Month: February 2015

Traveling the States with Gage – Ohio

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Gage goes to school Monday-Thursday and mornings are a time he usually is willing and wanting to learn a little, so I decided to start doing a little state work each three-day weekend.  We, of course, started with Ohio.

I decided to use this new series I found at the library.  We started by reading through the book and then I chose some things that were in there to do 5-10 minute activities over the three days.  My goal is really just two activities  for each of the three days and then two books, this one and one more picture book.

Here’s what we did

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1. Traced the state and marked the capital with a star and added some glitter glue.  Also wrote the name on the state.

2. Used the book to figure out how to color the state flag, the buckeyes, and state flower a red carnation.

3. Colored a guitar for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and marked it with a guitar sticker on the map.

4. Made the cutest little cardinal (state bird) that I found on Pinterest.

5. VIDEO-watched a video of Neil Armstrong (Ohioan) landing on the moon.

6. Read the book The Giant of Seville.

Related activity-We marked everyone’s height on the wall with a sticker and then used the tape measure to measure how high the giant was (he reached our ceiling!).  This was a good estimating activity since my parents were here.  We started by marking his height and then he had to guess who would be the next tallest each time.

IMG_2472[1]Cutting, gluing.IMG_2451[1]Tracing.giantEstimating and measuring.

History!

This weekend we’re working on Pennsylvania. If you have any books or fun activities to add for your state please me know!  I am going to need new ideas 🙂

 

 

 

February’s movies and $ for charity

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Gage is on the mend, but still fighting a cough and sinus issues. I appreciate all of your comments and messages.  It’s been a long week.  On to more fun things…

Now it’s your turn.  Add your 5 words (or less!) to mine and earn $1 for charity.  Once we get to $100 the person with the most reviews will choose the charity.  Click here to see the past winners, the charities they chose and the other reviews you can add to.  Anyone is welcome to join in at any time.

We’re up to $78!

I hope that you will take a few minutes to participate when you can each month.  It’s fun for me and for everyone else who reads it.  I’m not looking for a critical review, just a few words about how you felt about the movie.  This is ongoing so you can leave your 5 words anytime.

The Imitation Game (2014).pngThe Imitation Game, 2014 (Cast-Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear)   Grade B+

Breaking the unbreakable code.

Important part of history memorialized.  (Kathy)

The Words 2012 Film Poster.jpgThe Words, 2012 (Cast-Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde)       Grade B+

Thoughtful look at life’s decisions.

 

The Other Woman (2014 film) poster.jpgThe Other Woman, 2014 (Cast-Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)           Grade B-

Women sharing man get revenge.

Sweet revenge, chicks before d*cks.  (Sheree)

 

TheWeddingRingerPoster.jpgThe Wedding Ringer, 2015 (Cast-Kevin Hart, Josh Gad, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting)      Grade   B-

Money can buy fake friends!

 

The Tourist Poster.jpgThe Tourist, 2010 (Cast-Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Pauil Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton)      Grade C

Well, Venice is always beautiful.

Not an attractive Johnny Depp. 😉  (Michelle)

 

The Giant of Seville by Dan Andreasen

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Giant of Seville: A The Giant of Seville

32 pages, published 2007

Dan Andreasen

In the 1870s, a circus giant named Captain Martin Van Buren Bates left the circus and set off to find a town where he and his wife (also a circus giant) could live in peace. Captain Bates happened on Seville, Ohio, a sleepy little town that charmed him from the moment he arrived and welcomed him with open arms.

from Goodreads

This book is based on a true story set in a town not far from here.  I met the author/illustrator at the Ohio Book Festival and while I was having him sign my book to Gage a few women came up and started talking about how their parents would tell them this story when they we young and even point out the giant’s house as they drove by.  They seemed to agree that the house was no longer standing today.  If you are interested in the real giant you can read more on Wikipedia for details or teaching supports check here.

Martin grew to be 7″11′ and 525 pounds and his wife, from what I found, was even taller.  When they decided to retire from the circus, Martin took the train (a big fave with Gage)  to find a new home for the super-sized couple and he found a welcoming town in northern Ohio.  I loved this story about the man who did not fit social norms but was accepted anyway.  The illustrations and quality of the book are top-notch.  Some of the language might be challenging for younger kids but I think that’s a good thing.  This is a great tall tale from a small town in my great state 🙂

So, this weekend I started doing some mini-lessons on the 50 States with Gage.  Ohio was first so we focused on this book, but I’m looking for recommendations for my near future states (Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virgina).  Let me know!

kid konnection newBooking Mama hosts Kid Konnection every Saturday if you are interested in checking out other posts about kids books.

