Storytime: Library Week 2023

 Today, I shared a Family Storytime Special to celebrate National Library Week! 🎉

It was not quite a ready day for this librarian, but that is okay. We talk about having a ready day at storytime. I told myself to slow down, take your time if you need it. If you need to change things up, it is okay to change things. The audience supports you. And it went well! A large turnout to celebrate library week at storytime.

In past years, I selected library books, rhymes, or songs, but for today I went with some favorites and new books. Our craft project after storytime was drawing a bookshelf and gluesticking small bookcover pictures to the shelves. It was really cute. To bring it full circle, the bookcovers I selected were books we read at storytime over the past year or so. Shoutout to GoodReads for having a grid layout!

Here's what we did at storytime today:

Welcome
SONG: Hello Song
Storytime Reminders: Be Ready, Be Seated, Be Involved, Be Respectful
Storytime Puppet: Snowbie
FLANNEL: Bookworm, Bookworm, where should we look? Are you behind the COLOR book?

Behind the 5 books: 1 bookworm, Gossie & Gertie, Gerald & Piggie, Clifford, and Skippyjon Jones
 
BOOK: The Loud Librarian by Jenna Beatrice, illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones (Atheneum, 2023)

I selected this title because it's a new book, it's diverse, and it features quiet and loud spaces in the library. There is room for libraries to be quiet and loud.

SONG: One from the Left by Jim Gill

We started this with stretches to get ready - dancing your fingers up, in front of your face, hide them behind your back and keep them there while I start our music. 

BOOK: Mister Kitty is Lost! By Greg Pizzoli (Little Brown & Co., 2023)

This book is another new book and a lot of fun. It's counting which paired well with One from the Left we just sang together.

The original plan was to do these two singing songs with a couple American Sign Language words, but I was losing my voice. We did a favorite storytime song instead - The Goldfish by Laurie Berkner 

This song we've done a lot and the kiddos are singing along and doing the actions. It's wonderful!

SONG: The More We Read Together (Tune:  The More We Get Together)

The more we read together, together, together.

The more we read together the happier we’ll be.

          For your books are my books. And my books are your books.

          The more we read together the happier we’ll be.

SONG: Read a Book (tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)

Read, read, read a book, travel anywhere

World-wide, you decide: a book will take you there.

After our dance, we read our next book ... It's an adventure book because I think libraries are full of adventures because they're full of books to read and activities to do.

BOOK: Adventure Awaits by Henry Cole (Little Simon, 2022)

SONG: Rocketship Run! By Laurie Berkner

A favorite action song at storytime - counting down, jumping up, and running in place.

Verses are spinning, dancing, jumping, and coming back to earth (sitting down)

Announcements

Craft Instructions for Build Your Own Bookshelf (paper craft)

SONG: Goodbye, So-Long, Farewell, Toodle-loo by Hap Palmer

Books Can Be Let Go

NetGalley shared a great tip this week ... "Take a look at your shelves and let go of books that don't interest you anymore."

I love reading and I love books. I've never tallied my TBR (to be read) stack or lists, but I'm sure it's in the hundreds. I own digital books as well as physical books. I have books that I have yet to read and books I want to read again. Yet there are also books that I might never get around to reading.

That's okay, readers! It's okay to own a book and never read it. It's okay to let go of books or stop reading books that don't peek your interest. There is joy is giving books away. There will be a reader who is thrilled to find that book you no longer want on your shelves.

What should I do with the books I no longer want or need?

- Give them to a family member.

- Give them to a friend.

- Add books to Little Free Libraries.

- Give them to a library (check their donation policy).

- Give them a school or child care center (check their donation policy).

- Donate them to a thrift store.

- Donate them to a nonprofit or charity book sale.

- Sell them at a used bookstore or online and buy more books!

If the books are too much to share ... old information, misinformation, musty, dusty, broken, etc. ... it's okay to recycle or throw away books. I always want to give books new life, but sometimes books have their time and it's time to send them away.

- Recycle

- Trash

- Repurpose

Where you do you take your "old" books?  How do you repurpose books?

Blog Tour: A Hope and a Prayer

 Happy Thursday, readers!

I am thrilled to share with you Julie Lessman's newest title, A Hope and a Prayer. It is book two in her series, The Cousins O'Connor. Here's the jacket blurb for you:

She’s in love with her best friend. 
He’s in love with her cousin.
But when the war reveals a gift so rare, 
will they be saved by a hope and a prayer?

