Betsy Books (giveaway)

We will wrap up this week of celebration with yet another fun series of stories!

As many of you are well aware of the fact - Harper Collins recently released the second half of the Betsy-Tacy books, following Betsy into her high school years and marriage. Harper Collins kindly sent me a copy of the three volumes, which each contain 2 separate Betsy-Tacy stories. I received:

Heaven to Betsy/Betsy in Spite of Herself

Betsy Was a Junior/Betsy and Joe

Betsy and the Great World/Betsy's Wedding

I planned/plan on reading them all in conjunction with the Maud Hart Lovelace Challenge which is being hosted by Sarah at Library Hospital during the month of October. And yes, I'm reading ahead.

I finished reading Heaven to Betsy and Betsy in Spite of Herself this past week and you'll see a more detailed review of those two stories popping up next week. (I'm also about halfway through Betsy Was a Junior.) In the meantime though, in conjunction with this Birthday Giveaway Week, thanks to Harper Collins, I have a set of these three(/six) books to give to one of you!




In order to win, simply leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents and will be open through Thursday, September 9th. If you DO happen to win these books, I would enthusiastically encourage you to participate in the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge which Sarah is hosting. If you've never read Betsy before, you are really missing out! And if you haven't yet read about Betsy's high school years, then you can catch up just like I am!

Thank you, Harper Collins, for your amazing generosity and for republishing these titles for a new generation of young (and older) girls to enjoy!

Tumtum & Nutmeg Giveaway

So here's the scoop. If you've been around here for the past few months, you'll know that Bookworm1 and I have become huge fans of Tumtum & Nutmeg, which was first recommended to us by Stephanie at Simple Things. I have mentioned these mice a time or two. They are adorable. They are cute. They can almost make you love the idea of having mice living in your home. (Almost, but perhaps not quite.) We love these stories.

Since I read it, I've been harping about it at every available opportunity and so I asked Little, Brown Books for Young Readers if they'd be interested in hosting a giveaway with Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall which they were very agreeable to do.

Therefore I am delighted to announce that I have THREE copies of Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall to give away to three of you. You'll definitely want to grab a copy of this book, even if you don't win, and read it soon. Why? Because the NEXT Tumtum & Nutmeg book is due to be released at the end of September!



Ladies and Gents, get ready for Tumtum & Nutmeg: The Rose Cottage Tales!

I want to be right up front in telling you all that I declined an ARC of the book because I am most interested in purchasing the hardback copy of The Rose Cottage Tales to match my hardback copy of the first set of Tumtum & Nutmeg tales (also purchased.) I like these little guys that much and I know our family will be enjoying them for years to come. It is my delight to support this book!

My partnering with Little, Brown for this giveaway is simply to motivate you all to get into these stories with your kids and enjoy them! I think I have the backing of Stephanie and Amy both in saying that you'll love them! (Click on their names to read their individual rave reviews if you don't believe me.)

In order to enter this contest, simply leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and is open through Thursday, September 9, 2010.

Enjoy, courtesy of Little, Brown for Young Readers! Don't forget to spread the word! I kinda have a "no child left behind" policy (heh heh) regarding Tumtum & Nutmeg - already having gifted it a few times over to mothers of new babies. Have I mentioned these stories are just fun? Ok, just checking . . .

Children's Atlas (giveaway)

You know I like Usborne Books, correct? I think that they are out-of-this-world fabulous and of the highest quality. It is a sincere pleasure for me to introduce you to a couple of children's atlases that you might find useful to use with your own kids.

Bookworm1 is big into animals and in the past few months he has also been asking some questions about maps and geography, seeing that mommy and daddy have been traveling. We've been looking at a map of the United States and identifying places like New York, Washington D.C., Texas and California. When I saw that Usborne Books & More had an Animal Picture Atlas, I knew it was something worth checking into!



This book is incredible. It "is all about animals and where they live." The first page spread contains an illustrated picture of the world, giving the young reader perspective. It focuses on the continents, primarily, and shows pictures of a variety of animals, pinpointing where on the globe you might find them. As you turn the page, the book begins to focus on each continent, beginning with North America. Where do musk ox live? Bighorn sheep? Prairie dogs? By looking at this layout of North America, you can find out whereabouts you might find any one of these animals. In the bottom left hand corner of the page, there is a smaller map of the world so that you can still see where North America is located in the grand scheme of things.

After going through each continent, towards the back of the book you can read information concerning specific species such as: monkeys and apes, big cats, bears, birds, polar animals, etc.

