bella down to "fairy-size" and invites Bella to the Fairy Ball in Fairyland. Just when it seems as though the day couldn't be more magical the Fairy Queen arrives with an exciting gift just for Bella!

Another book that I discovered via Carrie at Reading to Know. My GD loves fairies, princesses, and ballerinas so after reading Carrie’s post, I know that this book will be one that GD will love.

A Warrior Prince for God
by Kelly Chapmand & Jeff Ebbeler
Copyright 2010
Publisher Harvest House

From Goodreads:
In a lively story about baseball, camping, and facing your fears, author Kelly Chapman helps readers see that, no matter what they are afraid of, they can be strong in the Lord and in God’s mighty power. A Warrior Prince for God is all about finding out that a warrior prince is a Christian who lives a life worthy of his calling and enters into battles only when he is called, and then relying on God’s strength and not his own.

IJ really loves swords, and the battles that always seem to come long with swords. I know that the appeal of this book will most definitely be the swords. I go along with his sword love, but also would like to teach him understanding of being courageous, and strong in the light of God. I think, at this moment in time, this book may be over his head in length of text, and possibly some context as well, but that is okay. I plan that we will look at the pictures, and paraphrase read, and I do believe that will be a good starting point for us with this book. For an excellent review of this book, check out Carrie’s post.

The following books are informational type books.
They provide fabulous photos and/or illustrations along with small tid-bits of fact, and lengthier bits of fact within these pages. I do not read the information to IJ in a organized manner because he tends to ‘read’ these books via browsing, latch on to a page of high interest to him, and then we have to talk about every detail of that picture. I then either read the information verbatim, or in paraphrase format. He will point to the same part of the picture several times and ask, “what’s dat?” and I repeat the information. This process of reading is by far IJ’s favorite. While he tolerates, and maybe likes storybook, his preference is for sure books such as these.

Experience Flight
by Richard Platt
Copyright 2006
Publisher: DK Children

This book takes us through the history of flight. IJ likes looking at all the pages, but most definitely gravitates towards the fighter planes which there are several generations represented.

Big Book of Airplanes
by Caroline Bingham
Copyright 2001
Publisher: DK Children

This is IJ’s current must read. This book boasts bigger pages which gives larger graphics/photos. A variety of planes are highlighted throughout the pages, but here again, Ij gravitates towards the fighter planes. However, with this book, he also will gravitate towards the space flight page, helicopter, and seaplane pages.

Weaponry: An Illustrated History
by Chuck Wills
Copyright 2006

Weaponry is one of IJ’s favorite books which highlights many weapons through history; swords and guns. With this book, not only will the reader will be viewing photos of the weaponry, far more detailed is presented within these pages than with the other above two books. Here again, the book is not being used so much for detailed information, but rather for the photos, and bits of paraphrased information.

For IJ, this book helps to satisfy his high interest and gravitation towards swords while allowing me to provide him with healthy knowledge beyond the simple idea of “fighting”.

My copy seems to be out of print; I found at my local Borders in the section where they keep bargain priced hardcovers. However, I did discover that Chuck Wills does have other Weaponry books that are published and easy to obtain. The covers look similar; I am thinking they would not be too far off from this book if any at all. However, I cannot vouch for them as I have not seen them.

If you have a child who is interested in fighter jets and/or swords, I highly recommend these books.

Side Notes:

As you can see, I really love the books that Carrie post about over at her blog, Reading to Know. Thanks Carrie!

IJ can be rather hard on books, and the ones that he looks at over and over are showing their wear in that the bindings are starting to fall off. Does anyone have any idea how I can go about repairing IJ’s book bindings? Some are loose while others have fallen off. Thanks.

Check out this post for more details about Nearly New Books For You giveaway which features a few of the books in this post. Ends on December 13, 2011.