Tag Archives: library

Book Reading Challenges

Hello Everyone! I hope somebody is still out there.

How are you doing? What’s up in your life and how are you staying sane, happy, and busy? It’s certainly been a challenging year (plus) with COVID and isolation and everything that comes with that – and it continues. I hope you’re all keeping safe and well.

I am still involved in caring for a family member, ten complete years now back and forth weekly. During that time, life has brought many changes, sorrows, and stresses, but blessings as well. We have a new grandbaby boy, as of October, and he is a blessing no one believed would happen. His mum and dad are so in love with this little guy, born a year and a half after they were married. At least once a week I babysit him so his mom can work at the office instead of trying to do it all from home.

Do you have any surprises and blessings to tell about?

Just to update you a little …

As I shared with you in a much earlier post, I have moved from writing into painting – which is on hold for the second time because of the pandemic. And as you likely know, I am a book lover so I’ve gone deeper into reading reading reading. At the beginning of the year I took on reading challenges so that I can work my way through the large number of yet unread books I have purchased over the years – mostly discounted and at book sales. I am compulsively lovingly adding to my accumulation, hoping to eventually set up my own personal library in one of the former bedrooms in our house.

In this post I am going to tell you about the reading challenges and perhaps I can share about my painting in a later post.

On Goodreads I accepted an invitation to join the 52BookClub – the challenge to read 52 books in 52 weeks, by following prompts for each week. They don’t have to be done in order, so I chose not to read them in order of prompts which are listed at the beginning.

From Indigo I accepted the challenge of reading 21 books in this year, also following prompts. A few of them line up with 52BookClub prompts, so I can use one book for both.

On Goodreads I also accepted the challenge to read Agatha Christie books with no set deadline. I have a few of hers that I haven’t read yet, and got a few more at a book sale a few weeks ago. I’ve yet to start that one.

Our local library issues a summer reading challenge too, which I tried last year and will likely do again. I’m continually keeping my library ladies busy.

I almost forgot … Goodreads challenges readers to set a personal goal, and mine has been high the past few years, but this year I lowered it. 700 is my goal, which includes all genres and mostly picture books – whatever I can read. Although I am not writing picture books now I am still reading them and sharing them. Always learning.

Because I’m slowly trying to figure out how to maneuver the changes made to WordPress, I haven’t been able to update my homepage much, but I plan to do that. I’ll show there the books I’ve read for the challenges – once I figure it out!

Perhaps you will find that you’ve read some of the titles I have selected for prompts, or maybe you will be encouraged to read some on my list. Either way, I hope you enjoy reading and travelling to different places through books.

Shown above are some of the many books I have on hand to read. This is before I purchased many more at the book sale in April. The ones stacked in front are chosen for prompts, and in my journal on the desk I’m keeping track.

I’m currently reading How NOT to Die by Michael Greger. (such a good book!) And I’m reading The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner, having loved the movie starring Will Smith.

What are you reading these days?

Thanks for reading this post, and … Blessings on your day! Let’s be in touch – social distancing, of course.

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About books and writing them

It’s the first day of February and I am happy to say that I am now a student of Susanna Leonard Hill’s picture book class called Making Picture Book Magic! Susanna teaches small personalized classes that run for a month each. I chose to sign up for February to follow immediately after Storystorm which was the whole month of January. 

Storystorm, run by Tara Lazar, was very inspirational, as usual, and yet it seemed a little different this year but I can’t say just how. All I know is that the ideas I got this time around seem to be improved over previous years in that there were a greater number of possibilities among them. I had more clear ideas for stories whereas in past years they were more vague with many as simply titles and character names. My total this year, after the month of brainstorming, is 41 ideas for stories.

So, back to Making Picture Book Magic … Susanna gave us a list of books she suggests we read if we can, so, of course, I made my requests at the library. I have a few of those books now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also had already been going book crazy – about which my librarians are very happy – and I have “a few” others out now. You can see for yourself.

 

 

They’re three views of the same box of 90 books, most of which are picture books. Another 60+ are on hold for me and will arrive as they’re available.