Animal Picture Atlas is illustrated by Linda Edwards and is, in every way, a delight. I think she offers the perfect amount of detail to each illustrated animal, while still keeping things cartoonish enough to draw a youngster in. We have poured over this book for hours. I love it because it entices Bookworm1 to explore maps and learn about different continents and countries by using his favorite subject matter at the moment - animals!

If you are looking for something for slightly older world explorers, you might want to check out the Usborne Children's Picture Atlas.



Using the same concept as The Animal Picture Atlas, illustrator Linda Edwards once again helps us explore the various continents and what we might find on them. Instead of limiting the subject matter to just animals, you can also find pictures of skiers, cowboys, paddle boats, cacti, chili peppers and snowmobiles gracing the map of North America. It is easy for children to see where certain activities take place and where certain produce is grown through the use of this book.

The Usborne Children's Picture Atlas starts by giving the reader a bigger picture of the globe though - by beginning with "The Universe." There is a page spread explaining what maps are and how they are used, as well as an explanation for the difference between countries and cities. It starts big picture and whittles its way down to our individual communities and how we transport ourselves around the globe. The book concludes with the Atlas and illustrations. This book is also a great resource!

The whole family was impressed by both of these books and I have no hesitations offering them up for your consideration. These are fabulous, fabulous books!

Therefore it is my great delight to inform you that Usborne Books & More as offered up a copy of each of the above titles to one Reading to Know Reader. How to enter the contest? Simply leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through Thursday, September 9th.

Happy Exploring!

A Way With Words, by Christin Ditchfield (giveaway)

First of all, I like the cover art on this book. The latest book by Christin Ditchfield, published by Crossway Books, is A Way with Words: What Women Should Know about the Power They Possess.

I read The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes last year (click on the title to read my review if you like) and found it to be convicting. I was very curious to find out how Ditchfield's book compared. (And, honestly, I could use a refresher course on this topic from time to time!)

Like Jaynes' book, Ditchfield speaks honestly and in a forthright manner to her audience. I think perhaps Ditchfield is a bit more gracious in speech and personality than Jaynes is. I'm not saying that to be negative. But I didn't feel like I was Ditchfield, whereas I felt an instant connection with Jaynes personality last year. At the same time, I felt Ditchfield drawing me up on a higher level and stretching my comfort zones once again.

The message of both books is essentially the same - women possess a lot of power in their tongues. You can use your words to build up and encourage other people or to destroy them. As I've mentioned before, I'm not really a "words of affirmation" person but I have come to see the value of sprinkled praise. Not fluff praise, mind you. But when I can sincerely compliment another, I do make a point out of doing so where as before I might have left my compliments unspoken, figuring the potential receiver already knew her what her own strengths were. (If you aren't a words of affirmation person either, you'll understand that last paragraph and my attitude completely.)

One thing I particularly liked about Ditchfield's A Way with Words is that she goes beyond verbal speech and also continuously reminds her readers that what they write (i.e., blogs anyone?) is just important as what they say outloud. She really challenges her readers to think about the effect of the words that they are typing up to be disseminated online as well as to think about what they are saying to someone's face (or behind their back!)

Another "pro" to Ditchfield's book is that she spends the later half of her book talking about speech in general - how to speak so that your words can reach the lost and win spiritual battles by speaking against injustice.

"Scriptures says, "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter. If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?" (Prov. 24:11-12).
God says ignorance is not an excuse. Apathy is unacceptable. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers. We cannot look the other way. We are called to be a voice for the voiceless, a help to the helpless. We are to stand up to evil wherever we find it, rescue those held captive or oppressed, and fight to our last breath to defend the cause of the innocent. We cannot excuse ourselves by saying we didn't see or we didn't know. God sees." (page 146)

I love how Ditchfield goes well beyond just reminding women that the words that they speak have an effect. She goes into scripture to remind us that words are a gift, a weapon, craftsmen, and we are to learn to use them well in a myriad of different circumstances.

Ditchfield shares a good message here and it's one that women could really stand to hear. Just women? Or men too? Well, women statistically talk a great deal more and so they are her target audience. (That's not to say that men couldn't learn a thing or two from this read or consideration of the subject matter!) She urges women to put aside gossip, back biting, cruel speech and, yes, sarcasm when it's inappropriate and hurtful. We need to learn to put away lies and deceitful speech and to think on things which are true, right and beautiful. If we are thinking on what is true and right, then that is what will spill forth from our lips.

There is so much more that I could say about this book but I'll stop there. I definitely recommend A Way with Words to you and would hope you'd take the time to read it! Thanks, Crossway, for allowing me a chance to dive on in!

