Polyvore

This was so much fun to make.
I love The Secret Garden.

Kisses~VA

book store

Look what I saw at the book store yesterday.

My Milk Toof!

I also saw a display of Caldecott medal winners books. I imagine they have something similar in Heaven.

Kisses~VA

just a little ramble

So I have the day off from work tomorrow. I am excited and not excited at the same time. I am excited to see someone I care about so much get married. I am not excited because I actually really like my job. I have so much fun there and tomorrow is superhero dress-up day.

I am not reading "Revolution" for my book challenge after all. I didn't realize when I chose it that it was still only in hardcover. no thanks. I chose "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson who also wrote the book I just finished.

It's summertime which means lots of kids art post. kids art is my favorite type of art.

Super heroes

Kisses~VA

books!

Let's talk about books.

First I have been hearing about this book "Go the Fuck to sleep", so I just read it. It is my new favorite book. anyone who has ever tried to get a child to sleep should read this.

I also just finished my third book for my Young adult historical fiction challenge.

My third book was Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

This has been my favorite book in the challenge so far. There are characters you love. The story doesn't have any slow parts that drag. It's a quick and easy read but very interesting. I loved it!

My next choice is going to be "revolution" By Jennifer Donnelly

Kisses~VA

book adoration

So I must talk about my latest Children's book love.

The book is The Wave by Suzy Lee.

It is a wordless picture book which I am a big fan of because I love to hear the readers interpretation and dialogue.

it's fantastic!

Kisses~VA

My addiction

 I have mentioned before that I suffer from Bibliomania. I indulged my addiction this week.

I am about to start the third book for my  YA Bliss: Young adult historical fiction challenge
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson is my next pick
Its about the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of 1793.


One more thing. this has nothing to do with books but it is about my love for zebra stripes. look at my new tooth brush.

Kisses~VA

Kid books adult fun!

I love to share wonderful kid art with you but today I am sharing art from kids at heart.

The inspiration for this artwork is from the book Little Blue Little Yellow by Leo Lionni.

Visit Amy here.

Kisses~VA

what's up Wednesday

Its Wednesday. (I've noticed  I like to state the obvious on my blog) I love a good tangent. Focus Virginia. 
Okay like I was saying it's Wednesday. This is what I have been reading lately.


I have finished the third volume of Scott Pilgram and am still loving it.

I am still reading Wicked Girls for YA Bliss: Young adult historical fiction challenge. I like the concept of the story but it is a bit long winded and I am losing interest.

Kisses~VA

and the winner is...

It's Monday but it's okay because I won the door decorating competition!

In celebration here is a little Where The Wild Things Are love.

 

 

 

 

 I NEED this globe!

 

I NEED these Vans

Tangent- Am I the only one out there that asked Santa to bring them a globe for Christmas when they were little?

images from we heart it.

Kisses~VA

YA Historical fiction challenge

Vixen by Jillian Larkin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book I read for YA Bliss: Young adult historical fiction challenge

I give the cover-art five stars.

I only give Vixen three out of five and to be honest I would like to only give it two and a half. My main problem with the book is that it took so long for me to care about any of the characters. I did not like any of them because they were to jealous, self involved, mean, or secretive. The characters do eventually open up and let you in.
The strong point of the story is the description of the speakeasy atmosphere. It starts out as the shiny forbidden fruit with beautiful flappers, great jazz music and booze. By the end it shows it's true colors a poison apple run by thugs.
The absolute saving grace is the heightened drama and surprise information at the end.

Even though I only give it three stars I would still recommend it and I will be reading the next book in the series.





View all my reviews


The next book I am reading for the challenge is  Wicked girls.

Book review

I finished reading the first Scott Pilgrim book today. I was going to wait to review it until I watched the movie and read Volume 2 which is the one that shares the name with the book. I couldn't wait because I LOVED the book. A comic book with a dry since of humor that actually made me laugh out loud. I will say it is probably not everyones cup of tea. Next time you see it at the bookstore pick it up and read the first two pages. You will know if it is for you.

image from Barnes and noble


I will make sure to review the second volume and the movie after Ihave enjoyed them.
Kisses~VA

It's okay to be different.

Did you know "It's Okay To Be Different"? I can't believe I haven't discussed this book yet with the blogosphere. This is very important in my classroom. The book teaches that we are all different and that is okay. It teaches that differences can be celebrated. I would love my class to learn that lesson even more then what sounds different letters make. It really is a great book for everyone.

Book challenge for 2011

I have decided to participate in a YA Historical fiction challenge hosted by YA Bliss.

I

My first book of choice is Vixen by Jillian Larkin.

I am doing level one in the challenge. Level one is only five books for the year. This seems quiet manageable. I do think I will be reviewing my selections. I will either post them here or on my Goodreads page.

Kisses~VA

book list

I am giving you a list of five young adult reads that I love in random order.

I am too fickle to have favorites in anything except colors. Purple if your wondering

1.) A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

2.) The Hunger Games.

3.) The Book Thief.

4.) Dicey's song

5.) The Bell Jar

Image: We heart it

Madeline Inspired

These lovely images are inspired by one of my alltime favorite book series.

Picture source Photobucket and we heart it

It 's Monday but it's ok.

It's Monday. I think we were looking at Monday all wrong. We look at it as the farthest day from the weekend but we should look at it as a fresh start a clean slate.

Things to enjoy on this clean slate day.

My favorite color Purple (cant you smell it!)

A good book. (I need this purple suitcase)

communing with Jason Mraz

Bound to achieve a great day!

Kisses~VA

The ABC's

I think I have an obsession with alphabet books but I'm a Pre-kindergarten teacher so I tell myself it's ok.

Here is one of my favorites.

The Z was zapped. by Chris Van Allsburg.

Lovely reads

If you want a little more valentines love in your life try these literary choices:


My Heart Is Like A Zoo by Michael Hall
A great childrens book about the powers of the heart. I love the illustrations in this book because all of the animals are made out of heart shapes.



Sweetheart by Sara Zarr
I loved this book! It sort of became my valentine. It is about the strength of love beyond romantic love.



100 Love Sonnets by Pablo Neruda
These might be the most passionately beautiful poems I have ever read. They have been translated from Spanish. I can only imagine what is lost in translation.



Picture source- google images


VA resolved.

Snowy day reads for kids.

I love these books because they capture the magic of snow.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Bibliotheca ☺

When I was a little girl my Mom would take my siblings and me to the library almost every week.
I love librarys. Thank you Mom.


This cute little yellow house is the library I go to. It is in walking distance of my house and right up the street from the Deleware river.



Trinity College



Rijkmuseum Amsterdam





I love the look of this childrens library.



One of the lions infront of the NewYork public library.

Photo source - Photobucket