Confessions of a Bibliovore

A few Wednesdays a month I like to feature books that show the strength and diversity of women.  These may be works of fiction or nonfiction. Today that book is: Virginia Apgar. Sally Ride. Rachel Carson.  These names are etched in history and included here as part of this awe-inspiring collection of profiles of some of the world’s most influential women in science. Author Rachel Swaby delves into the minds of thirty-three such women, whose vision, creativity, passion and dedication have helped make important strides in the world of science—who have in fact changed the world. Middle grade kids will be fascinated by these snapshot profiles of some of history’s most important female scientists. These women have made strides in fields including biology, medicine, astronomy, and technology. In addition, Swaby emphasizes the fact that people aren’t born brilliant scientists. They observe and experiment as kids and as adults, testing ideas again and again, each time learning so...

Are you an animal lover?  Do you like true stories about animals?   If the answer is yes then I have two fantastic books you should check out!  125 Pet Rescues This is a collection of hilarious and heartwarming stories of dogs, cats, and all types of pets given a second chance, and the human animal lovers who rescued them. From the dog who saved her owner from a fire, to the cat that plays the piano, to the cow that thinks it's a dog, discover incredible stories of animals in need who went on to become beloved pets. These uplifting tales are paired with amazing photos and loads of animal facts. Kids learn all about how to be kind to our animals friends and the importance of being a responsible pet owner. There's tons of furry, fluffy, feathery fun on every page, including tips on how to help save animals in need! I couldn't get enough of this book!  I love a good animal rescue story, and this is an entire book about them.  It of course has rescue stories of cats...

I love book covers! I love walking around Barnes and Noble just looking at all the different covers.  A good cover will make me pull the book off the shelf!   It's almost like I have a crush on them :) Today I'm crushin' on: Questions I have when looking at it: Who is Deacon Locke? Why is it a big deal that he goes to the prom? Why the wood background??? Why the bow tie?  Just for prom or does he wear them more often. I just LOVE this cover.  So simple!  About the Book: Promposals are taking over Deacon Locke’s high school and there is no place left to hide. But even with graduation looming, shy and unusually tall Deacon doesn’t think he can get up the nerve to ask anyone to the dance. Especially given all the theatrics. It isn’t until Deacon confides in his witty and outgoing best friend Jean that he realizes should could be a great person to take. Only problem is Jean isn’t your typical prom date. She’s older. A lot older. And she’s Deacon’s grandmother. But w...

All readers have one - that dream reading space. The place they've created in their minds where they would love to collapse into and read.    I'm no different! What would my dream reading space look like??? But there is something about this one I love too: First it would be tucked in somewhere so I could almost hide from the world and read.  Maybe something like this: I like how you could just curl up in these, be tucked away and just read. But I'm also drawn to this one!  I love how it also seemed tucked away, but what I think really draws me to it are the windows (LOVE!) and that chair. I could definitely cozy up in that!  It would need to have lots and lots of pillows! Soft ones like this one.  You can find it here !  And book related ones: (check out this one HERE ) And of course a warm cozy blanket! I like how this one seems like something your grandma would make.  So cozy and warm!   "So cozy and warm!  See it  HERE  an...

Today I am participating in the release blitz and giveaway for The Last Star.  This is the last book in The 5th Wave series. If you don't know much about the series below is the summary for each book. And below those is the book trailer for The 5th Wave.   I showed the trailer to my 7th graders when the book was coming out, and they immediately wanted to read it!  The 5th Wave After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cas...

Hamilton is huge as most of you know. So huge that it's very hard to get tickets.  So if you can't see the musical, here's some books you could maybe read instead! First to learn about the man and how he influenced our country. The Making of American: Alexander Hamilton by Teri Kanefield The America that Alexander Hamilton knew was largely agricultural and built on slave labor. He envisioned something else: a multi-racial, urbanized, capitalistic America with a strong central government. He believed that such an America would be a land of opportunity for the poor and the newcomers. But Hamilton’s vision put him at odds with his archrivals who envisioned a pastoral America of small towns, where governments were local, states would control their own destiny, and the federal government would remain small and weak. The disputes that arose during America’s first decades continued through American history to our present day. Over time, because of the systems Hamilton set up and t...

