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

Book Review: The Signature of God (and Other Book Reviews)

Wrote some book reviews a few years back. 

Sharing the links.  The first is actually my favorite; published 2013.  

How do we know that God wrote the Bible? Simple! He signed it!

Book Review: The Signature of God by Grant R. Jeffrey

The Handwriting on the Wall - St Benedicts Catholic Church | Source: Wikimedia Commons

● ● ● ● Other Book Reviews:

• A wonderful book for children written by Miska Miles, which was published in 1971: “Annie and the Old One”.

• "Unstoppable Me!: 10 Ways to Soar Through Life"  ~ Dr. Dyer's first children's picture book where he lays out a plan that encourages children to achieve their dreams.

• If you like true stories, mysteries that are finally solved, and ever wondered about ships that set sale and then disappeared - here are four books about Ships Lost at Sea that tell the tales.

• Into classical literature?  Voltaire's "Candide" has been deemed his most significant work.  I disagree.  But that's just me. Brief Bio of Voltaire and Intro to Candide.

The Seven Kings of Rome

The Seven Kings of Rome

There was once a group of villages on seven hills which grew into an empire. But how did it happen?

If your curiosity is peaked by this brief presentation of the history of ancient Rome and wants to learn more, you will find two book recommendations at the end of the article.

Entertainment: Books: Biographies of J.R.R. Tolkien

Anyone who has done even scant research on John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892 – 1973) knows that even though he was a very private man, there is no shortage of biographical information about this famous British writer and medievalist. Hardcover, paperback, digital and audiobooks, letters, and other materials abound. His son, Christopher Tolkien (1924 - 2020) was is extremely protective of the legacy of his father and has only ever authorized one official biography. His father is highly respected as a literary hero and a mythmaker, and he wanted to keep it that way!

Image credit:  Hobbit House, Movie Set, New Zealand: Photo by Jeff Finley on Unsplash

Understandable, however, that did not stop others from publishing their unauthorized unofficial versions. (Even moi! I tried my hand at publishing an unauthorized biographical sketch.) These unapproved life stories (see listing below.) are just as appreciated by Tolkien fans, as the approved biography written by Humphrey Carpenter. Furthermore, the commercialization of  “all things Tolkien” may have started with the success of the “Lord of the Rings” books, but when these works were adapted to film, Tolkien fever infected the masses around the world. A loyal Tolkien-ite can not only build their own personal library, but can purchase puzzles, games, collectibles, and more!!

Tolkien: The Authorized Biography

Unauthorized Tolkien Biographies  ( Name of Author )

• J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century ( Tom Shippey )
• Tolkien: Man and Myth, a Literary Life ( Joseph Pearce )
• J. R. R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend ( Colin Duriez )

• Mythmaker: The Life of J.R.R. Tolkien, Creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings ( Anne E. Neimark )
• J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator ( Wayne G. Hammond )

>BR>

Source:  Webnuggetz.com

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

The Pendant - A Gothic Romance Novel (Reblog) | History and Women

Sharing a link from one of the most gorgeous and informative blogs about women and for women on the worldwide web! The blog publisher writes book reviews but is also an author. This is one of her books.

The Pendant - A Gothic Romance Novel | History and Women

A lost ancient treasure. 

A 100 year family feud. 

And a woman with a passion richer than the bloodstone pendant she wears around her neck!

Related Articles:

• Good Reads: Two Thrillers and One Romance
• Women Who Ruled: Razia Sultana of India

People We Like to Quote: Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

The Right Honourable  Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965) KG OM CH TD PCc DL FRS RA,  was a military hero and British politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.  ( Wikipedia )

I take your point Sir Churchill.  Your reference to "hell" is a descriptive term, a figure of speech to describe an horrific ordeal that someone is enduring and they must stay strong, persevere and keep pushing forward in order to overcome.

However, with regard to the real hell?  Nobody goes through it.  If they end up there it's their final destination.  They can't escape and they can't turn back.  They can't complain that there was an error in their travel itinerary and that they had been dropped off at the wrong place!  They can't even bribe whoever put them in there to let them back out.  For one thing, if they were rich, they were not able to bring their money with them.  Ask the Pharaohs or ask Paul.  Also, the living whom they left behind can't pay for them to get out of hell either through a convenient system of indulgences.  (Geez!  And you think insurance in America is a rip off!)

Churchill quotes are food for thought.  

If I were setting up my own personal private library, I would make sure to have at least one book on the shelf with his quotes. 📕📕

Mini BIO - Winston Churchill

Related Blog Posts:

• Celebrating the Genius of Einstein and #GR101

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• Confucius Wisdom and Quotes

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• Quotes for Success: Building a Door

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The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews: Five (or seven) GOOD things to come out of 2016 (Reblog)

Happy to reblog and share this Featured Post from a fellow blogger, Davida Chazan, who is a "Go To" person if you're searching for good reads. Here is her suggested reading for 2016:

The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews: Five (or seven) GOOD things to come out of 2016

Her reviews and other writings are so good I invited her to contribute to my group board on Pinterest: Freelance Writer. We crossed paths because we both contribute short posts to a site called "Daily Two Cents".  This site has a revenue-share plan for those who have a Google Ad Sense account and allows you to earn 100% of your commissions, if your post includes an affiliate referral link.  It's reasonable.  Don't you think?  This is the link to her DTC profile: drchazan aka Chocolate Lady.
(This is my DTC author profile, if you're interested: cmoneyspinner, if you're interested.)


Book lovers will probably appreciate her faves lists for previous years too!

Chocolate Lady's Favorite Books of 2015

Chocolate Lady's Favorite Books of 2014

Chocolate Lady's Favorite Books of 2013

I love her blog's tagline.  It reads:

• 
  Davida Chazan's Blog for mostly book reviews and literary musings (and maybe some chocolate). 
  

What a hook!  So of course I had to find something chocolate at her blog.  Found it!

The REAL Chocolate Wars

The REAL Chocolate Wars

It's all because of Ms. Brenner's writing style. Ms. Brenner brings even the very mundane into the world of extreme interest. She makes much out of the intrigue so that although it's really economics, it's still interesting. She works her way around marketing so that it's suddenly as moving as a love scene.