TIF TALKS BOOKS

(Late) Monday Maunder: May 20, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:23:00 +0000

As I write this, it is actually late on a Tuesday morning! I am finally done with work, ready to move on to my new adventure and the first week out, I completely forget to write my usual weekly maunder. What a way to start!! I am going to be quite brief today because I will hopefully be sharing more details on a number of these things very soon ... maybe even later today. So, read on and stay tuned . . .

ON READING

I am still reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark. In fact, I am only on page 134 of 1006 total pages. Let's see how far I can get by next week. Hopefully, I will make better progress now that I have more time on my hands.

What are you reading?

ON BLOGGING

In case you missed it, I am hosting two giveaways that close this week in honor of Children's Book Week! Be sure to check them out and enter before the posted deadlines!

Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann (5/22)

The Tree That Bear Climbed by Marianne Berkes (5/24)

Honestly, most of my time in the blogosphere is spent working on Armchair BEA tasks these days. This is one of my favorite events of the year, though I may be biased since I am one of the founders and organizers of the event. I will be posting more info on this one later this week. It launches on Monday, May 27!

What is happening in your blogging world these days?

ON WRITING

Not much here this week, but I did get in a bit of journaling!

ON LIFE

I am done with work!!! My house still has not sold, but I am done with work!! What does this mean for me? I will be posting all about my plans later this week as well!!

Tell me about the good happening in your life right now.

The Tree That Bear Climbed by Marianne Berkes & GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Do you remember the childhood story, The House That Jack Built? It's a story that builds upon itself, creating a rhythm that children cannot resist. The concept and rhythm is just what Marianne Berkes brings us in her story, The Tree That Bear Climbed. Let me give you a little peak . . .

These are the roots

that anchor the tree

that bear climbed.

This is the soil

that feeds the roots

that anchor the tree

that bear climbed.

This is the rain

that waters the soil

that feeds the roots

that anchor the tree

that bear climbed.

Berkes continues her tale, building both the tree and the story to the very top. Readers learn the parts of the tree, starting with the roots and ending with a little surprise. I also discovered that as I read the tale to my own children, they even began chanting the last lines to the story right along with me, making it a very fun and educational read-aloud.

The Tree That Bear Climbed is a book that is published by Sylvan Dell Publishing. As with all of their books, you can find additional educational tips, resources, and activities to accompany this book both in the final pages as well as online. I am excited to announce that thanks to Sylvan Dell Publishing, one of my readers will also receive a copy of this book to share with the children in their lives!! See below for more details:

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Open to US & Canada Residents ONLY.

Copy of The Tree That Bear Climbed by Marianne Berkes

Entries will close on Friday, May 24, 2013 at 12:00 Midnight CST.

To enter, complete the form below.

Winner will be emailed and announced here on the site.

Winner address information will be passed on to Sylvan Dell Publishing for mailing and will be used for no other solicitations.

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Thank you to Sylvan Dell Publishing for the giveaway as well as for a review copy of The Tree That Bear Climbed by Marianne Berks!

GIVEAWAY: Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

In honor of Children's Book Week (May 13-19, 2013), I am working with Sylvan Dell Publishing to bring you an amazing giveaway of a signed copy of Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann!

I was first introduced to Little Skink's Tail back in 2009. My son and I instantly fell in love with this book, and today in 2013, it still remains a favorite for myself, my son, and now my daughter!

Let me tell you a bit about this story . . .

Little Skink is relaxing and basking in the sun when she is attacked by a crow. To defend herself, her tail detaches from her body as she scurries away. Little Skink misses her little blue tail, though she is thankful for being alive. In its absence, she has fun dressing up in other animal tails, but comes to discover that she feels most comfortable in her own skin.

Now, let me tell you what I love about this tale . . .

I loved the adorable artwork by illustrator, Laurie Allen Klein. We loved the predictability, allowing the readers to try to guess what tail will come next. And, I love that Little Skink is a good story filled with a bit of interactive science and a very good life lesson for little ones as they search for their own independence and confidence.

You can view my original review here.

Now, for the giveaway . . .

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Open to US & Canada Residents ONLY.

Signed Copy of Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann

Entries will close on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 12:00 Midnight CST.

To enter, complete the form below.

Winner will be emailed and announced here on the site.

Winner address information will be passed on to Sylvan Dell Publishing for mailing and will be used for no other solicitations.

Monday Maunder: May 13, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:40:00 +0000

Another short maunder this week!

ON READING

Reading was close to nonexistent this week. I am still reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark and I probably will be in the weeks to come as well.

What did you read this week?

ON BLOGGING

Nothing.

ON WRITING

Nothing. I am calling Sit Down and Write 3 a bust, even if it is not yet completely over. I have finally realized what Amateur Novelist and Michelle discovered before me -- my life is crazy right now and when I am finally done with work, I should be able to finally devote more time to my writing. Coming to this realization has really helped me feel better about not completing anything in this category or the previous two the last couple of months. Thank you for the help ladies!!

