Awe-Inspiring August 2018 - Children's Readathon - Week 2

For this week's Children's Readathon I was introduced to two new books and got to re-read an old one that I haven't read in a really long time.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is a cute, short book about a bus driver who has to leave the bus and informs the reader not to let the pigeon drive the bus.  He never says why, but the pigeon does his best to try and convince us it would be a good thing.  My favorite part was when the pigeon used the familiar, "I'll be your best friend" line to cajole us.  I have said that many times to my kids and my family.  This book reminded me of a Sesame Street book called "There's a monster at the end of this book" where Grover implores us not to turn the pages of the book as there is a monster at the end.  Apparently there is a series of "Pigeon" books.  If I had little ones I'd be sure to search them out.

Next I read Number The Stars.  This is a very touching story about the German occupation of Denmark.  I guess I didn't realize how many countries Germany actually tried to overtake.  This book tells the story of two girls, one Jewish and one not, who are best friends.  When it is dangerous for the Jews to be in the neighborhood, the Danish family does their best to get the Jewish family to a safer spot.  Cloaked in mystery from the girls so that they will not be able to reveal the secrets, an evacuation is planned.  The Danish girl is smart enough to realize that the Star of David necklace that her friend wears could be trouble and she pulls it off her neck just before the German soldiers come in the room.  I found this to be a good story for children, explaining the dangers of the time but not so graphic as to scare them.   

Finally, an old classic, Winnie-the-Pooh.  I love the drawings and the interpretive spelling.  There have been some good quotes coming out of this book but I found one that I really like.  It is toward the end of the book and Pooh and Piglet are walking home.  Piglet asks Pooh:  "When you wake up in the morning, Pooh, what's the first thing you say to yourself?"  Pooh answers, "What's for breakfast?  What do you say, Piglet?"  "I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?"  Pooh nods and says, "It's the same thing." 

One of the things that I have been trying to do every morning is say, "Something wonderful is going to happen today, I can't wait to see what it is."  When I start my day that way, even something simple like having a good breakfast CAN be special.  It reminds me to look for the wonderful in simple things that I might otherwise miss. 

 

Have you read these books?  Any Pooh quotes that are your favorite?  Look for something wonderful every day?  Love to hear about it.

Next week it is "Charlotte's Web" which I've read and another one I haven't, "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe."  You can still join in on the Children's Readathon hosted by Jay Cudney if you want, there are two weeks left!

Awe-Inspiring August - 2018 - Children's Readathon - Picture Books

My blogging friend, Jay Cudney, is hosting another readathon and this time it is children's books.  I have not read children's books since my kids were little, thinking that since I'm an adult they no longer have a relevance for me.  Wrong.  It has been so long that I can see new things in them that I didn't notice before.

The three books for this week were: 

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak, "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown and "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss.

Let me get "Where the Wild Things Are" over first.  I am not a fan.  I don't like Max and I don't like animals.  There.  I said it.  I don't think I actually read this book to my kids and if I did it was only once.  I know I did see the movie but I don't know how I sat through it all.  I think my husband wanted to see it.  I had to go to a special section in the library to get it because it is a Caldecott Medal winner for "most distinguished American picture book for children."  Still not impressed. 

The other two books I really love though.  "Goodnight Moon" was a true favorite.  It was a really great one to use for reading before bedtime to settle the kids down.  Each page is filled with wonderful words and pictures and you can use it to help teach them names of colors and objects. 


      


"In the great green room there was a telephone, and a red balloon and a picture of..."  I would have the kids point to the different items and ask them what other things they could think of that were green, etc.  Definitely a fun one to read. 

"Oh The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss is another one that is great but not just for little kids.  I didn't realize until just recently what a perfect gift this is for giving to graduates of all ages.


  

It explains that there are endless possibilities and choices you can make and that things will not always be sunshine and flowers but that you have the tools to work through the bad times.  Our daughter recently graduated from college and we gave this book to her as a gift, with each of her siblings, my husband and I writing her a special note on the pages inside.  I also added some pictures of her at various stages of her life throughout the book as well.  She was touched. 

Thanks to Jay for hosting this readathon.  I'm looking forward to some of the other books that were chosen.  We'll be doing this the whole month of August so if you want to bring back some good memories (or make some new ones), feel free to join along! 

