Shakespeare, 1906!

 My father gave this to me years ago.  It is a complete book of Shakespeare, printed in 1906, Oxford, England.  It was given to my grandfather by his lady friend, Miriam, before he left for Canada, 1907.  What a wonderful piece of history.
Look at the right margin for more pics.

Oldest english bookstore in Paris!

CHRISTMAS ideas!

CHRISTMAS

ANGELS & DEMONS

I love it when an author, under his notes states, " References to all works of art, tombs, tunnels, and architecture in Rome are entirely factual (as are their exact locations).  They can still be seen today.
The brotherhood of the Illuminati is also factual."
 Dan Brown's ANGELS & DEMONS  has the main setting in Rome.  My sister & I spent only four full days in Rome, but no one covers more territory than my sis and I.  We stayed at the Daphne Inn, Piazza Barberini, between the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain.  We had our best meal sitting outside at Piazza Navona, then wound our way around the Night Walk route, leading to the Pantheon and eventually back to our Inn's alleyway.  In St. Peter's Basilica we found the unmarked stairs leading down to where the  Popes lay.  In other words, though we didn't plan it, our hunting grounds were those of this book.  We loved every minute and probably saw and did more than most people in two weeks.
So do I recommend this book?  If you love history, art, symbology, codes, secret societies, then you will enjoy it as much as I.

Kids & ebooks ZINIO

On Black Friday, standing in line at Roots, I heard a couple ladies talking about gifts for kids and how 'books don't cut it any more'!  I bit my tongue, held my peace so to say, as after all, 'tis the season to be jolly!  I felt like saying, "Like, duh, get with it ladies, have you ever heard of ebooks and Zinio?"
Through Zinio, you can subscribe to hundreds of magazines for your ebooks, and many kids have ebooks and use them with ease.
I went on both the Cdn. & USA sites and found great reads for children/teens.  Some I have never heard of, but sound fantastic.  Such as:

Popular Mechanics DIY KIDS  12 great projects:  build your own balloon launcher/wind turbines
Kayak...Canada's History Magazine for Kids   This looks really great.  Easy and fun to read!
seventeen   Popular way back when, still popular now!
DOCTOR WHO ADVENTURES   For kids who are crazy about monsters & aliens. Bursting with beasts & brain-teasers!
How it works book of AMAZING ANIMALS  The kids I used to teach would have loved this!
American Girl, Teen Now, and so many, many more...

Zinio  This is the link to my site for the Zinio page.

Happy hunting!
Heather

celebrate: THE ESSENTIAL BOOKS OF THE SEASON

I opened up the Saturday paper, and there it was:
celebrate: THE ESSENTIAL BOOKS OF THE SEASON
Here's a sampling:
These are links to amazon.  They are to the USA amazon, but you can switch to Canada.  But, if I had you click into the Canadian site, you can't switch to the USA.  So this way, you have a choice!  Right?!!!

The Beatles, The BBC Archives                             CHUVALO, A Fighter's Life
Doctor Who, The Vault 1st. 50 years                    50 CANADIANS who changed the world
HOBBIT:The Desolation of Smaug Chronicles - Art & Design
Lemony Snicket: "When Did You See Her Last?"
off the leash: The Secret Life of Dogs
One Direction: Where We Are, by One Direction
SAVE with JAMIE

Music, fiction, history, kids/teens & cooking are all included above!
These are really good books!

Snuggle time!

'Tis the season to snuggle and read, especially when it's so cold outside, like right here, in Oakville!  An article I recently read was about adults enjoying children's literature.  When you think of the countless number of times that you curl up with your kids to read a story, well, it's a good thing we enjoy them, because we read them over, over and over again.  How many times did my daughter insist on Robert Munch's Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then Heard a Sound.  Way too often yet enjoyable every time.  Probably because it was about city hall!  Jan Brett's books were loved by my primary classes.  They would sit closer and closer to see the illustrations around each page.
Then there was E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, read so many times over the years to my 7-9 year olds.

