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Super-duper-OMG-I'm-so-thrilled-it's-the-best-news-ever CONGRATULATIONS to Kathryn Erskine, whose MG/YA novel, Mockingbird (Philomel, 2010), was just named a National Book Awards finalist!!



Can you tell I'm excited? 

This is one of those rare books which, after reading the first paragraph, the little voice in my head said, WOW. Beautiful, spare prose, far-reaching. Organic, exquisitely crafted. We celebrated its official release here on alphabet soup, and I'm simply over the moon that Mockingbird has received this well-deserved recognition. 

Hooray for Kathy!! See all the finalists here.

More Random Cuppie-o-Grams here.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

          
         Dancing Starfish cupcake by Cape Cod Cupcake Co.


Dear Kelly Ramsdell Fineman,

Congratulations on the publication of your beautiful poem, "Troubled Water," in Breaking Waves: An Anthology for Gulf Coast Relief! It's hands down our favorite piece, by virtue of its exquisite language and powerful, heartbreaking message.

Thank you so much for contributing your work in support of such a worthwhile cause. We are very proud to know you!

Your loyal fans,
the alphabet soup kitchen helpers
xxxooo



P.S. Note to everybody out there: For just $4.99, you can purchase the e-book, Breaking Waves, a collection of 34 poems, essays, short stories and articles edited by Tiffany Trent and Phyllis Irene Radford. It includes an excerpt from Rachel Carson's,The Sea Around Us, begins with Ursula K. Le Guin's poem, "In England in the Fifties," and ends with Kelly's poem, "Troubled Water." 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this anthology will go to the Gulf Oil Spill Fund. It's available from the Book View Café, and is downloadable in the following DRM-free formats: epub, mobi, pdf, and prc.

Please click on over and purchase your copy if you haven't already done so! As Tanita Davis said, "It is always better to do a small thing than nothing at all."

Yay, Kelly! *happy starfish dance*

♥ More Random Cuppie-o-Grams here.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

Baked by Michelle


ESPECIALLY FOR: Laura Ludwig Hamor and Professor Gibbs

We missed you at the Dog Day Party last week, but know you have the perfect reason to be fashionably late: the arrival of a brand new nephew! Welcome to the world, Gavin!

Today, we want to celebrate this blessed addition to your family, and give you and your beautiful dog a chance to introduce yourselves, just like all the other guests.


What a gorgeous photo!

This is Professor Gibbs. He is a 10-month-old Shetland Sheepdog. He is 13" tall and weighs 10 furry pounds. He loves, loves playing. His favorite games are fetching tennis balls but not bringing them back to us, and ringing his bell. He rings the service bell by the door when he wants . . . service. He also rings it for attention, or wants us to stop eating and give him some treats.



Isn't he adorable? Hmmmm. I gotta get me a service bell!

Thanks for joining us, Laura and Gibbs. Please give Gavin a hug next time you see him!

♥ More Random Cuppie-o-Grams here.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

 Rachel from Cupcakes Take the Cake/flickr


These Elvis Cupcakes are especially for David Lubar, King of Pork!

He's the only person we know who's makin' the bacon (and really bringing it home). Apparently, he's quite good with Weenies, too. A thousand OINKS in honor of David!!

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon." ~ Doug Larson

"I've long said that if I were about to be executed and were given a choice of my last meal, it would be bacon and eggs. There are few sights that appeal to me more than the streaks of lean and fat in a good side of bacon, or the lovely round of pinkish meat framed in delicate white fat that is Canadian bacon. Nothing is quite as intoxicating as the smell of bacon frying in the morning, save perhaps the smell of coffee brewing." ~ James Beard

More Cuppie-o-Grams here.


Don't forget: September 4th is International Bacon Day!

*Homer from Doug Mota's flickr photostream.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

 Source: Cakes.KeyArtStudio.com.


Heartfelt congratulations, *Kate Messner,* on winning an E.B. White Read Aloud Award for The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z (Walker, 2009)!!

         

We're so thrilled and excited that your wonderful middle grade novel has received this well-deserved honor!

Friends, check out Kate's beautiful post about her reaction to winning the award and the important role reading aloud has played in her life -- as a child, a parent, and a teacher. So inspiring!

Way to go, Kate!!

