Do You Love Reading Children's Books?

Do you enjoy reading books for children? Not reading children's books to children for their education, entertainment, and enjoyment. But do you - the adult-like reading them?

Several years back, my spouse and I contemplated the idea of writing books for children. We even had ourselves tested to see if we had the necessary skills and aptitude. We were looking for a means of earning income while working from home and caring for our young children and thought this might be a viable solution. The test results were persuasive, so we decided on this path to pursue our financial goals. We will never know if we would have been as successful as the author of the Harry Potter books. After a few manuscript rejections by various publishers, we turned our efforts to more practical, more immediate, income-earning opportunities.

Although no longer interested in writing books for children, I discovered something about myself that I did not know. I thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in children's books. Not reading them to my children or to children, but I like reading them for myself. Yes. It's an indulgence.


Many books for children, adolescents or young adults are about 100 to 250 pages and are a quick read. Those marvelous children's picture books with their exquisite illustrations are even shorter reads; about 25 pages, pictures included. But what a wonderful distraction they are from the daily grind of work, housework, grocery shopping, and other mundane chores. They're so adventurous and other-worldly. Reading children's books actually refreshes and energizes me.


During the course of our failed attempt at becoming children's book authors, I found numerous writers in this field that I wish I had been introduced to when I myself was a child. I had never heard of many of them and yet they were award-winning, outstanding, notable, respected authors. Laurence Yep, Katherine Paterson, Madeleine L'Engle and Jane Yolen are four such writers.

So, if you're wondering what would be a guilt-free indulgence to set yourself free from your daily routine for just a few moments, try reading a children's book. Choose books by the authors mentioned above, or if you don't know where to begin, visit Al's Book Club for Kids. Oprah also publishes a Kids' Reading List. Although these lists were created with children in mind, they are perfect for those of us who want to indulge our inner child.



References:

• Paterson, Katherine. Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1983. Print.
• L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1962. Print.
• "Jane Yolen." Fantastic Fiction. Web. 27 Apr 2011.
• "Al's Book Club for Kids.", TODAY.com: Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, TODAY Show Video, News, Recipes, Health, Pets. Web. 27 Apr 2011.
• "Kids' Reading List - Oprah.com." Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 27 Apr 2011.
• "Author Katherine Paterson After Bridge to Terabithia - Oprah.com."Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Web. 27 Apr. 2011.
• "FIND A BOOK: L'ENGLE, MADELEINE." Anita Silvey's Children's Book-A-Day Almanac. Web. 27 Apr 2011.

Suggested link: Children who have published books and have made an impact on the world of literature. Click this link to read Literary History: Children Authors. It's fascinating!


Original Source
( NOTE: Full article previously published a YAHOO Voices.  YCN website shut down.  Portions of republished various places around the web. )


Browse books by the authors:
Laurence Yep
Katherine Paterson
Madeleine L'Engle
Jane Yolen

[Children’s Book Recommendation] The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen

Ever notice a small child look up when an adult walks into the room? Especially a very tall adult. Do you ever notice their eyes widen and how they bend their heads back almost to the point that you think they might break their little neck trying to look up in awe at this giant!

Do you wonder what they might be thinking? 

Do they think:

- How does a person get to be so big?

- Will I ever become a giant like that?

- I am so small. Will that big person hurt me?

- They're looking at the wall. Do they see me down here? I could get crushed!  Better move to some place safe like next to my mom.

Now imagine you're a small child in a home filled with giants. A giant father. Giant brothers. Giant sisters. All of them doing gigantic enormous things every day! Always busy all of the time. So busy they never even see you. You're so tiny. So tiny that your family gives you the name that means “the smallest one”. 

You think to yourself:

• Do they call me that because I'm not as big as they are and never will be?
• Or is it because they think so little of me that I might as well not exist? 

Though not her exact words, these were very likely the daily thoughts of Princess Djeow Seow, fourth youngest and smallest daughter of the Emperor of China.

Such was her world. Her brothers were allowed to help her father rule the kingdom. Her sisters brought the food to their father's table.

What was she permitted to do?  Go fly a kite! Literally.

But not everyone disregarded the tiny princess. There was a humble monk who always watched her whenever she hoisted her favorite kite into the air. Each day he would repeat the same prayer to her and each day she would always thank him in the same way. Every day. Each day. Each day. Every day. Except … one day.

Sometimes being “the smallest one” can be a very good thing.

*The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen is suggested reading for 3rd and 4th graders.

Jane Yolen is one of my favorite authors of books for children and young adults.  She has been writing for decades, mainly the fantasy genre.  The sweetness and simplicity of her style is what makes her work so appealing.

Original source

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Bible Readers: What About All Those "ites"?

Now that you know how to read you can read the Bible for yourself. That's what my momma said.

Most Bible readers (from my generation and the generations in the centuries before mine) will likely say what struck them when the first read the scriptures was all those "begats". Some people will skip over verses, even whole chapters if they see that word. The word "begat" usually connects a string of names that are very difficult to pronounce.

For me, one of things noted when turning the pages of the Old Testament starting with Genesis and working my way to the Revelation was all those "ites". The names for the inhabitants of different ancient nations.

Hittites, Asherites, Jebusites, Amorites, Amakelites, Girgashites, Moabites, Perizzites, Canaanites, and of course, Israelites.

Then it changed from "ites" to "ans".

Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans.

Suffixes in the English language:

*  ite = follower or supporter

*  an = pertaining to

* ian = belonging to

Belonging to? Hmmm?  Like Christians?

Yes. Only Christ is not a nation. Christianity and the gospel message of peace and goodwill is not restricted by man-made boundaries. But it's an observation as to how the suffixes were used by the scholarly translators.