 

TLC Book Tour & GIVEAWAY! The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore

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The Serpent of Venice: A NovelThe Serpent of Venice.

TLC Book Tour here.  I want to thank TLC for providing a book for the giveaway!

Venice, a really long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from Britain who also happens to be a favorite of the Doge: the rascal-Fool, Pocket.

This trio of cunning plotters—the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago—have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising a spirited evening with a rare Amontillado sherry and a fetching young noblewoman. Their invitation is, of course, a ruse. The wine is drugged; the girl is nowhere in sight. These scoundrels have something far less amusing planned for the man who has consistently foiled their quest for power and wealth. But this Fool is no fool . . . and the story is only beginning.

Once again, Christopher Moore delivers a rousing literary satire and a cast Shakespeare himself would be proud of: Shylock; Iago; Othello; a dozen or so disposable villains; a cadre of comely wenches; the brilliant Fool; his sidekick, Drool; his monkey, Jeff; a lovesick sea serpent; and a ghost (there’s always a bloody ghost).

Wickedly witty and outrageously inventive, The Serpent of Venice pays cheeky homage to the Bard and illuminates the absurdity of the human condition as only Christopher Moore can.

If you haven’t tried a Christopher Moore novel then you haven’t tried everything.  My first Moore reading was Lamb:The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal and I was amazed at the quality of the story and storytelling.  Irreverent is how I often describe it.  And with this novel, I am back on board the Moore bandwagon.  As I mention any chance I get, I love Venice.  It was my first overseas trip and that amazing city will always have a place in my heart so when I saw that Moore was taking on Venice AND Shakespeare (another love of mine) I knew I’d have to read it.

The sheer amount of talent it took to connect some of Shakespeare’s more recognizable characters from The Merchant of Venice, Othello and King Lear (with a little Edgar Allen Poe walled in) is impressive.  Moore’s sense of humor and wit is on prominent display in this over-the-top homage.

One of the main characters, Pocket, a favorite of the Doge who shows up first in Fool, grew on me as did this whole assembly of colorful characters.  There was sex, murder, revenge, resurrection, a monster, Marco Polo, and love.  Not bad for a few hours of delightful reading.

I don’t think Moore’s comic genius is for everyone.  You have to be willing to buy into the crazy.  And then you have to be able to tolerate, if not appreciate, quite a bit of juvenile boy language.  If you can do those two things I think you are a candidate for the Christopher Moore bandwagon.  Hop on in!

I HAVE A COPY TO GIVE AWAY!  To celebrate the release of the paperback edition I will randomly select one lucky winner on February 28th.  You’ll want to enter even if you are on the fence about the story because the cover is gorgeous and fun and you’ll want it on your shelves.  Open internationally.

To enter just tell me you want entered in a comment and you’re done.  If you want an extra entry you can Tweet about it and/or post about it on your blog.  Just let me know you did.  Good luck!

No quiz

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My computer keeps shutting off every five – ten minutes so I’m saving myself some stress by not wasting any more time on it today 🙂

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

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IMG_2446The Hound of the Baskervilles. Finished 2-13-15, rating 4.25/5, mystery, 256 pages, pub.1902

Sherlock Holmes Book 5

Holmes and Watson are faced with their most terrifying case yet. The legend of the devil-beast that haunts the moors around the Baskerville families home warns the descendants of that ancient clan never to venture out in those dark hours when the power of evil is exalted. Now, the most recent Baskerville, Sir Charles, is dead and the footprints of a giant hound have been found near his body. Will the new heir meet the same fate?

from Goodreads

I found this 1971 copy that sold for 95 cents when published at a book sale last year, isn’t it great?  I love finding copies of classics that are in good shape but have obviously been read and enjoyed a few times.  Sometimes it feels like I am sharing the experience with another reader.  Surely, I am not the only one?  I’d been wanting to read a Sherlock Holmes mystery for years and joining the Classics Club last month gave me the push to pick this one up.