As Head Nurse at 2d Hospital in Nancy, France, Lieutenant Hope Dennehy is known for her healing touch, especially when it comes to mending the wounds and spirit of her best friend, Lieutenant Bren O’Neill. When Hope’s cousin breaks Bren’s heart, Hope is always there, helping to heal him with a friendship so anointed and deep, it threatens to break her heart too.

Flying high as a daredevil aeromedical evac pilot in the European Theatre, “Lieutenant Love” O’Neill crashes and burns when the woman he loves falls for another. Depending on the support and prayers of Nurse Hope Dennehy to save him, Bren re-evaluates his free-wheeling lifestyle when he witnesses the heinous atrocities of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Suddenly nothing in life is as important as taking care of those he loves … or is it? Battling demons from his past, Bren learns that only one thing can truly save him from himself.  --  A Hope and a Prayer

Come for the romance and stay for the history, the banter, the slang, and the faith! I fall in love with every book I have read by Julie Lessman. Yes, you can read each story as a standalone. Yes, you can read book one, A Wing and a Prayer before A Hope and a Prayer. You can read A Hope and a Prayer before any of the books about the O'Connor family.

BUT.

Could I convince you start at book one? Like book one, book one?? I adore the O'Connor clan and her newest title gives you a wonderful story of Hope and just a taste of her large, tough, loving, and faithful family. Dive in, readers! It's a great adventure in history that spans generations.

In celebration of A Hope and a Prayer's release, Julie is hosting a GIVEAWAY with this blog tour!

Comment on this blog post to be entered in to win an eBook!

Tell me, how many Lessman books have you read???

One commenter from each stop will win, so go visit each stop for a chance to win!

Every commenter will also be entered to win a signed book from Julie.

See the full tour schedule on Julie's blog, Journal Jots. 

Thank you, Julie!!

Librarian Hats

 Today, January 15, is National Hat Day!

As librarians, we wear lots of hats and this came to mind when I'm quietly celebrating 15 years at my library. I never thought I would be where I am today! I believe most adults would say that as well when they reflect on their lives or occupations.

I feel blessed to be where I am today. I am surrounded by a great team of co-workers. We have exciting projects ahead for the year and years to come. We've also accomplished fantastic things, too!

Now let's take a look at hats!

First, here are a couple great hat books for storytime:

 These titles are in no particular order, because they're all enjoyable. I have used the majority of them in storytime. Henri's Hats is the newest, so it is on the storytime potential list. 

Now to give a short list of hats a librarian wears at work. Feel free to add more in the comments if I missed one or a few. It's a running list! Again, in no particular order ...

• Librarian
• Furniture Mover
• Room Monitor 
• Setup Crew
• Cleanup Crew
• Professional Paper Cutter
• Finder of Things
• Puppeteer
• Singer
• Reader
• Dancer
• Instructor
• Leader
• Follower
• Listener
• Curator
• Story Recommender
• Book Wrangler
• Shelver
• Community Liaison
• Discussion Leader
• Podcaster
• Videographer
• Marketer
• Writer
• Photographer
• Book Jockey (for a nod to the show Parks and Rec)
• and more!

These hats come and go through the years. I think every job has shifts both from internal and external forces. Sometimes you can see the hat coming and other times it just appears on your head or on your desk. This list is meant for lightheartedness and pride in what we can accomplish. 

Author: With This Pledge

With This Pledge is the first book in the new Carnton series by Tamera Alexander. It was released on January 1, 2019. In celebration of this new book and series, JustRead Publicity Tours is hosting a blog tour and giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting Tamera Alexander today on Miss Pippi Reads. She will be giving us insights on character name selection in With This Pledge. Enjoy!

Character Name Selection by Tamera Alexander

Character name selection in With This Pledge, a Carnton novel, was easier than usual. Because Captain Roland Ward Jones and Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Clouston are the real life hero and heroine who met and fell in love at the Carnton home in Franklin, Tennessee during the Civil War, following the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864. And With This Pledge is their love story. History holds a treasure trove of knowledge about Captain Roland Ward Jones—details about his home life, his war record as a sharpshooter, his extensive land ownership in Mississippi, and the remarkable collection of personal correspondence (written both to and from Roland) that reveal a bevy of insights into his character. We know Roland was among hundreds of wounded Confederate soldiers who were brought to Carnton following the Battle of Franklin. We know he staunchly supported the Southern Cause. We know he convalesced about six weeks longer at Carnton than any of the other soldiers. And why did he stay longer? Because he fell in love with the McGavock’s governess—Lizzie Clouston.

