One Hundred Butterflies

When this colourful delight came in the mail I could barely pry out out of the hands of my two safari-ready boys. They were peering at the pages choosing their favourite butterflies and re-naming them with names all their own. I hesitated in pulling it away because they were enjoying it so much, so I just sat and let myself watch and listen to them. I think they would have done a better job with this review than me, with so many more exclamation points because of their sheer happiness each time the page was turned. They said things like, “each one is prettier and prettier” and “mom, this one should be called rainbow because it just has so many colours”. Yes, it seems they could have published an excellent review themselves.

When I finally got my chance to look at it closely I felt their excitement as well, it really is impressive that each time you turn the page the butterflies and moths have that- I know this is real, but how could it be not digitally altered to be so beautiful- thing about them. This book is one hundred percent the best of both worlds. You know how when you are little (or not so little) and want the butterfly to just stay still so you can watch its colours? There are those who pin them and then have the beauty to look at as long as they want, but that was something I never wanted to do. One Hundred Butterflies allows the kids and I to have a looksy any time we want and we didn’t even have to net and pin these suckers- yep, the best of both worlds.

One Hundred Butterflies would be the perfect gift for a kid who loves nature, or even one who needs to be exposed to it. Also it would be great for a person who isn’t a kid, but still allows himself(herself) to sit and admire the beauty of creation, and butterflies are wonderfully good at being some of the most beautiful pieces of creation. I don’t think it was written with kids in mind necessarily, but kids and adults who can still be filled with awe and wonder would delight in this book alike. Excellent book, pure loveliness.

I will leave you with a little more beauty, it is a poem by the photographer of this book, Harold Feinstein.

The wing of a butterfly,
The petal of a rose;
What a joy!
I celebrate every flower.
And yet, what a piker I am.

This glorious planet of ours,
Mother earth,
Festooned with multiples
Of glory surrounded by glory.
Oh but I aspire,
From the depths of my soul
To pay tribute
To the array of wonder
We so often take for granted;
Wake up! Wake up!

Look around you!
It is here!
Heaven on earth,
Our endless gift,
Give Thanks.

-Harold Feinstein

What book has made you stop in your tracks weather you were an adult or one that you remember even now from your kid-days??

I am a Powell’s affiliate and I do receive a percentage of the sales of any book you buy using my links. Thank you!

It is getting late right? Yes, but we are still going strong!!! There are some of you still around. WHO IS OUT THERE!?! Comment on this post so we can keep keeping track of eachother. We are at T plus 19, yes only 5 hours left. 5 little hours.

Please forgive me, but this is going to be my last informational prize post. I may do another personal post I may not. But I want to be able to read as well. There is so much info in this post, make sure you read it all carefully and that you go enter all the giveaways you are interested in.

We have one last Breaktime Shindig to attend:

It is hours Shindig is hosted by Debbie Nance at Reader Buzz. Visit her  Reader Buzz blog and talk about your favourite Christmas stories. She is offering a prize that you won’t want to miss out on: Amazon gift of $10 to the winner.

*Make sure to enter the I LOVE MONSTER pendant giveaway, I think she is leaving it open until after the Read.Read.READ-A-THON for the peeps who are just too busy reading to win anything Make sure you go there and enter it, it is so super sweet!

*Emily at Seriously Reading is into book covers, and she has a prize to giveaway on her blog for your answers! Win a copy of Keeping The Feast you don’t want to miss that book!!!

*Over at I HEART MONSTER! Take a little reading break and  go over and visit with her about Ditching Naughty and Embracing Nice! I’d embrace nice if I were you and head over- it is to your benefit, she has a $10 Amazon gift card up for grabs!!! (This needs to be done before the end of the Read.Read.READ-A-THON for it to count in the drawing!)

*And also go to   Reader Buzz blog and talk about your favourite Christmas stories. She is offering a prize that you won’t want to miss out on: Amazon gift of $10 to the winner.

We are going to do something different for the prizes for the rest of the eve (night/morning).

LAST Read. Read. READ-A-THON GIVEAWAY!!!