Have you ever had a situation like this happen to you --- a situation when someone else realizes something that you have not yet discovered?

ON LIFE

Life has been chaotic. On the house front, we thought we had some good news this last week. An offer was made, but was then pulled within the same afternoon due to funding issues. Suddenly, we were back to square one again. Surprisingly, I was okay with it! I was not pleased with the offer and did not feel "right" about it at the time anyways.

On the work front, I am now down to only 4 days remaining! Last week, my coworkers threw me a going-away party and the good-byes began. I had a great time, received a wonderful gift, and left for the weekend with lots of smiles from all the love and support for my next adventure. For the record, however . . . I really do not like to say, "Good-bye." I much rather prefer to say, "See you later!" This week will likely prove to be more difficult as both of these are said as my final day approaches.

On the positive side, I am really, really excited to begin this new chapter in my life. I cannot wait for some new adventures and more time to focus/re-focus on what is really important. I will save the rest of this for next week though, when it all begins!

What exciting news has been going on in your life?

Monday Maunder: May 6, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:28:00 +0000

I'm going to keep it short this week. I don't have a lot to report and I have a to-do list that is falling off the edge of my paper!

ON READING

I finished Y: The Last Man - Deluxe Edition Book Five by Brian K. Vaughan this week. This happened to be the final book in the series and I really cannot wait to chat with people about this one. I then started Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark after a Twitter conversation about doing a read-along for the book. You can follow the conversation at #strangeandnorrell if you so desire. I am not far into the book, but I am enjoying the writing so far.

What are you reading this week?

ON BLOGGING

I have nothing new to report here. Hopefully, I will be back soon with more!

ON WRITING

As I previously mentioned, I am participating in Sit Down & Write 3 at this time. I have not been very productive thus far, but I hope to be soon. I will post an update late this week.

If you are participating in Sit Down & Write 3, how are you doing so far?

ON LIFE

The house still has not sold. Friday last week was the one-year anniversary of my father's death. It was a hard day. I have 9 days left of work. That's the good and the bad in a nutshell. I'm hoping to report more good than bad next week.

How was your week in a nutshell?

Sit Down & Write 3

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Fri, 03 May 2013 02:29:00 +0000

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am participating in Sit Down & Write 3 hosted by Michelle of Stories Inside. This little writing challenge is for any kind of writing: reviews, blogging, fun, fiction, etc. It runs from Wednesday, May 1 to Wednesday, May 15.

I have a long list of things to write: freelance pieces, reviews, blog features, and I really need to quit procrastinating on my "other" writing. Over these next two weeks, I will be working on getting as much done as I possibly can. I am already getting a late start, so I really need to get the most out of the remaining time. Here is a list of things that I will be working on, in very general terms, though I give you a sneak peek with a quick photo of my real list . . .

2 Freelance Articles
15 Reviews
New Feature Write-Up
Journal
Fun, Fun, Fun!!

I will try to post a check-in post about half-way through the challenge, sharing how much I am accomplishing (or not). Until then, I write!

Will you be joining in on the writing fun? What will you be working on?

Monday Maunder: April 29, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:26:00 +0000

ON READING

What a great reading week thanks to the Spring Horror Read-a-thon hosted by Michelle of Seasons of Reading!! I posted an update on my progress earlier this week, but here is the overall stats for your enjoyment . . .

Books Read

Y: The Last Man - Deluxe Edition Book Three by Brian K. Vaughan

Y: The Last Man - Deluxe Edition Book Four by Brian K. Vaughan

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Total Pages Read: 1001 pages

I am very pleased with the results of my reading this week! Now, I need to just get caught up on my writing!!

Tonight, I will be starting Y: The Last Man - Deluxe Edition Book Five by Brian K. Vaughan, the final book in the series. I am not sure what I will read next though. I guess we will see what I pull blindly off my shelf!

How was your reading week? Did you participate in any of the read-a-thons around the blogosphere this week?

ON BLOGGING

Obviously, blogging has been minimal lately. I am hoping to pick things up in the weeks to come. I will leave you with one thing I did post about this last week: the schedule for Armchair BEA 2013! I am very excited about this agenda!!

What have you been blogging about these days?

ON WRITING

Writing has been minimal as well, but I am hoping to pick this up as well. In fact, I am hoping that Sit Down and Write 3 hosted by Michelle of Stories Inside (the one and the same as the one behind Seasons of Reading I mentioned above!). The challenge does not start until Wednesday, May 1, so I will be back then to share with you my specific plans for the two weeks of writing. I really need to sit down and write out a to-do list of what I want to accomplish!

Will you be joining us in the writing challenge?

ON LIFE

I am still waiting to sell my house. Lots more people have seen the house, but still no offers. We even held an open house, complete with fresh flowers and fresh-baked cookies. So, we continue to wait.