So, yes, you can guess I’ve been doing a lot of reading; over 100 books in January as recorded on my Books I read in 2018 page. I’ve immersed myself in picture books with the occasional chapter book or novel tossed into the mix. Maybe that’s why my Storystorming was improved this year.  hmm

My only regret is that my book reviews here on my blog have been lessened, and the books that are in my queue to review are still … in queue. I apologize to those authors waiting to see theirs highlighted here. I have yet to figure out how to make progress in my own writing while keeping up everything else, too. Even on Goodreads I write mostly short blurbs after reading a book, but that’s something.

Now I have to get back to my notes for the writing class.

Will you share with me what you have found works for you when you want to learn something? Do you take classes? Do you immerse yourself in trial and error? Do you shadow someone who has the experience? What do you do?

Happy February everyone!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂 

Out with 2017, In with 2018 – Happy New Year! & thank YOU

As I write this it’s not long before a new year begins. Personally, I’m a little excited about 2018. If you read my last post, dated December 29, you’ll know I have moved forward in my writing life. Yes, I have a huge distance to go yet, but I lived up to my word of 2017 and made PROGRESS – however small it may seem. That was my goal.

you are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – c. s. lewis

I’m now thinking about what I want my goals to be in 2018. They won’t be unreasonable and unreachable, but they will challenge me and spur me on. 

I’m also waiting to know what my word for 2018 will be. I started focusing on a motivational/inspirational word for the year back in 2013. That year my word was GRATEFUL. Apparently I didn’t have a word for 2014; however, it was POSITIVITY for 2015, CHANGE for 2016, and PROGRESS for 2017. 

It’s been a tough year on a personal level, affecting my ability to write as much as I want to. As usual, I’m behind in my reading and yet I still managed to read over 600 books this year! That’s amazing to me – even if they are mostly picture books and therefore quicker to read. (My librarians are fantastic and I do my part to keep them busy. 🙂 )

Before I sign off I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your faithful following of my blog, for your comments and encouragement, for sharing about Polilla Writes, and for your friendship. That means so very much to me.

Even though I fell behind a few times I kept at the blogging when I could do it because I enjoy the connection with you, even if I hear from only a few. I am grateful you are there, reading my words and sometimes adding your thoughts. Please keep coming back in 2018 if what I have to share is worth your time. I appreciate you. Do you have any favourites among my 2017 posts? 

What has 2017 meant to you? Do you have goals (or resolutions) for the new year?

Thank you for helping to make 2017 a year of progress in my life. See you in 2018!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

 

 

Update and Infographic: 28 boring words and what to use instead

It seems I’ve been absent too much lately from blogging. I’m still around, although not keeping up with everything. On Saturday last week – with hundreds of other writers from all over the world – I participated in an online Picture Book Summit which was amazing. Over 9 hours of amazing, in fact. It’s part of my education in learning about writing for children and I know I’m gradually learning some very good and helpful information.

Thanks to my local library I’ve been doing a lot more reading of picture books again – and other books, too, but mostly picture books. That’s part of the learning process, the really fun part. As a member of 12×12 the goal is to try to write a new story (rough draft) each month, and so far this year I have managed to do that. I’ve even drafted more than one a couple of months! Sometimes the story starts in my brain when I’m relaxed at bedtime and just lingers there long enough for me to scribble it down. One morning I wasn’t awake very long when I started hearing a story beginning, so I had to stay focused on it to capture the story before it went the way of my forgotten dreams. It’s fascinating to me how that happens.

Today I have some information to share with you that could be of help with your writing. It’s an infographic of 28 Boring Words and What to Use Instead, and was created by writer and blogger Jack Milgram. (Thanks, Jack!)

To go to the infographic CLICK HERE , but please come back to leave a comment.

Are there any words that bug you or you think are overused or boring?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

Book Review: Pirates in the Library – by Nadia Ali

 

 

 

 

Book: Pirates in the Library
Author: Nadia Ali
Illustrator: Jake Tebbit
Publisher: Star Bright Books
Date: November 30, 2016
Genre: children's picture book; age 5-8; Pre-school-3
Pages: 40
Price: $16.83 hardcover
My rating: a delightful story to encourage interest in the 
library

Pirates in the Library by Nadia Ali is a delightful story to encourage interest in the library, starting with that title.

