Happy Haul-idays from Chronicle Books

Could your classroom or home library use a little updating? Are there picture books you have just been dying to get your hands on?  Would you like $500 in books?  Well, here is your chance...and it won't cost you one single penny! That's right...this is not a joke.  I never joke about FREE BOOKS!!!  During this season of gift giving, Chronicle Books is offering an amazing opportunity to book bloggers and their readers in their Happy Haul-idays Giveaway!

Here's how it works.  Bloggers get to create a wish list of $500 worth of Chronicle Books that they would like to add to their collections. By posting about this giveaway and listing their “wish list”, bloggers are entered to win their entire $500 list of books. Not only that…any reader who leaves a comment on this blog post will also be entered to win the same $500 in books! That’s right $500 in books from Chronicle Books.

I have carefully chosen a variety of picture books (and a few chapter books) that would be fabulous additions to any classroom or home library.  There are a total of 36 books on the list!   I can barely contain my excitement about the AMAZING opportunity this truly unique publisher is offering!  All you have to do to get in on the winning is look over my wish list and see what fantastic titles are available for grabs. Then comment on what books you would most like to win off the list. Don't forget, with just one comment…you could win all $500 worth of books!

The Book Maven's Happy Haul-idays Wish List

(in no particular order...they are ALL great!)

Spot the Plot by J. Patrick Lewis  $15.99

Out of Sight by Pittau & Gervais  $19.99

Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen  $15.99

Ivy & Bean Boxed Set 2:  Books 4, 5, & 6 by Annie Barrows  $19.99

Ivy & Bean: What's the Big Idea? Book 7 by Annie Barrows  $14.99

Lots of Dots by Craig Frazier  $15.99

The Present by Bob Gill   $15.99

A Long Piece of String by William Wondriska  $15.99

Chicken BIG by Keith Graves  $16.99

Shadow by Suzy Lee  $15.99

Day & Night by Teddy Newton  $14.99

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino  $16.99

Look Out Jeremy Bean! by Alice Schertly  $14.99

Manfish:  A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne  $16.99

Spot 7:  School by Kidslabel  $12.95

Spot 7:  Animals by Kidslabel  $12.95

Spot 7:  Toys by Kidslabel  $12.95

The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook Boxed Set by David Borgenicht  $19.99

The Other Side by Istvan Banyou  $15.99

Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes  $16.99

One Red Apple by Harriet Ziefert  $16.99

A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Aston  $16.99

An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston $16.99

A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Aston $16. 99

Picture This:  How Pictures Work by Molly Bang  $12.99

Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal  $14.99

Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal  $14.99

Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal $14.99

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal  $16.99

Emily's Balloon by Komako Sakai  $14.95

The World's Greatest:Poems by J. Patrick Lewis  $16.99

Wish!  Wishing Traditions Around the World by Roseanne Thong  $16.99

So there you have it...my wish list of books!  Now don’t forget that this giveaway from Chronicle Books isn't just for me but for you, my readers too!  Just leave a comment  on this post about the book or books you are most interested in and you could win all $500 worth of the books on my wish list! Also make sure to leave me your e-mail address so that I can contact the winner! For a complete list of all the blogs participating click here.  Deadline to enter for this great giveaway is December 10th.

Giving Thanks...with great books!

With Thanksgiving just two days away, I'm looking forward to spending time with family and friends.  Unfortunately, I won't be seeing any of my younger nieces and nephews but if I were here a few of the picture books we would be reading together. 

Turkey Trouble
by Wendy Silvano (illus. Lee Harper)
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Reference (2009)
Ages: 3-9
(description from Amazon.com)
Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it's almost Thanksgiving . . . and he's the main course. But Turkey has an idea--what if he doesn't look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead?  After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever!

A Plump and Perky Turkey
by Theresa Bateman (illus. Jeff Tilley)
Publisher: Turtlebeck (2004)
Ages: 4-9
(description from Amazon.com)
"The people in Squawk Valley/ were downhearted and depressed./ Thanksgiving was approaching,/ but without its special guest." All the turkeys have fled town except for one fowl named Pete who responds to a ploy a "model wanted" ad for the local art show. After posing for various sculptors, painters and collage artists, Pete steals off with a turkey made from oatmeal as payment and joins up with his other feathered pals.

A Turkey for Thanksgiving
by Eve Bunting (illus. Diane de Groat)
Publisher: Clarion (1991)
Ages: 4-8

(description from Amazon.com)

Although a paper turkey decorates Mrs. Moose's Thanksgiving table, she longs for the real thing--so her obliging husband sets out to find her one. He is joined by his soon-to-be dinner guests: Rabbit, in his quilted down vest; poky Porcupine, in his furry earmuffs; and ravenous Mr. Goat, who devours everything in sight, including Sheep's plaid hat. They find Turkey hiding in his nest, surrounded by signs that discourage visitors. Trying to console the terrified bird, Mr. Moose explains: "We just want you for Thanksgiving dinner," which only confirms Turkey's fears.

This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story

by Laura Krauss Melmed (illus. Mark Buehner)

Publisher: HaperCollins (2003)

Ages: 3-7

(description from Amazon.com)

Through a simple, rhyming text of 12 short poems, young readers will experience 10 Wampanoag and 10 Pilgrim friends getting ready for the first harvest feast in the New World.  This story adds the enjoyment of hidden pictures on each page. There is a turkey to find in each colorful spread and lots of small creatures to count. The feast scene has at least 10 critters, maybe more, frolicking, even making off with food. Lots of smiles and counting practice result in a super read-aloud.

I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with lots of friends, family and of course...reading!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Poetry Friday: Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night
by Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by Rick Allen
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Ages:  8 and up
Review copy provided by McArthur Public Library


Night-Spider's Advice

Build a frame
and stick to it,
I always say.
Life's a circle.
Just keep going around.
Do your work, then
sit back and see
what falls in your lap.

You can read the rest of this poem in Dark Emperor & Other Night Poems by Joyce Sidman. 

In her latest book, Joyce Sidman invites readers into the fascinating world of night creatures as she demonstrates through her writing, the changes that take place after the sun goes down. One of many things I love about Sidman's work is that she uses a variety of poem styles in her collections- and this book is no different.  I also appreciate that she shares related facts that can expand on the reader's understanding of the poem. She is a master at blending poetry and nonfiction text that doesn't feel overwhelming.   The illustrations that Rick Allen created add a wonderful night time feeling the book as well, making the reading experience even more enjoyable.  

If you aren't familiar with her other collections of poetry, I would suggest you take the time to also read her Caldecott Honor Book, Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems, Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow, and Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors, which along with Dark Emperor has been named an Outstanding Science Trade book by the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council.  Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night has many cross-curricular possibilities and will make an excellent addition to your classroom or home library!

Today's Poetry Friday Round Up is being hosted by Diane at Random Noodling.