Wednesday, May 31, 2023

In Which I Speed-Read My 67 Favorite Books I Brought Home from the Library Conference: Part One: Picture Books

 


I brought home 162 books from the Texas Library Association Conference in April. It's a mad grab for good books at the conference, and you never know what you have until you get home and sort through the books.

Today I'm going to do a quick read/review of my favorite just-published/about-to-be-published/recently-published picture books.

Courage Out Loud: 25 Poems of Power

Written by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett

Published by Quarto

Fear is a hugely debilitating force in the world. In this book of twenty-five poems, written by the Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2022-2024, Joseph Coelho encourages children to take action against fear, to act with courage---to dare to jump from the diving board, to say no sometimes, to dare to be a friend, to stand up when you fall and try again, to apologize, to cry when you need to, and to write stories and poems of your own. Coelho writes a lot of different types of poems---pantoums and limericks and ballads and more---and he encourages his children readers to try these, too. This is a fabulous collection for all of us who would like to face and overcome our fears in the world. 



Veo, Veo, I See You

Written and illustrated by Lulu Delacre

Published by Simon & Schuster

It's 2020, and the pandemic has hit. Marisol and her family are stuck at home. To pass the time, Marisol invents a game, a riff on I Spy, in which family members search the community for those whose work is essential. Written in English and Spanish, this book is a tribute to all the people who worked so hard to help us during a difficult time.



Baby Animals First Sounds Book

Written by Alexandra Claire

Photos by Andrea Kelly

Published by The Collective Book Studio

Baby Animals First Sounds Book is a first introduction to the sounds animals make for very young children. The text is simple rhyme, and the illustrations are photos of baby animals. An especially cool feature of this book is the QR code on the back which gives adults access to the real sounds that baby animals make.



The Welcome Home

Written and illustrated by Amy June Bates

Published by Simon & Schuster

"Mr. and Mrs. Gagleson-Bittle were missing something..." The two were living happily in a big house, but they both wanted "...something a little bit lick-your-face-play-fetch-roll-over-rub-your-belly-and-chase-your-tail." So they decided to get...a snail. They enjoyed the snail, but they thought they would like something more, so they decided to get...an elephant...And off the story goes. A complete delight for all of us who love animal friends. 



Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance!

Written and illustrated by HervĂ© Tullet

Published by Chronicle Books


Take your fingers for a dance through a book, and, on the way, you just might learn colors and shapes and lots of lovely other things that parents and teachers and other important people want you to learn. And all while just having fun.



When You Can Swim

Written and illustrated by Jack Wong

Published by Scholastic Books

Jack Wong was discouraged as a child by his fearful mother and his own fears of looking different from others in Canada from learning to swim. When he learned to swim later in life, and when he dared to swim out in nature, he discovered the joys of swimming in different settings, and it is these delights that he shares with us in this beautifully illustrated, beautifully written book.



Book of Questions / Libro de las Preguntas

Written by Pablo Neruda

Illustrated by Paloma Valdivia

Published by Enchanted Lion

This is the book I have most wanted to read over the last year, but, sadly, I was able to find a copy in my usual book places. I was joyous, exuberant, ebullient to see it at the Enchanted Lion booth at TLA this year, and how happy I was to be allowed to buy a copy and take it home. It did not disappoint. Written in Spanish and translated into English, this is a book of thoughtful and surprising questions from one of the world's greatest poets of the last century, Pablo Neruda. The illustrations illuminate the questions and add to the complex simplicity of this amazing book. I can see this book being read by children, of course, but also by adolescents and young adults and middle-aged folks, and even old ladies aged 66. This book is a keeper.



If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It:

How 25 Inspiring Individuals Found Their Dream Jobs

Written by Colleen Nelson and Kathie MacIsaac

Illustrated by Scot Ritchie

Published by Pajama Press

What is more glorious than dreaming about the future? And how important is it for kids to be thinking about the future and what their parts in it might be? That, then, is the greatness of this book: This book highlights twenty-five people who set a goal to have their dream job and achieved it. Not only does the book tell each person's story, but it tells related stories about young people who are still children but who are already starting to work to achieve their dreams. The book also shares pro tips for achieving one's dreams, suggestions to try now in one's early pursuit of the dream, and spin-off jobs one might consider. Those chosen to share their stories are a diverse group of people, and that's delightful.





For more photos, link up at 
Wordless WednesdayComedy PlusMessymimi's MeanderingsKeith's RamblingsCreate With JoyWild Bird Wednesday, and My Corner of the World.


Wondrous Words Wednesday is a meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered, or spotlight words you love or post about anything word-ish. It was first created by Kathy over at Bermuda Onion.

Weekend Cooking was created by Beth Fish Reads and is now hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader (and Baker). It is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post. 

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Things That Make Me Instantly NOT Want to Read a Book: My Pet Peeves



Bare men's chests on the cover...


Blood on the cover...


Too much description in the book...


When I read in the author's bio that the author got a degree from a writing school...


The author's name is in a larger font than the font of the title on the cover...


All Gothic novels...


All horror books...


All textbooks...


Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.    

Saturday, May 27, 2023

The Sunday Salon: Let the Summer (or Winter) Reading Begin

 







This year marks five years of retirement, but it never feels like summer to me until school's out. Thursday was the last day of school here, so I am officially announcing that it's time to let the summer reading begin. 

I hope that, wherever you are in the world, and whether you are doing summer reading or winter reading, you will get time to enjoy some good books in the next few months.





What I Finished Last Week:


Links will take you to my reviews of these two excellent nonfiction books.