This last week also marked my father's birthday ... the first one since his death. This week will actually be the first anniversary of his death. Needless to say, these two weeks have been and will continue to be difficult. It is the very reason I want to get lost in my reading and writing. Though, I have taken a day of vacation for this day and will be doing something to remember him by. I haven't decided what yet because I am not geographically close to my family, but I will figure something out.

Lastly, I continue to countdown to my last day of work. With the vacation day that I am taking this week, it brings me to 13 days left of work. Woohoo! This is my positive this week!!

What were the highs and lows of your week?

Spring Into Horror Read-A-Thon: Mid-Week Check-In

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:39:00 +0000

As I mentioned earlier this week in my Monday Maunder, I am participating in the Spring Into Horror Read-A-Thon hosted by Michelle of Seasons of Reading. You can probably tell that I'm not getting much writing done around here this week, but I am getting some amazing reading done. I think I may be coming out of this reading slump with a vengeance! Let me expand on what I have actually accomplished . . .

I have finished TWO books . . .

Y: The Last Man - Deluxe Edition Book Three by Brian K. Vaughn

Y: The Last Man - The Deluxe Edition Book Four by Brian K. Vaughn

I also have started reading . . .

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

For my overall stats . . .

Books Read: 2

Pages Read: 641

I am definitely pleased with these results so far! I can't wait to see how the second half of the read-a-thon goes!

How are you doing with reading this week, whether you are participating in the read-a-thon or not?

Monday Maunder: April 22, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:54:00 +0000

ON READING

This week has been MUCH better in the reading category! I finally finished A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones. Then, I started and finished Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage by Ridley Pearson. And, I started Y: The Last Man Deluxe Edition Book Three by Brian K. Vaughn.

This week, I am participating in the Spring into Horror Read-a-thon, hosted by Michelle at Seasons of Reading. Here are a few of the books that I hope to get to during the event . . .

Y: The Last Man The Deluxe Edition Book Four by Brian K. Vaughn

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Not all of the books are really horror, but I'm pretending they are! I also have a couple of Stephen King and John Lutz on my shelf that I would like to get to, so we will see how it goes and which ones I decide to pick up this week!

What are you planning on reading? Are you read-a-thoning it this week, too?

ON BLOGGING

Blogging has been poor here lately. I have been working to get things scheduled for both Armchair BEA and Book Bloggers International. This week, I plan to devote my time to reviews in between my masses of reading. I have neglected Tif Talks Books for far too long!!

How do I choose which books to review first? Do you have any special requests of the books that I've read so far this year?

ON WRITING

Another week of nothing here, but hoping that will change very soon!

ON LIFE

My life is still pretty much all about selling my house. Last week, I had the numbers just a tad bit off. The adjusted and updated numbers this week: 26 days on the market, 17 showings, 0 offers. I continue to impatiently wait as my anxiety begins to increase. I continue to wait for that perfect person to see my house and give me an offer that I can't refuse. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it comes soon!

And, on a positive note, I have 20 days remaining of work (not counting the weekends). I am very excited for that last day to come and what may come afterwards!

What has been going on in your life lately? Anything exciting?

Monday Maunder: April 15, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 03:07:00 +0000

ON READING

Sadly, I am STILL reading A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones. Don't get me wrong . . . it's a good book. I just have had VERY little reading time this month. I can't believe it! I am hoping to finally finish it this week, but there is no guarantee at this time. I NEED my reading time for my mental health!

I'm planning on participating in the Spring Into Horror Read-a-thon next week to help in jump-starting my reading back to normal. I have not yet decided which books to read for it. I think I am going to wait and see where this week takes me and decide from there. You can expect to see my plan here next week!

How is your reading these days? Will you be participating in any upcoming read-a-thons?

ON BLOGGING

I posted a review this last week ... finally!! In case you missed it, check out my thoughts on Y: The Last Man (Deluxe Editions Book One & Two) by Brian K. Vaughn.

In addition to that one review, I have been working on a couple of other blogging projects: Book Bloggers International and Armchair BEA! In fact, registration just opened for the latter, so be sure to click on over and get registered!! I've got a few things yet to do for each of these, and then I'm back to focusing on reviews and bookish chatter here again!

What blogging projects have you been working on these days?

ON WRITING

My writing is also back with a little piece over at Walrus Publishing: Ridley Pearson Releases Kingdom Keepers VI! (Side note: GREAT series that I highly recommend!) It is not a lot, but I am celebrating my writing successes these days, since they are so few and far between.

What have been some of your recent writing successes?

ON LIFE

This last week, I celebrated another birthday! That was the highlight of my week, including my gift of the movie, The Hobbit!!

This week will be the start of my month countdown to the last day of work, something I am really looking forward to! It is time to move on and I am really looking forward to my next adventures ... whatever they may be!

For those who are wanting the details of the house drama, today marks my house being on the market for 17 days. We have now had 11 showings with 0 offers. I (im)patiently wait!

