Children's Award-Winning Classics

Sponsored by 5 Minutes for Mom, this carnival highlights great award-winning classics! My computer was down for a couple of months and I missed last month so...I'm doing a catch-up post!


The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (National Book Award Winner)

I have been wanting to read this one for awhile and this challenge gave me the perfect excuse! This was defeinitely a light-read, a fun-read, and I found myself completely absorbed in the tale of these four sisters, their widowed dad, and their summer adventure!








Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes (Newberry Award)

We got this book for free as part of the Summer Reading Challenge at Borders. I started reading it with Tucker but he was too overwhelmed by all the detail at the beginning and told me "save it, though, I will read it it in a few years" and I think he will. I really enjoyed it and couldn't read it fast enough. I haven't read too much about the Boston Tea Party-era and think I may have to now! My interest has been piqued!








Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Newberry Award)

Another one that's been on my TBR list for awhile. I enjoyed the closeness that the two girls share and their friendship that endures anything. this was another quick read for me (I couldn't put it down) and was sorry to see it end!

WWW Wednesdays

MizB from Should Be Reading sponsors this weekly meme so we can all share what we're reading!

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I'm still working on this one.









The Cookbook Collectors by Allegra Goodman

An audio book I'm listening to. It's the story of two sisters and the give-and-take you must be part of in any relationship.







Recently Finished Reading:



Imperfect Endings by zoe Fitzgerald Carter

I finsihed listening to this over the weekend. I really liked it although I should have known better to read it around the anniversary of my Dad's death.







Coming Up Next:
Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

I've been seeing this one a lot in the Children's Award-Winning Books Carnival so I picked it up.


Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

I thought this would be fun to listen to in honor of Halloween!

WWW Wednesdays

MizB from Should Be Reading sponsors this weekly meme so we can all share what we're reading!

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larson

With all the recent fuss over this trilogy, I decided to read them and see what it was all about. I haven't had a lot of tiime to read lately so I'm only about 40 poages in, but so far, considering I wasn't sure this was my "type" of book, I am enjoying it. I'm looking forward to having a nice chunk of time to read some more!






Imperfect Endings by Zoe

this is the story of a woman with PArkinson's who asks her daughters to help her kill herself. It is told from the perspective of one of the daughters. During my college years, I was very "into" assisted suiside and Dr Kervorkian and read everything I could get my hands on so this appealed to me in some way.



Recently Finsihed:

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

For a book that I only picked up because I recognized the author's name (she of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants fame), I have to say that this one left me speechless. It's the story of a man who remembers the multiple past lives he has lived and he is looking to reunite with his first true love whom he continues to meet in mutliple lives. It's sounds weird but it's hard to explain. Trust me when I sayt it was absolutley wonderful!!!


Coming Up:

I'm guessing it may take me awhile to get through The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I returned The Girl who played with Fire and I'll probably just pick it up when I get done with this one. Definitely still want to read Wuthering Heights. Not sure what I'll listen to next.

WWW Wednesdays

MizB of Should Be Reading sponsors this weekly meme so we can share what we're all doing reading-wise!

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:












Recently Finished Reading:














Coming Up Next:

WWW Wednesdays

MizB of Should Be Reading sponsors this weekly meme so we can share what we're all doing reading-wise!

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

* What are you currently reading?
* What did you recently finish reading?
* What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

The Tudors by G.J. Meyer
I am on the 20th and final CD of The Tudors and am so ready to be done with it! It was good but I think I need a little break from the Tudors!



Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
I've just started this and am already very into it1


Recently Finished Reading:


Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
I cannot put into words how absolutely great this book is!!! I read it in 3 days; I couldn't put it down!


Coming Up Next:

The Penderwicks: A Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Both are my TBR list (and the corner of my bureau!) (Also The Penderwicks can count can count toward the Children's Award-Winning Classics Challenge!!!)

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's mine!

"No, my love," Mamah said, leaning over to kiss his brow. "it's my fault. I told her I am not Mrs. Wright."

~ Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Children's Award Winning Classics

From July through December, 5 Minutes for Books is sponsoring Children's Award Winning Classics in which we all read award-winning children's books (well, duh; hence, the name!! lol)



I was looking for some light reading/listening and decided to finally read Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo which I have wanted to read ever since Tucker's class read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and I LOVED it!

Winner of the 2001 Newbery Honor Award, this story is about a young girl, India Opal, who has just moved to FL with her father, a preacher. Her mother died when she was little and she struggles with this a little each day. She meets a dog at the local grocery store and names him Winn-Dixie after the store. Winn-Dixie leads Opal to meet many wonderful people that she may not have otherwise and as she talks with them, she collects stories and thinks about her mother. Opal grows up that summer as she learns what friendship is all about.

I enjoyed this simple story and loved the characters in it. I was touched by Opal's desire to find out more about about her mother and to grow closer to her father. She learned about friendship from a pretty eclectic group of people and grew because of her experiences with them.