Eric Wilson's mysteries, especially Lost Treasures of Casa Loma and Code Red at the Supermall were also really popular. The Supermall being the West Edmonton Mall, still the largest mall in North America, where this book takes place!  These are two of his older novels, but new ones are out.    

My daughter followed the moon in Margaret Wise's Goodnight Moon and loved the characters in Wind in the Willows, which was written by Kenneth Grahame way back in 1908!
Remember Mr. Toad, Ratty, Mole, Mr. Badger?  Then of course onto the Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  My Gr 5's got really involved in Holes by Louis Sachar.
I could go on forever.  Even as computers, tablets & digital games take over, the kids still want to sit in the story corner and listen to a really great book and look at the pictures.  A real book, you know, with paper pages and great illustrations!!
Books, a perfect gift at anytime!

Jan Brett   Kenneth Grahame   Robert Munsch   E.B. White   Laura Ingalls Wilder   Margaret Wise

Linwood's A TAP ON THE WINDOW

I'm halfway through Linwood Barclay's 'A TAP ON THE WINDOW'.   It takes place in the small town of Griffon, upstate New York, not too far from the Canadian border.  Borrow or buy, just read it! Really good!!  Try any of his books!

                                                           A TAP ON THE WINDOW

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

My post on Nov. 11 was about the shared reading my daughter & I did with the Little House on the Prairie series.  A dear friend of mine shared with me her tradition.  Every year she bought a new and different 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, so she & her daughter could snuggle & read. A perfect tradition for the night before Christmas, that ended at the age of 21! Yes, 21 beautiful, different versions of this favourite, to be passed down to the next generation!

Another great bookshop!

I would have loved this as a kid.  Think I still would!

Poplar Kid's Republic, Beijing, China

Look at this...

Just look at this book store. Wow...I want to go!  This is a converted Dominican church, called the Selexyz Bookstore, Maastricht, Holland.

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie. As I was browsing books for my BOOKSHOPPE, I came across the Little House Nine-Book Box set, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I'm sure many of you have fond memories of this show, which I watched for the first time because of my crush on Michael Landon in Bonanza!  So another family series was added to our limited TV viewing.  Then my daughter decided to have this added to her book series. Nothing is better than the memories of curling up in bed, sharing those books, starting with Little House in the Big Woods! In fact we shared the reading: She read a page, then I read a page.

Kobo's best!

Browse the top 50 bestsellers  on Kobo

I included this link because I, like many others, own a Kobo.  I'm hooked into the library but when my favourites aren't available, I check out the bestsellers.  So start working on your Wish List..
Happy reading!.

Jan Brett's Snowy Treasury

  I just came across Jan Brett's Snowy Treasury.  This is a collection of four of her best sellers: Gingerbread Baby, The Mitten, The Hat and The Three Snow Bears.  These take place in Switzerland, Ukraine, Denmark and the Artic.  Absolutely beautiful!   A great gift for youngsters!

Jan Brett

Jan Brett, children's author/illustrator, whose books put a spell over kids.  They lean in closer and closer to see the exquisite pictures, around the borders of each page.  Brilliant colours, great stories.
I love these, as do kids of all ages.  A great gift, from BOOKSHOPPE

BOOKSHOPPE

BOOKSHOPPE is my new website, for selling all types of books and magazines.  Paper books, digital, audio, eBooks and eReaders.  Check it out and please, if anyone has ideas or suggestions, let me know!  So far I have Children/teens, Zinio, Kobo, Amazon, Cooking, business, Christmas ideas and more...  Thank you, Heather

Indigo Kids!

The Indigo Kids Gift Guide arrived the other day. I love looking through and seeing the new but also  old and proven favouites! Some of the old treasures: Judy Blume's, Freckle Juice; Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss; If you Give a Mouse A Cookie, Laura Numeroff and the new (to me, that is): Mo's Mustache, Ben Clanton; Little Red Writing, Melissa Sweet; Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse, Chris Riddell.  And so many more!

