Got Books? is Here!! Awesome Giveaway Time!!!

   I have two brand-new, hardcover children's books to give away!!  

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu

  

Both are published by Scholastic ... and both would make great additions to your home library!! I am giving them away as one package.

 

 

To enter this giveaway, please follow the guidelines below!!! Best of luck to all!!!

1. You MUST be a follower of A Novel Idea AND you must leave a comment about anything bookish on this post with your e-mail address.
2. For an additional entry, please leave an additional comment (with your e-mail address) telling me what your favorite children's picture book is and why.
3. This giveaway will run through Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 11:59 pm, CST.

** I also have another giveaway going on now that ends tonight ... click here for details and how to enter! **

"Got Books?" Event AND a Special Giveaway!!

   Got Books?, the long-anticipated book blogger event, is only a few days away!!!! What is this event all about, anyway?? 

As the official "Got Books?" website explains:  "[It] is to celebrate book bloggers round the world by shining a light on their efforts, spreading the word about their sites for future follows on ... reading rounds, and have a little contest fun along the way!"

To celebrate the excitement, I would like to have a little "pre-giveaway" here this week at A Novel Idea!

To spotlight my latest literacy tips involving very, very early readers, I would like to give away my absolute favorite Eric Carle book, The Tiny Seed. 

I have one board book copy, published by Scholastic, to give away to one lucky reader for their little "seed" who is learning to read!!

To enter this giveaway, please follow the guidelines below!!! Best of luck to all!!!

1. You MUST be a follower of A Novel Idea AND you must leave a comment about anything bookish on this post with your e-mail address.
2. For an additional entry, please leave an additional comment (with your e-mail address) telling me what your favorite Eric Carle book is and why.
3. This giveaway will run through Friday, July 23, 2010 at 11:59 pm, CST.

Clue #1 for Mystery Friend Friday :: Mouse ::

Giveaway Still Going On :: Don't Miss Out! ::

Hey you! Yeah, YOU!!

Did you forget to enter my Father's Day book pack giveaway???

Well...you still have a few days to enter!

Just click here for the details!

**Why not join up with this great link party I just discovered over at the blog, Take It From Me? Click on the button below to join in the fun!!**

 

Clue #3 for Mystery Friend Friday :: collage art ::

.: Welcome, new visitors! I am so happy you are here! If you want to find out more about "Mystery Friend Friday," just scroll back up to the Peanuts cartoon located below my header.  Details about this weekly feature (and others) are right below it! :.

Literacy Tip #8 - Help Your Child Find a Favorite Author and Illustrator :: AND A GIVEAWAY!!!

I began a weekly feature on this blog a few weeks ago that showcases a different childrens' author or illustrator each Friday. 

Have you noticed it?

I call it "Mystery Friend Friday," and I give clues throughout the week to pique your (and, hopefully, your children's) interest in who the special author or illustrator will be.  I began this feature for a specific reason...and that leads me to today's literacy tip!

We all have our favorite authors, book and movie genres, actors and actresses (the list goes on and on)...and our children are no different! I, personally, have a repertoire of certain children's authors and illustrators whose writing and artwork, respectively, I enjoy to such degree that I will read anything and everything they write and/or illustrate.  How about you? 

For example, I will read anything written by Margaret Wise Brown, Cynthia Rylant, Lemony Snicket, Cornelia Funke, Andrew Clements, E.L. Konigsburg, Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, and Avi...just to name a few! Children's illustrators whose work I adore include:  Lois Ehlert, Tomie dePaola, Rosemary Wells, Melissa Sweet, Maurice Sendak, Carin Berger, Arnold Lobel, and Eric Carle (again, I have to stop myself here!).

The sheer thrill I experience from picking up new or undiscovered books from the aforementioned authors and illustrators is incredibly exciting and fulfilling, and seeing my own children experience this type of enjoyment is amazing.  

If your child has not found a favorite author or illustrator yet, introduce him or her to some of your favorites in the world of children's literature! Point out the similiarities in the prose, writing style, patterns, and illustrations of a certain author or illustrator, and he or she will eventually find a favorite! Consequently, this expands your child's thirst and excitement of reading.  What a positive way to build your child's love of literature!

Now, how about this week's final clue for Mystery Friend Friday? It is...Seth.

  

It's time for another giveaway here at A Novel Idea!!!