In the meantime, I am delighted to say that Crossway Books has offered one copy of this book to one Reading to Know reader. To win? Simply leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through Thursday, September 9th.

"Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them. ~ Nathanial Hawthorne

The Strictest School in the World (giveaway)

Nag, nag, nag. That's probably all you think I do with certain book titles.

Well, I put my money where my mouth is from time to time and purchased a hardback copy of The Strictest School in the World, Being the Tale of a Clever Girl, a Rubber Boy and a Collection of Flying Machines, Mostly Broken (The Mad Misadventures of Emmaline and Rubberbones) to give away to one of you fine folk this week!



Haven't read it yet? Now is just as good a time as ever! To win?

Leave a comment below! It will be my pleasure to send you a copy of this book. (If you haven't read my ravings about it yet, see my review HERE and HERE.)

This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open until that magical date of Thursday, September 9th.

i-clips giveaway

I love Peter Pauper Press's i-clips bookmarks. I use them all the time. ALL the time.

Before the i-clip I would shred up tiny bits of paper, bookmarking the pages and passages I wanted to reference when writing up my thoughts on any given book I was reading. The i-clips are prettier than my little strips of paper. Given the fact that they are also magnetic, they also stay in place much easier too. Now it's just a question of how many i-clips I will allow myself to use per book because they are so convenient that I find myself wanting to mark a lot of extra passages "just in case!"

Plus, have I mentioned they are pretty? Well, you can see that for yourself.

Convenient. Pretty. Magnetic. Useful. Reasonably priced. (They are $3.95 per package and available through Amazon to boot! Hence they make DELIGHTFUL stocking stuffers for the readers in your life. Or you could put them on your own Amazon wishlist, which is what I've done. I can never have enough i-clips!)

I think every reader needs them.

Therefore I am delighted to offer a set of the newest i-clips design (the butterfly design you see above) to one of you, courtesy of Peter Pauper Press! (To see the entire line of i-clips, click here.)

To win? Simply leave a comment below. This contest will be open through Thursday, September 9th.

Akin to Anne (giveaway)

It wouldn't be right to get through a whole Birthday Week Giveaway and not involve Lucy Maud Montgomery. Not around these parts anyway!

As you know, each January I host the Lucy Maud Montgomery reading challenge. To take away the excuse of at least one of you to participate this coming January, I'm giving away three titles which I've picked up here and there around town. These are all gently used copies, all currently out-of-print but worth the reading time (in my humble estimation.) Which titles, you ask?





Just trying to disciple the reading nation, you realize. I use occasions like my birthday to practically GUILT you into it! I'm GIVING you the books! Now you simply MUST read them! (That's my logic anyway. And I'm using exclamation points in honor of the authoress, by the way!)

To win these three gently used books? Simply leave a comment below. Contest is open to U.S. Residents AND Canadians (because seriously? I couldn't exclude the Canadians on this one!) and will be open through Thursday, September 9th.

All my best to one reader out there,
Carrie

;)

Learning About the World Around Us (giveaway)

Science with kids can be an awfully fun experience. (It can also be a messy subject, but I'm not going to focus on that.)

DK Publishing just recently re-released I'm a Scientist: Kitchen full of "Fun experiments for budding scientists." This book was put together by Lisa Burke who introduces children as being "detectives" out to observe and discover the world around them. In this book we find fold out spreads of full color illustrations and directions for experiments that young ones can do in the kitchen. As she explains:

"Apart from being passionate about science I am also a mother. I realize how little time we have in our busy lives to play with our children. Therefore, none of the 'games' (or experiments!) should require more than one hour to complete."

I don't know that I don't have the time, but I like projects that are contained and easy to determine both the time frame and mess factor! There are experiments in there to learn about density, magnets, differentiating between solids and liquids and a happy egg's ability to float due to salt content in the water. All of the materials necessary to complete the experiments are fairly straight forward. Each project contains a list of items you'll need to have on-hand and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary on the list. (For example, you'll need things like: balloons, a plastic comb, salt, orange juice, water, ice, etc.)

This is a fun and exciting book for children to explore the world through - while standing in the kitchen with mom or dad.

Up We Grow!: A Year in the Life of a Small, Local Farm is a new release from Kids Can Press. If you and your family like to eat local - then this is a book that will be of incredible interest to you!

