Give Me a Book

“Give Me a Book”

Give me a book

And long tall grass

There will I look

As the hours pass

To other places

I can see;

To other faces

strange to me.

In black and white

They fill my head

With men and women--

Vanished, dead—

Of hopes and fears

of wish and need.

The world stands still,

I breathless read,

And in their history

I see

The untold mystery

of me.

Myra Cohn Livingston

A Library of Your Own

Years ago I read about forming a library of books for your children and family to enjoy. Joe and I have had to be rather picky about movies and books that we keep in a family library because we know that the selections will reflect our values to our children.
A neighbor who lived by us in Salt Lake was mentioning to me that she did not allow her children to touch or hold books because children "abuse" books. Children learn by touching, licking, seeing, feeling, even tasting...Better to have books that can be abused and develop children who love to read than have a few beautiful books and children who don't enjoy books.
Of course, that is why I have a top shelf of "Read with Mom" books and then purposely put books on low shelves I hope they will reach.
Joe and I recently attended a Literature workshop held by our local library. They flew in a reading specialist from Massachusetts. She was a great speaker whose advice to parents was "eat cold cereal for dinner and let children see mom and dad reading. Reading for pleasure!"
Bibliotherapy--using books to reach children in times of trial--friendship, maturation, death of a spouse, divorce, siblings with disabilities, etc. At times a book can reach a child in a way that a lecture or talk by a parent doesn't. Reach a child through a good book and create a lasting moment together.

Where do I buy my library?
Savers (nationwide, I understand) sells children's books in UT for 69 cents and $2.00 for special hardbacks.

Deseret Industries--an LDS thrift store has baragin books for 50 cents, $1.00, and $2.00 for collector books (like the Childcraft series).

Local Library Booksale--our library has a sale quarterly where they liquidate books to re shelve new books. Joe knows that I do not enjoy shopping except this "hunt" where I have found great reads for a quarter, fifty cents, or a dollar.
Half.com--beaware that this site is part of Ebay and I have had sketchy success but like it's name, you can get bargains on books, audio selections, etc.

Yard sales

Holiday Selections on our Bookshelf

Easter:
The Velveteen Bunny

Little Bunny Follows His Nose

The Easter Story

The Golden Egg Book

Bunny Finds a Home

The Bunny Who Had Red Wings

Parenting Books

The Baby Book by William and Martha Sears A pediatrician and his nurse wife write about helps in this large book after raising seven of their own children and an adopted child. Their seventh son was Down's. Especially appreciated are Martha's notes from mothering which talk about childhood stages at different ages. A broad book on sleep helps with various sleep situations: crib, nursery, co -sleeping, etc.

A Joyful Mother of Children by Linda Eyre an LDS mother of nine writes hints that helped her enjoy her mothering.

Enjoy the Journey by Lucille Johnson

Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Books I Want to Read

The Wednesday Wars--2008 pick for the Newberry Medal
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George A rewrite of a favorite trade book of mine, East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a Nordic tale of a young girl who must try and regain the true love she has lost in the northern cold.

Currently on the Nightstand

I can't figure out the layout on this blog--it does not have a tab that my other two do and so I will simply write a new post. (Joseph has a hard time with the amount of books I read and listen to simultaneously). He can keep computer threads and quests separate and active.

Books I am currently reading:
The Book of Mormon--I am behind the church reading schedule...just finishing up 2 Nephi. I try and start my day with a chapter to aid spirituality and remind me to be a better person.

* The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm by Nancy Farmer--Newberry Honor book, excellent stroyteller.

*The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick--Newberry Medal Winner, A Graphic Novel, has 284 pages of illustrations so the "book" reads like a black and white film with pictures aiding the storyline. My husband, and children (including four year old son) are totally captivated with this one...good enough to motivate children to be all ready for bed just to listen/see to a chapter or two.

*The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
Joe and I are reading this book together (and so I promised not to read ahead). We listened to the first book, The Warrior Heir, on audio book shortly after Susannah was born and liked it. It is about a group of people with special powers who live alongside us mere mortals...no, it is not Harry Potter and it is well written.

The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm, written by Nancy Farmer, published by Scholastic Books (2004), YA (Sci Fi), 320 pgs. ISBN:0439530644

The year is 2194. The country is modern day Zimbabwe. General Matsika has worked to rid the country of gang violence and establish peace. In his plush, modern home, his three children are isolated and live in relative harmony until a scout trip across town lands them kidnapped and put to work in a plastic mine for the SheElephant. Matsika's wife hires three unusual detectives to use their special powers to search for them.
A Newbery Honor Book.

Issues explored: modern day technology versus traditional Africa, birth defects, courage,...