My Week in Books: The Texas 2x2 Tumble, The Great American Read, Plus Bella Figura

I still haven't finished a book (that's two weeks of no-books-finished, and it may be a record for me) but I did have a fabulous week in books.

THE TEXAS 2X2 TUMBLE COMPETITION

I had the joy of taking these three students to our district Texas 2x2 Tumble competition. Each student read and reread the twenty Texas 2x2 books and the team answered every question right in the competition, making a perfect score. In a tiebreaker, the teams were asked a final question and, while our team answered correctly, another team answered more correctly and was awarded the trophy. We had a fabulous time and were proud that we had done our best to prepare.

THE GREAT AMERICAN READ

I am terribly excited to hear about a new tv series. That is odd for me. I'm not a tv girl. But I can't wait to watch this show.

– Gabrielle Union, Jason Reynolds, George R.R. Martin, Wynton Marsalis, Morgan Freeman, Junot Díaz, Margaret Atwood and Many More Featured in the Series, As America Goes in Search of Its Best-Loved Book –

– Show Premieres Tuesday, May 22, 2018, 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET on PBS Stations Nationwide –

Meredith Vieira. Credit: Courtesy of Inky Dinky Worldwide, Inc.

ARLINGTON, VA; March 28, 2018 -- 

PBS announced today that television personality and journalist Meredith Vieira will host THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, a new eight-part television series launching on PBS stations with a two-hour special event on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. In THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, Vieira will take viewers on a journey across the country to uncover the nation’s 100 most-loved novels, the people who love them and their authors.

Many key authors, celebrities and notable figures in the entertainment, sports, news and literary worlds will join Vieira in lending their voices and passion to THE GREAT AMERICAN READ. Margaret Atwood, Jenna and Barbara Bush, Chelsea Clinton, Junot Díaz, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Green, Gayle King, George R. R. Martin, Shaquille O’Neal, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jason Reynolds, Gabrielle Union, Ming-Na Wen and many others will share their personal stories and connections to their favorite titles throughout the series.

Following the two-hour launch event of THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, and throughout the summer, viewers will be encouraged to read and engage in the conversation by participating in local events, and by visiting the interactive website and voting for their favorite book on the list atpbs.org/greatamericanread. The series will return in September with a recap and additional themed episodes exploring the nominated books, leading up to the reveal of “America’s Best-Loved Novel” on Tuesday, October 23.

To complement THE GREAT AMERICAN READ, PBS KIDS will host PBS KIDS READ as part of an annual summer learning initiative for children ages 2-8 and their families. PBS KIDS READ will encourage reading and related activities through a variety of resources for children and parents, including social media engagement, digital games and tools, and downloadable activities. In addition, PBS member stations across the country will host literacy and learning events in local communities throughout the summer months.

WHAT ARRIVED THIS WEEK

 Bella Figura: How to Live, Love and Eat the Italian Way

Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos: How Italian Women Make the Ordinary Extraordinary

Paris in a Weekend with Two Kids

Hazelnut Days by Emmanuel Bourdier and Zau

Marwan's Journey by Patricia de Arias and Laura Borras

The Favorite by S. V. Berlin

TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

I'm off to Dallas on Tuesday for the Texas Library Association Conference. How many books will I bring back from the conference?

What are you reading today? 

What is the Sunday Salon? Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them,and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book. Click here to join the Salon.

The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week. 

 It is now being hosted here.

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is now being hosted at The Book Date.