Up We Grow! takes you through Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter on a small farm not too far outside of city limits. This is a rather lengthy picture book that offers a great deal of detailed explanation as to what you can expect to find on a farm during the various seasons. We meet the group of farmers who tend this farm and see how they tend to the land the animals together. As their various jobs are explained, the children are asked questions such as, "Which job would you like best?"

As I read this book I couldn't help feeling like it was the PERFECT book to read before a field trip to a farm. I love the full-color photographs which illustrate this book and help bring the farm to life. Up We Grow! is a celebration of the local farm and, I think, an impressive and amazing book. I have a feeling we'll be revisiting this book several times over throughout the years, as we have so many local farms and do our best to eat local whenever possible. Excellent resource, this one!

Now for the good news -- I have a copy of I'm a Scientist: Kitchen and Up We Grow! to give away to one of you, courtesy of DK Publishing and Kids Can Press.

To win? Simply leave a comment below. This contest will remain open through Thursday, September 9th.

Enjoy!

Jumpin', Dancin' and Eating (giveaway!)

Well, well, to kick off this Birthday/Celebration Giveaway Week, what better way than to celebrate a birthday than by jumping up and down? (Unless you are pregnant and can't stand the thought of moving about so much!) And eating good food? Cheesy, perhaps, but here's what I've got for you today!

Courtesy of CSN stores, one of you will win this Pure Fun Trampoline:



Furthermore, you will also win a copy of Jillian Michael's Master Your Metabolism Cookbook, courtesy of The Crown Publishing Group. (Click on the title to read my earlier review of this cookbook.)



That is correct - there will be a grand prize winner for the trampoline AND cookbook!

But there's more! There will be two runner's up in this contest and two of you will also receive a copy of the Master Your Metabolism Cookbook.

That's three winners total!

To win? You know the drill. Leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through Thursday, September 9th. Spread the word about this Birthday Week Giveaway by mentioning it on your own blog and you'll win a second comment.

The "I've Got Something to Celebrate" Giveaway Week

So this coming Saturday is my birthday. I love birthdays. Adore them, really. It's a time to remember why a.) you love life and b.) to celebrate the blessings that God has given you. Oh, there are lots of reasons to love birthdays and I think they just become more fun every year!

Speaking of birthdays - our family has another special one coming up! What? How's this?:



Coming "soon": Bookworm3!

Just for the fun of it, this coming week is going to be all about giveaways in celebration of baby and life in general!

I have reviews of new book titles and some fun things to toss your way. So stay tuned this week for that.

Furthermore, if you blog about this Birthday Giveaway Week on your own site and come back and tell me so - I'll give you 2 extra comments PER CONTEST! And who knows - those 2 extra comments might really help you out a time or two!

Stay tuned for the fun!

Friday Favorite Five

Another week! Wow. And it was a busy one and yet a completely lazy one all at the same time. But lazy is good sometimes, yes?

This week I'm going to list five things I'm grateful to have learned over the course of the summer as a result of being a wedding photographer:

#1 - Daddy/Daughter dances are important. If you are a bride, you might not think it's a big deal. But when Daddy is no longer around, the pictures and the sentimental moment are well worth the extra 5 or so minutes. One of the best songs?



(And what better movie to use as an example than Father of the Bride with Steve Martin?)

#2 - Orzo pasta



I've been experimenting. My word, this stuff is YUMMY!

#3 - Commitment is a beautiful thing.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

#4 - There isn't anyone I would rather work side-by-side with than Jonathan. We understand each other and we work well together. From the parenting (stemming from that commitment thing) to the picture taking - there isn't anyone I would rather do anything with.

#5 - A lot of people think that the wedding is the biggest celebration that you could possibly have in your lifetime - therefore they spend lots and lots of money on "the big day." I don't think that's a bad thing at all. Weddings SHOULD be celebrated - in grand style. But I really don't think we ought to stop there. A wedding is the first day of a couple's commitment to one another. Then they start in on their lifetime - the for-better-or-for-worse thing.

I love collecting ideas for "every day" parties. Attention to detail, yummy food, good music, a community of close and loving friends - those are things that can be attended to and celebrated with many times over. Babies? New jobs? An open window following a closed door? God gives us many opportunities in which we can celebrate LIFE! I think we should take advantage of them and put pretty flowers on the table more frequently than we typically do.

I could probably write a longer list of things I've realized, thought about or gleaned from this past wedding season but I'll stop there and wish you all a happy, fun-filled weekend!

Carrie

Reading Question Meme

I saw this one over at Stray Thoughts and figured since it had been awhile since I had done anything like this, I'd give it a go today! (It was originally posted as part of Booking Through Thursday but I haven't done that in awhile either! The original meme is quite long and I've shortened it even more!)

