Teaser Tuesday

by Carol11 Comments
Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from...that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given. Please avoid spoilers! My teaser: Clients came in an endless variety of guises, but you did not last long in the investigation business unless you learned to distinguish between two broad groups: safe and dangerous. Jack Winters was clearly in the second category. -pg. 13, Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. My copy was borrowed from the library. I am an Amazon associate....
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Mailbox Monday and Library Loot

by Carol17 Comments
Thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday. I got one in the mail this week. Escapade by Walter Satterthwait (from Paperbackswap.com) Amber received one in an early birthday package. The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder I also picked up a couple at the library this past week. Library Loot is co-hosted by Eva and Marg. Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz Heart of Stone by C. E. Murphy Let's see. There's two more on the stack. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (I bought with a gift certificate.) More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell (for our Sunday School class at church.) What books found their way to your house this week?...
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Fuzzimal Puppies by Theresa Hutnick and Megan Smith

by Carol8 Comments
Isn't he adorable. Amber (9)  made him with a Klutz book she got for Christmas, Fuzzimal Puppies by Theresa Hutnick and Megan Smith. The book has directions to make these adorable puppies and give each their own flair and personality. Everything you need to make five is there, including super-shaggy terry-cloth pipe cleaners, fuzzy-wuzzy novelty yarn, felt for ears and collars, googly eyes, glue, and a supply of shiny jewels. There are also pop-out carriers, adding to the cuteness factor. The directions were simple, easy-to-follow and look how perfect he turned out. The suggested age is 9-12, and Amber did it with no help from me....
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Game Night – Cir*Kis

by Carol5 Comments
Cir*Kis Manufacturer: Hasbro Year: 2009 Players: 2 - 4 Ages: 8 and up Amber (9) got Cir*Kis for Christmas and we've played it several times since then.  It's a great "abstract strategy" family game. Players take turns placing one of their nine differently-shaped pieces on the beveled game board next to the last piece played. You complete Circles and Stars to score points. First player to 40 wins. It's easy to learn, but the more often you play, the more strategy you can find. You can plan ahead on how to get points, even if others score too. You can block other players from placing a piece. If they don't have a piece they can play, they have to pass. We've played it with Amber (9) and adults, and she seems to be fairly even, with just as much chance of winning. It's also a pretty game, with the different colored tiles forming different patterns. I'd recommend it for families. I actually enjoy it more than...
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Awards

by Carol9 Comments
I've gotten a few awards lately that I wanted to thank people for. Freda, from Freda's Voice, passed this one back to me. Thanks so much. Now, the rule is nominate seven other bloggers for this and then tell everybody seven things about yourself. I'm skipping the nominating other bloggers. You're all beautiful. Seven things about me, huh? You guys already know a lot, but here goes. Seven things about me: My feet are cold. Have been since October. I'm drinking black coffee. I need new glasses. Mine are all scratched up. I stole some of David's quarters so I can grab lunch at Wendy's if I want. Really it's an excuse to read, because if I go home for lunch I know I'll do other things. My current book is Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz, which is only a seven day loan from the library, so it skipped to the head of the line. I just ordered myself an MP-3 player. I'm wearing watermelon sorbet lip gloss. Freda also sent...
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The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald

by Carol10 Comments
The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, illustrated by Mercer Mayer (Suggested reading level: Ages 9-12) Amber (9) and I read this together. It was first published in 1967 and set in Utah in 1896, but if Amber's any example, today's kids will still find plenty to enjoy. The Great Brain is Tom D. Fitzgerald and the story is told by J.D., his admiring younger brother. Tom is an expert at making money from his friends, but he does help a lot of people along the way, even if his motives are not entirely unselfish. Each chapter is like a mini-adventure. Tom gets a mean teacher fired and then rehired, finds two kids lost in a cave, helps a Greek immigrant boy fit in, saves a friend from committing suicide by teaching him that he's not useless even after the lower part of his leg is amputated. Tom really is a brilliant kid, and it's a fun book. As soon as it was...
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