One lucky reader will win a Boy's Book Pack in honor of Father's Day...since all fathers were once boys! The pack includes the following four brand-new, paperback books from Scholastic:

and Superfudge by Judy Blume (same edition as above).

You must be a follower of this blog to enter this giveaway.  Additional entries may be obtained by doing the following:

• Become a follower of my other blog, Ten Thousand Hugs.
• Leave a comment that shares your favorite children's author and/or illustrator.
• Grab my button and place it on your blog!

Please leave a comment on this post for each entry, including your e-mail address with each one!

This giveaway is open until Friday, June 25th at 11:59 pm CST.  Open only to U.S. residents.

Best of luck!

Friday has some awesome link parties and memes!

Join the fun below...

 

Father's Day Special Feature :: Interview with My Hubby, Jeremy!!!

In honor of Father's Day 2010 this coming Sunday, I have been devoting this week's blog posts to all things fatherly!!! Why?? Because FATHERS ROCK!!!

I wanted to showcase the most important man in my life ... my wonderful husband, Jeremy - the father of our four little blessings - Elijah, Callan, Aedan, and Naomi. 

Enjoy getting to know him - he is truly incredible!

THIS IS JEREMY!

(Isn't he cute handsome gorgeous???)

I had so much fun interviewing my own husband about his experiences with literature!! He enjoyed it, too!!

Q.  What was your favorite children's picture book as a child ... and why?

My favorite picture book was (and still is) How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head by Bill Peet.  I felt that it was very innocent, kind, and showed understanding.  I appreciated the fact that the book demonstrated the value of life in animals.


Q.  What was your favorite children's chapter book as a child ... and why?

It was definitely The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.  I liked the Christian values exhibited in the books, specifically, respect for the reader's own manner of worship. 


Q.  How has being a father affected your attitude towards reading and/or literacy?

It has refocused the importance of literacy to me.  Since my wife [that's me, Mary Elizabeth!] was a teacher before staying home with our children, she has always communicated the importance of literature to me in regards to learning, self-esteem, and future potential in our children.  The free-thinking and creative ideas that only books can introduce to our children is invaluable!


Q.  As an adult, do you have any new favorite children's books?

The Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
The Tunnels Series by Brian Williams and Roderick Gordon
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling





Q.  When did you develop a love for reading?

I developed a love for reading in college, when I began taking courses related to my areas of study, specifically history.  World history, religious history, and religion most interested me in my reading endeavours. I also developed an interest in children's literature through my wife as she studied Elementary Education.


Q.  What is your favorite thing about reading to your children?

I love their enthusiasm for reading! I especially love hearing them say, "Daddy, read me a book!" and having them bring it [the book] to me.


Q.  And just for fun...please describe yourself in six words!

::Confident::

::Loving::

::Arrogant::

::Compassionate::

::Forgiving::

::Irish::

**Thank you so much, Jeremy, for sharing a part of yourself with my readers!!! I love you!!**

Clue #2 for Mystery Friend Friday:  The mystery author / illustrator can be found in this interview!!

Come back tomorrow for a special Father's Day Giveaway!!!

Book Review #9 - Who Will Haunt My House on Halloween? and Giveaway Winner!

Written by Jerry Pallotta

Illustrated by David Biedrzycki

Published by Scholastic, Inc.

Copyright 2007

"It's Halloween! I'm scared! I wonder who will haunt my house tonight?"

Summary:  A sweet little girl has an eventful night answering her door as the trick-or-treaters arrive...and she's receiving some scary visitors, such as werewolves, zombies, and witches! Yikes!

Mary Elizabeth's Musings:  This is definitely an enjoyable book to celebrate Halloween with your little, little ones! With easy prose to capture the attention of the very young, and stunning, colorful illustrations, you will find your children reaching for this book again and again for some frightful delights! The illustrations really make this book shine, due to their amazing, life-like images at the hand of David Biedrzycki.  I would recommend this book for ages 1 1/2 - 5 years old.

And now, for the winner of my giveaway of Avi's Murder at Midnight!!!!

Congrats to Christina, a mom who blogs at Just a Mom, Reading to My Kids!!! She is the winner! Please check out her blog - it's fantastic!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway...I will have another one very soon!

Finally, here is Clue #2 for Mystery Friend Friday:  Check the sky.  It's raining.  (In case you may or may not have noticed, my clues are a play on words associated with the mystery author or illustrator! Just an FYI!)

I'm off to do a little reading of my own now...