Lastly, I close this week's maunder with a comment on today's tragic events in Boston. My heart goes out to all those affected and I will be keeping you all in my thoughts.

Y: The Last Man (The Deluxe Edition Books One & Two) by Brian K. Vaughn

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

The Deluxe Edition: Book One

Meet Yorick. He is a college graduate with an English major, currently looking for a job. He enjoys little magic tricks and he is a new owner of a monkey that he fondly named Ampersand. He is about to propose to his girlfriend, but a world-wide genocide is about to occur leaving Yorick and Ampersand to be the only living males on Earth. In other words, a world-wide GENDERCIDE.

Yorick disguises himself to survive. He discovers that some women are happy that the men are gone, and some are willing to do anything to keep it that way. His mother, a US Senator, is thrown into the politics of trying to keep the country alive and the democracy together. On the other hand, his sister Hero, finds herself in a new world that she does not understand and an essential part of an extremist group. He also meets Agent 355 and Dr. Mann, two women that are hoping to find some answers to the deaths and to find a solution for the country. As these latter two travel across the country with the remaining males, they face a multitude of difficulties, from surviving Yorick’s sorry attempts at literary wit to staying alive.

The Deluxe Edition: Book Two

Yorick continues his journey across the country with Agent 355 and Dr. Mann, facing more difficulties along the way, including a face-off with his very own sister. Obstacles are found around every corner, the party becomes a target for many groups, but there may also be hope for "man"kind.

Y: The Last Man is a graphic novel that was originally recommended to me by a friend. It was a series that I had never heard of before, but immediately fell into the story. Vaughn brings us characters that appall us, annoy us, and leave us wondering. However, he also keeps me turning the pages at his profound idea of a “gendercide” and just how important both men and women are to our society today in so many different ways. Yorick himself is a bit overconfident, getting himself into trouble more often then his comrades would like, but he is also witty and honest. He has me giggling throughout the books, yet thankful that this is the man that survived.

I look forward to reading the rest of the series in the near future. The ending of the second book leaves the reader filled with both anxiety and hope, and I simply cannot wait to find out what happens next.

Have you experienced Vaughn’s gendercide yet? What do you think about Yorick, his monkey, and his tale?

Monday Maunder: April 8, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 02:59:00 +0000

It's Monday AGAIN!!! I really have no idea where this last week went!

ON READING

I am still reading A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones. I hope to finish it this week, but I have no idea at this point if I will. There will be little time for reading this week!

Have you had a good reading week? What books have you been delving into?

ON BLOGGING

I have been working on two different blogging projects: Armchair BEA and Book Bloggers International. Armchair BEA is next month, so the team is currently in the midst of planning for the event and finalizing last minute details. It is going to be another great year and I cannot wait to share more details with you!

Book Bloggers International I have mentioned previously, but in case you missed it, I summarized it last week! Be sure to check it out!! More book bloggers will be featured this week!

What is on your blogging radar this week?

ON WRITING

I wrote something this last week!! It was just a short article, but I wrote!!! I will be sending it off tomorrow, so I will keep you posted when it goes live!!

How much writing did you get done this week?

ON LIFE

My life consists of cleaning my house and keeping it clean, which proves to be difficult with two children who can't stand cleanliness! Since my house went on the market, we have had six showings. No offers though. So, I continue to clean! The worst part is keeping the bathrooms clean. I really dislike cleaning bathrooms. I really don't mind anything else, but bathrooms ... I would rather not!

What household chores do you dread? Any fellow bathroom haters?

Announcing Book Bloggers International!

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:01:00 +0000

I mentioned Book Bloggers International earlier this week in my Monday Maunder; however, I think this really needs a full post of its own because it is really that awesome!!

Book Bloggers International is a new blog that is truly the brilliant idea from Becca at Lost in Books. Tasha from Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books and myself teamed up with her in the project and the website launched this week!

What is Book Bloggers International?

It is a website that focuses on the bloggers behind book blogs! We highlight a different book blogger twice a week, throwing in a special blogging tip or feature amongst the introductions. For more detailed information, check out What's the Big Idea?

Have the contributors shared a bit about themselves? (Afterall, we are asking others to do so!)

Yes! All three of us have shared our own Q&A/introductions before we asked others to do so! You can read all about us here.

What's on the schedule this week?

Our first featured blogger was Bryan from Still Unfinished. Then, Becca shared The Importance of Commenting. And finally, we highlighted the blogger Kelly of The Well-Read Redhead.

What's to come?

Lots and lots of great guest posts and Q&A's from other fellow book bloggers, more blogging tips and discussions, and more!!

The first week has been a HUGE hit and I have loved the project thus far! If you haven't already checked it out, feel free to visit it at our Book Bloggers International website or by liking us on Facebook. If you are interested in being featured, you can also email us at bookbloggersintl (at) gmail (dot) com.

