Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday: Recent Favorite Book Covers

This week is a freebie, so I decided to show off some favorite covers of upcoming books.
meme from The Broke and the Bookish 
Second Chance Girl
I love Susan Mallery - plus I'm a sucker for gazebos (I blame The Sound of Music)
Lucky in Love
I also have a thing for carousels 

Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls
I love how she looks like Supergirl
Lost and Found Sisters (Wildstone, #1)
Makes me long for a beach vacation
Wesley James Ruined My Life
Super cute - makes wish my teen summers were more entertaining
New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love, #4)
Hello New York
When Dimple Met Rishi
So every day and yet so appealing
The Names They Gave Us
Very artsy - I love the way the colors blend together
Enemy Exposure (The Raven Files, #2)
Love the target on her

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart
Dragons!
Bonus Cover:

You Throw Like a Girl
 Awesome girl power. Love the sneakers and the dress!

Monday, February 27, 2017

Frostblood Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Frostblood (Book 1 in the Frostblood Saga)
By Elly Blake
Release: January 10, 2017


The Frost King will burn.

Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their bloodthirsty king, she agrees to come out of hiding, desperate to have her revenge.

Despite her unpredictable abilities, Ruby trains with the rebels and the infuriating—yet irresistible—Arcus, who seems to think of her as nothing more than a weapon. But before they can take action, Ruby is captured and forced to compete in the king’s tournaments that pit Fireblood prisoners against Frostblood champions. Now she has only one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who has taken everything from her—and from the icy young man she has come to love.


Vivid and compelling, Frostblood is the first in an exhilarating series about a world where flame and ice are mortal enemies . . . but together create a power that could change everything.

Sounds great right? Read the first chapter of Frostblood on TheNovl.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elly Blake loves fairy tales, old houses, and owls. After earning a degree in English literature, she held a series of seemingly random jobs, including project manager, customs clerk, graphic designer, and reporter for a local business magazine before finally landing on her current job as a library assistant. She lives in Southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids, and a Siberian Husky mix that definitely shows frostblood tendencies.




Are you Frostblood or Fireblood? Take the quiz!

Official Site + Social Media
Visit the Official Site
Follow @elly_blake and @TheNovl on Twitter
Use hashtag #Frostblood


PRIZE PACKAGE
Where Flame And Ice Are Mortal Enemies: Pick a side!
One (1) winner from your site receives:
  • a copy of Frostblood
  • branded nail polish duo in shades of fire and frost

Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Little, Brown and Co.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Crafting: New Cards


Over the past couple weeks, I've been looking at some crafty items. I finally bought a new tool. It came on Friday. Yesterday I started making cards. I made a birthday card for my OTSPSecretSister because her birthday is this month. I made a thank you card for the rock star author who skyped with us last week. I made a card for my secret sister from the last round. Plus I made a few that I thought looked sweet.

I'm adding something to this one, I'm just not sure yet. But I love the jar!




As you can see, I bought some coffee/tea stamps. I also purchased some Valentine stamps, which I can't wait to use for next year's cards. 

I'm still experimenting. I've seen some videos about layering that I want to try. I might have to buy some more ink pads and some shimmering powder. I might have to buy some more clear stamps (I have a bunch in mind). But it's just another level to my card making.

What do you think?

Saturday, February 25, 2017

March Display Ideas



Here's the post from last year - be sure to check out the Women's Books. This year I'd use the tagline Nevertheless, She Persisted

More Social Justice Book Displays. Maybe a book display with books including Trans characters.

March 23rd: National Puppy Day. Maybe a display about dog books or books with dogs


 I'll add movie tie ins
Superhero Books / Anti-hero Books

YA Books into Movies / Books where you relive one day

Fairy Tale display



Friday, February 24, 2017

Graphic Novel Review



Zoe feels like an outsider in her world, so she's pleased to discover a mysterious gem that changes her life. With this gem, she becomes Diamond Cadet. When her foster parents' lives are threatened, she joins forces with the other Cadets to fight the darkness and save them.
I love girl gangs fighting darkness and evil. Team work. Positive friendships. Loyalty. Family. Pure Fun.

Librarian Recommendation: Grab this one for your collection!
This one reminded me of Lumberjanes.
Fans of Babymouse would also enjoy this one.
Pass it along to your readers, they will be happy.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Skyping with Authors: Elizabeth Eulberg!