What are you reading right now?

Loved By Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption which I picked up at our local bookstore. This book is awesome! You hear so many negative stories and situations surrounding the idea of adoption - it's a good idea to immerse one's self in the positive aspect as well. Because adoption IS a positive thing.

Do you have an e-reader?

Guffaw! NO! Nor will I ever likely have one. I'm an old fashioned kinda gal who likes her books in her hands, thanks.


Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

Well. I PREFER one at a time. However, curiosity has been getting the better of me and I've been working my way through a couple at the same time. I finally gave in and have been keeping one book in the bathroom. (I've previously never understood the books in the bathroom thing until I had kids.)

Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

Yes. In some ways the changes have been good, and in other ways not so much. I'm really starting to tighten the belt on review copies, for example, because they are dictating too much of what I read and when and that becomes tiresome. Reading should always be a joy and it's something I absolutely LOVE to do! I want to keep it that way. So I'm taking fewer review copies and reading what I want to read and when again. It's quite lovely, actually!

How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

Rarely. Having children + being a stay at home mom = not very much reading time. Must be choosy! I want to read what I like!

What is your reading comfort zone?

Historical fiction, general (clean, clean) fiction, humor, Middle Grade fiction, and anything by Lucy Maud Montgomery and C.S. Lewis (as you all are well aware!)

Favorite place to read?

On the couch, during naptime.

What is your policy on book lending?

Well. I used to have more of an open door policy until I realized that people don't care about my books as much as I do. Either they come back damaged or they do not come back at all! Hence, I really don't loan books anymore. I either GIVE a book away (so I don't have to think about it anymore) or I just make a recommendation to another person and encourage them to buy it for themselves. But loaning is no longer a possibility which is unfortunate.

Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

NO!

What makes you love a book?

I love a book that challenges me to grow spiritually. I love a book that has a good, strong character that I can identify with and find humor in. I love well-written passages that express my own feelings or opinions on a subject matter.

What will inspire you to recommend a book?

See answers to the last question.

Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)

Biographies. But that's only because any GOOD biography is going to be a long one and so I have to allocate time for it and time is something I'm generally lacking in.

Favorite biography?

Oh goodness. Hmm. I don't know if I have a favorite biography. Each one is really interesting to me in different ways and for different reasons. I liked Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis, by George Sayer and I also really enjoyed Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxes which was the most recent bio that I read. (You can click on those links to read my reviews if you care to.)

Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

This is another hard one. I think I"m going to go with Swindoll's Great Lives Series which I've been plucking away at this year. They are each fantastic but so far Elijah has been the most surprising to me.

How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

Ah, here's an interesting question. My typical practice is NOT to give a negative review. But that's fairly easy to avoid anyway because I've grown extra choosy about the books I accept for review.

But here's the thing - the only reason I pretty much avoid negative reviews is because authors have a tendency to hunt down reviews for their books. (Pet Peeve.) I rather wish they wouldn't do that because they take offense if you don't like their book. (And I typically wish that they wouldn't leave a comment even if they DO like your review.)

That said, I WILL write up a negative review if any of the following conditions are met:

a.) I think the book could stand an online critique;
b.) I purchased the book myself (or borrowed it from the library) so that I could feel free to speak my mind about it;
c.) I think the book had great potential but somehow fell flat and I can give it a "pro/con" review.

Otherwise, I pretty much stick to books that I really like or got something out of.

Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?

The Faerie Queen, by Edmund Spenser. My friend Canaid at Dwell in Possibility finished it and wrote up a fantastic (and funny, I thought!) review. If you get a chance, you should click over and read her thoughts!

Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?

Hmmm....probably anything by Dickens that isn't A Christmas Carol.

Favorite fictional character?

Anne of Green Gables. Are you surprised?

The longest I’ve gone without reading.

Maybe a week. But I get grouchy if I haven't read anything. As Jonathan. Books are like food. Must eat. Must read.

What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

Nothing much. Like I said, I usually read during naptime and the house is quiet and I don't check e-mails or answer phones so....I get a good hour or so in.

Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

Anne of Green Gables because the first film followed the books well.

Most disappointing film adaptation?

I think I should substitute the word "disappointing" for "enraging." In which case, that would be Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story. I refer to it as Anne Heresy.

What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

Bad language or intimate scenes which are too descriptive.

Do you like to keep your books organized?

Yes. But I reckon that my system doesn't really make sense to anyone else checking it out. I know where everything is and why it's there.

Thanks, Barbara, for the fun of the meme!