Monday Maunder: April 1, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:54:00 +0000

The majority has spoken and I have chosen my new button art for Monday Maunder!! No April Foolin'!!

ON READING

I finished Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver this week and started A Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones.

The month of March was filled with such reading goodness and I hope that April brings just as wonderful, if not better stories! If I had to choose a favorite, I would say that Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones was the winner this month, but Cinder by Marissa Meyer would be a close second.

What was your favorite read in March?

ON BLOGGING

I have a lot to report in blogging this week! I finished a couple of items from my Bloggiesta list that I was not able to finish last week. As you can see from above, I chose my new Monday Maunder button art. I also began exploring new feed readers with Feedly and Bloglovin. I am leaning towards Feedly simply because of the phone app, but I am going to continue to explore for a bit before making my final decision. I also signed up for Google Authorship thanks to information from Tasha of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books.

I also worked on some items for the upcoming Armchair BEA event as well as my newest project with Becca from Lost in Books and Tasha from Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books that launched today, Book Bloggers International. Be sure you are following both of these!!

What did you accomplish this week on your blog? What are some must-see items or sites?

ON WRITING

One of my favorite pieces that I have written in a long time appeared this last week over at We Be Reading - The Magic of Diana Wynne Jones. DWJ's Howl's Moving Castle really struck a nerve with my real life and has left quite an impression on me. Please click on over and let me know what you think!

What books have left a lasting impression on you recently and why?

ON LIFE

Last, but definitely not least, my house finally went on the market last week; Thursday to be exact. The signs were posted by mid-morning and by the afternoon, we had three showings scheduled! The rest of the weekend was quiet, which led to some very much needed relaxation! Then, we had another showing today. Now, we wait ... and make sure I have a clean house all. the. time!

What was the highlight of your week?

Test Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:28:00 +0000

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Working to switch my feed readers, and claiming my blog via Bloglovin!

Monday Maunder: March 24, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 02:23:00 +0000

Original Art

ON READING

Last week, I finished reading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and began Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I should finish the latter soon, then it will be back to DWJ for A Tale of Time City for more We Be Reading DWJ March.

How was your reading this week?

ON BLOGGING

The big news for blogging this week was Bloggiesta! I knew that I would have limited time to work on my long list of tasks, so I was not too surprised when checking things off my list was lacking. I can say that I did get a few things done, including working on a couple of articles for other sites, commenting on blogs, and updating Books Read in 2013. I also worked on packing more books for our upcoming move and updating my shelves on Goodreads. I still have a number of stacks to go, but I am finally almost done with this big task that I've been working on for months.

The one task that I am most proud of over the weekend was creating new button art for this feature, Monday Maunder. You can see the original art at the top of this post. I ended up creating two different pieces, but want to hear your opinion on which one you like the best before I make the permanent change.

Option 1

Option 2

Which button do you like the best: Option 1 or Option 2?

ON WRITING

I have a couple of pieces coming up very soon, but I will post those here as they go live!

ON LIFE

I only have one thing to say here ... my house is ready!!!! It goes on the market this week!!! Woohoo!! I have no energy for anything else!

What was the highlight of your week?

Bloggiesta: March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:07:00 +0000

Last month, I participated in a mini-Bloggiesta, even hosting a mini challenge for the weekend. The usual version of Bloggiesta is back for a long weekend, and I plan to participate once again!

Bloggiesta is a weekend devoted to spicing up your blog .... updating, writing, formatting, organizing, developing, etc. Optional challenges are established by volunteers across the blogosphere to help you in making your site the best that it can be. Twitter parties take place to create a buzz, allow a place to ask questions, and to share knowledge. And, additional connections can be made to new readers and bloggers.

Here is my long list of things that need to be done at Tif Talks Books:

Update Button Art

Compile the Review Index

Finalize New Feature

Update 2013 Read List

Write Reviews

Write Articles (outside of Tif Talks Books)

Switch Feed Reader

Comment on Blogs

In reality, I will not be able to complete everything on this list! This weekend is the final weekend before my house goes on the market. I also have book club and I need to finish reading my book for that. I hope to cross off at least 2-3 items from the list. That's all I can shoot for this time around!

Are you participating in Bloggiesta this weekend? What are your priority items to tend to?

Share a Story Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Badge art courtesy of
Elizabeth Dulemba

During the first week of March, Share a Story, Shape a Future celebrated five years of their annual literacy event. It is a week-long event that focuses on literacy for the children in our lives, providing stories, activities, and literary tips and recommendations throughout the week. It was another great week and I am excited to share with you some of my personal favorite articles from the week. (Please Note: ALL of the articles are absolutely fantastic, so be sure to click on over to the daily hosts to check out all the great resources.)