Ms. Benitez, the librarian, thought of a way to get people interested in visiting the library. She sketched out a treasure map, made copies of it, and stacked them on her desk by an open window. The map was the Dread Pirate Dewey’s decimal map and showed how to find his treasure. 

A storm came up and out the window blew many of her maps! Out on the wild waves was Captain Jake, and one of Ms. Benitez’s maps stuck right on his face.  Of course, once he saw what it was, he was determined to find the treasure.

Fierce Captain Jake, his bold pirate crew, and their parrot too, came looking for the treasure. Ms. Benitez happily welcomed them, warning them not to shout or squawk, but to be quiet, and then directed them to rows and rows of “treasure.” Captain Jake was aghast that there were no rubies or diamonds or doubloons! Only books! Many books. When he realized all his crew had disappeared Captain Jake suspected the Dread Pirate Dewey had captured them, but then he found them all reading books about things that interested them, such as … cooking, navigating by the stars, learning to take charge, biographies, fiction, sports, and even the parrot was looking at a book of pictures of birds.

At the very end of the story … well, that’s funny, too. You’ll have to read it for yourself.

The fabulous illustrations for Pirates in the Library were created by Jake Tebbit and add depth to the story. The way Nadia Ali told the story is entertaining, with repetition in such a way that adds to the humour. 

Pirates in the Library is an enjoyable book for children and the adults who read to them. In the back of the book is the Dewey decimal system – which shows how it is worked out. Also, the end pages are fun with maps and X marking the spot where the treasure can be found.

You can find Pirates in the Library by Nadia Ali on my BUY THE BOOK page. I also post my reviews on Goodreads, and when available on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, and Chapters.Indigo.

Your comments are greatly appreciated by authors, illustrators, and this blogger.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

Book! Books! Books! and a few more

The verdict is in. It’s true. I (might) have a problem. 

There was a fundraiser used books sale in town on March 31 and April 1. On March 31 my daughter and I, with several other book-lovin’ people, got there before the doors opened at 8:40 AM. It was a tight squeeze moving around in that hall, but oh boy! was it fun!  🙂

This is the load of books I came home with that day.

Next photos are the close-ups of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As shown in the above photo, I found a whole lot of Ken Follett books I didn’t have: The Man From St. Petersburg; A Dangerous Fortune; Jackdaws; Night Over Water; The Modigliani Scandal; Whiteout; Winter of the World; Hornet Flight; On Wings of Eagles; Eye of the Needle; Code to Zero. Now I want to find A Column of Fire to complete one of the series I have.

This assortment will be wonderful reading. I’m especially interested in Robin Hobb fantasy books right now. I read Assassin’s Apprentice, book 1 of her Farseer trilogy, & very much want to find preread copies of 2 & 3, Royal Assassin and Assassin’s Quest.

Shown in the above photo: Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold; Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot; The Boy Next Door by Meg Cabot; Vets Might Fly by James Herriot; If Only They Could Talk by James Herriot; Drop Shot by Harlan Coben; and volumes 1, 2, 3 – Dragon Keeper, Dragon Haven, City of Dragons – of the four books of The Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb. Of course, I want to find a copy of volume 4, Blood of Dragons.

I was excited to find some Thornton W. Burgess books. When I was a child I had The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver and I don’t know how many times I read that book. I don’t know who my mum gave it to and I never had any others of the series. I’d love to have all of them.

Above: Lighthouse: a Story of Remembrance by Robert Munsch; The Tales of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo; Stellaluna by Jennell Cannon; The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein; and The Adventures of: Reddy Fox, Old Man Coyote, Paddy the Beaver, Old Mr. Toad, Johnny Chuck – all by Thornton W. Burgess.

As I said, my daughter and I went to the sale, so she loaded one bag for me and I loaded a second one. When I got home I discovered I’d somehow missed when paying for them that I had two copies of one title, so today I HAD to go back to exchange one for another book. Right? You understand. It only makes sense. It was no problem for the ladies in charge of the sale so I proceeded to try to find a replacement. Here is what I came home with – only one of which is in exchange:

 

I picked out a mix of genres again. My reading taste varies a lot, as you can see. There’s so much to learn about writing, and what better way than to read?

