48 Hour challenge - 2nd book (K)

**This post is dedicated to my just-graduated 5th grade class! **

I just finished Sent, the second in The Missing Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The first book, Found, was the last read aloud I shared with my class this past school year. It had most of them on the edge of their seats wondering what would happen next. I didn't get to finish Found before the end of the year, so it showed up on many of their summer reading lists.

They were then planning on reading Sent as soon as it was available to them. I'm telling them now that it is DEFINITELY worth it. I'm not a time traveler fan, but this book is just one adventure after another, so I truly enjoyed it.

Without ruining the plot, the castle on the front of the book is a great clue for the fact that some children will be time traveling back to the 15th century. What I enjoyed equally as much as the adventure in this book, is the historical component. I wound not have thought that from the first book, Found, but I predict there will be historical components in each of the remaining books in the series as well.

Sent is great reading! Coming out in August 2009! Be sure to check it out!

48 Hour Challenge -- breakfast and books!!

We had a fabulous time again this year at our 48 Hour Challenge Breakfast! We missed some of our friends who weren't present (Mary Lee, Abby, Lauren, Kristine, Megan, and Stella), but the remainder of us (Karen S, Franki, Katie, Bill, Mandy, Julie, and yours truly) had some yummy food and great conversations. We were especially glad to have Julie and Mandy there because they were the "newbies". Our group of Central Ohio bloggers just continues to grow and grow.

After breakfast at Northstar Cafe, we were headed to Cover to Cover, where the owner, Sally Oddi, had set up a wonderful table of ARCs for our enjoyment. And enjoy we did!! I got the next in The Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix -- Sent -- and Franki snagged another great book - the sequel to The Hunger Games - Catching Fire. We live close enough together that we've agreed to read these books first and then switch. SO excited about both of these books!

But, that doesn't take into account the other 14 ARCs I got, in addition to the 6 books I actually purchased. And ML, if you're reading this, you know I owe you lots of money based on how many books I took out of CTC (21 total)!! Unless the fish are really biting at your fish-a-thon, I'm betting we'll take my book total times $2. I couldn't think of a better cause to donate it to.

Unlike Bill, I don't have an order of all the books I'm going to read, but I did start Sent as soon as I got home. We'll see where I go from there.

So, I've brought you up to date on my 48 hour progress: 1 book finished last night, breakfast this morning with other kidlit bloggers, browsing in the best children's bookstore ever, and now I'm back to actually reading until about 5 PM tomorrow night. So many choices, so little time! :) What a great problem to have!

First Book and Breakfast

I've just returned from breakfast, I had the yogurt again, I'll let Karen post the pix since I really don't have a digital camera that I can count on. We also had a great time at Cover to Cover, as usual Sally was more than generous with the ARCs and my reading stack as predicted has changed a bit, I'll update you later. I walked out of the store with the low number of the day, thanks for reminding me...numerous times Franki...14 books but I'm very excited about all of them.

I finished my first book Tumtum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn. The title characters are wealthy mice that live in Nutmouse Hall. They begin to take care of the somewhat neglected children that live in the house and have adventures with their friends including the eccentric General Marchmouse. I like the stories and was reminded of E.B. White animal stories. The book is actually 3 stories in one book making it just over 500 pages. Since it's written for younger kids in my mind I think I might do one as a read aloud with kindergarten or first grade students, I'm not sure they would want too much more than that at one time.

Here's my updated reading list:

Mudshark by Gary Paulson
Al Capone Does My Shoes (ARC) by Gennifer Choldenko
POP (ARC) by Gordon Korman
Excellent Emma (ARC) by Sally Warner

48 Hour challenge - 1st book done

One of my students got me Scat by Carl Hiaasen as an end of year present. I decided that it would be my first read of the 48 Hour Challenge.

Much like Hiaasen's book, Hoot, this book is about preserving the nature in Florida. What is a little more unique in Scat is that both grown-ups and kids join forces against the bad guys -- in this case, an oil drilling company.

The cast of good guys have impressive credentials:

• Nick - the boy whose dad lost an arm in the war, who tries to learn how to do things one-handed as well, even in times of crisis, even when face to face with a panther.
• Marta - Nick's friend who sticks by him in times of adversity
• Duane Scrod Jr. (aka Smoke) - by all accounts, a "bad" boy but through the course of the story, we learn there is much, much more than meets the eye
• Mrs. Starch -- an aptly named teacher. She isn't my style of teacher, but she has the same heart when it come to her students. She wants them to learn and to be critical thinkers. Turns out there is also a little more to her than we might at first believe. Definitely someone for A Year of Reading's Top 100 Teachers in Literature!!!
  
• Twilly - the mysterious, unknown man whose heart belongs to nature

The plot twists aren't totally surprising, but they are enjoyable. Hiaasen is at his best when describing the almost extinct panther -- beautiful language.

Great first read. Now, it's off to bed for me, and up bright and early to meet the Central Ohio bloggers for breakfast and a trip to Cover to Cover.

48 Hour Challenge Kickoff--Bill

Library packed up and closed for the year...check
A few things completed on the "honey do" list...check
Lawn mowed...check
Provisions for beach vacation purchased...check

Let summer begin, time to sit back with my stack of books and start reading. As soon as I log in with Mother Reader I'll be on my back porch with my books and a cold beverage just like my friend Karen. Here's what my stack looks like for now. It most likely will change after my morning at Cover to Cover.

Tumtum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn
The Baseball Card Kid by Adam Osterweil
Mudshark by Gary Paulson
Project Sweet Life by Brent Hartinger
A Recipe 4 Robbery by Marybeth Kelsey
Granny by Anthony Hurowitz
Crows and Cards by Joseph Helgerson

You'll see me listed twice in a row at Mother Reader, oops!

48 Hour Challenge Begins! (Karen)

• Today was my last teacher workday (ok, I still have to pack my room for a move, but I'll worry about that next week).
• I came home and put my wicker loveseat on the screened porch -- hadn't gotten to it yet this year.
• Fluffed the loveseat with some comfy pillows.
• Swept out the screened porch and watered the ferns.
  
• Am getting ready to get a snack and an ice cold drink.
• Will be choosing my first book to read.
• The 48 Hour Challenge has begun!!!!!
• PRICELESS!!!!!!
  

48 Hour Challenge is Coming! (part 2)

A while back, I announced that I would be taking part in Mother Reader's 48 Hour Challenge for the 2nd year in a row. Some important facts to know:

When: I will start my 48 hour challenge right after school this Friday (which happens to be my last day of school!), and will continue until Sunday evening, June 7th. I will spend part of Saturday engaged in some fun book-related activities (see "where" below). I can't think of a better way to begin my summer break than with a pile of books all begging to be read!

Where: I will be meeting some Central Ohio bloggers at the always tasty Northstar Cafe, and after much chatting and eating, will be heading to the best children's bookstore I know -- Cover to Cover. When I'm not eating at Northstar Cafe or trying to snag the best books and ARCs at Cover to Cover, I will be reading and blogging at my house. I anticipate that my reading will mostly take place on my screened in porch.

Why: I do this mostly because I love books, and this whole event is just a lot of fun!!! But this year, there is an added component. In an effort to "give back" for my enjoyment, I am pledging $2 per book I take out of Cover to Cover on Saturday (purchased or ARC) OR $2 per fish caught at a fish-a-thon this weekend (whichever one is more) to a cause near and dear to Mary Lee (A Year of Reading).

RSVP: I hope you'll join Bill and me here as we read and blog this weekend. We'd love to hear what you're reading also.