I’ve seen the most recent movies with Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes and even watched the movie from 1976, the Seven-Per-Cent Solution with a cocaine addled Holmes, so I wasn’t completely unprepared for the man on paper.  He is arrogant and insufferable, but here’s the thing, I have a thing for smart guys always have (even though he would most probably not return the favor), so I am willing to overlook a few character flaws for genius.  It helps that he is so eccentric that he is always a fascinating study.  Genius he is not, but it’s his companion Dr. Watson that really holds the story together as he tells his account of what happened and no one would call Watson arrogant or insufferable. Watson is loyal, steadfast and also very smart.  A perfect team.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is often mentioned so I am glad that I now have a frame of reference.  The Hound is an evil dog that was called up by a long-lost Baskerville to forever haunt the moor and Baskerville family members.  When Charles Baskerville dies without an heir, a sibling’s descendent is called to take his rightful place in the spooky hall on the moor.  Only someone has warned him to stay away.  Holmes sends Watson and the games begin.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I loved it.  I would love to read all the Holmes book and maybe someday I will but for now I’ve requested the 1939 movie and I’m curious to see what they’ve done with it.

This was also in the Books to Die for analogy:The World’s Greatest Mystery Writers on the World’s Greatest Mystery Novels and was chosen by Carol O’Connell.  My post on this book is here.

Any other Sherlock Holmes fans?

Lovers Quiz – guessing closed

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Guess as many as you can, one or ten. Sort out these lovers.  I need the ten pairs and if you want extra points you can tell me what book they are in.

No googling or looking at other commenter answers.  Yes, we’re going by the honor system 🙂  Play every week or just one time, you are always welcome 🙂  It only takes once to be eligible for a prize.

The Ladies-Hazel, Claire, Bella, Allie, Elizabeth, Jane, Rosie, Jenny, Cornelia, Anne

The Gents-Jamie, Fitzwilliam, Noah, Don, Frederick, Oliver, Martin, Augustus, Edward, Edward (so nice I’m listing it twice!)

Good luck!

Elizabeth & Fitzwilliam – Pride & Prejudice

Jane & Edward – Jane Eyre

Hazel & Augustus – The Fault in Our Stars

Claire & Jamie – Outlander series

Bella & Edward – Twilight series

Allie & Noah – The Notebook

Rosie & Don  – The Rosie Project

Anne & Frederick – Persuasion

Jenny & Oliver – Love Story

Cornelia & Martin – Love Walked In

The fun answers to last week’s quiz.  The answers and everyone’s responses are up.  I had fun seeing where everyone overlapped!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

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Me Before YouMe Before You. Finished 2-4-15, fiction, 5/5 stars!, pub. 2012

Unabridged audio narrated by Susan Lyons, Andrew Wincott, Alex Tregear, Anna Bentinck, Steven Crossley, Owen Lindsay.  14.75 hours.

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn’t know is she’s about to lose her job or that knowing what’s coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he’s going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn’t know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they’re going to change the other for all time.

from Goodreads

Sometimes when there is a lot (and by that I mean too-many-to-count favorite lists since it was published) of hype surrounding a book I like to wait because I want my expectations to fade a bit.  I read Jo Jo Moyes book, The Girl You Left Behind, and loved it so when I heard bloggers saying that they loved this one even more I knew I had to read it.  I chose the audio because I’d heard it was good and it was.  Susan Lyons became the loveable Lou Clark and carried the story beautifully.  There were a small cast of other characters all with their own voices and it totally worked.

I almost feel like whatever I say has been said before and anything beyond that will spoil it for those three people who haven’t read it.  So maybe I’ll just give 3 things I loved best and then ask 3 questions for those who have read it.  Bottom Line-Loved it and it’s sure to end up on my favorite list at the end of the year!

Loved-Lou’s accessibility and charm. She had no great ambition and sometimes I wanted to give her a shake, but she was so real, fiery, and vulnerable.

Loved-The story focused around Will, a paralyzed man in his 30’s, and it showed the abilities and hardships of someone who must rely on others for every personal need.  It isn’t a life without happiness, but is a life full of struggle.

Loved-The end. Sometimes what we fear is what moves us forward on a new path.

Questions for those who have read it…

How do you think the book handled the right to die debate?

Let’s cast the movie!  Who is Lou and who is Will?

Did you cry and how many times?

I’ll answer when you do 🙂

 

Mailbox Monday – February 9

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mmb-300x282Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Gage received a thoughtful gift from Kay. A train postcard, two train books and an engineer cap.  Thanks so much Kay – you’re the best! (the hat does fit, but I only had time to throw it on his head before he was on the move again)

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Last week I went to Barnes & Noble for some retail therapy.  I bought lots of gifts and one for myself.  Since I loved Garden Spells I am excited about this one.

IMG_2290First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

It’s October in Bascom, North Carolina, and autumn will not go quietly. As temperatures drop and leaves begin to turn, the Waverley women are made restless by the whims of their mischievous apple tree… and all the magic that swirls around it. But this year, first frost has much more in store.

What was in your mailbox this week?