“I felt embarrassed. But the woman smiled at me and wrote down what I‘d said on her iPhone-I could see it on her List of Things to Do as a Parent. Hug the Children More.”

Sweet‘s stunning photographic artistry is a visual treat to savor. Mini descriptions accompanying photos offer photographic tips, locations and seasons. I found myself studying and getting lost in these photos. I think my blood pressure dropped a few points. This definitely propels Iceland to the top of my bucket list.

Etched in stone: Never go to Motor Vehicles Administration without reading material. Everyone around me was complaining but I was obliviously drifting deeper into a mysterious sleeping sickness virus overtaking a small town. Good times.

If your wanderlust is somewhere between an elite adventurer and an armchair traveler and you like to laugh or gasp in horror, this collection of 32 short stories is for you. The cover says “The wildest stories from Outside magazine” and they don‘t disappoint. It‘s a personal tour of nature from the harrowing, life-threatening escapes to the hilarious antics of humanity in the wild. I‘m hooked! The podcast called Outside is terrific too.

Just learning Spanish so this is a struggle for me but what a hoot! I love the illustrations and the excuses are so much better than I came up with...the dog ate my homework.

“Time is the school in which we learn.” Her husband‘s name is spelled out in blue letters.

11 year old Izzy/Isabella struggles with her identity to fit in while being used as a pawn in her parents custody arrangement after divorcing. Good discussion book for topics of racism, racial identity, forgiveness and violence for 4th grade and up. Intense situations. Characters are relatable. Cover looks misleading as a lighthearted comedy.

#socksunday So far so good.

“...if you can get 1% better each day for a year, you‘ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you‘re done. Conversely, if you get 1% worse each day for one year, you‘ll decline nearly down to zero. What starts as a small win or a minor setback accumulates into something much more.”

Merci is my new bff. You fall in love with her multigenerational extended family. Characters are relatable & varied. Realistic children‘s fiction for 4th grade & up tackles Alzheimer‘s, true friendship, bullying, as well as personal trials & triumphs. Very satisfyingly believable story. Many people read many, many children‘s fiction/nonfiction published in 2018 and this rose to the top for 2019 Newbery award. I see why.

A worrywart grandmother always has advice: “Nada de Coco-chews,” Abuela calls after them. “That‘s not food! Your teeth will rot and a dentist will have to pull them all out! You‘ll have to eat soup your whole life!” p. 135

The 2019 Newbery winner needs a cover image for Merci Suarez changes gears. Congratulations to Meg Medina! Does anyone know how to update?

“Paint still fresh on her toes, she marked up the paper and soon the blank paper was vibrant with fox flowers.”

How adorable is a snaggletoothed rescued red fox who turns your couch into her den, complete with snack storage and an escape hole? Life with Juniper the fox is not a romanticized adventure but a beautifully photographed heartwarming story about an animal lover‘s devotion. And you thought your pet was hard to house break.

I‘ve been listening to books lately and miss the luxury of stewing on a quote. A nugget is launched into my ear and before I can fully savor its faceted meaning, more words avalanche into my brain. If I don‘t stop, go back and purposefully listen again, it is lost. Perhaps, multitasking is not in my toolbox. Perfect recall would be nice too.

Honesty & courage to be real have made Hey, Kiddo an easily accessible graphic memoir for teens grappling with addiction and loss. His absent mom battles heroin. His father remains a mystery until he needs his birth certificate. Both grandparents step in as parents but most importantly, his grandfather‘s guidance and unfailing love guide him. Teachers and author, Jack Gantos encourage his art. Drawing was his therapy, love was medicine. Wonderful

Having lost his home to a mall, Fox 8 writes a heartfelt plea to Yumans. No, that wasn‘t an error. Ever curious Fox 8 learned English by peeking in the window of a Yuman family observing their home life and its similarities to fox life. His world is upturned when he witnesses the horrors of Yuman progress and so begins his cause. Adorable simple line drawings by Cardinal enhance the text. You will cheer for Fox 8.

“On the bus, my mother moves with us to the back. It is 1963 in South Carolina. Too dangerous to sit closer to the front and dare the driver to make her move. Not with us. Not now. Me in her arms all three months old. My sister and brother squeezed into the seat beside her. White shirt, tie, and my brother‘s head shaved clean. My sister‘s braids white ribboned.” Feel history through eyes, heart, and words.

Thanks for tagging me in the #20things since I‘m new to the game. So far enjoying seeing what other people read and comments.

Congratulations to Sophie Blackall on her 2019 Caldecott Medal winner, Hello Lighthouse.
A beautifully nostalgic glimpse into the dedication, isolation and bravery of a lighthouse keeper family living on a rock surrounded by sea.

“More than two billion cups of coffee are drunk every day around the globe. The coffee industry employs 125 million people internationally.”
Thank you, all 125 million of you, for your part in my first delicious cup of coffee this morning. Learning the journey of a bean makes me grateful for every sip.

Page 284 “Confidence, I‘d learned then, sometimes needs to be called from within. I‘ve repeated the same words to myself many times now, through many climbs. Am I good enough? Yes I am.

“This was life with little kids. This was what sometimes passed for achievement. I had applesauce. I was eating a meal. Everyone was still alive. Look how I‘m managing, I wanted to say in those moments, to my audience of no one. Does everyone see that I‘m pulling this off? This was me at the age of forty, a little bit June Cleaver, a little bit Mary Tyler Moore.” Well said, Michelle!

Can‘t wait to read this!