Do you love libraries? I do. I buy a lot of books, but I also check a lot out from the library. When I didn’t have money to spend on books as a kid, I could always rely on finding something to read.
Cynthea Liu is participating in the Library-Lovin’ Challenge organized by author writerjenn. As a thank you to the libraries, she is donating 10 cents to for every comment made on Cynthea's blog up to $100. So, hop on over and make a comment. She is giving away signed bookplates and a couple of lucky people will win a signed copy of her newest book, Paris Pan Takes a Dare.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Book-a-holic
Too many books? Nah. Inconceivable!
This weekend I spent a couple of hours digging through the books in the kids’ rooms. In my older son’s room, the books were piled two deep, and my husband really wanted me to open up a few cubes in the big shelf for the cloth toy baskets. It’s a “book shelf” not a “toy shelf.” Okay, so my #1 son has a ton of toys and books in his room, and I had to find a way of dealing with it.
I had an idea. In my #2 son’s room (very small shoebox of a room), he has drawers under the bed. His room is too small to play in, and it gets trashed when he does – nowhere to walk. So, I emptied one of the big drawers under his bed, and thought, hey, I could make a book drawer. He absolutely loved the idea.
Hours later, I had pulled out a bunch of baby books to store or give away. I moved the chapter books (from #1 son’s room) and all the beginning readers (from #2 son’s book shelf) into #2 son’s drawer, and I moved picture books from #1 son’s shelves to fill the gaps on #1 son’s shelves. Then I moved novels to the little shelves in #1 son’s room.
I was feeling very good about myself, but I still had no holes to fill with toys. After another hour and more weeding out of books that could fit in #2 son’s drawer, I have room.
I haven't even begun to tackle the jumble of books in the living room, but I need more shelves to do that.
I’m a book-a-holic. I admit it.
This weekend I spent a couple of hours digging through the books in the kids’ rooms. In my older son’s room, the books were piled two deep, and my husband really wanted me to open up a few cubes in the big shelf for the cloth toy baskets. It’s a “book shelf” not a “toy shelf.” Okay, so my #1 son has a ton of toys and books in his room, and I had to find a way of dealing with it.
I had an idea. In my #2 son’s room (very small shoebox of a room), he has drawers under the bed. His room is too small to play in, and it gets trashed when he does – nowhere to walk. So, I emptied one of the big drawers under his bed, and thought, hey, I could make a book drawer. He absolutely loved the idea.
Hours later, I had pulled out a bunch of baby books to store or give away. I moved the chapter books (from #1 son’s room) and all the beginning readers (from #2 son’s book shelf) into #2 son’s drawer, and I moved picture books from #1 son’s shelves to fill the gaps on #1 son’s shelves. Then I moved novels to the little shelves in #1 son’s room.
I was feeling very good about myself, but I still had no holes to fill with toys. After another hour and more weeding out of books that could fit in #2 son’s drawer, I have room.
I haven't even begun to tackle the jumble of books in the living room, but I need more shelves to do that.
I’m a book-a-holic. I admit it.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Just Another Day
Frog:
I dug the frog out the other day, rinsed him off, and called the kids. They rarely get to see the little bugger any more.
The frog calmly sat in my hand (still in the tank) while I called, “Kids, come see the frog.”
Both kids came running and sliding into the kitchen.
My little one said, “What frog?”
I guess he forgot we had him. We left Dash (the frog) to rest in the water. I knew he’d just go bury himself again, but… he didn’t! The frog is out of hibernation. Of course, we’ve had a couple of warm days, and we’ve finally made his scratchy log more of a shelter (no bottom). So, instead of staying under the dirt and moss, he hides behind his log. He keeps an eye on us at all times.
Writing:
I haven’t been writing as much as I would like. I’ve written a new picture book that I’ve left to fester a bit before I tinker with it again. A few other ideas have sprouted, but nothing significant. Mostly, I’ve been revising stories I had on the backburner and reading.
Reading:
Linda Sue Park told us at a recent RACWI meeting that writers have to be readers. I’m an avid reader of children’s books. Shhh! I enjoy them more than the adult books – more imagination sometimes.
Anyway, in the past four days I’ve read three books:
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman – excellent read and told from the perspective of a severely disabled teen with Cerebral Palsy
Frindle by Andrew Clements – surprisingly clever story about a boy and the power of words
Just Ella by Margaret Haddix – an interesting twist on the Cinderella tale
I enjoyed all three books and pretty much read them without interruption. Who needs sleep?