Day 1: Literacy with Infants and Babies – The First Year (hosted by Maria Burel of Once Upon a Story)

Building a Library for Babies: Practical and generic recommendations for building a baby’s library from Terry at Family Bookshelf

Maria Burel of Once Upon a Story confesses “I Don’t ‘Read’ to My Baby.” This one is a MUST read to learn about moving from reading to the broader category of literacy.

Day 2: Playing with Literacy – The Toddler Years (hosted by Terry Doherty at the Share a Story headquarters)

5 Tips for a Successful Trip to the Library with a Toddler: Jodie Rodriguest at Growing Book by Book shares practical tips for the first (and subsequent) visits to the library.

Susan Stephenson (aka The Book Chook) suggests a Read Aloud Journal, a very fun and inspiring read that all parents should consider doing themselves.

Day 3: Prepping for Preschool – Early Literacy (hosted by Debbie Alvarez of The Styling Librarian)

Marketing Barefoot encourages literacy in ALL its forms with Tiny Writers and Magic Erasers.

Day 4: The ABCs of Reading and Writing (hosted by me of Tif Talks Books)

Dawn Little of Literacy Toolbox talks about creating your own discovery baskets to encourage literacy and background knowledge.

Day 5: Look Mom, I Can Read (hosted by Terry Doherty of The Family Bookshelf)

Think outside the book with Susan Stephenson of The Book Chook with It’s Not Just Books.

What were/are some of your favorite literacy resources for the children in your life?

Monday Maunder: March 18, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:25:00 +0000

ON READING

I finished Cinder by Marissa Meyer last week! This book took me so pleasantly by surprise and I can't wait to share my full thoughts with you in the near future! I also started reading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and this one is fun! March has been a good reading month so far!

Next: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver for book club this weekend.

What's on your reading agenda this week?

ON BLOGGING

Blogging was very slow this last week. See "On Life" for more information.

I did not get my highlights for Share a Story, Shape a Future posted. I will get those posted this week.

This weekend, I will be participating in Bloggiesta as much as I can. I will be posting my list of projects later this week.

What's on your blogging agenda this week? Will you be participating in Bloggiesta?

ON WRITING

I got nothing here!

Do you have better writing news in your neck of the woods?

ON LIFE

Life was crazy! We had our last big push before we get our house listed for sale this past week. Every single night over the last week, I was packing, cleaning, organizing, etc. On Saturday, we had a garage sale for 5 hours and had a pretty decent turnout. Unfortunately, we did not get rid of everything we wanted to be rid of, so we took a trip to Goodwill and dropped off lots and lots of stuff. Then, we packed up a moving truck and moved lots of boxes (many of them books), my big reading chair, and an end table into storage. By Saturday night, we fell into bed exhausted.

On Sunday, we then worked on some final painting, cleaning, and packing. This house is even beginning to look like new!

Today, I scheduled that big meeting with the realtor to get the house listed. By the time I write my next Monday Maunder, this house should be on the market (or very close to it)! We only have some final cleaning and staging to do, and then we are set!!

Do you have any great life news to share this week?

Monday Maunder: March 11, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 02:28:00 +0000

ON READING

Life has proven to be busy this week, so little reading has happened in my neck of the woods. I am still in the middle of Cinder by Marissa Meyer and I still plan on reading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones next.

How was your reading week?

ON BLOGGING

Last week was filled with wonderful articles and resources for Share a Story, Shape a Future. If you have not yet had a chance to see my personal posts, I have linked them for you below. However, I will also be posting some of my personal favorites and highlights later this week for your perusal as well! I just need to finish reading them all first!

Reading Up With Infants

Going Beyond the Books

Day 4 Host: The ABCs of Reading and Writing

Did you participate in Share a Story? What was your favorite day or article?

ON WRITING

Beyond my posts for Share a Story, Shape a Future, I also shared a little something about my experiences as a blogger called Books & Blogging over at Walrus Publishing.

How did your writing go this week?

ON LIFE

The highlight this week was visiting the city in which we are moving to in a few short months. I was not overly impressed with the place, though the presence of bookstores helped to ease my mind a bit. I did take a few pictures along the road, but have not had a chance to download them yet. And, we may have a very good lead for a place to live. All in all, I ended the week with lots of mixed feelings. Now, I must go work on preparing more of my house to sell. This is the last big week before our target date of putting it on the market. Wish me luck!!

How was your week? Did you have any highs and lows you want to share?

Day 4 of Share a Story, Shape a Future: The ABCs of Reading and Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Badge art courtesy of
Elizabeth Dulemba

I am so very excited today to be hosting Day 4 of Share a Story, Shape a Future, featuring The ABCs of Reading and Writing and focusing on children ages 4-5. Let's first take a quick peak at what has been covered so far this week . . .

So many wonderful stories, resources, and experiences have been shared, and there is so many more to come. In fact, you can share your own stories (and have a chance to enter amazing giveaways) by participating in the Writing About Reading prompts.

Now for today's great links featuring The ABCs of Reading and Writing (ages 4-5) . . .