What I'm Reading Now:

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Classic)

How the Light Gets in: Writing as a Spiritual Practice by Pat Schneider (Writing)

Mrs. Bridge by Evan Connell (Super Past Due Reviews)

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat (Children's Fiction)

The Globetrotter's Guide to Happiness by Kate Morgan (Happiness)

Food Americana by David Page (Cook the Books Bookclub)







Last week I posted here at Readerbuzz:

The Sunday Salon: I Take on Two Summer Challenges

Nine Things That Make Me Instantly Want to Read a Book

The Texas Library Association Conference: Who I Saw









Good Thing #1
We had a fantastic time at a
day of advanced training for my naturalist group, 
A Look Back at Texas History, last Saturday.
And I took home an Amazon gift card for 
my display, Slavery: The Worst of Evils,
that I shared with the group.



Good Thing #2
My life---ha!



Good Thing #3
My grand-dog, Jordan,
is happy that we will be spending time with family 
this Memorial Day weekend.




I'm happy you joined us here at the Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is a place to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. It's a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 


Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:

  • What was your week like?
  • Read any good books? Tell us about them.
  • What other bookish things did you do? 
  • What else is going on in your life?

Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

        

My linkup for Sunday Salon is below. 

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

The Texas Library Association Conference: Who I Saw


Author Christina Soontornvat


Author Julie Murphy


Author Gretchen Rubin


Author Neal Shusterman


Author Devin Scillian and Illustrator Tim Bowers


Author Catherine Stier


Author/illustrator Aaron Becker


Author Kate Klise


Author/illustrator Dan Santat


Author Gloria Amescua and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh


Author Candace Fleming and illustrator Eric Rohmann


Author Meghan P. Browne


Author Chris Gray


Author Erin Bow


Author Jenna Yoon


The Pigeon


Author Angeline Boulley (and me...)











Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Nine Things That Make Me Instantly Want to Read a Book

Paris.

A book-about-books.

Happiness.

Baking.

"It's my favorite book!"

Nature.

Travel.

Illustrations.

Surprise.




Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.   

Saturday, May 20, 2023

The Sunday Salon: I Take on Two Summer Challenges

 





A week that began with a wonderful Mother's Day, and included a fun get-together with my new Galveston writing group, as well as a couple of challenging walks with my sister and Zumba and some swimming, plus lots of good reading...





What I Read Last Week:

Happy Place by Emily Henry (Current Fiction)

by Gretchen Rubin (Nonfiction; Happiness)





What I'm Reading Now:

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Classic)

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson (Naturalist Book Club)

The People's Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine by Richardo Avila (Current Nonfiction)







Last week I posted here at Readerbuzz:

The Sunday Salon: In Which I Finish Four Wonderful Books after Several Weeks of Wandering in a Bookless Desert

Things Getting in the Way of Reading

Sky Surprises











I added two summer challenges to my crazy-long list of 2023 challenges.

20 Books of Summer Challenge

It’s time once again for the 20 Books of Summer, hosted by 746 Books. This year the event will be kicking off on Wednesday 1 June and finishing on Thursday 1 September. If you want to join in, just take the Books of Summer image, and pick your own 10, 15, or 20 books you would like to read. Post the link to your choices in the post’s comments here.

I am tentatively planning to read: 

1. Mrs. Bridge by Evan Connell

2. The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

3. The Thurber Carnival by James Thurber

4. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin

5. How the Light Gets in: Writing as a Spiritual Practice by Pat Schneider

6. The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall

7. Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells by Helen Scales

8. A Paris All Your Own edited by Eleanor Brown

9. Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

10. An Omelette and a Glass of Wine by Elizabeth David

11. Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant  

12. An Astronomer in Love by Antoine Laurain

13. Vango: Between Sky and Earth by Timothee de Fombelle

15. Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse

16. Cuore (Heart) by Edmondo de Amicis

17. Food Americana: The Remarkable People and Incredible Stories Behind America's Favorite Dishes by David Page

18. Complete Stories by Franz Kafka

19. Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World

20. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese




Big Book Summer Challenge, the annual summer reading challenge, kicks off in less than two weeks, at the start of Memorial Day weekend! Check out last year's challenge page for details, pick out a Big Book (400 or more pages) or two, and join the fun! A new challenge page and Goodreads group for sign-ups will go up at Book by Book either May 25 or 26.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese is my plan for my summer big book.


Are you doing either of these challenges?








I'm at a full day of advanced training for my naturalist group, A Look Back at Texas History, on Saturday. The sessions I'll be attending are:

• “The Forts Velasco” – Chris Kneupper, Texas Master Naturalist – Cradle of Texas Chapter
• “Commemorating El Camino Real de los Tejas” – Tom Byrd, Past President of El Camino Real de Los Tejas National Historic Trail Association
• “Vernon & Florence Merriam Bailey” – David J. Schmidly, Biologist and Professor, Past President of Texas Tech University and Oklahoma State University
• “Regenerative Ranching in the Native Prairies of Texas” – Casey Wade, President and CEO, Dixon Water Foundation
• “Black Indians: The Lost Culture” – Dr. Lisa Uhlir, Professor of Government, Tarrant County College










Good Thing #1
There's nothing like walking with your sister,
who used to run marathons,
to help you set a record for the number of steps in a day.
Wow. 



Good Thing #2
The Great American Baking Show!



Good Thing #3
Mother's Day was fantastic.
I spoke to or saw all of my family last Sunday,
and I received two wonderful new books and a gift card for books.
And there were bubbles and blocks and cars and a picnic and Candyland...




I'm happy you joined us here at the Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is a place to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. It's a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 


Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:

  • What was your week like?
  • Read any good books? Tell us about them.
  • What other bookish things did you do? 
  • What else is going on in your life?

Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

        

My linkup for Sunday Salon is below.