Hey y'all. Happy December.
Kid C had an assignment to write one thing he's thankful for, inside a drawing of a candy corn. Here's what he turned in:
I'm kind of proud of him, because I've always told him to "Think outside the candy corn."
My favorites:
the unavers and space (the universe and space)
a home and corn and tirky and a god and chikin and food
and pincek (pancake)
And for the big finish in the lower right had corner....
the world and pets and peple and Ham
In that order.
The thing I learned from this (besides someone needs to work on his spelling) is that even if a kid can't speak at age five, you may reach a point at age seven where you can't shut him up. For that, I'm grateful.
Before I go, (I'm at my computer, I'm not really going anywhere) let's think of good books for people to buy as presents this month.
I'll go first:
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr.
I just read this yesterday, for the first time, in two sittings. Loved it.
Now, your turn. (Or you can leave a comment and just say hi.)
Hey missy. Love the drawing. Um... does he eat a lot of ham?? Totally going to read Sweethearts. I just finished Firelight by Sophie Jordan. Very fun quick read. (Go team HarperCollins!)
ReplyDeleteV- I got Firelight in my welcome box! I can't wait to read it. HC books FTW!
ReplyDeleteBy the way- I only learned what FTW meant a few months ago. I'm very slow.
ReplyDeleteI still don't know what FTW means. I'm tempted to Google it, but I'm hoping you'll just tell me.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to keep thinking about the book thing, though I'm still turning people on to the Hunger Games, so you should probably add that one.
Ok, so I googled it. You don't have to enlighten me anymore. At least about that.
ReplyDeleteSome books that I've read and loved recently were Hex Hall, The Demon's Lexicon and Demon's Covenant, Matched, and Leviathan. (Okay, Leviathan did take me a while to get into, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying myself.) I haven't read Sweethearts yet, but I've heard good things about it.
ReplyDeleteI had to google FTW, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for your assertion that a child who doesn't speak at 5 can be talking your ear off at 7. I have a 5-year-old who can use that kind of mojo.
I'm currently reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. 1001 pages of awesome.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things. Or any book in that series. They're chapter books, and they are hilarious. Also for kids the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems. So, so, so funny.
ReplyDeleteI love the drawing and your analogy of thinking outside the candy corn.
ReplyDeleteI think for those of us who read these comments after, you should enlighten us as to what FTW means. Unless, it isn't conducive to your PG-rated blog.
Books to read, books to read.... Um, I've been buried under too much homework to read. I just finished a book for my class--The Accidental Tourist. I thought it was pretty good. It's not a must read by any means, but someone may like it.
Yes, let us all think outside the candy corn. There's a new slogan to ad to your repertoire.
ReplyDeleteAs for books I loved "The Sky is Everywhere" and "Jellicoe Road". Two that I didn't think based on the little blurb I'd like & ended up loving.
Heather- HG is definitely on the list.
ReplyDeleteJenilyn- Good suggestions. I've been wanting to give Demon's Lexicon a try.
Robin- I also have an almost five year old who could use it as well!
Jenni- Thanks for the "meh, it's okay" suggestion of the Accidental Tourist. I'll add it under the so-so section!
FTW=For the Win
(I thought up a million dirty meanings, just because you mentioned the PG rating, but I refrained)
Olivia- Oh, man, I can't tell you enough how much I loved The Sky is Everywhere. Thanks for the additions.
Is "thinking outside the candy corn" like "embracing the awkward"? Cause that's been my slogan for a while now but it might be time for a change.
ReplyDeleteBooks. Books! Wow do I have a lot of books that I've read recently and more that are in my close-to-toppling-over-and-burying-me-in-reading-material to be read pile. Amongst the recently read good stuff: The Scorch Trials (sequel to The Maze Runner), Interworld by Neil Gaiman and someone else less famous, The Hunger Games Trilogy, Her Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (the Napoleonic War...fought partially with an air force made up of dragons!), When Helping Hurts (Evangelical Christian book...and I'm not all the way through it but tons to think about so far), How To Read the Psalms by Tremper Longman (Reformed Evangelical Christian book...Good primer on Hebrew poetry and, well, how to read and start to understadn the Psalms).