Sadly, most of the details about Lizzie’s life have been lost to time, so she was more of a mystery. To introduce the necessary conflict needed for the story, I chose to give Lizzie opposing views to Roland’s—and that of the Southern Cause. Yet when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee that unseasonably warm November afternoon, the war demands she give answer. Especially when she finds herself drawn to Roland and discovers that his moral ground is utterly at odds with her own.

Learn more about what’s truth and what’s fiction in With This Pledge, a Carnton Novel on Tamera’s Website — www.TameraAlexander.com

With This Pledge Book Description

Carnton home where she is governess is converted into a Confederate field hospital, and Lizzie is called upon to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death. Faced with the unimaginable, she must summon fortitude, even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancé and lifelong friend.

As a young soldier lies dying in Lizzie’s arms, she vows to relay his final words to his mother, but knows little more than the boy’s first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate his leg.

Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers’ respect as she tends to the wounded within Carnton’s walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn’t realize she is pledged to another. But as Lizzie’s heart softens towardthe Confederate captain, she discovers that his moral ground is at odds with her own. Now torn between love, principles, and promises made, she struggles to be true to her heart while standing for what she knows is right—no matter the cost.

From the pages of history and the personal accounts of those who endured the Battle of Franklin, Tamera Alexander weaves the real-life love letters between Captain Roland Ward Jones and Miss Elizabeth Clouston into a story of unlikely romance first kindled amid the shadows of war.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository

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EXCERPT

Head HERE for an exclusive excerpt!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal's top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.  



CONNECT WITH THEAUTHOR: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win a release copy of With This Pledge + $10 Amazon Gift Card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight January 14, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm January 28, 2019. US only for a print copy of the book. International winners will receive an ebook. Gift card prize will be issued as an e-gift card. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Revew: A Worthy Rebel

A Worthy Rebel is Jody Hedlund's fifth title in her medieval young adult series, An Uncertain Choice. As with her previous books in the series, it moved from beginning to end. The series has ties to her previous books, An Uncertain Choice, A Daring Sacrifice, For Love and Honor, and A Loyal Heart but it can also be read by itself without previously reading the series. (I would recommend reading the previous titles, because they are great!)

A Worthy Rebel features Isabelle, the sister of Olivia from A Loyal Heart. Isabelle is sent to a neighboring castle to wed. After receiving a horrifying gift from her betrothed, she runs to find a better life.

As with the previous tales in the series, the point of view switches between two characters. In earlier printings, the font was different, In this current Kindle version, it was not the font, but the chapter "flourishes" or "decor" that gives the reader a clue as to who is "I".
Since this was her fifth novel in the series, I looked forward to reading the two points of view and learning about their backgrounds, thoughts, and beliefs.

This is the final book in the series and I bid these characters and families a fond farewell. I loved this series from book one and I will miss their world. I'm glad that I can always return to this time and place by reading these stories again. I look forward to the next book (or new series) by Hedlund. It's always an adventure with heart!

Reviewed from a gift copy.

If you'd like to connect with Jody Hedlund, here's a few places you can connect with her:

Facebook : Author Jody Hedlund
Twitter : @JodyHedlund
Website : jodyhedlund.com
Pinterest : pinterest.com/jodyhedlund
Instagram: @JodyHedlund

Title: A Worthy Rebel
Author: Jody Hedlund
Series: Book 05, An Uncertain Choice
ASIN: B07FZ6KBNW

Review: River to Redemption

I briefly read the back cover of River to Redemption by Ann H. Gabhart which reads,

"Orphaned in the cholera epidemic of 1833, Adria Starr was cared for by a slave Louis, a man who passed up the opportunity to escape his bondage and instead tended to the sick and buried the dead. A man who, twelve years later, is being sold by his owners despite his heroic actions.

Now nineteen, Adria has never forgotten what Louis did for her. She's determined to find a way to buy Louis's freedom. But in 1840's Kentucky, she'll need all of the courage and strength she possesses - and more."

I clamped onto the word orphan at the beginning and thought to myself, "Hey! It's another orphan train book!" I just finished Together Forever by Jody Hedlund (Book 02, Orphan Train) so I guessed that this would be another author writing about orphan trains. Needless to say, I was surprised the entire time I was reading! Sometimes, it's good to not know the synopsis of a book and just dive right into it.

