LOOK AGAIN by Lisa Scottoline

What would you do as a mother who adopted a child if you saw a HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CHILD flyer in your mail that looked just like your adopted son?  Would you seek the truth or throw the flyer away and never think of it again.  Well Ellen Gleeson decided that, as a feature reporter, she could not turn a blind eye and began to uncover some details of her adopted son Will's background that caused her world to be turned upside down.  LOOK AGAIN is a page turner with depth and suspense.  I absolutely loved this book!

READ Chapter 1 here:   http://scottoline.com/Site/Books/lookagain.html

PUPPET PLAY by Diana Schoenbrun

I am inspired to create after reading PUPPET PLAY.  I have no sewing skills, but I am convinced that PUPPET PLAY can turn me into a creative sewer in no time.  The easy to follow directions, along with the colorful pictures will make creating a puppet pal a snap!  I love to do projects with my kids and create projects for my classroom as well.  I seem to run out of neat and creative ideas.  PUPPET PLAY is filled with great ideas that my kids will love and that are applicable for the classroom.  There nothing better than finishing reading a craft book feeling both inspired and not completely overwhelmed.  In PUPPET PLAY you use items that you have in the house, which is a win-win....use old stuff and create something cool.  I cannot wait to find a holey sock, a sad glove or a leg warmer to turn into a puppet pal.  I have a feeling you will feel the same way.  PUPPET PLAY with bring you and your kids together.  Check it out when it is released TOMORROW! 

Product Description

Have fun and go green with Diana Schoenbrun's Puppet Play: 20 Puppet Projects Made with Recycled Mittens, Towels, Socks, and More. A puppet builder, an illustrator, and an author, Schoenbrun presents 20 puppet projects made with recycled materials easily found around the house.

 

A lonely sock becomes a wizard puppet. A glove without a mate turns into five little pig puppets. And that tired dishtowel transforms into a lively banjo player puppet--all at very little cost. Diana Schoenbrun's easy-to-follow directions are accompanied by how-to illustrations. Also included are full-color photographs of puppets, as well as a chapter that guides children through creating and presenting their own puppet show. So, the next time the dryer eats a single sock, get crafty, go green, and go play with Puppet Play.

Thursday's Post: THE CHOCOLATE DIARIES by Karen Scalf Linamen

"The healthiest friendships, Kris said, blossom between people who don't have to leverage the other person's weakness to feel better about themselves, but between people who can recognize and celebrate one another's strengths and successes." (p. 59)

Doesn't that make you think, it sure resonated with me.  I am not one who is drawn to self help books, but CHOCOLATE DIARIES really spoke to me.  There are tough times we all face and we end up asking the big question, why me?  Why not them?  Everyone's life has peaks and valleys.  It is our response to the tough stuff that counts.  In CHOCOLATE DIARIES, you will be inspired to view these valleys in a new light.  You will find humor and love in the pages, along with some "sweet secrets".  If you love chocolate, but love yourself more this book is for you.  Making even the smallest change in your attitude can make huge changes in your life.  I strongly recommend this book.

 

Book Description...

Ready to Make Some Sweet Changes?
Karen Linamen dishes up a satisfying blend of moxie and mocha, sharing stories from dozens of women who reveal savvy strategies for embracing a sweeter life—even while traveling rocky roads. If you’re hungry for more joy, reasons to laugh again, ideas to help you heal, and reliable hope leading to a sweeter future, this journey will leave you satisfied.

Funny, transparent, and uplifting, The Chocolate Diaries is like taking a road trip with good friends who are wise about life. And while you’re at it, indulge (just a little) in the quirky recipes for concocting chocolate delights out of whatever ingredients you can round up in your kitch. The road may still be bumpy, but you’ll be having too much fun to care.

* "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for with the expectation that I would complete a review of Chocolate Diaries.

Posting Schedule

I have decided to make myself a posting schedule to assist my followers and myself.  I know that I have been a bit sporadic when it comes to posting.  Some days there is nothing, while other days there are multiple postings.  I will, from here on out, post reviews on Tuesdays and Thursdays and write a little tidbit or write a quote from books I love on Sundays. 

Remember that the giveaway for TOMORROW RIVER is still going on.  Don't miss out on getting your hands on a SIGNED paperback copy of TOMORROW RIVER before it hits shelves on May 3rd.   Just send 10 friends to publicly follow this blog, have them post a comment and write that they were referred by you.  Upcoming giveaways will include trivia with prizes being 2 more SIGNED book.  Author's name will be released after the conclusion of TOMORROW RIVER giveaway.

Thanks for following....

