What is the Sunday Salon?
The Sunday Salon is a spot to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It is also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there.
A cautionary tale about reading fiction: I read a historical fiction book about the Black Death with my seven-year-old grandson, Wyatt, a few weeks ago. Last week Wyatt lost his first tooth. His dad asked him if he wanted to put his tooth under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy. Wyatt said no. Since the Tooth Fairy was probably around at the time of the Black Death, he told his dad, the Tooth Fairy was probably killed with the rest of the people!
I must find a nonfiction book about the Black Death for Wyatt, I think.
Here I am inside one of the several sensory pods that were for sale at the conference.
I went to the Texas Library Association Conference this week (after I got home from a week in Central Texas antiquing and time with friends at the No Kings Rally). I will do a whole post soon on what I brought home with me from the conference.
What I Read Last Week:
Goldfinches written by Mary Oliver and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin.
What I'm Reading Now:
The Brothers Karamozov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Classic)
The Book of Birds: A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss
written by Robert Macfarlane and illustrated by Jackie Morris (Nature Nonfiction)
I started listing 3 Good Things each day during the pandemic. Now I've established a regular routine of writing down my 3 Good Things. Here are 3 Good Things from last week:
Good Thing #1:
Illustrator Melissa Sweet at TLA,
signing her new book, Goldfinches,
written by poet Mary Oliver.
Good Thing #2:
The Book of Birds:
A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss
written by Robert Macfarlane
and illustrated by Jackie Morris.
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
W. W. Norton, for this beautiful book.
I'm reading it slowly,
and I will post about it soon.
Good Thing #3:
I am eagerly reading Leyendas/Legends:
60 Latine People Who Changed the World,
another book I brought home from the library conference.
Thank you, Chronicle Books,
for this beautiful book.


















I’ll look forward to hearing more about “The Book of Birds.”
ReplyDeleteYes, it's time for migrating spring birds. I've only seen dark eyed juncos in the yard so far, going south I believe.
ReplyDeleteAhaha, I love that response about the Tooth Fairy.
ReplyDeleteI love The Left Hand of Darkness. I was a bit too young to fully appreciate it when I first read it, but that almost made me appreciate it more when I read it again later. I loved that Le Guin stayed reflective on it, too, and said "it is what it is and I can't change that now, but I would change XYZ if I wrote it again".
LOL! Wyatt doesn’t lack for imagination! I really need to read The Left Hand of Darkness. And I’m quite interested in Leyendas.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a cute story about Wyatt! I hope you have a lovely weekend Deb.
ReplyDeleteWise words from Wyatt! Enjoy the rest of your weekend
ReplyDeleteOut of the mouths of babes!! Looking forward to your post about No Kings.
ReplyDeleteI’m intrigued by the idea of a children’s book about the Black Death. When you find it, I trust that you will share it with us.
ReplyDeleteWyatt is adorable! Thank you for sharing that sweet picture. I must find a copy of "The Book of Birds" for my own library.
ReplyDeleteThe Book of Birds sounds intriguing! Keep us posted. Love Wyatt's imagination. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting to hear what connections children make! There's a fabulous YA book about Typhoid Mary when he gets old enough for that. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI love it when kidlets start losing their teeth and it is such a fun time for them. Your grandson is adorable.
ReplyDeleteLove the Wyatt story and isn't he cute without that tooth? Black Death - fun reading - ha!!
ReplyDeleteOh golly, Wyatt's thoughts made me smile. Kids figure it all out, don't they? Not always accurately but usually it's a pretty interesting approach!
ReplyDeleteOh, Wyatt... thank you for the laugh this afternoon. And thank you, Deb, for the most intriguing blog post title I've ever come across!
ReplyDeleteHi Deb, any books about birds are books that I would thoroughly enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a good time at the TLA conference!
ReplyDeleteYour grandson is quick thinking. It looks like a beautiful week and I pray you have another coming up.
ReplyDeleteSo funny about your grandson! Looks like a nice time at the TLA! I was in Austin this last week with family. We had a great time exploring!
ReplyDeleteLove the story with your grandson . Our grandchildren keep us young.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful week.
Your grandson is going to be a great student if he already likes history. the black death is heavy reading.
ReplyDeleteLoved Wyatt's historically accurate take on the tooth fairy! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteAt least Wyatt’s parents will save on the tooth fairy bills LOL
ReplyDeleteSeems TLA was generous to you, I look forward to seeing what else you got
Wishing you a happy reading week
I love the imagination of children lol! Hope you have a good week.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I think fairies are immune to human diseases. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYou've been so busy away from home with visiting family and the Texas festival. All such fun stuff!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing goldfinches ... and they are rare to see here. Only once last year did I see 2 goldfinches at our feeder. The book looks terrific so I will look for it. The Macfarlane book looks beautifully illustrated too. I will wait for your thoughts on it.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Wyatt is quite interesting for sure. How wonderful to get to the conference and bring home soe lovely books. Happy April and Happy Easter, Deb.
ReplyDeleteLovely post as always.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful conference--I'm still recouping!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a wonderful time, Deb!
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2026/04/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-and.html