Halloween

Last night was perfect for Halloween. Not too cold, windy and damp. Lots of kids, and parents, in their fun and scary costumes. I have fond memories of Halloween in the past, but I can't remember any really good classic Halloween stories for the younger kids! Any ideas?
Try my BOOKSHOPPE

WHIPLASH

I have started a very interesting book, WHIPLASH, by Catherine Coulter.  About big pharma and a shortage of a drug for cancer.  Rather scary in that this could be such a real situation!

Bones

Finished Bones of the Lost!  This time Temperance stays in the States, with a side trip to Afghanistan.   As usual, I enjoyed the forensics, and new knowledge learned from her work and travelling.  Now waiting for her next!

BONES OF THE LOST

BONESOF THE LOST

Kathy Reichs latest. I haven't finished reading this yet, but more than usual, am intrigued with the forensics and anthropology, two topics I truly love!

Love them, Buy them!!

BiggerBooks.com   Try this site to find some really great books/novels.

or my new site!   http://bookshoppe.ca/

Munro/Atwood

I have a very embarrassing confession to make.  I have not read any Alice Munro or Margaret Atwood books.  Not one.  So where do I start?  Suggestions?

J. D. Robb's In Death Series

A great series...J.D. Robb's In Death Series. The crime at the beginning can often be gruesome, but I love the futuristic element and the forensics.  I have read every novel, right from the beginning.  As with most series, I enjoy the character development!

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

This book is amazing.  Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua. If my mother had been like this, I wouldn't have survived. On the other hand, I admire Amy Chua, just a little!

I think it's time to read!

                                 

Family Under the Bridge

I was browsing some booksites and saw this title: The Family Under the Bridge, by Natalie Carlson.  I have fond memories of this short novel. Even in this electronic age, this book kept the attention of my Gr. 4 students. It takes place in Paris under one of the bridges and surrounding area.  How Armand, a hobo, and the family, shared their "rooms" under the bridge is what enchanted them.

I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

I was not going to post today, but had to share this book that was so fascinating to read.  It's an autobiography by Nujood Ali, as a young girl of 10, living with her family in Yemen. 
Nujood was chosen as "Woman of the Year', 2008, by Glamour magazine.

Still Alice, LEFT neglected, love anthony By Lisa Genova

 One day when I was in line at the library a lady  suggested that I read the book that she had just returned.  Still Alice by Lisa Genova.  She was so insistent that I  grabbed the copy from the Fast Tract shelf. 
This is about a 50 year old women's very slow awareness that she has early inset Alzheimer's.
Rather than finding this book depressing, I found it enlightening.  They say that knowledge is powerful.  I found this to be so true after digesting all the information from this novel, put forth in such a poignant fashion.
LEFT Neglected held my attention to the end.  A car crash completely erases the left side of Sarah's world.  She is aware of nothing on the left side.  This amazing story tells of her therapy and rehab. 
love anthony...on my 'still to read' list.

Bones

Does anyone out there read Kathy Reichs' Bones series?   I love the Cdn./USA connection and the forensic anthropology.  I also watch the series on TV.  Though for a younger crowd, the Virals and Seizure, are also enjoyable.

My First Post!

Nothing is better than having some free time to curl up with a good book and a coffee/wine!  Since buying my first eBook, a Kobo, I've experienced reading more books on topics I would never before have chosen.  Why?  Because I didn't know they were available! 
I linked my Kobo into my community library, figuring I'd get all the latest novels by authors I love.  I was so wrong!  None of them were available!  But, on the side of the page was a list of all the categories available on eBooks.  Wow!  What a find!  I scrolled for what seemed like hours, and down loaded my first 3 books.  One by Michael J. Fox, Lucky Man, A Memoir; several by Linwood Barclay, and another favourite, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. 
So, now I check all the categories and find wonderful books, even one about decluttering the house, and another showing Garden Trains.  Way too expensive a project, but in my dreams...
Travel, historical fiction, Mystery/Suspense, easy reading Romance.  I love them all!