Schools out, clowns have taken over the library, our tote is crammed with circus reads, the water is just right, so let the summer begin!  Yes, we’ve already started  our summer reading and planning some excursions to other area libraries.  

Little Reader wants to know what we’re gonna do when we finish reading all the library books?  I’m pretty sure by that time we will be promoting my new book and giving magic garden tours.  But one must write to be published, and my writing has been on the backburner for a while now.  Looking for a little motivation here?  I did just order a book of idioms, as I have a spark for an interesting story.  What kinds of children’s stories are there not enough of?   I’m personally tired of the preachy being yourself is best, and the how we are all winner reads.   Where are the stories with a premise of self responsibility and hard work?  Okay, I’ll stop here and today will write.  Many popular picture books are also trending characters like Pinkalicious, Splat Cat, Brown Bear etc…  So I will visit my pickle factory and work on Emma :-9

Other Tote Pics

Shark vs. Train

By Barton, Chris

Superman vs. Batman don’t have anything on Shark vs. Train. A competition of burping, bowling, pie eating, and more!  Again I’m stereotyping, but a great boy read!

Yes Day!

By Rosenthal, Amy Krouse

A day of Yes!   When one red headed lucky boy asks his mom to please have a pizza for breakfast you *page turn* to picture of boy eating pizza!  The yes’s continue with small treats, having a friend over, eating outside and more.  “I have lots of yes days, but H has lots of no days.” - Little Reader   We are talking a 17 year old teenager, what do you expect?

Robot Zot!

By Scieszka, Jon

Just like Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, Robot Zot is one looney toy invading earth… aka the kitchen.   He soon finds himself battling household electronics and falling in love with a toy cell phone.  A bizarre story that I enjoyed more than Little Reader.    Lots of colorful pictures, and if she were into robots maybe this would have gone over better.  The youngest teenager loved it bringing back memories of her favorite movie, The Brave Little Toaster.

Little Reader and I have returned from our week in Austin.   Not a trip of leisure, but tending to my mother after a knee replacement.  We read bunches, hung with the doctors, raided the third floor kitchen, and I even got my first scorpion sting.  If you ever have an encounter with this “lobster bug” put a couple drops of oil of oregano on your tongue and also on the sting.  This hill country remedy really works!  

It’s so good to be back home with the rest of my family.  And after surviving a 17^th birthday party for my son yesterday, I’m glad to be sitting here.  At least for the moment, that is.  This morning I’m looking out at the pergola construction and my odd fibrous plants.  I’m pleased to announce that I’m harvesting my shower sponges for next year.  Yes this sounds strange, but it’s true - I’m growing luffas!  I thought they came from the sea, but these garden vegetables can actually grow in your backyard.  Let me interject here that I’m not an earth hippie mother, nor have any involvement with the so called “green” movement.  I just think luffas are interesting, and the idea of harvesting them into sponges for Christmas presents next year will definitely have people talking.  So now you want to become part of the luffa revolution and grow your own right? 
“If they came from the ocean, it would be Sponge Bob Square Pants house!” -  Little Reader 

Kneed to Read Books

Milo Armadillo

By Fearnley, Jan

Talllulah only wants a pink rabbit for her birthday and when Grandma knits her one, it takes the shape of a pink fluffy armadillo instead.  And feeling dejected, Milo the armadillo runs away from home only to... 

I’m not going to spoil this, but will say absence does make the heart grow fonder.   This is “sew” an adorable smile inducing read.

And Then It’s Spring 

By Fogliano, Julie

A lesson on patience for one little boy. “When will the brown disappear and green appear?”   You plant seeds, check them daily, and after the rain and sun, they finally sprout.  A simple springtime story that should be read leisurely, as to marvel in the pictures.   “Our garden is magic, growing super fast!” Little Reader  

Hiding In The Magic Garden

Beautifully Amazing!

Lot’s of food reads in this weeks R romp.  Shared sandwiches, football eats, award winning pickles, and boars sweet recipes, had Little Reader asking, “If we ate letters, what would letter “R” taste like?”  A rice cake with raspberry jam and raisins of course! And after eating “r” snack, this was proven correct. 

And what else was cooking last night?  It was a Big Apple Adventure, meaning mom spent 3 hours in the kitchen preparing York City diner fare.  Not kidding, it took that long to make 9 chicken club sandwiches, a homemade cheesecake, and three rounds of chocolate egg cream soda. - But well worth it!  I’ve noticed a correlation between the more I cook, the more teenagers appear at our house around dinner time.  And for tonight, it’s a Taco Bar in this casa.  Why this morning we found dozens of mayonnaise bottles in the pool, so it must be Sinko de Mayo!

Did I mention the gigantor snake slithering through our not so typical potted plants?   The kids and I were going outside for an under the stars trampoline jump, and there it was, a ginormous black and white ribboned snake.  Yes, I was the first outside, the only one to see it, and on pain medicine from my tooth surgery that morning, but swear I saw it.  And  not sure if it was the “snake” or the“wacky mom” that kept everyone inside for the night.  But like Steve Erwin, the Crocodile Hunter my oldest and I combed the back yard with flashlights, but found nothing.  And not sure what we would have done in this case anyway?   So now I’m not just the crazy library lady, I’m also a snake whisperer.  If the snake returns, is friendly, and promises not to eat the dog, we will give it a name and invite him or her to Little Reader’s garden party. 

So what is this not so typical plant anyway?  It's taken root and we are building a trellis so it can begin its journey upward and make …  

  Any idea?

 "R" Good Reads