Three SUPA-LUCKY winners will be able to select a pack prize, of one of the following sets:

1.       Angels By Chuck Fischer ISBN: 0316039705

2.       Miracles By Karen Kingsbury ISBN: 0446557951

3.       The Gift of an Ordinary Day By Katrina Kenison ISBN: 0446409480

4.       Christmas Memories By Susan Branch ISBN: 0316106488

5.        The Paper Bag Christmas By Kevin Alan Milne ISBN: 1599950731

1.       Start-up Nation By Dan Senor , Saul Singer ISBN: 044654146X

2.       The Monuments Men By Robert M. Edsel , Bret Witter ISBN: 1599951495

3.       Sex, Drugs & Gefilte Fish By Shana Liebman ISBN: 0446504629

4.       The Woman Who Named God By Charlotte Gordon ISBN: 031611474X

5.       A Lucky Child By Thomas Buergenthal , Elie Wiesel ISBN: 0316043400

1.       The Boy Next Door By Irene Sabatini ISBN: 031604993X

2.       Mrs. O By Mary Tomer ISBN: 1599952580

3.       Role of a Lifetime By James Brown , Nathan Whitaker , Tony Dungy ISBN: 0446541176

4.      On the Line By Serena Williams , Daniel Paisner ISBN: 0446553662

5.       Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales By Nelson Mandela ISBN: 1600246664

All of these giveaways are OPEN IN US AND CANADA ONLY. NO PO BOXES PLEASE.

The deets: I will select three winners, one for each of the Hachette holiday Book packages. So, if you are still around, and want to be entered comment on this post with the information below. This is open only to US and Canada peeps, and no PO boxes please.

How to enter the three rules for this giveaway:

1.)Comment on this post telling us what your favourite holiday memory is EVER.

2.)Tell me which you would like to be entered for. You can ask to be entered for all three. If you’d just like to be entered for one tell me. But I don’t want to send this pack of books to someone who doesn’t want them, so if you do not state which package you’d like, I won’t enter you. (sorry)

3.)Sorry, only US and Canada. No PO Boxes please.

We are at T plus 16- Goodness time is moving right along here!! You are not feeling sleepy, you are not tired. Go outside in the cold and run around or better yet do this hour’s Breaktime Shindig to wake you up:

Ahhh, the joys of reading.  By now you’ve been reading for hours and probably forgotten why you signed up for this.  Head on over to Reads4Pleasure and let us remind you with your favorite childhood theme song!

This hour’s winner who can put their hand in the  Virtual Prize Bucket (prizes are first come first serve, comment on this post or the prize post saying which prize you want, the ones that are scratched out are not available any longer):

Biblio File

If the winner is not located within the US or in Canada, please notify me. It is really hard to tell from a blog sometimes. I have a couple international prizes that I will ship, let me know if you are located internationally.

Since many of the peeps are not with us anymore try harder than ever to comment on those people’s updates who ARE still around! If you need a comment or two comment below and then we can all comment where the people are still awake. If you want a comment give a comment- go find someone who commented below and visit their blog and be friendly. Mabye sip some tea together too.

Dreadlock Girl Personal Update:

What have I done since last post? mostly not read at all. I have been eating chocolate and taking a shower + trying to visit some blogs. Really not much.

Are you planning on staying up all night!?!?! Do tell.

T Plus 14! We are over knee deep in this Read-A-Thon now and it is just getting better and better (if I do say so myself . It has been a blast getting to know you all better, enjoying our eyes going bloodshot together. That is fun, right?! Oh, yah!

BREAKTIME SHINDIG STOPS:
There are TWO Breaktime Shingdigs this hour!!! (yea, trying to keep you AWAKE!! ;P)

Shanlyn has a mini-challenge ready for this hour, which is to answer questions using only objects/titles/etc that you can see from your favorite reading spot. It is a pretty great challenge, make sure you don’t miss it! Head over to Chick Loves Lit and let your eyes rest from reading your book for a sec!

AND also, go check out: Tif Talks Books!! Remember those Mad Libs growing up?  Those crazy little stories where you would insert complete random words to create your own unique twist?  Well, we are re-living the ol’ days with a Book Lib!!  Pick up your current read, follow the directions over at Tif Talks Books, and get ready for a good laugh!!