More Random Cuppie-o-Grams here.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

 photo by chelseaigirl.

Dear Barbara O'Connor,

I hear you have a pickle problem.

Does this mean you are in a pickle with too many pickles?

If so, you probably need some cupcake burgers to go with them. Works for me every time.

Good luck,

Miss Dill
All Things Cucumber
xxoo

P.S. Or, you could buy a heck of a lot of ice cream.


 Pickles and Ice Cream cupcake by norwichnuts.

"A pickle is a cucumber who sold out." ~ Mitch Hedberg

More Random Cuppie-o-Grams here.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

 photo by Zen Cupcake.


Okay, time for another Poetry Potluck Oh-So-Random-Door-Prize!

Jeni Bell, come on down! (And roar, if you like)!



You've just won a brand new copy of African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways by Avis Harley, with photographs by Deborah Noyes (Candlewick Press, 2009)!! Find out more about this Cybils finalist by reading this great review by Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

Congratulations, Jeni, and thanks for hanging out with us at the Potluck! Please send your mailing address to: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot) com.

**Everyone, check my upcoming Poetry Friday post for a chance to win the final Poetry Potluck door prize, which was written by our surprise guest!

See more Random Cuppie-o-Grams here.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

 photo by Miss Cupcakery.


It's time to crown another Poetry Potluck Oh-So-Random-Door-Prize winner!

Tanita S. Davis, come on down!! (Or, in your case, swim on over!)

      

You've just won a brand new copy of Come to the Castle by Linda Ashman, illustrated by S.D. Schindler (Roaring Brook Press, 2009)! I hope you're in the mood for a bawdy Medieval feast! For a couple of sample poems from the book, see my Poetry Friday post here.

Congratulations, Tanita, and thanks for coming to the Potluck! Please send your mailing address to: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot) com.

**Stay tuned for more random door prizes as we celebrate the final week (sob) of National Poetry Month. All commenters are eligible to win!

Have a great week, everyone!

 photo by Nati's Cakes.

Once again, all the names of the commenters from this past week were tossed into the big soup pot for the second door prize of the Poetry Potluck.

KAREN EDMISTEN, come on down!

       

You've won a copy of The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination, compiled by Mary Ann Hoberman and Linda Winston (Sourcebooks, 2009)!! For excellent reviews of this title, click over to Wild Rose Reader and A Year of Reading.

Congratulations, Karen! Please send your mailing address to: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot) com.

♥ Thanks for hanging out at the Potluck, everybody! A couple more weeks of poems and recipes are coming your way -- and there will be more of these Oh-So-Random Door Prizes. Anyone who comments on any post is eligible to win. ☺

More cuppie-o-grams here.

*trumpet flourish*


 photo by Clare & Dave.

Kelly Polark, come on down!

Your name has been randomly selected among all those who commented this week to receive the first Poetry Potluck Oh-So-Random Door Prize!

       

You have won a brand new copy of Stampede!: Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Steven Salerno (Clarion, 2009)!! (To see my review of this cool book, click here.)

Please send your mailing address to: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot) com.

Congratulations, Kelly, and thanks for noshing with us at the Potluck!

**Stay tuned for more Oh-So-Random Door Prizes all month long. Anyone who comments is eligible for these random giveaways as well as the previously announced giveaway for The Poets Cookbook and The Alchemist's Kitchen (winner announced May 2nd).

Dear Queen Elizabeth,

What do you carry in your purse, anyway?

     
      photo by queene of tartes.


God save the Queen!

Love,
Your devoted fan ♥

See more Cuppie-o-Grams here.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

Teachers of the world: Thank you for all you do!


photo by clevercupcakes.


"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." ~ Albert Einstein

"The teacher is the one who gets the most out of the lessons, and the true teacher is the learner." ~ Albert Hubbard

"Smartness runs in my family. When I went to school I was so smart my teacher was in my class for five years." ~ Gracie Allen

See more Cuppie-o-Grams here.

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

Good Day Sunshine, Kevin Slattery (a.k.a., Rich and Famous Artist)! Feel better soon, and good luck with all your projects!!



Beatles cupcakes by cakemuffingirl.


~ We love you, yeah, yeah, yeah! ♥

Copyright © 2010 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.