I've very excited today to be a part of the blog tour of Lemons by Melissa Savage About the book Lemonade Liberty Witt’s mama always told her: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But Lem can’t possibly make lemonade out of her new life in Willow Creek, California—the Bigfoot Capital of the World—where she’s forced to live with a grandfather she’s never met after her mother passes away. Summer seems to bring Lem lemons upon lemons as she deals with an entire new life without any of the comforts of her old home—and then she meets Tobin Sky. Eleven years old and the CEO of Bigfoot Detectives Inc., Tobin is the sole Bigfoot investigator for their small town. After he invites Lem to be his assistant for the summer, they set out on an epic adventure to capture the elusive beast on film. But along the way, Lem and Tobin end up discovering more than they ever could have imagined. And Lem realizes that maybe she can make lemonade out of her new life after all. About the Author Meliss...

I am a middle school media specialist - grades 6-8.  Here are some things happening in our media center!  Today when I was walking around as the students were working I saw this book that a student is reading.  I'd never heard of it before.  It looks great!   One to look at adding to the stacks! Edge of Extinction by Laura Martin One hundred and fifty years ago, the first dinosaurs were cloned. Soon after, they replaced humans at the top of the food chain. The only way to survive was to move into underground compounds. . . . Five years ago, Sky Mundy’s father vanished from North Compound without a trace. Now she has just stumbled on a clue that not only suggests his disappearance is just the tip of an even larger mystery, but also points directly to the surface. To find her dad—and possibly even save the world—Sky and her best friend, Shawn, must break out of their underground home and venture topside to a land reclaimed by nature and ruled by dinosaurs.

In Retro Reads I like to look at some books from the past - long or short past - that I really enjoyed and think need a reminder. Today's Retro Read: Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser During her preschool years, Tara Sullivan lived in terror that something bad would happen to her mother while they were apart. In grade school, she panicked during the practice fire drills. Practice for what?, Tara asked. For the upcoming disaster that was bound to happen? Then, at the age of 11, it happened. Tara heard the phrase that changed her life: Step on a crack, break your mother's back. Before Tara knew it, she was counting every crack in the sidewalk. Over time, Tara's "quirks" grew and developed: arranging her meals on plates, nonstop prayer rituals, until she developed a new ritual wherin she kissed her fingers and touched doorknobs.... What I Remember: This was the first book I remember reading that dealt with a mental illness - in this case OCD.  It seemed, at t...

I love book covers! I love walking around Barnes and Noble just looking at all the different covers.  A good cover will make me pull the book off the shelf!   It's almost like I have a crush on them :) Today I'm crushin' on: Questions I have when looking at it: Are they still together? What does it look like fire going around them? They don't look happy - are they?  What has happened to make them not happy? I really liked this series until the last book.  I wasn't thrilled with the last book (I know I'm in the minority with that!), so I'm happy to hear more in the story!  About the Book In the first book of the Shaw Confessions, the companion series to the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer novels, old skeletons are laid bare and new promises prove deadly. This is what happens after happily ever after. Everyone thinks seventeen-year-old Noah Shaw has the world on a string. They’re wrong. Mara Dyer is the only one he trusts with his secrets and his future. ...

So I got the best Mother's Day gift.  I got a WALL, yes a WALL of bookcases!!! I've wanted that forever.   Here's how they look!  The view from my chair.  It makes me so happy!  As I was putting all my books on the shelves I came across three books I had doubles of!  So my silliness in book buying is your gain.  Here are the three books.   So if you want to enter fill out the Rafflecopter for each book you're interested in.   US Residents Only Must be at least 13 The Serpent King a Rafflecopter giveaway The Truth Witch a Rafflecopter giveaway Salt to the Sea a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today I'm welcoming Carole P. Roman to the blog.  She has a wonderful guest post for us about handling bad days.  Plus there is a great giveaway! About the Book: Written by Carole P. Roman Illustrated by Mateya Arkova From award-winning author Carole P. Roman comes a new chapter book featuring Susannah Logan, a young student having a very bad day. It all begins with homework trouble and an invitation to a sleepover that she doesn’t want to go to. Would you want to go to a sleepover in a creepy house? Rather than dealing with her problems, Susannah stuffs them into her backpack. But how much can a backpack take? Will she be able to confront her worries before the backpack bursts? Or will she just continue to hide them away? Join Susannah and her friends in this story sure to charm busy young readers everywhere. Ages 7-10 | Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | April 3, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1543034615 Available Here: Amazon Indiebound ABOUT THE AUTHOR Carole P....