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So, I know many, many, many of you have already read this book. I'm extremely late to the party, but when someone else reviewed it for Deliciously Clean Reads, it dropped to the bottom of my to-read list. I was so intrigued by it, it's beautiful cover, all the great reviews, and that perfect title, but I had to make a priority out of books that hadn't yet been reviewed at DCR. 

But today, the cover called out to me again. And I picked it up. And I didn't put it back down until I had read the entire thing.

lurban

Today I have an interview with fabulous author, Jessica Day George, at Deliciously Clean Reads. You can see the interview here. You won't regret it. She's hilarious. I am also giving away a signed copy of her new book, Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow.

I'm just popping in to direct you over to Deliciously Clean Reads (or to the lj feed...

cleanreads

lurban

I've had the most wonderful day with books today.

I had a storytelling gig tonight with a group of kindergarteners and some of their older siblings at a local elementary school. I wanted to recreate an activity I used to do this time of year with my own students so I went over to the school early to set up a campfire, a tent, etc.

As I signed in, one of my wonderful former students (and dedicated reader) came in (she is now in college) to see a parental unit who works there. She gave me the most wonderful hug and I got to meet her boyfriend. Boyfriend? Funny how kids stop growing in your mind in 5th grade or when ever you see them for the last time. Gosh, if I had known I was going to see her, I would have brought her a stack of books.

I also had a visit there with another friend whose son (another of "my" kids) finally became an avid reader in 6th grade thanks to Percy Jackson. His mother mentioned that he was on the waiting list for Titan's Curse at his junior high (on a WAITING LIST??? No no no no...)

After I picked up my entling from school and we stopped by the public library where it seemed like Camille's-old-elementary-students-now-in junior-high day. It seemed like every time I turned a corner there was another pocket of old students who seemed wildly enthusiastic to see me (you never know for sure.) I ended up walking and talking the shelves of the YA section with one of them. He kept pulling the books off the shelf as I described them and asking me, "What else is good?" He took a pile over to be checked out. He always was an adventurous and courageous reader.

I got back to the school early this evening to make sure every thing was working and saw yet another teacher friend who is now teaching at this new campus (I think half my old school is there now) and in the course of our conversation realized I had just the picture book she needed for a subject she is introducing this week. Since I am subbing at a jr. high very near her tomorrow, I will drop it off on my way.

The storytelling was very fun and Dragon was in his most cheeky, most annoying element. The coolest moment was when I pulled a small spider puppet onto my fingers to start an Anansi story and one little boy started to sing "The Eensy-Weensy-Spider" and the whole group joined in. Those precious young voices, it brought tears to my eyes.

My 6th grade friend was also there and he now has a Titan's Curse to read. Bah on waiting lists.

When I got home I saw this post at Chicken Spaghetti about Susan's son and Calvin & Hobbes.
I love it when I hear that someone has finally made a reading connection.

Reading is so personal and I take my friends' reading personally. That amazing "right book, right reader, right time" thing is what has always interested me the most about being a librarian. It is always an honor to be a small part of the magic.