It was a heavy book in the way of overcoming grief and finding your path in life. Cholera took a toll on hundreds of thousands of people and Gabhart shared a small snippet of time with the reader. It was fascinating to find out that she took two historical people - Louis and Matilda - and shared a story about them. It was beautiful to read about deep and unshakable faith as well as faith that was clouded by hurt and grief. They did what needed to be done and the Lord would take care of the rest. It was a reassuring read.

This is a standalone title, but I'm hopeful for a sequel about Adria Starr. We'll see what the future holds!

Time Period: 1833
Location: Springfield, Kentucky, USA

Reviewed from a library copy.

Title: River to Redemption
Author: Ann H. Gabhart
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: July 3, 2018
ISBN: 9780800723644

Review: Together Forever

Together Forever is the second book in Jody Hedlund's series, Orphan Train. Books one, With You Always, was published in 2017 and was a fantastic read. This second title is equally mesmerizing. Once I cracked open the book, I could not put it down.
I would recommend reading With You Always before reading Together Forever, but if you can't wait you can jump in and read this one first in the series. Book one focuses on building a city in the the western land of Illinois. Book two shares the story of placing children from New York into homes located in the West (today's Mid-West).

Again, I had preconceived notions about Together Forever. I thought the story would pick up in Illinois where With You Always left off. Nope. Readers will head back to New York and go on a new adventure. Yes, characters from book one are in book two, but this could almost be a standalone. Hedlund writes a very compelling story and is fantastic at honing in on the main characters while sharing tidbits from previous characters. I definitely closed the book satisfied, but craving more from the world she created. I cannot wait for the next installment in her Orphan Train series!

To catch the latest Jody Hedlund news, visit her website or follow her on social media: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Time Period: 1850's
Location: New York and Illinois

I received this book as a gift from Jody Hedlund.

Title: Together Forever
Series: Book 2, Orphan Train
Author: Jody Hedlund
ISBN: 9780764218057

Review: How to Window Box

Are you looking into starting a gardening? Are looking to build a garden in a small space? How to Window Box by Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit could be the book you seek. They offer ideas and information about "small-space plants to grow indoors or out."

Window boxes can be enjoyed inside your home or in the great outdoors. They can be huge or tiny depending on the plants you use or the size of your containers. This book focuses on small size window boxes, but there are other gardening books that feature containers of various sizes. Gordon and Benoit also offer a wide range of garden types - edible, beach, bog, floral, and more. Each created box type has general plant information (light, soil, water, feeding, etc.), names of possible plants you can use (genus and species), instructions on putting the box together, tips, and notes on how to personalize your window box.

It's a fun little book to add to your gardening collection. It would be fun to create window boxes for yourself or to give as a gift.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Title: How to Window Box
Author: Chantal Aida Gordon, Ryan Benoit
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
ISBN: 9781524760243

Review: A Loyal Heart

A Loyal Heart is Jody Hedlund's four title in her medieval series, An Uncertain Choice. As with her previous stories, it was full of action from beginning to end. The series has ties to her previous books, An Uncertain Choice, A Daring Sacrifice, and For Love and Honor, but it can also be read by itself without previously reading the series. (I would recommend reading the previous titles, because they are so good!)

Her newest YA novel features Aldric, the brother of Sir Bennett from A Loyal Heart. He has been working to rebuild his life after the loss of his wife. He is under the command of Lord Pitt, who sends him to besiege Lady Olivia's castle. Olivia's father and Lord Pitt are enemies, but it goes further than that with a battle of beliefs and loyalty to family, kingdom, and the Lord.

Hedlund captured my attention from chapter one. It was hard to set A Loyal Heart down. I wanted to read it in one sitting! I did forget that this series rotates point of view between characters - one chapter is Aldric's and another chapter is Olivia's. I'm glad Hedlund kept the format she began with book one, An Uncertain Choice. It was an excellent read. I can't wait for her next book. I'm not sure if another story will be added to An Uncertain Choice series, but she has written other amazing stories. I would highly recommend diving into another series, if you haven't picked one up yet!

Reviewed from a review copy.

If you'd like to connect with Jody Hedlund, here's a few places you can connect with her:

Facebook : Author Jody Hedlund
Twitter : @JodyHedlund
Website : jodyhedlund.com
Pinterest : pinterest.com/jodyhedlund
Instagram: @JodyHedlund

Title: A Loyal Heart
Author: Jody Hedlund
Series: Book 04, An Uncertain Choice
ASIN: B0797F1YZC