Skyping with authors, it's a great tool to introduce students to authors. One of the classes in the middle school is currently reading the Shelby Homes book, so it's great to be able to ask the author questions about the book, about writing, and about being an author. 

Many authors will Skype for 15-20 minutes with classrooms/book clubs who have read their book. It's a perfect way to read aloud to students (which they love) and then meet the author. Take a look at the author list put together by Kate Messner and plan your own event!

We were lucky to win a chat (from twitter) with Elizabeth Eulberg and it was awesome!


It happened yesterday at the middle school - thanks to our partnership there. 

Elizabeth Eulberg is awesome. I had Such a Good Time and so did the kids. 

She was funny, kind, and wildly entertaining.

Of course New Kids on the Block came up.

She talked about how she got started writing - with a dare.

How many drafts of Lonely Hearts Club it took before publication - 17

Why the book is dedicated to the author of Captain Underpants books - he made the bet with her.

She talked about her writing process. She us notebooks and note cards and explained how she uses each.

We learned there will be at least two more Shelby books. Where Shelby will have a hard time at school and also meet someone just as smart - which of course will cause problems. We heard about Shelby's extensive vocabulary and how upon finding fun words, she writes them down in a notebook to use for later. 

She gave writing advice for some writers in the group.

A few recommended books for middle schoolers:
The Great Greene HeistFairest of All (Whatever After, #1)Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School, #1)

Great choices, I've read and loved each of these books!

It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon and I'm so thankful that I was on twitter at the right moment at the right time. 

Also Elizabeth rocks. 
If you haven't read her books, go do it. I've read them all and they are great!
 I can't wait for her newest one out next month!

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Skyping with Elizabeth Eulberg

Today is the day and I'm SO excited!!! Over at the middle school, we're talking with Elizabeth Eulberg.

We'll be talking about this awesome book:


I can't wait to hear all about it and get some insider details. Maybe we might hear about book 2! All I know is that I'm super excited about this opportunity (we won a this video chat through a twitter contest)

Come back tomorrow for details on how it went!

Picture Book Review: Raindrops Roll


A nature nonfiction picture book on rain and the water cycle.

I loved this book - great photography that matches the text. The perfect book to uses in beginning to understand rain and water  - especially with the added information in the back of the book. I poured over these photographs, savoring them.

I found this book after reading Best in Snow and I hope more nature books are in the works. 

Get this one for both your public and school libraries!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday: Last books Added to my TBR

This week, I'm picking my own topic - and it's an easy one. Last few books added to my LONG TBR pile. Here you go!
meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Always My Girl (The Shaughnessy Brothers, #3)Some Kind of MagicChasing Christmas Eve (Heartbreaker Bay, #4)Shadow GirlHere We Are Now
The Afterlife of Holly ChaseCalling My NameAmong the Red StarsVigilanteSuch a Good Girl

There you have it. Some pretty great looking reads!

Books and Treats (8)




A new blog idea inspired by Andi @ http://andiabcs.com/2014/08/01/pub-date-1/ with the Pub Date where a few bloggers share book and beer pair ups.  Andi states that the idea is the brain child of Brittany at The Book Addict’s Guide.


After reading Fudge and Jury by Ellie Alexander, I craved chocolate something fierce. So I settled for some adult hot chocolate and a dark chocolate Godiva truffle. YUM!

A delicious read and a delicious treat!

What could be better?

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Summer Reading: Build a Better World Program Ideas (4)


I know it's February, but summer will be here before you know. Deadlines are looming for performers and/or community magazines. I've started pulling together ideas on Pinterest. I'm planning to concentrate on building activities and STEAM programs. But Pinterest as so many great ideas that it's hard to choose. So I'm sharing my Pinterest finds. I hope you find them useful.


Community Projects:
Free printable compliment cards for a fun and free random act of kindness.:
Create compliment cards and leave them around town
Teens start food pantry for pets | Goshen and Chester NY | Local News:
Collect items for the food pantry - pet food, toiletries, or food

Super ideas for baby and toddler discovery bottles - so great for sensory play (with no mess!):
Create Discovery Bottles for hospital waiting rooms/dentists/doctor offices
Send a letter to a military member: http://amillionthanks.org/send_a_letter.php:
Send letters to a member of the military 

Milwaukee area residents give tips about what worked best for their Little Free Library design.:
Build a Little Free Library in an area in your community