Whimsical Word of the Week

Kickshaw -

a trinket or bauble; a culinary delicacy.

Example: The holiday party featured an array of delicious kickshaws.

Bibliophile's Corner

Starry River of the Sky
by Grace Lin

Flap Copy Description:
The moon is missing in the remote Village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to have noticed! Rendi has run away from home and is now working as a chore boy at the village inn. He can't help but notice the village's peculiar inhabitants and their problems - where has the innkeeper's son gone? Why are Master Chao and Widow Yan always arguing? What is the crying sound Rendi keeps hearing? And how can crazy, old Mr. Shan not know whether his pet is a toad or a rabbit?

One day, a mysterious lady arrives at the inn with the gift of storytelling, and she slowly transforms the villagers and Rendi himself. As she tells more stories and the days pass by in the Village of Clear Sky, Rendi begins to realize that perhaps it is his own story that holds the answers to all those questions.

My Thoughts:
Newbery Honor winner Grace Lin is one of our country's most gifted author/illustrators. Her most recent novel - Starry River of the Sky - is a treasure trove of wonderful writing, beautiful illustrations, and marvelous Chinese folklore. The protagonist in the story - Rendi - learns a multitude of life lessons as he moves from being an angry, rebellious boy, to a kind and caring young man. I would highly recommend this middle grade novel to readers from the ages of eight to eighty!
To learn more about the author, Grace Lin, click here: http://gracelin.com/

Storyteller's Journey

        A Time to Celebrate

Cel-e-brate - (verb)
1 - show happiness that something good or special has happened by doing such things as eating and drinking together, or playing music.
2 - to mark a special occasion or day by ceremonies or festivities.
3 - to perform a religious ceremony according to the prescribed forms.

It seems to me that the month of November is marked as a time to be thankful; while the month of December is a time to celebrate. As I pondered this idea in my mind I realized that I couldn't give a great definition for the word celebrate, so I checked on its meaning. As you can see from the definition for celebrate listed above, it is a verb - a way to show happiness when something good or special has happened. We are all aware of the wondrous events we celebrate during the holidays. But what about the things that are more common...the ones that we take for granted? And, are there other ways of celebrating that don't include food and drink?!

My mind took an imaginary bunny trail (as it so often does) as I mused about the things worthy of celebrating. As you can imagine, the list is endless. Here are a few everyday gifts that are near and dear to me that I'm hoping to celebrate this holiday season:

Family - In the midst of all the fun festivities I'm hoping to truly savor the time with my loved ones...and laugh a lot!
Friends - There are friends that have moved, or I've just lost track of, that I'm planning to reach out to at the holidays. And of course, have fun with our friends who live nearby!
Nature - I'm hoping to spend some quality time in the out of doors enjoying the beauty of nature. (Even if it does rain here in the Pacific Northwest!)
The Arts - Attending a Christmas concert, and then an art show (featuring the oil paintings of one of my girlfriends) will definitely be a way to celebrate the arts. One of our family holiday traditions is to visit The Grotto in Portland, Oregon for its Festival of Lights. The lights, music, food, farm animals, and puppet shows make it a yuletide favorite in our neck of the woods. Then, of course, I couldn't celebrate literature without reading another great book this season. (And continuing to work on my WIP!)
Faith - Last, but most importantly, is the time we spend remembering the reason for the season. Reaching out to folks in need is a tangible way for us to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

There are a multitude of gifts to celebrate this holiday season!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Psithurism -

a low whispering sound, such as the rustle of leaves.

Example: The poplars' psithurism added to the peaceful feeling in the forest.

Bibliophile's Corner

The Great Unexpected
by Sharon Creech

Flap Copy Description:
I had big thoughts to match the big wind. I wondered if we find the people we need when we need them. I wondered if we attract our future by some sort of invisible force, or if we are drawn to it by a similar force. I felt I was turning a corner and that change was afoot.

In the little town of Blackbird Tree live two orphan girls: one Naomi Deane, brimming with curiosity, and her best friend, Lizzie Scatterding, who could talk the ears off a cornfield. Naomi has a knack for being around when trouble happens. For she knows all the peculiar people in town - like Crazy Cora and Witch Wiggins and Mr. Farley. But then, one day, a boy drops out of a tree. The strangely charming Finn boy. Then the Dingle Dangle man appears, asking all kinds of questions. Curious surprises are revealed - three locked trunks, a pair of rooks, a crooked bridge, and that boy. Soon Naomi and Lizzie find themselves zooming toward a future neither could ever have imagined. Meanwhile, on a grand estate across the ocean, an old lady whose heart has been deceived concocts a plan...

My Thoughts:
 The Great Unexpected is really not unexpected when you're speaking of a novel written by Newbery Medal winner, Sharon Creech. This middle grade story is magnificent! Although I've read a number of novels written by Ms. Creech, this is by far my favorite. While reading The Great Unexpected, I couldn't help thinking of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, and I even thought of Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, at times. The deep character development in this richly entertaining story leads to a profound plot with the kinds of twists and turns every avid reader enjoys. I will say that the only thing that didn't grab me was the book's cover; for me it doesn't portray the mystery and magic the author captured so well. I would highly recommend this middle grade novel to readers from the ages of eight to eighty!

To learn more about the author - Sharon Creech - click here: http://sharoncreech.com/meet-sharon-creech

Whimsical Word of the Week

Peregrination -

a journey or voyage.

Example: The pilgrims set sail on a peregrination to the New World in 1607.

Happy
Thanksgiving!




I'll be back on Monday, November 26th. Have a safe & happy holiday!

Bibliophile's Corner

Malcolm at Midnight
by W. H. Beck

Flap Copy Description:
When Malcolm (a smaller than average rat) arrives as the fifth grade pet at McKenna School, he revels in the attention, the Pop-Tart crumbs, and his new Comf-E-Cube. He also meets the Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that keeps  the nutters (kids) out of trouble. After all, everybody knows "a lot happens in a school when the teachers aren't looking."

There's just one problem. Have you heard? Rats have a terrible reputation! So when the Academy assumes that Malcolm is a mouse, he doesn't exactly speak up. Then the Academy's leader, a glasses-wearing iguana named Aggy, disappears and the Academy smells a rat...a dirty rat fink, to be specific. Now Malcolm must use all of his ratty persistence to prove his innocence, get Aggy back under her heat lamp - and find out if it's possible to be a critter of valor and merit even if you're a rat.

My Thoughts:
Ms. Beck's debut novel - Malcolm at Midnight - is a delightful adventure story with anthropomorphic animals. The little main character, Malcolm, must stand up for himself and in the process learns the importance of being true to who he really is. This whimsical tale is full of twists and turns with loads of laughs; the wonderful character development really shines in this middle grade story. I would highly recommend Malcolm at Midnight to readers from the ages of eight to twelve.

To learn more about the author - W.H. Beck - click here: http://www.whbeck.com/