Awe-Inspiring August 2018 - August Break and Stream of Consciousness Saturday

Rather than bombard you with posts today, I'll combine two of my challenges.  First is #AugustBreak2018 and the prompt is "Bookshelf." 

Here is one of my bookshelves.  It is in our hallway which is a source of some irritation to my husband, although what we would do with an extra 9-1/2 inches in that part of the hallway is beyond me.  This bookshelf is chuck full of books that I want to read or have read and want to keep.  The shelf with the paperbacks is two rows deep and there are two more shelves that you can't see.  I have some nicknacks on the shelves too which I may find some place else for since I definitely need more room there.

This is a bookshelf in my craft room full of magazines for me to go through and journals that I am working on.  Tons of inspiration there!

I have another bookshelf in my craft room but this one is full of paper!  I guess not all bookshelves have to have books on them, right?

Saturday's #SoCS gives us the word "Call."  Coincidentally I went to the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo today and had to pick up my ticket at the Express Will Call.  Usually I go with my niece, Donna, but she couldn't come today so I just attended the expo but didn't take any classes.  In addition to my entry ticket I got a "Golden Ticket" to be used to try to win a special prize.  Even those were different as they didn't say "Golden Ticket" on them anymore.  I asked about it and they said that some people were getting confused since it was the "Saturday Spectacular" so that's what the tickets said today and they weren't even gold!  Who gets confused by a Golden Ticket???  

While you are shopping around, you need to keep your eyes open for the numbers on the floor because every once in a while they will call out a number and if you are standing on it, you win a prize.  I didn't win today but we have won in the past. 

You have to listen as well because every once in a while they will call a name for a door prize!  I didn't win one of those either. 

Lastly, at 1:00 they have a drawing for the winner of the "Golden Ticket."  They have a display in the front of the room and you can put your golden ticket stub in the box of the prize you want to win.  I had a hard time deciding this time because - hard to say - none of the prizes looked that great. 

Here is the group listening to them call the winning numbers.  Sadly, still no winner for me in that category this time.     

Here is what the showroom looks like.   I was kinda disappointed because not only did I not have my niece with me or get my number or name called for a prize, there were a lot fewer vendors.   Of course, I managed to pick up a few items but it was mostly things I call staples in my crafting like adhesives and pop dots.  I did get a few new inks to try and some new card making supplies. 

These are some of the classes that you can take.  They do the classes both Friday and Saturday but not always the same classes on both days.  There were people standing in front of Saturday class list so I took this pic instead.

I went to the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in Pleasanton earlier this year and there were more vendors there.  They have another one coming up in Sacramento in October but that is a little farther away and unless they are having more vendors attend, I won't make the trip.  

I did like this quote about creativity:

I called my niece and told her that she didn't miss much and that it wouldn't have been worth it for her to drive the 1-1/2 hours it would take to get there except to be able to spend some time with her favorite aunt :)

How did you spend your Saturday?  Get called to win a prize? Read any good books?  Share!  If you want to participate in either the August Break or the Stream of Consciousness Saturday, click the link!  Always fun when more people join the games.

Awe-Inspiring August - 2018 #Augustbreak2018

Day 2 of the August Break with Susannah Conway and the prompt is "Ground." 

I'm attempting to get back in the saddle again with regard to my "healthy" lifestyle and so I took a walk to the library yesterday to get some books.  I knew the prompt for today was "Ground" so I had my eyes open for something to snap a photo of with that in mind.  I got all the way to the library and didn't see anything that I thought was "ground worthy" and I was starting to get disappointed but then as I left the library I saw this big old tree with its roots spreading around the base. 

The roots looked like long fingers to me and they were just extending all around the ground, almost in a perfect circle.  

Of course I've seen the roots of trees before but usually they are thick and just a few.  These were really thin and so many of them.  Almost made me think of cables that connect all of our electronics together.   

I was going to the library to get the books I need for the next Readathon I am participating in, a Children's Readathon with James J. Cudney

I am not used to reading children's books anymore since all of our kids are grown but I decided to join in after I realized that there were some books I don't even remember reading.  The first week's books are:

Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
Oh the Places You'll Go - Dr. Seuss
Goodnight Moon - Margaret Wise Brown

If you want to participate, please feel free!  I think this will be fun.  I know I will read them with a totally new perspective.  Have you read any children's books lately?  Get any fresh inspiration?  Follow along/join in with the August break too!