-Em

IN TROUBLE by Ellen Levine

We all like choices right?  To be able to say and do what we want when we want.  In Trouble takes on the subject of one of the toughest choices a women has...what to do when you get pregnant or find yourself "in trouble".  In Trouble takes place in the 1950's when the girls who found themselves "in trouble" were contending with getting sent to a home and being shamed by their families or attempting back alley abortions in the most heinous of conditions.  In today's times, girls who find themselves "in trouble" get to go onto MTV's real life drama 16 and Pregnant.  They become the center of attention and have a sort of stardom that still blows my mind.  Have things really changed that much in the last 50 years?  Are we really doing that big of an 180 flip, going from shaming the girls to making them stars? 

In Trouble is one of the rare finds in Young Adult Literature.   In Trouble  speaks to the struggles of so much more than the title suggests.  Levine weaves in dating, family relationships, school pressures and dating violence into a very compelling novel.   Levine has written an intense story that tackles some very tough subject matter.  Levine manages to do it in a way that emotionally resonated with me.  I had a hard time putting this book down because I began to care for the characters so deeply and wanted to see the outcome.   I think that this book speaks volumes about how young girls were treated in the 50's and, to a certain degree, how they still are.   Like Levine stated in the Author's Note, by quoting George Santayana:  "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

I highly recommend this book to both adults and the YA's.

I was able to read a galley of this book.  It will be available September 1st, 2011.

The Fox Cities Book Festival-2011

As you all know I love books.  But what I love more is hearing authors talk about their books.  I love knowing what was behind the stories, what got them to write, how they write and all the other interesting things that come out of a great discussion. 

In the Fox Cities we are lucky enough to have the Fox Cities Book Festival.  There are amazing authors from all over the country and the selection covers every genre there is.  I will not drone on and on about how great it is because my words will not do it justice.  It is something you have to experience.  Make a point to get out and see atleast one author.  You will not be sorry!

If you were able to see Luis Alberto Urrea you were able to experience storytelling at its finest.  Urrea was both dynamic and funny.  I took some very important lessons home that night and will forever to grateful for sharing  that time with Urrea and two of my dear friends.  Cherish those moments, as the fest comes but once a year.  Urrea was a great kickoff to the fest (as he is done speaking at the fest) and I look forward to all the other amazing things to come the rest of the week!

Below is my list of must see authors: 

LUIS ALBERTO URREA

*This is one of many titles


HILLARY JORDAN:

TONIGHT at 7p Menasha Public Library

GREGG HURWITZ:



*this is one of many titles

Friday April 15th 7p at Appleton North High School

PHILIP GULLEY:



*this is 2 of many titles

TICKET EVENT:  Saturday April 16 at 9a Radisson Paper Valley in Appleton

SANDRA KRING:

*this is 2 of 4 titles
Saturday April 16 at 11:30a Little Chute Public Library

LESLEY KAGEN:






Saturday April 16 at 2p Kimberly Public Library

MICHAEL PERRY:
*this is 1 of many titles


TICKET EVENT:  Micheal Perry (and the Long Beds) concert fundraiser
OuterEdge Stage Saturday April 16 at 7:30p

ANNIE BURROWS:
*this is 2 of many titles

Sunday April 17:
2p and 6p Neenah Public Library

Get Out and Enjoy THE FOX CITES BOOK FESTIVAL!!!!

For a full calendar of THE FOX CITIES BOOK FESTIVAL and other information regarding the festival go to http://www.foxcitiesbookfestival.org/

A POCKET FULL OF KISSES and CHESTER RACOON AND THE BIG BAD BULLY by Audrey Penn

I have to say that I am now a huge fan of Audrey Penn.  I have now read and reviewed 4 of her titles and have simply adored them all.  I feel her books are beautifully illustrated, with loveable characters and contain heartwarming messages. 

A POCKET FULL OF KISSES

A Pocket Full of Kisses is about Chester getting a new baby brother and having to deal with sharing his Mother's love.  I just love the whole "kissing hand" theme and loved that is appears in all of Penn's books (those that I have read at least).  I think that the transition is hard for any child when a new sibling enters the family.  A Pocket Full of Kisses helps ease Chester into welcoming and accepting his new bother.  I just loved this book, as did my 2 boys.   

CHESTER RACOON AND THE BIG BAD BULLY

Bullying is on increasingly serious issue that young kids face.  In Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully Mrs. Raccoon helps both Chester and Ronny Raccoon, as well as some other loveable forest friends, deal with the bullying Badger.  When I read this book to my 4 year old son it sparked a great conversation about what bullies are and how he needs to deal with them.  I am grateful up to this point to that neither of my children have fallen victim to bullying or have been the bully themselves.  I have heartfelt gratitude towards Penn for writing Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully.  In the event of a bullying episode I am sure that this book will prove to be helpful.  I am glad to see Penn address the serious issue in a way young children can relate too.  It is never too early to talk to our children about difficult situations.  I highly recommend this book.