This hours winner Virtual Prize Bucket (prizes are first come first serve, comment on this post or the prize post saying which prize you want, the ones that are scratched out are not available any longer):

Ash @ English Major’s Junk Food

If the winner is not located within the US or in Canada, please notify me. It is really hard to tell from a blog sometimes. I have a couple international prizes that I will ship, let me know if you are located internationally.

Dreadlock Girl Personal Update:

Well, I finished another read- the second book in the series I started called The Color of Water.

So far:
The Color of Earth 320 pages (Complete)
The Color of Water 320 pages (Complete)
A Wrinkle in Time 50 pages
Family Planning 80 pages

Total: 770 pages

I feel much better now. I am at home, the boys are in bed. I am sitting with husband and two cats and am finally warm! The library is freezing. It looks like I read a ton, but really I haven’t those two long books were really quick graphic novels.

How are you holding up? Have you gotten your second wind yet (or third or fourth)? What book are you reading now?

T plus 12 now!! HALF WAY!!! How does that make you feel!? Oh, goodness it is good stuff. I love reading, reading, reading and it is so fun to read for a cause. Are you reading for a cause too? Which one? I am reading for Rabuna Fi like I have mentioned already.

What do you think of classics? Love ‘em? Are you scared of them? Go over to the next stop and talk classics:

Ash at English Major’s Junk Food is hosting the favorite classic mini-challenge during this hour of the Read.Read.READ-A-THON. Leave a comment with your favorite classic and a quote from the novel or author.

This hours winner Virtual Prize Bucket (prizes are first come first serve, comment on this post or the prize post saying which prize you want, the ones that are scratched out are not available any longer):

Shannan Loves Books and Movies

If the winner is not located within the US or in Canada, please notify me. It is really hard to tell from a blog sometimes. I have a couple international prizes that I will ship, let me know if you are located internationally.

Dreadlock Girl Personal Update:
I ate dinner, I drove around trying to find a place with internet access…and I finally sat back down. I am reading The Color of Water and still listening to A Wrinkle in Time (not liking it super much).

I finally got myself a hot beverage of my choice, which ended up being Chai tea. Love it!!

What about you? Are you enjoying your current read??

One book completed, The Color of Earth (316 pages).

T plus 10! You’ve been reading for 10 hours now. Quite a honourable feat, yes there is some time left, but you have really been doing an excellent job here folks! Keep it up! Make sure you don’t quit now!

For this hours Breaktime Shindig this is what you need to know:

Who’s the hero or heroine that rocks your socks? Who’s the master of dastardly deeds in your literary universe?  Tip on over to Reads4Pleasure and tell us!

You may have seen this before, it has been around….but I always love watching this one, take a sec and watch:

This hours three Virtual Prize Bucket winners (prizes are first come first serve, comment on this post or the prize post saying which prize you want, the ones that are scratched out are not available any longer):

1.)Corina at Wasted Days and Wasted Nights
2.)Miss Wisabus
3.)Lanie and Julieann

If any of these 4 winners are not located within the US or in Canada, please notify me. It is really hard to tell from a blog sometimes. I have a couple international prizes that I will ship, let me know if you are located internationally.

Dreadlock Girl Personal Update:

I have finished The color of Earth (a graphic novel), and I am halfway through A Wrincle in Time, still working on Family Planning as well. Keepin’ on keepin’ on!!! I need to get dinner now, I’m thinking SUSHI!!! YUM.

How are you guys holding up? Are your eyes getting tired?

This hours Virtual Prize Bucket winners (prizes are first come first serve, comment on this post or the prize post saying which prize you want, the ones that are scratched out are not available any longer):

1.) Kathryn @ Kathryn’s Book Nook
2.) Ari (Reading in Color)
3.) EL Fay
4.) Tuulenhaiven

If any of these 4 winners are not located within the US or in Canada, please notify me. It is really hard to tell from a blog sometimes. I have a couple international prizes that I will ship, let me know if you are located internationally.

