Senses at the Seashore

Senses at the Seashore by Shelley Rotner is a book for younger children that I found it at the library when I was there with my niece. I think that I read the book ten or twelve times in four days. The book would be great for teaching preschoolers and even kindergarten and first graders about the five senses. The photographs are great, too, and it made me wish that I had been able to go to California during my winter break. Rotner has two other books in this series-Senses in the City and Senses on the Farm that I am looking forward to reading. Is there any book you have been reading over and over to a preschooler lately?

quotes

Here is a new quote that I definitely agree with..."A house without books is like a room without windows." -Heinreich Mann
Anyone else have a favorite quote or two?

The Day it Rained Hearts

The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond is definitely one of my two favorite Valentine's Day books. It is for preschoolers and early elementary students, but after discovering this book several years ago I had to go get a copy for myself. Each year I read it to my students and they enjoy it. The simple story tells how Cornelia Augusta makes Valentines for all of her friends, so it would be a great introduction to making Valentines with a group of children. Anyone else have a favorite Valentine's book for children?

The Yearling

Well, I am back from my break...I don't think that I got as much done as I had hoped...though I did get a baby quilt top done and I also started some baby bibs. I also attended a fair amount of high school basketball games (more girls' games than boys') and read three books-The Yearling, Marley and Me, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. My favorite of the three books was The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. I would not classify myself as an animal lover, but this story, though lengthy, made me want to keep reading. Rawlings did a great job at developing the characters and describing the area of Florida that twelve year old Jody and his family lived. I think I don't want to watch the movie because movies are often not as good as the book. Anyone else read the book or watch the movie?

12 days of Christmas

I got a cool gift from my sister for Christmas. She made 12 bags (see here) that are about six and a half inches by seven and a half inches when closed. Then she put numbers on them and put little presents in them. One was for each of the 12 days of Christmas. (The twelve days of Christmas begin on December 25).
Day1-homemade Chex mix
Day2-an ornament
Day3-post it notes
Day 4-a box of Reese's Pieces candy
Day 5-a pumpkin pie spice candle in a jar
Day 6-2 spools of thread
Day 7-2 pairs of blue socks
Day 8-a homemade needle case
Day 9-Chapstick
Day 10-a box of Reese's Pieces candy
Day 11-6 handmade cards
Day 12-some fabric for quilting

My sister Anita also got twelve bags and I will have to compare with her a bit more to see what she got-some of our gifts were the same, but she got tea bags in one of hers and that never showed up in mine (thankfully). I thought that maybe the Helen Reddy tape would show up in one of the bags. If someone was making bags for you, what are a few things that could be put in them?

58 books in 2008

I read 58 books for grown ups this year.

My favorite books of 2008 are...

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner

Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark

The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter

The Healer's Heart by Diane M. Komp

A Minute before Friday by Jo Kadlecek

Revelations of a Single Woman by Connally Gilliam

Flabbergasted by Ray Blackston

French by Heart by Rebecca S. Ramsey

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

This is the second time I read Revelations of a Single Woman and I have read Flabbergasted at least twice already... What are some great books that you read this year?