Smile

Smile by Raina Telgemeier is an endearing story about the trials and tribulations of having braces...among other things!  I don't usually prefer graphic novels when I pick a book to read.  This one surprised me!  I felt like I really got to know Raina, who is the main character in the book.  Watch this fantastic book trailer made by the folks at Scholastic/Graphix with music by Harry and the Potters. 




Now that you know a little about Raina's story, I think you should go get the book - you will love it!  

Also, Scholastic has a You Be the Author section on their website page for Smile that will allow you to create your own page for a graphic novel.  It's really fun!

Escape Under the Forever Sky

2012-2013 TX Bluebonnet Nominee

Escape Under the Forever Sky by Eve Yohalem is fascinating.  It takes place in Ethiopia, where Lucy's mom is the U.S. Ambassador.  Lucy wants to really explore the land and see the animals that she has read so much about.  She wants to experience Ethiopia, but her over-protective mother won't let her leave the compound.  One day, Lucy and her friend sneak out...just for a short time...just to have a little fun...   This is when Lucy gets kidnapped and now she will have to rely on what she has learned to try to save herself! 

Here is the book trailer created by Chronicle Books.

World Book Night

It is finally here...the day that many of us "book givers"

 have been waiting for! 

The first annual World Book Night in the US!

There were many pick-up places located across town

for us to get our box of books.

My pick-up place was The Woodlands Barnes and Noble.

It truly took a village to make this all happen.

Yesterday I picked up my box of books.

Here it is with one book pulled out.

It is the true book, but this edition's cover is a special World Book Night cover.

It also has a really nice letter inside the front cover

 so that future readers of the book

will know where this edition came from.

In the back, it has all the companies listed that made this possible.

And don't forget, this all started last year in the UK. 

Thanks to everyone who has made this possible!

   

I am taking my set of books to a small charter high school

that will hand them to their teens. 

These teens have faced struggles in their lives just as Liesel does in

The Book Thief.

We must all find something that helps us get through these rocky roads in life.

Liesel finds books, during a time when books are banned and burned,

the Holocaust.

Come... read this book... from Death's point-of-view.

It is not all happy and fun,

but Liesel finds that books feed her soul.

TLA Conference

I was very excited to be able to attend the TLA conference

that was here in Houston. 

Aside from learning lots of great ideas from classes,

 meeting lots of great people, 

getting good deals on great books, having books signed by great authors...

Wait, did I say authors? 

One day, I attended the Bluebonnet luncheon and I got to hear 

Tom Angleberger, the author of

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. 

He was an amazing speaker.  He even taught us to make our very own Origami Yoda! 

Here is his picture that I got from the TLA website. 

He is showing us how to fold our Origami Yoda with his giant paper.

In case you haven't read them - here are his fun, fun, fun, books!

              

I  also found out that there is a third book in the series coming soon...
I, for one, can't wait!!!

Oh... I also had an extra lucky day...

I won a super-great, very-useful, and totally unexpected door prize!

Thank you Scholastic for the wonderful books, dvds, audiobooks, and student bracelets!