I dug the frog out the other day, rinsed him off, and called the kids. They rarely get to see the little bugger any more.
The frog calmly sat in my hand (still in the tank) while I called, “Kids, come see the frog.”
Both kids came running and sliding into the kitchen.
My little one said, “What frog?”
I guess he forgot we had him. We left Dash (the frog) to rest in the water. I knew he’d just go bury himself again, but… he didn’t! The frog is out of hibernation. Of course, we’ve had a couple of warm days, and we’ve finally made his scratchy log more of a shelter (no bottom). So, instead of staying under the dirt and moss, he hides behind his log. He keeps an eye on us at all times.
Writing:
I haven’t been writing as much as I would like. I’ve written a new picture book that I’ve left to fester a bit before I tinker with it again. A few other ideas have sprouted, but nothing significant. Mostly, I’ve been revising stories I had on the backburner and reading.
Reading:
Linda Sue Park told us at a recent RACWI meeting that writers have to be readers. I’m an avid reader of children’s books. Shhh! I enjoy them more than the adult books – more imagination sometimes.
Anyway, in the past four days I’ve read three books:
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman – excellent read and told from the perspective of a severely disabled teen with Cerebral Palsy
Frindle by Andrew Clements – surprisingly clever story about a boy and the power of words
Just Ella by Margaret Haddix – an interesting twist on the Cinderella tale
I enjoyed all three books and pretty much read them without interruption. Who needs sleep?
Frogs, Writing, and Books
Frog:
I dug the frog out the other day, rinsed him off, and called the kids. They rarely get to see the little bugger any more.
The frog calmly sat in my hand (still in the tank) while I called, “Kids, come see the frog.”
Both kids came running and sliding into the kitchen.
My little one said, “What frog?”
I guess he forgot we had him. We left Dash (the frog) to rest in the water. I knew he’d just go bury himself again, but… he didn’t! The frog is out of hibernation. Of course, we’ve had a couple of warm days, and we’ve finally made his scratchy log more of a shelter (no bottom). So, instead of staying under the dirt and moss, he hides behind his log. He peeks through a crack in the bottom and keeps an eye on us at all times.
Writing:
I haven’t been writing as much as I would like. I’ve written a new picture book that I’ve left to fester a bit before I tinker with it again. A few other ideas have sprouted, but nothing significant. Mostly, I’ve been reading and revising stories I had on the back burner.
Reading:
Linda Sue Park told us at a recent RACWI meeting that writers have to be readers. I’m an avid reader of children’s books. Shhh! I enjoy them more than the adult books – more imagination sometimes.
Anyway, in the past four days I’ve read three books:
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman – excellent read and told from the perspective of a severely disabled teen with Cerebral Palsy
Frindle by Andrew Clements – surprisingly clever story about a boy and the power of words
Just Ella by Margaret Haddix – an interesting twist on the Cinderella tale
I enjoyed all three books and pretty much read them without interruption. Who needs sleep?
I dug the frog out the other day, rinsed him off, and called the kids. They rarely get to see the little bugger any more.
The frog calmly sat in my hand (still in the tank) while I called, “Kids, come see the frog.”
Both kids came running and sliding into the kitchen.
My little one said, “What frog?”
I guess he forgot we had him. We left Dash (the frog) to rest in the water. I knew he’d just go bury himself again, but… he didn’t! The frog is out of hibernation. Of course, we’ve had a couple of warm days, and we’ve finally made his scratchy log more of a shelter (no bottom). So, instead of staying under the dirt and moss, he hides behind his log. He peeks through a crack in the bottom and keeps an eye on us at all times.
Writing:
I haven’t been writing as much as I would like. I’ve written a new picture book that I’ve left to fester a bit before I tinker with it again. A few other ideas have sprouted, but nothing significant. Mostly, I’ve been reading and revising stories I had on the back burner.
Reading:
Linda Sue Park told us at a recent RACWI meeting that writers have to be readers. I’m an avid reader of children’s books. Shhh! I enjoy them more than the adult books – more imagination sometimes.
Anyway, in the past four days I’ve read three books:
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman – excellent read and told from the perspective of a severely disabled teen with Cerebral Palsy
Frindle by Andrew Clements – surprisingly clever story about a boy and the power of words
Just Ella by Margaret Haddix – an interesting twist on the Cinderella tale
I enjoyed all three books and pretty much read them without interruption. Who needs sleep?
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Novels in Revision:
I'm currently revising a few things. I've polished a few picture books, and they are stewing for a bit.
YA science Fiction - draft #15