 

In above photo: Alexander, Who’s Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move – by Judith Viorst; Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully; Louis Braille: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind by Margaret Davidson; Going Solo by Roald Dhal; The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl; Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl; The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne; Heroes of the Holocaust by Allan Zullo & Mara Bovsun;  The Kite by W. O. Mitchell; Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert; ‘Tis: a memoir by Frank McCourt; The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd; Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss; Every Living Thing by James Herriot; The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks; Lost Soldiers by James Webb;  The Cat Who Came in From the Cold by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson; and 5 complete novels of murder and detection (in one volume) – Ten Little Indians; Peril at End House; The Murder at Hazelmoor; Easy to Kill; Evil Under the Sun – by Agatha Christie.

My grandson’s class at school is reading The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I heard about the movie, that it’s sad, but if my young man can read the book I will, too.

I’m still borrowing books from the library although the Reading for Research  challenge officially ended March 31. I’m in the groove now, you know, so I’ll keep it going. After my book sale shopping I went to the library to pick up books on hold for me and added them to the ones I already have at home. I have some at Dad’s, too. Here is my borrowed pile at home:

 

I have so much reading to do!

When I finish a book I write a short review on Goodreads, so it’s keeping me pretty busy.

 

 

 

Friday evening my husband and I went to a performance by a Newfoundland musical and comedy team called Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers. Very funny and talented. After the show we checked out their items for sale and lo! and behold! Guess what I came home with? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These books were written by two members of the group. I’ll review them here at a later date.

I think that’s all I have to share with you for now. If you need me I’ll be the one reading, with Zamfir or some other equally lovely instrumental background music or nature sounds (birds, the ocean) playing … unless I’m in the mood for total silence. 🙂

Oh, and the problem I mentioned at the beginning? It’s twofold. (1) I seem to be running out of hiding places shelves for my books and (2) I don’t have enough reading time. You thought it was that I keep buying them, didn’t you? Nawww. That’s impossible. 🙂

I recently read a meme that goes: If loving books is a crime … I’m looking at life without parole.  I think it suits me. 🙂

When you read do you need it to be QUIET, or do you fall so completely into the story you hear nothing else anyway?

Love to you all. Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

Update about writing & books; & remember: set your clocks ahead tonight!

Today I realized that I should say something about the contests I entered recently.

My 50 word story, Magic Rainbows, for Vivian Kirkfield’s #50 Precious Words challenge, did not place. There were 251 entries; 40 were chosen.

You already know my 214 word story, Valentine’s Day Surprises, for Susanna Hill’s Valentiny contest, did not place. There were 117 entries; 10 were chosen as winners and 18 received honourable mention.

I like my stories and felt they had promise, so, I admit, I was quite disappointed they didn’t make the cut when it was hard to put them out there in the first place. Once I got past those gloomy feelings I paid attention to the positive comments and urges to work on my stories to develop them further. I am going to give that a try. There could be picture books hidden in there. 

Right now I am involved in reading others’ stories (although I’m still writing) because Reading For Research Month is underway, and a book study (Writing Picture Books), both of which have required reading. I have been borrowing books from the library and keeping our lovely librarians busy. Look at the pile of books I have home right now, plus I have a smaller pile at Dad’s to bring home Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn’t that fabulous?  🙂  Including the ones not shown here I have 73 checked out, and 41 currently on hold to come to me when available. My list keeps growing in either direction because I keep asking for more books.

For the books I borrow I try to write a brief review on Goodreads where I again entered a reading challenge. I set my personal challenge at a total of 150 books to read, which I surpassed by one last year, and I know I can do it again this year with probably even more. Of course, most of them are picture books, but that’s my field of study right now. Picture books. And that’s what I most want to write. Picture books. So most of the books I borrow are … picture books.  🙂

On another note …  For those of you who have to change your clocks (early Sunday morning) …

set your clocks ahead one hour tonight!

Do you use the library much? On that other note, do you have trouble adjusting to the time changing by one hour?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