Dawn Little of Literacy Toolbox talks about using Discovery Boxes with preschoolers to build their background knowledge in "Discover"-ing Boxes of Hands-On Learning.
Debbie Alvarez of The Styling Librarian discusses Reading and Writing from A-Z with your four-year old.
Erica of What Do We Do All Day? Reading, Playing and Learning with Kids shares 6 Ways to Add Rhymes to Everyday Life with a Preschooler.
Liz Hughes of Inventing My Life brings us My Family is not Special.
Sheila Magovern of Barefoot Books writes about Engaging Busy Bodies.

This week is not yet over. We still have more amazing information coming your way tomorrow with Look Mom, I Can Read (Age 5) at Family Bookshelf with Terry Doherty.

What is your favorite memory of reading with your preschooler? What books do you recommend for this age?

Going Beyond the Books

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Badge art courtesy of
Elizabeth Dulemba

Today I am continuing my celebration of early literacy via Share a Story, Shape a Future with a focus on the early preschool years! Be sure to click on over to the master site for a multitude of other resources and articles for your enjoyment.

Going Beyond the Books

The early preschool years can be a crucial time period in the development of a child’s literacy skills. It is during this time that children are beginning to recognize that letters form words, that stories go beyond the pictures on the page, and that words can be found anywhere. It is also during this time that children are making those connections between the words and their environment.

Connections come naturally in our everyday lives, but as a parent/teacher/caregiver, you can also deliberately bring additional connections into the forefront by connecting the written world with the real one. Ask yourself, “How can I bring this book to life?”

Let’s examine a few examples.

Bring out the action.

For every action that is used, create it in real life. In On a Pirate Ship by Sarah Courtald and Benji Davies, you can “puff” wind “into the enormous sails,” “crash” along the deck in the “giant waves” and “dance” like a pirate until you are “dizzy.” You can chug like The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, both up and down the hill. Or, dress up like Fancy Nancy over a little tea.

Get crafty.

Using On a Pirate Ship, transform a big cardboard box into your own swashbuckling ship. Pull out some paints to create your own picture summarizing the story or featuring your child’s favorite part of the story. Do a simple online search for creating different characters of your own from the story. You can find a multitude of options from Pigeon (Mo Willems) and Mouse (Laura Numeroff) to Cat in the Hat (Dr. Suess). Read Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, then give your child a green crayon and see where his imagination goes.

Incorporate music.

Put on some music that may relate to your story and dance away! Classical may be good for Ballet Kitty by Bernette Ford or Angelina Ballerina by Katharine Holabird. Perform your own wild rumpus after reading Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Sing Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. at the top of your lungs and then alternate with a whisper.

Snack in style.

Create your own snack ideas to go along with the story. One of the most popular ideas is to dye your eggs green in honor of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess. Going with the pirate theme for the above book, you can create hot dogs into pirate ships and serve goldfish crackers. String up some popcorn to accompany If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff. Serve up the same menu items as The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle snacks on. Drink up some hot chocolate after reading The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs has unimaginable possibilities in this category.

Go on a field trip.

Take a trip to the zoo after reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle to discover what you can see. Hit a hiking trail to play a bit of I Spy or honor We’re Going On a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. Go on a scavenger hunt like Dora the Explorer, noting landmarks along the way. Visit a dinosaur museum after reading a stack of How Do Dinosaurs . . . by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague.

Exhibit the treasures.

Display your artwork. Start a collection from your trips and continue to build on it (pine cones, rocks, postcards, lapel pins, etc.). Take pictures and put them in an album. Start a journal to include the treasures and share a few words about the adventure. (An adult may need to write in the journal, but you can still encourage your child to make their own contributions.)

Make it a combo.

Mix and match a multitude of the ideas above and space it out over a period of time. Choose books with a central theme over a week or month. Combine fiction and non-fiction titles. And, keep revisiting the book(s) or display them in a prominent location to help your child make the connections between the book and everything that has been associated with it.

How have you brought a book to life in your own home? Going back to your own childhood, what lessons have you learned when going beyond the book?

Monday Maunder: March 4, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 04:10:00 +0000

I'm keeping it brief this week because it is Share a Story, Shape a Future!!

ON READING

I started Cinder by Marissa Meyer this week, and I am still in the middle of this book. I was really hesitant about this one because it is a cyborg Cinderella, but I am loving the story so far and the writing style! I originally was going to read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn next, but I have changed my mind and have decided to go with Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones instead thanks to Kristen from We Be Reading and her month devoted to this author!!

What is on your reading agenda this week?

ON BLOGGING

Badge art courtesy of
Elizabeth Delumba

Blogging this week is devoted to Share a Story, Shape a Future! I posted a little article earlier today about Reading Up With Infants. I will have another going live on Wednesday and am hosting the preschool years on Thursday!! Be checking back for all the goodness!

Are you joining in the literacy fun of Share a Story this year? Have you participated in the past?

