Month: December 2016

Socks and Books

~ Beth Mitchell ~ Leave a comment

“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. “Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

img_0973Luckily for Blaine and Larrabee, they received both socks and books this Christmas. Lots of books! And they still have over a week of Winter Break left in which to read (with warm feet).

Blaine is reading a classic: Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Thank you, Grandpa! (And he is wearing Boba Fett socks.)

Larrabee started with the 11th book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Double Down by Jeff Kinney. He finished that one before I could get my blog posted and moved on to the 6th book in the Shark Wars series, The Last Emprex by A.J. Altbacker. (And he is wearing ninja socks.)

I hope you’re enjoying your new Christmas books!

Happy Christmas to All

~ Beth Mitchell ~ Leave a comment

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“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there”

— The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore

May Santa bring you and your loved ones lots of good books!

 

Book Review: The One and Only Ivan

~ Beth Mitchell ~ 3 Comments

screen-shot-2016-12-13-at-1-40-09-pmIf you’re looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings, pick up a copy of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.

Ivan, the book’s narrator and main character, is a gorilla, a silverback. He’s also an artist and a loyal friend to the other animals at the Big Top Mall. And he has a way with words. His musings have the ring of poetry.

I tried to read this book aloud to Larrabee. But each time we sat down to read, I would barely get through two chapters before I was reaching for the box of tissues. Finally, Larrabee insisted on taking over the reading duties.

This book is inspired by the life of a real gorilla. It’s a complex story simply told. Despite the tears along the way, it left me with a smile.

 

Christmas (Book) Traditions

~ Beth Mitchell ~ 1 Comment

img_5379Deck the halls with boughs of…  Wait, the Christmas books are in this box? So much for decorating. It’s time to read!

Larrabee started with our new addition from last year:  Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer. Then, O Little Town of Bethlehem by Ron Berry, caught his attention with its music and lights. And he read Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert E. Barry out loud to me. I’ve been reading that one at Christmas time as long as I can remember.

We’ll save The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore for Mark to read aloud on Christmas Eve. That’s a tradition.

My personal favorite of all the books in the box is How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss. I can practically recite it from memory. No Christmas would be complete for me without chimbleys, Whos’ mouses, and roast beast. The Grinch just puts me in the Christmas spirit. Maybe I’ll watch the cartoon version before I finish decorating… Now that’s a wonderful, awful idea.