And some books that I'm giving to people this year: The Red Pyramid, Fordlandia (apparently Henry Ford decided he should be build a planned community in South America...it didn't go well), Towel Origami.
Few things warms my heart more than little kids and their writing. Seriously good stuff. I feel like I haven't read a book in year, that was a big downside to nano for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna say Matched by Ally Condie.
Rue- Wow! You are single-handedly keeping the publishing companies in business. I love it! Thanks for the suggestions.
ReplyDeleteDebbie- I was wondering when someone was going to mention Matched. Thank you!
p.s. Are you going to the launch party Saturday?
Love, love, love Matched! I want to go to the thing this Saturday, but I can't. I'll be horseback riding instead. I think it will be fun ... and cold. I'm going to go to the one on Tuesday in Provo, though. :)
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading The Sweetness of the Bottom of the Pie (one that Ally has been recommending for a while, and then Shannon Hale just did, too). It's a really fun read. A murder mystery with the greatest 11-year-old detective ever.
ReplyDeleteJenni- I loved it too! Have fun with the Utah County peeps.
ReplyDeleteSara- Thanks for the addition!
awww, that was adorable. my 7 y.o. spells just like yours! :)
ReplyDeleteYou must get REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly. It's one of the best YA books I've read in a long time. I'm loving your blog (I just found it!) and the picture your son drew...so cute!
ReplyDeleteElissa- Good to know my son's not alone!
ReplyDeleteRachele- Glad you found the blog! Welcome. I've heard such good things about Revolution- I will definitely add it to the list!
Just read Firelight by Sophie Jordan and really enjoyed it. I would recommend The Hourglass Door Trilogy by Lisa Mangum, and I really really really want to read Matched by Ally Condie.
ReplyDeleteA totally unrelated thought... I've been hearing a lot of different advice concerning whether to publish under the author's real name or a pen name. What are your personal thoughts?
Kristin- Thanks for the suggestions! I really can't wait to read Firelight.
ReplyDeleteAs for your question, I'd think it would be confusing to publish under a pen name, and it probably wouldn't be worth it unless the author had a good reason. (Anonymity? Maybe switching genres?)
I never considered using a pen name, so I'm not the one to ask. But I wouldn't want the hassle, unless I really needed it.
Are you considering it? If so, I'd be curious to know your reasoning.
Thanks for the comment!
And as an author, you'll probably be at book signings, and school visits, etc. where your identity is sure to be known. Unless you wear a mask. But that might be weird.
ReplyDeleteExactly! And yeah, the mask thing sounds a bit weird, Haha! I don't know why this topic has come up so much as I am still in the "trying to find an agent" stage. Strange.
ReplyDeleteI have had some interest in my MS though, so I have my fingers crossed!! :)
Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteI thought FTW stood for something, uhm, naughty... since it is the inverse of a acronym that is naughty...
Sorry, very tired, two jobs and a son who doesn't want to sleep. How long can a person go without a decent night's sleep before those floating bright things descend and eat me?!?!?
Hope you are all well!!
Una- ha ha! I just said the other acronym backward in my head. (Does that make sense?) Very cool.
ReplyDeleteAs for the sleep, it's becoming a prerequisite for people to read my blog on little or no sleep. So, you're good.
Whoa! Love the new look. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenni! I was in the mood to clean things up, and there was no way I was gonna clean my house, so...
ReplyDeleteI agree. Sweethearts was pretty much amazing.
ReplyDeleteDid you notice the italics? I'm a computer genius. Maybe if this author gig doesn't work out, I can make millions teaching people how to italicize their blog comments.
Kaylie- You ARE a computer genius! (See, I have to resort to capitalizing my letters when I really just want to italicize).
ReplyDeleteI can't go Sat. I got roped in to setting up for the ward christmas party ALL freaking day. :) I'm hoping to go to the one in Provo a few days later.
ReplyDeleteAlso I LOVE your new blog. It's so shiny.
For the record, I did not have to google FTW.
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe I did at one time.
Here's my holiday rec: THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff! Or anything by Courtney Summers.
Jill- That cover of THE REPLACEMENT is truly one of the creepiest covers! I love it. Have yet to read the book, so thanks for the addition.
ReplyDelete