ON WRITING

See On Blogging!

ON LIFE

My life was completely devoted to packing and cleaning this last week! I have pretty much finished with all children's books and have now returned to my big bookshelf of books that I have read. Feel free to check out my Goodreads bookshelf to see which books I have on my shelves ... errrr, I mean in boxes!!

In honor of Share a Story and children's books, what is your favorite childhood book?

Reading Up With Infants

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Badge art courtesy of
Elizabeth Delumba

Today kicks off Share a Story, Shape a Future, a week-long annual event celebrating literacy for children. Be sure to click on over to the main site for lots of additional resources and stories!

Reading Up With Infants

I am often asked by fellow parents and parents-to-be when they should start reading to their child(ren). My answer is always as early as possible! Reading with your child creates invaluable connections in the brain, in a child’s emotional health, and in bonds they share with others, including a parent. However, I also invite parents to be creative in their reading.

Let’s start with the basics.

Scholastic recommends three key items when choosing books for infants (click for the original resource):

Sturdy books with rounded edges
Wipe-able plastic
Bold, high-contrast illustrations or photos with simple or no text

It is recommended to read books in black and white and/or with patterns. Reading to infants is NOT reading word for word, but rather just pointing out pictures and exaggerating emotions. As a child ages, you can move into simple stories, rhymes, lift-the-flap, and touch-and-feel, making it a true sensory experience.

Now, let’s get creative.

When I first became a parent, I discovered a few things about myself. I discovered that I became bored during feedings (my children ate a LOT during the day, with my oldest being on the above average spectrum). I also discovered that reading aloud did not come naturally. I have been a reader all my life, but reading a children’s story requires lots of inflection, different tones, different voices, etc. When reading silently, many of these take place within your mind and imagination. Reading them aloud can be more difficult to pull off!

How did I solve this? I began reading chapter books to my infants! While I had my captive audience, oftentimes during feedings, I would cuddle up in a rocking chair and pull out my latest book. This little time that was already built into the day became an invaluable time. My children and I had a very special bonding moment. I was able to practice for those more complicated read-aloud books to come. And, I was able to get in a bit of reading time myself, which can be so difficult after becoming a new mom. When my second child was born, my first-born even joined us, sitting with me or on the floor playing while I read the stories aloud.

Another twist on “reading up” with infants . . . find those times that you cannot read aloud, but proves to still be prime “reading” time (i.e, changing diapers, giving baths, relaxing in the swing while you do dishes, etc.). Turn on an audio book, particularly one geared for a younger audience that may also include music. Or, as your child gets older and you find that you have memorized the little board book stories, simply recite the tales. Before you know it, your infant will be grabbing for books and wanting to fill in sounds of their own!

Curious what books have worked for me? I leave you with a list of great books that my household has loved.

Read-Aloud Chapter Books

Anything by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is our favorite!)
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
The Spiderwick Chronicles series by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman Juster
Ralph S. Mouse series by Beverly Cleary
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (I recommend sticking only with the early books. The darkness of the later books will be reflected in your voice while reading!)

Books to Recite

Anything by Sandra Boynton (Our personal favorite is Moo, Baa, La La La!)
Dr. Suess (The shortened board book versions are great adaptations.)

Do you “read up” to your children? What books would you add to this list?

What Goodness March Brings You . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Tif Sweeney) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 04:25:00 +0000

The month of March is filled with lots of goodness and I will be participating in a number of projects throughout the month, starting today!! I wanted to give you a brief little introduction to each, so you are not surprised when you see them pop up over the next 30 days!

The first big event that kicks off today is The Estella Society Bookish Photo a Day Challenge. I really enjoy the daily photo projects, despite the fact that I rarely participate every day. I love to see everyone's take on the same prompt and all the creativity that amasses. I will be posting my personal pictures via Instagram and Twitter, so feel free to use my social media links to check in throughout the month. I did add Instagram to the mix for a quick click.

The second big event is The 2nd Annual DWJ (Diana Wynne Jones) March hosted by Kristen of We Be Reading. The entire month is devoted to the beloved author, including special guest posts, read-a-longs, giveaways, and more. I have only recently discovered DWJ all thanks to Kristen, so I am excited to explore more of the worlds this amazing woman created. You may even see a special guest post from me at the end of the month talking about all my discoveries! (In case you are curious, my previous reads were Dogsbody in 2011 and The Game in 2012.)

Badge art courtesy of
Elizabeth Dulemba

The third and final event is one of my all-time favorite annual events. Share a Story, Shape a Future is celebrating its fifth year of covering all things literacy, and they will be kicking off the week-long event on Monday, March 4, 2013. I am one of the lucky hosts this year and will be writing at least one additional article for the event. I feel honored to be a part of it this year, and I encourage you to join in the fun, the knowledge, and share some of your own ideas and writing to spread the literacy love.

Will you be joining in on any of this fun? What will be participating in during the month of March?