JAT. (Just a thought.) :)

glitter-graphics.com

Histomap: Visualizing the 4,000 Year History of Global Power

If my view were a "theory", the histomap would have thoroughly disproved it.  Alas.  It's not a theory.  It's just a thought.  :)

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Book Review: 'The Man with the Golden Gun' by Ian Fleming

Many people know a lot about Bond movies. 

What about the Bond books?

• "Casino Royale" was the first Bond book published in 1953. 

• After that, Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, wrote a book a year. This brilliant writer died of a heart attack in 1964. That's a little over ten years!! 

• Bond novels were published between the years 1953 – 1966. 

It is not often that I come across a review of one of the Fleming books. Lots of movie reviews but not book reviews.  Sharing a link to a book review of "The Man with the Golden Gun" from The Friendly Shelf.  It might tempt to want to READ ALL of Fleming's original books. :)




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Bond Novels by Publication Date:

• Casino Royale (1953)
  
• Live and Let Die (1954)
  
• Moonraker (1955)
  
• Diamonds are Forever (1956)
  
• The Diamond Smugglers (1957)
  
• From Russia With Love (1957)
  
• Dr. No (1958)
  
• Goldfinger (1959)
  
• For Your Eyes Only (1960)
  
• Thunderball (1961)
  
• The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)
  
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963)
  
• Thrilling Cities (1963)
  
• You Only Live Twice (1964)
  
• The Man With the Golden Gun (1965)
  
• Octopussy & The Living Daylights (1966)
  

- - Info Reference: literary007.com Includes book summary and related blog posts.

- Aug 12, 1964: James Bond creator Ian Fleming dies. Read full article at history.com

- The Best James Bond Novels: Ranking the Fleming Originals by “Jeff” at bookriot.com

- Obviously, great info can be relished at the official website: James Bond | Ian Fleming Publications

 

Original Source: Read.Cash

Related articles

• Every First-Edition Ian Fleming James Bond Book Cover (1953-1966)
• "Before he wrote it, he lived it"?
• Casino Royale (1953) by Ian Fleming

AUDIOBOOK

The Man with the Golden Gun

Today is #NationalReadABookDay ~ Need Some Book Suggestions?

It's September 6^th. 
Today is #NationalReadABookDay. 

If you need some book suggestions, check out my Pinterest pinboard for some Books Worth Reading or peruse some of my ideas below.

Audiobook for Kids: Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days

Books About Men and Women of the Renaissance such as “Boccaccio's Fsmous Women”

ALL of the James Bond novels written by Ian Fleming

History, Mystery, or Ghost Story? Pick a book written by Peter Ackroyd such as “The Trial of Elizabeth Cree”

“TheRebecca Notebooks and Other Memories” by Daphne duMaurier

Women in History: Women Who Ruled: Razia Sultana of India

Books by My Favorite Authors of Childrens Books:  Laurence Yep, Katherine Paterson, Madeleine L'Engle and Jane Yolen 

MY Random Assortment of Books for YOUR Personal Library

Fox's Picks: Ten Plus One Books Worth Reading

This browser extension shows you which Amazon books are available free at your local library | CNET

In the Mood for a Romance Novel?

She started it! There are those who say that Kathleen Woodiwiss pioneered the historical romance genre. No matter who gets credits, just be glad there are thousands of romance novels to get lost in!  They make for good reading on a rainy day, a winter's day, late at night … practically any time that you want or need some quality “me” time. Agree?

Book Reviews : 2 Historical Romance Novels by Kathleen Woodiwiss

Review This!: A Knight in Shining Armor ~ A Romantic Book Review (REBLOG)

Reblogging a post link for Review This! because Jude Deveraux is one of my favorite historical romance novelists (although not all of her romance books are historical); plus I'm a sucker for stories about knights. :) 

Book Review:  A Knight in Shining Armor
| Review This!

Related articles

• My Favorite Romantic Authors
• Best Romantic Books of All Time
• Good Reads: Two Thrillers and One Romance
• Good Reads: Christmas and Romance Are a Perfect Pairing

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Like to read autobiographies or biographies to glean inspiration?

Like to read autobiographies or biographies? Reading about the lives of other people has always been a source of inspiration for me and no doubt it is the same way for other people too. In fact, if a person is suffering from depression one of the suggested activities to uplift their spirit and pull them out of the dark black hole is reading life stories. Not trying to sound corny but we are all ordinary people and it is encouraging to know that the majority of us endure the same trials and tribulations and most of us overcome or rise above our difficulties and get on with our lives.

But clearly you do not have to be depressed to draw motivation from reading about the achievements of someone else. For one of my friends it was the life of Malcolm X. The first biography which influenced my life was about Sammy Davis Jr. It was titled Yes I Can. (I could just kick myself for not keeping the book as it is now considered a collectible. He also published a sequel called Why Me?) The first autobiography written by Mr. Davis is also the book that peaked my curiosity and got me interested in reading more and more biographies about anybody – celebrities, men and women in history, people in political circles, etc. Turned this fascination into a hobby and created a Pinterest board called BIO-Snapshots, a collection of trivia, information and articles about people. Some of my most recent pins link to mini-bios of: Nora Baker, Robert Smalls, and Huma Abedin.

Do you get inspired by reading
biographical accounts or personal memoirs?

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Suggested Reads (press play to view)

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The Pack – Art Print Poster
David Cowles
Available at AllPosters.com
and Amazon.com

• David Cowles is a full-time freelance illustrator whose work has appeared in such publications as: Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Fortune, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times. One does not have to convince others that this guy has tremendous talent. If you see an art piece like “The Pack”, you know want to go see some of his other stuff!

David Cowles – Art Posters and Prints

 

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