Reward yourself by visiting with Ronnica at Book Nook Club, she has a bookie event planned for you over there. I am sure you are headed over already, but just in case, here are the words straight out of Ronnica’s mouth about this T plus 8 Breaktime Shindig: Books always make great presents…what are you giving this holiday season?  Come discuss holiday gift giving over on the Book Nook!

Wish I had some funny thing to share with you this time…huh, maybe you could do it for me! If you have a link to a super funny video or song or something entertaining leave the link in the comments. Tell a joke, a funny story, go ahead! Share something to keep us entertained

Dreadlock Girl Personal Update:
I have done much better this time. I’m alternating between an audiobook of A Wrinkle in Time, Family Planning and The color of Earth (a graphic novel). I will have to figure out my page count at some point, but I haven’t done that yet.I think I’ll need lunch soon though.

How is your reading going??? Are you still at it?

T plus 6! My math skills are not so good, and as the day goes on they will get worse. (hint, hint, you better keep an eye on me so I don’t start cutting corners to the finish line!! What!?! I’d never do that!

I want to inform all you Read.Read.READ-A-THONers the following participants, please select a prize from the Virtual Prize Bucket:

1.) I Heart Monster
2.)BrownGirl
3.)This Book and I Could Be Friends
4.) Perpetual Spiral’s Process

If any of these 4 winners are not located within the US or in Canada, please notify me. It is really hard to tell from a blog sometimes. I have a couple international prizes that I will ship, let me know if you are located internationally.

For this hours Read.Read.READ-A-THON Breaktime Shindig: Go see what Emily at Seriously Reading is up too:

The old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” — that has never stopped me! Show us what you’ve been eyeing  lately and be entered for a chance to win an ARC of Paula Butturini’s new memoir Keeping the Feast.

If you like cats, or don’t like them either way you have to watch this one!!

My cats drink from a running faucet, but NEVER would they stoop to putting their head in and getting water in their ears???!!?! Really!? This must not even be a real cat. My boys laughed over and over at this one. Yes, we had to watch it 4 times (more if I had been up for it).

Dreadlock Girl Personal Update:
Mostly I have been gathering materials (food, books, oatmeal for the kids) and haven’t really read very much in this last stretch. I hope that things will calm now and I can take some time. I hope you are all enjoying yourselves! Are you? I will check in in two hours and I know I will have some reading progress to report by then. I am listening to A Wrinkle in Time. It is good.

How goes the book reading peoples?? Are you still going strong?

If you need a break take it- you’ve earned it, go take your break with Beth Fish, over yonder at Beth Fish Reads she has some exercises, and moving around planned for this T plus 4 hour Breaktime Shindig! Head yourself on over friend.

You could come back and watch this man do some groovin’ too! Seriously, can you move like this!? If you can, you need to make your own vlog and share it with us NOW, we need some entertainment-like yesterday!

It is now T plus 2, you have completed two hours of reading. Stretch, snack and brouse the other blogs and then settle back in for another two hours. Oh, the joy of reading all day, I LOVE IT!

Our first ‘Breaktime Shindig’ is a Meme over at I HEART MONSTER! Take a little reading break and  go over and visit with her about Ditching Naughty and Embracing Nice, I promise it will be fun! BTW, she has some pretty cool prizes for you over there….you really want to check them out. This meme is open for the entire Read-A-Thon. Participants will be entered to win a $10 Amazon giftcard!

She will be posting her first giveaway at T plus 3 (in one hour) make sure you head back over then to I HEART MONSTER !!!

Dreadlock Girl’s Personal Update:

How is my reading doing?? Well really not so hot. It is hard stuff to be posting these all the time, and I am constantly realizing I need to email this person or that. I have been reading Family Planning, a Novel and I am enjoying it. I read 80 pages, but I hope to be more focoused in the next two hours. I am keeping my fingers crossed! I did get some green tea in me. Oooops the chickens are making a ruckus outside….better let them out into the grass. It is so FROSTY here today though! The rest of my family is still sleeping (it is a little after 8 am here).

How are you holding up? Are you getting more distracted than you expected? Are the twinkies calling your name yet?