3 down, 97 to go

I was in the car for 12 hours this weekend, traveling to and from Tulsa to see my son’s football game. (Yes, TU won, and even better, Austin got to play!!) It seemed like a great time to get started on a reading challenge. I packed the car with lots of options and decided to start with Thunder Birds by Jack Arnosky, a book nominated for the 2013 Texas Bluebonnet Book Award. I quickly decided that if I couldn’t be a librarian (I love my job!!) I would want to be the kind of nonfiction author and illustrator that Arnosky is. He travels all over (with his wife, who he calls his “partner in adventure”) to gather information on his subject before he begins to write. For this book, he visited places all around the United States to see “nature’s flying predators” both in the wild and in sanctuaries (sanctuaries: places where wounded animals are kept and cared for).

The illustrations in this book are incredible – many are life-size and all are beautifully done. You will see many amazing birds and learn countless facts as you make your way through this book. This was a great selection for reading in the car because there were so many facts that I could share with (and amaze) my husband. Take your time with this book; pour over the illustrations (some on fold-out pages!!), read and wonder about the things that birds do – and be ready to want to share what you’ve learned . . . and possibly go exploring on your own!

The next book I read was Hamster Magic by Lynne Jonell. Have you ever wished that your pet could talk to you? Ever wanted to be granted a wish by a genie? If you answered yes to these questions, Hamster Magic may be the book for you (though the wish is granted by “The Great Hamster”, not a genie!).  Fantasy, fun, and furry animals – what’s not to enjoy? A quick and easy read, this book is also on the 2013 Texas Bluebonnet Award list.

My final book of the weekend, and my last Bluebonnet Award nominee for a while, was Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates by Kim Kennedy. I really enjoyed the setting of this book – a quirky old New England village during the fall season (including Halloween!) which was a perfect backdrop for this story’s crazy characters and extraordinary events. The weather in Tulsa even cooperated and produced a nice little storm to add the perfect mood for my reading. As the weather gets cooler (or stormy) and pumpkins, goblins, and other magic begins to appear in your part of town, grab this book and curl up for an exciting read – there’s humor, mystery and magic – and an ending that leaves you with the possibility of more to come.